<Match Review>
It's a big match with pride and determination on the line. The stadium, with a record-breaking 56,705 spectators, created an amazing atmosphere. Tokyo, who had lost two consecutive games, had Yuto Nagatomo, Yasuki Kimoto, Shuhei Tokumoto, and Keigo Higashi in the starting lineup. Teruhito Nakagawa, Ryoma Watanabe, and Diego Oliveira formed the front line as they aimed for a victory against Kawasaki Frontale at the home Japan National Stadium, hoping to break their 10-game losing streak against their arch-rivals.
1st HALF - Leading with 1 goal and 1 assist from Tokumoto
As the loud cheers of both teams' fans and supporters fill the air before the start of the match, the first half begins with Kawasaki's kickoff. Unlike the past two games where they suffered consecutive losses, Tokyo showed a calm start to the game and their defense was not putting pressure on Kawasaki's build-up play from the front, but rather taking a more cautious approach. In the opening minutes, there were a couple of close calls as Kawasaki's left back, Jean, was able to make diagonal passes freely, but Tokyo managed to withstand those moments and gradually gain control of the pace. And in the 12th minute of the first half, the stadium erupts with excitement as a superb goal is scored.
In the middle of the game, East player with the ball expands to the right side. Nagatomo's cross does not match with the player in the center and flows to the far side, but Tokumoto player picks it up and dodges the opponent with a deep cutback, and with his non-dominant right foot, he takes a powerful shot that pierces the side net.
In addition, in the 25th minute of the first half, they scored a long-awaited second goal from a brilliant flow. Diego TABA stole the ball in front of the area and passed it to Tokumoto, who ran up the left side while keeping the ball. Shuto ABE jumped in and pushed the ball into the goal from Tokumoto's ground cross.
The game continued at a steady Tokyo pace, with quick and intense defense in the midfield to constantly take the ball away from the opponent and maintain control. However, when Kawasaki was able to draw the rhythm, they were able to create scenes that ended in shots.
In the 37th minute of the first half, Yakubu Slowik made a decisive save to avoid a dangerous situation, but just 2 minutes later in the 39th minute, Miyashiro finally broke through and scored. However, Tokyo was able to regroup and maintain their one-point lead until the end of the first half. They spent a promising 45 minutes and headed to the locker room.
2ndHALF - Victory in the Tama River Clasico while maintaining the lead
In the second half, a play that will determine the flow of the game will occur at an early stage. From the set play, Nakagawa picks up the ball and Wakizaka tackles late. With the support of VAR, a foul is called and Wakizaka is sent off, putting Tokyo in a numerical advantage. And in the 9th minute of the second half, they create a big chance. They connect and break on the right side, and Koizumi Kei passes to Watanabe who takes a shot, but unfortunately it hits the crossbar.
However, even with one less player, Kawasaki did not lose their attacking power and continued to push forward. Players like Kobayashi and Oshima were sent onto the pitch, increasing the number of players in the front line. As space began to open up in the midfield, each player's high technical ability was utilized to create scoring opportunities. In the 33rd minute of the second half, Tonno was able to break away from a single feed and take a perfect chest trap shot, but once again, Slowik made a fine save. They were able to narrowly escape the danger.
As the remaining time becomes shorter, Tokyo will show a decisive response. They will bring in former player Koki TSUKAGAWA and Kashif BANGNAGANDE one after another to maintain the balance and strength of the defense on the sides. Then, they will successfully advance the time and enter the 6-minute additional time.
Captain Masato MORISHIGE's body-clearing and other efforts, defending until the end without losing concentration. As the cheers and applause from fans and supporters filled the air, the clock reached the 53rd minute of the second half and the final whistle blew. The stadium erupted in joy, with the whistle signaling Kawasaki's first victory in 5 seasons, centered around the home goal end.
Tokyo, who stopped their losing streak in the best way, shared the joy of victory with the fans and supporters who came to the stadium believing in a win, and for the first time at the renovated Japan National Stadium, the sound of "the city that never sleeps" echoed. They also extended their winning streak at the National Stadium to "4" in official matches, and blue and red smiles were seen everywhere.
MATCH DETAILS
＜FC Tokyo＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Yakubu Swobick
DF Yuto Nagatomo/Yasuki Kimoto/Masato Morishige/Shuhei Tokumoto
MF Kei Koizumi/Keigo Higashi/Shuto Abe
FW Ryoma Watanabe (28th minute of the second half: Koki Tsukagawa)/Diego Oliveira (15th minute of the second half: Adailton)/Teruhito Nakagawa (43rd minute of the second half: Kashif BANGNAGANDE)
SUBS
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Henrique TREVISAN
FW PEROTTI/Kota TAWARATSUMIDA
GOAL
First Half 12th Minute: Shuhei TOKUMOTO/First Half 25th Minute: Shuto ABE
＜Kawasaki Frontale＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Naoto KAMIFUKUMOTO
DF Miki YAMANE/Takuma OMINAMI (45+7 minutes: Kazuya YAMAMURA)/Shintaro KURUMAYA/Kyohei NOBORIZATO
MF João SCHIMIDT (37 minutes: Arata YAMADA)/Tatsuki SEGUCHI (14 minutes: Ryota OSHIMA)/Yasuto WAKISAKA
FW Akihiro IENAGA (30 minutes: Kentaro TACHIBANA)/MARCINHO (14 minutes: Daiya TONO)/Taisho MIYASHIRO (30 minutes: Yu KOBAYASHI)
SUBS
GK Sung Ryong JUNG
GOAL
39' First Half: Taisei MIYASHIRO
[Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA Press Conference Comments]
Q, please review the game.
A, For us, the Japan National Stadium is like a place under a magic spell. We had a great rival in front of us. I think this wonderful atmosphere pushed us forward as we fought against them. In the first 30 minutes of the first half, I think we dominated the game. It was a 4-3-3 vs 4-3-3 matchup. We were able to defend well against Kawasaki's dangerous attacks, such as attacking with numbers on the sides or utilizing the quick counterattacks with Marcinho. Our press was working well and we had a strong attacking mindset when we had the ball. We didn't make many mistakes in the first half. However, Kawasaki was able to score from a few mistakes. I think they proved to be a great goal-scoring team.
I thought we had a good start in the second half. We also had a chance to hit the decisive post. We had a player sent off, which was a plus for us, but at the same time, it was not easy to play against a team with one less player. After Kawasaki lost a player, they split into two groups, the back and the front line, and first broke through our front line press, and then distributed the ball to the front line. I think they also created decisive chances. In order to neutralize their effective play, we lowered our defensive block and waited. After that, we were able to make good adjustments and their chances did not lead to decisive chances such as long shots.
For the past four years, we have lost seven times to Kawasaki. In that flow, it was very difficult to win against them and I think it was a very valuable thing. I would like to dedicate this victory to Hotaka NAKAMURA. I did not mention their names, but I also want to dedicate it to the other two players.
Q, What role did Ryoma WATANABE play?
A, It is important to have an advantage in the center against opponents who play clearly in a 4-3-3 formation like Kawasaki and opponents who place wingers and center forwards. Therefore, my initial position was on the left wing, but during attacks, I would move towards the center to create a numerical advantage of 4 against 3. Against opponents who build their midfield in a reverse triangle in a 4-3-3 formation, the space next to the lone defensive midfielder becomes an effective space to attack. I gave the task of exploiting that space to players Nakabayashi and Shuto ABE.
Q, What was the reason for returning to the familiar form of last season, including system and pass direction?
A, I think soccer is a sport that is influenced by the recent game results and memories of the game. For example, please remember the opening game of last season, the away game against Kawasaki. I think the quality of the team's play was completely different between that game and today's game. We were able to achieve victory in a good form in the opening game of this season against Urawa Reds. However, many injuries occurred after that. When multiple injured players returned, we were able to achieve victory against Gamba Osaka, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and Albirex Niigata. However, I think the second half of the Avispa Fukuoka game and the first half of the Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo game were very poor in content.
What I want to say is that Tokyo has been growing over the past year and a few months. There is a clear growth between the beginning of last season and now. I hope you understand that. We are still in the process of growth. It is not a complete generational change. It is also true that we have not yet reached the level of stable play. We are in the process of growth. This change in style is a very big one. Many players were also part of this club two years ago. We must not forget that we are working on changing our style by using them. That is the truth and reality. Sooner or later, the reality of losing a game will come. But we will also rise again and win. Today, things went well, but there will be days when they don't. Kawasaki can be considered a mature team in the sense that they have been playing with their current style for a long time. This is because they continue to stick to their style whether they win or lose. On the other hand, we have only been working on our current style for a little over a year. That is the reality, and when we lose a game, we will be criticized, and when we win, we will be happy. I think that is the joy and sorrow of soccer.
[Player Interview]
Masato MORISHIGE
Q, please review the game.
A, I am most happy that I won and there is indescribable joy.
Q, there were also moments after the game where it seemed like our emotions overflowed.
A, I have been feeling frustrated up until now. I really wanted to win today's game as a team, and this victory has become a chance for us to regain our fighting spirit after a week of struggling together.
Q, It was the first time since the 2018 season that we defeated Kawasaki Frontale in a league match. How do you view this victory for the team in this round?
A, this victory gave us a lot of courage. There were times when we were struggling as a team, but today the players on the pitch were able to focus and get 3 points in a good way. I think it means a lot to win at the Japan National Stadium where many people came to watch.
Q, please tell us again about the importance of winning in the long-running "Tama River Clasico".
A, as a member of Tokyo, I have fought in the Tama River Clasico many times and have had many frustrating experiences. That's why I am truly happy to have won on such a big stage like today.
Q, Please tell us about the difference in team atmosphere that player Morishige felt before and after the game.
Before the match, we as a team had prepared and discussed things thoroughly, and all we had to do was to fight together. The players who stood on the pitch were able to fight with courage. As we all suffered together, I was able to reaffirm that we can all share this joy together.
<Jakub SLOWIK>
Congratulations on your victory.
It was a big victory. It was very important for the team to win today. I think it was a very important victory for the Tokyo family to be able to win for Hotaka NAKAMURA, who suffered a serious injury.
Q, I think it was a difficult situation as we were on a losing streak in the league, but what did you think was important?
A, Although we haven't been winning recently, I believe that today's victory was made possible by the team coming together and fighting as one. I hope that we can continue to strengthen our bond and use today's win as a stepping stone to improve little by little in every game.
Q, it was a game with many fans and supporters in attendance.
Not just me, but all the players were really happy with the atmosphere of this stadium. I am very proud of the atmosphere created by the fans and supporters who built this stadium.
<Shuhei TOKUMOTO>
Q, How do you look back on the goal scene?
A, I think that the fact that I swung with less force and focused on the impact, since it was my non-dominant foot, led to the goal.
Q, were you aiming to cut back and shoot with your right foot?
At the point of cutting back, I thought there was no cross, and since it was the Japan National Stadium, I swung with the feeling of wanting to take a shot.
Q, I think it was the team's first shot.
A, I thought it was necessary to keep shooting, so I'm glad we were able to create a good flow.
Q, how did you feel when you scored the goal?
A, I didn't know how to express my joy, but I was really happy to see all the fans and supporters standing up and cheering.
Q, what are your thoughts on scoring your first J1 goal on such a big stage?
A, it's very emotional. Last season, I was watching the games at the National Stadium, but since yesterday, I've been feeling a bit fluffy, like I can do something. I think we were able to give courage and hope to J3 and J2 players.
Q, How many times have you played at the Japan National Stadium?
A, it's my first experience. It's been since the opening ceremony of the National High School Soccer Championship. I've always wanted to play on this stage. Playing here is a dream for high school soccer players, so becoming a professional and being able to play at home was a happy and great day for me.
Q, Why did you wave to your grandmother during the hero interview?
A, as a grandchild of my grandparents, I always wanted to express my gratitude if I ever had the chance to do a hero interview. During the January camp, my grandfather who led me to the path of soccer passed away, and my grandmother and I were raised by her as if she were our parent. So, with gratitude, I was able to say "I scored a goal" to the sky and "I did it!" to my grandmother who was cheering for me from the other side of the TV.
Q, Have you not yet had any communication with your grandmother?
A, not yet. Since I just arrived here, I would like to contact you later.
<Shuto ABE>
Q, how was the victory at the Tama River Clasico?
A, I am still happy to have won at this wonderful Japan National Stadium.
Q, What were you conscious of from the previous match against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo?
A, at this week's player meeting, we first talked about expressing the fundamental aspect of "fighting" in soccer, so I think we were able to have a good defense from the beginning of the game by being conscious of that.
Q, I thought the defense was working well together, how do you feel about it?
Even when we went for a high press or defended with composure, we were able to take the ball. I think we were able to play with the mindset that it was okay even if the ball was possessed by the opponent.
Q, please review the goal scene.
A, Short counter is also a strength of Tokyo. I think Shuhei TOKUMOTO was watching it well. I was able to run to a good place, so all I had to do was touch it in the end. I think it was a good goal.
Q, it was a play as if playing at the top.
A, I played as an inside half, but I couldn't score without showing my face in front of the goal, so I ran into the goal area and it was good that a good ball came.
Q, After the match, Hotaka NAKAMURA was wearing the number 2 shirt.
A, we talked about winning and all wearing Hidakas shirt together. Hidaka will also be disappointed, so it was good to be able to earn 3 points with that feeling and good play.
Q, How was it to be called by your name at the Japan National Stadium?
It is a great honor to score and have my name called by the fans and supporters among the over 50,000 people. I want to continue to perform well and make my name known even more.
Teruhito NAKAGAWA
Q, Please tell us your thoughts on the first Tama River Clasico, as you have played against Kawasaki multiple times with your previous team.
When I was playing for Yokohama F.Marinos, I felt a different atmosphere and intensity in the Kanagawa Derby and the Tama River Clasico in Tokyo. We had lost two games in a row, but we were able to regain our determination and grit, which we have always valued, and I believe that strong determination led us to victory.
Was the desire to win the Tama River Clasico shared within the team after two consecutive losses?
A, yes. I thought it would be a good opportunity to regain confidence by stopping the losing streak in a good environment and against a good opponent. Everyone was fired up and I think we were able to surpass them in the basics and other small details.
Q, I got the impression that you were dribbling more than usual.
A, I didn't have many opportunities to make chances with the ball, but I was conscious of the vertical propulsion when I had the ball and prolonging the time with the ball. I knew Kawasaki was a team that dominated the ball, so I thought it was important for us to create opportunities to have the ball.
Q, There were many scenes where Ryoma WATANABE and the position were exchanged from the beginning, but did you talk beforehand?
A, playing freely. Both Watanabe and I were playing freely and fluidly.
Q, please tell me the points that you think went well in defense.
A, in the past few games, we have been using long balls in the first 15 minutes to avoid the opponent's high press. From there, we have been able to connect when we have the ball, so of course it is ideal to connect and break down from the beginning, but there are also some parts where we have to be a little more pragmatic. Kawasaki players have high technical skills and the ability to create chances with the quality of their passes, so I think it is an area that we need to improve on and work on ourselves.
