2020 MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE 31st Sec - Tokyo Verdy vs Zweigen Kanazawa

Match Report

Having entered their fifth streak of five consecutive matches this season, Verdy traveled for their previous fixture to face Albirex Niigata and came away with a 2-2 draw, pressing pause for the time being on the downward momentum that had gripped the squad since their 0-4 defeat against Montedio Yamagata. For the second match of the five-game streak, Verdy returned home to Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka, where they faced off against Zweigen Kanazawa.

Before taking the pitch, the starting lineup was impacted by the loss of Matheus, who was ruled unfit to play hours before kickoff. That left Takahiro Shibasaki to take his place. Meanwhile, the back line was unchanged from the previous fixture and in midfield, Joel Chima Fujita was given the libero position, playing behind the front central midfield pair of Yuhei Sato and Haruya Ide.

The match began with Verdy retaining possession and controlling the play in the opposition half. In the 12^th minute, the players combined on the left to break down the defense and set up Fujita for an unmarked shot that the goalkeeper did well to save. On the other end, Kanazawa aimed to exploit the space behind the Verdy back line and responded to the home team’s pressure by playing quick long balls in a counter-attacking style. In the 14^th minute, Kanazawa finally breached the Verdy back line with a diagonal ball, but their attackers were unable to connect for a shot. Verdy, on the other hand, made adjustments to deal with the threat of the opposition’s direct attack and dominated play in midfield, earning several chances to penetrate the opposition’s final third. However, a split-second lapse in concentration would occur just after the water break. It was the 29^th minute and after conceding a free kick near the center circle, the players failed to prepare for a quick restart and allowed a long ball into the area that was turned home for the opening goal. It was a painful way to concede, considering that the team had done well to develop a good rhythm, and the players were determined to strike back quickly. In the 30^th minute, Ryoya Yamashita’s individual skill threatened the defense and in the 34^th minute, the team finally earned a goal. Takayuki Fukumura played a corner kick from the left that drifted to the far post where it was retrieved by Fujita and carried back into the box. As he reached the touch line, Fujita laid the ball off to Sato, who had run forward in support. With little angle at his disposal, the latter swung his right foot and launched a sharply curling first-time effort that dipped and the reached opposite corner for an equalizer. In the 43^rd minute, Junki Koike received a pass from Sato and entered the box, beating his defender and creating room for a shot. However, the goalkeeper showed good persistence to stifle the effort and prevent Verdy from taking the lead at the break.

Having maintained a positive rhythm and claimed the initiative in the first half, Verdy resumed after the restart by showing full attacking intent. In the 52^nd minute, the team won the ball after an opposition move and Fujita carried it from his own half into opposition territory. As his teammates created space with runs of their own, Fujita continued into the penalty area and launched an effort on goal. In the 56h minute, Verdy won the ball with their counter pressing and Fujita wasted no time in creating a chance for Ide in the center. The team’s rhythm and tempo continued to improve and in the 58^th minute, the match would take another turn. Having pinned the opposition back in front of their own goal, Fujita recovered a clearance and hit a forward pass to Sato. Sato showed little hesitation as he turned on the ball and swung his right foot for an out-swinging effort that found the right corner of the net. Having successfully claimed an early go-ahead goal, Verdy were now determined to maintain focus and control the flow of the play. With the back line constantly aware of the threat from long passes, the attacking players patiently moved the ball and stretched the defense to create further opportunities for a finish. Things were largely going according to plan until substitutions in the 66^th minute changed the momentum. In the 68^th minute, moments after both were introduced to the match, Naoya Kondo and Lucao found themselves fighting to win the ball as it was played in from the left with an early cross. Lucao used his height advantage to head a shot on goal that deflected off the underside of the left corner of the cross bar and fell beyond the outstretched hand of Shibasaki for an equalizer. The final minutes of the match were an open affair and while Verdy continued to create chances of their own, they also handed the opposition opportunities on the counter. Still, it was the home team that applied the majority of the pressure and as the last play of the match unfolded, they remained patient and moved the ball left and right until Sato received the ball unmarked to the right of goal. Sato’s shot was a powerful effort, but the goalkeeper made a fine save that prevented him from claiming a hat trick. The final whistle then sounded moments later.

Even as they recover from their bitter experience amid the chilly rain in Yamagata, the Verdy attack has displayed clear potential to achieve results. In defense, despite conceding two or more goals for the second match in a row, the team can take some comfort in knowing that they weren’t broken down amid the run of play. The signs of team recovery are thus clear. However, that makes it all the more frustrating that they let two points slip away by conceding from set plays and aggressive opposition tactics. It is now the team’s task to share a sense of danger throughout the squad and take the final step forward. By improving moment by moment, their hope is to build the foundation for more solid play.

The team now have only two days to prepare for their next match. However, their opponent is Tokushima Vortis, the club at the top of the table and the same squad that inflicted a painful loss in the season opener, so there is no time to relax. To maintain improvement in their rhythm and complete their development, they must do everything they can before taking the pitch on November 7^th.

Manager Hideki Nagai

Your thoughts on the match?
We were playing in front of supporters on our sacred ground today, at Nishigaoka, and I am grateful that we were able to play out the match in an extremely positive atmosphere and wonderful environment. In terms of the game itself, I think the players did well to execute the kind of football we wanted to play over the course of the 90 minutes, but we will have to look back on the goals we conceded and make improvements before the next fixture. I think the players are doing a great job in attack, both in terms of breaking teams down and setting up the finish, but we need to improve the quality of our finishing itself if we are to take the next step. Still, I think the players did well and played with passion. Once again, we have a tight schedule with only a short time to prepare for the next match, but we will pull together as a team and do our best to deliver excellent football in front of our home fans in the next match. Today, as well, I would truly like to thank the fans and supporters for cheering us on and giving us power until the final whistle. I regret that we weren’t able to pay them back in the form of a victory. However, I know that every one of our players sincerely wants to reward the fans in that way and they have approached training with a positive attitude. As I mentioned, we have another home game next and we will spare no expense in preparation to achieve that objective for our fans. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to all our staff for creating such a wonderful home environment for us to play in, today.

For the second fixture in a row, you seemed to concede rather easily. Is there anything that can be done to prevent that?
The first goal happened after we let our guard down for just an instant. The lapse in concentration at that moment was a big problem and the second goal, too, happened because we allowed the player making the pass too much freedom. It really is the fine details that form the difference between a win and a lesser result, so I will work with the squad before the next match to prevent those lapses from occurring in the future.

Wakasa was taken off with an injury. Can you tell us if there any updates about his condition?
I haven’t received a concrete report yet, but it seems that the opposition player’s spikes made contact with his head and left a cut. I pray that it’s nothing serious.

In the second half, it seemed like you let yourselves play at the opposition’s pace and were too quick to get the ball forward in attack.
Our objective is always to observe our opponents and attack the areas of the pitch that they leave vulnerable. I think that the players made those decisions based on what they saw on the pitch. Attacking the empty spaces is second nature in football and beyond the players’ own judgment, it’s also a natural part of our game plan.

MF9Yuhei Sato

Your thoughts on the match?
We didn’t start particularly badly and my impression of the first goal we conceded was that it was a momentary lapse in concentration. Other than that, I think we did a good job of moving the ball and observing the pitch. The lasting impression I have from the match is that we were just one step away at the end of moves and didn’t do a good enough job of finishing or fully breaking them down.

Tell us about your first goal.
“What’s-his-name” (Joel Chima) Fujita laid the ball off in a weird area, so it was the only option I had. Jin (Hanato) and Yama(shita) were in the middle, but neither is very tall and the ball was moving quickly, so I just kicked it into the only area I could aim for. Rather than getting my angle right, I think I was just lucky that it went over the head of the keeper.

What about your second goal?
That also came after “What’s-his-name” (Joel Chima) Fujita drilled a pass in my direction and my mind was made up to turn and shoot. Time just seemed to stop for a second and the angle opened up for the shot.

In the second half, it seemed like you let yourselves play at the opposition’s pace and were too quick to get the ball forward in attack.
After conceding the second goal, we couldn’t help it becoming more of an end to end match. If they hadn’t scored that second, we could have held on to the ball more and controlled the play. Instead, we conceded quickly and after that, I think it couldn’t be helped.

It seemed like the front central midfielders were taking position closer to the wide areas.
That was part of our plan. They play with a man marking scheme, so by spreading the play wide, our hope was to open up space to pass the ball to Jin (Hanato) in the middle or receive the ball ourselves if we were unmarked. Individually, I think I had a lot of freedom on the ball today.

Tell us about the big chance you had on the last play.
I was aiming for the near top corner, but I didn’t get the angle quite right and the ball flew too far to the middle.

MF36Joel Chima Fujita

Your thoughts on the match?
We saw plenty of the ball for long periods, but as in the last match, we fell back in defense after scoring and that allowed the opposition the freedom to put in crosses and equalize as a result. We’re a team who play attacking football, rather than defensive football, so I don’t think the plan was ever for us to win by focusing on defending our lead, but in the end, that’s what happened.

In the second half, it seemed like you let yourselves play at the opposition’s pace and were too quick to get the ball forward in attack.
It was a fairly open game in the second half and we had a lot of space. The substitutes we brought on were also players who slot in up front. That goes especially for Ryoya (Yamashita) and Mizuki (Arai), who both use their individual skills to beat defenders, so I think the manager had it in mind for us to try and hit them on the counter attack. The important thing was for us to score quickly during that period.

Individually, you were aggressive at carrying the ball forward. Was that something you were focused on?
I took two shots in the first half and three in the second. The shot I took after a one-two in the first half and the shot I had after receiving a lay off in the second were both moves that we’ve worked on as a team, so I’m happy about that. When I tried to carry the ball forward on my own, I didn’t really have an image of what I would do next. Just as I would begin thinking about my options, I would find myself in front of goal, so I was never able to finish those moves in the way I’d like to. If I had taken a shot in those situations, things might have been different.

You took a shot on the turn in the second half. Was the angle you chose your only option, or could you have tried something different as well?
I received a pass from someone, I think it was Ryoya, and as I made the turn, I knew that it had worked really well and I would be free to shoot. However, I haven’t gained that much experience at getting that far forward, so the fact that it worked so well actually put me in a bit of a rush. I thought I was choosing a precise angle, but the flight of the ball didn’t go the way I envisioned it.

At one point in the second half, you seemed to take the initiative to run at the defense and create an opportunity to shoot.
I don’t really remember that.

GK1Takahiro Shibasaki

For the second time since the recent match against Iwata, you were given a sudden start. Your thoughts on the match?
I trained as I always do. This was the first time that I had been named to the squad on the day of the match, but I know that the result is all that matters and giving up two goals means that I didn’t aid the team. I regret that. More than anything, I wanted us to win the match.

The first goal seemed to occur because the team lost focus before a quick restart.
It may have been off a restart, but throughout the first half, they repeatedly played balls into the space between the back line and the goalkeeper, so the entire team needed to maintain concentration in that moment. I’ll have to check the game film to determine what happened, but it was a bit of a difficult situation. We just need to get better as a team in those areas. In terms of our defense, there are moments where it feels like I need to leave my line more, but caring for the space behind the defense is something we work on regularly in training. Personally, I feel like I should have left my line in that moment and tried to get a touch on the ball. As I said, I’ll need to check the game film, but as the goalkeeper, any time we concede a goal, I will feel responsibility.

You rescued the team with a big save as the match drew to a close. Some of the players seemed to be expecting the whistle to blow after some rough play, but you did an impressive job of maintaining your focus.
We’d actually done a good job of cutting off the angle for a shot and I’m always determined to stop any ball that is within my range, so I was able to make a good save there. That’s outweighed, however, by my frustration at the way we gave up the second goal. When Lucao entered the match, we knew what they would try to do but we still allowed them to do it. Personally, I feel that goals are always the keeper’s responsibility, so I want to make improvements there. The ways we defend as a team will always vary depending on the individual skills of the players on the pitch, but I still think we need to improve.

Watching from the back, what was your impression of the team’s attack?
We executed many positive attacks and it was really a matter of taking that final step. Even though we just need to finish better, we still have to recognize that the way we move the ball, our formation, and our tactics are all designed to help us get goals. When we fall short of that, I’m sure the players and supporters are left frustrated, especially when it’s a home game, but we have another match coming up soon, so the whole squad needs to shift focus. Still, we claimed two goals of our own, so there’s no need for us to hang our heads and I think we can carry confidence into our next fixture. Individually, I believe I can become the kind of player who performs when called upon, under any circumstances, and I still want to grow. Many of the other players on the squad are growing and I want to do the same.

Considering how the team used their previous match against Kita Kyushu to reverse the negative momentum they felt at the time, the next fixture against Tokushima should prove a similar opportunity.
We have nothing to lose. Of course, football is always a game between two sides, but I believe our job is to focus in the short period we have for training and do what we have to do to shift gears before taking the pitch again. I know the supporters want to see us win and they cheer us on because they want to share the thrill of victory with us, so we really are frustrated at not being able to accomplish that right now. Still, we will do our best to win the next match and hope to receive their continued support.

MF24Yuta Narawa

This was your first match appearance in two months. How did it feel to be on the pitch?
As long as I’m a football player, I’m happy to be playing at all times and I was grateful just to be out on the pitch. There are many things that you can only experience there. I watched all the team’s matches while I was out with my injury, but I was reminded that there’s no substitute for game time.

How did things look to you from the bench?
I thought we were playing excellent football and it was a match we could have won. When I took the pitch, it was with the intent of contributing to a win.

The team hasn’t come from behind to win a match all season, but you did manage to take the lead today after being behind. After that, however, you were unable to defend it and the match became a difficult one.
Rather than merely protecting our lead, our team vision is to keep attacking and expand upon it. So, I don’t see it as a matter of us failing to defend, but more that we had chances to score more goals and didn’t claim them. Still, if I had entered the match while we were still winning, I do feel I could have contributed more in defense.

While you were injured, the team made a lot of progress. However, they’ve also been struggling to get results.
Football is a sport where the team that scores the most goals wins. We can be very happy with the quality of our football, but the fact that it earns results at some times and not at others leaves us a bit unstable. We have to find ways to shorten that gap in our performances. When I’m on the pitch, that will be my focus.

Considering how the team used their previous match against Kita Kyushu to reverse the negative momentum they felt at the time, the next fixture against Tokushima should prove a similar opportunity.
It’s a home game and if we can play well and achieve a good result, the team is sure to move in a positive direction. Considering the number of matches we have left, I think this fixture is going to be very important for us and I want to perform and help the team.

After the bitter result against Tokushima in the season opener, this is your chance to show your growth by earning revenge.
I have bad memories of that opener, but since then, we’ve built strength as a team. On the other hand, they have a strong team too, so I hope this will be an occasion when we can perform well and get a good result.

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