Match Review
An away game that might be the turning point of this seasonThe second match of a three-game away stretch. The Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League EAST Group Sec. 7 match against JEF United Chiba, held after three days' rest, kicked off with six changes to the starting lineup from the previous match.
In the defense, goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, right side back Sei MUROYA, and center back Alexander SCHOLZ have started all 7 matches since the opening. In the center of the back line, Hayato Inamura made his first start since the 4th round match against Kashiwa Reysol, and at left side back, Kento HASHIMOTO made his first start for the team, replacing Yuto NAGATOMO who was substituted in the first half of the previous match.
The defensive midfield was formed by Kei KOIZUMI, starting in the lineup for the first time this season, alongside Kouta TOKIWA. The attackers featured Fuki YAMADA, making his first start in the red and blue on the right, and Keita ENDO on the left. Up front, alongside Motoki NAGAKURA, Teruhito NAKAGAWA was selected to start for the first time this season. Expectations are high for NAKAGAWA's fighting spirit, as he has been hungry for playing time and goals so far. Additionally, Kashif BANGNAGANDE was included on the bench for the first time this season. Takahiro KO made his first squad appearance since the second round match against the Urawa Reds.
So far5 wins, 1 loss, 3rd place with 12 points. Despite the tight schedule, the team has demonstrated consistent quality soccer regardless of who plays, and aims to firmly stay in the top ranks. This truly all-out battle kicked off at 19:03 at the away Fukuda Denshi Arena.
1stHALF—Coordinating offense and defense, pressing the opponentwith diverse attacks
From the start of the match, Tokyo showed aggressive play and pushed into the opponent's territory. While firmly responding to the opponent's long balls, they seamlessly connected to attacks through bold pressing from the front line and sharp interceptions based on keen anticipation. In attack, in addition to advancing from the back line,the two forwards displayed smooth coordination and took control of the game.
The defensive midfielder drops between the center backs at the right timing to get involved in the build-up, encouraging both fullbacks to join the attack, which has been a characteristic so far. Even when the opponent has the ball, multiple players surround them to create a numerical advantage and prevent dangerous situations. There is also a strong awareness of creating passing lanes after winning the ball, and in the early stages, Tokyo's strengths stood out as time passed.
Tokyo quickly switched to attack, displaying smooth passing and a solid offensive presence. In the 8th minute of the first half, Kento HASHIMOTO made a diagonal run, connecting with Nakagawa and Endo, leading to a shot by Nagakura.In the 18th minute, from a pass received centrally by Yamada, Nagakura broke through to the right front and delivered a cross ball,which Muroya headed towards goal. After the goalkeeper blocked it, Nakagawa went for the rebound, bringing them close to scoring the opening goal.
First HalfIn the 26th minute, Endo initiated a counterattack, and Tokiwa, who picked up the loose ball, took a middle-range shot. An opposing player blocking near the penalty area handled the ball. Initially, it was judged a free kick, but with VAR support, it was changed to a penalty kick. Schulz calmly converted this big chance with his right foot, and Tokyo finally succeeded in scoring the opening goal. Right after the goal, the players encouraged each other and refocused, a scene that reflected the lessons learned from the opening match and the previous game.
Tokyo's fierce attack continues. At the 37th minute, from Yamada's right corner kick, Nagakura showed skillful movement inside the penalty area and headed the ball at the far side. However, this was cleared by the opponent just before the goal and did not result in an additional score.
Hardly allowing the opponent to show their strengths,after 4 minutes of additional time, Tokyo ended the first half with a 1-goal lead.
The two forwards alternately drop into midfield, and the defensive midfielders not only join the build-up at the back line but also line up with the dropped forwards and shadows in a flexible system close to a 4-3-3. After winning the ball high up,we want to continue showcasing a variety of attacking patterns in the second half, such as short counters, long counters that rapidly speed up after pulling back into our own half, and attacks that slice through the opponent's defense with one touch, all while reading the opponent.
2nd HALF—Equalized but quickly took the lead again, earning 3 points
Tokyo entered the second half without any changes to their lineup, while Chiba madetwo substitutions at halftime. Yasui was brought in as a defensive midfielder, and Goya as a forward, aiming to strengthen both offense and defense, including pressing from the front.
In the early stages of the second half, Scholz suffered an accident injuring his right leg from a hard tackle, but somehow managed to continue playing. The fighting captain who scored the opening goal continued to bravely support the team from the back, becoming a starting point for attacks by advancing at the right moments.
Chiba, who increased the pressure from the front, continued to be unable to break through, but in the 15th minute of the second half,they allowed the opponent to have the ball, cut off the passing options with multiple players, quickly connected one-touch passes vertically to enter the attacking third, and finally, Nagakura took a shot. Although it was blocked by the opposing goalkeeper, it raised expectations for an additional goal by recreating the elegant attack shown in the first half.
Tokyo made their first substitution in the second half26minutes in. Kento HASHIMOTO was brought in as a defensive midfielder replacing Tokiwa, and Keito SATO was introduced as the right attacker replacing Yamada. Shortly after, Nakagawa and Endo were switched out for Ryunosuke SATO and Leon NOZAWA. NOZAWA, who joined the two-forward line, made his long-awaited first appearance of the season.
Second Half34th minute, a momentary gap on the left sideallowed an intrusion into the penalty area, and the rebound was pushed in to equalize.
However, Tokyo immediately applied the lesson from the previous match and shook the net in the very next play. It happened at the 35th minute.
Player Sato Megumi, who had the ball on the right side, passed it forward. Nozawa broke free and skillfully controlled the ball, carrying the momentum as he moved and made a sideways pass. The one who ran in here was player Sato Ryu! In a scene where they had lost the ball and conceded an equalizer, he powerfully kicked the ball to take the lead. It was a strike that showcased the team's growth right in front of the Aoaka family and shared the joy with the comrades who rushed to the away game.
Second HalfAt the 45th minute, Kashiwa came on for Kento HASHIMOTO, making his first appearance of the season and taking the left side back position. The team entered 6 minutes of additional time while maintaining a one-goal lead.
In the 90+2 minute, we faced a huge danger when the opponent broke through the side on a counterattack, but their shot hit the post and we narrowly escaped the crisis.
The blue and red eleven, who did not lose momentum until the final stages, took away freedom with aggressive defense from the front line and calmly dealt with Chiba's long balls. Although there were some tense moments, the team closed the match with focused defense. Even as players were substituted, those on the pitch delivered excellent performances, showcasing Tokyo's style in both offense and defense, and brilliantly secured 3 points away from home.
After the match, the blue and red family filling the stands behind the goal echoed the triumphant song of the "City That Never Sleeps," sending loud chants of support for the next game.
Interview with Manager Rikizo MATSUHASHI
Q, please review the game.
A, I am very pleased that the match was decisively settled within 90 minutes. I appreciate the players' efforts.
Q,I think the first half was a high-intensity, good game, but the second half shifted a bit to the opponent's pace. Even so, was there a flow where you could still win?
A,That is hindsight. In the first half, the players were able to express well the things we had prepared, consciously creating good situations as a means to that end. However, we struggled to score. Despite having clear chances in the finishing moments, we couldn't convert them. The goal is, after all, to score goals. Sometimes it seems like the means or methods become the goal themselves, but we need to thoroughly pursue how to connect those means to the actual objective.
Q,Was it significant that you were able to score the opening goal in the first half?
A, We had chances to score a second goal, and our inability to capitalize on those opportunities is a major issue we face. To repeat the same point, even if the expected value of goals is high, it means nothing if we don't win, and we must be able to score despite high expectations. Teams that rise to the top tend to exceed those expectations. We want to continuously pursue improvement in this area.
Q,You showcased a wonderful game typical of Tokyo while making many player substitutions. Please tell us about the evaluation of the players who started and the aspect of competing with overall team strength.
A,I think they delivered a very impressive performance. Some players had limited playing opportunities, but I believe it’s because they consistently put in effort in their daily routines. I also think they were able to play while understanding how to prepare. How this connects to the objective is a challenge, but also a positive point, as it could have allowed each player to demonstrate their abilities even more.
Q,I think the two defensive midfielders took on many tasks, such as dropping back to the defensive line and moving forward to fulfill the role of shadow midfielders. Please tell us what you expected from the two of them and your evaluation of their performance.
A,In terms of involvement in the build-up, it is a major task for the defensive midfielders to be involved. However, as I mentioned earlier, rather than just relying on a fixed pattern to move toward the goal and score, I think they were able to play while feeling and thinking according to each situation. Their range of play is wide, but this is also due to the overlapping role of the wing players in creating space. The players executed well what they had prepared tactically in this game. In that sense, I believe they were able to demonstrate great strength.
Q,The two players brought on in the 30th minute of the second half were involved in the go-ahead goal. Please share your instructions and evaluation of them.
A,We brought in fresh players to improve the game and to try to break through from the flanks. I am very pleased that they met those expectations well, and I hope they continue to do so.
Q,Regarding Ryunosuke SATO, there was a mistake before the goal that led to conceding a goal. If there is anything you talked about after the match, please tell us.
A,Well... it was a self-inflicted error. And I did say, "Don't mess around." Everyone teased me about it while saying things like that, but when it comes to which way the game swings, we can say that because we won. However, to reach the goals we aim for, I think our play is still a bit careless. We need to reduce such plays, and I believe the accuracy there can only be improved through daily practice. I think the answer lies in how we value those daily routines.
Q,In the previous match, we conceded a goal immediately after scoring, but in this match, we scored immediately after conceding.
A,I have personally felt that the moments right after a goal are dangerous periods, but in terms of how we can effectively take advantage of those moments, I think it was a learning experience from both perspectives. However, whether we can press on and capitalize at those times is something we still need to improve on. We must continue to seek ways to utilize those brief moments of opportunity.
Q,The next match will be held at Ajinomoto Stadium, but how are you preparing for the game against Verdy, which will be treated as an away game?
A,Each of these three consecutive matches is very important, and while the positioning might be influenced by factors beyond ourselves, it’s possible that the perspective we have has changed. We have been approaching these three matches aiming to make that perspective as positive as possible. The last of these matches is against Verdy, and we absolutely cannot afford to lose. I believe that only by winning can we earn everyone's understanding, and we will just focus on preparing thoroughly for that.
Player Interview
Kei KOIZUMI
Q. It felt like there were a lot of interceptions.
A. Even when I went for it, my teammates covered a lot around me, and there were parts that were easier to target individually, so rather than it being just me, I think the team's defense as a whole was working well.
Q. You were able to circulate the ball well even in the build-up phase.
A. While playing fluidly, Teruhito NAKAGAWA dropped back to the midfield. The forwards were also playing quite fluidly, and whether to circulate the ball with three or four players between myself and Kouta TOKIWA was something we discussed during practice. However, I think we could have done it a bit better, and there were moments where I needed to break through individually, so I feel I need to work harder on that. Also, I’m frustrated that I wasn’t able to execute the side changes and diagonal passes that I consciously focus on.
Q. Looking back on the match, I think if we had scored the second goal, the game would have been more comfortable.
A. That's absolutely right. We had many chances in the first half as well. I may have said this many times, but if we don't finish those chances, the match becomes difficult like this. Although we managed to win in 90 minutes today, I believe we could have won more dominantly. If we truly aim to be champions, we needed to win in that way.However, I think it was good that we were able to secure a solid win during a series of away games.
Q. Overall, it was a good match.
A. We were able to connect good defense to good offense from the first half.I believe this is something we must do consistently against any opponent.
Q: This season, you were in the starting lineup for the first time. How do you feel about your performance?
A: I believe that if we don't win matches like this, the competition within the team won't become intense.There were players, including myself, who started for the first time in a while today. Not only on a personal level but also as a team, this victory was necessary for us to become a stronger team and a championship-winning team going forward. In that sense, I think it was good.
Q. Please share your enthusiasm for the next match.
A. This is a match where only the result matters. We will move on from today, prepare well as a team, and work together to secure a victory.
Ryunosuke SATO
Q, please review the goal scene.
A, I felt that I had to score.I ran into that position with more determination than usual, and the ball came to me.
Q, Does the part "with more passion than usual" relate to the ball loss in the scene just before conceding a goal?
A, Yes. Since it directly led to conceding a goal, I felt we had to make up for it.
Q. Being in the middle of consecutive matches,I believe you also had the desire to deliver results even after being dropped from the starting lineup.
A. My goal is to achieve results during the time I play in every match, so I want to continue doing that.
Q. I felt that the joy after scoring was greater than usual.
A. Yes, I felt both joy and relief.
Q: You can approach the next match in good form, right?
A: I think the next match is one where only the result matters, so I want to focus on the outcomeand play in a way that directly leads to victory.
Leon NOZAWA
Q. What instructions did you receive when you were brought on during the second half?
A. I was told to run both offensively and defensively, especially to keep making runs behind the defense in attack, and to press higher up in defense. Also, I was told to score goals, so I really wanted to meet those expectations.Since it was my first appearance this season and I play as a forward, I needed to deliver results individually, so I think it was really good to have recorded at least one goal.
Q,How do you feel about your performance, including defense from the front line and also achieving an assist?
A, Of course, being able to provide an assist was good, but after coming on midway, I got pretty exhausted from defending, and I wish I had positioned myself more behind to become a starting point for the attack.That was expected of me, and I think I need to keep improving in that area. There was also a chance to score a goal, so since it was a match where I could have had 1 goal and 1 assist, I am not satisfied at all. I believe I could have made the game more reassuring for everyone, so I want to practice more and refine my skills further.
Q,Were you aiming for that assist play?
A, well, I was aiming for Nagakura (laughs). When I had the ball and looked inside,Nagakura was there, so it looked better to pass backward than sideways. When I sent it there, Ryū Satō was there, so I think it turned out well. However, this is also one of our attacking patterns, and I want to increase such opportunities.
Q. Please give a message for the next match.
A. As the fans and supporters sang chants after the match, we absolutely cannot lose to Verdy. Having grown up in the academy, I have the spirit of never losing to Verdy in my blood, so first, I want to rest well and prepare thoroughly. Personally, I definitely want to score goals, so I will prepare well to contribute to the team's victory and achieve good results for myself.
