A 5-0 win for Kashima Antlers over the Warriors in Ibaraki, Japan, not only served to illustrate the gulf in footballing standards of both teams, but also the contrast in terms of budget and size of establishment.
As Warriors coach Richard Bok put it, the off-the-ball running is one aspect which we can surely learn.
He told the-afc.com: “We did our best. Our team gave 100% but they showed that we are at a different level. Definitely Kashima are on a better level than us.
“This is the first time for us in the Champions League. We are here to learn from the best teams in Asia not only about how to play but also how to run the club and so forth.
“On a technical side, the way they move the ball, their off the ball running and passing is impressive.
“Most of the teams pass and move, and that’s one thing we have definitely learned not only from Kashima but also Suwon and Shanghai.
“We are trying to catch up with them but we tried to compete to the best of our ability.”
The Warriors started the game without talisman Therdsak Chaiman, who was rested with the upcoming league games against DPMM FC and Tampines Rovers in mind.
Kashima, meanwhile, rolled out a 4-3-3 line-up which saw Marquinhos partnering Shinzo Koroki and Yuya Osako upfront.
To be sure, the Warriors had a bright start, having the first shot at goal and the first corner.
But slowly, Kashima got their grip on the game. In one of the early encounters, Japan right-back Atsuto Uchida hit the crossbar and Shahril Jantan was quick to foil Yuya Osako's attempt from the rebound.
But the deadlock was broken in the 29th minute when Toru Araiba’s cross from the left found an unmarked Takuya Nozawa, who scored with a diving header.
The J. League champions made it 2-0 10 minutes later, when Ogasawara picked up a loose ball and drove it back into the box for Koroki to finish from close range.
Ogasawara made it 3-0 in the 50th minute, finishing off at the third attempt after Shahril had done well to deny Nozawa and Koroki.
Four minutes later, Osako tapped in his side’s fourth after a flowing move.
The Warriors were denied a consolation goal in the 71st minute when Duric’s close-range attempt was denied by Kashima goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata.
Koroki completed the rout in the 74th minute, accelerating past defender Hafiz Osman on the left side of the box before slotting past Shahril from a tight angle.
SAFFC: Shahril Jantan (GK), Hafiz Osman, Kenji Arai, Daniel Bennett, Zulfadli Zainal Abidin, Masahiro Fukasawa, John Wilkinson, Ahmad Latiff (Syed Karim, 88th), Mustaqim Manzur (Razaleigh Khalik 77th), Park Tae Won, Aleksandar Duric (C)
Subs not used: Toh Guo'an (GK), Therdsak Chaiman, Guntur Djafril; Ineligible: Shaiful Esah
Referee: Irmatov Ravshan (Uzbekistan)
Crowd: 6,027
No comments:
Post a Comment