Tokyo Verdy defender Cho Yu-min is turning his attention to an upcoming aerial duel against Shimizu S-Pulse forward Oh Se-hun as the club fights to pull away from the J1 League relegation zone. Tokyo Verdy practiced at their training ground in Inagi, Tokyo, following a 2–1 victory over V-Varen Nagasaki that secured consecutive wins for the first time this season and lifted the historic club out of the J2 automatic relegation places, according to Football Zone.
The Nov. 7 fixture brings a formidable physical test. Shimizu S-Pulse features 194-centimeter South Korean forward Oh Se-hun, who leads the J1 League with 70 aerial duel victories this season. Cho, a fellow South Korean international defender who joined Tokyo Verdy on Sept. 19, knows his compatriot well after sharing the pitch for their national team across four international matches.
“I know (Oh Se-hun’s) strengths well, so I am ready,” Cho said during team training. “We are close and have a good relationship. Oh Se-hun’s aerial duels are frightening, but it is about competing hard, covering teammates, and preparing well as a group. Stopping Oh Se-hun as a team is extremely important.”
Defensive Stabilization Following World Cup Experience
Cho brings significant international pedigree to Tokyo Verdy’s backline. The defender was selected for South Korea’s squad at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, appearing in one match and earning praise for his athletic defending. Though a right sole injury sustained during a pre-tournament friendly against Trinidad and Tobago kept him out of the North and Central American World Cup, his form has recovered steadily.
Cho made his first start for Tokyo Verdy in an 11th-round draw against Yokohama F. Marinos. He has since anchored the defense through successive victories against Avispa Fukuoka and V-Varen Nagasaki. The team has not lost a match since Cho entered the starting lineup, providing stability to a defense struggling against the drop.
Despite the recent wins, Cho emphasized that the team’s defensive work remains incomplete. “We are winning, but we are conceding goals, so as a defender I feel a strong sense of responsibility,” Cho said. “Oh Se-hun’s strength lies in his response to crosses, so we are working together with our teammates to keep a clean sheet.”
Climbing Out of the Relegation Zone
Tokyo Verdy’s recent resurgence has changed the mathematical complexion of their campaign. Securing a third league victory against Shimizu S-Pulse would push the historic green squad significantly closer to securing J1 League survival.
Previous encounters between the two South Korean internationals highlight the challenge ahead. Across three official meetings in their careers, Cho’s teams have managed one draw and suffered two losses while conceding one goal against sides featuring the towering forward. Those historical matchups inform Cho’s tactical assessment of the threat.
With the squad gathering momentum following their back-to-back victories, the immediate objective shifts to neutralizing the J1 League’s aerial-duel leader on Nov. 7. The fixture will test whether Tokyo Verdy’s new defensive leader can turn his familiarity with Oh into a clean sheet.
