Kaneko's maiden strike extends Reds' perfect streak (Urawa vs Hiroshima analysis) | OneFootball

Urawa Edge Past Hiroshima with Kaneko's First Club Goal

Match Report

Urawa Reds continued their impressive run of form with a narrow 1-0 victory over Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Saitama Stadium 2002, extending their winning streak to four matches in the J1 League.

Takuro Kaneko's 57th-minute strike proved the difference in a tightly contested affair, giving Maciej Skorża's side all three points and further cementing their resurgence after a slow start to the campaign.

Tactical Battle

In the absence of suspended manager Michael Skibbe, Hiroshima started brightly under assistant S. Sakoi, who deployed a modified 3-5-2 formation in an attempt to address recent scoring difficulties. The visitors dominated early possession and pressed aggressively, but struggled to convert territorial advantage into clear-cut chances.

Urawa, maintaining their trusted 4-2-3-1 system, weathered the early pressure before gradually gaining a foothold. Their patience was rewarded shortly after the break when Brazilian playmaker Matheus Sávio orchestrated a swift counter-attack that culminated in Kaneko finding the net for his first goal since joining the Reds.

"We made some mistakes in our defensive third early on," admitted Skorża post-match. "But our organisational discipline improved, particularly in transitions from defence to attack."

Defensive Resilience

Despite registering more shots (12 to Urawa's 9), Hiroshima managed just two on target against a resolute Urawa backline marshalled by Danilo Boza and Marius Høibråten. Boza made a crucial goal-line clearance late in the match to preserve the clean sheet.

Veteran goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa was rarely troubled as Urawa's defensive unit continued to build on their growing reputation for solidity, having conceded just once in their last four league outings.

Form Lines

The result extends contrasting trajectories for both sides. Urawa have now won four consecutive league matches, climbing steadily up the table after an inconsistent opening to the season. Their tactical discipline and squad cohesion appear to be paying dividends under Skorża's stewardship.

For Hiroshima, this marks a third straight defeat, with familiar issues in attack persisting despite controlling significant portions of the match. Creative talents Hayao Kawabe and Sota Nakamura struggled to unlock a compact Urawa defence.

Manager's View

"Kaneko's first goal for us is significant for his confidence," Skorża noted. "Our game control after taking the lead was generally good, though we dropped too deep at times. I'm pleased with how we're progressing, particularly against teams that press high."

The victory, witnessed by 28,555 spectators at Saitama Stadium, maintains Urawa's strong historical record against Hiroshima, now standing at 39 wins from 76 meetings.