Last weekend's J. League fixtures were always going to be difficult so soon after the shock death of former Yokohama F. Marinos and national team defender Naoki Matsuda, but in the event the passion and determination on show were a fitting tribute.
Yokohama's players could hardly have been blamed had their minds been elsewhere heading into Saturday's top-of-the-table clash with Kashiwa Reysol, coming as it did just two days after Matsuda passed away after collapsing in training with his JFL club Matsumoto Yamaga.
But that would never sit right with the memory of a fierce competitor who never shirked a challenge and expected his teammates to do likewise. Matsuda demanded high standards in his 16 seasons with the Yokohama club, and although Reysol ran out deserved 2-0 winners on Saturday, Marinos' commitment to the cause was never in doubt.
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