Match Review
In the previous match, Tokyo achieved a brilliant comeback victory against Urawa Reds, leveraging their youth with an average age of 22.73 years, overwhelming running power, and hard work. This brings their record at the new Japan National Stadium to 5 wins and 1 draw, further extending their unbeaten record at 'Our National'.
After three days since the match against Urawa, Kashima Antlers will face off again at the National Stadium. In this match, Ryotaro ARAKI will not be able to play due to contractual reasons with his loaning club, so Teruhito NAKAGAWA will be used as the lone striker. Kosuke SHIRAI has stepped in as the right back in place of Hotaka NAKAMURA, who was substituted due to injury in the previous match.
With the victory against Urawa, Tokyo has brought their record this season to 2 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses, leveling it out. They want to secure a win against Kashima at the favorable National Stadium to take the lead in victories and set the stage for advancing to the top ranks. The game they want to use as a turning point in the future kicked off with an average starting eleven age of 23.82 years this round.
1st HALF - A back-and-forth battle as the match reaches halftime
In the early stages, Kashima created chances by attacking the left and right pockets, but we tightened up the center and did not allow them to score.
Gradually taking control of the pace, Tokyo created a chance in the 8th minute of the first half as Kota TAWARATSUMIDA dribbled solo down the left side. In the following 9th minute, Kuryu MATSUKI showcased a dribble across the pitch from the right side, spreading the play to the left side. Receiving this, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA cut in and struck with his right foot, but unfortunately, it was blocked by the opposing defender.
In the 15th minute of the first half, another good opportunity was created from the left side. Player Tawaratsukida broke through along the sideline, and the pass received by Kashif BANGNAGANDE was played back in the negative direction. Player Nakagawa aimed for it, but once again, it was blocked by an opponent.
In the 25th minute of the first half, player Tawaramizuta aggressively made a move on the left side. After evading the opponent's sliding tackle during a counterattack, he broke through with a dribble and took a right-footed shot from a cut-in. Unfortunately, it went straight to the goalkeeper, but he continued to launch sharp attacks, focusing on the left side.
The match saw both teams unable to create decisive chances, and they went into halftime scoreless after a back-and-forth development.
2nd HALF - Teru & Riki's first goals of the season lead to the first consecutive win of the season!
In the second half, Tokyo, with superior stamina, gradually increased their pressing scenes. In the 8th minute of the second half, player Tawara Tsukita picked up a loose ball in the penalty area, advanced vertically slightly to the right in the center, and sent a cross. It was a superb ball, but no one in the center was able to connect with it.
And in the 10th minute of the second half, the match finally changes.
With this match as a turning point, Matsuki, who will participate in the AFC U23 Asian Cup as part of the U-23 Japan national team, delivers a cross from the left rear. Breaking through here was number 39, who was utilized as a lone striker. Maintaining top speed, he jumps high and skillfully redirects the ball with a back header into the goal, securing the long-awaited opening goal for Tokyo. This also marks the long-awaited first goal of the season for Nakagawa.
In the 67th minute of the second half, Matsuki, who had been persistent in advancing, passed to the left. At this moment, Keita ENDO, who had just been brought on as a left attacker, made a sharp return pass, and once again, Nakagawa ran into the center. He pushed it in at the perfect timing, but unfortunately, it hit the crossbar and did not result in an additional goal.
In the 37th minute of the second half, Matsuki broke free from a counterattack and made a dribble pass to Jája Silva, who was running alongside him. The number 70, who was positioned as the lone striker, aimed carefully and tried to slot it in with his right foot, but it narrowly missed to the left of the goal.
In the final stages, Soma ANZAI, who had been fighting on the right side, was substituted in the 43rd minute of the second half for Shuhei TOKUMOTO, a natural full-back, who was brought in as a right winger. This was to increase the defensive intensity from the front and secure the lead.
In the 6 minutes of additional time, we will push forward our desire for victory against the opponent's counterattack, dominating the pitch with intensity in ball contests and counterattacks.
The grand finale awaited at the end.
Attacking from the left side, Matsuki sends a soft pass sideways after keeping possession. Riki HARAKAWA, who ran in, controls the ball once and then strikes with his left foot. A powerful shot with an arc flows into the upper left corner of the goal, scoring a decisive additional point in the match.
It is truly the "ultimate football theater." The blue-red army defeated Kashima in the second act, achieving their first consecutive wins of the season and their first match without conceding a goal, captivating the large crowd of 52,772 that gathered at the Japan National Stadium.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Daishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Kosuke SHIRAI/Kanta DOI/Henrique TREVISAN/Kashif BANGNAGANDE
MF Kuryu MATSUKI/Takahiro UCHIYAMA (30 minutes into the second half: Riki HARAKAWA)/Kei KOIZUMI
FW Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (18 minutes into the second half: Keita ENDO)/Soma ANZAI (43 minutes into the second half: Shuhei TOKUMOTO)/Teruhito NAKAGAWA (30 minutes into the second half: Jaja SILVA)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
DF Masato MORISHIGE
MF Tsubasa TERAYAMA
GOAL
10 minutes into the second half: Teruhito NAKAGAWA / 45+7 minutes into the second half: Riki HARAKAWA
<Kashima Antlers>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Tomoki HAYAKAWA
DF Kaito NOBUNO/Naotaka UEDA/Ikuma SEKIGAWA/Koki ANZAI
MF Keisuke CHINEN (substituted at 35 minutes: Shoma DOI)/Kaishu SANO (substituted at 40 minutes: Guilherme Parede)/Yuta HIGUCHI (substituted at 35 minutes: Yuta MATSUMURA)/Hayato NAKAMA (substituted at 16 minutes: Tomoya FUJII)
FW Chavrić (substituted at 35 minutes: Milosavljevic)/Yuma SUZUKI
SUBS
GK Taiki YAMADA
DF Hidehiro SUGAI
GOAL
―
[Peter CKLAMOVSKI Coach Interview]
Q, please review the game.
A, I think it was a tough match against a good opponent. From a football perspective, we were able to play a good game. I believe our players worked hard and delivered a performance worthy of victory. The first half lacked a bit of sharpness. The performance was okay, but there were parts where we could have done a little better. We lacked the threat in front of the goal against the opponent. We carefully reviewed the details at halftime, and I think the players showed that in the second half. It was good to finish without conceding, and it was a match where scoring a few more goals wouldn't have been surprising. The important thing is to fight hard, celebrate the victory, recover tomorrow, and then take the steps toward the next win.
Q: Are there any changes from the match against Kawasaki Frontale two games ago, the match against Urawa Reds last game, and the match against Kashima Antlers this game?
A, first of all, I believe it is important to continue our football philosophy. When building a team or anything else, we must move forward straightforwardly. As we develop our football, the players have continued to be dedicated while holding strong belief in our football and their teammates.
Q: What do you think were the factors that led to your victory over Kashima?
Against a strong opponent like Kashima, the team was able to deliver a very strong performance. We respect our opponent, and it was truly a tough match, but today we showed a performance worthy of a clean sheet and a victory. This was also the result of our dedicated commitment to defensive rules on the field. By maintaining our defensive shape and properly executing the rules, I believe we reduced the opponent's chances. The players fought physically and devotedly for the full 96 minutes.
Q: Next week we have a match against Verdy. How does the coach perceive this, and what preparations would you like to make?
Match A against Verdy is one of the special matches. I believe it is a special match for the players, the club, and the fans and supporters. There are various emotions, and I think it creates a unique atmosphere. I believe anything can happen in a derby, so we will prepare accordingly. Currently, our strength is that we have been able to build a solid foundation in football. We will prepare while maintaining discipline and following our own process.
[Player Interview]
＜Teruhito NAKAGAWA＞
Q, you played in a different position than usual. Please review the game.
A. No matter what position I play in the match, I believe a soccer player should embody what the team wants to do and what needs to be done. Besides that, I focused on making runs behind the defense to showcase my strengths.
Q: There were many defensive scenes that seemed to switch the entire team on.
A, always playing in the position that Ryotaro ARAKI usually occupies, observed the previous matches to understand dedicated defensive techniques, how to chase opponents, and how to make things easier for teammates. There were times when the pressure was applied effectively, guiding the opponents so they couldn't pass freely, and times when it was not. From the first half, he shared targeted areas with Kuryu MATSUKI while talking and made improvements.
Q: I think the team has been able to play with momentum in the last two matches.
After losing the match against Kawasaki Frontale in Group A, we also held a meeting with just the players. I believe that had a positive effect, and by sharing a common understanding to continue with this style of football, we have been able to achieve results step by step. It is important to keep this going. However, just because we won doesn't mean everything is perfect; there are still many issues during the matches that we need to address and improve on while winning.
Q, please review the scoring scene.
A, Matsuki and Kashif BANGNAGANDE worked well together to advance the ball, and since Matsuki was watching me, I believed the pass would come. When the pass was made, I focused on touching the ball first. I just had to match Matsuki's ball, so I want to express my gratitude. Surprisingly, I'm good at heading, so I think that showed in the result.
Q: Please share your enthusiasm for the next match.
By continuing to win without losing momentum, we can put pressure on the teams at the top, and the match against Verdy will definitely be a battle we cannot afford to lose. We will review the points to improve from today's game and prepare to win.
<Riki HARAKAWA>
Q: What were you aware of when you entered the pitch during the substitution in the second half?
A, since the game had become a bit open, we started by focusing on defense. Even when we were pushed back, we managed well by staying composed, and I feel that it is good that we have been able to unify what we need to do over the past few matches.
Q: That was a nice shot. How do you feel when you look back at that scene?
A, I passed the ball near the penalty area for the first time in a while, and when it came back to me, I thought it was the place to show my quality. Kuryu MATSUKI skillfully laid it off. I hesitated whether to aim between the opponent's legs or near post, but considering the ball's position, the opponent's legs were not very open, so I aimed for the near post and was able to score successfully.
Q: The next match will be against Verdy. Please say a word about the upcoming game.
A, I don't think the previous flow matters, and the players must enter with a different mindset than usual. We want to win firmly in the next match and move forward. Fans and supporters also think of "FC Tokyo" when it comes to Tokyo, so the whole team wants to prepare well to show that through results.
<Kuryu MATSUKI>
Q: Please reflect on the match.
I believe that being able to provide 2 assists was thanks to my teammates, including the players who scored goals. Ryotaro ARAKI was unable to play today, but as a team, whoever takes the field can lead us to victory, and I think we have grown into a competitive and high-quality team. I believe that the fact that the entire team is improving together is what leads to our victories.
Q: I achieved 1 goal and 2 assists in the two consecutive matches at the Japan National Stadium.
A: This season, I am more conscious of the numbers. I have been playing more often in a slightly advanced position compared to last season, and I was able to reaffirm during the two consecutive matches held at Japan National Stadium that if I become the starting point of the attack up front, it leads to goals. I want to continue to greedily aim for goals and assists going forward. In today's match, I was also aiming to score, but I focused on prioritizing the team's victory first. Within that, I am glad I could contribute to the team with 2 assists.
Q: From here, activities as the U-23 Japan national team will also begin. Please share your enthusiasm for securing a spot in the Paris Olympics.
A, I have been able to demonstrate my performance in recent league matches through numbers, and I want to continue contributing to the team with goals and assists during national team activities as well. I also want to take on leadership roles actively.
<Taishi Brandon NOZAWA>
Q, please review the game.
A, the first half was a test of endurance, with a lack of aggressiveness in the gameplay. During halftime, the coach spoke to the team, and the players encouraged each other, sharing the intention to be more aggressive in both offense and defense, which I believe led to the second half.
Q: You were able to finish the match with your first clean sheet of the season. What kind of preparations have you made?
A, the defenders were very focused, so I personally didn't have much work to do today. Even so, I was conscious of not losing concentration during the times when the ball wasn't coming to me. I'm glad it led to a good result.
Q: More than 50,000 fans and supporters gathered at the Japan National Stadium, but how was the match at the Japan National Stadium?
It was great to secure two consecutive wins at Japan National Stadium, both to build momentum in the league matches and to let everyone enjoy the atmosphere of the National Stadium.
Q, was there an exciting atmosphere at the National that elevated you as a player?
A, when a goal is scored, cheers erupt and the excitement builds, so much so that I got goosebumps even on the pitch.
Q: The important Asian Cup for the U-23 Japan national team heading towards the Paris Olympics is starting. How do you want to contribute?
A, I am prepared and proud to be selected from Tokyo. I want to express through my play that I am worthy of being a representative player.
