By Pearse McLaughlin
It is Kashiwa Reysol who cling on to win 1-0 in a tight affair between Kashima Antlers. Mao Hosoya’s first half strike was enough to claim a vital 3 points to kick start Kashiwa Reysol’s season and grab their first victory.
Kashiwa Reysol manager, Nelsinho Baptista has decided to mix up his formation from the 3-1-4-2 that suffered defeat last time out 3-0 at home to Urawa Red Diamonds. In terms of personnel changes there is four changes and that is Kenta Matsumoto, Yugo Tatsuta, Keiya Shiihashi, and Mao Hosoya come into replace Tatsuya Morita, Hayato Tanaka, Tomoki Takamine, and Tomoya Koyamatsu.
Kashima Antlers manager, Daiki Iwamasa has decided to alter his formation from the 4-2-3-1 formation that lost 2-1 last time out at home to Sanfrecce Hiroshima to the more rigid and attacking formation 4-4-2. In terms of personnel changes there is only one change, and it is Diego Pituca being brought into replace Yuta Higuchi in what remains a consistent line-up.
On the 32nd minute the first moment of real quality in the game came from Kashiwa Reysol. It all started with Sachiro Toshima firing the ball into Matheus Savio who then turns before he slides the ball in behind Gen Shoji and Naomichi Ueda for Mao Hosoya who timed his run to perfection and slots the ball underneath the onrushing Tomoki Hayakawa. 1-0 to the home side. Great team goal.
It has been a cagey affair so far with both sides evenly matched and you can tell both sides are struggling in the table and don’t want to lose the game, but it is Kashiwa Reysol who have the lead courtesy of Mao Hosoya. I expect the game to open up much more in the second half with Kashima Antlers looking to find a route back into the game or will Kashiwa Reysol hang on for their first win of the season? All to play for in the second half.
No real clear-cut chances in the second half as Kashiwa Reysol stood firm and defended manfully putting bodies on the line as Kashima Antlers threw the kitchen sink at them but to no avail.
It's all over here as 18th beats 13th in the J-League 1 in what was a real relegation scrappy affair. Both sides didn’t want to lose this six-pointer but ultimately Kashiwa Reysol had the home advantage and that proved to be enough to edge it.
It wasn’t a classic match but does have significant importance to Kashiwa Reysol as it allows them to move above Yokohama FC off the foot of the table to 17th place in the table. This result means Kashima Antlers now drop down one position 14th place in the table as this match-up brings a close to weekend’s J-League 1 action.
Next up for Kashiwa Reysol is a game on Saturday the 15th of April when they return to J-League 1 action where they travel away to Sagan Tosu where they will be looking to build on today’s victory.
Next up for Kashima Antlers is a tough test at home to table toppers, Vissel Kobe on Saturday the 15th of April when they return to J-League 1 action. It won’t be an easy task to stop Vissel Kobe but will be looking for a much-improved performance from the team.
Kashiwa Reysol: Kenta Matsumoto, Takumi Tsuchiya, Yugo Tatsuta, Taiyo Koga, Hiromu Mitsumaru, Matheus Savio, Sachiro Toshima, Keiya Shiihashi (Tomoki Takamine 83’), Keiya Sento (Tomoya Koyamatsu 81’), Mao Hosoya, Jay-Roy Grot. Subs not used: Masato Sasaki, Hayato Tanaka, Wataru Iwashita, Yuki Muto, Kota Yamada.
Kashima Antlers: Tomoki Hayakawa, Keigo Tsunemoto (Rikuto Hirose 46’), Naomichi Ueda, Gen Shoji, Koki Anzai, Tomoya Fujii (Shu Morooka 69’), Diego Pituca (Yuta Higuchi 46’), Kaishu Sano, Kei Chinen, Shoma Doi (Ryotaro Araki 36’), Yuma Suzuki. Subs not used: Yuya Oki, Ikuma Sekigawa, Yuki Kakita.
Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
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