It was Nakajima’s second start of the season. I didn’t expect him to start at all until I saw the starting line-up. The reason behind this start could be: 1- Injury of Danilo Perriera: yet Sergio Conceição could have started with Corona in attacking-midfield and Manafa in the right-back position. So, this is not a convincing reason. 2- Porto might be thinking of loaning him during this winter transfer window and liked to give him playing time in the last league match before the break, in a hope he will play surprisingly well and increase his marketablity. 3- Sergio Conceição wanted to give him playing time in a hope that he will finally function with the team very well, especially with the alternatives not being impressive by any rate. As for his performance, he was very impressive, excellent link-up plays and passes in the middle of the field to generate attacking thrusts, something which Porto is really missing to the extent that they are depending this season on crosses from the wings and set-pieces to create scoring chances, as there is no player who can pull the strings in the midfield like Nakajima. This is said, let’s hope this will be a harbinger for good things to happen for both Nakajima and Porto, as they need such player like him in January-February period as they will play against Sporting Lisbon, Braga, and Benfica in the league, and Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League. Excellent results in this period will have a positive impact on Porto’s hopes of gaining an automatic Champions League birth, while bad results will have a negative impact. This period might as well play a factor in the future of Sergio Conceição at the club too. As for the match, again, Nakajima initiated the play which resulted in the first goal, nutmegging two of the opponents players to set Luis Dias free just inches away from penalty-box arc, who then played it to Corona on the right-wing, who crossed it back towards the middle of the penalty-box for Soares to head it home. This goal couldn’t be scored without Nakajima’s contribution, as when he freed Luis Dias, the opponent’s defenders were confused whether he will shot, play it to one of the two strikers inside the box or cross it to Corona on the right. Yes, Nakajima didn’t scored or assisted the goal, but without him setting Luis Dias free in such position and situation, the goal wouldn’t have been scored. Moreover, Nakajima had a triangle of passes with Otavio and Corona which resulted in Otavio scoring the third goal. Finally, he has a chance around the 60th minute to score Porto’s 4th goal as he received a wrong pass from the opponent’s defence, which left him with almost an empty net in front of him, but the GK tracked back and saved Nakajima’s shot which was slightly soft.
His goal was a tap-in! Here is the goal: GOLO! FC Porto, Nakajima aos 28', FC Porto 1-0 Santa Clara #TaçadePortugal #FCPCDSC Vê todos os lances: 🎥 https://t.co/gpzpxs8Cc0 pic.twitter.com/a7R8TS1noS— VSPORTS (@vsports_pt) December 19, 2019
Conceição raved about Nakajima's improvement after the last league match and suggested that his family's arrival in Portugal has made a difference as well.
Third start in a row for Nakajima in the space of a week in tonight’s league cup match. He played well and had an assist too. Here is a video of his assist: GOLO! FC Porto, Soares aos 16', GD Chaves 0-2 FC Porto #AllianzCup #GDCFCP Vê todos os lances: 🎥 https://t.co/gpzpxs8Cc0 pic.twitter.com/BMJX1pIqFx— VSPORTS (@vsports_pt) December 22, 2019
Great to see he is getting back to pre-Qatar form. On top of that, his defensive workrate has improved as well. You gotta give Sergio Conceicao credit for this.
chosen as Porto's player of the month. 🔵⚪ Os nossos seguidores elegeram Shoya Nakajima como o melhor jogador do @FCPorto no mês de Dezembro 💪💙Parabéns Samurai 👏👏👏#FCPorto #SomosPorto #LigaNOS pic.twitter.com/nJT1n7uUk4— Dragão News 🇸🇻 (@DragaoNews1893) January 2, 2020
Shoya Nakajima starting for Porto vs Sporting Lisbon: ⚽Onze inicial / Starting Eleven / Alineación: Marchesín, Tecatito Corona, Pepe, Marcano, Alex Telles, Otávio, Danilo, Matheus Uribe, Nakajima, Marega e Soares#FCPorto #SCPFCP #Exceedyourself @Prozis— FC Porto (@FCPorto) January 5, 2020
Whatever you think of Conceiçao's management "techniques", there is a noticeable bite and selflessness evident in Nakajima's defensive work these days, and his attacking quality looks sharper than earlier in the season.
Huge win for Porto. They now won both of their away matches against their closest rivals; Benfica and Sporting Lisbon. Porto now are 4 points adrift Benfica, but they will host Benfica after 4 weeks, and if they win they will move 1 point behind Benfica at the top of the table (if they both win their 4 matches leading to this decisive match). With this win against Sporting Lisbon, Porto are second with 12 points ahead of Sporting Lisbon who are in the third place. This means that Sporting are virtually eliminated from the title race, and it will be both Porto and Benfica battling for the title again this season.
Nakajima initiated the play which led to Porto’s opening goal, as he pulled his markers in the midfield towards him and then passed it to Corona, who was free on the right-wing. Corona then launched a long pass towards Marega who was just few inches ahead of the penalty-box arch. Marega outrun his marker and tapped the ball past Sporting’s goalkeeper. Nakajima had a dangerous shot at goal around the 33rd in minute: Shoya Nakajima with a dangerous shot on goal vs Sporting Lisbon: https://t.co/3cgxHNE1t7— Samurai Warrior (@SamuraiWarrio17) January 5, 2020 He dribbled past Sporting defenders, shortly before being subbed out, and he almost had clear view to shot at goal but he surprisingly fell inside the penalty-box with no whatsoever physical contact between him and Sporting’s defender. In overall, a very good game by Nakajima, his main contribution to the team is his link-up play and dribbling in the midfield to create spaces for his teammates to exploit. Hence, he has not seen enough opportunities to score goals or record assists, but his general contribution is really helping the team to unlock opposing defences.
Another solid outing for Nakajima and a win away for Porto. He needs to find his shooting boots but definitely has become an essential part of the squad.
The match in EL vs Leverkusen will be very interesting and a good sliding door for his future in Europe.