The Reds haven't travelled to Nack5 Stadium for the last few years, so todays game would be a good change for the Reds. You see for what I can remember off the top of my head (last 2-3 years) the Reds have struggled to overcome Omiya and especially when the match have been transfered from Nack5 to Saitama 2002.
After last weeks Nabisco Cup win against Yamagata my own personal expectation was for a victory and it would have meant a whole lot more being against Omiya. Tonights starting XI was the same to that of last week; with Spiranovic returning to the bench after a week away with the Socceroos and Kato retaining his place between the sticks. I'm not to certain about Kato as the first choice keeper as he hasn't really shown anything over the years to warrant being a J1 keeper, but Yamagishi hasn't been the rock at the back either. It doesn't bode to well when you have to choose your not worst keeper to be the first choice.
It wasn't looking any better during the game. Being 2-0 down early in the second half, I was really bracing myself for another derby defeat. It wasn't like we played too bad, but we just lacked that extra punch in attack and wasn't as solid at the back as we could have been. It was quiet frustrating to watch. But what was pleasing to the eye was the goal that brought us even.
Edmilson's penalty in the 56min brought us back into the game, but Genki's goal in the 78min had me believing. We can win this game. But alas it wasn't to be; Genki's goal was more fitting of a winning goal (through my red coloured glasses), but right now I can take it as the leveller. We can't have everything our way right, or should I say that we should be use to it. The draw extends our streak of "no results" to 4 J1 games, I must say though, a draw feels better then a defeat.
What's somewhat worrying is that we're back in the drop-zone. Am I worried? Not yet, season 2011 is still young and we have time to crawl our way back to the top half of the table. We've been managing not to lose, so all we need to do is find a way to win. It's not that hard is it?
This is how we lined up in the Saitama Derby
GK: Kato
DF: Takahashi; No. Yamada; Nagata; Ugajin
MF: Keita; Kashiwagi; Richardes; Haraguchi
FW: Takasaki; Edmilson
Subs
HT Takasaki > Tatsuya
66min Yamada (No) > Spiranovic
72min Keita > Mazola
Up next we travel to Hiroshima on Wednesday and head back home to take on Shimizu on Saturday. Both games the Reds will be without Genki who will be away on National Team duties in the Olympic Qualifiers. The younsster, who this week also signed on with the Reds until 2015, has been the x-factor of late and could it spell doom with him in the line-up?
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