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MATCH
Match Report
【Match Report】
After consecutive matches in two of the league’s toughest stadiums, Chiba and Kanazawa, Verdy returned home this week on a two-match winning streak and hoping for more. Their opponents on this occasion were Yokohama FC, a team who lie above Verdy in the table at 3rd place with just three points between them. The lineup for this match had only one change from the previous week, with Yong-jik Ri slotting in at left wing and Yuhei Sato starting at inside half in place of Izumisawa.
In the early stages of the match, Verdy were pushed back by their on-rushing opponents but gradually, the team began to move the ball patiently and play past the opposition press, granting them overwhelming control of possession as they pinned their opponents back. In the third minute, combination play on the front line led to a break for Yuhei Sato. However, he was brought down from behind by a defender before he could apply the finish and the referee signaled no foul. Yokohama’s ball-side pressure was incredibly fierce and it looked for a time like Verdy might struggle with their physical play. It was then that the match took an unexpected turn. It was the fifth minute and Akira Ibayashi took hold of the ball in the Verdy area before spotting Yuta Narawa in space on the left side of the opposition half. Ibayashi attempted to find Narawa with a long pass, but a defender reacted first and attempted to clear, only to send the ball looping over the goal keeper’s head and into his own net for an early Verdy lead. Though Yokohama seemed poised to increase their pressure and push back in response, it was now Verdy’s turn to press high up the pitch and the players were frequently able to win the second ball and recycle their attack. Once on the ball, Verdy were quick to slow down the play and sustain their pressure in front of the opposition goal. In the 16th minute, Kanya Fujimoto drilled a low cross from a free kick on the left side and Douglas got a touch at the near post, redirecting the ball toward goal, but his effort would drift just wide to the right of the goal. On the other end, in the 22nd minute, Yokohama’s Leandro Domingues threatened with a mid-range shot, only to see the ball fly over the bar. Just one minute later, a forward pass from Yong-jik Ri found Douglas in the box for a Verdy chance that was kept out by an impressive save from the goalkeeper. The match would continue to go Verdy’s way. In the 26th minute, the players tried a trick play from a right-side corner kick, leading to an unmarked shot by Ryota Kajikawa, but his powerful effort was ultimately blocked by a defender. Sato then had a chance in the 37th, receiving a lay off from Fujimoto and turning his defender for the shot, but the ball flew straight into the arms of the keeper. In the end, Verdy were unable to build on their lead but there was no doubt that they had threatened the opposition, from open play and set pieces, and had firm control of the game.
At the start of the second half, Verdy dropped into their own territory as Yokohama strengthened their speedy attack. However, the team’s patience allowed them to win the ball and play it behind the opposition defense. In the 63rd minute, Verdy won a free kick just outside the left of the penalty area and substitute Izumisawa tried another trick play, pulling defenders away as he played a one-two with Kajikawa who had taken up a shallow position. The latter’s first-time pass set Izumisawa free in front of goal, but his shot was blocked by a lunging challenge from a defender. Meanwhile, Yokohama proceeded with a simple game plan reliant on service to forward Ibba Laajaba. However, the Verdy players retained possession well on the counter when they won the ball and refused to allow the momentum to completely slip away. That approach would eventually pay off. In the 70th minute, Kajikawa took the ball near the center circle and played a looping though pass into space on the left side. Kagawa made the run to receive the ball and then dummied as if he were going to play a cross between the goal keeper and back line, instead electing to play a shallow ball on the edge of the box. Izumisawa made a perfectly-timed run and found space in the box for a shot from a 45-degree angle left of goal. The effort curved past the goalkeeper into the right corner of the net. Having thus earned a two-goal lead, Verdy would now be tested for their ability to intelligently carry out the remainder of the match. This was especially true given the tremendous individual skill of Ibba, who was determined to single-handedly pull a goal back for the opposition. Even so, Verdy’s defensive organization did not crumble. As the opposition passed the ball in the wide areas, the players maintained consistent ball side pressure and slid with their shape intact to cut off any avenues toward goal. In the 81st minute, Ibba could no longer be contained and used his height advantage to pull a goal back. However, Masashi Wakasa was quickly brought on to bridge the gap and Verdy were able to repel any subsequent long balls.
In the final minutes before time up, the opposition became desperate to win the ball and Verdy took advantage of their lack of composure by playing the ball to Douglas and Izumisawa, letting them use their individual skill to keep the ball in areas high up the pitch. When they did lose possession, the players were equally quick to place immediate pressure on the ball holder, thus preventing them from playing long balls forward, and protected their lead to the end.
On this day, Verdy were able to illustrate their competitive spirit at the climax by showing their best qualities in attack and defense, ensuring victory in a dramatic match. This is especially true considering the implications of such an important head-to-head matchup. With the victory, Verdy have built a three-match winning streak and are without a doubt pulling closer to the top of the table. However, it is one of the more frightening aspects of football that just a slight show of overconfidence could undue all that hard work. What matters now is the team’s attitude, an approach that will not waver. Every match from here out is a must win. The players have no choice but to focus on each individual match at hand and do their best to prepare without thinking too far into the future. Next week’s match will be their second in a row at home, this time facing a bottom-table team in Roasso Kumamoto. The pressure to win against a weaker opponent should be an even greater test of the team’s true character.
Post-match comments
Manager Miguel Ángel Lotina
Your thoughts on the match?
It was a game of two halves. In the first half, we dominated the ball and created chances. We had a bit of luck when they scored an own goal and had other clear opportunities for a second. In the second half, the opposition were more dominant and we were forced to defend for long periods. We only created a small number of chances, but Jin grabbed a goal from one of those and brought the score to 2-0. Our opponents then reinforced their attack and when they got a goal of their own, we spent the rest of the match on the defensive.
Compared to the same point of the season last year, the team has been able to get the goal they need to turn draws into wins. What do you think is the reason for that?
You may be right. That we have increased our potential to win may come down to the fact that even the players who don’t get regular game time are able to perform when called upon and help us get the victory.
What do you think is the reason for the team’s recent improvement in attack and defense?
We always have a plan for our buildup or attack and that includes the spaces on the pitch we want to use and other elements. I am satisfied with our growth in that area. Of course, I still demand a lot from the players on the defensive end. We won’t always be able to control the flow of every match, so even on days like this when our opponents control possession and we have to defend for long periods, we still have to maintain our philosophy. I simply ask the players to do what they can to perform without mistakes and I’m satisfied with that aspect of our play.
Like last year, the team is in a position to challenge for promotion to J1. What do you think is needed to take the team to the next level?
What’s needed is what we saw today, and in the Chiba match, by which I mean that the players maintained concentration and played with the maximum respect for and awareness of their competition. I think that is what is fundamental. We will play every match aiming to win points and do what we can to achieve victory. This is something that I always tell the payers, but it’s important, in attack and defense, that each individual continue to grow and that they make progress on a daily basis. If each individual grows, the team will grow. From that, what I demand in training will also grow, naturally, every day. That is what I tell the players. It’s something very basic, but I think if you prepare well, you will play well.
Was the fact that Yokohama controlled the match in the second half down problems with your opponents or problems within your own team?
“I think it was both. I think the biggest factor is that we couldn’t win the ball. With that said, we can’t forget the fact that we were playing against a very good team with excellent players.
MF 6Jin Izumisawa
Tell us about your goal.
As a team, we were building good attacks and all I had to do was apply the finish. I’m glad it went in.
Your teammates were particularly passionate in congratulating you.
The whole team has been very supportive and I want to contribute more in the future.
That was a fantastic finish.
I’m actually not that confident in my finishing. However, I definitely have confidence in other areas, like my ability to create chances.
Do you feel like everyone is on the same page regarding how you want to break down your opponents?
The manager and all the coaching staff do a great job of analysis and I’m very happy that all the work we put into training showed clear results in today’s match.
Are you glad you made the move to Verdy?
Yes, I definitely feel that now. More than anything else, the boss (Lotina) and Coach Ivan are teaching me a lot about football and I really enjoy playing for them. There’s so much to learn, from positioning to ball placement and more. These are all things that I lacked knowledge of before, so I feel like a whole new man and I want to continue my growth as a player. Right now, all our matches have a positive tension about them and I feel in good condition, both as an individual and in terms of the team.
What do you think has enabled you to fit in so well with the team?
Even outside of training, they show me a lot of game film and I think that’s had a major impact. Also, the team plays attacking football and that suits me as a player.
In terms of gaining promotion to J1, a victory like today’s against another upper table team should prove an important result.
We knew from before the start of the match that today was going to be very important. To get the full three points means a lot.
Do you have any message for the supporters?
We will continue to do our best to earn your support and passion. Let’s carry on the fight together.
MF 35MF 35Kanya Fujimoto
Your thoughts on the match?
I think getting the first goal in the early minutes of the first half was very important. Even before the goal, we had the feeling that they were content to let us pass the ball, so I’m glad we were able to take advantage of that and pursue the game at our pace.
The opposition seemed to be playing a lot of specialists in attack.
For us in defense, they had at least 2-3 players that we had to be constantly aware of. If we let Leandro Domingues or Sato have the ball with too much space, they would immediately hit us with a through-pass. However, we felt that if we were able to close down the ball holder more, then we could prevent them from creating too many chances.
Is there anything individually that you were particularly careful of in defense?
Leandro was dropping back in midfield a lot, so I had to cut off his avenues for the pass or prevent their wing backs from getting position high up the pitch. Lastly, I was able to press Jong-a-Pin pretty well from my position and I think that worked nicely in the first half.
In the second half, you saw a lot less of the ball, didn’t you?
If we tried to clear it forward, we only had Douglas up the pitch, so we had to clarify amongst ourselves whether we were going to boot it and try to push up with our line or choose not to do a big clearance and pass from the back. Once we were up 2-0, it seemed like everyone shifted into a defensive mindset and we stopped chasing the ball or let the line drop too deep. With that said, considering the amount of time they had on the ball, I don’t think we suffered that much damage.
MF 16Yuhei Sato
You were able to move the ball pretty feely in the first half.
Our front two was working hard to pull markers away, so to some degree, I think I had a good amount of time and space on the ball. Taira was also placing good passes and I received the ball with good timing on several occasions.
You were pushed back quite a bit in the second half.
In the second half, the opposition changed their formation and played a more dynamic style with big players on the front line. On top of that, the players making the passes, Sato and Leandro, had a lot of quality. The manager told me to think about how I would respond to that, so I tried to stay aware.
The way the team worked hard on their counter pressing seemed to have a big effect in the second half.
I was moved to shadow striker during the course of the play, so I tried to stay aware of what my duties were in that role. On top of that, our formation was a bit asymmetrical, so Jin and I had to concentrate on receiving the ball in good positions. Almost all the time after the switch, particularly in the final minutes, was spent with them having possession of the ball and we focused strongly on absorbing their attacks.
So, once you were up 2-0, your only thought was on surviving the remainder with your lead intact?
Yeah, I think we were content to escape at that point and as a team, we were determined not to let this match get away. Given how close we were to them in the table, we had to focus on the result more than the play, and I think that was the right thing to do.
What was the atmosphere like on the pitch once the lead went down to only one goal?
In football, you always hear that 2-0 is the most dangerous score, but when they got their goal it only made us focus even harder. It was an away match for them, but that also pushed them to play harder and I’m happy that we were able to see the result out without handing them another goal. The last time we played them, Yong-jik got an equalizer in the last moments of the match, so we knew we had to main concentration, even during additional time.
You created some close chances from trick plays on set pieces.
Every match, we have a concept for how we will handle set pieces and our hope is always that it will lead to a goal. In the first half, Kaji(hara) came close to a goal and if we could have scored there, it would have given us just enough padding to make the rest of the game a bit easier. With that said, playing at 1-0 for a long period also encourages us to focus more, so it can be a positive as well. Jin coming on as a substitute and grabbing that second goal was huge. Without it, I think the match may have ended up a draw. The manager always tells us to make luck work for us, but in truth, we had only that one shot in the second half, so it really was good that it went in.
You’ve now gotten three wins in a row, despite heavy rotation among the squad. Does that make you feel like the overall strength of the team has grown?
First we lost Hata(naka) and then Kota (Watanabe) had to take leave; both of them are players that the manager has always trusted. With them gone, all of us have had to come together and step up our performance. That has led to the result you see now. We are in a really good place and we can’t afford to have a run of losses like we did in the first half of the season, or else we’ll drop out of playoff contention. It’s true that we’ve closed the gap on the teams above us, but realistically, our first goal has to be to maintain our playoff spot.
DF 3 Akira Ibayashi
Your thoughts on the match?
We knew that by having more of the ball, we could limit their attacking opportunities and I think that plan worked well.
Still, you were pushed back a lot in the second half and had to deal with their attack for long periods.
It was clear how they were going to come at us in attack and the fact that we were able to keep their key men, Leandro Domingues and Ibba, in check was what enabled us to hold them to a minimum of goals.
What were you most careful of in responding to their changes in system and personnel?
The last time we played them was an away match for us and after we had a really good first half, they changed their system in the second and prevented us from playing our best. We expected them to try the same thing this time and when they put on a center back at the beginning of the second half, we knew they were going to switch to a back four and try to come at us from the front. I think all of us shared a good awareness of the need to play past their press.
Izumisawa’s goal proved important during that difficult period of the match.
They were throwing so many players forward that when we did attack, we were able to break with equal numbers to theirs in defense and that was what led to the goal. They understood that risk and kept attacking, so I think us getting the first goal really put as an advantage throughout the match.
After wins in two difficult away matches against Chiba and Kanazawa, you played another opponent who you’ve traditionally struggled with today.
I don’t think the past data means very much to us right now. With each year, we change our style and so do they. I think our ability to play each match the same mindset was what has led to our recent results and it’s important for us to keep preparing to the best of our ability.
DF 4Yuki Kagawa
Tell us about your assist.
We had prepared for that situation in training. I was able to get into a good position and received a good pass. Jin (Izumisawa) and I have built a good relationship and I think we timed our runs perfectly. Once I had the ball, I saw Jin was going to move into that space, so even though I thought about floating a cross first, I heard him shout and played it into that area.
You took the pitch rather suddenly, today.
The manager called my number suddenly and I didn’t have a lot of time to prepare. However, it wasn’t as hard as I feared to adjust to the flow of the match.
What instructions did you receive from the manager?
Just to play as I have in training. I think I was able to do that.
You’ve had assists in the last two matches and seem to have adjusted quickly to Verdy’s style.
After joining the team, I think it was actually a pretty natural adjustment to the team’s tactics and football style.
How did it feel to make your home debut?
It’s always special at home and today’s match against an upper-table team like Yokohama FC was one we couldn’t afford to lose, so there was a great energy about the ground. I think we played a great game.
Do you have any message for the supporters?
We were against one of our rivals in the table, today, so I’m really glad we were able to win. I think the support we received from the fans made all the difference. We still have ten matches to go, so I will do my best to earn an assist or goal in every game.