Match Preview
“Everyone will pass the baton and aim for victory.”』
A disappointing match. That’s been going on for two games.
Verdy played against Urawa in the previous match. This match also had over 50,000 fans and supporters. But this time it’s away. Although the situation was difficult, the players fought bravely. In the 21st minute, the ball was stolen from their own half and Yusuke Matsuo took a shot, but Matheus firmly deflected the shot. This was the only shot the opponent made in the first half. On the other hand, Verdy created chances towards the end of the first half. He won a corner corner in the 40th minute, and it was his fourth. Tomoya Miki’s ball went far, but Daiki Fukasawa put it in front of the goal again. Then the ball spills in front of the goal. Yudai Kimura, who was in a central position, turned his back to the goal and unleashed a volley that crashed into the goal, giving Verdy the lead for the second consecutive game.
Looking back on the game, coach Hiroshi Shirofuku said, “I think it was our time until about 30 minutes in the second half,” and the momentum was in Verdy’s favor in the second half, but towards the end they were forced into more hands. In the 87th minute, the opponent’s shot ball flowed in front of the goal, and Ayumu Ohata took a shot, but Matthäus made a save with his feet and it seemed like they were out of trouble. One minute later, when he was trying to deflect an opponent’s cross and steal the ball out, he was given an unfortunate penalty. Alexander scored this and Scholz tied it. Unlike the opening game, they did not allow a come-from-behind goal and were able to take home the winning point, but like the opening game, issues remained with the way they played in the final stages, including an unfortunate penalty penalty.
In this match, the team ran 125.53km, which is almost the same distance as in the previous round, and in the second round they were second in the entire J1 League. They were almost never allowed to break down by their opponents until just before conceding a goal, and they were playing the same style of soccer as in the previous match. However, it’s all about how the game ends. After the match, the coach is hoping for the emergence of a “game changer”, a player who can change the course of the match. In that sense, it will depend on whether all 18 players on the bench can come together as one and seriously take the three points. More specifically, it will be about how well the entire team can compete during regular practice. The question in this match will be how much the players who have had frustrating experiences can show how much they have grown from those experiences.
This match’s opponent, Cebu Osaka, has two wins and two points from two games, and is one place above Verdy. Cerezo Osaka’s previous match was an away match against Kashima. In the first half, new player Lucas Fernandes started the counterattack, using his teammates to run up to the front of the goal himself and finally take a shot. Furthermore, Lucas Fernandes made a move deep on the right side, and when he lowered it, Shinji Kagawa threw it into the front of the goal. Capixaba tried to push it in, but the goalkeeper made a fine save and the goal was prevented. Accidents occur during that time. In the 39th minute, Lucas Fernandes, who had been the starting point of the attack, was substituted due to injury. However, it was Cerezo Osaka who took the lead. In the 58th minute, Lucas was replaced by Daiki Tameda, who came in for Fernandes, running through the left flank and returning the ball. Leo Ceara, who was free in the center of the goal, volleyed it in from the first trap to give the team a one-point lead. Kashima, who were one point behind, went on the offensive from here and took control of the match until the 85th minute. Kashima won a free kick in front of the goal, and outsider Naomichi Ueda headed in Shintaro Nago’s ball to tie the score. Celcius Osaka was unable to maintain their lead following the opening match, and the match ended in a draw.
Cebu Osaka were in a similar situation to Verdy, taking the lead in both games but losing points due to goals conceded in the final stages. There is no doubt that the opponent wants a victory at home. However, the same is true for Verdy. It’s also a battle to see who has the tenacity to win.
Box interview after practice. When Yamada Kaede was asked by a reporter, “I want to win,” she answered as follows.
“I want to win, or rather I will win.”
That is the collective intention of Verdy as a team.
(Photo: Kyoko Matsuda)
2024-03-08 10:02:55
#Match #Preview #Tokyo #Verdy #Tokyo #Verdy
