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Japan: J-League Match Report: Yokohama 0 - 0 FC Tokyo [Sun Sep 18th, 2005]
It was a chilling end for those 36,000 present at Yokohama's Nissan Stadium on Saturday night. Marinos Manager Okada admitted in the post-game press conference, "I've sort of forgotten what happened in the game." He's not alone.
As 90 minutes of a stressful scoreless draw entered into stoppage time, FC Tokyo saw a series of accidents that started with ace Naohiro Ishikawa being carried off on a stretcher unable to walk and culiminating with a head collision between their two beloved Brazilians, defender Jean and forward Lucas.
The immediate concern of everyone in the stadium focused on the blood pouring down Jean’s cut forehead. But it was Lucas, who had initially picked himself up without evident damage, that was the one to collapse seconds later. Worried doctors objected to moving the unresponsive player and sent for the ambulance as they prepared an IV drip. Players from both sides appealed frantically to hurry the vehicle.
The blue, red, and white club colors are not the only things these two big city sides have in common. They had both embarked on this round 24 game determined to repeat their long-awaited previous round win and officially start a streak.
Neither side have been able to perform with any consistency for much of this season. A good result in this game would have given either team momentum and optimism as they fought their way through the remaining ten games.
The entire tension-filled ordeal surrounding the fallen player took about twenty minutes. By the time the paramedics had driven Lucas off, no one on the pitch was in the mood to resume the game. The referee decided to skip the remaining three minutes and call it a night. This was the first emergency situation of the J-League season.
The home side initially set out to use long balls to the front sides and circumnavigate the energetic midfield pressure of their visitors. Though Marinos’ Okada had switched his most dependable defender, international Yuji Nakazawa, to the left in order to give added support to the more vulnerable side, it was this side where Tokyo found their first real chance at goal.
Norio Suzuki broke through the right at 16 minutes and sent a fast grounder in to an open Mitsuhiro Toda. The quick reflexes of Yokohama’s Daisuke Oku denied.
The long ball strategy allowed the League Champs to maintain a populated and stable defense, and finally made some headway in the 31st minute when Gral leapt up to meet a superb long feed from Masahiro Ohashi. The recent transfer from Jubilo Iwata, however, did not get the right angle on impact; the ball dropped horizontally and was carefully cleared by Jean.
The visitors had hoped to force their opponents to give up the ball with persistent checks and movement. Though they were able to intercept time and time again, the Nabisco Champs were unable to time their characteristic vertical bursts effectively and also seemed to have some problems with accuracy on the passes.
The second half opened up to a sharper Yokohama. Instead of relying heavily on long feeds, they players made attempts to build the play through passing. Four minutes into the half, a lovely set of hand offs from right to left just outside the box allowed Dutra to send in a perfectly placed cross to the far post. A waiting Gral shoved the ball to center, but Jean again cleared from inside the congestion.
With the score stagnating, both managers opted to inject more energy into the attack. New acquisition Sasa from Paraguay for Tokyo and Norihisa Shimizu for Yokohama.
The home side domination of the initial twenty minutes began to slip away as FC Tokyo attempted to capitalize off several successful interceptions. Though their surge towards the goal and resulting attempts at setting up proper finishes posed a dangerous period, the defense held.
A few minutes later, with Tokyo still hanging on to their rhythm, a goal kick from Yoichi Doi gave Toda entry past the defenders. His flicked heel lift followed by a careful loop shot may have been the biggest opportunity seen by either side this night. However, his aim was not careful enough, and the ball fell innocuously on top of the netting.
Though careful against the counter, neither side gave up on their attack. Both teams used the sides well and aimed to get crosses in. It was a heated second half, and the stoppage time of 5 minutes may have been just enough to see one team through in a dramatic last minute victory. But it was a different kind of drama that awaited, and the foremost thought on most players’ minds as they shuffled off the pitch was not the 0-0 score but the health of their fellow footballer.
Two hours after the game, FC Tokyo released information that Lucas had started to regain consciousness. The doctors diagnosed a sprained neck and a severe concussion.
Marie Waki
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