Analysis: Table-topping Urawa count their blessings

Published on: 12 April 2017

Saitama: Rafael Silva struck the only goal of the game a minute before half time as Urawa Red Diamonds beat Shanghai SIPG 1-0 in Saitama on Tuesday to leapfrog Andre Villas-Boas’s side and go top of Group F.

Reds did have other opportunities as they moved within a point of the AFC Champions League Round of 16, but the J.League side pushed their luck a little in this encounter and needed plenty of good fortune to set themselves on their way.

Oscar’s two penalty misses for Shanghai were the most glaring examples of that, but in truth the Brazilian’s lack of accuracy from 12 yards was the tip of the iceberg.

Reds’ passing the problem

Urawa burst out of the traps in Saitama and Rafael Silva – who would ultimately go on to score the winner in the 44th minute – almost opened the scoring seconds from the kick-off as he latched onto a Tomoya Ugajin through ball and hit the post.

Such direct play was not to be the norm for Mihailo Petrovic’s side, however, and they repeatedly put themselves under pressure by opting to keep possession of the ball deep in their own half with a series of backwards and sideways passes.

The back three of Ryota Moriwaki, Wataru Endo, and Tomoaki Makino frequently opted against sending the ball forward into the Shanghai half, instead preferring to keep it amongst themselves or knock it back to goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa.

That approach encouraged the visitors to push forward in numbers and pen Urawa back, producing several unnecessarily nervy moments for the hosts.

Shanghai lacked a credible threat without Hulk

Urawa were fortunate that one of this year’s standout performers in the AFC Champions League’s was absent for Shanghai, as Hulk would surely have been in his element with the ball bouncing around the penalty area so much.

As it was the Brazilian, who has scored three and set up two goals so far for his side, missed out with an injury, and his replacement Lu Wenjun failed to make much of an impact.

The 28-year-old mustered just three shots all game and attempted only four crosses, whereas Hulk sent nine balls into the box when these sides came head to head in Shanghai on Matchday Three, as well as registering five efforts on goal, scoring with one of them.

Nishikawa’s redemption

Shusaku Nishikawa had an evening to forget in Shanghai on Matchday Three, slicing a clearance straight to Odil Ahmedov in the build up to Shanghai’s second goal and generally looking far less steady than usual.

As a partial result of that the 30-year-old lost his place in the Japan team for the recent FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and all eyes were on him here.

Despite having a couple of nervy moments with the ball at his feet he was solid when required to get on with the essentials of goalkeeping though, making six saves over the 90 minutes – including from Oscar’s first penalty – to ensure that his side escaped with all three points.

Photo: Lagardère Sports

Source: the-afc.com

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
Learn more