In their most recent game, four of Shandong Taishan's foreign players were eye-catching, and their goals gave the team a four-goal lead in the first hour of the game, securing the victory ahead of schedule. On the other hand, when the Yokohama Mariners faced the Fukuoka Hornets at home last Friday, they were defeated by one goal despite having almost an all-out lineup. The defeat not only affected the team's morale, but also allowed all four Brazilian players to play at full strength for 90 minutes, which will challenge the team's fitness for the upcoming AFC Champions League match.
In the second leg of the AFC Champions League 1 8 finals, Yokohama Mariners played a hard-fought battle with Bangkok United, and the game lasted a full 120 minutes before narrowly beating their opponents. Next, the team only rotated against Tokyo Green, but still failed to find a goal in the game. It wasn't until the end of the game that the team scored two goals in the 89th and 93rd minutes to defeat the relatively weak J1 League newcomers.
Yokohama Mariners boss Colwill made just one midfielder change for the result of their last home game against the Fukuoka Hornets, while the trident up front started all of them. Despite the muddy playing field, which had an impact on the more technically superior Yokohama Marinos, the team maintained a whopping 72 per cent possession and a whopping 22 shots on goal, but ultimately failed to get the ball into the back of the net. Despite making all of the midfield changes in the second half, the Yokohama Mariners were still defeated by a goal in the final stages of the game.
In the last four games, Yokohama Mariners have scored just two goals in regulation time, and most of them have been scored towards the end of the game. This lack of attack has become the biggest disappointment for the team and the fans. While the Brazilian striker was present in those goals, it was clearly a far cry from the efficiency of the 16 goals scored in pre-season. In response, Yokohama Mariners coach Colwill said that although the team controlled the game and created many chances, the offensive efficiency was still too low.
While Shandong Taishan should be wary of their opponents' attacking prowess, they should pay more attention to the attacking playmaking of Yokohama Marinos, especially players such as Elber, Matthius and López. Any single oversight can have serious consequences.