<Match Review>
The league was interrupted during the national team's activity period, and Tokyo faced Fuji University, the representative of Iwate Prefecture, in the 2nd round of the Emperor's Cup.
The team was composed mainly of players who have played long minutes in the league. In goal, Go HATANO. The defense line consists of Hotaka NAKAMURA on the right, Yasuki KIMOTO in the center, Masato MORISHIGE on the left, and Ryoya OGAWA on the right. In the anchor position is Keigo HIGASHI, who was also used in the league match against Shimizu S-Pulse. In the inside half positions are Ryoma WATANABE and Shuto ABE. Up front, Keita YAMASHITA is playing as center forward, with Kensuke NAGAI on the right wing and Adailton on the left wing.
The match progresses with Tokyo holding the ball and Fuji University defending and aiming for a counterattack. From the beginning, they push the opponent back from the sides and create scenes where Yamashita player brings the ball to the post play and shoots, but they are unable to hit the target. Tokyo has more room in the ball game compared to the league match, but they have to watch for the timing of the attack by changing sides through the center back against the opponent who slides quickly towards the ball side.
In the 24th minute of the first half, Kimoto headed Ogawa's free kick in front of the goal, but the shot hit the post. In the 26th minute of the first half, Adailton used his strong physicality to dribble past one, then two opponents and took a shot in the penalty area, but it was blocked. Although they held onto the ball, they struggled to penetrate deep into the opponent's territory. However, in the 36th minute of the first half, Adailton made a chance after breaking through. He made a run on the left side and entered the penalty area, then passed backwards along the goal line. Nakamura, who was positioned in front of the goal, used his body to leave the ball for Watanabe, who calmly slotted it in while watching the position of the player covering the goal.
In the 43rd minute of the first half, Adailton, who received a side change from the right side, was fouled in the left end of the penalty area while trying to dribble past the defender with a floated ball, earning a penalty kick. Adailton himself confidently converted the penalty kick, extending the lead just before the end of the first half.
At half-time, Yuki KAJIURA was substituted for Nagai and Watanabe was moved to the right wing. In the 10th minute of the second half, they were threatened with a counter-attack when a long ball was used to exploit space, but the shot from the left side was off target. In the 13th minute of the second half, Yamashita received a pass while facing the goal in a gap in the defense line, but his one-touch shot went straight to the opposing goalkeeper. In the 14th minute of the second half, Adailton broke through and passed between the opposing goalkeeper and defender, but Yamashita narrowly missed the ball as he dove in. Watanabe picked up the ball on the opposite side and attempted a looping shot, but it also narrowly missed to the left of the goal.
In the 17th minute of the second half, Kazuya KONNO was substituted for YAMASHITA and Kashif BANGNAGANDE was substituted for OGAWA. In the 18th minute of the second half, KASHIF was able to break through the marker on the left side and cross the ball. Adailton was able to get away from the defender with a one-touch, but his shot went wide to the left of the goal. In the 35th minute of the second half, Kojiro YASUDA was sent onto the pitch in place of WATANABE. In the 43rd minute of the second half, Adailton took a powerful shot from the center of the goal, but was unable to find the back of the net. Despite creating multiple opportunities to score in the final minutes of the game, they were unable to break through the strong defense of Fuji University. However, they were able to maintain their lead from the first half and advance to the 3rd round.
The 3rd Round will take place on June 22nd (Wednesday) in Nagasaki, where we will face off against V-Varen Nagasaki.
[Interview with Coach Albert]
Q, please review the game.
A, For us, it was an important match to continue growing. We played with the aim of dominating the game and creating many decisive chances. Throughout the game, we were able to create numerous opportunities and dominate the game for the full 90 minutes.
The remaining improvement point is that despite creating so many decisive chances, we only scored two goals. If we don't have the finishing power even while creating chances, there is a danger that the game will become even more difficult if the opponent scores.
However, there were also many positive aspects. Keigo HIGASHI showed great play for 90 minutes. Kashif BANGNAGANDE also showed his strengths well.
You may doubt it, but for us, it was one of the most difficult matches of the season. In that sense, I would like to praise the opposing team. I also told the opposing players directly after the match, but they were bold and brave in expressing what they should do as young players. I also want to praise their play today in that regard. It was because they were playing boldly and wonderfully that our fans and supporters gave them a warm round of applause.
Q, please tell us about the significance of this match and its position, focusing on the key players.
A, Regardless of the opponent team, we must continue to grow. In that sense, I thought it was a very important match for us to grow, and I conveyed that message to the players. (If we continue this style) After a few years, if the team has grown, we will have to convey the message to the players, "Don't relax against college students." However, we are not in a mature state yet, and we are still a team that needs to continue to grow. That's why I conveyed the message to the players to connect today's match to our growth.
Q, It was said that the match against Fuji University was one of the most difficult matches of this season. What specific aspects were difficult?
A, Today's match was one of the difficult matches. The opposing team had nothing to lose. I believe that in order to surpass the opponent, we must play with the same intensity. As college students, we have nothing to lose and it was expected that they would come out with high intensity. Despite facing such opponents, we were able to create chances, but it is also possible that we could not score. If the scoreless situation continues for a long time, it becomes a nervous situation. In that sense, I think it was a difficult match. However, our players were focused and understood the difficulty of this match and played accordingly. I would like to commend the players for their performance.
In today's match, we could see even better coordination in the attacking side than before. Through today's match, we believe that the team has grown even more. Today, (Go) HATANO, who guarded the goal, also made fantastic plays. He is one of the young players with great potential who may carry this club and this country in the future. Although he is still young, he proves himself to be a mature player every time he steps onto the pitch. (Keigo) HIGASHI played like a brother of Busquets.
[Player Interview]
Ryoma WATANABE
Q, I think today's position was inside half. What were the differences from when you were wide?
A, defensive aspect. I was conscious of the position when going to get the ball from the front and the way to press, which is completely different from the wide position. Also, I was conscious of playing behind the opponent.
Q, In the first half, it seemed like the team as a whole was not quite clicking. What do you think was the difficulty in getting into the game and where do you think the problem lies?
A. At this stage (immediately after the match), I haven't been able to sort out what wasn't working well, but overall, there was a sense of distance and there were times when the ball got stuck with the side back when we were passing it around in the back. I'm reflecting on whether my positioning was bad or if the distance between me and player Nagai was too far, and what I should have prioritized in my play selection.
Q, how do you feel about winning the first game despite the challenging match?
A, From before the match, everyone knew that this would be a difficult game, so it was important to approach it with the right mindset. Even if we couldn't score 5 or 6 points, the most important thing was to win this game, and we were able to do that because we all had a shared understanding. That was a good point.
Q, please review the goal scene.
A, I missed my first touch and couldn't shoot at the timing I wanted, but if we can score more scrappy goals like that, I feel like our goal count will increase. So I want to keep aiming for goals.
Kashif BANGNAGANDE
Q, How did you prepare for the first match of the Emperor's Cup, which I think will be difficult?
In the Emperor's Cup last season, we lost to Juntendo University in the first round, so we have been conscious of winning for the past week, and it was good that it led to results. (Ryoya OGAWA) It was Ryoya's last game at Ajinomoto. Since I returned from injury, I have been in and out of the team, but it was a game I really wanted to play because it was Ryoya's last game and we lost to Juntendo University last season. It was a game against fellow university students, so I really wanted to play. I had a knee injury a week ago and rested for a while, but I was able to play with Ryoya as a substitute, which was good. I had a chance to assist and I'm really disappointed that we couldn't score in the end. I want to push forward from here.
Q, What do you focus on during training, even with injuries?
From coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA, I have been told to take on challenges even if I make mistakes. In our regular practices, he demands that we "show our strengths" and since I believe my strength is in attacking, there is no point in me playing as a side back if I cannot make a difference in the attacking aspect compared to other players. That's why I have nothing to lose and I entered the game with the mindset of taking on challenges.
Q, What was the difference between last season's Emperor's Cup battle?
A, Last season, there were chances in the game, but we couldn't finish them and ended up conceding, which gave the impression of being dragged into extra time. This season, we have been able to go forward aggressively from the beginning, and it would have been better if we could have scored more goals, but our finishing has gradually improved, including in league matches, and as a result, the team's form has also improved. I think that finishing was the key difference from last season.
Q, My strength is in the attacking aspect, and today I also felt the potential in crosses. How do you plan to coordinate with the players coming into the goal area?
A, From our regular training, when I actively cross the ball, my teammates also take a position thinking "this kind of ball will come". Today, when I looked up, I made eye contact with Adailton. I think this is the result of my challenges in training and everyone working together. Today, I also took corner kicks, but if we continue to focus on crossing balls in our regular training, it will lead to assists in actual matches.
<Yuki KAJIURA>
Q, How was it looking back on it, even though it was against college students?
A, immediately after playing in the game, there were several scenes where I was able to turn well with a pass from Higashi and give a through pass to Yamashita. However, I made a lot of mistakes after that, so I want to improve. Personally, it was a frustrating game because I wanted to continue my first play.
Q, What was your intention when you entered the game in the second half?
A, I played as an inside half, so I was conscious of fulfilling my role and making runs behind the opponent. However, I realized painfully in today's match that I lacked intensity, so I think I need to do more in that aspect.
Q, How was the opponent team that also connected the ball?
I think it was necessary to control the way I press while talking with the surrounding players. I want to watch the play of Abe and Matsuki again and re-recognize how much intensity I need to raise and work on it from practice.
Q, I think we were definitely able to convert our chances into goals as a team.
A, it is important to score goals reliably, and I want to be able to take more goals from various positions.
Q, I think we were actively involved with the ball.
A, I made a few mistakes. They were simple mistakes when going to receive the ball, and I think it's a position where I have to eliminate mistakes, so I want to improve in that area.
Q, What kind of preparations do you want to make for the next game?
A, I have been watching from the outside for a long time, and this time I was able to play in the game and feel that I still have a long way to go. I want to increase the intensity from practice to reach the level where I can play in the league and be ready for any game.
