NEWS
FCWC quarterfinals vs. Club Leon "Schalk, who came on as a substitute, scored! Next up is the semifinal match against Man City"
On the 15th, Urawa Reds played against Club Leon in the quarterfinals of the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 held at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium.
The Reds played aggressively in the first half, and substitute Alex Schalk scored a goal in the second half. After that, they continued to fight without losing concentration and won 1-0.
Against Mexico's Club Leon, the North, Central American and Caribbean champions, the Reds' players fought aggressively from the get-go and controlled the pace.
Right side half Tomoaki Okubo and right back Takahiro Takahiro Sekine boldly dribbled through and created chances. Even when Club Leon tried to keep possession, they pressed up front and in the midfield to win the ball back and prevent them from giving up control.
In the 19th minute, Yoshio Koizumi sent a sharp long pass behind the opponent's defense line from a low position on the left side, and Okubo slipped through and was one-on-one with the goalkeeper to shoot. It was a clear chance, but it was blocked by the opposing goalkeeper and the goal was not scored.
From then on, Club Leon gradually had more time with the ball, but the Reds players responded with organized defense.
In the 32nd minute, the Reds got through the right side and delivered a cross, but Marius Hoibraten slid in to clear it. Marius himself did not give any chances with his critical defense with his fists clenched.
In the second half, as the stadium echoed with the cheers of Reds fans and supporters who had traveled far from Japan to Saudi Arabia, the Reds players remained focused and fought for victory.
In the 54th minute, they received a free kick on the right side, and Ken Iwao sent the ball to the far side, which was received by Takahiro Akimoto and crossed. Ito fired a volley shot with his left foot in front of the goal, but the ball went over the target and unfortunately he was unable to score a goal.
In the 64th minute, Takuya Ogiwara took the pitch in place of the injured Sekine. Furthermore, in the 73rd minute, Schalk and Shoya Nakajima came on as substitutes for Okubo and Ito. An attacking player enters the pitch and aims for a goal.
Then came the 78th minute. After connecting passes from their own free kick, Schalk dropped a vertical pass from Iwao, and Alexander Scholz, who was drifting to the right side, dribbled and passed a long pass. Kante kept the ball that spilled over from Schalk, who was running forward with the opponent, and then passed the ball to Schalk. Despite being forced close to his opponent, he screwed in a shot and scored. They succeeded in taking the lead thanks to Schalk's brilliant work, getting involved with the ball three times in a series of attacks from the set up to the finish.
In the 81st minute, with the team leading by one point Hiroki Sakai replaced Akimoto, who had struggled offensively and defensively since the first half. It has been over a month since surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee, which was diagnosed in November with a three-month recovery period, and the captain, who initially accompanied the team as a support member and joined the team the day before this match, returned on an important stage. Ta.
In the 84th minute, Club Leon's William Tessillo received a second yellow card and was sent off. When they gained a numerical advantage, they continued to concentrate on the game, even as they showed an attitude of aiming for the second goal.
They did a good job of repelling the opponent's power play, and in the 90+7 minute, the Reds' wall deflected a free kick that was aimed directly at them, and they defended well until the end, winning 1-0. The Reds made it through the quarter-finals, where they lost six years ago.
The next match will be the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 semi-final against Manchester City FC, which will be held at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Tuesday, December 19th at 27:00 Japan time.
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
The Reds played aggressively in the first half, and substitute Alex Schalk scored a goal in the second half. After that, they continued to fight without losing concentration and won 1-0.
Against Mexico's Club Leon, the North, Central American and Caribbean champions, the Reds' players fought aggressively from the get-go and controlled the pace.
Right side half Tomoaki Okubo and right back Takahiro Takahiro Sekine boldly dribbled through and created chances. Even when Club Leon tried to keep possession, they pressed up front and in the midfield to win the ball back and prevent them from giving up control.
In the 19th minute, Yoshio Koizumi sent a sharp long pass behind the opponent's defense line from a low position on the left side, and Okubo slipped through and was one-on-one with the goalkeeper to shoot. It was a clear chance, but it was blocked by the opposing goalkeeper and the goal was not scored.
From then on, Club Leon gradually had more time with the ball, but the Reds players responded with organized defense.
In the 32nd minute, the Reds got through the right side and delivered a cross, but Marius Hoibraten slid in to clear it. Marius himself did not give any chances with his critical defense with his fists clenched.
In the second half, as the stadium echoed with the cheers of Reds fans and supporters who had traveled far from Japan to Saudi Arabia, the Reds players remained focused and fought for victory.
In the 54th minute, they received a free kick on the right side, and Ken Iwao sent the ball to the far side, which was received by Takahiro Akimoto and crossed. Ito fired a volley shot with his left foot in front of the goal, but the ball went over the target and unfortunately he was unable to score a goal.
In the 64th minute, Takuya Ogiwara took the pitch in place of the injured Sekine. Furthermore, in the 73rd minute, Schalk and Shoya Nakajima came on as substitutes for Okubo and Ito. An attacking player enters the pitch and aims for a goal.
Then came the 78th minute. After connecting passes from their own free kick, Schalk dropped a vertical pass from Iwao, and Alexander Scholz, who was drifting to the right side, dribbled and passed a long pass. Kante kept the ball that spilled over from Schalk, who was running forward with the opponent, and then passed the ball to Schalk. Despite being forced close to his opponent, he screwed in a shot and scored. They succeeded in taking the lead thanks to Schalk's brilliant work, getting involved with the ball three times in a series of attacks from the set up to the finish.
In the 81st minute, with the team leading by one point Hiroki Sakai replaced Akimoto, who had struggled offensively and defensively since the first half. It has been over a month since surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee, which was diagnosed in November with a three-month recovery period, and the captain, who initially accompanied the team as a support member and joined the team the day before this match, returned on an important stage. Ta.
In the 84th minute, Club Leon's William Tessillo received a second yellow card and was sent off. When they gained a numerical advantage, they continued to concentrate on the game, even as they showed an attitude of aiming for the second goal.
They did a good job of repelling the opponent's power play, and in the 90+7 minute, the Reds' wall deflected a free kick that was aimed directly at them, and they defended well until the end, winning 1-0. The Reds made it through the quarter-finals, where they lost six years ago.
The next match will be the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 semi-final against Manchester City FC, which will be held at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Tuesday, December 19th at 27:00 Japan time.
[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]
