By Pearse McLaughlin
Joao Schmidt’s late own goal secures all three points for Urawa Red Diamonds as the complete a superb second half comeback here at Saitama Stadium 2002. This result has blown the group wide open in the J-League YBC Levain Cup as Group B nears its conclusion.
Urawa Red Diamonds boss, Maciej Skorza has kept the formation from last game which is his tried and trusted 4-2-3-1 formation. In terms of personnel, he has made wholesale changes and intends to use his squad as he’s made 11 changes to the side that drew 0-0 away last time out against Avispa Fukuoka. In comes Zion Suzuki, Kazuaki Mawatari, Takuya Iwanami, Tomoya Inukai, Ayumu Ohata, Kai Shibato, Yuichi Hirano, Moberg Karlsson, Bryan Linssen, Jumpei Hayakawa, Jose Kante to replace Shusaku Nishikawa, Takahiro Akimoto, Alexander Scholz, Marius Hoibraten, Takuya Ogiwara, Atsuki Ito, Ken Iwao, Tomoaki Okubo, Kaito Yasui, Takahiro Sekine, Shinzo Koroki.
Kawasaki Frontale boss, Toru Oniki has kept the same formation from last game which is his tried and trusted 4-1-2-3 formation. In terms of personnel, he has made just the 9 changes compared to Maciej Skorza’s 11 changes to his side. Only Kazuya Yamamura and Shintaro Kurumaya remain from the side that lost 2-1 last time out away to Yokohama FC. Incomes Jung Sung-Ryong, Shintaro Kurumaya, Asahi Sasaki, Kazuki Kozuka, Yasuto Wakizaka, Shin Yamada, Yu Kobayashi, Yusuke Segawa to replace Naoto Kamifukumoto, Miki Yamane, Kyohei Noborizato, Tatsuki Seko, Kento Tachibanada, Ryota Oshima, Akihiro Ienega, Taisei Miyashiro, Daiya Tono.
Breakthrough after only 3 minutes on the clock courtesy of Kawasaki Frontale’s Yusuke Segawa. It was great initial play by Joao Schmidt who collects the ball on the right side, before playing a defence splitting pass over to the left-hand side, where Yusuke Segawa takes a delightful touch before firing home. It was a great goal by Yusuke Segawa as he nipped in front of his marker before reversing the ball through the legs of Kazuaki Mawatari and leaving Zion Suzuki with no chance. What a start! 1-0 Kawasaki Frontale.
A guilt edged opportunity fell the way of Jose Kante on the 19th minute. It was great initial play by Bryan Linssen who faked the shot twice before firing an effort at goal which deflected straight into the path of the unmarked Jose Kante but at full stretch, he could only get a toe to it. Kante was flat footed and should have been on his toes but instead was caught on his heels and he doesn’t get a clean connection. Opportunity gone a begging as it remains 1-0 to the visitors.
Kawasaki Frontale led the Asian Champions League winners 1-0 at the break. Kawasaki Frontale started like a house on fire grabbing the opener after barely 180 seconds had gone on the clock. After this quick start Kawasaki Frontale have been a bit more pragmatic in their approach to protect their lead at the break. Urawa Red Diamonds have been nothing of a goal threat in the first half and that’s got to change in the second period if they are to claim all three points. Both sides will be looking for better in the second half as the chances haven’t really been flowing.
It took Urawa Red Diamonds just 6 minutes after the restart and Jose Kante equalised with an expert finish into the top left-hand corner. It was great initial play by Moberg Karlsson who played a ball into Kante who had his back to goal on the edge of the “D” spins his man onto his unfavoured left foot before unleashing an unstoppable effort on goal. It was a fabulous left footed curling effort which nestles into the left-hand corner leaving Jung Sung-Ryong with no chance. 1-1 game on!
Bryan Linssen wasted a big opportunity on the 82nd minute as he found himself on the edge of the box after a cut back from substitute Ito which he blazed over. Bryan Linssen lacked real composure there as all he had to was guide the ball on target, but he couldn’t control his strike. Big chance wasted. It remains all square.
A mere 3 minutes later has a curling effort expertly palmed away by Jung Sung-Ryong. Miyashiro headed the ball away at the near post following a corner from Urawa Red Diamonds, but the ball fell to substitute Kaito Yasui on the edge of the box he cleverly rolled the ball with his studs from left to right to skip past fellow substitute Ienega before trying his luck at the near post, but Jung was equal to it. It was one for the highlight reel from Jung as he just produced a wonder save to keep his side on level terms.
With just a minute remaining of normal time Kawasaki Frontale suffer heartache in the form of a freak own goal by Joao Schmidt. Hiroki Sakai’s ball into the box caused mayhem and the ever-present Jose Kante missed the header in front of Schmidt and it diverted off him and into the back of the net. A horrible goal to concede for the Brazilian as he could do nothing as he watched the ball cannon off his right foot and trickle into the bottom right hand corner wrong footing Jung Sung-Ryong in the process. 2-1 Urawa Red Diamonds. The turnaround is complete.
It finishes Urawa Red Diamonds 2 Kawasaki Frontale 1 in the J-League YBC Levain Cup. This was the 5thmatchday in the group stage with the final game for both sides to be played on Sunday the 18th of June. Shimizu S-Pulse, Urawa Red Diamonds, Shonan Bellmare, and Kawasaki Frontale are all only separated by 2 points going into the final matchday with it all to play for. It’s going to be an exciting conclusion to the group with only the winners of the group progressing to the Quarter Finals, and the best placed 2nd placed team out of all the groups will also progress into the latter stages.
Urawa Red Diamonds: Zion Suzuki, Kazuaki Mawatari (Hiroki Sakai 60’), Takuya Iwanami, Tomoya Inukai, Ayumu Ohata, Kai Shibato (Toshiki Takahashi 80’), Yuichi Hirano (Atsuki Ito 69’), Moberg Karlsson (Kaito Yasui 69’), Bryan Linssen, Jumpei Hayakawa (Tomoaki Okubo 69’), Jose Kante. Subs not used: AyumiNiekawa, Marius Hoibraten.
Kawasaki Frontale: Jung Sung-Ryong, Takuma Ominami, Kazuya Yamamura, Shintaro Kurumaya, Asahi Sasaki, Kazuki Kozuka (Kento Tachibanada 73’), Yasuto Wakizaka (Tatsuki Seko 73’), Shin Yamada (Akihiro Ienaga 79’), Yu Kobayashi (Taisei Miyashiro 73’), Yusuke Segawa (Daiya Tono 59’). Subs not used: Miki Yamane, Naoto Kamifukumoto.
Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
Comments