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MATCH
Match Report
This week, Verdy returned home after a difficult streak of three away matches in which they suffered a record of one draw and two losses, Their opponent was Fagiano Okayama and the match took place at Komazawa, a stadium that played host for the first time in two years.
Although the team had suffered a series of injuries while they were away from home, Jailton Paraiba returned the squad for this match. However, Hiroki Kawano, who had been scheduled to start, hurt his leg in the previous day’s training and Lee Yong Jick was chosen to take his place in the free role.
The match did not take long to reach its first talking point. In the fourth minute, a back pass by the opposition drifted slightly off course and Paraiba made a fierce dash to challenge for the ball. After emerging from behind the defender and claiming possession, Paraiba caught the keeper making a desperate charge off his line and hit a lateral pass into space. Lee made the run onto the pass and the forward tapped home to give Verdy an early lead. From that point, Okayama began to see more of the ball as they searched for an equalizer, but Verdy were able to repel their attacks in front of goal and began building from the back to develop their attacking rhythm. Paraiba and Klebinho took on key roles and the team used them effectively to build space and pressure the Okayama goal. In the 19th minute, Paraiba received the ball on the right wing and played a cross to the far post where Narawa had beaten his marker and got a touch. However, his effort went over the bar. In the 35th minute, Verdy conceded a free kick just outside the area and in front of goal. Ueda fired directly, but this shot too went just over the bar.
Verdy’s objectives after half time were to limit the opposition’s options in attack by maintaining their attacking intent, coordinating with the defense, and controlling the play by retaining possession. However, the second half would unfold in a manner opposite the first. In the 50th minute, the opposition targeted Lee as he dropped back to receive a pass and won the ball just as Lee’s teammates were pushing forward. The players were unable to track back in time to stop the counter and the ball was carried down the right of the Verdy defense, where Okayama were free of markers and used their numerical advantage to sink the ball into the net. Knowing they could scarcely afford to settle for a draw, Verdy immediately revved up their attack once more, but were unable to secure the ball on the front line and could never quite push high enough up the pitch. A stalemate developed that lasted for several minutes, before being finally broken in the 69th minute when Lee received the ball at the post and turned to fire a midrange shot that was on target to reach the top corner. However, the effort was kept out by an impressive save from the opposition keeper. Five minutes later, Klebinho delivered the ball from a set piece and received it back after the initial clearance. The Brazilian cut inside the penalty area and drilled a powerful shot at the near post, but the goalkeeper once again came through with a sharp reflex save. In the 83rd minute, just as Verdy seemed on the verge of a goal, the opposition went on the attack. Though Verdy were initially able to prevent the breakthrough, they were unable to clear convincingly and a fierce shot came in from the second ball that deflected off a defender and changed course to find the back of the net and give Okayama the lead. It was a single mistake that occurred in a match where they were otherwise in control. The players rallied once again and tried to win a quick equalizer, from which they hoped to reclaim the lead. In the 86th minute, Mizuki Arai ran at the defense from the left side and played a high cross in front of goal. Lee outjumped his defender and got his head to the ball at the peak of its flight, but the goalkeeper produced yet another fine save that keep it from the net. In the 88th minute, Rihito Yamamoto broke free on the left and hit a sharp cross to the near post. A defender got the first touch to the ball, deflecting it to the far side where Klebinho had made a desperate run and met it with a well-timed header. Though achingly close, the shot would go just wide of the left post.
Although Verdy showed more threat on the opposition goal than they did during the recent three away matches, they were thwarted every time by the Okayama goalkeeper. Thus, the team suffered a shocking third straight defeat in the final stretch of the season. As the players gathered after the match to greet the supporters in the stands, they faced some harsh words. How will they respond to the criticism? As long as they remain committed to their current brand of football, there are no shortcuts. Of course, that alone is no reason to demand that the fans swallow a string of bad results, but as long as the team have an ideal style to pursue, they must believe that it is the best path to victory and continue training. The demand is not for a new approach, but rather greater refinement and quality. In order to prove that to be the case, each day of practice must be used in pursuit of progress.
Post-match comments
Manager Hideki Nagai
Your thoughts on the match?
It was our first time back at home in a while and with so many supporters at the stadium to cheer us on, I truly feel that the players did their best to reward them with a victory. In terms of the play, I think we accomplished 60 to 70 percent of what we set out to do. Of course, there are still areas where we need to improve, but I feel that our capabilities are growing gradually. With that said, what I felt in this match was a certain mental weakness, whether it was a lack of will to win or just some periods where we were too soft. Having mental toughness is a must in football, but I felt it was lacking today.
Hiroki Kawano started last week, but this week he failed to make the squad. Was there any reason why?
He picked up a slight injury. As a result, we had to change our game plan. However, I had always had a plan in mind where he (Lee Yong Jick) started the match and there was no problem with choosing from either.
Was the insertion of Masashi Wakasa into the starting lineup, or the slight adjustments made to the formation, done because Lee started?
Yes. That position (the free role) is very important to my strategy. Leandro handles it one way and Kawano another. Things also change with Lee in that position. Each of them has their own strengths and to some degree, we have to adjust the plan to get the most out of them. Rather than drop back into midfield, Lee likes to play up top and stretch the defensive line, so that means our five attackers will get forward at a higher speed and Wakasa has become able to play passes to the front line with a high degree of precision. So that was one plan we had.
You made some changes at the beginning of the second half and the team seemed slightly out of sorts. What were your intentions?
I don’t think the confusion was due to the position changes. As far as how the half began, over the course of 90 minutes, there’s always going to be potential that the players lose focus. That’s something I felt strongly today. It’s things that are more basic than playing different tactics, obvious things like retrieving the second ball. I think the pattern of not doing the obvious things as if they’re second nature contributed to the goal we conceded as well. That’s something we have to correct immediately.
DF 17Lee Yong Jick
Tell us about your goal.
Before the chance came, our defense had been effective, and Paraiba and I had discussed pressing them together. So, when Paraiba chased the ball in that situation, I made sure to follow after him. Coach Nagai often talks about working in twos and forcing decisive chances by creating a 2 v 1 with the goalkeeper. Paraiba understood that well and I read the play, so he was able to make the pass. I think I owe the goal to him and also feel that we created it together.
Was playing in the free role different as a starter than as a substitute?
Whether it’s Mon (Leandro), Hiroki (Kawano), or myself, we still take up the same positions and it’s not like we have to start playing balls in the air just because I’m on the pitch. I have to put myself in the appropriate positions to receive the ball, which means standing in the right spots, developing the play after I receive the pass or laying it off to a teammate if someone is nearby, and filling the spaces that open up when someone else makes a run. My being up front doesn’t mean that Coach Nagai wants to take advantage of my height alone. He has told me to play in a true free role and I have tried to do that.
You responded to being handed the start by earning a goal.
For me, starting the match simply means that I’ll have more chances to score. I try to play intelligently and put myself in position to target the goal. For the chance from a header I had today, I had told Mizuki (Arai) that I would make a run when he cut inside and to make sure to watch for me. He did so and played a good ball in. For the opportunity I had with my right foot, as well, I saw that Koki (Morita) had made a run and Rihito (Yamamoto) was also standing in a good spot, so the markers followed the run and that opened up space for me to shoot. If I’m on the pitch for the full 90 minutes, I think we will have more chances to score. That’s the advantage of starting. With that said, when I play as a starter, it’s difficult for me to change the momentum of the match with my play. So, there’s good things and bad things about it.
Despite getting the opener, you allowed the opposition to come back and win, today.
The first goal happened after I lost the ball and individually, I think I have to learn to secure the ball in those areas. However, it’s also true that I haven’t had a lot of time playing as a pure forward and so, I have to adjust to that from here out.
The battle to win the second ball was particularly difficult today.
It’s difficult to dominate for 90 minutes and when things get tough, we need those who are capable of doing so to help out. The manager said the same thing at half time. Rather than relying on individual play, I think all the players need to support each other.
Your diagonal runs and crosses from the wide areas added an accent to the attack.
That’s just about getting into open spaces, so it’s not something I was particularly focused on. Our style is to attack the areas left open by the defense and we have a shared vision of who will move into spaces and who will make runs. I had that understanding with Koki (Morita) and Kaji (kawa), today. We also knew that Okayama were weak around the posts. With that said, the fact that we couldn’t break them down at the end of moves, myself included, is a sign of weakness and we need to improve.
You and the other forward players did well to get on the end of entry balls from Wakasa and seemed to be taking up good positions.
We know that if we take up the right positions, a good ball will come in and the opponents will try to close us down. That means that other players will be unmarked as a result. In those situations, Kaji was able to turn with the ball well, but I still have to work on that and get used to the pressure that forwards endure. I think I do well when I see my teammates, but when I can’t see the space around me and have to keep the ball by myself, I make mistakes. I’d like to take it as a positive learning experience that I experienced that in the midst of match play.
DF 2Masashi Wakasa
In attack, you played as the right end of a back three, while in defense you were the right centerback in a back four.
When I get the ball, Klebi(nho) and I are told to create numerical advantages. On top of that, I knew that Kaji(kawa)’s position would open up, so I actively tried to thread passes to him.
Those forward passes to Kajikawa were extremely effective.
I believe that’s one of my strong points, so when I have the chance, I try to always play a good ball.
The first goal was conceded in a period when the team looked a bit disorganized.
After we gave up the goal, we tried to calm down and looked to reclaim the lead, but we ended up handing it to them instead. We continued looking for an equalizer or a go-ahead goal, but we couldn’t get it. It was frustrating.
The team changed systems several times, during the course of the match. Did that have any effect on your play?
For me, personally, there was no change in what I was asked to do. I just tried to keep an eye on the opposition and play our brand of football.
It was uncharacteristically hot for this time of year.
That effects the opposition as well. On the other hand, it wasn’t very humid, so it wasn’t that much of an influence.
After the opening goal, you were in control of the match but seemed to have fewer opportunities to finish.
We should have kept a better eye on the opposition and regardless of what stage of the match we’re in, when our opponents attack from the front, that means there will be space behind them, and we had to make passes into those areas. We have to play football in a way that exploits numerical advantages.
Your struggles to win the second ball stood out.
Our opponents played the ball behind us with ease, so as a team, we needed to be consistent about counter-pressing with not just our defensive line but also the second line of defense, in order to retrieve the second ball.
This is the first time the team has lost three matches in a row this season.
We’re not wrong in the approach we’re taking, so if we achieve our objectives on the pitch and play good football, I think we can win. Now, we have to clear our heads and keep going.
MF 8Tatsuya Uchida
In attack, you played as the left end of a back three, while in defense you were the right side back in a back four.
I’ll leave it up to the people in the stands to judge whether I adjusted well. I also want to confirm things myself by watching the film. On the pitch, I didn’t think I was doing a good job of getting involved in the buildup. In defense, playing as a side back was a little difficult for me. Personally, I felt that if I had done a better job, we could have developed the game better and achieved a different result. I am reminded of the importance of my role and am reflecting on that.
From the end of the first half until the time you were substituted, you moved into a midfield position.
I got instructions from the sideline midway through the first half. Both Rihito (Yamamoto) and I can play both positions, so I think the manager probably wanted to make little adjustments to where we stood.
After you moved to midfield, you seemed to struggle with the opposition pressure.
Playing in that position, I think it’s inevitable that I constrain myself when our opponents are pressing from the front. In midst of that, I think we should have found simpler ways to turn the tables on them. The goals we conceded came on the short counter after we lost the ball in those positions.
Do you think today’s loss occurred because your plan didn’t go well?
We wanted to get an early goal and attack the space behind them when they pushed forward. If you were to say that we could have done a better job of that, I think that’s correct. I’m not really sure what to say.
In defense, you finally avoided conceding from set pieces.
Yes, but we still gave up two goals. It doesn’t really matter how they’re conceded. We’re allowing the opposition to score too often.
Partly because your opponents played a lot of long balls, you seemed to have trouble winning the second ball today.
I felt that our opponents were more accustomed to that sort of play and knew better how to react. However, the manager did ask us at halftime to try and recover the second ball more and I think we could have done a little better.