Match Review
The final match of this season, dubbed “Big Thank You Day.” It was a game for the club and team to express their gratitude to the fans and supporters, and at the same time, this match marked Keigo HIGASHI’s final game in blue and red since joining in the 2013 season, becoming a day for the entire blue and red family to convey their deep appreciation for his contributions over the years.
The second leg of the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League Playoff Round 3rd-4th place decider is against Cerezo Osaka, who finished 2nd in the WEST. Tokyo drew 2-2 in the first away match, and this game will decide the 3rd place for the season.
In a match to send off a key player who absolutely cannot be lost, Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI selected the same starting eleven as the first leg last weekend. Hayate TANAKA was in goal, with the back line from right to left consisting of Naruki MUROYA, Alexander Scholz, Hayato INAMURA, and Kento HASHIMOTO. The midfield duo was Kouta TOKIWA and Kei KOIZUMI. The attackers were Keiun SATO on the right and Keita ENDO on the left, with Marcelo HYAN and Ryunosuke SATO forming the two forwards. Additionally, Wataru GOTO was included on the bench for the first time in an official J.League match. Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA returned to the squad for the first time since being forced off injured in the match against Verdy on September 15 last season in the 29th round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, and Keigo HIGASHI was also named as a “game changer” in the squad.
1st―Launching an Early Offensive but Conceding 3 Goals by Halftime
The first half kicked off with the chant 'Today is a day we cannot lose,' and Tokyo created chances right from the start, using Lucas RIAN's pass as the starting point, pressing into the opponent's territory as the match progressed. At the 5-minute mark, from Lucas RIAN's left corner kick, Keito Sato struck the ball with his left foot amid a scramble in front of the goal, but VAR support was called in due to a possible handball by RIAN in the preceding play, and after an on-field review, the goal was disallowed.
Tokyo, wanting to intensify their attack without losing heart, suffered a counterattack after a vertical build-up pass was intercepted, conceding a goal to Honma in the 10th minute of the first half. The aggregate score over the two matches became 2-3.
While barely holding off the opponent who suddenly intensified their offensive pressure, at the 15th minute of the first half, Ryunosuke Sato fiercely chased down the ball near the opponent's goal line and stole it. From there, he cut the ball back to the center, creating a big chance, but once again, they could not push through the scramble in front of the goal and the net did not ripple.
At this point, an accident occurred for Tokyo. In the 26th minute of the first half, Keigo Sato injured his left leg and went off the pitch. At the 29th minute, Leon NOZAWA was brought on and took the position of right attacker.
Tokyo, with Ryū Sato actively involved with the ball, tried to shape their attack, but the opposing goalkeeper made a series of fine saves, preventing them from scoring. Conversely, in the 33rd minute of the first half, Tokyo conceded a penalty after fouling an opponent who had broken into the penalty area. Sakuragawa converted the penalty, extending the lead to two goals. Then, in the 43rd minute, they conceded again from a short corner, making the aggregate score 2-5 over the two matches.
The players, faced with an unexpected turn of events, gathered on the pitch before the restart to reaffirm their approach for the remainder of the match. They refocused their mindset to chase down the three-goal deficit.
The first half ended after 9 minutes of additional time. The opening goal, which seemed to have been scored at a good moment, turned out to be a phantom goal, and the conceded goal immediately after disrupted the rhythm. Everyone must rally once again and show the pride of the blue and red. Can they properly regroup during this halftime?
2nd―Keigo’s Last Pitch as a Blue-Red
In the second half, chasing a three-goal deficit, there were no changes to the lineup at halftime. The fans and supporters behind the goal raised their energy and delivered loud chants. The team must do everything possible to respond to the passionate cheers from the Blue-Red family who have fought alongside them up to this point.
Tokyo wants to score a goal early on. Against an opponent who is defending by forming a block, the back line holds a high position beyond the halfway line, carefully watching for counters while probing for attacking opportunities. They also speed up their reaction to second balls after pressing forward and secure them firmly. The situation, with very little space available, demands how they will break through.
At the 16th minute of the second half, the Tokyo bench made their next move. Replacing Endo and Hian, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA was brought in as the left attacker, and Fuki YAMADA was inserted as one of the two forwards. This substitution quickly changed the flow of the game.
Immediately after, Tawara Tsukida made a move from the left side and delivered a long pass, which Yamada took a shot at. Then, in the 17th minute, from a short counterattack, Nozawa sent a final pass, and Sato Ryu struck powerfully with his right foot after one touch, scoring a counterattack goal.
Tokyo, having narrowed the gap to two goals, intensified their offensive pressure. While drawing out Tawaratsumida’s breakthrough ability on the left side, the team regained their attacking momentum with players surging forward from behind, and defensively overwhelmed the opponent with immediate ball recovery. The entire team displayed a dynamic and energetic style of soccer.
In the 27th minute of the second half, after a move by Tawara Tsukida, Ryū Satō connected the play, and Yamada unleashed a powerful shot with his left foot. The shot struck the crossbar, and Tokiwa attempted to head it in, but unfortunately, it just missed the target. Since they are so close, they want to score quickly and keep the comeback within reach.
Here, Manager Matsuhashi played his final card. At the 32nd minute of the second half, he made a switch from Tokiwai and Kei Koizumi to Koga and Keito Azuma. Koga was positioned at the forefront, while Azuma lined up alongside Ryu Sato in the defensive midfield. The number 10, who was playing his last match in blue and red that day, was entrusted with the baton of attack and the hope for a comeback victory.
Tokyo's back four also actively joined the attack and pushed forward, increasing the pressure. Then, during the six minutes of added time displayed in the second half, Yamada, after a one-two with Muroya, entered the penalty area and was brought down. The referee blew the whistle and pointed to the penalty spot. However, this was unfortunately ruled offside with the support of VAR.
Nevertheless, Tokyo continued to press forward relentlessly. Fueled by the electrifying atmosphere of the stadium, they launched daring attacks, but despite their fierce efforts, time ran out. They lost the third-place playoff against Cerezo Osaka with an aggregate score of 3-5 over two matches, concluding the half-season special tournament in 4th place overall.
After the match, the season-end home final game ceremony was held, with Manager Matsuhashi and Captain Muroya giving greetings. From the stand behind the goal, a banner reading "We love you! KEIGO 10 See you again." was displayed, and encouraged by the chants of fans and supporters, number 10 stood in front of the microphone and tearfully expressed his gratitude for 14 years.
“This is farewell. I am truly proud to have been able to play for this beloved team for 14 years. But I also felt a little that I didn’t have what it takes to win in the end… and I realized that soccer isn’t that easy. I had been holding back my tears for about two weeks, but I ended up crying before the match, and I feel a bit sorry if that caused the players to become tense. I really love this team, and I hope to come back someday. Thank you so much for these 14 years!”
Interview with Manager Rikizo MATSUHASHI
Q: Please summarize today's match.
A, the start of the first half did not look bad at all, but gradually the opponent began to impose their style, and we were unable to respond, leading to consecutive goals against us and making the game difficult. Although we aligned our focus at halftime and managed to regain control of the flow, ultimately Cerezo Osaka scored more goals. We had chances as well but failed to convert them. I believe that led to our defeat. The way we started directly impacted the result, making it a very disappointing game.
Q: After finishing the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League in 2nd place in the Regional League Round and 4th overall, how do you perceive this result?
A, up to this point, we have had many really good games, and many matches where the results matched our efforts, which I believe has led to our current ranking. Now that the season is over, I feel we should be somewhat satisfied with those achievements. However, I have absolutely no intention of being satisfied and just moving on. Whether we are 4th, 10th, or 18th, the fact remains that we have gained nothing. We must fully accept that reality and be prepared to continue challenging ourselves next season.
Q: Before this match, the club announced the contract renewal of Manager Matsuhashi for the 2026/27 season. How do you plan to build on this season’s content and results for the next season?
A, I have a strong feeling that we cannot continue as we are. We must further raise the quality of the team. While our methods need to be flexible and diverse, I believe that unless we enhance the fundamental aspects more, we will not reach our goals. We need to elevate our level step by step—one stage, two stages, three stages.
Q. It was announced that Keigo HIGASHI, who has played for FC Tokyo for a long time, has reached the end of his contract, and today was his last game in Tokyo. Please tell us what words you said to him.
A, I believe he showed his characteristic style of play to the fullest until the very end. He has made a significant contribution to the club over a long period and has been loved by many fans, supporters, and those around him. Personally, I feel truly fortunate to have met him. He was a player who valued the essence of what should be important in play, as I mentioned earlier. I was impressed by that attitude even during the first training camp after I took office, and it has never changed to this day. Although his opportunities to play were limited, whenever he appeared on the field, he always gave his all. That is the result of his daily efforts and also a testament to his great talent. He was also a player with a very strong influence on his teammates. I have heard that he intends to continue his career, so I look forward to his future success and would be happy to meet him again somewhere. Once again, I want to express my gratitude to him.
Player Interview
Keigo HIGASHI
Q: This was your last game with FC Tokyo. How do you feel now that the match has ended?
A, It was enjoyable. The match was not easy, and I was reminded once again of how difficult it is to win. Even so, I am truly glad that Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI sent me onto the pitch at the end and that I was able to play at the Japan National Stadium.
Q. After the match, many fans and supporters saw off Higashi. How did you feel about that?
A, many uniforms were held up for me, and the supporters also sang the cheering songs. Being seen off like this is truly a happiness as a soccer player. Over the 14 years, there were tough times at this club, and times when I almost came to dislike it, but looking back now, I feel that I was loved. I am filled with deep gratitude.
Q. What feelings did you convey in your greeting to the fans and supporters?
A, to be honest, I did not expect to give a speech at that moment. I believe it was the fans and supporters who created that opportunity. I expressed my gratitude sincerely and spoke about how thankful I am to have been able to see that scene one last time. I also mentioned that Masato MORISHIGE is still on the team, so I asked everyone to continue supporting him as well.
Q. Please tell us your thoughts about Masato MORISHIGE and Yuto NAGATOMO.
A, I believe that I am who I am today because of Morishige. I am truly grateful. Nagatomo also showed me what it means to be a professional. I am thankful to both of them, and I would be happy if we could work together again someday.
Q. Do you also have the desire to return to FC Tokyo in the future?
A, I don't think there is any player who, having experienced that atmosphere, wouldn't want to come back. I am truly grateful to this club, so I want to give back someday. The ideal scenario is to return as a manager and become a champion. However, winning is truly difficult, so I believe we must thoroughly pursue many things to achieve that.
Q. Please tell us about your thoughts on continuing your playing career.
A, I still have the desire to continue playing professionally. Please write an article about it and I'll be waiting for offers (laughs). If I don't get any offers, I won't have work starting in July, so please, I’m counting on you.
Q. Looking back on your 14 years at FC Tokyo, how do you feel?
A, I was able to play with truly unique and wonderful players. Many players also spread their wings overseas, and I was able to learn and gain a lot as a soccer player. There was a time when I was arrogant in my youth, but I believe I was able to grow by seriously facing soccer.
Q. Despite receiving offers from other clubs, what is the reason you stayed with FC Tokyo for such a long time?
A, It is because I wanted to win the league title with this club. I was attracted to the fact that this club had never won a title, and I didn’t want to run away from that. In the 2019 season, we came very close, and I have kept thinking, 'Next time for sure,' and have continued on until now.
Q. Looking back on your time at FC Tokyo, are there any particularly memorable events?
A, it was truly shocking when Yuto NAGATOMO returned. I was glad to be able to play alongside him, and I learned what it means to be a professional.
Q. How do you feel FC Tokyo as a club has changed from when you first joined to now?
A, the change of the emblem is symbolic, but the club has always been striving to evolve. Of course, there are parts that must not change, but I feel that the desire to win titles has become stronger than before.
Kota TAWARATSUMIDA
Q, you gave the impression of changing the flow after coming on as a substitute. Please review the game.
A, I think we were able to change the momentum, but at that stage, drawing or securing the win is necessary in order to become champions.
Q. What did the coach ask of you when you were about to enter the match?
A, I focused on trying to take the initiative and change the game as much as possible while playing.
Q. Did you feel that the momentum changed after Kota TAWARATSUMIDA and Fuki YAMADA entered the pitch?
A, I did feel that the momentum changed, but my stronger feeling was that as a team we wanted to finish it off during a good period of play.
Q. How was your coordination with those around you?
A, I sometimes create passing lanes myself, and players around me, like Yamada, actively came to receive the ball, so there were various options and it was easy to play.
Q. During the period you were sidelined due to injury, what kind of image or mindset did you have about your return?
A, I have always aimed to make plays that directly lead to goals and to dribble in a way that changes the flow of the game, like I did today. While watching matches, I sometimes thought, 'Maybe I should try this kind of play.'
Q. How is your condition and your feel for ball touches?
A, I think it's not bad.
Q. You fell behind this season due to injury, but how do you want to spend your time preparing for the next season?
A, Because I fell behind, I want to carefully think about and work on how I spend this off-season and on building my body in my own way.
Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA Player
Q, please review the game. It was your first appearance in a while.
A, it was truly my first match in a long time, and I definitely felt the difficulty. I also realized that I still need to improve my condition. However, the biggest gain today was being able to finish the match without injury. I want to continue working so that I can participate in matches like this consistently.
Q. Please tell us your thoughts on playing while receiving cheers from the fans and supporters for the first time in a while.
A, when I came on, the team had just scored to pull one back, and the atmosphere was very lively. It was great to be able to play while feeling that energy, but I also feel disappointed that I couldn’t repay that with the result.
Q. You had been away from matches for a while due to injury. How did you feel during that time?
A, I was quite anxious. I hadn’t even been able to participate in practice matches, so I felt myself drifting away from actual games, and I was really worried about whether my condition would truly return. Overcoming that and being able to play in today’s match is an achievement, but I want to play in more matches going forward.
Q. You showed some typical Kobayashi plays, such as receiving the ball in tight spaces and coordinating with those around you.
A, there were still many parts where I wasn’t in sync with those around me, so I need to work on improving that. While coordinating properly with my teammates, I want to further fine-tune things so that I can receive the ball even in my initial movements.
Q. Please tell us about your enthusiasm for the new season.
A, Although we are entering the off-season, I am not very fatigued, so I want to build my body properly and enter camp in good condition. I also want to prepare thoroughly so that I can participate in matches from the opening game.
