Friday, August 1, 2008

R29 Welcome to Mr Hyde Stadium


FC Gifu 0 - 1 Mito Hollyhock (ht 0-0)

Why FC Gifu are a completely different team when playing at home is a mystery. In a consistant Jekyll and Hyde like way, Gifu, usually after performing reasonably away, save their worst games for the poor fans who trudge to Nagaragawa Stadium every other week. And for the almost 3000 odd fans who turned up last night, it was no different, as they watched Gifu crumble to be defeated by a spirited Mito Hollyhock, in perhaps Gifu's worst performance of the year thus far.

Taking no credit from Mito, they dominated in every aspect of play. Defence - rock solid, Interplay and passing between players - awesome, they just did the basics right and had obviously done their homework on Gifu too. The first half in particular, they didn't even give Gifu a chance, and were perhaps unlucky to finish the half without a point to their tally. This changed though in the second half when superstar FW Tomoyuki Arata headed in a beautiful ball in the 63rd minute. From then all they had to do was defend...

At this point though Gifu finally woke up and started to attack the opposition goal. One or two close chances were missed, one chance was very close. The game could have easily been tied up, but this would have been undeserved for Gifu. This was Mito's game. In the last moments Mito beautifully wound down the clock and starved Gifu of possession and any chance for a comeback. GK Koji Homma was lucky not to gain a yellow card for his actions in slowing the play down in the last 10 minutes or so, but in the end of the day I'm sure he would have gladly sacrificed a yellow for the team and three points.

The fulltime whistle blew and FC Gifu were greeted with booing for the first time this year. The combination of a very flat, unspirited performance, being beaten by a team under Gifu in the table, plus their horrible run of performances at home, was all a bit too much for some of the fans. Other fans just stood silently....

...the Mito fans and players on the other hand were understandably happy. Congratulations to them on a well deserved win.

The next game for Gifu is against Sagan Tosu away. While their may not be too much pressure on Gifu for that game, their next home game vs Tokushima Vortis will be a different story. If Gifu are unable to win that game I fear what might happen.

Tough times for Gifu. Welcome to the J2!

Next game August 10th (away) vs Sagan Tosu

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Honestly, it wasn't as bad as you described for Gifu, at least on TV. Mito had the edge on possession but in all other ways seemed evenly matched. The defense did a great job and kept the game close, and it would have only taken one Mito mistake or clever play by Gifu to tie it up or take the lead.

richy said...

Yeah, Mito just played smart footy.
I think as I said, a combination of not winning at home, playing too defensively etc just frustrated alot of fans, me included.
But one or two of the players, and a few of the fans I talked said that this was the worst game they've played/ seen this season.
And the feeling I got afterwards was almost the same.. maybe not the worst they've played but maybe the most disappointing...
...and maybe like Mito too this season, they create some chances that are so close when they are in losing or drawn game situations, yet they rarely find the back of the net. Well, definitely been like that for Gifu in the last クール anyway.
Still, all things said, its leaves plenty riding on the next match between us in Mito! All good.