Tokyo Verdy A loud sigh escaped from Saitama Stadium, and I bit my lip. The score was 1-1, but the team lost again in penalty kicks. Yoichi Naganuma The "Mere Old Man" looks back with a grim expression on his face.

We have lost all three of our penalty shootouts. We know this regulation, and we practice as a team, but ......

The frustration was all the more intense because he was on the pitch at the end of the 90 minutes in both the February 14 FC Tokyo match and the March 18 Kashiwa Reysol match. In each of the 3 Trial games, they were ahead, only to be caught up and forced into a penalty shootout. I don't need to tell you how the man who plays at left back feels.

As a defender, of course you want to keep the score at zero, and I hope we can do that in the 90 minutes or less."

He has started 3 Trial games this season and has been a steady defender in the games he has played. Tokyo Verdy In the first game of the season, he quickly pulled his body together to deal with the opposing wing backs, who had difficulty judging the markings. He did not let the cross ball go up easily. Even when a cross ball came in from the opposite side, he never let go of his mark. What caught the eye was his one-on-one strength. He was sharp in his tackles, and he was often able to win the ball and lead the attack. He feels that his defense is up to the task.
　
Still, his strength lies in his participation in the attack. Although he is not the type to boldly run up the flanks, he attacks at the right time and creates chances by linking up with his teammates. In practice sessions, he sometimes plays in a bolt-action role, linking passes. Sagan Tosu In the 1960s, he played at side half and scored 10 goals in a season. His right-footed shot from a cut-in is one of his weapons. In the current system, he is confident in his shooting, although he refrains from taking big risks on the offensive side of the ball. He is an attacker by nature. He has always kicked the ball into the goal after every training session, including at Sanfrecce Hiroshima, where he started his professional career, and at Tosu, where he made his breakthrough in J1. He used to happily say, "I know the joy of winning with my goals.

I know the joy of winning with my own goals, and I remember the feeling of the stadium being filled with excitement. I am obsessed with scoring goals. Soccer is a sport of scoring goals.

Reds are currently lacking offensive variation and are struggling to score extra goals. Of course, there are ways to defend a one-goal margin, and there are ways to keep the ball in play and make the clock tick. Ideally, however, the Reds should score a second or third goal. The side-backs' attacking moves are one way to add depth to the attack. There is no lack of chances. Tokyo Verdy In the closing minutes of the first half, he moved swiftly into the box and appeared to be in the mix in front of the goal. His left-footed shot failed to connect, but he was still in the mood to score.

I wanted to score," he said. I want to score a goal someday. Well, I think I can get it.

He was desperate to get the white star he so desperately wanted. Naganuma has made 5 Trial appearances this season, including a midway appearance, but he has yet to hear the whistle sound for victory on the pitch. What he insists on most is to win every Trial game he plays on the pitch. The most valuable player is the one who brings victory to the team. Last season, he started 22 Trial times as a mainstay at left back, but this season he is starting more and more from the bench. When a player is named to the starting lineup, he naturally has something to live up to. I was talking to Hirokazu Ishihara the right back, who has also started more often as a reserve, before the Tokyo Verdy game.

Both of us have been starting less Trial this season, so we wanted to turn the tide when we came out."

The result is well known. The reality is harsh. The team has lost five straight, including two penalty kick defeats. The team has lost five in a row, including two penalty shootout losses, and they are feeling the responsibility.

Even if we lose on penalties, a loss is still a loss. It's frustrating.

He joined Reds on a full transfer from Tosu in the summer of 2024, and is now in his third year with the club. He has experienced firsthand the bizarre atmosphere of this weekend's match against Kashima Antlers. The hostile Mercalli Stadium is an egregious venue; they have been without a win since 2016. Last year's away game is still fresh in our minds: we led by one goal, conceded an equalizer in the closing minutes, and ended in a draw. It is time to put an end to the bad history. Naganuma vows to make it a good start.

I think it's going to be a hot Trial, so I want to go in there and forget about the way things have been going. It's a traditional match, and I want to turn the tide here."

On April 18, Urawa will celebrate its 29th birthday on April 14, and will go into the match with a renewed spirit. They will go for the points with the spirit of Urawa, and will defend their goal with all their might until the very end. They will prove their worth with a win.

(Reporting by Masayuki Sugizono)