Match Review
The opening of the season for PEACE STADIUM Tokyo, which is welcoming its first season. The start of the 2024 season has finally arrived. Tokyo will face Cerezo Osaka in their first match away. After completing 38 matches, the goal is to bring the league championship title to Tokyo. First, they have taken the first step of 1 out of 38.
The goalkeeper entrusted with the goal at the opening match was Go HATANO. In center-back, Kanta DOI, in his second year as a professional, made his first league start and partnered with Henrique TREVISAN. The full-backs were Yuto NAGATOMO on the right and Kashif BANGNAGANDE on the left. In the midfield triangle, new addition Ryotaro ARAKI stood at the top, with captain Kuki MATSUKI and Riki HARAKAWA forming the double pivot. Up front, Diego OLIVEIRA was positioned as the central pillar, with Teruto NAKAGAWA on the right wing and Kota TAWARATSUMIDA on the left wing.
1st HALF - Araki's 'Taro Shot' is the first goal of the season!
The match started with both teams struggling to settle the ball and exchanging kicks. As Tokyo intensified their pressure from the front line, they began to create opportunities by quickly connecting the stolen ball and entering the opponent's territory with good tempo. On the other hand, there were moments when they lost possession during the buildup and faced counterattacks, leading to a thrilling back-and-forth with both teams showing strong attacking intent.
Tokyo can bring the ball to the vital area in front of the opponent's goal, but they struggle to come up with one more idea before finishing, making it difficult to take a shot.
Tokyo's first chance came in the 25th minute of the first half when they earned a free kick near the left side of the halfway line. Matsuki sent a large cross towards the far side. Yoshifumi won the aerial duel and headed the ball back to the center, where Tawaramizuki took a touch and attempted a volley shot. Unfortunately, it was blocked by a defender, but the loose ball fell in front of Nakagawa, who aimed for a one-touch volley shot, but it narrowly missed above the goal.
It seemed like they were starting to gain momentum, but misfortune struck. In the 27th minute of the first half, through a combination on the left side, Maikuma carried the ball deep into the penalty area. Henrique jumped in to block the cross, but the ball hit his foot and floated to the far side, where CAPIXABA was free to score and take the lead.
It wouldn't be surprising to bow our heads in a situation where the home team took the initiative, but Tokyo pushed forward relentlessly. And they provided the answer, saying, "This is how we are this season."
In the 34th minute of the first half, after creating a play on the right side, Nakagawa received the ball near the right corner of the penalty area and passed it to Matsuki, who was making a follow-up run. Matsuki, facing the goal at a 45-degree angle to the right, struck the ball with his left foot without hesitation, sending a curving shot towards the goal. The shot was heading towards the far side, but Araki, who had entered the goal area, touched the ball, changing its course and guiding it into the net.
As the match entered the final stages, both teams created scoring opportunities. In the 38th minute of the first half, Leo CEARA received a pass from Maikuma and unleashed a powerful shot after shaking off a defender with a one-touch move, but it struck the post and was saved. On the other hand, Tokyo saw Araki break into space on the right side in the 41st minute, carrying the ball all the way to the goal, where Tawaramizuki finished with a low cross into the net. However, the goal was disallowed due to Araki being called offside in the preceding play.
2nd HALF - Bringing home points with another "Taro shot"
As the second half begins, Cerezo Osaka continues to press. In the 5th minute of the second half, every player receives the ball freely in a deep position on the left side of the penalty area, but Go HATANO blocks the shot in a one-on-one situation. However, immediately after, during a corner kick, Tanaka scores with a header at the near post, allowing the opponent to take the lead.
In the 10th minute of the second half, the penalty area was breached, and Leo CEARA took a shot in front of the goal, but Go HATANO made a great save. The rebound was picked up by CAPIXABA, but Go HATANO also threw himself to block it and kept the goal safe.
Tokyo, unable to maintain possession of the ball, created a chance from a counterattack in the 25th minute of the second half. Jája Silva, who was brought on in the 20th minute, received the ball in a high position on the left side and carried it forward with speed. He struck the ball with his right foot from outside the penalty area, but it was deflected by an opposing defender and hit the crossbar.
As the team gradually pushes the opponent back and maintains possession of the ball for longer periods, there are increasing situations where it becomes difficult to find attacking options against a solid defensive block from the opponent. The team holds the ball in the opponent's half, but cannot advance it to the area where decisive actions can be taken. It was the substitute player Jaja who broke this deadlock.
In the 30th minute of the second half, the ball is passed to Jaja, who was wide open on the left side from the buildup starting from the defensive line. Although the passing lane was closed with opposing players crowding, he initiated a dribble, forcefully evading two defenders and breaking through the defensive block. He then charged into the space that opened up in front of him, advancing into the penalty area. Drawing in the defender, he delivered a low cross in front of the goal, which was pushed in by Araki, bringing Tokyo level.
After that, both teams created scenes where they approached each other's goal in an open development. Tokyo increased their attacking plays after equalizing, but they couldn't secure a goal that would lead to three points until the end. That said, fighting in such a difficult situation as an away opening match, and managing to break through the opponent's defensive block to score a goal despite being pushed back by the opponent's momentum in the second half, is something to take away. They want to bring home one point as a foundation for the home opening match.
In one week, the blue and red warriors will return to our home after a long time. We want to showcase the tenacious fight we displayed in Osaka against Sanfrecce Hiroshima and aim for our first three points of the season.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Go HATANO
DF Yuto NAGATOMO/Kanta DOI/Henrique Trevisan/Kashif BANGNAGANDE (substituted in the 37th minute: Kosuke SHIRAI)
MF Kuryu MATSUKI/Riki HARAKAWA (substituted in the 37th minute: Kei KOIZUMI)/Ryota ARAKI
FW Diego Oliveira (substituted in the 45+5th minute: Keisuke HIGASHI)/Kota TAWARA (substituted in the 20th minute: Jaja Silva)/Teruhito NAKAGAWA (substituted in the 20th minute: Soma ANZAI)
SUBS
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Masato MORISHIGE
GOAL
34th minute of the first half: Ryotaro ARAKI/30th minute of the second half: Ryotaro ARAKI
<Cerezo Osaka>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Kim Jin-hyeon
DF Seiya Maikuma/Kyohei Noborizato/Sho Funaki/Koji Toriumi
MF Shinji Kagawa (substituted in 33 minutes of the second half: Masaya Shibayama)/Shunta Tanaka (substituted in 45+6 minutes of the second half: Satoki Uejo)/Hiroaki Okuno (substituted in 33 minutes of the second half: Vitor Bueno)
FW Leo Ceara/CAPIXABA (substituted in 45+6 minutes of the second half: Hirotaka Tameda)/Lucas FERNANDEZ
SUBS
GK Keisuke SHIMIZU
DF Hayato OKUDA/Ryuya NISHIO
GOAL
27th minute of the first half: CAPIXABA/6th minute of the second half: Shunta TANAKA
[Peter CKLAMOVSKI Coach Interview]
Q: Please summarize today's match.
I think it was a really good football match. Cerezo Osaka is a very good team, so it became a very tough away battle while respecting each other. We managed to catch up even after being led twice, and I believe we showed our determination to keep fighting without giving up. The players gave everything until the end and fought hard to score the final goal. I am proud of the players who fought desperately, and along with the point we earned, I think it's important to take the performance we showed today and continue to develop our football.
Q: Please tell us about your confidence in having deepened the player pool to maintain the intensity of the match even with substitutions.
A, I mentioned this before the match and during halftime, but it is important for anyone who plays to contribute to the team and to perform well. The players who came in during the match also delivered very well, and I believe we are showing the fitness and physical aspects we are currently developing.
Q: Please tell us the evaluation of Ryotaro ARAKI and Kanta DOI, who became the starting lineup for the opening match.
I think both of them contributed well to the team and fought hard. Araki is a player with great potential, and he seems to be enjoying football right now. He can be a key player when he has the ball, and he has been fighting hard even when he doesn't have it. I believe the hard work he has put in over the past few weeks has led to his two goals, and I expect him to continue to improve even further.
I think Dohi put in a great performance. It was a tough away match, and there were challenging moments, as well as times when our strength was tested, but he fought strongly from the start.Not just the two of them, but I believe it is important for all players as a team to continue to develop steadily.
Q: Please tell us your evaluation of the players who continued to fight forward even when they were behind.
It was a very tough match, and there were difficult moments for us, but I believe we showed a strong mentality even in those times. We allowed the lead to slip away twice, but we fought with a strong mental attitude and spirit. The players worked hard and trusted each other in battle. It was a tough fight, but we secured 1 point and I want to prepare for the next match.
[Player Interview]
＜Kuryu MATSUKI＞
Q, please review the 90 minutes first.
A, today, I wasn't able to play very calmly, but I think bringing home 1 point from an away game is significant. However, I felt that we need to win matches like this to break into the top ranks, so I want to make adjustments in that area.
Q: This season, you are approaching the season as captain. There were assists, but how was your personal performance?
I wanted to be more involved with the ball, and I think I could have been a bit more creative to make a difference. However, given the flow of today's match, there are some difficulties, so in that sense, I want to increase the moments where I can break into the area in future matches.
Q: As the captain of Tokyo, what kind of season do you want this season to be?
I want to win the championship, and I hope to become a strong team that can bring home 3 points even in away matches like this.
<Ryotaro ARAKI>
Q: What was the first match like after joining?
It was a tough 90 minutes. I think it was good that we were able to secure at least 1 point. It was a challenging match throughout, and conceding the first goal was a factor that made it feel even tougher.
Q: However, after conceding a goal first, we quickly scored the equalizer.
I was running in thinking, "I hope the ball comes here," and luckily it came, so it was a scene where I just had to touch it for it to go in.
Q: In the second half, we scored the second goal with a cross from Jája Silva.
A, I had been working hard on crossing situations in practice, so I believed the ball would come there and ran for it.
Q: The competitive season has begun for Ryotaro ARAKI. Please share your enthusiasm for the upcoming matches.
I want to leave results like this.
<Kanta DOI>
Q, this was your first start as a professional in the league. Please review the game.
A, the attacking part was completely ineffective due to poor trapping, but in defense, we were able to communicate well with nearby players Henrique TREVISAN and Yuto NAGATOMO, maintaining good defense throughout the 90 minutes. However, conceding 2 goals is not acceptable for the defense. Moving forward, I want to improve in practice to keep a clean sheet.
Q: How much preparation did you do in advance for Cerezo Osaka?
A, I had been thoroughly analyzing videos of Leo CEARA's playing style for about a week, so I had a good understanding of the opponent.
Q, I saw areas that could be corrected without major breakdowns, but what were you conscious of in terms of communication on the pitch?
A, I was particularly talking frequently with Henrique and Go HATANO. Regarding positioning when responding to cross balls, I was able to make adjustments by communicating with Go HATANO, moving one step inward or one step outward, and changing my position. That was the part that I was able to correct as we entered the second half.
Q: Please tell us about your feelings after starting in your first league match and your enthusiasm for the next game.
A, the defensive part is effective, but there were several instances where I lost in heading against Leo CEARA, so I believe those are areas where I can grow, and I would like to work on them in the future.
<Jája Silva>
Q, please review the game. The play that changed the flow from the middle of the second half shone.
A, it was a very difficult match. With the unique atmosphere and tension of the opening game, the actual progression of the match became challenging. Since we managed to secure 1 point today with a draw, I want to think positively and aim to try for the next match.
Q: How did you watch the match from the bench until the middle of the second half?
There were two instances of falling behind, and it was a match where we spent a long time on defense, so I thought it would be difficult to enter the pitch midway through.
Q, I won the matchup against Japan national team player Maikuma and contributed to the assist from the side.
A was a very wonderful player, and I knew he was a highly skilled player even before facing him. He had strong defensive abilities, but I am glad that I was able to skillfully evade every bear player in one-on-one situations and contribute to an assist.
Q, please review the scene of the assist that created the equalizing goal.
I think A received the ball on the side, skillfully evaded the defender in front, and was able to advance the ball. I first saw Diego OLIVEIRA making a run into the goal area, but I am grateful that Ryotaro ARAKI skillfully connected with the ball that flowed to the far side.
Q: You can see the good condition from the camp. What kind of performance do you envision from here?
A, my physical condition and fitness are better than last season. Although my playing time in today's match was short, I believe that if my playing time increases from here, I will be able to show everyone an even better performance.
