Nonthaburi: Kawasaki Frontale seized a 3-1 away victory over Muangthong United of Thailand on Tuesday, putting the Japanese side in pole position ahead of next week’s return fixture.
As was to be expected, Frontale looked to control the tempo of the game from the off but encountered a Muangthong side who caused significant first-half problems — culminating in taking the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Frontale, though, stuck to their game plan and in the second-half, the rewards came in the form of a quick-fire trio of goals to take control of the tie.
Kawasaki bide their time to seize initiative
With Muangthong having taken the lead, it took three second half goals from the visitors to firmly swing the tie in Frontale’s favour.
Kawasaki’s patience was rewarded, controlling the game overall with 62.3 percent of possession but largely playing in the middle third of the pitch.
Indeed, overall just 21.1 percent of the game was played in the Muangthong final third.
Given their dominance of the ball, Frontale also created few opportunities—just 12 to their opponents eight.
However, it was the quality of those chances which ultimately proved decisive.
Toru Oniki’s side were at no point rushed, despite falling behind, instead sticking to their belief of building from the back.
As the game went on and their opponents tired, their patience eventually paid dividends.
Eduardo Neto keeps Frontale on front foot
Brazilian defensive midfielder Eduardo Neto was everywhere on the pitch on Tuesday night, dictating play for Frontale from deep in the midfield line.
While the side’s more technical players sought to make a breakthrough higher up the pitch, it was Neto to whom the side looked to as they sought to play out from the back—the Brazilian completing 89.9 percent of his 109 passes on the night.
What shows Neto’s integral role in the side best is that he was involved in the Japanese side’s top five passing combinations of the game—exchanging 48 passes with centre-back Shoto Taniguchi alone.
Also making six recoveries, four tackles and four interceptions, Neto was the anchor upon which both Frontale’s attacking and defensive play was built.
Left-back channel provides joy for Kawasaki
Theerathon Bunmathan is one of the best attacking left-backs in Asian football, but found life tough defensively against Kawasaki as the Japanese side sought to utilise the strength of their right flank in attack.
While 47.2 percent of Kawasaki’s attacks came down their left side, it was when they switched focus that more joy was found — with two of the three goals coming from space found between Muangthong’s left centre-back and full-back before squaring balls across the area.
An early warning had been sent out when Brazilian Rhayner found enough space on the right channel to get away a testing shot in the game’s opening exchanges and the hole was never plugged as Theerathon’s attacking instincts proved costly.
Kawasaki were clinical in their execution, finishing deftly from some difficult chances.
But they also picked their moments adeptly to switch play and target the left-back area despite their overloading of play on the opposite side of the pitch.
Photo: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com