There’s something poetic about waking up at 4:30 AM to watch football. The world is still asleep, the streets are silent, and the only light comes from the glow of your screen. It’s a ritual reserved for the truly dedicated—or the clinically insane. As I sat there, bleary-eyed, clutching a Strong Zero (because nothing says “early morning football” like a Japanese chu-hi), I couldn’t help but wonder if Yokohama F. Marinos had also just rolled out of bed.
The 2025 J1 League opener between Yokohama F. Marinos and Albirex Niigata was supposed to be a statement. Instead, it was a snooze-fest punctuated by moments of sheer frustration. Steve Holland’s men stumbled out of the gates like a team still figuring out how to tie their boots. The attack was blunt, the midfield disjointed, and the defense shaky. If this were a car, Marinos weren’t just stuck in first gear—they were rolling backward down a hill.
Niigata, on the other hand, came to play. In the 26th minute, Shunsuke Ota capitalized on a pinpoint cross from Hashimoto Kento, slotting home with a clinical finish that left Marinos’ goalkeeper Park grasping at air. The visitors took a deserved 1-0 lead, and I took another sip of my Strong Zero, wondering if I should’ve just stayed in bed.
Marinos’ response? A collective shrug. Passes went astray, attacks fizzled out, and the midfield looked about as cohesive as a Jenga tower mid-collapse. By the 70th minute, Marinos had yet to register a shot on target. My Strong Zero, much like their attack, was running on empty.
Then, out of nowhere, hope. A desperate surge forward saw a Niigata defender clumsily foul in the box. “PK DESU!!!!” The stadium erupted, and Anderson Lopes stepped up to coolly slot home the equalizer in the 77th minute. The Brazilian’s composure was a rare glimpse of quality in an otherwise lackluster performance.
But was it enough? Not even close. Niigata outclassed Marinos in every department, racking up 16 shots to Marinos’ paltry 6. The home side had more possession but did far less with it. If this is what Steve Holland’s reign looks like, he might soon be Googling “things to do in Yokohama” during his inevitable free time.
The Professional Take
The Japanese press didn’t mince words. As one outlet put it, “横浜FMは結局シュートを1本も打てないまま前半終了” (Yokohama FM ended the first half without a single shot). Niigata’s dominance was clear, with Ota’s goal and their relentless pressing exposing Marinos’ frailties. Holland’s switch to a back four in the second half did little to change the tide, and while Lopes’ penalty provided a glimmer of hope, it was too little, too late.
The Road Ahead
Marinos’ next test? A midweek ACL Elite clash against Shanghai Port, followed by a league showdown with Sanfrecce Hiroshima, the 2025 Japanese Super Cup winners. If Holland doesn’t fix this mess, he’ll have plenty of time to explore Yokohama’s attractions—because the J League table won’t be kind to a team that can’t find its footing.
As for me, I’ll be back at 4:30 AM for the next game. Because that’s what we do in the land of the rising sun—rise early, hope for brilliance, and settle for Strong Zero.
doragon sports 