＜Match Review＞
Two weeks after their first victory against Avispa Fukuoka, Tokyo is aiming for their first consecutive win of the season as they face Kawasaki Frontale in the Tama River Clasico. The starting eleven remains unchanged from the Fukuoka match. Yuto Nagatomo, who returned from the Japan national team, will play as right back, while U-23 Japan representative Kashif BANGNAGANDE will play as left back. Ryotaro ARAKI and Kuryu MATSUKI will form a partnership in the front line.
The feeling we got from the Fukuoka match was definitely there, and the team atmosphere is good. We want to build momentum with a victory at Todoroki for the first time in 6 seasons, and then the upcoming 2 consecutive matches at the Japan National Stadium against Urawa Reds and Kashima Antlers.
1st HALF - The ball is held, but unable to break through the enemy's territory.
The game progressed in a very tense atmosphere. In the beginning, Kawasaki Frontale took control of the ball, but Tokyo calmly responded and as time passed, they were able to move the ball more. Since Kawasaki did not press high, Tokyo had no trouble building up and advancing from their own half, and players like Takahiro KO, Kei KOIZUMI, and Matsuki were also seen touching the ball frequently.
However, the build-up and attack after entering the opponent's territory were monotonous, and there were few scenes where the ball entered the wings in a good shape, and no scoring opportunities were created. Although crosses were sent in from both sides several times, they were all cleared away.
As a result, Kawasaki gradually takes control of the pace. Even when pressing, there are more situations where they are broken down in the build-up, and as players like Wakisaka and Ienaga move fluidly, they end up facing their own goal and concede the first goal in the 34th minute of the first half.
KIMOTO Yasuki, who responded to MIURA's cross from the left side back, attempts to clear the ball with a sliding tackle in the area, but the ball hits the post and falls in front of WAKISAKA. HATANO Go also jumps out and the ball is slid into the unguarded goal.
In addition, in the 44th minute of the first half, they lost the ball in their own half during the build-up and were hit by a decisive shot from player Rene, but it missed the goal. On the other hand, in the 45+1 minute of the first half, player Matsuki attempted a volley shot with his left foot from a corner kick, but was unable to shake the goal net, and the game was turned around with a one-point deficit.
2ndHALF - 2 goals conceded after a player was sent off
In the second half, while chasing one point, the game structure did not change significantly and Tokyo also searched for attacking opportunities while connecting the ball. However, although they were able to carry the ball without difficulty until entering the enemy's territory, the quality and ideas of the attacking third were lacking, resulting in scenes where they were unable to bring the ball to a shot, just like in the first half.
On the other hand, they were caught behind the high line and faced dangerous situations from counters. In the 14th minute of the second half, Ellison broke through the final line and shook the goal net, but was saved by an offside call.
After that, in order to change the flow, three substitution cards were used in the 19th minute of the second half. Diego OLIVEIRA, Jája Silva, and Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA, who possess strong individual talents, were sent in to break through. However, they were unable to score a goal in a good position, and in the 27th minute of the second half, Hatano, who had tried to clear the ball by jumping out of the area, ended up fouling Ellison and was sent off. In the midst of being behind, they were forced to face a situation where they were outnumbered.
Tokyo, who wants to make a comeback, set up a 4-4-1 formation and aims for the goal with Diego TABA as the top player, but in the 38th minute of the second half, they were once again caught off guard and conceded their second goal. In additional time, they conceded their third goal as they pushed forward. This resulted in them missing out on their first consecutive win of the season.
However, we will face two consecutive games at the Japan National Stadium in just three days from here. There is no time to look down, and it will be a week to test Peter Tokyo's rebound mentality.
MATCH DETAILS
＜FC Tokyo＞
STARTING XI
GK Go HATANO
DF Yuto NAGATOMO/Masato MORISHIGE/Yasuki KIMOTO (39th minute of the second half: Hotaka NAKAMURA)/Kashif BANGNAGANDE
MF Kuryu MATSUKI (19th minute of the second half: Takashi KOZUE)/Takuya TAKUYA/Takashi KOZUE
FW Keita ENDO (19th minute of the second half: Jajashiruba)/Teruhito NAKAGAWA (30th minute of the second half: Teruhito NAKAGAWA)/Ryotaro ARAKI (19th minute of the second half: Diego OLIVEIRA)
SUBS
DF Kanta DOI
FW Kota TAWARATSUMIDA
GOAL
－
Kawasaki Frontale
STARTING XI
GK Chung Sung-Ryong
DF Yusuke Segawa (19th minute: Asahi Sasaki)/Jesiel/Kota Takai/Sota Miura
MF Kento Tachibanada/Itsuki Seguchi/Yasuto Wakizaka (45th minute + 5 minutes: Yuki Yamamoto)
FW Akihiro Ienaga (45th minute + 5 minutes: Yu Kobayashi)/Daiya Tono (37th minute: Hinata Yamauchi)/Elisson (37th minute: Arata Yamada)
SUBS
GKNaoto KAMIFUKUMOTO
DFTakuma OMINAMI
GOAL
First Half 34th Minute: Yasuto WAKIZAKA/Second Half 38th Minute: Shin YAMADA/Second Half 45th Minute + 2 Minutes: Kento TACHIBANADA
[Interview with Peter CKLAMOVSKI]
Q, please review today's game.
A, everyone is feeling pain because the result did not come out. Looking at the performance, I think that nothing much happened from the beginning to 60 or 70 minutes. In a close game, the opponent decided on one scene. We continued to play our football, believing that the flow would come back and we would be rewarded. In that situation, we were one player short and the game became difficult. The players fought aggressively to equalize, but we were scored on repeatedly and the game was decided. Everyone is feeling pain, so we want to become stronger.
Q, three substitution cards were cut at once in the second half. Was it a planned substitution?
We used substitutions to bring fresh players. We had the idea of putting energy into our attack, and Ryotaro ARAKI, Kuryu MATSUKI, and Keita ENDO did very well. We tried to add energy to our attack by bringing on Diego OLIVEIRA, Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA, and Jaja SILVA. I don't think there were any decisive moments in the game until then, but after that, we immediately became 10 men and the mountain we had to climb became higher. The players fought desperately to equalize even with 10 men, and I think they gave everything they had, but we couldn't get the three points here. I am disappointed that we couldn't bring a smile to our fans and supporters.
[Player Interview]
Ryotaro ARAKI
Q, please review the game.
A, We were doing well until we conceded a goal, but I think we couldn't recover after that. I thought that if we scored the first goal before the game, we could control the game. If we had scored our chances, the game would have been different. However, personally, I couldn't perform well and I should have been more of a playmaker. The opponent also came up with countermeasures, so it was difficult to figure out what to do. It's difficult to make changes during the game, but I want us to communicate more and try to change the game against the opponent.
Q, I had the impression that the marking on player Araki was strict. What were you conscious of while playing?
A, I used to think that my job was to run and score as usual. I didn't have the impression that man-to-man marking was so strict, but today the ball didn't settle at my feet, or rather, my ball touch condition wasn't very good. I still want to win every game, but I was also emotionally invested in the Kawasaki game, and today there were a lot of disappointing plays that I need to reflect on. However, I don't think we can have a good game every time, and I think there will be games like this, so I want to use this as a material and move on to the next one.
Q, How do you plan to rebuild the team from here?
A, we definitely want to increase our scoring power. We want to be a team that can score 2 or 3 goals even if we concede, and I believe we can get results by switching and playing our own football. It's a series of games, so we'll all recover quickly and prepare for the next match.
<Takahiro KO>
Q, the development of not being able to show goodness continued. How was the game looking back?
A, it was a very disappointing result. The opponent took advantage of their chances and finished them off. We didn't have many shots, so we need to increase the number of chances. I think we need to improve the quantity and quality of our attacks in front of the goal. Of course, we also need the ability to convert our chances, and we can't win if we keep conceding goals, so we want to focus on keeping a clean sheet.
Q, there were also scenes where we struggled against the opponent's press.
A, however, I personally thought that it would be easier to peel off if they came to press me like that, so at halftime I also conveyed the message "I want you to look at me a little more". In the second half, we had to go for goals, so there were more vertical plays, but I also want to improve the quality of those aspects and the speed of positioning and judgment against opponents who come to press. I think it is necessary to demand more as a team.
Q, What is your collaboration with Ryotaro ARAKI like?
A, I wanted to make a good vertical pass, but after talking after the game, it seems like there are some areas where I want to focus more forward, so we need to adjust whether our central midfielders take a higher position or drop back to them.
Q, What are some things you could have done better?
A, yes. We should have played forward with quality, not just behind. As a team, the goal and the red card were painful, but we need to increase the number of times we enter the goal area and also have game control while playing more offensively. I think we need to improve in that area. I still don't think we're good enough, so I hope we can work together as a team to get better.
<Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA>
Q, how was the game review?
After A, Diego OLIVEIRA and Jája Silva entered the game at 0-1, we were unable to turn the game in a good direction, which I think is a point of reflection. There were chances for me to score, such as when I broke through, and I think the coach sent me onto the pitch with the intention of equalizing. So, if we miss those chances, I think this is the result that will happen.
Q, What kind of play did you want to make?
A, today Ryotaro ARAKI and Kuryu MATSUKI were on the front line, but since they are not originally front line players, we were expected to bring fear and threaten the opponent's goal when we entered the front line. I think that can only be shown in the form of a goal, so it's frustrating that we couldn't show it in the end.
Q, What are your thoughts on areas for improvement based on the game's development?
A, Since we became 10 people at an early stage, the opponent had a longer time to hold the ball, and I think there were few scenes where midfielder Takahiro KO could hold the ball freely. However, even in that situation, there were openings, so I think we lacked the technical ability to exploit them. We were able to hold the ball in the first half, but we lacked the ability to take shots. We can't win without scoring points, so I hope we can continue to pursue and bring out more fear.
