Pick Up Match

Kyoto capitalize on substitutions, defeat Tottori in Emperor's Cup（Tottori Prefecture Representatives）

In the second round of the Emperor's Cup, in which J1 and J2 club have their first matches in the tourney, Kyoto Sanga FC and Gainare Tottori (now playing in J3), both of whom competed in J2 up until last year, took on against each other at Tottori's Torigin Bird Stadium. Tottori, who came up to this stage having posted routs in the Tottori Prefectural final (Emperor's Cup qualifier; 6-1 win) and Emperor's Cup first round (6-0 win), have won in their last three matches in the league. Meanwhile, for Kyoto, Kawakatsu Ryoichi had just become their new head coach two weeks before and they looked for their first victory in an official match under the new system.
In the contest, Kyoto quickly got on the board. On 2nd minute, Oguro Masashi reacted a loose ball after a Mitsuhira Kazushi cross and netted a shot. Tottori, as Mawatari Kazuaki said afterwards that they were thinking of nothing but tying it, began their rally. On 38th, Mawatari broke loose behind the opponents' defensive line and scored an equalizer.

Kyoto now sent their captain Yamase Koji from the start of the second half, and Nakayama Hiroki on 59th, trying to find a way to retake a lead. They were once threatened by Sumida Takahiko's shot, but defended Tottori's offence around goalkeeper Oh Seung Hoon and gradually took the momentum. On 67th minute, Bajalica headed a corner kick and it went into the goal mouth deflecting Nakayama to retrieve a lead. On 85th, Ishibitsu Yosuke kicked an out swinging cross, and Yamase kicked a loose ball into the goal to make it 3-1. Because Ishibitsu was ejected in the stoppage time, Tottori outnumbered Kyoto but were unable to score and Kyoto capped their first win under Kawakatsu.

Match Report

Comments

KAWAKATSU Ryoichi, Head Coach（Kyoto Sanga F.C.）
In the first half, our two central forwards positioned in high places and it made the distance with our the midfield a little too far, and we weren't able to build up properly. I think that some of our guys were taking roles that they were not used to and were a little confused as well. In the latter half, because we changed some players and got to be able to get the ball as we usually do and gradually got our own rhythm. We still have issues to fix, but we had had preparation to not lose to the opponents, and could come up with a result that met our minimum goal to advance to the third round.

OGURO Masashi（Kyoto Sanga F.C.）
We thought that the first goal would be important, so it was a plus that we struck first, but if we could go get another one capitalizing on the momentum from the first goal, I think that we could've played in our way. But after we took the lead, we pulled our positions as the whole team and it gave our opponents to attack on us. If there wasn't the great save by Seung Hoon in the second half, maybe they could've overcome the deficit. It was such as close game and either side could have won it.

MATSUNAMI Masanobu, Head Coach（Gainare Tottori）
I didn't think that we were completely overwhelmed by them. While Kyoto had some former Japan national team players up front and players that have overcome though times in different categories, we are a young team that have three newcomers that just came out of college. So the differences in our abilities were so obvious. But our players still felt that they could equally compete when they played as a team against a team like Kyoto. If we will retain the qualities of our game, with the image to play tough opponents like today's, I believe that we are headed into the right direction back in the league.

MAWATARI Kazuaki（Gainare Tottori）
Since we are aiming at making the J2 stage, we were not too aware of the difference in our categories with Kyoto, and just came in the game looking for a win. But on the first goal, we thought that Oguro was going to dodge a defender and then take a shot but he actually flipped and fired it right away, and we couldn't defend that. It was fun to play against players that have represented Japan in the past, and I prepared myself looking forward to how much I could compete with them in the last one week, but when we lost the match, it was just very disappointing.

Other Results

Mito Hollyhock（J2）　2-0（1st 1-0、2nd 1-0）　Avispa Fukuoka（J2）
Yokohama FC（J2）　0-1（1st 0-1、2nd 0-0）　Kataller Toyama（J2）
Roasso Kumamoto（J2）　0-1（1st 0-0、2nd 0-1）　Montedio Yamagata（J2）
Sagan Tosu（J1）　4-1（1st 3-0、2nd 1-1）　Tokuyama University（Yamaguchi Prefecture representatives）
Oita Trinita（J2）　2-1（1st 2-1、2nd 0-0）　Verspah Oita（Oita Prefecture representatives）
Tokyo Verdy（J2）　1-2（1st 0-1、2nd 1-1）　Giravanz Kitakyushu（J2）
Albirex Niigata（J1）　8-1（1st 4-0、2nd 4-1）　Saurcos Fukui（Fukui Prefecture representatives）
Jef United Chiba（J2）　3-2（1st 1-2、2nd 2-0）　AC Nagano Parceiro（seeded）
Fagiano Okayama（J2）　1-2（1st 0-1、2nd 1-1）　Ehime FC（J2）
Shonan Bellmare（J2）　2-1（1st 0-1、2nd 1-0、1st in extra 1-0, 2nd in extra 0-0）　FC Ryukyu（Okinawa Prefecture representatives）

Other Results

Special Cooperation

Official Sponsor