[J1 Round 5] The Kanagawa Derby ended in a fierce see-saw match! Looking back at Kawasaki F vs Yokohama F. Marinos

For several years before Kobe won its first league championship, Kawasaki F and Yokohama F.M. competed for the league title as a "two-strong" team. Their head-to-head "Kanagawa Derby" always drew attention, and stadiums were filled with a unique atmosphere of excitement and excitement. However, the league's power shifted gradually, with Kawasaki F. finishing 8th and Yokohama F.M. 9th last season. This season, Kawasaki F. is climbing the ranks, while Yokohama F.M. is in the relegation zone. While these two teams are now on opposite ends of the spectrum, today's match will determine their true current standings, as they will have equalized their game count with the others. This is a crucial match for the future, and it goes without saying that they must secure three points at all costs. Both teams are in the midst of a packed schedule, playing their fourth game of a seven-game stretch, with Yokohama F.M. having just three days off, while Kawasaki F. has only two. The one-day difference is significant, and Kawasaki F. is also plagued by a string of injuries. In addition, Yokohama F. Marinos' attacking football, once synonymous with their game, has completely faded this season, so their image should not be bad. Meanwhile, Yokohama F. Marinos' strengths lie in their high pressing and intense attacking power, but last season they conceded the fourth-worst number of goals, behind only the relegated teams. New manager Steve Holland has made the high number of goals conceded a top priority, and has worked to thoroughly build a defense. While the results of these efforts have been visible in the matches so far, the side effect of a sudden drop in their offensive power is plaguing the team. Therefore, in preparation for this match, the team has focused on attacking practice over the past few days. It will be interesting to see how this translates into the game.

Four minutes into the match, Yokohama F. Marinos' defensive leader, Jason Quiñones, complained of leg discomfort and was substituted. Thomas Deng was brought on at short notice, but the defense struggled to find synchronicity, leading to Kawasaki F.'s opening goal. Seven minutes into the first half, Tatsuya Ito, noticing an opponent's pass error, stole the ball, and Marcinho took a shot. The shot was blocked by the opposing defender, but Ozeki Tomohiro converted the loose ball and slotted it into the bottom right corner of the goal. It was a memorable goal for Ozeki, marking his first J1 start and his first J1 goal. However, Yokohama F. Marinos was not content to rest. They intensified their offensive efforts, seeking to bring the game back to square one, increasing their play in the opponent's half and creating one big chance after another. Finally, in the 41st minute, they scored the equalizer. Inoue Kenta tenaciously held the ball, and Jan Matthäus fired a shot with his left foot from just outside the box. The ball slipped between two defenders and into the goal. Yokohama F. Marinos had not scored in their last three games, so Y. Mateus made a fist pump with both hands and his teammates erupted in joy.

In the second half, Kawasaki F regained the lead. In the 67th minute, Cesar Aidar fired a sharp, long shot that slid low into the goal. The shot came from well outside the penalty area, drawing a roar and cheers from the stands for the unexpected goal. However, Yokohama F. Marinos, trailing by one goal, began their counterattack. In the 89th minute, Miyaichi Ryo crossed from the right wing, and Uenaka Asahi responded with a bicycle kick. The ball lacked momentum and fell in front of the goal, but Amano Jun quickly tucked it in to tie the score. Then, in the 90+2 minute of added time, Uenaka chested a cross from Yamane Riku near the goal line. The opposing goalkeeper caught the ball while holding Uenaka, but the moment it left his hand, Y. Mateus kicked it in to add to the score.
However, the outcome of a derby is never known until the very end. Towards the end of a drawn-out extra time, Kawasaki F once again equalized. After winning a corner kick from the right, Wakisaka kicked the ball high, and Takai Kodai headed it in. His outstanding jumping ability, combined with his 192cm height, allowed him to score a header. The long, fierce battle, which lasted for over 100 minutes, ended in a 3-3 draw, with each team earning one point. Kawasaki F and Yokohama F. Marinos fought a fierce battle in the Kanagawa Derby. At the end of this month, both teams will travel to Saudi Arabia for the ACLE Final Round. There's still a busy league schedule ahead, but we look forward to seeing both teams compete with the Japanese flag on their backs.

*The information in this article is current as of the time of publication.