Match Review
Since defeating Fukushima United FC in the Emperor's Cup 2nd Round on June 7, July 12 has become a "special day." A month has passed since then, and the time has finally come to settle things.
In the meantime, Tokyo has changed its coach and is currently in the process of building a new style, starting with improving the defense. Some new players have joined the team, while others have left. The number of injured players is a bit concerning, but when it comes to the match against Verdy, the team's situation doesn't matter. What is important is the battle at hand. To win, to defeat Verdy, and to show that Tokyo's club is blue and red, we will give our all.
Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI said.
"I have experienced the derby several times myself, but I understand that this match against Verdy is a special one. For fans and supporters, there are those who consider this match everything. There are emotions in football that cannot be explained in words, and that is also an important part of football. I want to ensure that we can express that passion in the game for them."
The Verdy match opened at Ajinomoto Stadium for the first time in 12 seasons.
1st HALF - Tsukagawa's powerful long-range shot opens the scoring
As the chant "We cannot lose to Verdy" continues to be sung, the game that started with the opponent's kickoff initially saw us being pushed back, but in the 8th minute of the first half, Shuto ABE took the team's first shot, shifting the momentum. In the 15th minute of the first half, a long throw from ARHAN led to a header that hit the post, but after overcoming that single scare, we seized control of the game.
Continuing that momentum, they succeeded in scoring first in the 20th minute of the first half. Diego OLIVEIRA, who received the ball in midfield, carried it forward and made a final pass to Koki TSUKAGAWA, who was running alongside him. The player wearing number 35, positioned just behind the forwards, struck the ball confidently with his right foot, and the shot, which bounced just in front of the opposing goalkeeper, shook the goal net.
After gaining the lead, they proceeded with more composure in the game. The final line showed concentrated defense, and Kuryu MATSUKI and Abe formed a double pivot that gained an advantage in recovering second balls, increasing their possession rate. Furthermore, Tsukagawa created attacking opportunities by drawing out space, and Diego TABA held the ball firmly, leading to a decisive chance for Abe, who surged in from the third line in the 26th minute of the first half.
Even while defending, Henrique TREVISAN continued to crush the opposing forwards, not allowing any chances to be created from the flow of play. Additionally, after the second long throw, Jakub SLOWIK read the trajectory and caught it firmly, neutralizing the opponent's attacks and leading by one goal without any danger as they headed into halftime.
2nd HALF - Diego's near miss leads to equalizer and extra time
At the start of the second half, Verdy, who made two substitutions at halftime, was pushed back, but quickly settled the game and earned a corner kick in the 10th minute of the second half. The kicker, Matsuki, stirred up the crowd behind the goal, and from that second attack, Diego TABA took a shot that hit the crossbar. Furthermore, Tsukakawa broke free and sent the ball into the goal, but it was ruled offside, so no additional points were scored.
Then, gradually, the flow of the game tilted towards Verdy. They were pushed back by the opponent, who made early substitutions and sent fresh players to the front line. And in the 25th minute of the second half, they allowed an equalizing goal from a corner kick.
After the score was reset, it became a clash of wills. Tokyo had longer periods of pressure, but the goal remained elusive, and the situation continued without a lead being established. In the end, the match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes. The derby, after 12 seasons, entered a battle that would last 120 minutes.
EXTRA TIME—Failed to capitalize on early chances
As the extra time began, Tokyo created a big chance just 38 seconds in. They broke down the right side, and Tsukakawa delivered a cross. Keigo HIGASHI, who made a run to the near post, headed the ball but it went wide of the target.
Both teams understand the value of the next goal and are progressing the game while maintaining balance, despite showing an attacking posture. In the 11th minute of the first half of extra time, another long throw led to a shot, and in the 15th minute of the first half of extra time, there was a near miss due to a clearance error in their own half, but they were saved by the opponent's missed shot.
Even after entering the second half of extra time, the balance of the game remains unbroken. At this moment, Naoki KUMATA is brought in to the front line, but the fatigue of the entire team is evident, making it difficult to advance the ball forward. Before they knew it, the clock was pointing to 120 minutes. The match ended without a resolution in extra time, and the intense game went into a penalty shootout.
PENALTY SHOOTOUT—Kuba stops the 9th shot! Victory in a fierce battle
Tokyo, taking the first turn, saw Matsuki calmly score to the right as the first player, followed by Yasuki KIMOTO successfully scoring as the second player. Furthermore, the third player, Tsukakawa, scored to the bottom left, and the fourth player, Kumada, scored to the bottom right. The fifth player, Yuto NAGATOMO, also scored, but Verdy also had all five players succeed, leading to an extension of the penalty shootout.
The sixth kicker, Abe, had his shot touched by the opposing goalkeeper, but the timing was off, allowing the ball to roll into the goal. The seventh kicker, Tsubasa TERAYAMA, shot straight down the middle. The eighth kicker, Kei KOIZUMI, also succeeded, and the ninth kicker, Higashi, kicked it into the top left corner, making it a success for all nine players from Tokyo.
And then, they faced the opponent's ninth kicker. Although Jakub SLOWIK had been unable to stop several shots while reading the course, he managed to stop this ninth kicker. They triumphed in the fierce battle against Verdy and advanced to the Emperor's Cup 4th Round.
MATCH DETAILS
＜F.C.Tokyo＞
STARTING XI
GK Jakub SLOWIK
DF Kei KOIZUMI/Seiji KIMURA/Henrique TREVISAN (Extra time 13': Kyosuke KIMOTO)/Yuto NAGATOMO
MF Kuryu MATSUKI/Shuto ABE/Takaki TSUKAGAWA
FW Ryoma WATANABE (Second half 31': Tsubasa TERAYAMA)/Diego OLIVEIRA (Extra time 0': Naoaki KUMADA)/Kota HYOZUMI (Second half 16': Keigo HIGASHI)
SUBS
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Shuhei TOKUMOTO
FW Leon NOZAWA
GOAL
20th minute of the first half: Koki TSUKAGAWA
<Verdy>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Mateus
DF Yuta NARAWA/Yuto TSUNASHIMA/Takahiro HIRA (substituted at 0 minutes of the second half: Kaito CHIDA)/Arhan (substituted at 5 minutes of extra time: Junki KOIKE)
MF Daiki KUSUNOKI (substituted at 23 minutes of the second half: Ryosuke SHIRAI)/Toyofumi SAKANO (substituted at 29 minutes of the second half: Kosuke SAGAWA)/Koken KATO (substituted at 0 minutes of the second half: Kohei YAMAKOSHI)/Ryo NISHITANI/Takashi SUGIMOTO (substituted at 18 minutes of the second half: Yuji KITAJIMA)
FW Keito KAWAMURA
SUBS
GK Yuya NAGASAWA
GOAL
25 minutes into the second half: Ryosuke SHIRAI
PENALTY SHOOTOUT
[Comments from Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI at the Press Conference]
Q, please review the game.
A, it was a cup match, and since it was an intense match against Verdy, I expected various things to happen during the game. From experience, you never know what will happen in a cup match, so we had to be prepared for everything. The same goes for today's match. What is truly important, in crucial moments, is to manage our emotions while giving our best effort.
I believe we executed our philosophy well and showcased very good football. I think there were moments where we could have scored more goals, but we missed those chances and ended up struggling. We also allowed the opponent to exploit gaps in our set plays. I find that disappointing. However, within that context, the players fought bravely and selflessly with a strong belief in this club. I believe it reflects the efforts of everyone involved with the club. And for the fans and supporters, I think today's victory has become something special.
Tokyo is blue and red.
Q: The lineup was almost the same as the match against Urawa Reds in the league.
A, considering the balance of freshness and safety, this member selection was made. First, it is important to fight steadily and ensure that the team can work together effectively. Moving forward, I want to take solid steps in practice and progress step by step.
Q, it went into extra time and then a penalty shootout.
A, it is wonderful that they were able to give their all until the end. They fought bravely and with heart. They pushed themselves to the point where the gas tank was almost empty. I am truly proud that they were able to run like that for 120 minutes.
Q: I think I added my name to history in the match against Verdy for the first time in 12 seasons.
AI have great respect for the club's past pride, and it has become a battle that the people of Tokyo can be proud of and remember. I am proud to share this with the group and the players, rather than focusing on myself. Another important aspect is that we took one more step towards the trophy. I am proud of everyone involved with the club, and I am glad we could win for the fans and supporters.
Q: Did you anticipate that it would go to a penalty shootout?
A, I believe that preparation is everything, and within that, we were able to have good practices. We also worked on penalty kicks during practice. This past week, we were able to prepare very well and were ready to fight for 120 minutes. I also want to sincerely thank the fans and supporters. I am happy that I was able to send my teammates home with smiles after they cheered for us continuously from warm-up until the end of the match.
Q: Since taking office as coach, we have played 4 official matches without a loss.
A, I believe this is the result of what everyone involved with the club, including the players, coaching staff, and medical staff, has done. By uniting and preparing diligently day by day, we have been able to deliver solid performances. It's a very good start, but there is still much more we can do. There is still a lot of potential and possibilities, and we will work step by step to bring that out, while also remaining vigilant. By doing so, I believe we can get closer to becoming the dream team.
[Player Interview]]
<Yuto NAGATOMO>
Q, the match against Verdy turned into a fierce battle that went to a penalty shootout.
A, ideally, we wanted to settle the match in 90 minutes, but Verdy had many fresh players, and both teams fought desperately in this heat. We expressed our style of football, ran for 120 minutes, and ultimately it went to a penalty shootout. I believe there is some luck involved in penalties, but I think the strong feeling of everyone saying, "We don't want to lose to Verdy" and "We, in blue and red, are Tokyo" led to our victory.
Q, for 120 minutes, your endless movement up and down the left side saved the team.
A, I feel that my condition has improved significantly. I played for 120 minutes, and I had no physical issues at all. I will be 37 years old, but I thought I can still play, and I was able to regain confidence in my physical abilities.
Q: In the penalty shootout, you calmly aimed for the target with your shot. Did you decide on the target before kicking?
A calmly assessed the shooting course by observing the movements of the opposing goalkeeper. During his time with Inter Milan, he also took penalties in matches like the Milan Derby and has experience scoring them. He was able to approach it with confidence and, above all, compete with a strong mindset.
<Koki TSUKAGAWA>
Q, please review today's game.
It was a match where we had to settle it in 90 minutes, but since it was the Emperor's Cup, every goal became crucial. I deeply felt the importance of scoring additional goals, so I want to be more aggressive next time. Also, despite it being a weekday night, it was impressive to see so many fans and supporters come out, creating an atmosphere that the players alone could not have achieved.
Q: It was a magnificent goal scored with a powerful swing of the right foot.
In the scoring scene, when I received a pass from Diego OLIVEIRA, he moved again, and since Ryoma WATANABE was also in front, I was initially looking for passing options. However, when I saw the goal, I struck the ball, and it nicely connected with my foot, creating a trajectory like a curving ball, which went into the goal. Scoring is one of my strengths, so I want to be conscious of finishing during shooting practice and mini-games as well.
Q: It was a penalty shootout after the 120-minute match, but you scored calmly.
A, I could no longer put strength in my legs, but I pushed it into the goal with determination.
Q: In three days, we have the league match against Kashima Antlers. Please share your enthusiasm.
A, the Emperor's Cup and the league matches are different, so I want to make sure to build up properly from practice. (Looking at Kei KOIZUMI sitting next to me) In the next match, Kei will be playing against his former club, so I believe he will score, and I hope to play boldly and contribute to our victory (laughs).
<Tsubasa TERAYAMA>
Q: What instructions did you receive from Coach Klamovski before entering the pitch?
First, I focused on whether I could enter this heated match well. I was told by Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI to properly express what I have and my characteristics. After we were equalized, in a situation where we had to go for the second goal, I was conscious of directing the team's vector forward and recovering the ball in the defensive midfield position to connect it to our attack.
Q: I think there were long periods when you were under pressure defensively. How did you maintain balance on the pitch?
I focused on going for the second goal and not giving the opponent any additional points. While communicating with Kuryu MATSUKI, who played as a double pivot, I was aware of balancing defense and offense, recovering second balls, and taking on either role depending on the situation. I was particularly playing with the aim of seizing opportunities to score additional goals.
Q: In the match against Urawa Reds and this week's match against Verdy, it seems that you have been able to smoothly enter the game despite the increasing opportunities to come on as a substitute in difficult game situations.
Although I often come on as a substitute, I feel the difficulty of entering the pitch in a tightly contested game. However, I have been focusing on being aware of my first play and showcasing my own characteristics to create a rhythm in my play over the past few matches. The number of times I can express good plays in matches has been increasing, but my positioning and mistakes are also becoming more noticeable. I want to further refine my skills and grow to be able to start the match instead of just coming on as a substitute.
Q: The performance and intensity after scoring in the penalty shootout left a strong impression on me.
I focused on delivering goals and victories to the fans and supporters. I was a bit nervous, but I was determined to kick it right down the middle. I wanted to make sure to score and raise the voltage of the Tokyo fans and supporters to the highest level, especially with the strong desire to support Jakub SLOWIK in making a PK stop.
<Seiji KIMURA>
Q: Please reflect on the match.
In the first half, I was able to showcase my strengths and effectively contain the opponent. I felt that I was able to play well. However, in the second half, I made noticeable passing mistakes, which caused me to be late against the opponent's forwards, and there were moments where I couldn't be aggressive, allowing them to create opportunities. I believe that if we don't clear up small mistakes and details, victory will slip away. As a center-back, it is essential to not give the opponent's attack any freedom and to eliminate potential threats, so I want to correct each aspect from practice.
Q. You started the match with great focus, and at times, you were seen making plays that served as the starting point for attacks.
As the match went into extra time, many players on the pitch were fatigued, and I thought it was important not to force the ball but to sometimes play simply. I was particularly conscious of effectively utilizing long feeds from the back of our defense to push up the defensive line in the latter stages of the match. As the game progressed, Verdy's forwards were also substituted, and the fresh players were aiming to score, but it was important to not lose in speed and to anticipate and snuff out chances.
Q: The stadium was enveloped in a unique atmosphere throughout. How did you feel on the pitch?
Despite being a weekday night match, many people came to the venue. There were overwhelmingly more fans and supporters from Tokyo than from Verdy, and I felt the excitement on the pitch. I felt the support for victory, and sharing the joy with all the fans and supporters honestly made me very happy.
