<Match Review>
In the previous match, the game against Cerezo Osaka was postponed due to the typhoon, and Tokyo faced an official match for the first time in three weeks. A week ago, a practice match against FC Machida Zelvia was held to adjust tactical aspects that needed to be confirmed in actual gameplay. Preparations have been made for the resumption of the J1 League starting this match week.
The opponent in this week's away game is 5th place Kashiwa Reysol. They are only 1 point behind 3rd place Kashima Antlers and are in a position to aim for a spot in the AFC Champions League.
In the previous match, Tokyo was unable to build up play due to the man-to-man defense and intense pressure on the ball side. Three months have passed since that match, and this game has become an opportunity to gauge the team's growth.
For a while, the midfield members have been fixed, but in this match, the newly joined Koki TSUKAGAWA was used as a starter for the first time as an inside half. Additionally, Hotaka NAKAMURA, who has returned from injury, has made it into the squad.
1st HALF - Matsuki's 2nd professional goal & Yoshifumi's first professional goal
From the start, Tokyo took control. They calmly connected passes against Kashiwa's pressing from the front line, not only moving the ball sideways and backward but also maintaining possession while utilizing Diego OLIVEIRA's hold-up play with vertical passes.
Kashiwa compresses both people and space with a compact defensive block, but while connecting from the back, they observe the situation, switch on with vertical passes, and move the ball with few touches to break through and invade near the opponent's penalty area.
In the 17th minute of the first half, pretending to connect passes from the back, Yasuki KIMOTO aimed for the opponent's defense with a sharp feed from his own half. At the perfect timing, Tsukagawa made a run from the second line and scored with a looping shot in a one-on-one against the opponent's goalkeeper, but unfortunately, it was ruled offside and no goal was awarded.
The transition between offense and defense is quick, and even when the opponent has the ball, they effectively fill the spaces in their own area to prevent the opponent from finishing. In the 23rd minute of the first half, a numerical advantage was created on the left side, resulting in a shot taken inside the penalty area, but Shiihashi's shot went over the goal.
By positioning each player in a precise location between opposing players and among each position, Tokyo not only moves the ball but also connects passes towards the goal as players work in unison. The results of establishing a rhythm early in the match come to fruition in the 40th minute of the first half.
After receiving the ball from Kazuya KONNO, who opened to the right, a vertical pass was made into the space, and Diego received the ball, becoming the starting point at the right corner of the penalty area. Without moving inside, Diego dribbled forward, and as the ball flowed in front of the goal, Kuryu MATSUKI dove in and pushed it in, giving Tokyo the opening goal and his second professional goal.
Tokyo, increasing their offensive pressure, in the 45th minute of the first half, Tsukakawa, acting as a decoy in his own half, evaded the opponent's press and sent a through pass to Kono, who broke free behind. As Kono picked up speed and carried the ball into the penalty area, he connected with Ryoma WATANABE in the center. Although there were teammates in front of the goal, WATANABE chose to pass to the left side. As the opponent's defense slid over too late, Kashif BANGNAGANDE came in from the farthest side and, with momentum, slotted the shot into the bottom left corner of the goal, scoring his first professional goal.
2nd HALF - 4 goals scored to settle the seesaw game
In the early stages of the second half restart, Kashiwa aggressively pushed towards the goal, but once they regained possession of the ball, they launched a counterattack towards the Kashiwa goal. Even if they couldn't finish their first attack, they pushed the entire team's formation forward from the back, recovered the second ball, and initiated a strong offensive.
Despite showing a counter-attacking stance without retreating against the opponent's offensive pressure, in the 9th minute of the second half, they were pushed into their goal area by a side attack. Unable to clear the ball, it spilled just outside the penalty area and was met with a powerful volley shot by player Dodge, which flowed into the bottom right corner of the goal.
Immediately after bringing in Adailton and Shuto ABE, these two players quickly get to work. In the 12th minute of the second half, Yuto NAGATOMO breaks free in a narrow area on the right side and delivers a cross into the goal area. Adailton, who charged in with momentum from the far side, takes a powerful header shot, but the ball unfortunately hits the crossbar. However, Shuto ABE, who was following up on the rebound, heads it in, and Tokyo quickly extends their lead to two goals.
It seemed that the match was settling down, but in the 17th minute of the second half, we conceded another goal from a side attack. A cross ball coming in from the right side reached Douglas, who slipped through the gap between defenders, and he scored with a diving header.
It had taken on the appearance of a seesaw game, but Tokyo widened their lead with a counterattack. In the 23rd minute of the second half, while enduring an attack from Kashiwa in their own penalty area, Kashiwa moved the ball sideways just outside the penalty area to striker Muuto. Matsuki closed in tightly and cut the ball. They immediately launched a counterattack, carrying the ball to the halfway line and passing it to Luiz PHELLYPE. Seeing the opposing defender drawn towards him, PHELLYPE passed to Adailton, who had sprinted into space on the left side. Adailton continued at full speed towards the goal, evaded the defender, and skillfully slotted the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal, extending the lead to two goals once again.
Even so, the score remains unsettled. In the 29th minute of the second half, another cross ball was sent into the goal area from the right side, and unable to clear it, the ball flowed to the far side where player Ominami powerfully kicked it in, closing the gap to just one point again.
As the home team gains momentum and increases pressure towards the goal, Tokyo struggles to maintain possession of the ball. In the 39th minute of the second half, they lose the ball due to a lack of coordination in the back, leading to another sharp cross into the goal area. After clearing the ball at the near side, they quickly transition to a counter-attack. Adailton receives the cleared ball and, facing forward, plays a looping pass behind the Kashiwa defenders. As Luiz PHELLYPE responds and runs into the space, he takes a powerful shot into the bottom right corner of the goal despite being pressed by two opposing defenders, scoring his first goal in the J-League.
The momentum in Tokyo is unstoppable. In the second half, at the 45-minute mark, Adailton received the ball in the penalty area from a one-two return with Matsuki, skillfully blocking the defender while aiming carefully for a shot into the bottom right corner of the goal, securing the team's sixth goal of the match.
Despite showing defensive concerns with 3 goals conceded, the team proved their ability to score while maintaining possession and also capitalized on counterattacks, demonstrating a wider range of attacking options through both results and performance. Continuing the momentum from their fierce battle against Kashiwa, who are competing for the top spots, they will return home to Ajinomoto Stadium on September 3rd (Saturday) to face the league leaders, Yokohama F.Marinos.
MATCH DETAILS
＜F.C.Tokyo＞
STARTING XI
GK Jakub SLOWIK
DF Yuto NAGATOMO/Yasuki KIMOTO/Masato MORISHIGE/Kashif BANGNAGANDE (33rd minute: Hantaka NAKAMURA)
MF Kuryu MATSUKI/Keigo HIGASHI/Koki TSUKAGAWA (10th minute: Shuto ABE)
FW Ryo WATANABE (33rd minute: Seiji KIMURA)/Diego OLIVEIRA (13th minute: Luiz PHELLYPE)/Kazuya KONNO (10th minute: Adailton)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
FW/Keita YAMASHITA
GOAL
40th minute of the first half: Matsuki/45th minute of the first half: Yoshifumi/12th minute of the second half: Abe/23rd minute of the second half: Adailton/39th minute of the second half: Luiz PHELLYPE/45th minute of the second half: Adailton
<Kashiwa Reysol>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Masato SASAKI
DF Takuma OMINAMI/Yuji TAKAHASHI (substituted in 32nd minute: Takumi KAMIJIMA)/Hayato TANAKA/Taiyo KOGA
MF Sachiro TOSHIMA (substituted in 0th minute: Naoki KAWAGUCHI)/Dodge/Keiya SHIIHASHI/Mateus SAVIO (substituted in 24th minute: Angelotti)
FW Tomoya KOYAMATSU (substituted in 0th minute: Yuki MUTO)/Mao HOSOYA (substituted in 0th minute: DOUGLAS)
SUBS
GK Tatsuya MORITA
MF Takuto KATO
GOAL
9th minute of the first half: Dodge/17th minute of the second half: DOUGLAS/29th minute of the second half: Ominami
[Interview with Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA]
Q, please review the game.
A, the first half unfolded as we expected. The second half was not what we anticipated. I am very satisfied with the first half's content. This is because there were many intentional plays aimed firmly at the goal while controlling the match and the ball. I also told the players that during periods when we maintained solid ball possession like today, we were clearly outperforming the opponent, and the first half reflected that exactly.
In the second half, several mistakes piled up from the start, leading to a loss of control over the match. I believe the first 10 minutes of the second half are a challenge for us. Because we couldn't play well there, it didn't develop as we had hoped.
I am pleased that each individual's quality clearly led to goals. There were times in the second half when we were able to control the game, but it was also a situation where periods of control alternated with periods of losing control. I believe that in football, losing the ball easily creates decisive chances for the opponent. I want the players to understand this well.
I believe it takes about one or two years for the team to grow and understand how to play. However, today's match left evidence of the growth we expected from the team in the first half, so I want to focus on that and leave the stadium with good feelings.
I think FC Tokyo was able to clearly express the intention of wanting to maintain possession of the ball in the first half. And today, I would like to commend Luiz PHELLYPE, who scored his first goal in the J-League. Furthermore, I want to commend all the players who have been making great efforts since the first day of this season, not just today.
Fortunately, I am relieved that we won the match today. Last week, I was absent, so if we had lost, I think I would have received a lot of criticism for not being there. Honestly, I am just relieved that we won (laughs).
Q: Please tell us about the current growth of Matsuki, who has been continuously used as a starter.
A, the reason we continue to utilize him is because he has a bright future ahead and the potential to develop into a player who will support Japanese football in the future. From my humble perspective, I want to say that I believe a player with characteristics like his will contribute to the further advancement of Japanese football going forward.
On the other hand, Nagatomo is a wonderful and great player who represents Japanese football. His mentality is truly amazing. Kuse also has a similarly strong mentality that can succeed in Europe. That is why I want to convey more to the young player. Today, there were moments when he lost the ball three or four times when he absolutely should not have, so I want to encourage growth in that area.
The addition of Koki TSUKAGAWA this summer has been a great plus for the team, as it has allowed us to effectively rotate the inside half positions.
Q: When we conceded a goal in the second half, we brought in Adailton and Abe. Please explain the reason for taking a countermeasure to respond strongly against the opponent who came at us strongly.
A, what I instructed was to defend along with the ball. I want to convey this concept to everyone in Japan. The greatest defense is to maintain possession of the ball. Soccer is a sport played with a single ball. That is why controlling the ball means you are simultaneously performing the best defense. I sought that along with that substitution.
[Player Interview]]
<Kashif BANGNAGANDE>
Q, congratulations on your first goal in the J-League. Please review today's goal, including your play up to this point.
A, returning from injury, it was good to finally achieve results, including in terms of numbers, after struggling to produce outcomes until today, and it truly became a joyful goal.
Q: There was a period of more than two weeks between the last match and this match. What aspects of teamwork were you working on to improve?
I believe that my characteristic is participating in the attack, but I hadn't been able to show it much until now. So, I have been actively challenging that aspect, and I was able to score in last week's practice match, which allowed me to approach today's game in a good condition and with a good feeling.
<Kuryu MATSUKI>
Q: Matsuki's opening goal set the flow of the match. He really stretched his legs well.
In the match against Sapporo in Group A, I didn't touch Adailton's cut-back in a similar situation, so I went to meet it with the determination to touch it no matter what. I expected a cross to come, so I was able to skillfully move to the far post and shake off the opponent's mark.
Q: There was a gap since your first professional goal, but how did you feel while playing until you scored your second goal?
A, as with any match, I had a strong desire to contribute to the team by scoring or assisting, and that led to today's goal. The team was also able to win, so I think that was good.
Q: It seemed like you were really savoring the joy after scoring, perhaps because it was your first goal in a while.
A, I was able to score a goal myself for the first time in a while, and I also did the Rainmaker pose of Kazuchika Okada (New Japan Pro-Wrestling).
Q: The team scored 6 goals, but what does the result of winning bring us?
A, I think the team performed well in today's match, but unless we continue this, we won't be able to aim for the top in the remaining 9 games. Therefore, we want to keep growing as a team to maintain these results.
Q: There was a period without official matches, what have you been working on during that time?
A, we have talked about establishing our own style of football. It's not just about possession; we have practiced moving the ball and making the opponent move as well, including counterattacks. We have also studied tactical aspects against the opponent, and I believe we were able to exploit their weaknesses both offensively and defensively.
Q: Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA was evaluated as having changed the content in the second half, but how do the players perceive it?
<div>A: We conceded three goals in the second half, so we need to improve on that. Not just today, but we have been conceding goals from crosses in previous matches as well, so I think we need to work on that more in practice. Until one of the opposing team's players was sent off, we couldn't really settle down, but after they were down to ten men, we were able to play our style of ball possession football.
Q: What do you think is necessary for the competition at the top?
First of all, rather than tactics, I think it is important to have the motivation to never lose to the opponent in terms of spirit.
Q: How do you feel about your performance compared to what you envisioned before the season started?
A, since I am being given the opportunity to play in matches, I need to do more. And it's not just about working hard on defense; if I can also aim for goals and assists, I believe the team will perform even better.
Q: The next match is against Yokohama F.Marinos. What are your impressions?
A, they are an opponent who plays very tactically established soccer, and I think it will be a very tough match, but I believe we have built a foundation by winning against Kashiwa, so we want to ride this momentum and win.
Q: Please tell us your enthusiasm once again.
A, since it is a higher-ranked opponent, we want to win firmly and secure a victory so that we can break into the top ranks ourselves.
<Koki TSUKAGAWA>
Q: How was it playing as an inside half?
A, the sense of distance among everyone was really good, and the opponents were not pressing much, so I think we were able to create time to maintain possession of the ball. However, in the second half, since the opponents were losing, they came forward more, and the distance between our players increased. If we had been able to continue playing like in the first half, I think we could have reduced the number of goals conceded.
Q: During the break, what discussions took place within the team, and how did that impact today's performance?
A, because we had firmly built up until now, I don't know if it was thanks to the break period, but overall there is unity, and I think we are getting closer to the style of football we aim for. I want to be able to pursue it further from now on. After watching today, I think you understood that this team's strength lies in individual breakthroughs on the sides, and I believe this is a team that can make use of that, so I think we can become an even greater team.
Q: What did you focus on regarding the collaboration between the two players on the right side?
A, we were able to play fluidly by making eye contact with each other and changing positions with the surrounding players. Since we had talked about it before the match, I’m glad we were able to execute it well during the game.
Q: What were you conscious of and what was required of you in your first starting lineup?
A, what I focused on was hard work, and what was required was to connect the ball properly and to calm the team down.
Q: I think I was able to draw the ball well, but how do you feel about it?
A, as expected, since everyone was watching, I received the ball at the timing I started moving, and the surrounding players were also covering me, so it was very easy to play. Rather than me doing it on my own, the surrounding players brought out the best in me.
Q, you were the starting point for the two goals in the first half, especially please review the play where you turned and passed vertically to Konno for the second goal.
A, there were parts where I played intuitively, but since it led to a solid goal, I want to increase those kinds of plays. I believe that as an inside half, if you can't deliver vertical passes there, you can't be a threat, so I want to focus more on that as well.
<Luiz PHELLYPE>
Q: What were the factors behind today's victory?
A, winning an away game is very difficult, but we were able to go into halftime with a 2-0 lead. In the second half, we conceded a goal due to our own mistake, putting ourselves in a difficult situation, but I believe that scoring an additional goal from there led to today's victory.
Q: It was your first goal after joining. Please reflect on that scene.
A, I am a forward player, so my job is to score goals. I am happy to have been able to score today. Considering that not much time has passed since I joined, I view scoring as a positive sign.
Q: I converted my first opportunity into a goal.
A worked hard from practice to be able to score in official matches. I feel that being able to concentrate well in today's game led to the goals.
Q: Today you entered the match as a substitute. What was your strategy for entering the game?
Since we entered the game in a 2-1 situation, giving the opponent a goal would have allowed them to gain momentum, so the most important thing was to avoid conceding. Then, we aimed to score additional goals to secure the victory. Today, we were able to score and win by a large margin.
Q: Please tell us your enthusiasm for the next game.
A, I believe it is important to continue working on what we must do. I trust that this will lead to results like today's.
<Shuto ABE>
Q: I believe it was your first time coming on as a substitute; what was your intention?
A, this time I was on the bench, but I prepared for the match as usual. I was able to come into the game partway through and play as I normally do, so I think that showed in the results.
Q: It feels like the team was able to play the soccer they are aiming for.
A, I think the first half was very good from an outside perspective. In the second half, there were moments when we became passive because the opponent pushed forward. I was told to be the one to calm the team down in those situations. Although it turned into a back-and-forth battle, we were able to maintain possession of the ball and even managed to score, so I think it was good.
Q: I think I was able to work hard.
A, that is my strength, and if I don't do that, there is no meaning for me to be here. I don't want to lose to anyone in that area, so I want to continue not only today but also in the future without changing.
Q: How do you feel about the next match?
A, whether I am a starting member or on the bench, I want to prepare steadily and without wavering. Since we will be playing against a very strong opponent this weekend, if I get to play, I want to contribute to the team with my performance.
<Yuto NAGATOMO>
Q: The next match is against the leaders, Yokohama F.Marinos. What should we be aware of when facing an opponent with a strong side attack?
First of all, it is important not to lose in one-on-one situations, but we want to defend with a well-coordinated team and a compact formation.
Q: The team has moved up to 7th place. As they aim for a higher position, this will be a match they cannot afford to lose.
A, although we played well in the first half of the season, we ended up losing. However, in recent matches, we have been able to establish the foundation of our attack, and I believe we can definitely have an exciting game. Next, we want to secure a solid win at home.
