Match Review
Home games from the openingwon two consecutive matches by penalty shootout, and in the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League’sthird consecutive win was aimed for in the away match against Kawasaki Frontale. The team has so far controlled both offense and defense, shown strength in close battles, and been able to play aggressive and adaptable soccer. This week, they want to firmly defeat the second-place opponent with 5 points within 90 minutes and accelerate their start dash by winning the Tamagawa Clasico.
To further boost their strong start in the special tournament, Tokyo's starting eleven placed goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu at the back, with the final defensive line consisting of Naruki Muroya on the right, Alexander SCHOLZ, Hayato Inamura, and Yuto Nagatomo. The defensive midfielders were Kouta Tokiwa, starting for the third consecutive match, alongside Kento HASHIMOTO, making his first start of the season. The attackers featured Keisuke Sato on the right and Keita ENDO on the left, with the two forwards being Marcelo RYAN and Motoki NAGAKURA forming the partnership.
Also, Divine OTANI, who was promoted to the top team this season, was on the bench. During the 2024 season J.League while he was with FC Tokyo U-18, he made his official match debut in the second leg of the playoff round of the YBC Levain Cup, attracting attention as a promising talent who scored a goal at the young age of 17 for his "professional debut." Tokyo's field players wore the lilac-colored away uniform, and goalkeeper Sungyu wore the blue and red 3rd uniform as they kicked off.YBC Levain Cup of the playoff round second leg, making his official match debut and scoring a goal at the young age of 17, attracting attention as a promising talent's "professional debut." Tokyo's field players wore the lilac-colored away uniform, and goalkeeper Sungyu wore the blue and red 3rd uniform as they kicked off.
1stHALF—Hian's opening goal & Muroya's go-ahead goal to take the lead.
The match started with Tokyo immediately creating a big chance. From the kickoff, Scholz played a long feed back. Lukian challenged with a header, and Nagakura connected with a drop pass, which Lukian took a direct shot with his right foot. Although it was saved by the opposing goalkeeper, they showed an eager attack from the very beginning.
First HalfAt 8 minutes, on the right side, Mukaiya broke through on a pass from Ke Sato to create a chance. At 12 minutes, RIAN launched a counterattack with a long dribble, and at 14 minutes, Nagakura, receiving a pass from Kento HASHIMOTO who advanced forward, performed a one-two with RIAN and took a mid-range shot, showcasing a flexible playing style.
And in the first halfat 18 minutes, the diverse attacks shown from the beginning bore fruit. Endo, who received the ball on the left side, supplied a long ball to the center. Lucas RIAN picked up the loose ball contested by Nagakura, carried it to the right, and struck with his right foot! The shot, which firmly targeted the course, shook the net, and Tokyo succeeded in scoring the opening goal away.
Tokyo continued to maintain control of the game. Then, in the 23rd minute of the first half, player Hian made a solo run down the right side and crossed the ball. Endo, who ran in as if to use Nagakura and Kento HASHIMOTO's breakaway runs as decoys, took a direct shot with his right foot. Although it flew straight to the opposing goalkeeper, this fluid attack created a great scoring opportunity.
After that, they continued to show focused play in both offense and defense, taking away the opponent's freedom and advancing the game by mixing quick attacks and possession.At 29 minutes into the first half, player Kei Sato took a powerful mid-range shot. Although it went over the bar, as Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI commented ahead of the Kawasaki match, "It is important to make solid contact," they are demonstrating fearsome power with their kicks.
Tokyo had been dominating the match, but in the 31st minute of the first half, they conceded a goal due to a brief lapse.Kawasaki's right side back, Yamahara, combined with Wakisaka in a one-two pass to cut inside. Tokyo failed to keep up with the marking, allowing a cut-in, and Kawasaki scored a brilliant left-footed shot to equalize. A slight mistake led directly to conceding the goal.
Tokyo, who had the match reset, immediately took a step forward with brilliant passing play. In the 38th minute of the first half,when the ball connected from the back line, Tokiwa played it vertically, and Lucas RIAN expanded it to the right.Sato Kei, who broke free, advanced and created space, then passed to Muroya, who was sprinting from behind with an underlap. Here, number 2 powerfully swung his right foot from a tight angle, scoring a spectacular goal at the near side! Tokyo showed an attack characteristic of a rapid speed-up from build-up play, and the captain embodied the fierce shot demanded by the coach, bringing joy to the Aoaka family.
The first halfended with 2 minutes of additional time, finishing at 2-1. Tokyo showcased their strengths in both offense and defense as they headed into the second half.
2ndHALF—Outperforming the opponent in offense and defenseContinuing to create scoring opportunities3 points
There were no substitutions for either team at halftime. Both teams started the second half with the same members as in the first half.
Tokyo took the offensive from the start of the second half. Immediately after the restart, Endo's shot earned a corner kick, and they capitalized on the rebound, with Muroya finishing with a mid-range shot. They continued to press towards Kawasaki's goal, aiming for additional goals.
In the second half, Tokyo continued to show their strengths in both offense and defense. By pressing from the front line, they forced the opponent to kick long balls, which they then recovered, connecting passes finely to display a solid and layered attack. When player Kei Sato showed pressing to prevent counters by helping teammates recover from lost possession,at the 8th minute of the second half, he intercepted a pass from a high press back, then advanced with a dribble and took a left-footed shot. Although it was blocked by the opponent, Tokyo demonstrated seamless soccer in both offense and defense, overwhelming their rivals.
Kawasaki, wanting to change the momentum, made three substitutions in the 12th minute of the second half.Tokyo chose to continue attacking while maintaining their current good flow.The right side, which had shown excellent coordination since the first half, continued to function well. In the 16th minute of the second half, Scholtze, who joined the attack, delivered an accurate cross, and Nagakura skillfully controlled the ball with his chest and took a right-footed shot. Although they created a perfect opportunity, the finish went straight to the opposing goalkeeper, preventing an additional goal.
The red and blue bench made a move in the second halfat the 20th minute. Replacing Endo, Ryunosuke SATO was sent onto the pitch as the left attacker. Then, at the 24th minute of the second half, a switch was made from RIAN to Fuki YAMADA. Kei Sato was moved to the front line, and Yamada was brought in as the right-side attacker. They entrusted additional goals to the promising young star who said, "I want to leave overwhelming results," and the lefty who scored the equalizer against Urawa with his special left foot.
As the back-and-forth battle continued, Tokyo substituted out players Kei Sato and Tokiwa, bringing in forward Otani and defensive midfielder Kei KOIZUMI. Otani, who had shown great performance at Kodaira Ground, took the pitch for the first time as a professional.
The next big chance was in Tokyo. Player Ryu Sato connected passes with teammates on the right side and entered the penalty area. With skillful movement and ball control, he dribbled past one opponent and made a final pass to the center. Nagakura took a one-touch shot with his left foot, but it narrowly missed to the right of the goal.
Tokyo aims for their first win of the season within 90 minutes, looking to secure additional goals while firmly closing out the match. In the 45th minute of the second half, player Yamadamade a diagonal pass that player Nagakura trapped, and after nutmegging the opponent, was fouled to earn a direct free kick opportunity. However, Yamada's left-footed shot hit the wall and went over the goal.
While firmly forming a block, they showed brave defense without weakening the press from the front line. In the final stages, they received multiple yellow cards due to intense defense, but they held off the opponent's fierce attack and the time was up. It was the first victory of the season in a full 90-minute game with good content and results.The triumphant song of the "City That Never Sleeps" echoed in the away ground,and they brilliantly recorded their third consecutive opening win in the Tamagawa Clasico.
Interview with Manager Rikizo MATSUHASHI
Q, please review the game.
A, Although we have accumulated points in the two matches so far,the outcome was not decided within 90 minutes.For this round, the team agreed to definitely settle the match within 90 minutes, and I am proud that all the players fully embodied that attitude. We must continue this going forward.
Q,We earned our first 3 points of the season. The league regulation includespenalty shootouts, but as a manager, does your perspective on the value of points change?
A,Within this regulation, I believe there are situations where we need to consider various ways to accumulate points. Considering it’s only been three matches so far, in terms of how to secure the maximum points in a game, we have been able to achieve that up to now. However, as we approach the end of the season, there may be situations where the difference between earning 2 points, 1 point, or 0 points becomes crucial, even in matches where our performance is poor and the opponent has the initiative. That said, our club philosophy is to always aim for one more goal, to push for that extra point. While maintaining this approach, there may be moments when we need to adopt a strict mindset about accumulating points in order to achieve our goals.
Q,Compared to last season, I felt the coach's intention to carry the ball calmly was evident. Looking back on these three matches, how do you feel about the progress?
A,Regarding this season, although the preparation period was short, from the start of the camp we have been constantly refining our tactics while also getting into good condition. Through this tactical approach, the performance and expression have been excellent so far. A chemical reaction is also beginning to occur within the team.
Q,It looked like the offense and defense were progressing with well-maintained distances between players. What kind of instructions do you give to the players?
A,Regarding the sense of distance, it depends on the opponent's positioning, so it’s not about being too deep or too wide. When we move the ball, the key point is how to create a plus one. The starting point is the goalkeeper, and we share in training how to advance from the start and build up play closer to the opponent’s goal. When taking positions, deciding who fills the space and which of our players moves in response to which opponent might seem like a general principle. However, the goal is not just that, but to bring it to the level of our own style. While having perfect balance is good, shapes that the opponent cannot respond to are gradually emerging, and the players fully understand and organize themselves accordingly.
Q,Please give your evaluation of Kento HASHIMOTO's first start of the season.
A,There is nothing to say about Kento HASHIMOTO. He truly delivered an outstanding performance.
Q,Please tell us the reason for selecting Divine OTANI as a member and what instructions you gave him when sending him onto the field.
A,As you can see, his height fits well with the players coming on later, and considering the expected game development like today, height was going to be a key factor. We also expected him to firmly control and hold the ball, so it was a choice made with various scenarios in mind. Ideally, we had thought about bringing him on a little earlier than that time. Additionally, if there were set plays towards the end, we anticipated he would be a threat in those situations. Regarding instructions, since it was his first league appearance and he had just been promoted to the top team, I didn’t give him detailed directions and simply told him to "enjoy playing." However, from the bench, we kept shouting "Get back!" (laughs). I think I should have told him that as well.
Player Interview
Sei MUROYA
Q, please review the first goal scene after your return.
A, before the match, I knew that Kawasaki Frontale had many wing players with distinctive features, and that they often stayed back during counterattacks. So, I focused on having player Sato Yoshimasa open to the outside while I received the ball on the inside. I’m glad that what we discussed before the match took shape. However, in that scene, Sato cut inside and we overlapped a bit, but he gave me a good pass with a chip kick. If you watch that scene on video, you’ll see that I didn’t look at the goal at all and the ball was floating, so I just focused on striking it boldly and took the shot.
Q. Not only did you score 2 goals, but the whole team showed the attitude to go for a third goal.
A. We were able to carry the ball up to the opponent's goal even on short counters. It would have been best if we could have scored the third goal, but even during the periods when we couldn't, we managed the game well and were able to secure the victory, which was good.
Q. It was not just a team that simply passed the ball around; the entire team worked hard and fought.
A. Marcelo RYAN also defends from the front line. Unless we become that kind of team, we cannot accumulate points. Everyone must have that level of defensive awareness and become a team that can play like today in every match.
Q. You have been winning continuously since the opening. How do you want to build on this moving forward?
A. For us, it finally feels like we were able to win within 90 minutes. Although we won in a penalty shootout, we made adjustments while winning and approached today's match with that mindset. Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI also said that we absolutely needed the 3 points today, and the players were conscious of winning within 90 minutes, so I’m glad we were able to achieve that. By playing matches like this and correcting the parts that need improvement, we want to steadily accumulate points and become a strong team.
Q. What do you think is necessary to continue winning from here?
A. There were many things to correct, such as not being able to score the third goal and conceding goals during good periods. In both the Kashima Antlers match and the Urawa Reds match, there were many areas we needed to fix, but gradually I feel we are improving. The team is improving while winning and making corrections, so I want to take it to an even higher level.
Marcelo RYAN
Q,please review the goal scene.
A,Motoki NAGAKURA won the ball in midfield, and I was able to pick up the loose ball and score. Since the goal was right in front of me, I was only thinking about putting the ball in the net. In thefirst two games,I hadn't been able to score,but I finally scored in the third game, which helped me calm down a bit. I want to continue scoring goals and contribute to the team.
Q,It was my first goal wearing the number 9 jersey.
A,With the change of my jersey number,I am happy to have scored as FC Tokyo's number 9.I want to score more for the team.
Q,This season, it seems you have been contributing to the team not only in attack but also in defense.
A,Since the camp, the team has been working on coordinating how to apply pressure. We have reached the point where we can do that effectively. The forwards apply pressure and sometimes win the ball there, and other times it is won by other players.
Q,Marcelo RYAN gives instructions to encourage pressing by surrounding players, showing leadership in defense as well.
A,When I go, I want everyone to go all at once, and I can especially hear the defensive midfielder's voice well, so I respond to the "Go!" call from there and initiate the press.
Q,the team has achieved three consecutive wins.
A,We are in a good positionwith three straight winsand I believe we have momentum, so we want to keep this going and continue moving forward.
Q,There were many plays where you held the ball up front to create time for your teammates to advance.
A,I think there were several such moments today. When I can keep possession of the ball, the team becomes very calm, and I feel that by holding the ball well, I was able to help the team in a good way.
