This is the latest part of my little series that revolves around the end of the Japanese J-League season. If you missed the last post which describes the initial situation before this game, please check here:
https://scorum.com/en-us/football/@sport-frei/the-decision-jubilo-iwata-vs-tokyo-verdy-a-preview
As explained in the last article, there were two teams who had to face each other at the Yamaha Stadium in Iwata on Saturday to determine who would play in the first or second Japanese football league next year.
The 16th of J1 Jubilo Iwata received Tokyo Verdy, who won the second division J-2 qualifiers, in a last and decisive match.
Only one of the two teams will be allowed to play in Japan's top league in 2019, while the others will have to try their luck in the second league.
So the tensions on both sides were strained to the max since there was a lot to lose. All the work of a long and exhausting season was at stake, in the truest sense of the word.
A few years ago, the two teams were still battling each other for the championship title, this time it was another game of all or nothing, but under completely different circumstances.
Jubilo had a longer break than the visitors from the capital city, who had brought a good dose of momentum into this match, they won the previous two qualifying games both away with 1-0, and they surely wanted to enjoy this tailwind in the decisive game as well.
But coach Miguel Lotina's side had more to do than they liked right from the start, and the defensive in particular came under pressure quickly. Only Tokyo's goalkeeper Naoto Kamifukumoto, who also had a great appearance in the last game against Yokohama FC, was to be thanked for not immediately falling behind. Shortly before half time however, it was Kamifukumoto who was responsible for a penalty kick against Iwata player Koki Ogawa, which the 21-year-old then sunk himself for the home side's lead.
In the second half it was then the J1 representative Jubilo Iwata, who had much more of the game and in particular when attacking over the sides became highly dangerous for the Verdy defense.
The Verdy veteran striker Leandro, who was later substituted, could not turn the tide anymore anymore. His best chance was crushed in the 65 minutes by Iwata's goalkeeper Krzysztof Kaminski. The 28-years old Polish has been playing for Jubilo since 2015 and is one of the few East European players in the Japanese leagues.
On the other side of the pitch the fans could almost see the decisoon but Okubo´s rocket only hit the crossbar in the 77 minute, and bounced back into the field from there.
But shortly afterwards it then finally happened. A perfectly kicked free kick by Taguchi found his way past the Verdy wall into the net. For the guests this was the ultimate death blow and for the hosts the moment of huge relief.
Time was running out for Tokyo Verdy and also the 5 minutes injury time could not save the founder member of the Japanese J-League any more. When Referee Masaaki Iemoto whistled the game off, the cheers on the side of the hosts were endless, and probably to be heard up to the top of nearby Mt. Fuji. It took a super heavy load off Iwata coach Hiroshi Nanami's mind, as his future was entirely linked to staying in the 1st league.
Two things made it past the match, Jubilo Iwata's great relief and the understandable disappointment for the Tokyo Verdy players and supporters who can still be proud of their performance this season.
But that's the way it is in sport and especially in football. There can only be one winner, and today it was Jubilo Iwata's team. Although they can't really be satisfied with this season either, since they'd rather played for the championship. At the beginning of the year nobody would have thought that they had to tremble and fear to this day whether they really would manage to keep the class.
But now it's a winter break and all teams can recover and recharge their batteries before the J-League is back at the end of February.
Except one team who has work to do this month. Asian Champions League winner Kashima Antlers will be on hand at the World Club Championships in the United Arab Emirates to show just how good they are this year.
Therefor best way to end this article is with a cheer used countless times over here in Japan:
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