Right now I don't really care if it was against a JFL team, but winning is winning and I'm believing that this victory against Fukuoka will be what gets our season back on track. We just needed a win to get our confidence back, but not too much were we get a head of ourselves, like our first win of the season against Nagoya. Interesting point is our two victories this season has come at both extremes. Our first victory was against the defending champions and second is against the cellar dwellers of this season; so does this means we can defeats the top team and the bottom team, but nothing in between?
Either way, the 3-0 victory against Fukuoka was a relief more then anything. Say we didn't win the game, it would have spelt trouble for us. Not that I'm saying we're in the clear yet; we're equal on points with the 16th placed team. The only thing keeping us up at the moment is our goal difference.
One thing that has impressed me about this game is the direction of the team. To often in the past we appear to continue the course which tends to lead to distruction. There was something about change that just seemed to scare the managers. Did they not want to bench the player that is being paid alot of money but not performing, or are there pressures from above to keep the underperforming star playing? Why haven't we in the past given one of the "youngsters" a fair go at it?
When we did give our youngsters a fair go at it, it would appear to have worked out well; there have been Genki, Naoki, Ugajin and now it seems Kojima could join the list. Kojima's first appearance for the Reds was positive and maybe following in the footsteps of Naoki, minus the injuries of cause. Maybe it's just me and my bias views, but if it wasn't for his injury (see below), I do think Naoki would be what I consider a star or at least be a regular for the team. Just a reminder that Naoki's original injury happened when he was playing for the National Team in an Asian Cup Qualifer. Now I just hope that the injuries are now behind him and he's given a chance to shine.
Another person given a chance in the Fukuoka game was Mazola, who partnered Tatsuya upfront. Mazola up to now have been mainly used as an "impact" player coming off the bench, and doing a good job at it, so it was good seeing him in the starting XI. I still would like to see a "three-pronged" attack with Haraguchi and Mazola on either side of; well a new striker.
It's been reported that Edmilson is on his way to Qatar and the Fukuoka game could very well have been his farewell match. Coming on in the 71min to replace Mazola, Eji ended his tenure with the Reds on a good note, firstly setting up the second goal for Richardes and scoring the Reds third goal in injury time. It was a good gesture from Petrovic to put Eji on and give him the chance to "redeem" his season.
Overall we showed signs of life and appear to be headed in the right direction (so I've continued to say). Like past few weeks (minus the Shimizu game), Spiranovic and Nagata has anchored our solid backline and the "shutout" is further proof of that. Since replacing Yamaguchi, Kato is showing more signs that he is a J-1 level keeper and had another impressive showing between the post.
Unlike the past few games, we were able to score and score when it counted. Keita had what we call in cricketing terms a "captains knock" and really started it all for us in the 53min, setting up and scoring the first goal. What impressed me the most though was that we played with conviction and as a team.
This is how we lined up against Fukuoka
GK: Kato
DF: Takahasi; Spiranovic; Nagata; Hirakawa
MF: Keita; Kojima, Naoki; Richardes
FW: Mazola; Tatsuya
Subs
67min Keita > No. Yamada
71min Mazola > Edmilson
79min Tatsuya > Kashiwagi
Now we need to step it up a gear as our next game is against Nagoya on Saturday and then Gamba Osaka after that. This is were it gets interesting!
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