Castro's clinical double saves Hasegawa's blushes (Nagoya Grampus vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima analysis) | OneFootball

Nagoya Grampus Edge Past Sanfrecce Hiroshima Amid Injury Concerns

Match Report

Nagoya Grampus secured a vital 2-1 victory over Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Toyota Stadium on Sunday, with January signing Mateus Castro proving the difference with a clinical double.

The Brazilian forward struck just before half-time and added a second shortly after the restart, with Tsukasa Morishima providing the assist for his second goal. Hiroshima substitute Daiki Suga pulled one back in the 81st minute, but it proved too little too late for the visitors.

The victory provides welcome relief for Nagoya, who had endured a torrid start to the season with just two wins from their previous ten matches, leaving them languishing in 20th position in the J1 League table.

Tale of Two Approaches

Despite dominating possession with 67% of the ball and creating more chances, Hiroshima couldn't convert their territorial advantage into goals. The visitors registered 13 shots to Nagoya's six and won eight corners without reply, but found Nagoya goalkeeper Daniel Schmidt in fine form as he made four crucial saves.

Nagoya's approach was ruthlessly efficient, converting both their shots on target into goals while defending resolutely against sustained pressure. Their 33% possession and 63% pass completion rate told the story of a team content to soak up pressure and strike on the counter.

Key Performers

Mateus Castro was the standout performer, earning an 8.3 rating despite picking up a yellow card. The January arrival from Al Taawon has given Nagoya a cutting edge they've desperately needed during their injury crisis.

For Hiroshima, Daiki Suga made an immediate impact from the bench, scoring and completing 19 accurate passes in his cameo appearance. Hayato Araki, Hayao Kawabe and Sota Nakamura also performed admirably for the visitors, each earning a 7.0 rating.

Injury Concerns Dominating Headlines

Both clubs have been battling significant injury problems this season. Nagoya midfielder Masashi Ono recently returned after a ten-month absence with a cruciate ligament injury, while new signing Yuya Asano has expressed frustration at the number of teammates in the treatment room.

Sanfrecce have their own injury woes, with midfielder Turgay Arslan suffering a serious injury in early March that required treatment in Germany. The incident sparked controversy when manager Michael Skibbe publicly criticised refereeing standards, leading to supporter petitions demanding review of officiating guidelines.

Wider Context

The match took place against a backdrop of growing discontent about refereeing standards in the J1 League. There's been widespread discussion about whether officials have been instructed to let more challenges go to increase actual playing time, with the Japanese Football Association denying any official change while acknowledging "minor adjustments" to standards.

Skibbe continued his criticism after this match, describing the officiating as "crueller than imagined" and suggesting that "Japan is behind" in protecting players from injury.

For Nagoya, pressure continues to mount on manager Kenta Hasegawa after what has been their worst start to a season in 28 years, with reports suggesting only a substantial compensation package has prevented the club from making a change.

Both teams will look to regroup quickly, with Nagoya travelling to Kashima for their next fixture while Sanfrecce face a trip to Urawa.