<Match Review>
After a break for national team activities, Tokyo had been struggling to secure a win since the league resumed. However, in the previous match, they were able to defeat Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 3-0, marking their first win in 4 league matches and gaining confidence in their performance. In the third match of back-to-back games with only 3 days of rest, they will face Urawa Reds away. In their previous match in the first half of the season, both teams were unable to score and it ended in a 0-0 draw, making this a crucial match for Tokyo to secure consecutive wins.
Diego Oliveira, who came on as a substitute in the previous match, was selected as a starter and Ryoma Watanabe was placed on the right wing, with Leandro on the left wing. Yuki Kajiura also made his second consecutive start following his league debut in the previous match. The young inside half combination of Kuryu Matsuki and Yuki Kajiura was supported by anchor Keigo Higashi.
1st HALF - Matsuki's powerful FK hits the post
The start of the game saw Urawa holding onto the ball for a long time, while Tokyo quickly switched between offense and defense and pressed towards Urawa's goal once they gained possession. Diego's chasing from the front line was also effective, and in the 3rd and 8th minutes of the first half, he managed to steal the ball in a high position and launch a short counter attack, but was unable to finish. In the 11th minute, a back pass resulted in a mistake, and Urawa received a counter attack, with Atsuki ITO taking a powerful shot from just outside the right side of the goal, but Jakub SLOWIK made a sharp reaction and deflected the ball.
As time passes, the development becomes clearer. Urawa holds the ball and enters the Tokyo territory with a build-up, while Tokyo sets up their defense and then uses players such as Diego and Leandro to launch a quick attack without wasting time after stealing the ball.
There were no major developments in the game, but the score unexpectedly changed in the 31st minute of the first half. During the build-up with Yasuki KIMOTO and Kajiura, there was a lack of coordination and Yuki MATSUO was able to steal the ball and enter the penalty area. A ground cross was put in front of the goal line, and David MOBERG, who was free on the far side, was closed down and allowed the first goal.
Tokyo, who had been struggling to create chances in the flow of the game, finally found an opportunity through a set piece. In the 40th minute of the first half, Leandro was fouled and earned a free kick from about 25 meters in front of the goal. After Leandro's feint, Matsuki took a shot with his left foot, curving it sharply to the left. It was a powerful strike that the opposing goalkeeper couldn't even move for, but unfortunately it hit the left post and couldn't find the back of the net.
2nd HALF - No comeback, 2 goals conceded
Tokyo made a substitution during halftime. Kazuya KONNO was brought on for Kajiura and Watanabe was moved to inside half.
Tokyo, who wants to change the flow, has been pressed by Urawa since the start of the second half and pushed back into their own half. In the 5th minute of the second half, they were pushed back and the ball was taken in the opposite direction, causing a delay in putting pressure on the player Ito, who then scored a middle shot into the left corner of the goal, widening the gap.
In the 9th minute of the second half, an accident occurred. Diego TABA, who was chasing a pass to the space, tripped on the turf and was unable to get up, and was replaced by Keita YAMASHITA. In the 20th minute of the second half, YAMASHITA left the ball in the front line with a post-play, and Leandro took a powerful middle shot, but was blocked by the opponent's goalkeeper's defense.
As the time holding the ball increases, the defense is broken at the timing of "the counterattack starts from here". In the 25th minute of the second half, Moberg player escaped into the space behind the left side and used Osaka player who entered the support in the penalty area. Osaka player chose a pass instead of a shot, and Okubo Tomoaki player scored the third goal for Urawa. As they push forward for the counterattack, they are targeted for the space behind in the late second half and create scoring opportunities. In the 40th minute of the second half, Mawatari player reacted to Osaka player's middle range pass and created a one-on-one scene with Slowik player, but the shot missed to the left of the goal and nothing happened.
Tokyo, who never gave up the counterattack, aimed for a goal with Leandro's middle shot and Konno's cut-in shot even after entering additional time, but both were blocked by the opponent's goalkeeper. There were some scenes where they approached the Urawa goal in the open game, but they couldn't break through the opponent and ended the game with no goals.
MATCH DETAILS
＜F.C.Tokyo＞
STARTING XI
GK Jakub SLOWIK
DF Yuto NAGATOMO (21st minute: Junya SUZUKI)/Yasuki KIMOTO/Masato MORISHIGE/Kashif BANGNAGANDE (40th minute: Shin OKAZAKI)
MF Kuryu MATSUKI/Keigo HIGASHI (21st minute: Manato SHINADA)/Yuki KAJIURA (0th minute: Kazuya KONNO)
FW Ryo WATANABE/Diego OLIVEIRA (11th minute: Keita YAMASHITA)/Leandro
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
MF Kojiro YASUDA
GOAL
―
Urawa Reds
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Shusaku NISHIKAWA
DF Hiroki SAIKI/Takuya IWANAMI (32nd minute: Tetsuya CHINEN)/Alexander SCHULTZ/Ayumu OHATA (21st minute: Kazuaki MAWATARI)
MF Davi MOBELG/Ken IWAO/Atsuki ITO/Tomoaki OKUBO (40th minute: Takahiro SEKINE)
FW Yoshiho KOIZUMI (21st minute: Makoto ESAKA)/Yusuke MATSUO (21st minute: Takahiro AKIMOTO)
SUBS
GK Zion SUZUKI
MF Yuichi HIRANO
GOAL
First half 31 minutes: Möbelg/Second half 5 minutes: Ito/Second half 25 minutes: Yu OKUBO
[Interview with Coach Albert]
Q, please review the game.
A, Currently, the team is facing a difficult situation due to many injured players. We faced today's match in such a state. Regarding the first half, I think we had control of the game for a long time. However, there were mistakes made by young players who were given a chance to play. It is natural for young players to make mistakes, but I am very disappointed that we conceded a goal from our own mistake.
I think that allowing the first goal had a big impact on the subsequent game development. From the second half, we started with more courage and aimed to actively attack the opponent's goal with bold plays. However, as you know, Urawa has a team of high-quality players. Unfortunately, we lost the game today, but I think the players gave their all. In that sense, I am proud of our young players.
We highly appreciate the attitude of the players who fought for victory even when they were losing the game, and we have conveyed this to the players as well. Despite the increasing number of injured players and the team's situation not being as expected, the players fought hard. We have a home game next week. We believe that accumulating points in home games will be crucial for us in the future.
Q, Urawa lined up four players on the front line, which I think limited Tokyo's passing. How did you instruct them to break through that?
A, I do not perceive that I was given a good press. There may have been times when I was given a more difficult press depending on the situation, but we also lost the ball due to our own mistakes. I think we made a very simple mistake ourselves.
Q, First half, I think we entered the game with a 4-4-2 formation, but was it a measure against Hiroki SAKAI, who was on the opposite side, to place Matsuki on the left side half? Also, I think it was difficult to change the system in 3 days, but was it a measure that we had prepared for?
A, I did not take this position with the intention of focusing on player Sakai. By taking that position based on the players who can currently play, I thought that the team could bring out a better performance, so I let them take that position. When defending, we started the game with a position like 4-4-1-1 in mind. I never make a game plan by focusing on a specific opponent player.
Today, I am very proud that (Matsuki) Kuryu, who has recently graduated from high school, has shown a wonderful performance against high-quality players.
[Player Interview]
<Keita YAMASHITA>
Q, please review the game despite playing due to an accident.
A, it was a game we wanted to win even though it was an away game. We were left behind in points, but personally, I wanted to score.
Q, I think it was a situation where chances were few and far between.
A, I think it will change depending on the game. In a tough situation like today, I always feel like I have to score even with few chances.
Q, Was there a chance from Suzuki's early cross, were you aiming for that?
A, I have been training with Matsuki player on a daily basis, and before today's game, we also discussed our image when we played together. While following the team concept, I think that if we can create such situations when things don't go well, it will expand the team's attacking options.
Q, it was my first appearance in a while, but I felt like my condition was good.
Whether starting or coming off the bench, we have to produce results. Especially in cases like today, when coming off the bench, we have to be determined and change the team.
Q, please share your enthusiasm for the upcoming home match against Iwata.
A, It is a time when the team is not getting good results, but we want to make good preparations to win.
<Junya SUZUKI>
Q, how was it to come on as a substitute while chasing from behind?
A, going from the front at the defensive position and intentionally taking the ball before attacking, it's not like it didn't happen, but I think if we could have done it more, we could have created chances in the usual way, like a short counter. It's not that someone is to blame, but I think it's just a matter of each individual's misalignment.
Coming in from the middle, there were times when I felt the flow of Tokyo and I think there were moments where the flow could have changed if we were able to score even just one goal. In terms of defense, each individual did not slack off, but as a team, we need to figure out how to take the ball and improve the quality of our final passes and shots on a personal level.
Q, There is also a style of breaking down while connecting as a team, but I think that simple forms can also become options for attack, as seen in the early cross from Suzuki to the heading shot by Yamashita.
A, I have strengths in kicking and crossing, so I was especially determined to score at least one point in today's game, which we were losing. There was also player Yamashita, who is strong in crosses, so I was actively trying to make them. I think it would have been great if we could have connected once, so I want to continue improving the quality and focusing on the center.
Q, we will return home next week.
A, We couldn't win today even though many fans and supporters came to support us, so I think the fans and supporters have even more desire to win. We want to receive that power and give our own power to share the joy of victory at Ajinomoto Stadium.
