Last week's away match against Urawa was a true display of "Kashima style" football. Although Urawa's early momentum put them on the back foot, conceding two goals, the players remained undeterred. Leo Ceara's penalty kick just before halftime pulled one back. Then, in the second half, Yuma Suzuki scored in the 55th minute, and Chavric netted a goal just before the final whistle, securing a 3-2 come-from-behind victory. Both Yuma and Chavric's goals came from corner kicks, truly highlighting Antlers' strength.
After the match, manager Oniki praised the players, saying, "I think in the first half, we fought while assessing the opponent and figuring out what was effective. Getting one goal back in that situation was huge. We were able to continue that in the second half, and the substitutes who came on also showed a determination to 'get results' regardless of the time they had."
Shibasaki, who came on as a substitute and set up Chavric's winning goal, commented, "The manager constantly tells us, 'Let's score the first goal, then an additional goal, and a third goal, at least three goals.' In that sense, even if we concede two goals, we can win if we score three. While there are areas we need to reflect on, I think the team has a shared understanding that we can counterattack effectively even after conceding two." As the manager said, the focus on "getting results" and the belief in themselves is deeply ingrained in the team, starting with the captain.
Their next opponent is Tokyo V, a passionate team that plays aggressively and diligently for 90 minutes. Can Antlers maintain their attacking mindset, aiming for the first goal, then an additional goal, and a third, against such an intense opponent? Let's unite and fight at Melsta, dyed in Antlers red.
