As the match began, Verdy took control of possession and the play. Rihito Yamamoto pulled the strings in midfield, hitting a mixed range of passes that stretched the defense thin and let Verdy into their penalty area. The team’s attacking approach would soon find success in an unlikely fashion. It was the 6^th minute and Arai cut in from the wide left after receiving the ball from Yamamoto. Continuing his run, he swung his right foot at the ball, sending it off the hands of the charging goalkeeper and into the net to give Verdy the lead. Lately, the players have had a bad habit of giving up possession when they have the advantage and on this day,  too, they would be forced to defend in front of their goal for long periods as Nagasaki attacked with numbers. Having fended off wave after wave of offensive moves from the opposition, it would next be Verdy’s turn to probe for the finish. Klebinho took up high positions, initiating the attack, and the momentum seemed to be swinging Verdy’s way. It was then, however, that the team would be made to pay for a lapse in concentration. In the 27^th minute, Verdy allowed the opposition to enter the final third and after an initial effort was deflected, Tamada picked up on the loose ball and rolled it into the right corner of the net. Verdy now hoped to push back and moments later, in the 32^nd minute, they would get their biggest chance to do so. Ryota Kajikawa and Junki Morita combined on the right before laying it off to Klebinho. The Brazilian followed this by cutting inside and playing the ball to Leandro at the post. Leandro then hit a looping first-time pass into space on the right, where Junki Koike made a late run into the box and fired a placed shot that was kept out by the goalkeeper.

In the second half, Nagasaki further strengthened their attacking intent and Verdy found themselves unable to express their own brand of football. The slightest mistakes in positioning and combination play ultimately led to massive breakdowns in the team’s approach. While the Verdy players still found opportunities to win possession and attack, they repeatedly lost hold of the ball before the finish could be applied. First half substitute Hiroyuki Kawano, playing in a free role, worked hard in attack and defense but was unable to alter the course of the play. In the 66^th minute, Klebinho seemed to be experiencing a pain in his leg and was taken off as a precaution, forcing Verdy to play in a way that was different from their game plan. Finally, in the 70^th minute, the players’ hard work at holding off the opposition from open play would be undone by a set piece. It was a corner kick from the right side and the ball was met at the near post by Kakuda, who got a head to the cross at the top of its arc and sent into the far corner of the net to give Nagasaki the lead.

In the final minutes, Verdy inserted Shion Inoue and tried to improve their attack once again. Though they did penetrate into space near the penalty area, their moves were lacking in the ideas needed to finish and breakdowns in combination play led to multiple chances on the counter. The cycle then continued into additional time and the final whistle sounded before the team could recover any of their momentum from the first half.

Verdy’s failure to earn points against an opponent who were near them in the table undoubtedly hurts, but even more frustrating was the team’s failure, over 90 minutes, to find a stable balance between their ideals and the need for results. Of course, that frustration is most acute for the players on the pitch. To move up the table, it goes without saying that the team must earn as many points as possible. At the same time, they cannot neglect continued development of their team style. Next week, Verdy return home and they must train hard to show the supporters that they have learned their lessons and bring joy to the crowd on hand at Nishigaoka.

Your thoughts on the match?
It was a very frustrating game. I say this every time, but I would like to thank all the supporters who traveled a great distance and screamed until their throats were dry on opposition territory. Our job is to make them happy and when I consider that, I can’t help but feel sorry. For me, individually, Nagasaki was the place I spent three years, at Kunimi High School, and I have a lot of memories. Now that I’m returning as the Manager of Tokyo Verdy, I wanted to show the people here the kind of football we are known for and end this trip with a good result. So, it was personally frustrating for me, as well. From the perspective of the team, getting the early goal was part of our plan and there were other moments that give me confidence. I will work with the players to address the issues that confront us, so that we can play well for longer periods and put on a of display high-quality football.

In defense, it seemed like you were unable to restrict feeds from the holding midfielders and center backs, which caused you to be pushed back into your half. How did you plan to go about your defense?
We’re supposed to begin with a 4-4-2 in defense and while Arai, who was making his first start today, contributed wonderfully with his goal, he didn’t quite accomplish what we prepared for in terms of tracking back in defense and constraining their options. I think that was the biggest contributing factor. It was with that in mind that I took him off early, as we needed to do a better of job of limiting their ability to play from the back and from holding midfield. I replaced him with Hiroki Kawano, who has a better understanding, and I think things got a little better from there.

The match was even for long periods, but it seemed like you couldn’t identify areas to win the ball and allowed them to push deep into your half. How did you see things, as manager?
Considering the kind of football we want to play and what I consider ideal, I think our line is still too deep. I’ve been involved in this sport for a long time, so I know that if you start making changes to your defensive line in the middle of the season, a single mistake can make things difficult. That’s something we’re in the process of exploring as I communicate with the players. The way I envision things, our line needs to be more compact.