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Vissel Kobe 3-1 Kashiwa Reysol
(Vissel – Nozawa 14, Ogawa 84, Tashiro 90+1 / Reysol – Sawa 41)
Kashiwa came into this game without the suspended Leandro Domingues and Hiroki Sakai, while Vissel Kobe gave a first start to Yuzo Tashiro, a return to the starting line-up to Hideo Hashimoto and a start for Tsubasa Oya to change the team around and look for a win. It would be no exaggeration to say that, after six straight losses in J1 and Nabisco Cup games today was a do or die situation for Vissel coach Masahiro Wada. Another loss and the powers-that-be in the club would install one of those coaches that they had already been sounding out, without a doubt! As it is, after this win, another 2 or 3 in the next five games is what it will take to turn this team around…. let’s see it!
The home team started well with a long Takagi free kick won by Tashiro, but Nozawa’s low cross was beaten out desperately by a defender, but it wasn’t too long before Vissel were celebrating a goal as Nozawa zipped in a perfect free kick to leave the keeper clutching at air, 1-0, 14 minutes! Is it just me or does anone else think that teams really should put defenders on the posts for free kicks from an expert like Nozawa!!
Vissel continued to look confident and create space but were caught short in the 17th minute when Sawa managed to get on to a through ball and looked to be away. He was caught by the defence as he let off his shot and Tokushige in the Vissel goal had no problem.
The home fans were now serenading their team with a rousing version of The Lambada, obviously irritating their Brazilian-influenced visitors and bench, perhaps this is what made Sawa leave in a foot as he was beaten to the ball by Tokushige on a through pass. The deliberate kick on the keeper was punished with a yellow card, thankfully, but could well have caused injury that would then influence the keeper’s actions for the rest of the game. A blatantly unfair tactic that could well have changed the game.
Just as Vissel were looking to increase their lead the away team were level when Sawa pounced on a half-cleared ball and half-volleyed home from 20 yards out and so the teams went into the break level-pegging at 1-1. Okubo needed a new shirt at half time, too, having had his run forward impeded by a defender, ripping Okubo’s shirt in the process. No foul was given or even considered by the referee!
The teams came out for an important 2nd half and, again, Vissel looked the more urgent of the teams. Okubo was set free on 49 minutes but a defender managed to track back as the forward hesitated, weighing his choices, the ball broke for Nozawa to cross to the far post where Hashimoto blasted the ball and forced a decent save from the keeper. Minutes later Nozawa bore down on the right side of the goal and, just as the crowd expected a shot he elected to square the ball back bu it was intercepted by a defender when the Vissel goalscorer would have been better off shooting.
On the hour mark Hashimoto made way for teen sensation Keijiro Ogawa, and minutes later Kitamoto replaced Takagi at centre back – giving the team more speed on the flank and more bite at the back. Vissel were now running the game but still needed that extra spark to finish a move and it came in the 84th minute when Soma advanced from way back in his own half. He pushed the ball past one player, then another and sent in a perfect cross for Ogawa to flick home first time with his right foot to give Vissel the lead with time running out. There was another goal to come, however, just to rub it in to the sad away team today, as a long, quick Tokushige clearance found Nozawa on the right wing. The midfielder took a coupl of touches on and then sent in a superb deep cross for Morioka charging in from the left. His bullet header was beaten out by the keeper but only to Tashiro, who just had to get his legs in the way to force the ball home to make the final score a very relief-inducing Vissel Kobe 3-1 Kashiwa Reysol!
Nozawa led the team speeches in front of the home fans after the game and tears were in his eyes as he explained how important his goal, and the win felt. We all know how he feels, bring on Yokohama F. Marinos and let’s make it two wins in-a-row!
VIssel Kobe – GK Tokushige DF Okui, Takagi (Kitamoto, 63), Lee, Soma MF Inoha, Hashimoto (Ogawa, 59), Oya, Nozawa FW Tashiro, Okubo (Morioka, 77)
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