Match Review
In the second half of the 2024 season, Tokyo welcomed Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo to Ajinomoto Stadium. With a record of 8 wins, 6 draws, and 5 losses, totaling 30 points, Tokyo finished the first half in 6th place. However, this season, they have struggled at home in 8 matches at Ajinomoto Stadium with only 1 win, 4 draws, and 3 losses. With the opening of the second half today, they hope to start strong and gain momentum for the future.
In the last match, Tokyo achieved a hard-fought victory against Shonan Bellmare away. For this midweek match, they made four changes to the starting lineup. Taishi Brandon NOZAWA took position as goalkeeper, and Kosuke SHIRAI, who returned from injury in the match against Shonan, was utilized as the right side back. Yasuki KIMOTO, returning from injury, entered as center back and partnered with Teppei OKA, who has been in the starting lineup for two consecutive matches.
Additionally, on the left side back, Shuhei TOKUMOTO, who scored a brilliant middle goal in the Shonan match, was included. The defensive midfielders are Takahiro KO and Riki HARAKAWA, with Kuryu MATSUKI positioned as the attacking midfielder. On the wings, Soma ANZAI is on the right and Kota TAWARATSUMIDA is on the left, with Ryotaro ARAKI as the lone striker. Furthermore, on the bench, players like Keita ENDO, who has recovered from injury, are ready to support the team, promising a strong lineup as they kick off for victory at home.
1st HALF - Gradually creating opportunities and approaching the goal
Sapporo has adopted a hybrid system based on a 3-6-1 formation, where midfielder Baba drops back to form a four-man defense. This has allowed them to create a numerical advantage against Tokyo's three forwards while marking closely. Tokyo connected their passes and sought attacking opportunities while pressing from the front.
In the early stages, both teams set their lines high, but Sapporo.D quickly fell back to a four-man defense, or even a six-man defense with both wide players returning, making it difficult to create chances. On the other hand, the defense, adopting a high-line defense aware of the risks, responded well to the opponent's quick counterattacks. In scenes where it seemed they might be in trouble from counterattacks, player Oka cut in sharply to snuff out the danger.
In the 27th minute of the first half, the guardian angel saves the team again, just like in the previous match. After a long ball was dropped in the front line, Sugai allowed a powerful left-footed shot, but Nozawa made a super save with a sharp dive to the right corner. This play reminded everyone of the previous match where the team endured in defense to secure victory, boosting the team's momentum.
Tokyo has struggled to create scoring opportunities as they would like, but gradually, as time passes, they begin to create chances.
In the 35th minute of the first half, Kimoto's feed from the final line allowed Shirai to break free on the right side and make a grounded cross. Araki then took a precise shot with his left foot, but unfortunately, it was cleared by the opposing defender.
This play triggers a fierce attack from Tokyo. In the 40th minute of the first half, Anzai provides a through pass that slices through the opponent's defensive line from the center of the pitch. Matsuki breaks free and approaches the goal, but just at the last moment, he is closed down by the opponent and unable to take a shot.
In the 43rd minute of the first half, Nozawa quickly broke out against the opponent's counterattack and made a wonderful long pass to the right side with a single touch. Matsuki, who broke free, sent a cross, and Araki attempted a volley shot after trapping it with his chest in the area, but this was also blocked by the opponent.
Just before the end of the first half, there was a direct free kick opportunity from a position at 45 degrees to the left. Player Harakawa aimed with his favored right foot, but the shot aimed at the upper left of the goal was thwarted by player Sugano's sharp reaction, failing to shake the goal net.
Tokyo struggled against the solid Sapporo defense that closely followed them, but gradually began to create good opportunities. The goal that would lead to a victory at home was carried over to the second half.
2nd HALF—Anzai scores the winning goal! A long-awaited victory at Ajinomoto Stadium!
In the second half, we attack towards the passionate fans and supporters behind the goal. From the start, the blue-red team intensifies the pressure towards the goal.
In the 2nd minute of the second half, player Tawaramizuki dribbled in from the left side and took a shot after cutting in. Following that, they attacked with a corner kick, a long throw, and a cross, while the opponent's counter was firmly deflected by player Nozawa with sharp reflexes. They heightened their awareness of the goal and supported the team in defense, moving forward together towards the 3 points at home.
In the 15th minute of the second half, a big chance was created from the left side. Tokumoto made a through pass with his left foot, slicing through the opponent's defense. Araki reacted sharply and broke free, but his sliding attempt to push the ball in just barely missed.
Tokyo, aiming for the opening goal at home, made a substitution in the 18th minute of the second half. Diego OLIVEIRA was brought in as the lone striker in place of Araki and Tawaramizuki, while Teruhito NAKAGAWA was added as the right winger. Anzai was moved to the left wing to launch an offensive.
Here, Kimoto had an injury incident, and in the 27th minute of the second half, Masato MORISHIGE was brought on. Immediately after, MORISHIGE headed back a strong feed from the opponent, which went to Matsuki in front. Captain's through pass was met by Anzai's sliding shot. The opponent's goalkeeper deflected it, but Diego TABA, who had rushed in at top speed, couldn't react in time, and the ball unfortunately went just outside the right side of the goal.
In the 33rd minute of the second half, Sugai shot from the left side again during a counterattack, but once again it was Nozawa who stood in the way of the ball aimed at the near post. With precise positioning and quick reactions, he defended the goal, while the entire team provided support from the back for the attackers aiming to score.
Victory at Ajinomoto Stadium──. The strong spirit of the team and the entire stadium finally culminates in the form of a first goal in the 39th minute of the second half.
As they attacked from the right side, player Harakawa made a one-touch floating pass to the far side. At this moment, player Anzai slipped behind the opposing defender and extended his left foot. The direct shot he took as the ball was dropping hit the crossbar and was sucked into the goal.
Anzai, wearing number 38, runs straight to the goal-line fans and supporters. When he scored his first professional goal that led to a draw in the match against Júbilo Iwata in Sec. 18, he said, "I want to seek more goals that lead to victories. As long as I am used in the front line, I want to meet expectations with results." He accomplished a significant feat with consecutive goals at Ajinomoto Stadium.
After 6 minutes of additional time in the second half, supported by the chant, "Let's burst forth, Tobitakyu! There's no way we can lose!", we finally marked our second league victory of the season at Ajinomoto Stadium. In a united battle that included fans and supporters, we achieved the victory at Ajinomoto Stadium that we desperately wanted, starting the second half of the season with the best possible result.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Kosuke SHIRAI (substituted in 45+3 minutes: Hotaka NAKAMURA)/Yasuki KIMOTO (substituted in 27 minutes: Masato MORISHIGE)/Teppei OKA/Shuhei TOKUMOTO
MF Kyuuma MATSUKI/Hiroshi TAKAUCHI/Riki HARAKAWA (substituted in 45+3 minutes: Kei KOIZUMI)
FW Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (substituted in 18 minutes: Teruhito NAKAGAWA)/Soma ANZAI/Ryotaro ARAKI (substituted in 18 minutes: Diego OLIVEIRA)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
FW Keita ENDO
GOAL
39th minute of the second half: Soma ANZAI
<Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Takanori SUGENO
DF Takao RU (substituted in 44th minute: Rei IEIZUMI)/Daihachi OKAMURA/Toya NAKAMURA
MF Hiromu TANAKA (substituted in 44th minute: Kosuke HARA)/Katsuyuki TANAKA (substituted in 27th minute: Shota NISHINO)/Seiya BABA/Daiaki SUGA/Yoshiaki KOMAI/Tatsuya HASEGAWA
FW Musashi SUZUKI (substituted in 38th minute: Shingo OMORI)
SUBS
GK Jun KODAMA
DF Yamato OKADA
FW Shido IZUMA
GOAL
―
[Peter CKLAMOVSKI Coach Interview]
Q: Please reflect on the match.
A, it was a good football match. I think Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo played very well, but overall I believe our performance was very good. Until about the 30-minute mark of the first half, it was an even match. At that point, we were able to stay calm, seize the flow of the game, and manage to maintain a good rhythm towards the end of the first half, allowing us to finish the first half in a good shape. I believe the players felt the same way, and we were able to continue that into the second half.
What was important was that we stayed focused, played at a good tempo, and fought patiently. I believed that if we could do that, we would score goals. We were able to control the game well on the pitch and responded effectively to the opponent's counterattacks. I believed we would score, and if we had been able to score a bit earlier, we might have been able to get a few more goals. With these 3 points, I want to recover well and prepare for the next match.
Q: There have been many late-game goals in recent matches. What factors do you think contribute to the timing of these goals?
First of all, football presents various challenges, and we must seize the flow ourselves within that. However, I believe it is important to play our own style without rushing. There were matches where we managed to do that, and at those times, I think we were able to control the game ourselves. However, in our previous battles, there were times when we easily conceded a goal during such matches where the score was 0-0, leading to a 0-1 situation. Today, we fought patiently and maintained our concentration, which I believe led to a wonderful goal by Soma ANZAI from a fantastic ball by Riki HARAKAWA. The players must also be happy to bring victory to the fans and supporters.
Q: Please tell us the intention behind bringing in Teruhito NAKAGAWA and Diego OLIVEIRA.
A lot was on my mind. I was thinking about putting Diego TABA in at the right time, and I believe the players who were substituted fought very well. What we want to create is a team that is difficult for the opponent to compete against for the full 90 minutes. The substitute players need to come in during the latter stages and continue our game, and we need to increase the intensity of the game so that we can fight until the end. I think the players today did that very well.
I was considering substituting either Kuryu MATSUKI or Ryotaro ARAKI to bring in some freshness, but Matsuki was showing good mobility during that time, while Araki seemed to be a bit physically fatigued. So, I decided to bring in Diego TABA. I used Nakagawa because Anzai was able to be a good starting point and made some good runs, and Kota TAWARATSUMIDA has had a lot of playing time up to this point, so I was also thinking about how much time to use him. That was the reason for today's substitutions. The players who came on as substitutes also made a very good contribution. I believe their performance was worth three points.
[Player Interview]
<Soma ANZAI>
Q, it was a goal that led the team to victory. Please review the scoring scene.
When Riki HARAKAWA entered the kicking motion, I thought the ball was going to come there. Rather than me adjusting to it, the ball came to my foot, so all I had to do was make contact. I believe I was able to score thanks to Riki.
Q: It has been two consecutive games with goals at home.
After being able to score one point, I felt a bit more relaxed and my mindset changed. I was overly focused on the need to achieve results, but now I think I can play more freely compared to that time. However, the numbers are still not satisfactory. First and foremost, the team's victory is the most important, but I also want to focus on my own results within that context.
Q: The match saw a rapid exchange of offense and defense from the first half.
A, today, we talked about coming together as a team to decide the match in the first half from the start. In attack, Kuryu MATSUKI and Ryotaro ARAKI led the press, while in defense, Yasuki KIMOTO and Teppei OKA focused on preventing the opposing forwards from playing. There were hardly any dangerous situations created, which was good. Currently, Tokyo has the ability to score 1 or 2 goals in a match. I believe that if we don't concede, we can control the game, so I think we were able to play without getting impatient even if the score was 0-0 for a long time.
Q: You worked hard until the end of the match. Your good condition is also evident.
A, my greatest weapon is hard work, and I believe that if I lose that, nothing will remain. Whether I score or not, whether we win or lose, I think it is essential to run and fight until the last second for Tokyo. I believe it will get hotter and the battles will become tougher in the future, but I want to be able to help the team with my strengths even in those circumstances.
Q, we will welcome Avispa Fukuoka to Ajinomoto Stadium in three days.
If we can start the second half of the season with consecutive wins at Ajinomoto Stadium, I believe the team will gain momentum. Since it's a series of matches, we will prepare well while recovering, and I want to approach the match against Avispa Fukuoka while addressing the issues that arose in the game against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo. I want to make sure we can achieve consecutive wins.
<Riki HARAKAWA>
Q, it was your first start in a while. Please review the game.
As always, I prepared to do what I needed to do and approached the match. I think it would improve even more if I could play while watching the opponent a bit more during attacking scenes. Also, if I can recognize my role in the attack while observing my teammates' movements and execute that role in a unified manner, I believe we can create attacks that lead to the next phase.
Q, I think risk management for Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo's counter was also necessary.
A, the opponent was marking man-to-man, so there were scenes where we lost the ball due to mistakes when trying to play the ball vertically. In that situation, we aimed to avoid losing the ball in a hurry by speeding up. Even when we lost the ball, there were moments where the defensive midfielder and center-back players managed to take care of it well, so I want to improve our quality further.
Q: During the course of the match, what kind of communication did you have with Takahiro KO?
A, both Takahiro KO and I are players who actively move forward, so we positioned ourselves to function as intermediaries. When one of us moved forward, the player who advanced performed the necessary plays, and if one remained, they did what was required in that position. I believe we were able to coordinate that well.
Q: How will you approach the match against Avispa Fukuoka in three days?
A, the opponent's approach will be completely different, so I think it will be a totally different match from today. Since we are close in rankings with Fukuoka, this match will be quite important considering our standings. I want to prepare well and approach the match with that in mind.
<Yasuki KIMOTO>
Q. Returned from a facial bone fracture and made a significant contribution to a victory without conceding any goals.
There was a difficulty in playing while wearing a face guard. There were moments when I couldn't secure my field of vision properly, but I think I was able to perform at a minimum level. The opponent was coming into today's match on a losing streak, but I was able to focus solely on winning against Sapporo.D without worrying about that at all. In the recent matches, I felt that as a team we weren't able to defend well from the front, so while I wasn't taking risks, I was consciously trying to be proactive in pressing from the front. The defense was somewhat man-to-man, but especially in the first half, I felt we were able to defend well without any major flaws.
Q: It was the first match where Teppei OKA formed a center-back partnership.
A, it was my first time, but I think I was able to maintain stable defense. I was helped by Okada's aggressive play and energetic performance that utilized his youth. In the partnership, Okada's confidence became my support. There is good competition in every position, and I believe it has a positive impact on the team. I think this match became a good opportunity for both Okada and myself.
Q: It was a long-awaited victory at Ajinomoto Stadium.
A, the players wanted to deliver a victory to the fans and supporters at home, and I am happy that we were able to win today's match. We have a match against Avispa Fukuoka at home this weekend, so if we can achieve consecutive wins here, I believe we can aim higher. While keeping the motivation to climb into the top ranks, I want to tighten my focus and approach the match once again.
