Match Review
The winning streak from the season opener was stopped at three with the defeat against Kashiwa Reysol in the previous match, and this game marks a fresh start at our "National". We face the game against Yokohama F.Marinos aiming to demonstrate the principle that "a championship-winning team does not suffer consecutive losses."
We have been able to take the initiative in both offense and defense. That is why we must focus on the critical moments. It is essential to improve the precision in winning battles for the ball, finishing decisively, and defending thoroughly.
Aiming for a restart victory, the red and blue starting eleven placed goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu as the guardian, with the back line consisting of four players from right to left: Naruki Muroya, Alexander SCHOLZ, Rio OMORI, and Yuto NAGATOMO. In the midfield, Kento HASHIMOTO and Kota Tokiwa played as defensive midfielders, with attackers Keito Sato on the right and Ryunosuke SATO on the left. The two forwards were Marcelo RYAN and Motoki NAGAKURA forming the partnership.
Player Omori, who returned to the Red and Blue this season, has been listed on the bench since the opening and will take the pitch for the first time here. For him, this is his first time on the J1 League pitch since making his J1 debut as a substitute in Sec. 35 of the 2021 Meiji Yasuda J1 League season. The opponent is the same Yokohama FM, the team that handed them an 0-8 defeat in that game. This match will be an opportunity to show solid growth and contribute to the team's victory.
1st HALF—Perfect game management after an early opening goal
The strong desire of the blue and red warriors to "absolutely win" immediately bore fruit. It was right after the kickoff.
Player Sato Kei, receiving a vertical pass from Muroya, faced forward and delivered a perfectly timed through pass in front between the last line and the opposing goalkeeper. At this moment, Nagakura broke through between the opposing players, stretched out his left foot, and calmly slotted the opening goal. This lightning-fast strike at 33 seconds from the combination of the two players, both hungry for a goal, gave the blue and red team an immediate lead.
With this, Tokyo, now confident, continued to play long in the opponent's territory while keeping possession of the ball. The surrounding players firmly supported the ball holder, creating multiple passing options and advancing the game in their favor.
Tokyo, maintaining an aggressive stance in both offense and defense, saw at the 13th minute of the first half, player Kei Sato cancel a run behind the defense to engage in post play, receive a wedge pass, and turn with one touch. From that through pass, player RIAN took a shot. Although it was saved by the opposing goalkeeper, Kei Sato's quick-witted play created a big chance.
The fierce attack of the blue and red does not stop. At the 16th minute, a powerful goal that made Japan National Stadium roar was scored. The protagonist was player Ryu Sato. Cutting in from the left side and carrying the ball to the center, he unleashed a powerful shot with his right foot through the legs of the opposing defender who tried to block, knocking the opposing goalkeeper away and scoring an additional goal. Wearing number 23, who had long said he wanted to "achieve overwhelming results," thrilled the stadium with his first goal in blue and red, and Tokyo succeeded in scoring an additional goal early in the game.
After that, they continued to switch between aggressive pressing from the front line and a mid-block, not allowing Yokohama FM any freedom. They firmly restricted passing lanes, narrowing the options, and controlled time and space without allowing them to create many chances.
At the 37th minute of the first half, they connected the ball at the back line and assessed the situation, then player Muroya on the right side quickly supplied a long ball to the front line. Nagakura's left-footed shot that rushed out there went over the bar, but it turned the flexible decision-making, which was an issue in the previous match, into a scoring opportunity.
Just after entering 4 minutes of additional time, from Ryuu Sato's right corner kick, Kento HASHIMOTO pushed forward and took a shot. At this point, the referee blew the whistle and pointed to the penalty spot due to a block by an opposing player, but with VAR support, it was judged as no foul, and a penalty kick was not awarded.
In the final moments, RIAN shook the net from a counterattack, but this was ruled offside and no goal was awarded. In the end, the first half ended with the score remaining 2-0. Tokyo's strengths stood out on both offense and defense, and the game was almost like a half-court match as they headed into the second half.
2ndHALF—Pulled away with a goal 54 seconds after kickoff and secured a comfortable victory at our "National"
Tokyo finished the first half with a wonderful performance. In the second half, they want to carefully observe the opponent's movements and maintain an aggressive attitude, aiming for an additional goal without letting their guard down. While Yokohama FM made two substitutions at halftime, Tokyo approached the second half with the same lineup.
And early in the second half, "our National" erupted in joy once again. This time, it was just 54 seconds after kickoff. In midfield, we surrounded the opponent and took the ball in a good position. Schultz intercepted and advanced with the ball, delivering a through pass. Lucas RIAN broke free, and although the ball was initially deflected by the post, he calmly followed up and scored the third goal.
Tokyo never eased their attack. In the 10th minute of the second half, from a position pressed near the penalty area, player Kei Sato took a shot at the falling ball. Then, in the 12th minute, player Kei Sato made a through pass slightly to the side, and player Muroya ran through with an underlap and swung his right foot. Although this was unfortunately ruled offside, they showed an attack reminiscent of the winning goal against Kawasaki Frontale in the 3rd round.
Continuing to maintain control, the first player substitution was made in the 29th minute of the second half. Kento HASHIMOTO was brought in as left side back, and Fuki YAMADA was introduced as right attacker, replacing Nagatomo and Kei Sato. One player was swapped on each side to change the setup, aiming to launch attacks in a different style than before.
In the 34th minute of the second half, another substitution was made. Marcelo RYAN, who had scored, and Ryu Sato were both replaced by Keita ENDO and Teruhito NAKAGAWA, who faced their former club. The two, who excel in stamina and ball battles, were entrusted with scoring additional goals and closing out the final stages of the match.
Tokyo, with fresh players added, regains dynamism in both offense and defense. They display a robust attack with players continuously surging forward from the back, relentlessly pressing the opponent's goal once again. Defensively, they set up a mid-block and, while observing the situation, also incorporate a low block to solidify the center, preventing effective passes from being made.
In the additional time of the second half, a switch was made from Kento HASHIMOTO to Kei KOIZUMI. Sending in number 37, who can intercept the ball, to tighten the defense, the team successfully closed the match amid the resounding cheers of the blue and red family’s "City That Never Sleeps." Scoring three goals including those at the start of both halves, they recorded their first clean sheet of the season and made the best restart toward the championship at "Our National."
MATCH DETAILS
Match detailed data is here
Interview with Manager Rikizo MATSUHASHI
Q, please summarize today's match.
A, I think you played a wonderful game maintaining high concentration until the very end.
Q: Goals were scored early in both the first and second halves. Please reflect on being able to finish and score goals, especially given the strong emphasis on the desire to score.
A Scoring goals naturally drives our awareness and attitude, and it goes without saying that goals are truly important. I think today we were able to express how we create the rhythm of the game through that, and having achieved that, the question is how we move forward next. Also, I believe we need to keep raising our own hurdles and overcome them ourselves.
Q, It was truly a wonderful match, but I believe the coach has thoughts on what could be improved slightly to reach the next level. What are your thoughts on this?
A, the switching in the attacking phase. Choosing to go forward during the transition and exploiting the opponent's space is one of our strengths, and I think it appeared many times in this game as well. However, regarding the first half, I believe we need to improve our decision-making when pressing forward and the quality of our technical skills in the final moments.
Even though we made good interceptions, there were many instances in the first half where we gave the opponent the attacking rights. Of course, attacking quickly and with fewer touches is an important aspect, but by also making decisions for when that becomes difficult, we can move the opponent while skillfully mixing in attacks from deeper positions. This would increase the depth of our offense, and we are also challenging ourselves to try to score in such situations. It would be better if we could show a bit more of that, and I want to convey to the players that this is what we should aim for next time.
Q. Please evaluate Ryunosuke SATO's first goal, and tell us what you expect from him as he competes at a very high level with Keita ENDO for a starting position, and how he has won the competition to be chosen as a starter.
A, I think he has been performing exceptionally well both offensively and defensively. Regarding selection, one major point is how to start the game while carefully observing the opponent. Endo and Ryunosuke SATO are players with slightly different characteristics, but if both can fully demonstrate their roles on the wings, they are players who can bring the flow of the game to our side. After that, it depends on their condition, form, and the opponent. Keeping all these factors in mind, I want to continue considering their selection going forward.
Q, Rio OMORI made his first start as a center back. Although his strengths differ from Hayato INAMURA, please give your evaluation of OMORI's performance today.
A, truly, I think the word 'wonderful' perfectly describes it. Although he had not had any playing opportunities until now, when we considered where to utilize him, the right side has always been his main position, and we have consistently tried him there. In that context, this time we decided to use him on the left, and he responded very positively to that. Above all, even without playing opportunities so far, he has maintained a clear sense of purpose about where we are headed, and his words and attitude during training matches have built up so much during this period. It is very gratifying to see that reflected in his play today, and I believe it has given him great confidence. I think he has also gained a clearer vision of moving forward from here. He truly delivered an outstanding performance.
Q. Today, many people are watching soccer for the first time, and 52,934 visitors came to the home MUFG Stadium (National Stadium). Please give a message to the fans and supporters who filled the stadium.
A, It is very gratifying for us to have many people come, and we sincerely hope that after seeing matches and the stadium atmosphere like today, they will come again. As with every match, we have a strong sense of mission to continue playing games that respond to the feelings of those who come. We will do our best to deliver another good game next time, so we hope more and more people will come to the stadium.
Player Interview
Motoki NAGAKURA
Q, please review the lightning-fast goal scene.
AI was surprised myself, but I think it was good for the team to score early. I didn't expect a chance to come so quickly, but since player Megumi Sato passed the ball at the right timing, I was able to finish it one-on-one with the goalkeeper, which was great. We had been having matches where we couldn't finish even when we had chances, so it was good to dispel that and for the team to win with my goal.
Q. Did you have an image of a ball being sent between the goalkeeper and the defender like that?
A, It's more about the image or the mind games, so I think everything came down to Keisuke Sato timing his pass perfectly. I pretended to move a little closer to the ball, but since I haven't watched the footage, I don't know for sure. However, Sato passed the ball at just the right moment, and in a position where I could shoot with one touch, so it was really a great pass. I feel that my strengths are showing at FC Tokyo, and since the team atmosphere is good and there are many players I connect well with, I think I am receiving good passes as a player who can make the most of them.
Q, after that, you also set up the goal for Ryunosuke SATO.
A, it was good that player Ryu Sato successfully finished it. Just a little before that, he told me, "I'm open, so please pass to me." It's a small thing, but I think those things are important.
Q. How do you feel about the team’s comfortable victory with 3 goals?
A, although there were more opportunities to score in the first half, being able to score again early in the second half means we played well in terms of the flow of the game.
Q, you mentioned wanting to decide and win by yourself up to this point, but did you feel like you secured the win with your own goal today?
A, I am happy personally, and since we were able to take control of the entire match, that was also good. I want to continue this, and I hope our team will become one that can secure wins over the full 90 minutes.
Q. After a one-week break from here, a three-game consecutive match awaits.
A, the environment is different from when we built the team in one week, so not only the opponent but also ourselves will have to engage in an all-out battle. I think that winning this match with new players like Rio OMORI on the field was a good confidence boost for him as well.
Q. Please tell us again about your personal goals and the team's goals.
A. Individuals aim to complete without injury. The team's goal is to win the championship.
Ryunosuke SATO
Q, it was a goal that fulfilled your promise. Please review the goal scene.
A, did I say that (laugh)? I think it was a big goal for me. In the previous scene, when Motoki NAGAKURA had the ball, he passed it to Marcelo RYAN, and at that time the opposite side was free, so I told him, "The opposite side is free, so please watch it." Then, in the next play, a good ball came, so I placed it in a spot where I could shoot either near or far post, and aimed between the legs to shoot. It’s a move I’m good at, and in that situation, I thought the defender would put out his foot, so aiming between the legs is always an idea I keep in mind.
Q. Today, there were many moments where you turned and faced forward, and your play seemed sharp.
A, I think this was my sharpest performance of the season. When I played every match last season, I was always able to play like that, so I feel like I've finally regained that feeling this season as well.
Q. You played for the first time at MUFG Stadium (Japan National Stadium) after signing a professional contract. How do you feel about it?
AThe turf was incredibly good, and the stadium atmosphere was also fantastic, so it was really great to be able to decide it here.
Q. How do you feel about securing a victory after the team's first loss of the season, especially when you couldn't afford to lose consecutive matches?
A, I think the match after such a frustrating game is important, and since everyone increased their communication for today's match, I believe we were able to create a really good atmosphere.
Q, Today, more than 50,000 spectators attended. Were you able to prove your presence to the visitors?
A, there is the aspect of results, and I was finally able to show my own style in my play, so I want to keep moving forward without losing this momentum.
Q. Your dedicated play was quite noticeable. Do you feel confident about your defense?
A, today I was playing on the side with Yuto NAGATOMO, and I didn't feel like we would be beaten. I think we were able to work hard on both offense and defense while watching each other.
Q. After scoring the goal, you showed your emotions openly. What were you feeling?
A, I was very happy, and although it was said to be my first goal since returning to FC Tokyo, it has been three years since I turned professional, so this was my first goal in Tokyo. I felt that it has been a very long journey until now.
Rio OMORI
Q. You showed good play in your first start of the season. How do you look back on the match?
A, as a team, we prepared well and were able to press from the front in defense, with the players behind supporting, allowing us to firmly regain possession. We were able to show what we built up as an organization over the week, and the surrounding players were very considerate in their play, which made it very easy for me to perform in this environment. Winning without conceding a goal is very gratifying for the team, and I believe it will lead to future success.
Q, You didn't seem nervous.
A, yes. I thought I might be a bit more nervous, but since I was with the members I always play with, and you can't suddenly get better, I decided to just do what I usually do. In that regard, I think I was able to play calmly.
Q. As a defender, how does it feel to achieve your first clean sheet victory in a match you played?
A, the timing was good, but within the team’s thorough execution of what needed to be done, we were able to score three solid goals in attack and also nip potential threats in defense. Together with Alexander SCHOLZ, Sei MUROYA, and Yuto NAGATOMO, we controlled the line, and Kim Seung Gyu reacted well to balls that got behind. I think everyone communicated more than usual because I was there, so I believe that was a positive factor.
Q. I think we were able to fully demonstrate the strengths of our feeds and other attacking aspects.
A, everyone took good positions. Today, there were especially many passing lanes, to the point where it was hard to choose. That aspect made it very easy for me.
Q. The heading shot was close, wasn't it?
A, you were too aggressive in the tackle.
Q, Besides that, I think you were also very strong in aerial battles.
A has also built up physical strength, so I think he was able to play with confidence.
Q. Having continued your training on loan until now, how do you feel about wearing the red and blue uniform and playing in a match again?
A, I returned to Tokyo and wanted to play in matches as soon as possible. Of course, I intended to fulfill my role, so even if I was on the bench, I wanted to fight hard for the team. However, when the opportunity came, I wanted to seize it firmly. Although this is just the beginning, I want to continue winning consecutively from here. There are also several players currently on loan, and I believe that me being able to play after returning to Tokyo will give them confidence as well. First of all, this season, I want to show that side of things too.
Q. What is the area where you have grown the most by gaining match experience through a loan transfer?
A, I think it was very valuable to be able to absorb various styles of soccer. It's hard to put into words, but the game sense and the ability to finish a match without conceding, like in today's game, is not just about my own strength, but also about mental toughness and the ability to sense dangerous moments, which I believe I have developed through match experience.
Q. How was the experience of having your name called out among an audience of 50,000 people?
A, it was a really great stadium atmosphere. Personally, I have always had a preference to play at Ajinomoto Stadium, but MUFG Stadium (National Stadium) remains a key venue for Tokyo's home games. I believe winning is the top priority, so I would be happy if many fans and supporters come again next time.
Q. You made a guts pose when the final whistle blew. How did you feel at that moment?
AI had a strong desire to win, and since the opponent was Yokohama F.Marinos, I definitely wanted to get back at them. I was happy to have given my all for the full 90 minutes.
Q. Was there a point when you were still haunted by the 0-8 result (your debut match in 2021 against Yokohama F.Marinos)?
A, rather than dragging it on, I was playing in the J2 League until last season, so I couldn't face Yokohama F.Marinos. This time was a good opportunity, so I'm really glad we could win.
Q, How do you want to connect this step forward?
A, I want to improve my own playing accuracy even more, and as a team, we aim to secure 3 points, finish with a clean sheet, and pursue these numbers. Since the team's results are connected to my own results in my position, I want to relentlessly continue chasing that.
Q. When you show such a good performance like today, the coach will have a hard time selecting the members for the upcoming matches, won't he?
A, I believe that not only the 11 players but the entire team continuing to perform well and compete will bring us closer to winning the championship, so I want to keep competing actively. Also, since my older brother is on the next Mito Hollyhock match, I definitely want to participate.
