Match Review
The excitement and enthusiasm of the match against Verdy, after 16 seasons, stirred the players' fighting spirit. The blue and red fans and supporters, filling the stands behind the goal, welcomed the players who came out for warm-up with loud applause and cheers. Responding to this was Yuto NAGATOMO. He struck his left chest emblem stronger than anyone else and rallied the fans and supporters back.
"Losing at home is something Tokyo's pride cannot allow. In the best atmosphere, we show 'We are Tokyo,' and the 90 minutes have begun."
1st HALF - After conceding 2 goals, a player was sent off, resulting in a numerical disadvantage.
In the first half, which kicked off with high tension, it was Tokyo that created the first chance. In the 11th minute, they applied pressure from a high position in the opponent's territory, and Teruhito NAKAGAWA made a cut just before the area. Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA received the pass and struck with his left foot inside the area, but it was blocked by the opponent. Furthermore, in the 15th minute, they created another shooting opportunity. Kei KOIZUMI picked up the second ball, and Kashif BANGNAGANDE made the last pass. Although it didn't connect, Teruhito NAKAGAWA picked up the loose ball and aimed with his right foot. The shot was on target but went straight to the goalkeeper.
Unable to convert these two chances into goals, a penalty was conceded in the 26th minute. This was converted by Matsuki, allowing the first goal. Furthermore, in the 34th minute, a second goal was conceded. A ball that Henrique TREVISAN attempted to connect was intercepted, leading to a cross, which was met by some strong volley shot from Someno.
Tokyo, already facing a two-goal deficit, suffers further setbacks. In the 43rd minute, Soma ANZAI receives a second yellow card and is sent off. They will have to fight the remaining time with one player less.
2nd HALF - A dramatic equalizer just fell short
Even when trailing by two goals with a numerical disadvantage, Tokyo did not falter at all. During the difficult period when the ball was being passed around by Verdy, everyone ran hard and defended desperately, and their posture of looking for chances gradually shifted the momentum in our favor.
In the 68th minute of the second half, Kosuke SHIRAI did not miss the opponent's short pass and intercepted it, sprinting up the right side to deliver a low cross. Tsubasa TERAYAMA, who came in for the ball, let it pass, and Keita ENDO, who was behind him, kicked it in with his right foot, scoring the first goal back.
Tokyo, wanting to press on, brought in Riki HARAKAWA and Jája Silva to intensify their attack. However, Verdy's defensive awareness was high, and they struggled to break through, entering stoppage time still trailing by one goal.
Even then, we couldn't carry the ball to the goal as we wanted, and just when we were prepared for the end of the match, it was Endo who saved the team. In the 45+4 minutes of the second half, goalkeeper Go HATANO sent a feed to the front line. Enrique, who had moved up front, contested for the loose ball, which Nakagawa picked up and passed to Endo, who was next to him. Receiving this, Endo created a shooting angle for himself and struck with his left foot. The powerful shot shook the goal net.
After that, Tokyo continued to aim for a comeback goal, but the final point did not come, and time was up. Nevertheless, the players in blue and red, who overcame a two-goal deficit with ten men, received cheers from the fans and supporters behind the goal, vowing to win the upcoming "home" match against Verdy in August.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Go HATANO
DF Kosuke SHIRAI/Kanta DOI/Henrique Trevisan/Kashif BANGNAGANDE (substituted in 28th minute: Yuto NAGATOMO)
MF Takuto UHI (substituted in 38th minute: Jaja Silva)/Takahiro KOBAYASHI (substituted in 16th minute: Tsubasa TERAYAMA)/Kei KOIZUMI (substituted in 38th minute: Riki HARAKAWA)
FW Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (substituted in 16th minute: Keita ENDO)/Soma ANZAI/Teruhito NAKAGAWA
SUBS
GK Tsuyoshi KODAMA
DF Masato MORISHIGE
GOAL
23rd minute of the first half: Keita ENDO/45+4 minutes of the second half: Keita ENDO
<Verdy>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Mateus
DF Kazuya MIYAHARA / Naoki HAYASHI / Hiroto TANIGUCHI (39th minute: Kohei YAMAKOSHI) / Daiki FUKAZAWA
MF Kosuke SAITO (17th minute: Seiryu ONAGA) / Akihiro MORITA / Tetsuyuki INAMI / Tomoya MIKI (34th minute: Yuuan MATSUBASHI)
FW Itsuki SOMENO (34th minute: Yuto TSUNASHIMA) / Yudai KIMURA (17th minute: Hiroto YAMAMI)
SUBS
GK Yuya NAGASAWA
MF Tiago ALVES
GOAL
28th minute of the first half: Tomoya MIKI/33rd minute of the first half: Itsuki SOMENO
[Peter CKLAMOVSKI Coach Interview]
Q, please review today's game.
A, I think we had a good start in the first half, but there was a bad period of about 10 minutes during which we conceded. That changed the flow of the game. However, at the beginning and towards the end of the first half, there were moments when we were able to play well. I believed that if something changed in one situation or moment, the game would turn in our favor. At halftime, we talked about that and also said, 'If we score one goal, we can get another.' In the end, we tried to go for the third goal, but time ran out and the game ended.
The players really gave their all on the pitch and fought desperately to turn the game around for the fans and supporters. The fans and supporters truly provided amazing support and are the best fans in Japan.
The players really put on a wonderful performance until the end and tried to turn the game around. It's unfortunate that we couldn't secure the 3 points, but I hope we can reflect on today's match and grow from it. The players fought with a warrior-like mentality and truly played in a way we can be proud of. However, in the end, there wasn't enough time, and I feel sorry that we couldn't deliver a victory to our fans and supporters.
Q: Yesterday, Keita ENDO, whose full transfer was announced, scored 2 goals.
A, today, I truly believe you made a great impact and showed something wonderful as a player. However, there is still room for growth. You have a good character, and I think the permanent transfer was a positive move. Today as well, you fought hard while working diligently.
Q: Please tell us about the intention behind the last substitution.
A, Takahiro KO and Kei KOIZUMI worked very hard and moved skillfully to seize their own momentum. We wanted to bring in Riki HARAKAWA and Jája Silva as soon as possible, but we had to consider the balance. The substitute players performed very well and caught up nicely. Even after equalizing at 2-2, they showed a winning attitude, and the players' warrior-like mentality is not something every team has; I believe it is proof of their growth through the training we do every day.
[Player Interview]
＜Keita ENDO＞
Q, that was a wonderful equalizing goal. Please reflect on the match.
A, the passionate feelings that fans and supporters have for this match were fully conveyed, and although we were down to 10 players in the first half, being able to play without giving up until the end led to the draw. Most importantly, the support from the fans and supporters was a source of strength. Even during tough times, I felt the fans' support from the bench, and I couldn't afford to show a disappointing performance against Verdy. Once on the pitch, I focused solely on delivering results.
Q: Both goals were scored with great feeling.
<div>A, I don't know if it was right or wrong, but I think the most important thing was that we played desperately as a team, not just by my own strength. We couldn't afford to lose 0-2. I believe the two goals we scored were powered by the support of our fans and supporters. Kosuke SHIRAI took the ball at a high position, and Tsubasa TERAYAMA and I were the ones running into the goal area. As players who came on as substitutes, we talked on the bench about 'Let's change the flow ourselves,' and I think being able to out-sprint the opponents led to the goals. Regarding the second goal, when I received the ball, I was thinking about taking a shot, and I'm glad it was scored in a good way.
Q: The complete transfer to the team was announced on the 11th. How do you feel about your performance right after that?
A, since I hadn't been able to score goals until now, I thought today’s big game was a chance to shine. Even after equalizing, I kept aiming for the goal, and I believe we secured at least the minimum 1 point. Ryotaro ARAKI and Kuryu MATSUKI had been leading the team’s attack up to this point, but after they left for the U-23 Japan national team, I absolutely did not want anyone to think, 'After all, we were relying on them.' When I was in Germany, there were times I couldn’t even get on the pitch, so from here on, I want to work hard to be recognized by the fans and supporters. I believe top-class players can consistently show good performances. I want to continue showing strong performances beyond just these two goals.
<Kosuke SHIRAI>
Q, it was a tough match. Please review the game.
A, we were able to come back from 0-2, and I think this is the minimum acceptable result. We needed to manage the first half of the game better, and I believe it's too late to switch gears only after falling behind, so we must play properly from the start.
Q, I think there were moments when we had to watch both the opponent's fullback and winger after going down to ten men. What specific points were you aware of in the second half?
In Group A, conceding a third goal with a 2-point difference would have made the match even more difficult, so we focused first on playing without conceding. As you can see from today's match, I believed that scoring one goal would change the flow of the game, so I was conscious of moving forward while not conceding.
Q: What was your strategy for playing in the second half?
Since we adopted a 4-4-1 formation, I thought it would be good to firmly organize the block and score through counters and set plays, and I think that worked well. We knew the opponent would panic when the score changed from 0-2 to 1-2, so we were able to skillfully score an additional goal and catch up. I believe the way we managed the second half of the game went according to plan.
Q, Kosuke SHIRAI's sprint speed saved the team.
A, that is my strength, and it has gradually improved since last season. I feel that I have finally been able to show my own style of play, and I was happy that it contributed to the team's strength.
Q: What was the atmosphere like during the match against Verdy?
A, I think it was an intense match like never experienced before.
Q, please tell us your goals for the future.
A, although there are still many points to reflect on, I have been able to show my play, so I want to firmly secure the right side back position.
<Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA>
Q, please review the game. This was your first start after the transfer.
A, it was my first time in the starting lineup, but we fell behind 0-2 in the first half, and then being down to 10 players was the result of leaving an opening and getting caught off guard. I need to reflect on that.
Q: You often played in close proximity to Teruhito NAKAGAWA. What were you conscious of?
Both A and the other player can play either at the front line or one row back in the second line, so when one drops back, the other takes the space behind, consciously playing by switching positions.
Q: In the first 20 minutes, we saw plays that got behind the opponent's defenders. What kind of communication was there within the team?
A, targeting behind the opponent was part of our team's concept, so I played with the intention of exploiting the space behind, but I couldn't make plays that led to goals. I want to work on being able to come up with different strategies in such situations.
Q: There were many times when you had to focus on defense due to the impact of the player being sent off, but did you gain anything from today's match?
A, I think it was good that we showed our true strength and managed to catch up at the end. However, we need to reflect on the first half because of that. I hope we can continue to catch up when we are behind in the future as well.
