Match Review
J1 League, followed by the Levain Cup Prime Stage Quarterfinals, a three-match series against Avispa Fukuoka. In the J1 League Sec. 26 held three days ago, we were forced to chase the game after conceding two goals early in the first half, and although we pulled one back in the final moments, we lost 1-2.
The remaining two matches will be in a different tournament, deciding the outcome in two home and away matches. The first match will be held at Tokyo's home Ajinomoto Stadium. With two days in between, it will be a consecutive home match, and it will be a game to clear the frustration from the league matches.
1st HALF - Taking advantage of a moment's lapse, Adagol scores first
At the start, they continued to play in their own half under the momentum of Fukuoka, but they built up play carefully from the center back, observed the opponent's formation, utilized space, and launched a quick counterattack.
Before the flow of the match tilted in either direction, Tokyo took control of the game. In the 16th minute of the first half, Adailton reacted to a ball played behind Fukuoka and matched up with DOUGLAS. DOUGLAS reached the ball first and headed it back, but the goalkeeper fumbled the ball. Adailton, following the momentum, pounced on the loose ball in front of the goal and slotted it in.
Tokyo firmly maintains possession of the ball and neutralizes the opponent's momentum. In the 23rd minute of the first half, player Harakawa received the ball in a position slightly left outside the penalty area. Seeing that the opponent was not closing in, he swung with his right foot, and a sharp mid-range shot found the upper left corner of the goal. This was thwarted by a great save from the opposing goalkeeper, but Tokyo did not miss the opportunity to create chances amidst the flow of the game.
As the first half approached its end, there were noticeable moments where Fukuoka pressed hard, but the defense continued to challenge on the ball side without dropping too deep. In the scene where a powerful long-range shot was taken in the 45+1 minute of the first half, Jakub SLOWIK sharply reacted to the ball that flew to the left corner of the goal and deflected it away from the frame.
2nd HALF - Winning the first match and heading to the second match
Fukuoka, who made three substitutions at the start of the second half, comes forward with momentum, but Tokyo maintains a compact formation and does not allow them to create opportunities to finish.
After regaining possession, they simply utilized the front line to launch a counterattack, taking advantage of the space in the Fukuoka defense where their center of gravity was forward. In the 15th minute of the second half, Adailton, who received the ball from Yuto NAGATOMO, surged up the left side into the space, and with momentum, he entered the penalty area and took a shot, but it was blocked by the opposing goalkeeper who closed the distance.
After the midfield in the second half, they began to take control while making substitutions. In the 30th minute of the second half, Teruhito NAKAGAWA was brought on for Adailton, Ryoma WATANABE was brought on for Higashi, and Tsubasa TERAYAMA was brought on for Tsukakawa. In the 35th minute of the second half, Kashif BANGNAGANDE was introduced for Shirai.
As the match entered the final stages, there were more moments of being pushed back, but instead of fighting with a defensive mindset, Tokyo connected the ball firmly to the front line, carried it forward, and aimed for additional goals by launching attacks. Even in stoppage time, Tokyo maintained an aggressive stance. They kept a one-goal lead, winning the first match and keeping their hopes alive for advancing to the Semifinal Round in the second match.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Jakub Słowik
DF Keisuke Koizumi / Masato Morishige / Henrique Trevisan / Yuto Nagatomo
MF Koki Tsukagawa (substituted in 30 minutes of the second half: Tsubasa Terayama) / Keigo Higashi (substituted in 30 minutes of the second half: Ryoma Watanabe) / Riki Harakawa
FW Kosuke Shirai (substituted in 35 minutes of the second half: Kashif BANGNAGANDE) / Naoki Kumata (substituted in 45+2 minutes of the second half: Kanta DOI) / Adailton (substituted in 30 minutes of the second half: Teruhito NAKAGAWA)
SUBS
GK Tsuyoshi KODAMA
FW PEROTTI
GOAL
16th minute of the first half: Adailton
<Avispa Fukuoka>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Takumi NAGAISHI
DF Masato YUZAWA/DOUGLAS Glory (substituted at 0 minutes: Ryuki NARA)/Masaya TASHIRO/Miyaki Daiki/Ryosuke KAMEGAWA (substituted at 35 minutes: Yota MAEJIMA)
MF Tatsuya TANAKA (substituted at 0 minutes: Ryouga SATOU)/Yuto HIRATSUKA/Kouya MORIYAMA (substituted at 0 minutes: Yosuke IDEGUCHI)
FW Reiju TSURUNO (substituted at 20 minutes: Wellington)/Kenji KANAMORI
SUBS
GK Masaaki MURAKAMI
MF Kazuya KONNO
GOAL
―
[Comments from Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI at the Press Conference]
Q, please review the game.
I think the overall performance was good. Within that, I believe the players delivered something wonderful and secured the victory. In the first half, I think we were able to show some really good aspects, and in the second half, we played solidly. The players showed dedication and effectively showcased their characteristics, and I believe it was a performance worthy of victory.
Q: Today you employed a three-back formation, what was the aim behind that?
A, I believe we were able to play in a way that suited our current situation and adapted to the circumstances. The players executed each task thoroughly and gave their all. As I mentioned earlier, we produced something wonderful in the first half. However, there are still areas that need refinement. The important thing is to first recover properly from here. And since it is still halftime, we want to go for victory away.
Q: This was the second match of the three-game series against Avispa Fukuoka. Did you experience any difficulties?
It is a unique situation, but it is important to prepare properly for the next match without looking too far ahead. There are certainly difficult aspects, but the performance the players showed today was of very high quality. They also expressed their feelings and character towards this club very well. The players deserve to be praised, and I believe they are worthy of victory.
Q: As this is the third match in a row, please share your enthusiasm for the Levain Cup Semifinal Round second leg.
A, no matter who the opponent is, it is important for us to play firmly. Since this is a three-match series, both teams understand each other's style, and we will focus solely on ourselves and prepare to deliver a good performance. It is still halftime. I think it will be a tough away match, but we will go for the victory there.
[Player Interview]]
<Henrique TREVISAN>
Q, it was a victory without conceding any goals.
A, I thought today would be a tough match. I am very happy to have finished the match without conceding a goal, in preparation for the opponent's playing style.
Q: The defensive line had a different formation with three players than usual. Can you tell us what points you focused on in terms of defense?
I think it was good that our attitude towards the match was significantly different compared to the last game. By changing the system, we were able to defend well. Since we have an away match against Avispa Fukuoka remaining, I want to win properly and advance to the next stage.
Q: After a tough loss in the league match on Sunday, we faced today's game with a short preparation period. What were the significant improvements compared to the last match?
I believe that the fact we were able to concentrate and enter the match properly right from the start contributed to today's victory.
Q: I think that with the introduction of Wellington and Ryoga SATO in the second half, the time spent on defense increased. What kind of communication did the defensive players have with each other?
I can communicate in Spanish with Yuto NAGATOMO, and I have fought alongside Masato MORISHIGE in many matches. By maintaining good communication, we were able to keep a high intensity with a good sense of distance.
<Riki HARAKAWA>
Q: You made a significant contribution to the victory in your first starting lineup after the transfer. Please reflect on the 90 minutes.
Since this is a cup match, we discussed that as a team we should play solidly first. In the league match on the 3rd, we conceded a goal early on, so I think we were able to approach this match with that in mind. We talked about getting long balls in during the initial phase with Adailton and Naoki KUMATA, so the shared understanding and the intention behind the play led to Adailton's goal. I believe the team gained significant confidence from this.
Q, we saw you taking care of defense in a low midfield position and balancing offense and defense. Please let us know if there was anything you were particularly conscious of.
A, the opponent wasn't very aggressive in trying to take the ball when I had it, so there were many scenes where I received the ball freely. I think I was able to play in the first half while observing the opponent's formation and pressing style. Throughout the match, rather than actively engaging in the attack, I played as a connector between the front line and the defense, focusing on maintaining overall balance and reading the flow of the game. I was particularly conscious of my positioning to send the ball from a low position to the forwards.
Q: I think there was a long period of time spent on defense after scoring. What challenges does the team face in order to secure additional goals?
After scoring, the play tended to focus more on defense. Of course, defensive play is important to avoid conceding goals, but I think it is crucial for the team to increase the emphasis on the awareness of scoring a second goal.
Q: Previously, you mentioned after the match that you wanted to increase the time spent touching the ball. How do you feel about that now?
A, the number of times I receive the ball and touch it is gradually increasing, and I feel that they are understanding my play style over time. If we can balance playing with more courage during the lead and committing fully to defense, I believe we will become an even better team.
Q: The second match of the quarterfinals is coming up in three days. Please share your enthusiasm for the away game against Avispa Fukuoka, who has a poor winning percentage.
I have heard that Tokyo has a poor winning rate away against Fukuoka, but in a good way, I am not aware of that. Rather, personally, I have many good memories at BEST DENKI STADIUM. With today's victory of 1-0, Fukuoka will come into the next match with even more momentum, and I want to approach the game considering the positioning for the second match and the cup competition.
<Kosuke SHIRAI>
Q, please review the game. It was your first start in a while.
In the match against Yokohama F.Marinos in Sec. 24 of the J1 League, I made a mistake that led to a goal, and we lost. I think I was in a situation where I needed to regain trust from scratch, and I believe I was able to show through my play that I can defend with determination and run through the game. From here, I want to take one step at a time to regain that trust.
Q: The left side was your starting position. Please tell us what you were conscious of, given that you have played on the right side many times before.
In the match against Avispa Fukuoka on the 3rd, there were few instances of plays taking the opponent's back, and the tendency to confront was noticeable. There were many scenes where we lost the ball in those situations and faced the opponent's attacks. I made a conscious effort today to actively take the back, effectively utilizing my speed, which is my characteristic. It seemed like the opponent's defense was also uncomfortable with it.
Q: I noticed scenes where you positioned yourself well on the left side, suppressing the opponent's play both offensively and defensively.
A, Keigo HIGASHI was able to play while communicating well with Yuto NAGATOMO. East player skillfully appeared in the space created between NAGATOMO and me, allowing us to play while receiving support.
Q: Please tell us the major factors that were corrected since the match against Fukuoka on the 3rd.
I think we were able to express plays that the opponent dislikes as a team right from the start. In the last match, there were many scenes where we lost in one-on-one situations. I believe that winning in each phase was a factor that brought the momentum to us.
<Kashif BANGNAGANDE>
Q, it has been since the match against Cerezo Osaka on May 24 that I have participated.
It was my first official match in about four months, so I felt very fresh. Until I arrived at Ajinomoto Stadium, everything was as usual, but once I stepped onto the pitch for warm-up, I realized that I was back.
Q: It has been a long rehabilitation period, but what preparations have you made?
I started with a knee injury while playing for the Japan national team, and I also suffered an ankle injury, so I worked on training to reassess my body movements to prevent injuries. With the support of many people, I was able to overcome the past four months and stand on the pitch. I had been looking forward to this day for four months, so today I poured out those feelings. I believe this is a fresh start from here.
Q: After your injury, the coach changed, and I think there were often differences in tactics between before your injury and when you returned. What did you focus on during practice matches?
A, there was a change in the coach while I was injured, so I have been watching the kind of football being played from the outside. Today, I was in a different position than before, but I was conscious of not losing in the battles on the side to prevent crosses. I focused on fulfilling the coach's instructions.
Q: You came on as a substitute, but what were you conscious of when you entered the game?
A, we were able to play the match in a good flow, so I wanted to maintain that momentum and bring even more energy. Since I came on in the last 10 minutes while we were winning, I was particularly focused on solidifying our defense.
Q: Depending on the results of the next match, we will advance to the Semifinal Round. Please share your enthusiasm for the second match.
I believe that the prime stage of the Levain Cup is one match lasting 180 minutes. Since only the first half has ended, if we do not achieve a result in the second match, today's victory will lose its meaning. This season, we have lost in away league matches, so even though the time is short, I will prepare thoroughly to ensure we can win the next match, and I definitely want to win.
