Match Review
The blue and red fans and supporters filled the stands behind the goal at the away NHK Spring MitsuzawaFootballStadium, shaking the stands with loud cheers and jumps to inspire the team. Led by coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI, they welcome the first match of the new season. The time has finally come to unveil the new trials that the team has built up since the start of their activities.
The commander selected these 11 players for his first match. At the back is Taishi Brandon NOZAWA, with the final line consisting of Kanta DOI, Masato MORISHIGE, and Tetsuhei OKA from right to left. The wingers are Kosuke SHIRAI on the right and Yuto NAGATOMO on the left. At the base of the midfield, captain Keisuke KOIZUMI and Hiroshi TAKAU are paired, with Teruhito NAKAGAWA on the right and Kota TAWARATSUMIDA on the left as inside midfielders. Leading the attack is Marcelo RYAN, facing his former club. Although registered as a 4-4-2 in the starting lineup, they actually approached the match with a new formation of 3-4-2-1. Additionally, the bench, which has increased to 9 members this season, includes rookie Kota TOKIWAKI and new signing Megumi SATO, with 5 forwards of different types registered. They approached the opening match with an aggressive lineup.
Yokohama FC, despite being in their first year after promotion, is a team known for its solid defense, quick counterattacks, and strength in set pieces. It is interesting that many staff members with ties to the blue and red include Kenji FUKUDA as the director of strengthening, Fumitake MIURA as a coach, Yoichi DOI as the goalkeeper coach, and Amaral as the striker coach. Junya SUZUKI, who was with Tokyo until the 2022 season and is known for his long throw-ins, is also among the starting members.
The match kicked off at 14:03 in Tokyo, amidst a mild climate that still retained a slight chill.
1st HALF—Despite having a higher possession rate, we couldn't create chances to break through the opponent
In the early stages, both teams were trying to showcase their strengths while probing each other. By adopting the same formation and setting up a five-back structure during defense, the match took on the appearance of a mirror game. Gradually, Yokohama FC began to push forward using long balls and side plays, launching a series of shots from just after the 10-minute mark of the first half, but Nozawa made solid catches, preventing any goals. In the 20th minute of the first half, we were threatened by a long through ball from the opponent that shook the net, but our back line executed an offside trap, allowing us to escape the danger.
The key point in the first half was the method to break through Yokohama FC's solid central defense. There were scenes where they regained possession with coordinated high pressing after advancing, but there was a prolonged period where they struggled to find a solution.
The first chance came in the 30th minute of the first half, when player Tawara Tsukita received the ball on the left side and made a cut-in pass to the far side. Player Shirai, who ran in, switched the ball and took a shot, but it was blocked by a defender, resulting in a corner kick. Then, player Tawara Tsukita delivered a kick from the right, which player Doi redirected at the near post, and player Nakagawa, who was free in the center, headed the ball, but it went over the goal. Unfortunately, they could not convert their first clear chance.
Tokyo wants to find a way to attack while enduring Yokohama FC's strong set plays. In the 40th minute of the first half, after defending against the opponent's corner kick, they fed the ball forward, where Nakagawa and Shirai both sprinted fiercely. The opponent's goalkeeper came out high on the left side to clear the ball, but it hit Nakagawa's left foot, resulting in a yellow card being shown.
There was a scene where they were attacked with a corner kick during the 2 minutes of additional time, but the time was up when Nozawa caught the ball firmly. Despite having a higher possession rate, they were unable to create scenes to break through the opponent, leaving challenges in building their attacks as they went into halftime scoreless.
2nd HALF - With a stunning strike from a beautiful passing play, "Rikizo Tokyo" celebrates their first victory
In the second half, without any changes to the lineup, Tokyo struggled against Yokohama FC, who advanced while receiving the ball between the lines, and found it difficult to penetrate the opponent's territory. Tokyo's forwards increased their opportunities to touch the ball while returning, trying to create rhythm through movement.
What changed the difficult atmosphere all at once was Shirai's powerful vertical dribble breakthrough shown in the 16th minute of the second half. And from the throw-in gained from this play, a moment of joy was brought forth.
Player Shirai received a return pass from player Nakagawa, and as players Koizumi and Takashi connected with one-touch plays, they dashed powerfully towards the goal. The ball moved to the center, and as player Tawara-Tsumida sent it forward with a one-touch pass, player Shirai ran in and executed a brilliant control shot with his left foot. A strike worthy of the first goal for "Rikuzou Tokyo" from a splendid display of passing. After scoring, player Shirai immediately ran towards the stands behind the goal to share the joy with his blue and red teammates, spreading his arms wide and roaring powerfully.
As the back-and-forth battle continues, Coach Matsuhashi makes a move. In the 67th minute of the second half, he substitutes Keita YAMASHITA for Hian. In the 75th minute, he brings in three fresh players: Soma ANZAI, Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA, and Kei SATO, replacing Nakagawa, Tawara, and Shirai to energize the pitch. For Kei SATO, who had gone directly from Meiji University to Germany, this was his J-League debut.
Yokohama FC, aiming for a counterattack, is making incursions with cross attacks from the sides while utilizing player substitutions, but Nozawa is preventing secondary attacks by winning aerial battles and catching high balls.
Tokyo wants to skillfully advance the match while maintaining the lead. Up front, player Kogashi aims for sharp breakthroughs, while at the back, player Morishige uses his quick cuts to thwart the opponent's attacks, showcasing his strengths in both offense and defense. In the 4 minutes of added time, Henrique TREVISAN was brought in to replace the hard-working Morishige. Henrique, who excels in one-on-one play, immediately stops the opponent's breakthrough, helping to close out the match.
A long whistle echoed as the chant of the 'City That Never Sleeps' resonated away, achieving a splendid 1-0 victory in the opening match. While leaving room for improvement, they showcased their characteristic passing football to score a magnificent goal, achieving a significant result with a victory in the first match of 'Rikuzou Tokyo'.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Masato MORISHIGE (substituted in 45+2 minutes: Henrique TREVISAN)/Yuto NAGATOMO/Teppei OKA/Kanta DOI
MF Hiroshi TAKAUCHI/Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (substituted in 30 minutes: Keisuke SATO)/Kei KOIZUMI/Kosuke SHIRAI (substituted in 30 minutes: Soma ANZAI)
FW Marcelo HIAN (substituted in 22 minutes: Keita YAMASHITA)/Teruhito NAKAGAWA (substituted in 30 minutes: Go KOBAYASHI)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
MF Kenta TOKIWAKI
FW Leon NOZAWA
FW Ewerton Gaudino
GOAL
16 minutes into the second half: Kosuke SHIRAI
<Yokohama FC>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Akinori ICHIKAWA
DF Kosuke YAMAZAKI/Ndoka Boniface/Akito FUKUMORI
MF Junya SUZUKI/Yoshiaki KOMAI (substituted in 42nd minute: Michel Lima)/Yota OGURA (substituted in 34th minute: Yuri Lara)/Towa YAMANE (substituted in 24th minute: Kaili SHIMBO)
FW Musashi SUZUKI (substituted in 34th minute: Sho ITO)/Joao Paulo (substituted in 24th minute: Mizuki ARAI)/Solomon SAKURAGAWA
SUBS
GK Phelipe MEGIOLALO
DF Makito ITO
MF Toma MURATA
FW Keijiro OGAWA
GOAL
―
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q, please review the game.
A, more than the content, I believe that the most important thing was to secure 3 points. We want to carry this momentum into the next game and prepare well so that we can create a situation where we can gain even more momentum.
Q. When it became apparent that Marcelo RYAN and Masato MORISHIGE were injured, you made quick substitutions. Does this mean you trusted the substitute players and that they were ready?
A, the bench staff are always prepared and anticipate various situations, so I think things went smoothly. (Regarding the player's condition) I have not yet received a detailed report.
Q. There was some stiffness in the first half, but what instructions did you give at halftime?
A, I told them they were kicking a little too much. Naturally, using that effectively was part of our plan, but as we entered the second half, we slightly changed our positioning and roles in the part where we create the game ourselves, and I think that brought some smoothness. In the 45 minutes of the second half, I think it would be good if we could create a bit more timing to speed up as we enter the final third. Also, it is important to firmly recover the ball once we win it back. There were situations where we cleared the ball, then fought for the second ball, and the opponent picked it up, so I think it is crucial to hold onto the ball properly and we must focus on that.
Q, The goal scene was beautifully broken down by the movement of the third player.
A, (There was) almost no such breakdown, but even once it happened, it created a scoring opportunity, and the entire team firmly defended that goal until the end. In that regard, I think it was a very good goal. On top of that, of course, the opponent also had chances, which were also critical moments for us, but we did not give up and defended firmly until the end, keeping a clean sheet. Considering the stiffness and pressure of the first match, I want to properly acknowledge that.
[Player Interview]
<Kosuke SHIRAI>
Q, from Hiroaki FUJI (Head of Analysis), it was indicated that if Kosuke SHIRAI could be involved in 6 goals, the team would get closer to the title. It was set as a goal. It was a good start, wasn't it?
A, being involved in goals from the start of the season is truly positive for me, and I think it was good to have taken the first step toward my goal.
Q, please review the scoring scene.
I was able to recognize that there was space, and since the ball was placed in a good spot, all I had to do was swing my foot.
Q: Last season, when you scored against Albirex Niigata in an away game, you said you didn't know how to celebrate.
A, I think today went well. It was good that I was able to go straight behind the goal.
Q. I think wing back is probably the position I am most skilled at in my career.
I have always played as a wing-back, and it is one of my strong positions. I got results today as well, and I feel that my experience as a wing-back combined with playing in a back four until last season is coming together well.
Q. On the defensive side, we were able to keep the goals conceded at zero.
A, I truly think it was good, and by switching to a three-back formation, there was a sense of security in front of the goal. It also made it easier for us wings to push forward, so I think that aspect was very positive. There are still areas to reflect on even when we win, and I hope we can keep improving and climb higher while winning.
Q, the next match is the home opener at Ajinomoto Stadium.
A, I believe that winning at home is essential, so I want to secure a solid victory and deliver our first home win to the fans and supporters.
<Kanta DOI>
Q, please review the game.
A, I think there were too many slightly long balls. The condition of the pitch wasn't good, and since it was the opening match, we initially aimed to play it safe, but I would like us to connect the ball more overall.
Q. How do you feel about the development throughout the match?
After scoring one point, I think we were able to maintain a solid and stable defense at the back. In terms of offense, I felt that the entire team needs to focus more on quality and reduce mistakes.
Q. What aspects do you feel were lacking in the offensive part?
A, I was kicking almost all the goal kicks. So, if we calm down once and connect from the center back, we can increase our own time and play with more composure.
Q. How do you feel about winning the opening match with a clean sheet in such a tough game?
A, when considering the entire year, I think whether we can win in this kind of match development greatly affects our ranking. In that regard, being able to win in a situation like today makes me feel that the team is growing.
Q. It was also the first official match against my father, Yoichi DOI (Yokohama FC Goalkeeper Coach).
A, I'm glad we won. I wanted to tease (my father) by winning, so I will tease him when I go back to my parents' house.
<Player Kei Sato>
Q: How was your J-League debut match?
A, it was a difficult match, but if I were to play, I thought about doing what I could for the team's victory. It was my debut match, but I truly believe this is just the beginning, so from here on, I want to steadily achieve results, grow, and meet everyone's expectations.
Q: What instructions did you receive from the coach?
A, I was told to be careful of Fukumori's kick, who was facing me, and to apply solid pressure there. Also, I was told to put pressure on the opponent with the forward players and to try to finish with even a single shot.
Q. After scoring a goal in a difficult situation and then making a substitution, what did you focus on when entering the match?
A, since I am an attacking player, I honestly wanted to be involved in scoring 2 or 3 goals and finish the match. However, given the flow of the game, the opponent had possession for a period, so I accepted that and entered the match with the mindset to run for the team, defending not so much cleanly but more tenaciously.
Q. It seemed like there was a period during the first half when the team couldn't really show their strengths. How did you see it?
A, we couldn't quite control the ball the way we wanted, and in the first half, we had almost zero shots. Honestly, since it was the opening match and an away game, I think our bodies were a bit stiff. Even so, I thought if we showed some assertiveness, the opponents might dislike that. Since I am a player who also prides himself on assertiveness, I planned to come on midway, take shots, and play in a way that would bother the opponents.
Q. What do you think about the content and the results?
A, winning is everything. However, everyone understands the content, so we want to improve that throughout the season. I think the biggest takeaway from today was being able to reflect even after winning.
Q: The next match is the home opener at Ajinomoto Stadium. Please share your enthusiasm.
A, today's match also had a great atmosphere with wonderful support. I believe the atmosphere will be even better at Ajinomoto Stadium, so if I get a chance to play, I want to perform in a way that meets those expectations and, above all, aim to leave a mark with my stats.
