2019 MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE 13th Sec - Tokyo Verdy vs Avispa Fukuoka

Match Report

Last week, Verdy returned home to earn their first win in six matches. On the heels of three straight games in which they failed to secure a second goal after taking the lead, it was a welcome change of atmosphere. Though the team desired to take the field on this day with the same squad, Jin Hanato was forced into absence after reaggravating an old injury. He was replaced by Kojic as the lone striker.

In the opening minutes, Fukuoka’s strategy of playing long balls to evade Verdy’s high press and compact shape proved effective and they were able to secure the ball in high positions inside the Verdy half. In response, Verdy raised the intensity of their pressing and were eventually able to win the ball up the pitch, setting up attacks on the short counter. Gradual improvement in their rhythm and timing soon brought the first smiles of the day. It was the 10^th minute and after earning a free kick inside the Verdy penalty area, Naoto Kamifukumoto saw that the opposition were being slow to track back and hit a long feed to the front line. Kojic was able to get a touch to the ball, sending it to the right wing where Kanya Fujimoto secured possession and hit a diagonal through ball into space. Kota Watanabe made the run onto the pass, pulling away markers with him, and then hit a reverse ball back into the box where Kojic hit it first time. The shot deflected off the leg of a defender and changed direction, bouncing off the inside of the bar and into the goal. After taking the lead, Verdy did not settle and continued to attack. In the 23^rd minute, coordinated pressing by Yuhei Sato and Kojic allowed the latter to win the ball and continue his run on goal. His shot was agonizingly wide of the post but still showed the intent of the team to attack at a time when their opponents were desperate to get forward, allowing Verdy to dampen their threat. From that point, Verdy were pushed back into their own penalty area for a short period and in the 33^rd minute, a pin-point cross found the head of an opposition player for the equalizer. Despite the set-back, Verdy would find strength to attack again at the end of the first half. It was the 44^th minute and Junki Koike’s dangerous cross forced the keeper off his line to make a deflection. Fujimoto was on hand to retrieve the ball, unmarked, but his first time shot skyrocketed over the bar. Just when it seemed like Verdy had missed their window of opportunity, however, a beautiful goal would emerge. In the 45^th minute, Shion Inoue controlled possession deep in the opposition half and began building the team’s passing rhythm. After a one-two between Watanabe and Sato, the players shifted gears and brought Kanya Fujimoto into the move to break down the middle and create space with quick one and two touch movement. Watanabe stretched the play to the wide left and upon receiving the ball, found Yuta Narawa making a late run with a first-time pass. Narawa raised his head and played a pin-point cross to Kojic at the near post. Though Kojic was contained by his marker, the ball rolled free to the far side and reached the feet of Koike. With a defender leaning on his back, the Verdy forward spun and hit a low shot into the left corner to give the team a priceless lead at the stroke of half time.

As the second half began, Fukuoka pushed forward in search of an equalizer but Verdy were equally adept at creating chances on the short counter with their high press. In the 51^st minute, the team won the ball from a high position in midfield and Sato played a pass into space on the right for Kojic to run onto. Kojic then sent a brilliant return pass to Sato on the front line. Having penetrated the penalty area, Sato took a shot from a near 45-degree angle, but the goal-keeper was able to keep it out with an impressive save. The opposition then began to see more of the possession, only for Verdy to inflict damage in an unexpected fashion. It was the 57^th minute and Sato surveyed the pitch from the right wing before switching the play to the opposite side. Fujimoto received the ball and stretched the defense by holding up the play. He then laid it off for Narawa, who had made a bursting run across him from the left side. As Narawa entered the penalty area, he hit a sharp cross across the face of goal and a defender at the near post attempted to clear, only to send the ball plunging into the back of the net for Verdy’s first three-goal match of the season. The only test left for Verdy was how they would close off the game. The players were wary of dropping too far back in defense and attended to keep the opposition from pushing into their half by maintaining their attack. However, Fukuoka’s Suzuki was able to score from a mid-range shot in the 62^nd minute, bringing the lead back to a single goal. In the previous matches, before they had fully discovered their rhythm, the Verdy players had a tendency to hang their heads after conceding but that was not the case, today. In the 68^th minute, the team broke out on the counter after pressing high and Koike was able to beat his marker and break into the box, threatening the goal with a vicious shot that indicated Verdy’s mindset. In the 74^th minute, the opposition were able to set up a point-blank shot on goal, but Kamifukumoto used his body well to block the shot and end the danger. From that point, Verdy continued to be alert for opportunities on the break but concentrated mainly on forming a defensive wall in their half that prevented their opponents from pushing easily into the final third. As the match moved into additional time, Verdy’s organization once again enabled them to win the ball and push it up the pitch on the counter, effectively sapping their opponents of any final burst of energy and defending their one-goal lead until the final whistle.

Thirteen matches into the season, Verdy now have their first winning streak and are entering into a positive cycle. The fact that players such as Kojic, who stepped in to fill the void left by Hanato and answered the call with a goal, continue to take advantage of their opportunities is sure to provide further momentum to the team as a whole. With each match, more time is spent in control of the play and though their attacks are increasingly layered, the players have also showed the will to track back quickly and counter press, stabilizing their defense. Inability to keep a clean sheet remains a problem but is also a side effect of their improvement in attack. The most important thing is whether they can continue to play with the same mentality. As the team’s style matures, so will the scouting reports of the opposition. Can Verdy become a team who impose their will, even when their opponents prepare to cancel them out? Now that they finally have a run of wins under their belt, it is more important than ever to close ranks and prepare for the next challenge.

Manager Gary John WHITE

Your thoughts on the match?
I think it’s a result that everyone at the club can be happy with. The players fought to the end and I think they showed great courage in the way they closed out the match. Avispa were a very dangerous opponent. I think we were just a little better than them, today. Junki (Koike) got a goal on his birthday, so I’m very happy for him. I hope we can continue to gain momentum from here.

What changes did you make to your approach to finish off the game?
The first thing was to press from high positions. The key was in how we dealt with the players on their squad who carry the ball forward. In particular, I wanted to stop them getting the ball to their number 8 (Jun Suzuki). I also told the players not to let them turn once they received the ball. I think by doing that, we were able to maintain a high line and didn’t allow them freedom.

Why did you move Kanya Fujimoto to the lone striker position from the midpoint of the second half?
I wanted Kanya to be as far forward as possible and I told him to concentrate on making runs behind. By surrounding him with players who can pass the ball, I also wanted him to focus on building combinations with the other players, whether pressing in defense or creating chances. I also didn’t want to substitute two players at the same time and wanted to give Kanya as much time on the pitch as possible.

In terms of how you finished the match, there seemed to be some big differences from last week’s performance.
Up until last week, we had tried going with five at the back in those situations, but it ended up encouraging the back line to drop deeper. Both myself and the entire coaching staff had identified that as an area that needed improvement. By staying with four at the back today, we had fewer numbers in defense but greater numbers up top and I think that led to the improvements you saw. I also wanted to make the space between the lines more compact. In addition, when we played with five at the back, you ended up seeing two lines form, one at the very back and the other formed by everyone else. This time, I emphasized the need for three lines – at the back, in midfield, and up top – so that we could stay compact in defense. Lastly, by packing the middle of the pitch and keeping good spacing, we were able to keep number 8, who is a very talented player, from impacting the game. Everyone on our squad did their job. Also, their number 22 (Naoki Wako) had been free to put in crosses for part of the match, but by having Kanya (Fujimoto) and Junki (Koike) switch sides, we were able to contain him. I think those changes worked well.

Lee Yong Jick had been played in defense up until this match, but today you put him on the front line as a substitute. What was your reason for that?
I had been putting a burden on him by making him play center back, lately, but I know he can play in midfield too and even as a forward. Next week, we might have him play goal-keeper (laugh). Kidding aside, I know that he is a player who works hard and I trusted him to give 100% for the final 20 minutes. An additional advantage is that he gives the team some height and that helps a lot on set pieces, in attacking and defense. Lastly, when we clear the ball from the back, I know that he can secure it on the front line so I thought it best to put him up there.

MF 19Junki Koike

How did it feel to score a goal on your 32nd birthday?
I came into the match wanting to score but I don’t think I could duplicate that goal if I tried. I’m glad that it somehow came off on this day. Nara(wa) has played me a lot of good balls this season and I hadn’t been finishing them, so when I saw Kojic at the near post, I ran for the far side and that ended up being the correct decision. When I took the shot, there was someone from the opposition, I think it was Wako, standing between me and the goal, so I theorized that I could take advantage and hit it through the space between him and the keeper. It played out exactly as I imagined when the ball came.

Have you ever scored on your birthday before?
I may have scored in the same week in the past, but it’s pretty rare that my birthday falls on a match day, so probably not.

In the first half, you switched sides with Fujimoto in order to neutralize their left back, Wako.
During the match, the manager shouted at me to move to the right and the result was what you saw. I heard him say to stop #22 at all costs. He had already put in a good cross that led to a goal, so I focused on defending those.

You earned your first winning streak of the season.
We’re slowly getting better. Things were really tough from the opener on, but lately we have taken steps toward achieving the way we want to play. The winning streak should give us confidence and I hope it will be a trigger for us to move up from where we are now and take things to the next level.

You closed the match with four at the back instead of five. How did that feel?
We had trained this week to finish matches with four and the substitutes who came on today were players who can run hard on the front line and use their physical strength. Their play picked us up after a difficult period of the match and was a big help. The goal we conceded was almost an accident and happened at a moment when we just weren’t able to close down the ball holder anymore. The substitutes did a good job of taking on the role of first defender and doing that. Since we had fewer players at the back, it also made it easier to slide from side to side and know when to close down. Personally, I liked the way we played, today.

You had given up goals from set pieces in three straight matches, but today you were able to avoid that, today.
More than the quality of the opposition kicker, it really comes down to our deflecting the balls they put in and maintaining communication. We focused on ourselves in that way during training and I think the improvements showed in today’s match.

FW 27Nemanja Kojic

Tell us about your goal.
To tell you the truth, I don’t really remember what happened (laugh). I’m only joking, but Kanya Fujimoto (actually Kota Watanabe) put in a great cross. Of course, it was a lucky goal, but I think the work I’ve put in so far led to that moment. I hadn’t gotten any match time this month, but I was determined to work hard if the chance came my way. I also entered the match with the intention of getting a goal.

I believe it was actually Watanabe who played the final ball, rather than Fujimoto.
No, it was Kanya. Okay, maybe it was Kota (Watanabe) but it doesn’t change anything for me. I’m going to give Kanya the credit (laugh).

What was behind your goal celebration?
I wanted to express love for my family. They came with me a great distance to Japan and they have always supported me. I wanted to tell them I loved them.

It was your first start in a while.
Whether I start or come on as a substitute, the most important thing is the team. I’m always thinking about what I can do to help the team win.

Do you feel you are combining better with your teammates than before?
I come from Europe and this is my first time in Japan, so I do need some time to adjust the qualities of the players, the play style, the environment and everything else that is so different. With that said, I had a long conversation with Yuhei (Sato) a couple of days ago and I think that helped to deepen our teamwork. I’m glad that was reflected in the result, today.

Did you get a touch to the ball on the own goal?
I did not. Nara(wa) gets the credit for that one. I call him the machine. He put in a fantastic cross. That’s what led to the own goal. He was the man of the match, today.

MF 6Shion Inoue

Your thoughts on the match?
We didn’t have as much of the ball as we had in the past few matches and I think it was a bit of a coincidence, or at least luck, that we scored when we did. I guess wins do come like this, sometimes.

Jun Suzuki was their key man. How did you deal with his threat?
We were warned before the match that he was their key player, but it was still difficult to slow him down in the first half. At half time, we talked about making sure that we did contain him after the break but, as in past matches, we have to work on how we choose to press. For instance, how we put pressure on their holding midfielders.

You ended the match with four at the back, rather than five. How did that feel?
I think we did a better job than in the past of pressing them until the final whistle and we did not grow overly passive. However, we have to improve our play after we win the ball or extend the time we have in possession during difficult periods of the match. Today, we had players like (Lee) Yong Jick and Kaji(kawa), players who can secure the ball on the front line, come in as substitutes. Everyone said that made things easier at the back, so I think the way the substitutes and the players on the front line press the opposition is very important for us.

Your play in the second half stood out today, as you were able to not only bring your teammates into the match but also win the ball, cover in defense, and make interceptions.
As the match goes on, I’m sometimes slow to respond to situations or lose sight of my teammates, so I’ve been thinking about trying to contribute more in defense. The other thing I’ve worked on is keeping things simple when we have the ball in attack. I’m glad that I was able to find more ways to contribute as the match went on, today.

The moments when you and Watanabe maintained close spacing and tried to open up the game in the second half stood out.
Kota is good with the ball at his feet, so I tried to get it to him quickly, but we ended up rushing things a bit too much. We should have slowed things down and tried to extend possession, as well. Depending on the opposition’s approach, we had it in mind to get a fourth goal, but after seeing how tired the team was, we should have kept the ball. We have to improve our judgment in those areas.

Do you think finding areas of improvement in matches where you win will help the team become more positive?
I do think that is a big positive. If we can make improvements while still winning, it increases our optimism and makes the game more fun.

The team seemed to change its approach, today, after changes to the players on the front line.
We can’t play the exact same football at all times, despite having different players on the pitch. For example, Kojic has his particular qualities and I think the rest of have to play differently to utilize them. When someone like that is taken off, we have to consider that throughout the team.

MF 4Kanya Fujimoto

You managed to get a win prior to leaving for the U-20 World Cup.
I’m just glad we won. I think the difference between a win and a loss here has a huge effect on how my performance is viewed. I’m happy we got the win.

Your positive relationship with Watanabe showed in the opening goal.
I should note first that I got the ball because Kojic worked hard to get a touch and play it in front of me. After that, I cut inside and even thought about taking a shot myself, but I’ve made up my mind to use Kota (Watanabe) when I see him making a run. We’ve combined well together since last season and I made the pass. I thought I would get it back from him, but he is strong enough to make plays on his own and he chose the correct pass.

You played as a lone striker in the second half.
It was something we tried without much preparation. At first, I tried to drop back like a false nine, but the manager told me to secure the ball and defend on the front line. After that, I focused on keeping the ball at the front and lining up vertically with Yuhei in defense. The goal was to prevent the opposition from moving forward with the ball.

You set up a good chance for Koike by passing into space after drifting to the wide left.
If I’m going to play on the front line, I figured that creating more plays like that was one role I could fulfill. I hope I can do that more in the future.

In the middle of the first half, you switched sides with Koike in order to deal with their side-back Wako.
The opposition were dividing their play well between the middle and wide areas. On the play where I had to foul them, it happened after they played it into the middle and laid it off. In this way, they were preventing me from getting into the wide areas. That’s an area I have to discuss with Waka(sa) and make improvements.

Your switching of the play to the opposite provided Narawa the opportunity to make the cross that led to the own goal.
After I moved to the left, it became easier to defend and in attack, Narawa takes up high positions. Since the first half, we had been breaking them down well when I moved into the middle and combined with Yuhei (Sato) and Narawa. We did that in the second half, as well, and I felt it was best to utilize players making overlapping runs. Narawa has a lot of stamina, so he’s able to create good opportunities.

DF 17Lee Yong Jick

You played on the front line, today.
I’m fairly sure that when I come in at that part of the match, I’m being asked to bolster the defense. It’s a position that I hadn’t played recently in training, so I tried to play in the way I’m most comfortable.

Your defense from the front seemed effective.
I knew my teammates were tired, so I wanted to help them as much as possible. However, from my perspective, I don’t think I did enough and feel a bit frustrated with myself.

You did impose your physical style on the front line, though.
If we were to consider my performance today as a good one, I think that would be a little too soft. I have to use my body even more and make things easier for the others. I was already frustrated when I entered the match today, so I’m not satisfied at all. The team winning is the most important thing, but I’m still upset about my own performance. I’ve been harsh on my teammates at times and if I don’t back that up with my performances, I’m going to look like I’m all talk. I think I have to buckle down and play harder.

You won a lot of fouls from the opposition up top.
I was trying to earn the foul, but I also think that it’s pointless if all I do is win headers. When I watch other teams play in the same in the same situation, their players chest down the ball or clear it to the sidelines when they can’t secure it themselves. I tried to do the same thing, but I wasn’t able to communicate that effectively to my teammates. I think comes down to a lack of communication on my part. In addition, I’m obviously going to do a lot of chasing when I come on, but I wasn’t able to involve my teammates in that and ended up being slightly isolated in defense. That’s another thing I need to improve.

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