＜Match Review＞
The 19th round of the 2024 Meiji Yasuda J1 League, which marks the halfway point of the 2024 season. The crucial match that we want to end the first half with a victory will be against Shonan Bellmare at the away Lemon Gas Stadium Hiratsuka.
Tokyo, who had Enrique Trevizan suspended due to accumulated warnings, made three changes to their starting lineup from the previous match against Jubilo Iwata. Taishi Brandon Nozawa started as goalkeeper, Masato Morishige and Tetsuhei Oka made their first league starts as center-backs, Hotaka Nakamura played as right-back, and Yuto Nagatomo played as left-back. In midfield, Takayuki Takau and Kei Koizumi formed a partnership for the sixth consecutive league match, with Kuryu Matsuki returning to the starting lineup as attacking midfielder. On the front line, Tsubasa Nakaizumi played as right winger, Kota Tawaratsumida played as left winger, and Ryotaro Araki played as striker as they kicked off the match.
1st HALF - Unable to capitalize on a big chance just before the end of the first half.
In the early stages, Shonan created chances. When Tokyo was threatened by counters and set plays, in the 2nd minute of the first half, a shot by player Yamada was saved by player Nozawa with a diving save, and in the 5th minute, a direct free kick from the left side of the penalty area was caught by player Nozawa. In the 7th minute, player Fukuda took a dribble shot from a long counter, but it missed to the right of the goal and escaped danger.
Tokyo, who wants to find an attacking opportunity, has been struggling to create chances due to scenes where passes are misplaced after being taken. They have been constantly frustrated by Shonan's defensive network, which anticipates and reacts to second balls and closes off passing options.
In the 10th minute of the first half, Matsuki had a chance for a direct free kick on the right side. He swung his right foot sharply and the shot went over the opponent's wall, but the ball aimed for the upper right corner of the goal was blocked by the opponent's goalkeeper's save.
As the period of time where it is difficult to create scoring opportunities continues, a big chance comes to Tokyo.
In the 44th minute of the first half, Matsuki started a fierce dash towards the front line after receiving the ball from Nakagawa, who had taken the ball in their own half. Araki then dribbled up the field and supplied a perfectly timed through pass. Nakagawa received the ball in the open space ahead and attempted to slide it in with his right foot while keeping an eye on the opponent's goalkeeper, but unfortunately it missed just to the left of the goal, unable to shake the net for the opening goal.
Tokyo, who missed a close chance, faces their biggest danger of the first half in the following play. Shonan expands from the center to the right and crosses in the negative direction in the area. This is directly decided by Lukian, who ran in from the back, with his right foot. However, VAR's follow-up is made for this goal, and it is judged that the shot changed course due to hitting the opponent player's hand, and the goal is cancelled. The first half ends with a scoreless tie.
2ndHALF - Tenacious defense and Tokumoto's left foot lead to victory!
Tokyo, who wants to take the initiative, is attacked first in the second half and a big chance is created.
In the 5th minute of the second half, a left cross was crossed back to Yamada, who broke through and scored in front of the goal. However, this was once again avoided by an offside decision. In the 8th minute of the second half, Suzuki took a powerful middle shot with his right foot, but Nozawa blocked it and saved it. In the 10th minute of the second half, Yamada was cut in and shot, but Nozawa stretched out his right hand and saved the ball that caught the left corner of the goal. He truly saved the team with a series of "guardian angel" big saves.
Tokyo, who continues to receive against Shonan who attacks with momentum. Player Nozawa's great save raises the team's overall defensive awareness.
In the 14th minute of the second half, a decisive scene was created in the penalty area, but player Nozawa made a crucial clearance right on the goal line, and player Matsuki cleared the loose ball with a bicycle kick. Even when the loose ball was picked up and a shot was taken, player Nozawa once again made a fantastic save from close range.
In the 19th minute of the second half, once again, both players, Nakagawa and Araki, launched a sharp counterattack from the front line and created a big chance. Araki received a pass from behind and sent it directly to the space on the right side. Nakagawa, who had broken through at top speed, timed his run and crossed it to the center, but it narrowly missed Araki, who had run into the goal area. The team continued to attack sharply while maintaining a strong defensive awareness.
In the second half of the 24th minute, Tokyo made a substitution, bringing on Soma ANZAI on the right wing and Diego OLIVEIRA as the lone striker, in an attempt to turn the tide of the game.
After that, Erik's stable saves continue. In the 25th minute of the second half, he firmly caught a powerful middle shot allowed from near the penalty arc. In the 29th minute, he stretched out his left hand to deflect a powerful shot from the near upper course in the penalty area.
The defense continued to show resilience. It was in the 34th minute of the second half, after enduring and enduring with the entire team.
When Nakamura passed the ball in a deep position on the right side of the opponent's field, Shuhei TOKUMOTO ran into the area in front of the goal, where the opponent was weak. Just before that, PREMIST number 43, who was subbed in, used his strong left foot to score a powerful mid-range shot into the bottom right corner of the goal, finally giving Tokyo the lead.
The distinguished hero dashed straight to the goal end and shared the joy with the away fans and supporters who rushed to the scene. Teammates also ran over and a circle of joy was formed right in front of the blue and red goal end. In the previous match against Iwata, the lefty who had assisted the equalizing goal in just 5 minutes after coming on as a substitute, this time pulled off a big play with his first touch after being brought on.
In the final stage, Kosuke SHIRAI, who returned from injury, was brought in. Tokumoto, who is a full-back, and SHIRAI, were both placed on the sides of the midfield, and the formation was changed to a 2-top with Diego TABA and Yasuaki ANZAI. They successfully defended with a 6-back formation depending on the situation, and were able to secure 3 points away from home.
A victory that was truly brought about by the defense's perseverance. The team showed a united front in this crucial match that marks the halfway point of the season. After the game, they responded to the banners held up by the fans and supporters in the stands, saying "Let's go higher! We can do it" and "We will make a comeback in the second half". With this win as a catalyst, they aim to climb up the ranks in the second half of the season, which begins in three days.
MATCH DETAILS
＜FC Tokyo＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Hotaka NAKAMURA/Masato MORISHIGE/Tetsuhiro OKA/Yuto NAGATOMO
MF Kusei MATSUKI (45+2 minutes: Kosuke SHIRAI)/Takuya TAKU (33 minutes: Riki HARAKAWA)/Kei KOIZUMI
FW Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (33 minutes: Shuhei TOKUMOTO)/Teruhito NAKAGAWA (23 minutes: Soma ANZAI)/Ryotaro ARAKI (23 minutes: Diego OLIVEIRA)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
FW Jája SILVA
GOAL
34' Shuhei TOKUMOTO
＜Shonan Bellmare＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Sonbomgun
DF Tachi Koki (41st minute: Takuya Okamoto)/Kazunari Ohno
MF Yuto Suzuki/Masaki Ikeda (28th minute: Akito Suzuki)/Satoshi Tanaka/Junnosuke Suzuki/Naoaki Yamada (28th minute: Taiga Hata)/Kosuke Onose (41st minute: Hisatsugu Ishii)
FW Lucian/Sho Fukuda
SUBS
GK Hiroki MAWATARI
DF Kazuki OIWA
MF Kohei OKUNO
GOAL
―
[Interview with Peter CKLAMOVSKI]
Q, please review the game.
A, as expected, it was a very tough battle away from home. Shonan Bellmare plays really good football. Within that, there were parts that we needed to test and challenge ourselves. I am proud that the players fought through a difficult game while maintaining their discipline.
We were able to be seen positively in the game. We want to continue to build on that and there are still areas that we need to improve and extend. Before the game, we talked about how "this game is not something that someone will give us victory, we have to win it ourselves." The players fought really well for the club, the fans and supporters and were able to take 3 points. Teppei OKA played as a starter for the first time in the league and I think it was a performance that will stay in his memory forever. Also, on Diego OLIVEIRA's birthday, we were able to give him the best celebration with 3 points.
Q, What was the reason it was difficult to go for the ball from the front, even though the time to receive the opponent's attack was long?
In situations where we were able to take the ball in second ball or loose ball situations, I think it led to good outcomes. On the other hand, when the ball was taken by the opponent, we were pushed back into a difficult situation. This is one area where we could have played more efficiently. As a positive aspect, there were parts where we had to desperately defend. In the midst of that, executing our plays resulted in a clean sheet. One important thing was that we were able to take advantage of good spaces and get behind the opponent. However, there were also times where we needed to play more efficiently. We want to thoroughly analyze our performance and take steps towards growth.
Q, I think it was a clean sheet that couldn't have been achieved without Taishi Brandon NOZAWA's big save among the 20 or more shots taken. Please evaluate his performance.
A, he did a great job as a goalkeeper. It was the result of the hard work of the goalkeeper team. I am proud that he showed his strength in today's game, where we needed to see the results of our hard work.
Q, Shuhei TOKUMOTO assisted in the previous round and scored the winning goal today.
First of all, about Tokumoto's goal, he made an impactful performance as a substitute player. Diego, Soma Anzai, and Kosuke Shirai fought well when they were substituted onto the pitch. It is important for substituted players to make an impact and contribute during the game. This leads to us being able to fight strongly towards the end of the game. I hope that the substituted players can make an impact and push the opponent away. Tokumoto made a great shot and shook the net, it was a fantastic job. The purpose of putting in substitute players is to keep each position fresh and continue our fighting style on both offense and defense. They fought according to that purpose.
[Player Interview]
Shuhei TOKUMOTO
Q, it was a goal with a first touch after substitution. Please review the scoring scene.
A, we were breaking down the right side in a good shape, and when we were in a deep position, Yuto NAGATOMO was also in the penalty area, so I was waiting behind. Then the ball came, so all I had to do was shake it off.
Q, Today I played in a higher position instead of as a side back. What was your mindset?
A, Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI was expecting plays that would lead to goals, such as the free kick in the previous match against Júbilo Iwata, and I myself knew that it was necessary to connect good attacks from solid defense. In that sense, I think we were able to respond to the coach's orders by scoring in the first play.
Q, I was able to leave results with assists in the previous round and goals in this round.
I think it's the result of not giving up. This season, there were many scenes where the full-back players achieved results, so I think it was good that it paid off in these two games while secretly thinking "me too, me too" and working hard every day.
Q, we will have another consecutive game from here. I think the overall strength of the team will be tested.
A, I do not think it is acceptable to be in this position. There are many strong players in Tokyo, so I believe that the fact that we are able to train hard and defend until the end in front of the goal today is due to that. We will fight with the strength of the entire team, so let's fight together in the second half as well.
＜Taishi Brandon NOZAWA player＞
Q, it's a victory on the clean sheet. Please review the game.
A, I am really happy that everyone stuck together and we were able to win 1-0. I am most happy that I was able to contribute to the team's victory. I have always only wished for the team's victory, so I am happy that I was able to contribute through my play.
Q, what was the reason for finishing with a clean sheet?
A, I think the biggest factor in our victory was that we were able to maintain a 0-0 score despite feeling a bit anxious when the opponent had a long period of attack. It was important that we didn't become negative about the flow of the game and that everyone stayed focused in front of the goal.
Q, there were also scenes where Taishi Brandon NOZAWA started quickly from the build-up.
A, I was trying to make the opponent create a block quickly, so at the moment the situation changed, I thought that if I quickly put it out to the space before letting the opponent prepare, the opponent might also change, and I was aiming for a quick restart.
Q, the second round of the J1 League will start with the Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo match.
We will have a two-game series at home at Ajinomoto Stadium, so we want to deliver a victory to our fans and supporters, and above all, we want to make it a fun game for them to come to the stadium. Winning is the most important thing, but even if we are pushed back like we were today, I want to win in the end and share the joy with our fans and supporters.
<Teppei OKA>
Q, it was my first starting appearance in the league match and we won without conceding any goals.
A, throughout the 90 minutes we were in a tough situation, but first and foremost we were conscious of keeping a clean sheet. As a result, with the support of VAR, the goal was not allowed. However, there were also scenes where the goal net was shaken in the first half, and I think we need to make adjustments for not being able to push Yuto NAGATOMO out when we allowed the opponent to enter that far, and for not being able to put my body on the line at the end. It was my first start in a league game as an individual, but I wasn't too nervous. I felt that I needed to predict and prepare earlier in order to match up with Lukian and to respond to Fukuda's runs behind. However, I think that winning and being able to make adjustments will be a big step forward for both me and the team.
Q, We played until the end without losing focus. How did you approach the game, including your collaboration with Masato MORISHIGE?
A, I think the reason we were able to maintain our concentration was because everyone continued to encourage each other until the end. In terms of risk management when we were attacking, there were many scenes in the first half where our shots were picked up by the opposing players. In the second half, I talked with Morishige about preparing earlier to pick up more second balls.
Q, as we reach the halfway point of the league, we will have back-to-back home games against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo and Avispa Fukuoka with only 3 days in between. Please share your enthusiasm for these upcoming games.
A, I want to prepare myself firmly without getting too excited or depressed. I also want to make good preparations as an individual and as a team so that the team can win.
