<Match Review>
Two weeks have passed since the blue and red warriors thrived in the match against SANGA in the National Stadium in September. The league was interrupted due to the Japan national team's European tour, during which the team has been "adjusting the details of tactics" (Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA). Then, on October 1, they faced Kashima Antlers in an away game. There are 5 matches left this season. This is an important final five that can be seen as the culmination of Albert's first year in charge. The match against Kashima marks the start of that.
1st HALF――Gradually gaining pace, closing in on the Kashima goal
This match is without captain Masato MORISHIGE due to suspension. This season, there is an unpleasant statistic of 1 win and 4 losses in league matches without MORISHIGE. Seiji KIMURA will partner with Yasuki KIMOTO as center-backs. Expectations are high for the performance of the young center-back who returned to Tokyo from Montedio Yamagata this summer.
In the early stages, the intense defense from Kashima put pressure on the build-up play of players Kimoto and Kimura, making it difficult for them to function effectively. During the first five minutes after kickoff, they were almost pushed back into their own half, allowing Kashima to take control from the start.
Tokyo's first shot came in the 12th minute of the first half. Leandro, who picked up a pass mistake from Kashima in enemy territory in a match against his former club, aimed for the goal with his right foot, but it went just outside the left post. However, from then on, Tokyo gradually began to create opportunities to penetrate the opponent's territory.
Kashima is based on a 4-3-1-2 formation, applying pressure on Tokyo with two forwards and three attacking midfielders, while the three defensive midfielders solidify the central area in their defensive shape. Tokyo often had their passes to the central area intercepted by the opponent, but conversely, they began to create opportunities on both flanks to exploit the gaps in the enemy's formation.
There were scenes where Hotaka NAKAMURA and Ryoma WATANABE combined to penetrate into the Kashima territory from the right side, and Kuryu MATSUKI flowed to the left side from the central midfield, creating opportunities to attack high positions with Kashif BANGNAGANDE and Leandro.
In the 28th minute of the first half, Matsuki broke free from Kimoto's long feed and aimed for the goal with his right foot. Furthermore, in the 31st minute of the first half, Leandro took a left-footed shot after a one-two with Diego OLIVEIRA. In the 36th minute of the first half, Diego OLIVEIRA took a middle-range shot after a dribble, and in the 44th minute of the first half, Leandro took a shot after stealing the ball from Kashima with high pressing, but none of them found the back of the net. Despite getting close to the Kashima goal, they ended the first half without scoring.
2nd HALF――Intense defense, and finally a dramatic winning goal
In the early part of the second half, it was Tokyo's pace. However, in the 11th minute of the second half, a momentary gap was exploited by Kashima, allowing Suzuki to break free, but at this moment, Kimura calmly intervened to clear the ball, averting the crisis.
Immediately after the play, Kashif BANGNAGANDE's left-foot feed found Watanabe running in front of the goal. He aimed for a left-foot shot after a chest trap... but unfortunately, he couldn't make contact with the ball and missed a great scoring opportunity.
In the 14th minute of the second half, there was a connection between Leandro → Diego OLIVEIRA → Leandro, resulting in a shot. This was denied by a great save from Kashima's goalkeeper Hayakawa.
In the 20th minute of the second half, coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA brought in Shuto ABE and Adailton. Then, two minutes later, Adailton took a control shot from his favorite left 45-degree angle during a quick attack, but it went over the crossbar. Furthermore, Tokyo made another substitution in the 28th minute of the second half with Luiz PHELLYPE entering the pitch. PHELLYPE then took consecutive shots in the 30th and 36th minutes, accelerating the team's attack.
The match saw a back-and-forth battle between Kashima and Tokyo, but Tokyo had more opportunities to finish their attacks with solid shots. On the other hand, Kashima struggled to reach decisive moments despite their offensive efforts. This was largely due to Tokyo's defense, which displayed organized control at key moments, and individual players consistently putting in dedicated performances. On the right side, Nakamura did not lose out in duels, and Kimura effectively contested in front of the goal, ensuring that the opponents were not given any freedom.
And then, player Abe, who had increased the defensive intensity like them after coming on as a substitute, scores the long-awaited goal.
In the 36th minute of the second half, after picking up a second ball from the opponent's clearance, he struck a right-footed volley from mid-range. The ball grazed the outstretched hand of Kashima goalkeeper Hayakawa, who is also from Meiji University, and pierced the goal net. This became the 1,000th goal in J1 history for Tokyo, marking a memorable goal.
A moment of joy for all in Tokyo. From the bench, Yuto NAGATOMO and Go HATANO rushed to join the circle of joy, and in front of the supporters' stand that filled the away ground at Kashima Stadium, they finally performed a cradle dance for Junya SUZUKI, who recently welcomed his second child.
Tokyo maintained their defensive concentration and intensity without interruption until the final whistle. The dramatic final goal, of course, showcased the growth of player Kimura, who displayed tough defense in the absence of captain Morishige, as well as the comeback of player Nakamura, who had suffered from injuries for a long time. Additionally, the dedication of Kashif BANGNAGANDE, who tirelessly moved up and down the left side, contributed significantly to the team's victory, resulting in a satisfying three points.
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Jakub SLOWIK
DF Nakamura Hodaka/Yasuki KIMOTO/Seiji KIMURA/Kashif BANGNAGANDE
MF Koki TSUKAGAWA (substituted at 42 minutes: Yuto NAGATOMO)/Keigo HIGASHI/Kuou MATSUKI (substituted at 21 minutes: Shuto ABE)
FW Ryoma WATANABE (substituted at 42 minutes: Kazuya KONNO)/Diego OLIVEIRA (substituted at 21 minutes: Adailton)/Leandro (substituted at 28 minutes: Luiz PHELLYPE)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
DF / Junya SUZUKI
GOAL
39th minute of the second half Shuto ABE
<Kashima Antlers>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Tomoki HAYAKAWA
DF Rikuto HIROSE/Ikuma SEKIGAWA/Kento MISAO/Koki ANZAI
MF Yuta HIGUCHI (41st minute: Yuta MURAMATSU)/Shintaro NAGO (20th minute: Ryuji IZUMI)/Diego PITUCA
FW Hayato NAKAMA (13th minute: Ryotaro ARAKI)/Arthur CAIKE (39th minute: Everaldo)/Yuma SUZUKI
SUBS
GK Sun Tae KWOUN
DF Min Tae KIM
MF Shoma DOI
GOAL
-
[Interview with Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA]
Q, please review the game.
A, first of all, I think the first half was the most wonderful development of this season's matches. The players were performing excellently in terms of concept. They maintained possession of the ball, aimed for the goal, and played aggressively in defense. Each player made the right decisions during the flow of the game in the first half. We were able to create several decisive chances. As a coach, my constant goal is for the players to enjoy playing football. That was achieved in the first half. The players looked happy on the pitch, and there were even moments of smiles; I believe that was the kind of first half we had.
On the other hand, the second half became a more difficult development. Naturally, it is a match at the home of a great club. I did not expect things to progress easily. Today, I am pleased as a football official to have played in this wonderful stadium in front of the amazing Kashima Antlers supporters. I am also very grateful that many of our supporters from Tokyo came all the way here to cheer for us.
In the final stages of the match, Kuryu MATSUKI, who had been feeling unwell last night, needed to be substituted, and Shuto ABE came on and scored a wonderful goal. Additionally, Seiji KIMURA had just returned from a European tour with the U-21 Japan national team three days ago. Although it was a match right after his return, he played excellently. After scoring the goal, we anticipated that Kashima Antlers would play more directly towards the goal, so we changed our system to protect the match result and tried to finish the game. Yuto NAGATOMO had just returned from the Japan national team expedition two days ago, but his experience and intelligence on the pitch contributed to finishing the match. I believe that his contributions in such difficult situations are proof that he is a great player. I hope young players can learn a lot from Yuto NAGATOMO.
Q: What is your evaluation of Yuto NAGATOMO, who has returned from the national team?
Regarding Yuto NAGATOMO, I believe the numbers prove that he is great. Many people need to understand how difficult it is to not only belong to a top European club like Inter Milan for many years but also to continue playing there. His fourth World Cup appearance is just around the corner, and that is evidence of his greatness. I think you can understand how challenging it is to play in the World Cup four times on a global scale.
The most surprising thing about him was his reaction when I mentioned considering using him on the right side instead of the left side at the beginning of this season. I told him that I wanted him to play in a more central area as a full-back and to learn that. Many players of his age and experience might think, when pointed out something by the coach, 'What can you teach me? I can teach you about football.' However, he did not take such an arrogant attitude and responded differently. He possesses two crucial elements to become a great player. The first is a strong mentality, a strong commitment to winning. The second is a continuous willingness to learn. These two reasons are why he is a player that many young players should learn from. This is not only necessary for football players but also in life. Football and life are connected. What is needed in football is also important in life. Additionally, I would like to add that he is a wonderful person. Yuto NAGATOMO is truly a wonderful person.
[Player Interview]]
<Shuto ABE>
Q, please review today's goal.
It was a 0-0 situation, and I was thinking of striking with my right foot. This week, I had a good feeling during shooting practice, and when I took the shot, I felt I made good contact, so I’m glad it went in.
Q: What instructions did the coach give you when you came on as a substitute?
A, I was told that I want to see the intensity of play once again. Since that is also related to my strengths, I entered hoping to showcase my play.
Q: Was it difficult to come in from the bench, unlike starting in the lineup?
A, it was quite difficult to adjust to the intensity of the match when coming in midway, but since I was on the pitch, I couldn't make excuses, so I focused on running hard and maintaining the intensity while playing.
Q, wasn't it significant to score during that time with a 0-0 scoreline?
We were able to score at a good time, and it ended up being a situation where we had to defend at the end. However, being able to score at that moment relieved the team, and we were able to refocus afterward, which was good.
Many fans and supporters really came all the way to Kashima, and it was very reassuring. When we scored, we naturally shared our joy towards the goal area, and I believe today's victory was thanks to the fans and supporters.
Q: Today's match marked the 1000th goal in J1 history.
A, I just heard in the interview. I am very happy to have been able to make my mark in the history of FC Tokyo.
<Seiji KIMURA>
Q: How was it to participate in the match?
A, until now I have always been a substitute, and when I did play, it was only as a left wing-back in a three-back formation. There were no goals conceded during that time, but if I had conceded a goal during my playing time, I would not have been able to be used. Therefore, being able to play a full 90 minutes today without conceding a goal is a significant result for my future in football, and I believe it will greatly influence how I can contribute to the remaining four matches.
Q: I think it was a great test to fill the gap in the absence of player Morishige.
A, since my characteristics are different from Morishige's, it is necessary to fill the gap, but rather than thinking too much like Morishige, I entered the match with the intention of firmly showcasing my own characteristics and contributing to the team by maximizing what I can do.
Q: Throughout the 90 minutes, I think there were many tough players on the opposing team, such as Suzuki. How was it to compete against them?
A, after all, my strengths are in one-on-one situations and aerial battles, so I believe I must not lose to any opponent, regardless of who they are. I think I managed to handle that well. There is still a long way to go, but with the Paris Olympics coming up, I believe that if I can't perform well here, I won't be able to compete on the world stage, so in that sense, I think it was a good experience.
Q: I believe that the fans and supporters in Tokyo have understood how much strength player Kimura has gained since his return today.
Yes, that's right. I haven't had the opportunity to be seen by the fans and supporters in Tokyo for a year and a half, but I believe I have been able to clearly show what I have built up until now, so I want to continue fighting for the rest of the season in good condition.
Q: Do you think we can aim for the ACL spots in the remaining four matches?
The coach mentioned that it is important for us to play our own style of football and win. He talked about becoming a great team that will be remembered by many, so if we stick to our style and win consistently, I believe we will eventually make it into the ACL spots. I want the whole team to fight without being overly conscious of that goal.
<Kashif BANGNAGANDE>
Q: I think you were boldly crossing from the side, was there a specific aim behind it?
We knew that there would be space on the sides during the pre-match scouting. The coach also told us to exploit that space, and we targeted it from the first half. Although there were times when the crosses didn't go well, I think it was good that we were able to create shots from the rebounds of those crosses, and it went according to plan.
Q: How did you find the opponent's play while they were also valuing the ball?
There were moments when we were pushed back by the opponent, but since we were able to control the match from the first half, I believe we were able to proceed with the game without getting flustered.
Q: You were side by side with Kimura, how do you feel about the match in retrospect?
A, it was one of my goals after moving up to the top. Personally, the first match I watched in a stadium as a child was at Kashima Stadium, where Tokyo faced Kashima. Playing on the same side as player Kimura and keeping a clean sheet made it the best day ever.
Since we were playing on the same side, if we lost focus even a little, we would get caught out, so we communicated with each other during each play, and because we were able to repeat that, I think that was a factor in not breaking down defensively.
Q: What kind of encouragement did you give as you entered the second half?
In the first half, we played good football, and now we just need to focus on scoring goals. We discussed the importance of playing well in those crucial moments, and since we faced two dangerous situations, we talked about making adjustments in the finer details.
Q: What preparations do you want to make for the next match?
It is significant that we were able to secure 3 points away at Kashima, and we must win again next time; otherwise, the meaning of this victory will be lost. I believe whether we can continue this will determine if we can reach the ACL zone. I want to approach every match as if it is a Final Round, ensuring we achieve victory in the next home game.
<Hotaka NAKAMURA>
Q, please review the game.
Captain Morishige is suspended due to accumulated yellow cards, so Kimura will play, and I got the opportunity to play in place of Nagatomo, who returned from the national team. We talked before the match about how we would give our all in today's game, and as a team, we discussed playing our style of football to win, so I believe we were all able to play with great determination.
Q: It was an impressive match with one-on-one battles occurring in various places. I think there was a bit of a gap, but how was your condition?
A. This season has been challenging for me in various ways, but I was prepared to respond whenever my opportunity came, so my condition was not an issue. The opponent, player Anzai, was taking a high position and aggressively attacking, so I thought it was absolutely necessary for me to stop him. I believe it was good that we finished the match with zero goals conceded.
Q: I would like to see passionate play in the home match against Shonan. Please share your enthusiasm.
Whether as a starter or on the bench, I will continue to run for the team without wavering. I will do my best to celebrate with the fans and supporters at our home Ajinomoto.
<Yasuki KIMOTO>
Q, please review the game.
It was a good match where we were able to showcase our strengths from the first half, and I believe that ending in a draw versus winning by scoring one goal will contribute to our confidence moving forward, so I think it was a good victory.
Q: The match had a rapid transition between offense and defense from the first half.
A, the aim was not to defend by falling back, but to go and win the ball from the front. We knew the opponent would come at us from the front, so I felt that the use of long balls and short passes was particularly good in the first half, making it difficult for the opponent to catch us. Also, Seiji KIMURA did a great job of stopping the opponent, and since I didn't have many opportunities to play today, I want to express my gratitude to (KIMURA) Seiji.
Q: It seemed like you were also aiming to score from set plays.
Well, we couldn't convert our chances into goals, but if we can score from set pieces, I believe the matches will become easier, so I want to value set pieces as well.
Q: Many fans and supporters came out today. Please say a few words.
It was very good that we were able to rush to support all the way to distant Kashima and bring home a victory. We have two home games coming up, so we will switch gears and prepare, and we hope to receive your passionate support again.
<Diego OLIVEIRA>
Q, it was a wonderful victory.
It was clear from before the match that it would be a difficult game against an opponent with many high-level players. I am very happy that we were able to stick to our style of football and secure the three points.
Q: In the first half, there was a powerful play where Diego dribbled through the center area. Even with the roles within the team, I was very happy to see such plays from Diego.
Yes, I did get injured in January, and there are also tactical aspects where I have a defensive role. I haven't been able to show scenes like that much until now, but I am glad that I was able to play not just in that scene, but for the team's victory.
Q: I am looking forward to the goal in the Shonan match.
A, I haven't scored a goal in a long time, so I definitely want to do that, but there are always times like this, and it's precisely because I haven't scored that I'm working hard in practice. I feel the support and strength from the fans and supporters at the stadium, so I will do my best to score in the next match.
<Yuto NAGATOMO>
Q: You participated in the match as a closer.
A, I am relieved that I was able to finish strongly as 'Closer Nagatomo'.
Q: What role were you given by the coach to play in the match?
I was told that we should not concede goals and finish with a win, so I think that was good.
Q: You were also vocal from the bench in the first half.
A, we were able to control the game at our own pace because we were having a wonderful match from the first half, and I believe that the positional soccer that Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA is based on has been improving the team.
Q: What is needed to take another step up?
I would like to focus on the accuracy in the final attacking third and improve our scoring ability.
