When recalling the bitter memory from about two months ago, what was there was frustration. Keita ENDO spoke as if to spit out the goal he scored in the previous match against Urawa Reds, which remains his only goal so far.
"Indeed, this might be the goal that no one remembers the most this year."
Looking back at the previous match on May 17, the start of the game was by no means bad. Right at the beginning, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA and Endo created chances from the left side. Endo, who played as the left wing-back, and Kota TAWARATSUMIDA, the left shadow, swapped positions, and it was the moment the ball reached number 33, who was positioned wide on the side.
"The inside and outside switched places, and the moment Tawara looked up, I thought it would come to me."
Endo checked the positions of the opposing players and the available space, recalling, "If I could deliver a fast ball, I thought I could swap places with the defender in front and then it would be a one-on-one challenge with the center back." He placed the ball into space with his first touch and tried to accelerate on the second touch to penetrate deep into the area.
"I didn't place the ball in a good spot to deliberately draw a foul from the opponent, but by keeping a sense of readiness to respond if pushed or challenged, we were able to earn a penalty kick."
As planned, the opponent's foot was caught, resulting in a foul, and Marcelo RYAN's right foot shook the net. They took the lead early, but he bit his lip, saying, "Perhaps we were too satisfied with taking a one-point lead and ended up letting the opponent take control by self-destructing. That was not like us."
At the 32nd minute of the first half, when the time being attacked gradually increased, the ball was carried to the right side on a counterattack. From there, a cross ball was sent in, and the ball was freely headed in. Endo was right in front and pushed in the rebound.
"From the moment the cross ball was delivered, the central positioning and the number of players responding were all sloppy. I think Yu OKUBO headed the ball, but it's problematic that a small player was able to connect the points there. In the subsequent response, I might have been able to close in more and limit the angle, but I believe the ball was kicked into a spot where the goalkeeper had no chance. If there's anything to regret, I think it's the cross ball scene."
The match was tied 1-1 at halftime, and the second half began with renewed intensity. Around the 23rd minute of the second half, with both teams creating chances, Sato Yoshimasa received a vertical pass from Takahiro KO between the lines and forcefully turned forward, sending the ball to Soma ANZAI, who had come on as the left wing-back during the match. ANZAI created space, and Hiroshi ENDO smoothly cut into the near side and struck with his left foot.
"My position changed to shadow, and I played more in front of the goal. However, that moment was just a coincidence where only Anzai and I connected to score. If we had more players moving into the near post with more presence, or more players attacking the crosses, we could have created more chances. I think my goal was just a matter of luck."
The shot hit an opposing player and was sucked into the goal. Although the offensive pressure was increased afterward, a third goal could not be scored, and from there, the same mistake was repeated again.
"Just like after scoring one goal, we let the opponent take control. We ended up in a stance of thinking we could win by gradually defending. We were in a punching bag state, and honestly, we were continuously attacked. The conceding scenes were responses to crosses we had seen many times before. Regardless of whether it was offside or not, the defensive line was not aligned. Including myself, there was also the question of whether everyone returned to their proper positions, and it was a goal conceded due to a combination of various factors."
In the 35th minute of the second half, we conceded a goal again from a cross ball and were caught up. I watched from the bench during the final stages of the match. In the end, we were overtaken in additional time.
"Whether we can come back with points from the away game in Urawa or end up with zero. I thought everyone needs to think more deeply depending on the situation. When we conceded, the score was 2-2, and in that situation, we had to at least bring back 1 point, but we ended up with zero. It was the same in the previous match against Kashiwa Reysol, but I think the ability to read the game is necessary."
Supposed to become a hero, but failed to hold onto the lead twice. Nothing was left in their hands.
"I was also frustrated by the come-from-behind loss. Because that feeling still remains, I want to properly secure the win this time, unlike before, and channel that frustration."
The rematch against the opponent who handed us a frustrating defeat is approaching. In June this year, a reassuring presence who once again donned the red and blue uniform passionately encouraged Endo. He said, "Watching Sei MUROYA, I think," and continued like this.
"Doing the obvious things calmly, and carrying out your tasks and even more than what is expected with a cool demeanor. That kind of attitude is the biggest plus for the team. It's not about scoring goals yourself or becoming the hero, but if you keep playing like that, the results will naturally follow, and the team will probably win. Seeing that kind of attitude, I thought, this is what people call an immediate asset."
Saying that, he laughed, "Maybe I've gotten a bit rounder." Because "calm and composed" is a style completely opposite to his own. However, he added words as if stoking the inner fire.
"Right now, everyone is struggling with all their might on the pitch to show what we can do. I think I am one of them. I don't really like the idea of waiting for some trigger, the gears to align, or a goal to change things. If each of us can continue to quietly play beyond what is expected, the results should follow."
My own moment of joy has been frozen since the match against Urawa. Taking a long breath in and exhaling, the words were exactly like Endo's style.
"Right now, most of the chances I get are leftovers from someone else or opportunities created by others, and there are very few moments where I have created something from scratch myself. Honestly, I see that as my own challenge and feel a sense of dissatisfaction. Even so, it would be fine if I were scoring. But since I'm not scoring, just being close isn't enough. That's why I have to keep creating chances. Either score or keep creating them. It's one or the other."
The matches are always close. The team's performance has been improving. In the previous round, they came close against Kashiwa, who took the top spot, but unfortunately lost.
"When you go that far, it's a fine line. But how much risk do you take? We went for the win, and as a flip side, we lost. We didn't really think about safely securing one point. In that sense, I think we lost that gamble. Next time, we have to win that battle, and we will win."
The frustration from that day still remains. The latent heat drives the desire to win. The body temperature, rising from the core to the point it feels like a burn upon touch, makes it so.
Keita ENDO is going for the win. The explosive strike that will roar out will be unleashed at Ajinomoto on July 19.
(Honorifics omitted in the text)
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
