October 9, 13:08 Kickoff @ JIT Recycled Ink Stadium
Ventforet Kofu 1-2 Fagiano Okayama
First Half 0-1
second half 1-1
43′ NAGAI Ryu
73′ Hidehiro SUGAI (Kofu)
80 minutes Han Yigwon
■ Directed by Takayuki Kiyama
It was a really tough, tough match. Kofu has advanced to the final of the Emperor’s Cup and has a lot of momentum, and I expected it to be a difficult match, but I didn’t expect it to be a tough match.
However, I thought that we might create chances even in that situation, so I think the reason we won was that we were able to score well even though there were few opportunities to attack. We have 2 more league games left, and we will have to prepare ourselves well for the tough matches.
After losing the previous match, it’s a bit difficult for us to be automatically promoted, but the fans and supporters are giving us a lot of support, so next time we’ll go home following a long time and prepare well so that we can win.
■ Ryu Nagai
It was a really difficult match. While aiming for automatic promotion, the situation became difficult, but he said within the team that he should not look down and just look forward and play. There is hope for promotion to J1 even in the playoffs, so we played with the feeling that we would all win one by one, and I think that came out in this match.
(For the goal) When Naruse held the ball on the left side, the near field was slightly open, so the moment our eyes met, I started to move and gave me a good ball. It was frustrating that he mightn’t finish the chances he might have scored, so I’m glad he was able to score well. It was a shape I was good at, so I calmly decided.
We are only thinking regarding winning, and we believe that if we can play our football, we can win all of them.
Even though it was an away game, many supporters came and cheered us on. I think that we were able to score one goal at the end thanks to the supporters who pushed us forward.
■ Han Yikwon
I am an attacking player, so I entered the match with a strong desire to score a goal. He’s happy that he scored, but he’s happiest that his team won.
(Goal) As soon as I kicked Sano’s shot, I knew that it would go inside the frame, so I thought I’d try to keep it tight, and as a result, it led to the goal.
It gives me great strength to have the support of my fans and supporters. Okayama supporters always come to the stadium, so they always give me strength. Next time, I think that more people will come to see us in the final home game, so I want to repay them with a victory for the fans and supporters.