Tokyo Verdy 1-2 Yokohama F. Marinos: Kewell’s bold moves give Tricolor edge in classic thriller

It was the first time for the traditional Japanese soccer giants to meet in the opening week since the inaugural match of the J.League on 15th May 1993. Over the three decades, many things have changed including the situations and the status of the two teams, Tokyo Verdy and Yokohama F. Marinos.

The former won the first two seasons of the J.League in 1993 and 1994 as Verdy Kawasaki at the time but declined sharply after that. Relegated to J2 in the mid-2000s and stayed there for 18 years in total with a skinnier budget, they finally got back to the top flight via the promotional playoffs last season.

For certain generations of Japanese soccer fans, Verdy mean happy winners, a memory of the early 1990s extravaganza, but now this humble team play a J1 game for the first time since 2008 with few starters having top league experience.

Meanwhile, Marinos had enjoyed its golden era in the early 2000s but then started to be reconciled to mediocracy for more than a decade. After becoming a partner club of the City Football Group in 2014, they enjoy the advantage of using big data and resources provided by the Group, especially in the recruitment of players and coaches, regaining fame in recent years with league titles in 2019 and 2022.

For any generation of football fans in this country, Marinos stand tall as a powerhouse and this team, under the new manager Harry Kewell, have just achieved a last-eight spot in the AFC Champions League this mid-week for the first time in the club’s history.

Verdy took initiative with solid organization and beautiful set piece

Although the background should indicate the current power balance, football is one of the most unpredictable sports, and this soccer league is the most of the kind in the globe. After kickoff at the rainy National Stadium, the young promoted side in green took control.

Energetic, quick, and lively, Verdy started brilliantly, collecting second balls and showing slick combinations to be given a free kick after 5 minutes. Fuki Yamada, a new winger from Kyoto Sanga, swung his left foot and the ball went into the top corner.

Verdy became much more enthusiastic after the opener but Itsuki Someno, Yudai Kimura, and Yamada couldn’t add the scoreline from clear chances. After the first half, they looked on course to gain a remarkable result but again, this is the opening game of one of the most unpredictable leagues.

“Courageous? Well, maybe audacity is the right word,” Takumi Kamijima, a centre-back of Marinos said afterwards about his manager’s directions. In the second half, Kewell made changes not only players but also its formations from 4-1-2-3 to 4-2-1-3, which he has barely used in his new team in charge.

“But we used the double volantes (defensive midfielders) last season, so it worked,” Kamijima continued. And the Aussie’s bold moves paid off in the end.

After 85 minutes, Taehe Nam, one of the substitutes for Marinos, kicked the ball inside the box to be blocked by the hand of Keito Kawamura, and Anderson Lopes scored from the spot, making it 1-1. Then in the additional time, Marinos kept attacking on the right-hand side, and Yan Matheus, another fresh-legs, cut the ball back to Ken Matsubara who fired a screamer from his uncomfortable left foot, sealing a dramatic comeback victory on the historic day for Japanese football.

Kewell’s predecessors gave him advice

“Ha! What do you want me to start?” Kewell said in the press conference after the game, looking obviously on joy as well as exhausted. “It was a difficult game for us, the opening game of the season, and the national derby. The opponents have just promoted who wanted to showcase what they are capable of and made us difficult. And we were not at the best as we just came back from an important game during the week. But again, my team kept on pushing, pushing, pushing, and we got a reward in the end. I’m not completely happy with the performance but happy with the way my team’s attitude towards the end.”

The 45-year-old coach was reluctant to answer a question on his tactical details but looked fine to reveal what his mentor, Ange Postecoglou, talked to him about working in Japan.

“We spoke about his time in the J.League and Ange absolutely loved it. He said the players are fantastic, and you get to work with the brilliant players. The league are tough and physical. And I think the passions and the atmosphere fans created are fantastic here too.”

Coincidentally, the course of the game and the final results are the same between the opening games this season in 2024 and the inaugural season in 1993. But this is much more stunning. With an attendance of 53,026 on a cold Sunday afternoon, the 31st season of the J.League started promising.