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MATCH
Match Report
Last week, Verdy ended a run of three consecutive games with little rest by giving up late goals against Montedio Yamagata, ultimately taking them from a a one-goal lead to a one-goal loss. This week, the team returned home hoping to regroup, facing fifth in the table FC Ryukyu. There was only a single change to the starting lineup, as the increasingly fatigued Lee Yong Jick was given a rest and Hanato made his return to the squad after being given the last match off.
With a change in system putting their opponents slightly off balance at the start of the match, Verdy began by maintaining possession in attack. The first chance of the match came in the 7th minute. Junki Koike received the ball on the right wing and found the running Ryohei Hayashi with an early cross. Hayashi beat his marker to the spot and applied a first-time volley, but he could not make good contact and the ball flew over the bar. Verdy seemed poised to ride their momentum but soon found themselves being hit on the counter and forced to retreat, conceding possession and defending in their area as they found themselves unable to push back. In the 13th minute, a dangerous cross flew in from the right wing and was met by a Ryukyu player with a point-blank header. The shot was on target but Kamifukumoto reacted well and batted away the ball with a leaping save. Over the past few matches, Verdy had shown a tendency to sit back in defense during these moments but on this day, they showed greater patience in possession and were able to push in to the opposition third, ending a greater number of attacks with a shot on goal. In the 35th minute, several players combined to pull away markers in the final third and give Yuta Narawa an opportunity for a cross from the left. The ball made its way to the far side, where Junki Koike burst into the box for a first-time volley that failed to find the target. Just as the half looked like it would enter the break without a goal, Kota Watanabe left his marker stranded with a brilliant turn in the 40th minute and played a one-two with Yuhei Sato, the latter making a back-heel return pass to send Watanabe on the move unmarked. Their stylish interplay created an opening for a shot and Watanabe took advantage with a powerful right footed effort from mid-range that rocketed into the left corner of the net and gave Verdy the lead.
At half time, the locker room provided the stage for a lively exchange of opinion on the team’s overall approach in attack and defense. The players discussed their outlook on how the opposition had played, clarified their intentions for the second half and received detailed individual instructions from manager WHITE.
The second half began as a slightly open affair and each team had a chance to score. The biggest of those opportunities would come in the 63rd minute. Sato and Hanato combined to win the ball with a high press on the left side and the former quickly played the ball off to Hayashi on the front line. Hayashi received the pass with a clever first touch that allowed him to beat his marker and bear down on goal. After playing the ball past the charging keeper, Hayashi needed only to apply the finish, but his legs were caught by the hand of the goal keeper and he was brought down for a penalty. The incident left the Ryukyu goalkeeper with a bloody nose and play was stopped for seven minutes before the penalty, as the player received treatment. While the gap in play can’t be completely blamed, Hayashi’s subsequent spot kick was aimed for the bottom right corner and the goal keeper read it well enough to catch it first time, ending the threat. From that point, the opposition threw numbers forward and Verdy were forced into a more counter-attacking style, relying on quick passes to the front line after winning the ball. In the 87th minute, Hanato received a long feed from Hayashi and found himself one v one with the keeper in the penalty area, only to see the keeper successfully block his shot. Due to the long stoppage of play for medical treatment, additional time was set at eight minutes. Verdy attempted to use up the clock by maintaining possession high up the pitch. However, the three points would slip away with only three minutes left. As their opponents pushed forward with an all-out attack, Verdy set numbers in the penalty area to fend them off. A blocked shot saw the loose ball fall in front of an opposition player who swung at it with fury and sent it tumbling into the left corner of the net. Verdy now had to push forward and with extra numbers in attack, they did manage a final shot on goal but could not find the net and the final whistle sounded with the match level at 1-1.
During their recent run of matches, Verdy had focused on stabilizing their defense and the attack had sagged as a result, producing matches in which they ended with only three to five shots on goal. This week, they intended to use their defensive solidity as a platform to get forward in attack and were able to create clear opportunities, recording 13 shots. Though they were somewhat overcome by the opposition intensity in the closing minutes, it is also true that Verdy had ample opportunities to finish the match off before that point. The draw is particularly painful coming on their home turf and there can be little doubt that conceding so late will deal a degree of damage to the team’s confidence. However, they will be at home again next week and in order to bring joy back to Aji Stadium and relieve their frustration, they must further strengthen the precision of their attack as they seek victory against Albirex Niigata.
Post-match comments
Manager Gary John WHITE
Your thoughts on the match?
I think our performances have improved significantly. For certain periods of the match, we were able to present a sustained threat toward the opposition. In the process, we created chances. In a competitive match like this, I know that missing a penalty will always make things difficult. I think that may have been the point when the match turned around. In terms of our overall performance, I am satisfied for the most part.
Tell us why you decided to change the system.
I changed the system because we have a lot of players on our squad who can carry the ball forward and make quality runs with the ball at their feet, so I wanted us to get more numbers forward. In doing that, I think we started to see a better rhythm and more of the kind of play that we aim to achieve. It was a change that enabled us to play to our strengths. Our defensive play has improved for the most part so from this point, I want us to rebuild our attack and demonstrate the creativity needed to create chances and dictate the play.
What defensive responsibilities did you give to Kawano after bringing him on late in the match?
We switched to a formation with two holding midfielders and I put Kawano in as a shadow striker who could get forward on the counter, after the ball was played to Ryohei Hayashi. I told Lee Yong Jick to play next Morita in midfield and try to calm the match down. I had expected them to pressure our goal a bit more in the final minutes and the changes were intended to fend them off.
MF 7Kota Watanabe
Your thoughts on the match?
I think the goal is a direct reflection of the time I spent away from the pitch and my efforts in training. I had identified taking shots from mid-range as an area that I needed to improve and you can tell it’s something I’ve been working on. As a team, lately, we hadn’t been taking many shots, so I had made up my mind to shoot when the opportunity arrived.
How did it feel to be playing with a new system?
I think the formation allowed us to get more numbers forward than when we play with two holding midfielders. I think we should have played with even more of an attacking mentality, today.
On paper, Inoue was playing as the midfield anchor, but it seemed like the three of you in the center were doing a lot of rotation.
We were told that we had the freedom to do that and I tried to keep a good balance in mind as the match progressed.
In the first half, you did a lot of running with the ball down the right side.
I think it’s important that we bring the ball forward and if someone doesn’t take things into their own hands, we won’t be able to generate an effective attack. I tried to keep that in mind.
Perhaps because of the system change, it did seem like the midfielders were more involved in the attack, today.
For me, personally, I believe this formation is well-suited to the type of players we have in our squad. It felt good in training as well and if we stick with it, I think we’ll be able to develop a strong attack.
Morita was brought on in the second half and it seemed like the team wanted to continue playing with the ball at your feet, but instead you ended up falling back in defense in the final minutes.
We weren’t able to win the ball in defense and then secure it. As midfielders, we have to raise our stamina levels and do a better job of pressing and covering throughout the match. If we don’t do that, it’s going to be tough to play with this formation. I still had the desire to get forward at the end, but the overall gravity of the team pulled me deeper. That’s something we have to improve. It’s simply too difficult if we let the other team dominate the ball for long periods.
Did the long stoppage before the penalty and then missing the penalty change the momentum for the worse?
We had discussed how we would close the match on the assumption that we would convert the penalty. However, we weren’t able to do so and had to continue playing as we were.
With the change in system, the way you defended in your own third was an important point.
With three players in midfield, the space on either side of the anchor man will open up. The way we shut that down or combine in defense becomes important, so that’s something we have to work on more.
FW 18 Jin Hanato
Your thoughts on the match?
If I had converted the chance I had, we would have won. It was a painful reminder to me that when both teams have opportunities, like today, any missed chance will come back to hurt you. It leaves me aware of what I am still lacking as a player.
This was the first time you played on the left side, rather than the number 10 position.
I think it was probably the first time in my pro career that I played on the left side, but I had the feeling that whenever Taira got the ball, I would have a chance to run behind and score from a single punch. With that said, looking back on the match, I feel I should have closed them down more in defense.
You were under attack by the opposition from the opening whistle.
We’ve had a lot of matches where we struggle during the opening minutes. I do think it’s important that we be more aggressive coming out of the gate and if we give up a goal during that period, it makes the rest of the match more difficult. Today, we were lucky that they didn’t convert their chances but if we can do what they did from the opening whistle and become the kind of team that gets early goals, I think we’ll be able to relax a bit more as we play. It’s something we have to work on.
As a team, everyone showed determination to support each other.
I’m not the type of player who stays wide or gets forward on my own, so it’s important that I have a good relationship with those around remind me. I was told not to roam to the opposite side, so I stayed wide for the most part, but I think we can develop a little more fluidity if I let Hamu (Narawa) take up that position and drift into the middle myself to receive the ball. If we can learn to sense each other’s presence with each match, our attack will grow smoother and if we can add Ryohei (Hayashi) to the mix as well, we’ll have good numbers in possession. What I’d really like to do is play a flick to Ryohei when I receive the ball from Taira, but we haven’t been able to do that well, yet. I spoke with Ryohei and told him I wanted him to come toward me and receive the ball, but we still have to work on doing that in the midst of match play.
At the end of the match, you had a good chance after freeing yourself for a one v one with the keeper.
The keeper came a lot further off his line than I thought he would and that cut off my angle for the shot. I was thinking about trying to play it between his legs or into the near bottom corner, but the ball took a bad bounce and played off my chest, so I was in the worst position possible. If I had more poise and had scored in that situation, I think it would have secured us the result. I really feel like we would have won if only I had scored, so it hurts.
The team dropped back in defense in the second half.
We have a bad habit of dropping back when we’re up a goal. If the forward players like myself, Ryohei (Hayashi), or Eiko (Koike) can do a better job of keeping the ball and buying time for our teammates to push up, I think we can increase the amount of time we spend in attack. Right now, our tendency is to slack off and allow ourselves to drop deeper, which in turn allows our opponents more time to pin us back and that creates the potential for us to concede off shots like you at the close of the match. Personally, I think that even when things are difficult, those of us on the front line have to get on the ball more and buy time for everyone else.
At one point, today, you received the ball in the box and played it down well for Inoue.
I told Shion he had to finish that one. Even so, if I we can create more plays like that, it will make things more fun for us and any goals we get will be highlights, for sure. After receiving the ball between the lines like that, I could have tried to turn on it myself, but I felt that Shion was in a better stance, so I played it to him. I want us to do that more.
MF 9Yuhei Sato
You played with a new system, today.
I think we started the match well and because I was able to drop deep and receive the ball, we increased our share of the possession. Kota (Watanabe) and I had made up our minds to be dynamic when we got the ball in those positions and I think we accomplished that a few times. Given how little time we’ve had to train between matches, I think we looked pretty polished. With that said, I think it will be a benefit to the team if the three of us can demonstrate enough of our skills in match play that we can stay on the pitch together, constantly. I’d like to continue developing combinations using the three midfielders we had today.
The opening goal came from the three of you combining.
I had made up my mind to move into the center after I dropped back and that worked really well. The three of us had talked about maintaining a good balance, so when one of us went forward, someone else would drop back. We tried to do that in attack and defense. I think you saw that work well with the goal.
MF 16Koki Morita
Your thoughts on the match?
When I first came on the pitch, I had Yuhei (Sato) and Kota (Watanabe) on either side of me and our objective as a team was to maintain possession. However, after the penalty miss, we grew more passive and found ourselves on the defensive end, just like what had happened in the previous match. In terms of the overall result, we had a chance from the penalty spot and when they made the save, it gave them momentum and put us on the back foot.
It seemed like you had a chance to escape with the win, though. How did it feel on the pitch?
I had the feeling that if things stayed like they were, we would eventually concede. If we drop back that deep, we have no one forward when we do win the ball and constantly chasing their passes tires us out. There were dangerous moments that happened, even before their goal, and we knew we were in trouble at the end.
Was it hard to defend against them?
We weren’t seeing any of the ball and we weren’t in a position to get on the ball, so we just let them have it. When that happens, we can’t allow them space in the center of midfield, so we have to keep chasing and it takes a toll on you mentally.
There were a lot of positives in attack in the first half.
Watching from the bench in the first half, it felt like there were several times when we dictated the flow of the match, moved the ball, and ended our moves with a shot on goal. I wish we could have continued that in the second half and it’s important that we stick to our style of football without growing passive.