Kawasaki Frontale hosted Kashiwa Reysol in the fourth round of J1-League at the Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium. Kawasaki looked to keep the momentum following a win against FC Tokyo, Kawasaki looked to claim the top spot with a win. While Kashiwa was hopeful of a change in momentum on the back of two consecutive defeats. In this match analysis, we see how Kawasaki eased past Kashiwa with a 3-1 win.
In the tactical analysis, we analyze how Kawasaki outplayed Kashiwa with their tactics and incisive passing.
Line-ups
This match between Kawasaki and Kashiwa brought about a clash between teams on the different ends of the table. A win for Kawasaki would take the Asian powerhouse to the top of the table. Whereas Kashiwa looked to register their first point since the restart.
Kawasaki Frontale was set-up in a 4-3-3 formation, with former South Korean international Jung Sung-ryong in goal, Jeisel and Taniguchi at centre-back, up top Kawasaki had their former La Liga forward Leandro Damiao. While for Kashiwa, current Kenyan international Michael Olunga started up top alongside Esaka and Kamiya.
Phases of Play: Build-up
In Possession: Kawasaki Frontale were set-up in a 4-3-3 formation with both fullbacks pushing high and wide in the external zones with both the wide players. Shimoda played as a pivot dropping in between the centre-backs. Wakizaka (RCM) and Morita (LCM) would take positions between the opponents centre-mids and wingers in half-spaces. Up top Damiao played as a target man, holding up the ball and laying off passes for teammates.
Kawasaki had two players on each wing with a player in with either half-space. Damiao and Shimoda occupy the central zone to shift play from one wing to another. Centre-backs Jesiel and Taniguchi would take positions in defensive half-spaces to play short passes to the external or central zone. By this, they would attract Kashiwa’s wingers to press and draw them deep. Thus centre-backs can make triangular passes with pivot and fullbacks to bypass the first line of defence.
Overloading external zones
Kawasaki has 7 players covering two zones namely wing and half-space. They have created an ideal situation where they have the opponent concentrated on the left side of the pitch. Kawasaki has its players behind the midfield line where they can play a one-two and exploit the wings. From here they can also shift the ball to the right side to the fullback who can run into the vacant space.
Attacking Organization
Possession in attacking third: Whenever Kawasaki Fronatle cannot move forward from the wings due to the opponent’s ‘lower line of constraint’. They move the ball back and across to exploit spaces in the opponent’s midfield line which could open up when they move up.
Shimoda and Morita receive the ball in the central zone to play simple forward passes into attacking players who can play one-twos amongst them in zone 14. Central midfielders could also shift the ball to other the wing where Kawasaki would have two players to attack the opponent fullback.
Phases of Play: Defensive transitions
Phases of play: Defensive Organization
Phases of Play: Attacking transitions
Set-pieces
Kawasaki Fronatle has two variations for corners. Variation 1: they play short to break opponent’s low block and then cross in space between keeper and defense or to far-post. Variation 2: Play to near-post for flick ones onto the far-post, where they have numerical superiority.
Kawasaki players have overloaded the left side. They press opponents aggressively to force opponents to pass back to taker who blasts ball forward to their striker. Kawasaki Fronatle have numerical superiority to maintain possession.
Conclusion
Following the way in which the game played out, Kawasaki Frontale are the deserving winners, they completely outplayed Kashiwa Reysol by scoring thrice within an hour. The analysis shows how Kawasaki moved the ball with intent and creativity, which ultimately won them the game. With the win, Kawasaki Frontale move top of the table with 10 points from 4 games
Kashiwa’s defensive lines lacked discipline and they were of no match of Kawasaki’s movement off the ball. Kashiwa have now lost three games in a row following the restart conceding ten goals. They sit 14th in the table, with three points.
Kashiwa Reysol have their work cut out in the upcoming matches to gain any sort momentum while Kawasaki Frontale looks early title favourites this season.