Match Review
In Sec. 17, held as "Kin J", Tokyo, who traveled away to Tosu, had the U-23 Japan national team quartet, announced the day before, all starting in the lineup.
The starting members have changed two players from the previous match, with Taishi Brandon NOZAWA as the goalkeeper. The defense line consists of Soma ANZAI, Yasuki KIMOTO, Enrique Trevisan, and Kashif BANGNAGANDE from right to left. The midfield features a combination of Ryohiro TAKAU and Keisuke KOIZUMI, with Kuki MATSUKI positioned as the attacking midfielder. Up front, Teruhito NAKAGAWA is placed as the right winger, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA as the left winger, and Ryotaro ARAKI has moved from the attacking midfielder position to the lone striker role. Additionally, Hotaka NAKAMURA, returning from injury, has joined the bench and responded to the "Hotaka" calls from the Tokyo supporters with applause during warm-ups.
Following the victory in the 3rd Round of the J.League YBC Levain Cup last Wednesday, which went to a penalty shootout, this is an away game in Tosu. Although the performance of the team is improving, the results have not followed, placing them in a difficult situation with four consecutive league matches without a win. They are eager to secure a league victory in Tosu, a place they have struggled with in the past. The match kicked off at EKIMAE REAL ESTATE STADIUM, where some brightness remained.
1st HALF - Yasuhito's powerful shot gives an early opening goal
Tokyo shows aggressive attacks from the beginning. They approach the opponent's goal with Tawara Sekita's cut-in dribble and Araki's through pass.
Then, in the 11th minute of the first half, Araki's right corner kick was deflected, and Takahashi connected with a header to pass it forward. Kimoto, who remained up front, struck a powerful shot with his right foot into the upper near corner. The assistant referee raised the offside flag, but with the support of VAR, the goal was confirmed. The players formed a circle of joy near the center circle after the early opening goal.
Tokyo, wanting an additional goal, saw Toshiho's long feed in the 23rd minute of the first half, allowing Tawara to break free on the left side. When the opposing defender's back pass to the goalkeeper went awry, the ball that could not be cleared ended up at Matsuki's feet. Matsuki, free in front of the goal, slotted it in and shook the net. However, after a lengthy VAR review lasting about five minutes, the on-field review determined that Tawara was in an offside position, and unfortunately, the goal was not recognized, resulting in no additional points.
Tokyo maintained control with Araki's strong ball retention, aggressive pressing from the front line, and sharp reactions to loose balls. In the 38th minute of the first half, Nozawa made a super save by stretching his right foot to deflect a shot from close range, just barely keeping it out on the goal line. Following his sharp reactions from the previous match, he successfully defended Tokyo's goal.
As each player showcases their strengths, a big chance arises on the left side in the 43rd minute. Matsuki, who created space in a high position, delivered a soft through pass to the near pocket, and Nakagawa, running in, made a sharp cut from top speed. At this moment, he sent a last pass into the space behind the opponent, catching them off guard. Takahashi, who ran in, aimed for the near post with a direct shot using his left foot, but unfortunately, it was blocked by the opposing goalkeeper's save.
The first half ended after a long additional time of 7 minutes due to a VAR check. They went into the second half with a one-point lead.
2nd HALF - Keeping the score with Taishi's save and Yoshifumi's block
Against the counterattack from Tosu, once again the guardian deity that Tokyo takes pride in stood firm, following the previous match against Gamba Osaka. In the 5th minute of the second half, after a ball loss in their own territory, Marcelo RYAN received a shot from inside the penalty area, and in the 6th minute, Yokoyama cut in from the left side and also took a shot, but both were securely caught by Nozawa. The opponent's attacks were thwarted.
Tokyo is using time while fending off the attacking pressure from Tosu with a calm build-up. In the 20th minute of the second half, they attempt to change their formation by substituting Nakagawa with Nakamura at the side back and repositioning Anzai to the right wing.
Despite being a comeback match, Nakamura's tenacious defense was still evident. He effectively stopped Yokoyama's attempts from the left wing, which is also a strong point for Tosu, with solid defensive play, taking away the opponent's freedom.
Tokyo, prioritizing defensive stability while aiming for additional goals, saw Matsuki break free on the left side with a big one-two in the 29th minute of the second half. He took a well-aimed left-footed shot, but it narrowly missed to the right of the goal.
Considering the situation where goals have been conceded in the final stages, Tokyo is raising their defensive awareness. In the 37th minute of the second half, they faced a dangerous moment from the opponent's left cross, but Marcelo RYAN's header was blocked by Yoshifumi. They overcame a close call and embraced Gabriel HENRIQUE in front of their own goal.
In the final stages, Shuhei TOKUMOTO and Riki HARAKAWA were brought on to strengthen the defense from the front line. During the 5 minutes of added time, they skillfully alternated between playing in the opponent's half and blocking in their own half, maintaining an advantage in the match and finishing with the lead. They capitalized on the opening goal scored early in the game, achieving their second clean sheet victory of the season.
This marks the league victory at away Tosu since June of the 2015 season. The chant of the "City That Never Sleeps" echoed through EKIMAE REAL ESTATE STADIUM.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Soma ANZAI (substituted at 43 minutes: Shuhei TOKUMOTO) / Yasuki KIMOTO / Henrique Trevisan / Kashif BANGNAGANDE
MF Kuryu MATSUKI (substituted at 31 minutes: Diego Oliveira) / Takumi UHIRO / Keisuke KOIZUMI
FW Kota TABARU (substituted at 31 minutes: Jaja Silva) / Teruhito NAKAGAWA (substituted at 20 minutes: Hotaka NAKAMURA) / Ryota ARAKI (substituted at 43 minutes: Chikara HARAKAWA)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
DF Masato MORISHIGE
GOAL
11th minute of the first half: Yasuki KIMOTO
<Sagan Tosu>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Ikkyu PARK
DF Kosuke YAMAZAKI/Katsunori UEEBISU/Yusuke MARUHASHI (27th minute: Yuki HORIGOME)
MF Hajime KAWAHARA/Kohei TEZUKA (37th minute: Naoyuki FUJITA)/Taichi KIKUCHI (37th minute: Ikuya KITAJIMA)/Yoichi NAGANUMA
FW Ayumu YOKOYAMA (42nd minute: Atsushi KAWATA)/Cayman TOGASHI (37th minute: Vinicius ARAUJO)/Marcelo HIAN
SUBS
GK Masahiro OKAMOTO
MF Shota HINO
GOAL
―
[Peter CKLAMOVSKI Coach Interview]
Q, please review the game.
It was a good battle of football. Both teams showcased entertaining and high-quality football, making it a match that highlighted their characteristics. In terms of our play, we were able to deliver a strong performance and were in control of the game. We created a good flow that led to the first goal, and although we couldn't score the second, I believe we showed enough potential. At halftime, we discussed bringing out more of what we have and entered the second half with the mindset to go for the second and third goals. It's disappointing that we couldn't score additional points, but we created plenty of chances. I think Sagan Tosu is a very active and well-moving team that Coach Kawai has built, and I believe we fought well enough to deserve the win against them. I am happy to have secured three points for the fans and supporters who came here today, as well as for those in Tokyo.
Q: Please evaluate the defense that endured without conceding any goals.
Yes, the defenders were good, but overall we had very good defense. We were able to press aggressively, and from there we could seize the momentum. All the players on the field adhered to the defensive principles well. I am pleased that we were able to keep a clean sheet, and I believe we deserved that. From there, we were able to move the ball as we wanted in attack. However, I am disappointed that we could not score multiple goals from that.
[Player Interview]
＜Yasuki KIMOTO＞
Q, please review the game.
In the first half, both our offense and defense were in great shape. We were able to attack while maintaining possession of the ball, and I was able to score during that time, so I think the first half was good. In the second half, there were some physical impacts, and we increased the number of times we set up blocks. We were able to create scoring opportunities, so I believe we could have scored 3 or 4 goals if we had finished them. That's something we discussed with everyone, and it was a challenge for the second half.
Q: Especially in the second half, there was an increase in the time spent under attack. How did the defensive approach differ from the first half?
A, for a while now we haven't been able to press, so our defensive line has dropped a bit. However, we were still able to defend solidly without breaking down and were able to counterattack, and we were also able to advance while maintaining possession of the ball, so it wasn't all bad. I want to continue this.
Q: The scoring scene was a powerful volley shot. It's the first goal in two seasons.
I wasn't aiming for that (laughs). I was focused on getting it on target, and it just happened to go in that direction. I was happy, but the fact that the team wasn't winning was more mentally challenging, so I'm glad I could contribute to the team's victory.
Q: As a team, this is the second match this season without conceding a goal since the match against Kashima Antlers in Sec. 7.
A, I have been playing with the awareness of not conceding any goals in every match, but recently, since I have been on the field, I have managed to keep the goals conceded to a minimum, so I had confidence that if we continued this, we could achieve a clean sheet. On top of that, today, everyone on the team was able to maintain a strong mindset and defend well, so I am happy with the result of not conceding any goals.
Q: The Levain Cup and Emperor's Cup matches will continue from here. How will the team cope with this?
A, last season we lost both the Levain Cup and the Emperor's Cup in a half-hearted manner, so this season we will aim to win all titles. We will need the strength of the entire team, and since we have a deep roster, I believe any player can perform well. First, we will prepare our condition for the first match of the Levain Cup PREMIST playoff round next week.
<Taishi Brandon NOZAWA>
Q: Please reflect on the match.
I think we were able to make the game easier by scoring from a set piece early on. However, we need to improve on not being able to capitalize on our opponent's weaknesses to score a second and third goal during the match, but it was good that we were able to win 1-0.
Q: Whether to connect or to kick it long, the decision-making during the build-up seemed to lead to a good flow for the team.
A, by participating in matches, the team's coordination improves, making it easier to judge while observing the opponent's movements.
Q, the match against Kashima Antlers just before the AFC U23 Asian Cup was also a clean sheet.
A, last time when I returned from national team activities, I couldn't really get into the flow, so this time I want to make sure that doesn't happen and contribute to the team's victory even after fighting with the national team.
Q, I will join the activities of the U-23 Japan national team after this. Please share your enthusiasm.
This will be the last activity before the Paris Olympics, so I will appeal to be able to compete for a spot on the team until the end. I will fight carrying the name "Tokyo".
<Hotaka NAKAMURA>
Q: It's been a while since your last appearance.
A, the injury was indeed tough. During the period of my injury, I was filled with a sense of guilt, thinking that as long as there are people who reach out to me, support me nearby, and wait for my return, I must show them my efforts and performance. With the help of various people, I was able to return to the pitch. As we continue with consecutive matches from here, I want to do my best to be a strength for the team.
Q: It was a difficult match. I think there were many things we needed to do defensively.
A, Soma ANZAI was working hard from the first half, so during the first half, I was imagining what kind of plays I would make when I got on the field while watching Soma's plays and the opponent's plays. By the time I entered the game, it had become a slightly open match, resembling a counterattack exchange, so my job was to handle one-on-one situations and to close down defensively. In that regard, since we did not concede any goals, I think I was able to fulfill that role.
Q: There are many good rivals competing for the right back position, including Yuto NAGATOMO and Kosuke SHIRAI.
During the time I was injured, both players scored and assisted, and I felt very frustrated that I couldn't be there. When I got the chance, I thought I just needed to express all the feelings I had built up. I believed that the results would determine whether I could survive in this world, and I want to make sure to show that I am the right back for Tokyo on the pitch.
Q: Please share your enthusiasm for the future.
I just want to win, no matter what. I only have the feeling of wanting to be involved in scoring and to win. We will win.
