Match Review
At Ajinomoto Stadium,FC Tokyo welcomes FC Machida Zelvia for the “new opening” of the autumn-spring calendar. The 2026/27 Meiji Yasuda J1 League season begins here.
Before the match, Yuto NAGATOMO held a press conference and announced that he had extended his contract with the Blue and Red.His future had been the subject of attention following the FIFA World Cup 2026™, but he said, “FC Tokyo is a club I love; it feels like home. I came back to win titles,but I have not been able to bring anything to the club. I want to fight to lift the trophy here.” It was decided that the No. 5 would rejoin the team as a member once again.
Just before kickoff, he also stood pitchside and personally announced to the fans and supporters his decision to continue playing and his determination to win the title. A banner behind the goal read, “Yuto Nagatomo, we won’t let you retire until you win the title,” and after his greeting, Nagatomo volunteered to lead the chants, shouting, “Tokyo is everything!” The chant, “Give it your passion! Seize the title!” rang throughout the stadium, passionately rallying the blue-and-red eleven for the crucial season opener.
For the opening match, the team made one change from the international friendly against Borussia Dortmund the previous week. Kim Seung-gyu started in goal, while the back four, from right to left, comprised Sei MUROYA, Alexander SCHOLZ, Hayato INAMURA, and Kento HASHIMOTO. Kento HASHIMOTO and Koyo TAKAO formed the double pivot, with Keisuke SATO on the right and Kota TAWARATSUMIDA on the left in attack. Marcelo Ryan and Motoki NAGAKURA partnered up front. Shuto NAGANO, who had returned from a developmental loan, as well as new signings Hirokazu ISHIHARA and Shion HOMMA, were also named among the substitutes.
After the half-season, the new season begins with “the title” once again set as the goal. First, Tokyo will want to take all three points from Machida at home and build momentum for a fast start. The opening match in the height of summer drew a large crowd of 36,336 to the hot and humid Ajinomoto Stadium, kicking off at 7:05 p.m.
1st—An Early Lead, but Reduced to Ten Men and Overturned
With both teams targeting the title, the match began with an aggressive approach from the opening whistle. As play swung rapidly from attack to defence, it was the Blue and Red who struck first.
In the 5th minute, Kim's goal kick found Jean, who used his body well to turn forward. Sato then headed the ball on, and Jean fired it through the opposing goalkeeper's legs to open the scoring! The No. 9 struck Tokyo's first goal of the 2026/27 season in lightning-quick fashion, giving the team an ideal early lead.
Tokyo continued to control the game. In the 14th minute of the first half,Hian latched onto Muroya's long through ball and calmly lifted a one-touch finish into the net, but it was ruled out for offside. The decision stood after VAR review, and the second goal was not awarded.
Building their attack from the back line, Tokyo looked to draw the opposition in before supplying long balls into space up front, aiming to create effective runs from their attackers. They increasingly pinned Machida back and linked short passes around the penalty area, restricting the visitors' freedom while spending longer periods of the game in the opposition half.
In the 22nd minute of the first half, after an exchange of passes on the left, Hian received the ball centrally and moved it to the right. Muroya then again threaded a vertical pass into the middle, and Hian broke through and fired a shot, but his decisive effort was denied by a fine save from the opposing goalkeeper, preventing Tokyo from extending their lead.
With their strong spell continuing, Tokyo were eager to score a second goal quickly. However, in the 27th minute of the first half,they failed to mark Nakayama, who had overlapped from the back line, and Duke headed home a cutback from the near zone after Nakayama had broken through. The match was back level. It was a regrettable moment, especially as they had dealt well with the opposition's crosses up to that point.
In the 38th minute of a closely contested first half,Hashimoto Ken went in with a sliding tackle to win a loose ball andwas shown a straight red card. Reduced to 10 men, Tokyo brought on Ishihara at left-back in place of Nagakura in the 42nd minute of the first half. With Ko positioned as the anchor, Hashimoto Ken and Tawara Tsumita as the inside midfielders, and Sato pushed up front, Tokyo set out to chase victory in a 4-3-2 formation.
In the seven minutes of first-half stoppage time, Tokyo were pinned back in their own half by the opposition's long ball, and Akimoto capitalized on an opening created as the players were turned around inside the penalty area to score. Tokyo conceded the lead.
The first half endedwith the score at 1-2. The question was how Tokyo, a man down, could mount a comeback to level the match and then take the lead. In the second half,they would need the mentality to keep fighting without giving up and the clinical finishing to make the most of their limited chances.
2nd―Tokyo push forward butconcede another goal and suffer defeat
Desperate to turn the tide and claim victory in the season opener, Tokyo head coach Rikizo Matsuhashi replaced Tawaratsumida with Rio Omori at the start of the second half,adopting an improvised 3-4-2 system. Omori, Schulz and Inamura lined up in the back three, with Kento Hashimoto and Takahashi in central midfield; Muroya played at right wing-back and Ishihara at left wing-back, while Hian and Sato formed the front two.
Despite the hastily assembled system, Tokyo sought to launch attacks with greater numbers as both stoppers attempted to overlap like full-backs. On set-piece defense, everyone dropped back into their own half, demonstrating their determination not to concede any further goals. However, in the 51st minute, Soma scored directly from a free kick, dealing a painful blow as Tokyo conceded another goal to make it 1-3.
In addition to being a player down,Tokyo found themselves in a difficult situation, trailing by two goals. But they had to respond to the passion of the fans and supporters who continued singing their hearts out. That determination began to show on the pitch. While Scholz drove forward boldly with the ball and took a shot, Ishihara powered up the left flank and delivered a sharp left-footed cross. Taka won possession high up the pitch, cut back past his opponentand fired a shot.
Tokyo looked to find a way back through further substitutions, but in the 65th minute, just as they were preparing a double change, Machida's Yengi broke through to score their fourth goal, extending the lead to three. Yamada and Homma then came on to replace Hian and Hashimoto.
In the 35th minute of the second half, Tokyo conceded again from a corner kick, making it 1-5. Determined to show some pride, Yamada met Ishihara's cutback with his left foot, but his effort agonizingly struck the left post.
For their final substitution, in the 40th minute of the second half,Teruhito NAKAGAWA came on in place of Inamura, adding another attacker as Tokyo sought to show their fighting spirit. However, they were unable to find a goal back even during the five minutes of added time, and the final whistle sounded as their frustration continued to mount.
From the opening whistle, the entire team played the football they had intended, creating numerous chances and taking the lead. However, after being reduced to ten men, the course of the match changed completely, and they ended up losing their opening game by an unexpected scoreline.
But just as the supporters behind the goal raised their voices once again to spur the team on as time ran out, the team must reset mentally and continue fighting positively. The league season has only just begun. Using this frustration as motivation, FC Tokyo will demonstrate its resilience and fight once again as one in blue and red. It was an opening match that renewed that resolve.
Interview with Manager Rikizo MATSUHASHI
Q: Please give us your overall assessment of the match.
A: I think it was a very difficult start for us. There were positive aspects early on, but we conceded far too soon. We had considered several countermeasures, but after going down to 10 men, we were punished before they could take hold within the team. Of course, there were issues with tactics, the system, and matchups, but not only did we concede goals that directly reflected our numerical disadvantage, we also conceded repeatedly from set pieces, which made the game even more difficult. It is disappointing that we were ultimately unable to fight back from there. However, the players never gave up until the end and played diligently in response to what was asked of them. The encouragement we received after the match from all the fans and supporters who came to the stadium today has also given us energy to move forward. We want to show that properly in the next game.
Q: You switched to a back three in the second half and also changed the shape of the front line. What was the intention behind that?
A: The idea was for the wing-backs to push forward aggressively while keeping the middle tightly closed, and then win the ball from there. However, early on, our spacing and the coordination over who would tuck in and step out in midfieldwere not working particularly well. As those aspects gradually improved, we changed to that shape with the aim of creating more numbers on the flanks: the wing-backs joining the attack and pushing forward, and one of the three center-backs also advancing whenever the opportunity arose.
Q: From early on, Marcelo Ryan made several runs in behind and created chances.There were also some offside calls, but was that type of attacking play working as intended?
A: We felt that we could exploit the space behind the opposition at the moment their defensive line shifted due to vertical gaps and the movement of their wing-backs. Our players performed very well in that regard, and I think we executed our plan effectively. On the other hand, because we were able to progress, there were times when we rushed in a little too quickly and lost the ball. If we could keep possession, move the opposition around, and play in more sustained attacking positions, I think we could have produced even better attacks.
Q: Before the match, Yuto NAGATOMO's contract extension was announced, and he will be fighting alongside the team again this season. In difficult situations like today, I believe a presence like Nagatomo can have an impact on the team. Once again, what do you expect from him this season?
A: I believe his strengths will undoubtedly become strengths for the club. He was not able to make an impact during the match today, but before the match, he helped lift the atmosphere in the stadium and spoke to the players, making an immediate contribution. It is disappointing that we were unable to repay that with a result. From here, I think he will improve his condition and compete properly for a position. As he has done until now—and even more so—I want him to continue contributing to the team.
Player Interview
YoTakae
Q: Looking back on today’s match, how do you assess it?
A: From the start of the match, while we were playing with 11 men, we all felt reasonably goodabout our performance. We talked about that after the match as well, and we had chances to score another goal. I think not taking those chances was the whole story. After we had a player sent off, there were still things we could have done better, but I think conceding when we did weighed heavily on us mentally.
Q: The opening stages were end-to-end, but you took the lead with a well-worked move. How did you feel about the way the team played early on?
A: We had been focused on how to start matches throughout the training camp, so I think we got off to a good start. With Marcelo Ryan and Keiin Sato, for example, we were very conscious of making runs in behind. We used that space well, and it led to goals and chances. I think there were some really good patterns of play. We also had many situations in build-up where we were able to beat the opposition effectively, and everyone felt confident about it.
Q. Including quick attacks down the field, were you able to create the patterns you had intended until the sending-off?
A. I think we were able to create the kind of patterns we had envisioned to a certain extent. There were also moments when we moved the ball according to plan. With the opposition closing off the inside, we were able to simply move the ball from the center-back to the full-back to bypass them and then break forward from there, so I think we did that well. We were well-balanced, including movements to come inside, and I felt there was potential for the future as well.
In a sense, conceding one goal was within our expectations, but the timing of it was not good. It felt like everyone's spirits were broken at that point, so we need to regroup. We also conceded once while we still had 11 players on the pitch, and we have been working on shifting across and dealing with crosses in training, so I think we need to do more if we want to win.
Q. You switched to a back three in the second half. Was that an improvised adjustment rather than something you had prepared?
A. Yes. Being a man down made it difficult, and it was not a system we had worked on in training. Some aspects went well, but we conceded three goals in the second half. Even if it was improvised, everyone needed to be on the same page, and when you are a man down, you simply have to run. I think there was more we could have done ourselves.
Q. The opening match ended in a difficult result, but after the game, I believe the fans and supporters conveyed their desire for the team to keep moving forward from here and aim for the title once again. How do you feel about that?
A. We played this kind of game in the opening match. If we are aiming high, this kind of result is absolutely not good enough, and we have to make sure we pick up points no matter the circumstances. We have clearly received the feelings of our fans and supporters. We will prepare again for the next match.
Hirokazu ISHIHARA
Q: You were suddenly called upon to play in the match. What was going through your mind as you played?
A: It was really sudden, so it was not as if I had made any particular preparations. First of all, I focused on defending and not conceding a goal, and then I came on without overthinking anything else.
Q: Even after conceding the second goal, you were seen clapping your hands to encourage the team. What was going through your mind?
A: We simply could not give up. Whether we were down to 10 men or not, we had to keep playing. It looked like there were opportunities—gaps we could exploit—and it would have been good if we had been able to take advantage of them, but things did not go our way and we conceded. Even so, I felt we had to keep going for the people who came to support us today. I think I was able to encourage the team, or rather show that attitude of saying, “Let’s do this together,” so that no one would lose the will to keep playing.
Q: Individually, you seemed to try to lead the team by example, such as carrying the ball forward and making passes. On the other hand, it did not seem to translate into momentum for the team as a whole. How do you see that?
A: Once we switched to a back five, it was difficult in terms of spacing, and it had also been a while since I last played on the left. There were quite a few noticeable instances where my lateral passes went astray. Even in difficult circumstances, I think we have to complete those passes, even when the distance is greater. When playing with 10 men, we need to be as precise as possible and run more than the opposition. I think we did put in the running, but perhaps it was not quite enough.
Q. With more defenders and fewer defensive midfielders, the balance of the system and positioning changed, which I imagine made things difficult. How did it feel on the pitch?
A. I think probably none of us were very used to playing in that shape. We talked about how far the wing-backs should push forward and when they should go, but if we were going to hold out, we needed to decide more clearly whether to form a more solid block. We should have communicated more and made those things clearer. It was an unusual shape, so there were difficulties, but I think it will help us going forward. Having played with ten men today, I think everyone now understands what we should do if we find ourselves in a similar situation again.
Q: What did the players talk about among themselves after the match?
A: It was only the first match, so we talked about putting this behind us and moving forward. Another match is coming up soon. We do not blame anyone for the result of the match; we want to keep looking ahead and continue supporting one another as a team.
Q. With competition for the full-back positions becoming even more intense, how do you view having been given an opportunity to play today?
A. Results are everything, and conceding this many goals today led to a poor result for the team. More important than any individual performance is what we need to do next to win the title as a team. I do not think in terms of, “I played in that match,” and I also believe it is my role to help create an atmosphere in which everyone can stay positive and move forward together. I want to keep focusing firmly on those things.
Q. Competition for places is extremely fierce. How are you approaching that competition?
A. I came here to compete, so I am really enjoying it. The players each have different characteristics, and I think we have top-level players who can play in the J1 League no matter who is selected. I think it can really drive my own growth, and it will also be a very interesting competition.
Q: I think this competition can further accelerate your growth. What do you feel you need to work on now, or what aspects of your game would you like to develop?
A: I can play on both the left and right, so first of all I want to show that I can perform well on the left too. Of course, I think an opportunity will come on the right as well, and when it does, I want to fully show my greatest strengths and what I can do. Rather than trying to develop something new from now, I want to prepare myself so that I can fully showcase my strengths. I felt I had prepared well today too, and although I played on the left, I did not feel like I could not get into the game. I want to keep approaching things positively in that respect.
Q: What do you think the team will need from here in order to win the title?
A: We have a lot of young players, so first, the more experienced players need to lead the way. And it comes down to how strongly the younger players and those who are not captain can feel, “I’ll lead the team.” In terms of footballing ability, we have a very good group of players. That is why the mental side, the mentality, is so important. For example,Kashima Antlers have a winner's mentality that lets them believe, “We can win,” no matter how many goals they concede. I think that is what we need.
