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Although I’ve been a Kashiwa Reysol “fan” since 2004 there have been fairly a couple of lean years within the center once I simply didn’t observe the J-League in any respect. Sometimes that interval was essentially the most profitable for Reysol as they received six completely different titles in 5 consecutive seasons together with again to again J2 and J1 titles. I missed all of it so hoped that this Emperor’s Cup Remaining match could be the primary time they received a trophy in my presence. The title of this put up will already let you know it wasn’t meant to be although!
Saturdays are often a workday for myself however my boss was fortunately understanding in giving me the time without work to attend the ultimate. Finally, this non-work day proved to be extra tiring and way more draining than instructing a load of youngsters courses! Although kick off wasn’t until 2:00 pm I nonetheless left at just about the identical time (round 8:30 am) as I’d on a traditional Saturday. The Olympic rings image, situated outdoors the Olympic Museum, was my first cease of the day as soon as I’d arrived on this a part of Shinjuku ward.
Can by no means resist getting a photograph right here!
Kokuritsu Kyōgijō a.okay.a. Japan Nationwide Stadium was throughout the street from there and pretty abandoned which made it a lot simpler than anticipated for the Reysol UK ultras to get a photograph taken outdoors the stadium.
All the opposite Reysol UK Ultras have been simply out of shot!!
I believed I used to be going to reach actually early once I informed my pal Benny that I’d be there about 4 hours previous to kick off. He should’ve laughed at my phrases as he stated he could be there at 7:00am! With that in thoughts, it wasn’t a shock that increasingly folks began appearing as I made my manner around the stadium the place enormous numbers representing each golf equipment have been congregated. One actually has to respect the dedication of such followers which fits far past simply turning as much as each recreation.
This was the 103rd Emperor’s Cup Remaining and it came about precisely 5 years after my first look on the 2018 remaining. I additionally witnessed Kofu’s shock win in final years remaining so this was my third time however the first one the place I used to be closely invested within the final result. Kawasaki Frontale have been the much-fancied opponents and the final time I noticed them in motion was really on the similar stadium again in July after they narrowly misplaced an entertaining pleasant match in opposition to German giants Bayern Munich.
The Emperor’s Cup Remaining is mainly the equal of the English FA Cup and it’s certainly the second oldest match on this planet after that with a historical past of simply over 100 years. Historically this recreation is held on January 1st but it surely generally will get moved as a result of different membership or worldwide tournaments coinciding with it which is all the time music to my ears as I’m often not in Tokyo on New Years Day.
With simply over three hours until kick off I met up with Benny and another Reysol followers together with one other German referred to as Marcus. I wasn’t actually able to go contained in the stadium at that time however one has to respect and observe the foundations of the supporters group who had kindly allotted me a seat of their part on the decrease degree behind the objective. I used to be anticipating to must do some work like serving to to tie banners up or put flags on seats but it surely had already been finished the earlier afternoon.
THREE hours earlier than kick off!
The street to the ultimate for Reysol was admittedly one thing of a straightforward trip with all 5 earlier rounds having house benefit even when one or two of them have been technically away video games. This was the one match of the match performed outdoors of Kashiwa! Being within the stadium early naturally meant I used to be mightily hungry in a while so purchased some footy scran which is an extremely uncommon factor for me to do. I spent 500 yen on yakisoba (fried noodles) and 600 yen on honey cheese chips which have been each fairly good.
Footy scran??
In between such delicacies I met up within the concourse with the person behind the primary Kawasaki Frontale weblog in English. It was nice to meet up with Frontale Rabbit and his spouse and put our rivalries apart forward of this huge recreation. Click on right here to learn his reasonably frank views on Frontale’s efficiency within the remaining.
Again in my seat with lower than an hour until kick off, the environment was hotting up with the singing in full impact. It barely stopped all afternoon after that.
The pre-match razzzmatazz was fairly fashionable and didn’t function any of the standard hype music and flame cannon motion which is an element and parcel of most showpiece events nowadays.
When the match did lastly begin I really missed the primary few seconds as a result of having a plastic yellow sheet above my head with the intention to create these incredible photos viewers see on TV. It didn’t take too lengthy for my first yawn of the afternoon shortly after that which was due to tiredness however would have additionally been justified by the shortage of goalmouth exercise.
These weblog posts are often scarce on match particulars which is simply as nicely actually as goalscoring opportunites have been very restricted right here. Reysol have been in all probability the higher group for many of the match however struggled to create any actual clear alternatives though striker Mao Hosoya did have a few one-on-one conditions which he didn’t make depend. The shots-on-target stats (19 from 32) did look fairly spectacular however only a few of them actually troubled the Korean keeper Jung Sung-Ryong.
Not desirous to tempt destiny, I didn’t share my true emotions with Marcus (who was sat subsequent to me) that I believed the sport had a scoreless draw written throughout it. That proved to be true however sometimes Frontale practically received it within the remaining moments of additional time having not seemed a lot of a menace for a lot of the sport. Reysol keeper Kenta Matsumoto made a incredible save from French striker Gomis although however his afternoon was removed from over.
The impasse meant penalty kicks would determine the winner. Sadly all of it came about on the reverse finish to the place we stood all match.
The shoot-out proved to be an actual rollercoaster trip of feelings. After one profitable kick every, Matsumoto saved the subsequent Frontale penalty from former Reysol participant Yusuke Segawa however VAR intervened and the participant didn’t make a mistake with the re-take. Reysol’s fourth kick hit the put up and Frontale’s Gomis had the prospect to win it with their fifth but it surely was brilliantly saved. It went to sudden dying and Frontale missed the sixth penalty giving Eiichi Katayama the second to step up and take the glory for Reysol. He blew his likelihood although because it agonisingly hit the put up.
The penalties all went in after that and at 7-7 it was the flip for the keepers. Frontale’s keeper Sung-Ryong took an ideal kick after which saved from his reverse quantity Matsumoto. An epic shoot-out was abruptly throughout so rapidly as the opposite finish of the stadium went into delirium while it was surprised silence at our finish.
Many supporters of shedding finalists typically make a hasty exit on such events however the entire of our supporters group within the decrease tier of the stand remained in place for the medal ceremony, trophy carry and to commiserate our gamers on the loss. It was a heartbreaking finish to a really lengthy day but it surely did give me a thirst for extra cup finals and hopefully subsequent time can be Reysol’s day.
Remaining Rating: Kawasaki Frontale 0-0 Kashiwa Reysol (A.E.T. Frontale received 8-7 on penalties)
Bonus: Again in early January 2021 I used to be outdoors Japan Nationwide Stadium forward of the Levain Cup Remaining between FC Tokyo and Kashiwa Reysol. This match was very a lot in the course of the Covid_19 period and the ultimate had been organized and rearranged a few instances from my reminiscence. We had spent the New Yr vacation in Izu with my spouse’s dad and mom and didn’t suppose we have been going to be again in Tokyo till after the ultimate. Nevertheless, issues modified as a result of her work and so I used to be capable of attend the ultimate. There was only one drawback although!
I didn’t even have a ticket!! I believed I’d strive my luck outdoors the stadium although while savouring the pre-match environment. I didn’t get fortunate and there wasn’t any environment as a result of coronavirus but it surely did allow me to prank some followers on Twitter!
Sadly it wasn’t to be for Reysol on that event both and we misplaced 2-1 as FC Tokyo claimed their third league cup victory in three makes an attempt.
Click on right here to learn ‘Witnessing An Historic Upset In The 102nd Emperor’s Cup Remaining’
Click on right here to learn ‘German Giants Bayern Munich Again in Japan For A Couple Of Cash Spinning Friendlies’
Click on right here to learn ‘Watching My First Soccer Match At The Nationwide Stadium In Tokyo’
Click on right here to learn ‘In Attendance At The 98th Emperors Cup Remaining (2018)’
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