＜Match Review＞
The 2024 Meiji Yasuda J1 League restarted after the International Match Week. During this period, Tokyo faced Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the J.League YBC Levain Cup playoffs, losing with a total score of 2 games, and won against V-Varen Nagasaki in the 104th Emperor's Cup All Japan Soccer Championship 2nd Round, before resuming the league matches after a tight schedule.
In this round, which welcomed Júbilo Iwata, Taishi Brandon NOZAWA, who returned from the U-23 Japan national team's trip to America, started the game. The final line included players such as Hantaka NAKAMURA on the right side back, Masato MORISHIGE and Enrique TREVIÑO as center backs, and Yuto NAGATOMO, who was selected for the Japan national team, on the left side back. Takahiro KO and Kei KOIZUMI were chosen as the midfield duo, with Teruhito NAKAGAWA playing as the attacking midfielder. Soma ANZAI was placed on the right, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA on the left, and Diego OLIVEIRA in the center as the front line for the kickoff. On the bench, U-23 Japan national team players Kusei MATSUKI and Ryotaro ARAKI were also listed.
1st HALF - Despite taking the lead, we head into the second half trailing by one point.
Tokyo, who desperately wants to continue their winning streak against Tosu in order to chase the top, aggressively attacks from the beginning. They connect passes and build up while avoiding the opponent's press, and quickly retrieve the ball even when they lose it in the opponent's half. They continue to dominate and push forward.
In the 9th minute of the first half, Anzai made a right-footed shot from a free kick on the right side, and Nakagawa took a left-footed shot from the loose ball in front of the goal. Although it missed to the left of the goal, the team continued to create chances while dominating the game.
However, in the 21st minute of the first half, they were scored a goal from a set piece. From Iwata's right corner kick, Ricardo GRACA, who was raised in the Blue and Red Academy, allowed a perfect header from the right foot kick by Hirakawa, who ran in from behind. Iwata was able to score one chance and take the lead by one point.
Iwata, who took the lead, will have to shift their team's center of gravity to the back. Tokyo will be forced to find a way to break down the opponent who has transitioned to a defensive stance.
In the 33rd minute of the first half, Tokyo, who were looking for an attacking opportunity by passing the ball from the back, saw player Tawara Tsumita dribble on the left side and sharply swing his right foot from a cut-in. However, player Yasuzaki's right foot from the far side did not reach, and the ball narrowly missed the right post.
Tokyo struggled to attack while holding the ball, as they were constantly closed down. In the 41st minute of the first half, Yamada took a reverse shot from inside the penalty area after a throw-in from the opponent's right side. However, Nozawa made a sharp save and Nakamura desperately cleared the loose ball, narrowly avoiding danger.
How will we break through Iwata's defensive wall, built to protect and defend? After two minutes of additional time, the challenge will carry over into the second half.
2ndHALF - Disappointing Draw Despite Anzai's First Professional Goal
2 minutes into the second half, they create another chance from the left side. Tawara Tsumita receives the ball along the touchline and moves it vertically, diagonally, and then towards the center before taking a right-footed shot. Unfortunately, it misses just to the right of the goal.
In the 10th minute of the second half, Diego TABA, who broke through on a through pass from Koizumi, dribbled past the opponent defender and took a controlled shot with his right foot, but it hit the right post and did not result in a goal.
Matsuki and Araki, both players from the U-23 Japan national team, were brought in here. The two of them, who create a vertical relationship on the front line, were entrusted with breaking the situation.
After 26 minutes into the second half, where there was a period of time where it was difficult to find attacking opportunities, a chance was created from the left side. Matsuki's vertical pass was received by Tawarazumiya player, who dribbled past and crossed the ball on the ground. The perfectly aimed ball towards the far side, between the opponent's goalkeeper and the final line, was run into by Araki, but was cleared by the opponent just before he could reach it.
After receiving the right corner kick, substitute player Riki HARAKAWA kicks it with his right foot. On the far side, player Nakamura heads it back and Matsuki jumps to volley it. The shot is not controlled and the ball goes over the bar, but Tokyo continues to attack into the Iwata defense, chasing after a goal.
In the 33rd minute of the second half, Shuhei TOKUMOTO was substituted in as left back and Jája SILVA as left wing. With the aim of further strengthening their attack, the team made these player substitutions to revitalize their game, and it was TOKUMOTO who made a breakthrough.
In the 36th minute of the second half, a skillful cutback and cross from the left side. The ball was punched away by the opposing goalkeeper, but Takase managed to hit it directly towards the goal, only to narrowly miss to the right and unable to shake the net.
Tokyo, which has gradually given a sense of scoring, finally moves the game in the 38th minute of the second half.
When getting a free kick chance on the left side, the kicker was Tokumoto, who had created a chance just before. With his strong left foot, Anzai jumped in and scored his first professional goal with a passionate header, bringing Tokyo back to the starting point of the game.
Tokyo, who started attacking all at once, gained momentum after scoring the equalizer in the 43rd minute of the second half. Player Yasuzaki, who scored the goal, powerfully dribbled up the right side and the opposing defender couldn't help but commit a foul. Although it wasn't a penalty kick just outside the penalty area, the stadium was filled with excitement as they pushed for a comeback victory and launched a powerful attack.
Tokyo's attack doesn't stop even during the additional 8 minutes of stoppage time. JaJa, who broke through the defense from Araki's through pass, takes a shot. Then, from the corner kick, Tokumoto supplies a sharp left cross and Henrique aims for a header.
After that, Tokyo continued to launch a super long throw by Tokumoto and a thick side attack. In the end, they had a chance for a free kick on the left side, but Tokumoto's left kick was cleared by the opponent and the time was up. The early goal conceded had a big impact and they struggled to attack for a long time, eventually ending in a 1-1 draw after Anzai's goal.
MATCH DETAILS
＜FC Tokyo＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Hotaka NAKAMURA/Masato MORISHIGE/Henrique Trevisan/Yuto NAGATOMO (33rd minute of the second half: Shuhei TOKUMOTO)
MF Takuya KOU/Kei KOIZUMI (22nd minute of the second half: Chikara HARAKAWA)/Teruhito NAKAGAWA (11th minute of the second half: Ryotaro ARAKI)
FW Diego OLIVEIRA (11th minute of the second half: Kusei MATSUKI)/Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (33rd minute of the second half: Jajá SILVA)/Soma ANZAI
SUBS
GK Tsuyoshi KODAMA
DF Teppei OKA
GOAL
39' of the second half: Soma ANZAI
＜Júbilo Iwata＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Eiji Kawashima
DF Ueda Shogo/Suzuki Kaito/Ricardo Glass
MF Uehara Rikiya (45+3 minutes in the second half: Nakamura Shun)/Yamada Hiroki (15 minutes in the second half: Ryo Germain)/Matsumoto Masaya (15 minutes in the second half: Shota Kaneko)/Leo Gomes/Hirakawa Rei (45+3 minutes in the second half: Bruno Jose)/Uemura Hiroto (45+10 minutes in the second half: Nishikubo Shunsuke)
FW Matheus Peixoto
SUBS
GK Yuya TSUBOI
DF Riku MORIOKA
GOAL
21st minute of the first half: Ricardo GRACA
[Interview with Peter CKLAMOVSKI]
Q, please give us an overall review of today's match.
A, I am disappointed that we couldn't win. I think it was not our best first half. We didn't have enough tempo in moving the ball, dynamic movements going forward, and jumping out. In the midst of that, we gave the opponent a lead and it became a game where we were under pressure at 0-1. We talked about it at halftime and in the second half, we were able to play our game from start to finish and become more aggressive. We were also able to create good opportunities and chances that could lead to victory. Júbilo Iwata played with a compact and strong defense that was difficult to break down, but even in that situation, we were able to produce something worthy of a win and I think we lost 2 points in this game.
Q, What was the intention behind the timing of the substitution?
We sent out the players who were coming out in the second half believing that they could turn this game around. We were thinking of switching things up with the substitute players, and they fulfilled their roles. I think we were able to fight while grasping our own flow from the start of the second half. There was a post-girigiri shot by Kota TAWARATSUMIDA at the start of the second half, and Diego OLIVEIRA made a magical play that hit the post. We were able to create momentum and chances, and we were able to keep pressuring the opponent's goal until the end of the game.
However, I think we need to fight more tenaciously so as not to give the lead. It was a difficult game for the players because of being behind. The players fought hard and managed to equalize 1-1, but today we had more chances to score one more goal than the opponent. Once again, it's a shame that we couldn't win, and I feel like it was a game where we could have taken 3 points.
Q, I think that Hotaka NAKAMURA's ability to overcome the pinch just before the end of the first half led to today's victory points.
A, we did well in the places where we had to desperately respond. We also created chances and had scenes where we were close to scoring, but Iwata also created several such scenes. As a team, we will improve and we must respond while playing our own football. I think today's match was one we could have won. We created more chances ourselves, so it's frustrating that we couldn't win.
[Player Interview]
＜Soma ANZAI＞
Q, please review the game.
A, In the first half, we focused on keeping possession of the ball, but I think it would have been better if we had been more daring as a team. Including defending set pieces, I think we made the game difficult for ourselves by allowing the score to become 0-1, so as a team, we need to pay more attention to our start in the first half.
Q, please review the scoring scene.
A, I have been playing in matches since the season opening, and there have been times when I couldn't play in the middle, but recently I have been playing all the time, and I have been thinking about not being able to score as a forward. I was able to score a goal with a set piece, so it's not something I'm completely satisfied with, but it's a relief in a way, and I want to leave a goal that will lead to a win next time.
Q, What are the areas for improvement in today's match?
A, I think we need to create a place for the team to switch between moving slowly and attacking, as we are currently moving slowly and continuing to attack. I believe that players like Kota TAWARATSUMIDA and myself can be the switch, so I think it would be good for the team to create more ways to switch.
<Shuhei TOKUMOTO>
Q, it was about 30 minutes of playing time including additional time.
A, I was thinking about doing what I could to catch up at least. It was good that we were able to score as a team.
Q, I think you were asked to bring an accent to the attack. How were you trying to overcome the opponent who was pulling back?
A, Jája Silva was trying to make sure he could play comfortably. I think I was seen as a player who doesn't take initiative, so I consciously tried to take initiative.
Q, How did you see the first half from the bench, as it seemed like the attack was stagnating?
A, we were able to pass the ball without rushing, so I was watching while thinking that we needed one or two more ideas in front of the goal. I thought that set pieces would be a chance, and in the end, it was good that the set pieces led to a goal.
Q, I think having a number attached to assists will lead to the next step. Please tell us your enthusiasm for the future.
A, I think that this has increased the trust and credibility from the team, so I want to kick set pieces aggressively. The Shonan Bellmare match will be the last game of the first half of the season, so I think finishing it in a good way will lead to the second half of the season. Therefore, first of all, since we have been playing consecutive games, we will take a good rest together and then practice properly at the Kodaira Ground.
<Kuryu MATSUKI>
Q, please review the game.
I came on as a substitute while we were losing, so I was conscious of making a play that would lead to a tie or a comeback. I was also aiming for a goal personally, so I'm disappointed that I couldn't score. Soma ANZAI's goal tied the game and gave us momentum towards the end. However, as a team, we couldn't capitalize on the chances we had to score the winning goal. That is something we need to work on for the next game.
Q, I immediately participated in team activities after returning from the U-23 Japan national team's trip to America.
A, there were no problems with my condition. I couldn't participate in the international friendly match against America (second game), so I wanted to give my all in today's match and all the J1 league matches. I want to become a player who can contribute to the team and achieve results, including the league matches from here on out.
Q, the next match is an away game against Shonan Bellmare.
A, Speaking of today's game, I think we should absolutely avoid playing like we did in the first half if we want to aim for the top as a team. I want to show a game where we focus on scoring through fluid plays like in the second half and where everyone takes action. Personally, I want to be conscious of playing aggressively and also focus on my numbers for goals and assists.
