Let’s talk about Yokohama F. Marinos, shall we? Because nothing screams “things to do in Yokohama” like watching a team that occasionally remembers how to play football. But hold your killock, folks, because after a second-half masterclass in Shanghai, the Marinos might just be back from the dead. Or at least from the dysbulia that plagued their first two games of the season.
Yes, the Marinos managed a 2-0 win against Shanghai Port in the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE), a game that mattered about as much as a vaniloquence-filled press conference. But hey, a win’s a win, especially when you’ve been as dire as Yokohama were in their opening fixtures.
Enter Sandy Walsh: The Killock in Yokohama’s Defense
Walsh, the Belgian-born, Indonesian-capped, UEFA-u17-champion-winning defender, debuted for Yokohama F. Marinos. And what a debut it was. He tightened up the backline like a killock securing a ship in a storm. Suddenly, the Marinos looked like a team that knew what they were doing.
Walsh’s presence seemed to spark something in the team. The midfield started advancing the ball, the forwards got service, and the defence stopped looking like they’d just met each other in the tunnel. Amano Jun, the Marinos’ midfield maestro, was pulling the strings like a puppeteer on a caffeine high. He created three direct chances, set up Asahi Uenaka for the first goal, and scored the second himself.
The Post-Match Comment
After the game, Asahi Uenaka, FW 14, had this to say:
“I think we played our style of football throughout the 90 minutes. Personally, I’m happy to have scored a goal, but we had chances for 3, 4, even 5 goals. Not being able to finish those is something we need to work on, so we’ll keep practicing to overcome that before the next game.”
Ah, the sweet sound of post-match vaniloquence. Yes, Asahi, you scored, but let’s not pretend you didn’t miss enough chances to make a highlight reel of regret. Still, credit where it’s due—Yokohama looked rejuvenated.
Steve Holland: The Dysbulia Whisperer
Steve Holland, the man tasked with turning this ship around, deserves some credit. He outcoached Kevin Muscat, his predecessor and the man who led Yokohama to J-League glory. Muscat, now managing Shanghai Port, watched his team lose at home to a side that finished 9th in the J-League last season. Ouch.
Does this say more about the quality of the Chinese Super League or Holland’s tactical genius? Probably a bit of both. But let’s not get carried away—this is still the J-League we’re talking about.
What’s Next?
Next up, Yokohama face Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the J-League. Hiroshima finished second last season, while Yokohama languished in 9th. But if the Marinos can build on this performance, they might just make a game of it.
And then there’s the ACLE. Yokohama finished top of the Eastern table, which means they get to play…Shanghai Port again. Because apparently, the football gods have a sense of humour.
Final Thoughts
So, what have we learned? Yokohama F. Marinos are capable of playing good football when they feel like it. Sandy Walsh might just be the killock this team needed. And Steve Holland? Well, he’s not doing a bad job.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. This is the J-League, where dysbulia and casualism are never far away. Still, if you’re looking for things to do in Yokohama, watching the Marinos might be worth your time.
As for things to do in Shanghai? Well, losing to Yokohama F. Marinos seems to be high on the list.
doragon sports 