Previous Match Review: Sagan Tosu
A golden opportunity spilled right in front of him. The blue-red center back was only thinking about the shot.
The ball, struck powerfully with the right foot into the near side, hit the crossbar with great force and bounced once before piercing the goal net. It seemed that a first goal had been scored at a good time, just 11 minutes into the match.
However, mercilessly, the assistant referee's decision was offside. It seemed that a first goal had been scored from the flow of the corner kick, but the player who was supposed to have scored the heroic goal, Yasuki KIMOTO, quickly returned to his usual position as a center-back.
"In situations like that, it's often offside. The assistant referee raised the flag, so I thought it was offside and went back."
Ryotaro ARAKI's right corner kick was deflected, and Takahiro KO headed it forward, but the position of Kimoto, who remained in the front line, was ruled offside. However, with the support of VAR, the goal was confirmed. This was the first opening goal for Tokyo in six league matches.
Surrounded by the hero who shyly smiled, saying, 'I was embarrassed because there was a time lag,' a circle of joy formed among the players who had returned to their side.
In the end, this goal became the winning point, and Tokyo won 1-0. They achieved a clean sheet victory for the first time since the match against Kashima Antlers in Sec. 7.
In this match, as symbolized by player Kimoto dashing back to his position after seeing the offside flag, the defense was increasingly focused on keeping a clean sheet in the away game against Tosu.
"The only match where we kept a clean sheet in the league was against Kashima, and as a defender, I felt really frustrated. Even when the forwards scored, we often ended up drawing or losing matches due to conceding multiple goals, which made me feel responsible. Today, there were times when we struggled to finish, but I believe we all held on and defended well to secure the 3 points. The forwards did a great job of limiting the opponent, which made it easier for us to defend, and the backline managed risks well, allowing for good challenge and cover. As an individual, I am happier with a clean sheet than with scoring, and I want to continue having matches like this. If we can keep a clean sheet, victories will follow, so I want to keep focusing on not conceding goals going forward."
The team, struggling with four winless matches in the league, marked their first victory in five games at the "Kin J" in Tosu. This victory in away Tosu was their first since June 20, 2015, in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League 1st Stage Sec. 16, achieving a breakthrough after Fukuoka and Sapporo.
After the match, from the Tokyo supporters' section, the chant "My Lover is Kimoto" was heard to the melody of "My Lover is Santa Claus." He mentioned that he didn't understand the lyrics, but those lyrics, filled with the love of the fans and supporters, are surely proof of the outstanding presence he showed in both offense and defense in the away game against Tosu, wearing the number 4 jersey.
Match Preview
Tokyo has played three official matches since the last league game, losing to Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-5 on aggregate in the Levain Cup and being eliminated in the playoff round. In the subsequent Emperor's Cup All Japan Soccer Championship, they defeated V-Varen Nagasaki to advance to the 3rd Round. Although the result in the Levain Cup was disappointing, the emergence of new strengths in these three matches is a significant gain.
Players Divine OTANI and Shuto NAGANO, who are registered with FC Tokyo U-18, showed great performances, and Leon NOZAWA recorded assists in two consecutive matches. Meanwhile, veterans Masato MORISHIGE and Keigo HIGASHI also demonstrated their presence, accumulating positive factors as the league resumes. Player HIGASHI, who scored his first official goal of the season in the match against Mie, stated, "I understand that my ranking within the team has dropped due to injury. I want to be involved in matches in the league from here on and reclaim my position."
This match will welcome Júbilo Iwata to Ajinomoto Stadium. The league season is approaching the halfway point, but this is a crucial match that cannot be lost if we want to climb into the top ranks in the second half. Masato MORISHIGE is eager, stating, "I want to deliver results whenever a chance arises in any match." Young players and veterans are competing, and Tokyo aims to seize the upward momentum from here.
This matchday program is here
[Interview with Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI]
Q, The players have returned from the Japan national team activities. How is their condition?
A, I think he has returned in good condition. Since he has just come back after a long-distance trip, we want to take care of that aspect as well. The team has been competing in a tough schedule with more than 10 matches in 6 weeks. It is also true that players have been absent due to national team duties and injuries, which has thinned our squad. Despite that, the players have always worked hard and given their all in the matches in front of them. We want to overcome this together as a team, prepare well for the next match, and approach the game with full effort.
Q: It's been a while since the last league match. Please tell us what you think should be changed and what is important to you.
A, first of all, we must seize victory in the match against Júbilo Iwata. Under this theme, we are required to develop our football and express a strong mentality on the pitch. Iwata is a very good team, but we have clearly shared the spaces and awareness we should target. We want to organize which areas to use to launch attacks and increase plays that head powerfully toward the goal. At the same time, it is important to finish the match with a clean sheet victory. We also want to demand a high intensity in defense.
Q: This match will be the last home game of the first half of the league.
A, we are focused solely on delivering victory in response to the passionate support and encouragement from our fans and supporters.
[Player Interview]
＜Masato MORISHIGE＞
Q: I think the match against V-Varen Nagasaki was fruitful both for the team and individually, as we scored a goal.
The difficulty of facing teams from different categories was something we felt based on past results, and I believe the players on the pitch were also mindful of that as they approached the match. However, more than that, the players, including myself, who had long periods without playing in league matches were strongly determined to deliver results as starters. It was a match where each of our feelings seemed to be expressed, and personally, scoring a goal that led to victory made it a good game.
Q: Please tell us about your feelings and challenges regarding the current team.
A, as a team, we have been struggling with inconsistent performances in recent matches, and I believe the main reason is the high number of goals conceded per game. We definitely need to build a stronger defense, and since we have been scoring consistently, if we can stabilize our defense more, I think we can accumulate more wins. This has been a challenge for the team since the start of the season. We want to work on improving it.
Of course, reducing the number of goals conceded is important, but individual effort, growth, and improvement are also necessary. However, I believe the most important thing is how the team faces the challenges together.
I feel that there are many aspects of defense that can be improved based on how to defend, what responses are needed depending on the time and situation, and the effort put into it.
Q: The situation is such that we can aim for the top, but please tell us what is necessary to catch up in the second half of the league.
A, after all, the most important thing is defensive stability. In terms of offense, I think increasing the number of goals scored from set plays is key. If we can clear these two points, I believe we will naturally climb higher in the rankings, and these are crucial points. I think it is difficult to win the championship unless the team’s balance and overall coordination work well, so including the match against Júbilo Iwata, we want to make adjustments throughout the games.
Q: Please share your enthusiasm for the match.
As for the league matches, this will be the first game after the break, and since it is our home game, we want to show a strong performance and secure a victory. From here, heading into the summer, there will be consecutive matches and tough games, so we will work hard to steadily accumulate points and deliver many wins at home.
<Hotaka NAKAMURA>
Q: The league matches that were suspended will resume. How is your personal condition?
A, the team has been playing consecutive matches in the Levain Cup and Emperor's Cup, and during that time I have also been given playing time, so my condition and match sharpness have gradually improved. Although it is little by little, I believe I am getting closer to a good feeling.
Q: You have returned from injury, and your playing time is gradually increasing.
A, I believe I still lack the quality of play, my own style, and the information and feelings that can only be understood by being on the official match pitch. In the Levain Cup match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, I played for 60 minutes, but before that, I spent most of my time on the pitch for only 20 to 30 minutes confirming my own feelings and play. In the past few matches, I felt like I was overthinking my own play. What I felt most strongly upon returning to the pitch was that "soccer is not about logic." I want to clearly organize what my own style is and express it in the matches.
Q: The league matches are about to reach the halfway point.
A, after returning from a long-term injury and getting a chance to play, got injured again. Personally, I reflect on the fact that my playing time in league matches has been short, and I see this as a point to improve and a challenge moving forward. From now on, my primary goal is to participate in matches, and beyond that, I want to leave numbers in terms of goals and assists as a side back.
What I felt during the long time watching the match from outside the pitch was that we couldn't maintain a stable flow in the game. It's not just about individuals; I want us to work as a team, and as other players have mentioned, I believe that "reducing goals conceded" is the most important point for improvement. If we concede two goals, we have to aim to score three; we need to get the number of goals conceded per match close to zero in order to accumulate points. As a team and as defensive players, I want to delve deeper into this.
