<Last Match Review: Júbilo Iwata>
Tokyo continued to struggle to break down Júbilo Iwata, who had taken a 1-0 lead in the first half and then retreated to defend their own goal. The difficult period lasted a long time, but in the 39th minute of the second half, the game finally came to life as Tokyo activated their pitch with player substitutions and launched a fierce attack.
A chance from a free kick on the left side. A sharp slider cross from Shuhei TOKUMOTO's left foot is sent to the far side, and as if symbolizing the team's determination to "definitely score a goal", many players jump into the goal area.
The player who met the ball that fell sharply in an arc just in front of the opponent's goalkeeper was Soma ANZAI, who has been supporting the team with dedicated play since the opening. He threw his whole body into the header, and as he fell down with the momentum, he quickly stood up and raised his right fist towards the goal stand.
The first professional goal that was finally scored in the 23rd official match of this season was also the 600th home goal in the J1 league for the club.
However, what he was conscious of was the next kickoff. While repeatedly making a guts pose, he quickly returned to his position. There was a strong desire to score a winning goal and to strongly cling to the team's victory, rather than his own emotions.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw. In the post-match mixed zone, number 38 was seen with even stronger determination after scoring their first professional goal. Despite being asked questions by the press, there was hardly a smile on their face as they opened their mouth with a hint of frustration.
"Personally, there are things that make me feel relieved, but as a team, we haven't been able to win, so I want to strive for more goals that will lead to victory. I understand the criticism that has been directed towards me for not being able to produce results while playing in the forward position, and I have always thought about contributing to the team's success. However, it was frustrating to not be able to leave numbers behind even when we won, and I always felt like I needed to do more. That frustration was the strongest, but it can only be resolved on the pitch. As someone who is used in the forward position, I want to meet expectations with my results, and I want to continue to leave results that will satisfy the coach even more."
Aggressive defense from the front line shown in the right wing position, a strong desire to score by boldly jumping into the goal, and versatility to also cover the side back position depending on the team's situation. While expressing plays that save the team multiple times, he also carries the pride of an attacker in his heart. The rookie, who said "I want to score more", scored a spirited header. This may be a turning point for him.
<Match Preview>
The 2024 Meiji Yasuda J1 League will reach the halfway point this weekend with a match against Shonan Bellmare. Tokyo is currently in 8th place with 7 wins, 6 draws, and 5 losses. This will be an important away match to gain momentum for a comeback in the second half of the season and secure a victory.
In the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Sec. 18 match against Júbilo Iwata last weekend, the game took a turn when we conceded a goal from a set piece despite dominating the match. After taking the lead, we struggled to break down the opponent's defensive tactics. We were unable to switch to an attacking style while maintaining possession, resulting in a lack of clear chances.
In the second half, the flow shifted to Tokyo after the players who had been watching the game from the bench were brought in. Then, in the 39th minute of the second half, Soma ANZAI scored an equalizing goal with a header from a free kick on the left side. However, they were unable to score again and the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Once again, they missed out on a win at Ajinomoto Stadium, where they have struggled to win this season, and the game ended in a draw. This round, they will reflect on their game against Iwata and carefully observe their opponent's movements, as the key to victory will be how well they can identify their attacking opportunities and make changes accordingly.
Shonan, on the other hand, is currently in 17th place with 3 wins, 6 draws, and 9 losses. This will be a crucial game for them to maintain their position in the league, so they cannot afford to lose at home.
The most cautious player for Tokyo would be Lukian, who had recorded 6 goals in 4 official matches until the 2nd round of the Emperor's Cup last week. In the previous match against Nagoya Grampus, his goal was disallowed due to an offside call after VAR review, but his calm shot from a skillful breakthrough was an impressive display of his good form. As a striker who shows strength in finishing with headers and one-touch goals, he must not be given any time or space. With Enrique Trevisan, who has shown outstanding strength in personal play, suspended due to accumulated warnings, Tokyo will need to keep a tight defense without showing any momentary gaps as a team.
On June 22nd, the day of the match, is Diego OLIVEIRA's 34th birthday. The number 9, who has scored the most goals in J1 league history with 72 goals as a club player, is also expected to score a celebratory goal on his own birthday.
[Interview with Peter Cklamovski]
Q, The first half of the Júbilo Iwata match was generally stagnant.
A, it was an unsatisfactory game and we will reflect on it and improve to connect to the performance of the next game. From that experience, we shared with the players what we can do and what is necessary to become the team we aim for. In the Iwata game, the players showed a good performance in the second half and were able to catch up to a tie. However, I am disappointed that we were not able to score an additional goal and turn the game around.
Q, it is expected that more teams will come to respond by laying a defensive block like Iwata in the future.
A, First of all, it is important to focus on what we need to do regardless of the opponent. In the first half of the Iwata match, the tempo of moving the ball was poor, but in the second half, the movement to get behind the opponent and the movement to move forward increased, which improved the balance of our attack. In the second half, we were able to play our football, but from kick-off to the end of the game, not being able to express it continuously is a challenge for the next game, and scoring the first goal is crucial in any match. No matter how the opponent approaches the game, I want to encourage growth by playing our football and understanding the solutions.
Q, this round is a match against Shonan Bellmare.
A, Shonan is a team with high hard work and mobility. They will be a tough opponent who will fight with everything they have. We want to surpass our opponents in intensity and intensity and play with a focus on connecting in football. We want to strive for victory.
[Player Interview]
＜Kuryu MATSUKI＞
Q, this match will be the halfway point of the 2024 season.
The first half of the league will end with a match against Shonan Bellmare, but we must not play like we did in the previous match. I think Shonan will come out with a 3-back formation, so we need to thoroughly prepare and analyze their system and come out with a strong team performance to seek victory.
Q, it seemed like the attack gained momentum after Matsuki entered the pitch in the previous match.
A, Watching the game from the bench, the first half left the impression of a passive play by the team as a whole. By entering the pitch, I was conscious of adding depth to our attacking play and playing more positively. In the second half, I also felt the opponent's fatigue. We were able to effectively penetrate the opponent's stretched out areas with the substitute players, and as a whole, I think our receiving and finer details became more positive. It may be a simple thing, but just by changing those aspects, I felt a change in the depth of our attack in the second half.
Q, how do you feel about playing in an attacking position more often this season?
A, personally, I am focusing on the "numbers" of goals and assists that decide the game while playing in a position one step before last season. For example, I can play with a good sense of distance with Ryotaro ARAKI and we can play freely while watching each other's movements. I think that by continuing in a good form, the results will naturally follow and the chances of scoring will increase, which will also improve the team's performance.
<Takahiro KO>
Q, Please tell us your impression of Shonan Bellmare, who you will be facing this round.
A, Shonan Bellmare's style is known for being a hard-working team. I have a personal connection with Shonan's coach, Satoshi Yamaguchi, as we were both coaches and players at Gamba Osaka. I am looking forward to facing them. Coach Yamaguchi is very knowledgeable about soccer, so I expect it to be a tough and challenging match.
Q, I think there were times when we struggled against the opponent who set up a defensive block in the previous match against Júbilo Iwata.
A, We had a lot of possession time, but I feel like we didn't do enough to break through the opponent's block. In the game against Iwata, I personally didn't make enough runs forward or play in high positions, so I think one solution would be to not hesitate to do those things.
Q, What kind of communication did you have between players to improve in the second half?
A, I think it became a situation where we were behind and the game flow changed in the second half. As a team, we were able to strongly focus on moving behind and the players who possessed the ball were able to have playing forward as their first option. I think the addition of substitute players also contributed to the increased momentum in the second half.
Q, The first half of the league will end in the Shonan match this week. How do you perceive the momentum and challenges of the first half of the league?
A, I joined Tokyo this season and there were times when I couldn't play and it took time to adjust, but gradually I have been able to contribute my strengths to the team. However, both as a team and as an individual, there were ups and downs in the first half of the league. I want to continue playing in the games from here and show my presence through my play. In order to move in a good direction towards achieving the team's goal, I want to win 3 points in the last game of the first half against Shonan and make it a game that leads to the next one.
