Match Review
The first match after a break of about two weeks was the round of 16 of the Emperor's Cup, where we faced Roasso Kumamoto on their home ground. The team, which has been focusing on continuity and development, has been undergoing rigorous training even during the period without official matches and is feeling a solid sense of progress. After a month and a half since his appointment, the influence of head coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI is also becoming more evident.
The starting members of note are the goalkeeper Jakub SLOWIK and captain Masato MORISHIGE, who are absent. Goalkeeper Taishi Brandon NOZAWA makes his debut in this tournament, and Kosuke SHIRAI, who joined in the summer, is utilized as the right side back. In the new formation, Kei KOIZUMI, who had been playing as a side back, moves to the defensive midfield, while familiar faces line up in the forward positions.
Amid the unique heat of Kyushu, the battle to show the difference in strength against Roasso Kumamoto, which belongs to the J2 League, has kicked off in order to advance to the Semifinal Round.
1st HALF - Conceded an early penalty kick to take the lead
It was an unexpected start. In the 2nd minute of the first half, Ryoma WATANABE threw in a throw-in from the right side, and after Diego OLIVEIRA dropped it, Koki TSUKAGAWA took the first shot. Following a clearance in front of our goal, we allowed Ito to break through the high line and go on a solo run, and within the penalty area, Taishi NOZAWA fouled him, resulting in a penalty kick. In the 4th minute of the first half, this was converted by Hirakawa, who was with Tokyo until last summer, allowing us to concede the opening goal early on.
After losing the lead, they began to push forward from both sides, but perhaps because it had been a while since they played an official match, the tempo of moving the ball did not increase. There were noticeable discrepancies in passing and control, and conversely, there were continued situations where they faced danger from counterattacks. They managed to hold on thanks to a good save by player Taishi Nozawa, preventing any additional goals, but the difficult situation continued.
In the 42nd minute of the first half, a chance finally arrives. After connecting passes in the center, a cross from Shirai, who was waiting on the right side, is spilled by the goalkeeper, but Kota TAWARATSUMIDA is there to follow up, and his shot rattles the side netting, preventing the equalizer.
2nd HALF - Allowed an additional goal and exited the tournament in the round of 16
First, they wanted to catch up in the second half, and although they did not make any substitutions, they quickly took control. In the 5th minute of the second half, they approached the goal from the right side. The key player was Watanabe. Standing at the corner of the penalty area, he delivered a near miss cross, then broke free from Tsukagawa's last pass, entered the penalty area, and created a scene that ended with a shot. However, the ball that was on target was blocked by the opposing goalkeeper.
Just as a good flow was beginning to emerge, another pitfall awaited. In the 9th minute of the second half, a pass mistake in the opponent's territory was picked up by Matsumoto, who was raised in Tokyo's academy. Watanabe, who chased from behind, couldn't catch up, and Henrique TREVISAN was evaded and swiftly dribbled to the goal, ultimately shaking the net calmly.
As the team fell behind by 2 goals, they made an early substitution to bring in fresh faces, but were unable to make a significant change. In the 19th minute of the second half, Adailton made a through pass to Leon NOZAWA, and the two substitutes created a big chance, but Leon NOZAWA's shot went wide of the target.
After the water break in the second half, space opened up in the opponent's territory, and the number of shots increased, but there were continued instances of weak shots or missing the target, resulting in no goals and the match ending. The Emperor's Cup concluded with the team finishing in the top 16.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Yasuki KIMOTO/Yuto NAGATOMO (27th minute: Shuhei TOKUMOTO)/Henrique Trevisan/Kosuke SHIRAI
MF Kyu Matsuki/Koki TSUKAGAWA (11th minute: Leon NOZAWA)/Kei KOIZUMI (26th minute: Keisuke HIGASHI)
FW Diego OLIVEIRA (31st minute: Perotti)/Ryoma WATANABE/Kota TAWARA (11th minute: Adailton)
SUBS
GK Tsuyoshi KODAMA
DF Kanta DOI
GOAL
―
<Roasso Kumamoto>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Ryuga TASHIRO
DF Kohei KUROKI/Ryotaro ONISHI (38th min: Takumi SAKAI)/Takuro EZAKI
MF Shuhei KAMIMURA/Yuki OMOTO (38th min: Keisuke TANABE)/Yuhi TAKEMOTO (26th min: Kazuto FUJITA)/Rei HIRAKAWA
FW Toshiyuki ITO (7th min: Yutaka DOUWAKI)/Rumu MATSUOKA (26th min: Tatsuki HIGASHIYAMA)/Takuya SHIMAMURA
SUBS
GK Yuya SATO
FW Shohei AIHARA
GOAL
4th minute of the first half: Rei HIRAKAWA/9th minute of the second half: Rimu MATSUOKA
[Comments from Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI at the Press Conference]
Q, please review the game.
A, I think it was a good football match. I believe Roasso Kumamoto fought very well, and I want to congratulate them.
We have prepared with respect for Kumamoto and have done what we can. However, I think our strength was not enough. It was a game where the goals decided everything, and we had a few chances that seemed like we could score. I believe Kumamoto capitalized on their chances effectively.
The players fought dedicatedly, and I am very proud of their desperate efforts. The players continued to fight to give their all. I believe we were able to create decisive opportunities during that time. The players here, those who remain, must be feeling pain and disappointment. I want us to move forward with that pain and become a strong team, a strong group, a strong club.
Q: What is your game plan for the match against Kumamoto, and how much of it was executed?
<div>A, Kumamoto is a very good team, and they fought desperately to secure a victory in front of their home fans. Even in such a situation, we wanted to take the initiative against them, and I believe we were able to do so. We anticipated that Kumamoto would play by moving the ball around, and we fought with the understanding that we needed to exploit those spaces. It was a match where both teams tried to play football actively.
As I mentioned earlier, the important point is that we continued to play our way. Once we scored one goal, we could have followed with two or three more. I believe we were able to create chances. If we weren't able to create chances while holding the ball, there are areas where we need to improve, but today we were able to create opportunities. I think there were chances where we could have scored a few goals, but we couldn't finish them tonight. What matters is that the players fought to continue their play until the end and tried to find solutions. However, we couldn't convert our chances into goals.
Q: It seemed that we struggled quite a bit against the opponent's press, especially in the first half. Was it that we needed a second plan, or did we not have enough time to prepare? Which was it?
Rather than a second plan, the opponent was also applying very strong pressure. There were parts where we were able to escape the pressure, and parts where we couldn't. As the match progressed, I think we regained our rhythm and were able to break through the opponent. A positive point was that the players were able to firmly come up with solutions.
Q: What are the points for reflection from today's match?
A, I would like to analyze all the elements. The most important point is that the players bravely and devotedly continued to play their football and kept fighting. That is the most important factor and the element that will lead to future success.
We will thoroughly analyze performance and provide feedback. This is something we always do. However, what I felt from the players in today's match was the courage to play our football, the dedication to do so, and the attitude to fight with spirit. In such matches, players may sometimes hide when faced with pressure. However, our players tried to believe in their football and sought solutions while fighting. I believe this is important for becoming the team we envision for the future.
To answer the previous question, it is everything. I believe we must solve everything. We need to improve in every aspect and continue to get better.
[Player Interview]]
<Kosuke SHIRAI>
Q: Please reflect on today's match, which was your debut game in Tokyo.
A, I am very disappointed that I couldn't lead the team to victory and that one chance for the title has been lost.
Q: You maintained balance in both offense and defense, and there was also active participation in the attack. Please tell us what you were conscious of on the pitch.
A, although we conceded a goal early on, as a player on the defensive line, I was especially conscious of not allowing consecutive goals. While defending well, I was always looking for opportunities to join the attack and maintained a forward mindset that could lead to scoring. First, I focused on plays to score one goal and equalize.
Q: In the first and second halves, the players who partnered with Ryoma WATANABE and Leon NOZAWA in a vertical relationship changed, but I think each of their strengths were showcased.
A, I was conscious of playing in a way that brings out the strengths and characteristics of the player in front of me. In that context, I believe that by participating in the attack as a support role, it adds depth. In the recent practice match, we were able to coordinate well in that regard. I think I was able to show it well through my play.
Q, there were many instances where Kosuke SHIRAI's characteristics were evident in his play.
A, there were moments where I was able to express movements such as sprinting to overtake the outer space and carrying the ball deep to deliver crosses. From here, while deepening our coordination, I want to increase the number of times I cover defensively and participate in attacks through my characteristic sprinting.
Q: Please tell us about the sense of achievement and challenges you experienced in today's match.
A, as a team, we are setting a high defensive line, and we want to reduce the situations that led to the first goal conceded. On the other hand, it is important for the team to take on challenges, and we want to improve by correcting mistakes. I think there were good moments throughout today's match as well. As a team, we want to improve and make things better.
<Kuryu MATSUKI>
Q, please review the game.
A, as expected, conceding a goal early on shifts the momentum away from us. The opponent pressed with a clear strategy, applying pressure when we moved to the sides, and it felt like we fell into their trap.
Q: Did the opponent's attack cause any defensive misalignments or was there anything different from the expected battle?
A, the opponent was pressing our back line with a lone forward, so I thought we could surprisingly break free, but when the ball went from the center back to Diego OLIVEIRA, there were many scenes where he lost the ball due to lack of support. I think the defensive midfielder can also come to pick up the ball, but if the center backs don't push up, it becomes difficult against an opponent who sits back a bit.
Q: It seemed that Matsuki was closely marked when he had the ball during the attack. How was the buildup of the attack?
In the latter part of the second half, the opponents were also tired, but our combination play was working well, and we need to be able to do this from the first half. The match is still ongoing, so we will take this issue back and prepare to win the next match against Cerezo Osaka.
<Leon NOZAWA>
Q: You came on in the second half. What instructions did Coach Klamovski give you?
From Coach CKLAMOVSKI, I was told to focus on defending the right side and following the team's rules while utilizing my own strengths to attack behind the opponent. Since I came on midway, I aimed to contribute to the score and bring a positive momentum.
Q, I had the impression that you were able to work well with Kosuke SHIRAI and create plays that led to scoring opportunities.
A, Shirai was always calling out from behind. We were able to play in coordination while confirming each other's movements through overlapping runs and cutting inside. Understanding each other's strengths, we were able to break through with a good relationship, but for me personally, the challenge is that I couldn't finish at the crucial moment. I repeated the same mistake as in the Levain Cup debut match against Cerezo Osaka this season, and I felt that I still have a lot of room to grow.
Q: The playing time is gradually increasing, but please tell us again about the challenges and gains from this match.
A, I think there were many times when we lost the ball. The accuracy of one-touch play was low, and there were noticeable scenes where we easily lost possession and the ball was passed to the opponent. Another point is that we couldn't finish in one-on-one situations with the opposing goalkeeper or in volley shot opportunities. If we don't finish in important scenes, I believe we won't be able to survive from here. Regarding breaking behind the defense, I have been getting a good feel for it in today's match as well as in the recent practice game. I want to organize my sense as a striker and connect it to scoring goals.
Q: I think we are in the process of getting closer to the goal, so please share your enthusiasm for the future.
A, I personally feel that I am getting closer to scoring, but I believe a striker is someone who delivers results in official matches, even if they can show their skills in practice games. From the next match onward, if I get the chance to play, I want to achieve visible results as an individual and continue to improve through daily training.
