Fukatsu `ake! Sagan 3 - 1 Verdy

My Derby Hat. Where`s yours?

Verdy started off with Doi in goal and straight away Sagan were on the attack flashing two chances just wide in the first two minutes. Sagan were very much on the front foot for the entire first half and could have easily gone in for their tea and biscuits far more than two goals to the good. The first goal had a slice of fortune about it with initially a ricochet fooling Tsuchiya. The ball broke down the left, cross, bang, 1-0, "whirling windmill" celebration from Hayasaka.  Verdy had had a couple of chances themselves with Fukatsu having a goalbound header cleared off the line, but that was pretty much against the run of play. Hiramoto also tested the keepers reflexes with a low header, the keeper doing well to save.
Goal number two came with another mix up in defence with Tsuchiya and Fukatsu caught napping, Hayasaka again broke through and slotted past Doi. 2-0 and another "whirling windmill" celebration. 2-0 at half time and Kawakatsu tried to shake things up switching to a back three, bringing on Hirashige for his debut and taking off a quiet Yoshiaki Takagi. It worked for a while as well with Hirashige striking back for the Greens following a break from Hiramoto and a cross from Kikuoka. Another toe poke into the net from two yards and probably a bit of help from the covering defender. But a goal on your debut for your new club is good in anyone`s book. Verdy back to 2-1 were very much back in the game but shot themselves in the foot/head/undercrackers/ with a calamitous third. The ball was played back to Doi with Abe (I think) shepherding it back safely. They both thought the other was going to deal with it until Toyoda comfortably dealt with it for Sagan by bladdering it into the top corner. No doubt about it, an absolute stinker of a goal to give away and something that will give Kawakatsu bad dreams.
On a slightly unsavoury note, there were one or two  minor scuffles amongst the Verdy faithful at the end of the game. The players had come over to bow and apologise and after some heated "comments" directed towards the team a number of fans started pushing and shoving each other. Handbags to be sure but not what you want to see really.
In summary, 3 games, zero points, bottom of the league and the biggest game of the season coming up next. Are we gonna win? Blind faith says we are even though all rational thought spells a loss. Still,  FC Tokyo aren`t exactly tearing the league a new posterior either and who`d have thought we`d win last time? We did 2-1 after being battered for the entire game, I was there and the 89th minute winner in the pouring rain at the Olympic Stadium will live long in the memory. Conversely, if we get beat 6-0 on Wednesday, that particular memory will be banished in two seconds. Tokyo Derby, can`t wait...