Match Review
This is a game we want to win at all costs.
With the interruption period due to the International Match Week coming to an end, the 2024 Meiji Yasuda J1 League resumes. Tokyo faced Nagoya Grampus at the new Japan National Stadium, where they have never lost in the past.
The team has been away from victory since the match against Albirex Niigata in Sec. 23 held on July 13 (Saturday). In the away game of Sec. 29 against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, affected by Typhoon No. 10, they managed to score two goals in the final moments, stopping the streak of four consecutive matches without scoring, but they did not reach victory. They entered the break with feelings of frustration.
This match is held at the National venue, which has a good compatibility. The players are fired up to deliver a victory to the fans and supporters who continue to cheer for them.
The starting lineup for Tokyo features goalkeeper Taishi Brandon NOZAWA, with the back line consisting of Kei KOIZUMI, Masato MORISHIGE, Henrique TREVIZAN, and Tetsuhei OKA from right to left. The midfield includes Keigo HIGASHI, who makes his first start of the league season alongside Yu HIGHTSU, while Ryotaro ARAKI is positioned as an attacking midfielder. Up front, Teruto NAKAGAWA plays on the right wing, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA on the left wing, and Diego OLIVEIRA as the lone striker. Additionally, Keita YAMASHITA returns to the official match bench for the first time in about 1 year and 4 months. Leon NOZAWA, who also made the squad, hopes to shine again at the National Stadium after scoring his first J1 league goal in the match against Niigata in Round 23.
1st HALF - Two goals ahead with Keigo and Diego
A louder version of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' resonates from behind the goal, tightening the atmosphere at the National Stadium. Additionally, special effect fireworks enhance the stadium just before the start. The players are dressed in the limited edition black 3rd uniform for this match, and the game kicked off at 19:03.
First shot is from Tokyo. In the first 40 seconds, they connect the ball from the left side, and player Higashi aims for a mid-range shot.
After that, Tokyo continued to possess the ball while looking for attacking opportunities. The play of both players, who had strong feelings about this match, changed the course of the game. It was in the 13th minute of the first half.
On the left side, Araki received the ball and delivered a sharp pass resembling a cross-field change that sliced through the opponent's defense. Nakagawa, who received this pass, powerfully carried it to the center and aimed with his right foot. The veteran duo, who were determined to respond with results, showcased their spirited play as Higashi capitalized on the rebound from the opposing goalkeeper. This marked the first goal for Tokyo since the last match against Niigata at the National Stadium. The stadium resonated with chants of "Oh! Keigo HIGASHI!" to celebrate the number 10 who scored the crucial opening goal.
Tokyo continued to push into Nagoya's territory, mixing short and long passes. Player Nakagawa showed a focused defensive effort with his pressing back, demonstrating a battle for control while managing risks against the opponent's counterattacks.
The determination for victory shown by the player wearing number 39. That feeling bears fruit once again. In the 29th minute of the first half, player Nakagawa ran forward to meet a long feed from player Morishige, quickly picking up the ball that the opposing defender failed to clear with his head and dribbling past. He then advanced into the goal area and was brought down from behind, earning a penalty kick. The kicker is Diego TABA. As usual, he took a few precise steps, deceived the opposing goalkeeper, and slotted the ball to the left, making the score 2-0 in the 31st minute of the first half.
The awareness of second balls, which had been a challenge since the resumption, was high, and there were almost no scenes of losing possession from aggressive plays and being countered. By firmly tightening the center of the final line, they were able to respond to crosses with stability and clear them away.
At the end of 3 minutes of added time in the first half, Tokyo led by 2 points at the break.
2nd HALF - Continuing unbeaten at National with goals from Yang and Teru
Tokyo made no changes to their lineup against Nagoya, who substituted two players at halftime. They approached the second half aiming to continue the momentum from the first half.
The opponent has intensified their attack from the sides, but Tokyo responded calmly. The players on the pitch kept the two-goal lead in mind and controlled the game without forcing a speed-up even after regaining possession of the ball. They firmly took the initiative and continued to advance the match.
In the 15th minute of the second half, three players were substituted. Kanta DOI, Yasuki KIMOTO, and Keita ENDO were sent onto the pitch to replace the opening goal scorer, Higashi, Henrique, and Tawaramizuki. DOI was utilized as a left defensive midfielder due to his technical skills.
Tokyo, not easing their offensive efforts, scored their long-awaited first goal in blue and red in the 20th minute of the second half, with the player wearing number 8. Near the penalty arc, Diego TABA and Araki maintained possession and spread the play to the left side. Endo made a vertical run, and Takahashi came in from the far side to strike with his right foot. The sharp trajectory pierced the goal net, securing Tokyo's decisive third goal in the match. For Takahashi, who had scored a 'phantom middle shot' (ruled out for a foul in the preceding play) in the Sec. 6 match against Urawa Reds at the National Stadium, this was the long-awaited first goal in blue and red. After scoring, he dashed towards the goal area, expressing his joy by making a strong fist pump with both hands while tapping the emblem on his chest with his right hand. The fans and supporters in the goal area shared the moment of joy with chants of 'Vamos! Yan.'
In the 31st minute of the second half, a powerful shot from the left side was taken by Kasper JUNKER, who scored a hat-trick in the previous match, but here, Taishi Nozawa made a fine save with just one hand. The defense is firmly supporting the attack's efforts.
In the 33rd minute of the second half, Leon NOZAWA was brought in as a right winger to replace Matsuki. Nakagawa took the position of attacking midfielder. This positional change led to further excitement at National. Having fought hard on both offense and defense since the first half, number 39, who contributed to two goals, experiences a moment of joy.
It was in the 35th minute of the second half. From a quick counterattack, player Endo carried the ball forward and made a through pass. Player Nakagawa, who broke free, struck a powerful left-foot shot from a dribble to score the fourth goal. He placed his hands on both ears and faced the stands, stopping there to fully absorb the cheers while listening to the chants. The man who said, 'I want to respond to those who support me with results no matter what,' left an overwhelming result, contributing to three goals, including his own, in front of a massive crowd of 55,896 people.
After conceding a goal in the 40th minute of the second half, Yamashita was brought onto the pitch in place of Nakagawa. It was his first official match appearance since returning to Tokyo, and he showed his presence by aggressively aiming for a shot.
The match ended 4-1 after 5 minutes of additional time. We showcased brilliant attacking football at "Our National Stadium," achieving a league victory for the first time in about two months with a total of 4 goals. The chant of "The City That Never Sleeps" echoed throughout the stadium, and with the victory song "You'll Never Walk Alone," the players and the entire Japan National Stadium shared in the joy. It was a night of excitement for both the National and Tokyo.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Keisuke KOIZUMI/Masato MORISHIGE/Henrique TREVISAN (15 min: Yasuki KIMOTO)/Teppei OKA
MF Hiroshi TAKAUCHI/Kegoro HIGASHI (15 min: Kanta DOI)/Ryotaro ARAKI (33 min: Leon NOZAWA)
FW Diego OLIVEIRA/Kota TABARU (15 min: Keita ENDO)/Teruhito NAKAGAWA (41 min: Keita YAMASHITA)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
DF Yuto NAGATOMO
GOAL
13th minute of the first half: Keigo HIGASHI / 31st minute of the first half: Diego OLIVEIRA / 20th minute of the second half: Takahiro KO / 36th minute of the second half: Teruhito NAKAGAWA
<Nagoya Grampus>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK LANGERAK
DF Akinari KAWAZURA/Kennedyegbus MIKUNI/Uchida Takaya (substituted at 0 minutes: Katsuhiro NAKAYAMA)
MF Ryosuke YAMANAKA (substituted at 21 minutes: Taichi KIKUCHI)/Keiya SHIIHASHI (substituted at 30 minutes: Kenbaei)/Inagaki Sho/Morishima Tsukasa (substituted at 0 minutes: Ryuji IZUMI)/Yuki NOGAMI
FW Casper JUNKER/Kensuke NAGAI (substituted at 21 minutes: PATRIC)
SUBS
GK Yohei TAKEDA
DF Ha Chan-Rae
GOAL
40 minutes into the second half: Sho INAGAKI
[Peter CKLAMOVSKI Coach Interview]
Q, please review today's game.
It was a match where we were able to showcase many important aspects of our commitments and good elements that lead to strong performances. There were many good points in the game, and among them, there were parts where what we did was rewarded. However, there are still areas for improvement, and we want to continue without changing the process we have been following. We will thoroughly analyze our performance and further improve our way of fighting. The players fought very well. I believe it was a wonderful mentality and spirit. They gave their all to seize the three points for our fans and supporters. And, a good goal was born connected to our performance. However, I regret that we could not finish without conceding a goal. That is an area we need to improve on.
There were many good moments. We were able to move the ball well into the spaces we wanted to use, and the four goals came from our strong awareness of pushing forward in the game. If we execute properly, we can create attacks that are difficult for the opponent to stop, and I believe that is something they dislike. I sincerely wanted to give the three points to our fans and supporters by giving it our all. I am proud of the players who carried that out. Moreover, it is not just today's members, but the strength of all the players, all the staff, and everyone involved with the club. And tonight, I hope everyone enjoys these three points.
Q: I think this is your first time scoring 4 goals this season. Was there any particular trigger for this?
A, what we have consistently built up this season was able to be shown today. While demonstrating our discipline and dedication, we were able to break through and aim for the back. During that time, there were moments when we could control the ball and effectively exploit the gaps, aligning with our intended strategy. What I want to analyze is what we do on a daily basis. Today, what we have been doing every day paid off. I think it was really great for the players to score four good goals.
[Player Interview]
<Keigo HIGASHI>
Q, it was the first goal in two months, please review the scoring scene.
A, due to injuries, I had fewer opportunities to play for over six months, but I am surprisingly the type to think a lot, so I have been considering what the team could do better and how things could improve. When Teruhito NAKAGAWA had the ball, I ran ahead, but I felt that there were few movements like that of a decoy to help teammates throughout the team. Looking at just that scene, Teruhito NAKAGAWA entered the box to shoot, and I shot at the rebound. That kind of movement is one of my strengths, and as a defensive midfielder, there aren't many scenes where I go forward, but in that moment, I happened to think to enter the area in front of the goal. It was fortunate that the ball came to me there.
Q: I think the ball was moving smoothly during the build-up.
A, today there were many player substitutions, and I think the players' personalities were well expressed in various situations. We performed well today, but there will be times when things don't go as planned, so we need to think about how to handle those situations. It's a small detail, but in terms of defense, when we need to go for the ball, it's important to maintain balance instead of forcing it, so judgment becomes crucial.
Q: It was impressive to hear you say, 'Let's have fun' before the match.
A, I believe that everyone starts playing soccer for fun. However, when you carry pressure and other burdens, it inevitably becomes constricting. Recently, everyone has been feeling that way. Watching the matches, everyone seemed stiff, so I thought that if we could play with smiles and enjoyment, it would naturally come together. Once again, soccer is fun, so if we tighten up where we need to and don't misinterpret how to enjoy it, the team can improve. I think today everyone moved in a good direction.
Q: Please share your enthusiasm for the next match.
A, we have only won once, so we cannot afford to be complacent, and we must continue to say that this ranking is not acceptable. The upcoming matches will become even more important than today. Starting tomorrow, we want to prepare thoroughly and aim for consecutive victories.
<Teruhito NAKAGAWA>
Q: Compared to the recent matches, it seems that the awareness of victory and goals has been high among the entire team, starting with player Nakagawa.
A, to play aggressively, I shed tears of regret in the last match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, so I focused only on expressing that frustration at the Japan National Stadium. That's why I believe we achieved such a wonderful result. Winning is the best.
Q, Keigo HIGASHI's opening goal was created from Nakagawa's middle shot.
There was also the option to pass to player Higashi before the shot, but seeing the movements of the opposing defense, I took a somewhat forceful shot. Since not much time had passed since the start, I wanted to instill a shooting mentality in the entire team. I believe it was a goal that Higashi scored at a good timing.
Q: It was a match where you could particularly feel the intention to target the space behind the opponent's defense.
While maintaining the approach of connecting where necessary, we were able to send the ball to areas that the opponent dislikes and effectively recover the second ball as a team. This strategy led to good opportunities for scoring and play.
Q: After the match, there was a scene where we sang 'Yuruneva' with the fans and supporters for the first time in a while.
To all the fans and supporters, thank you for always providing the best support. I can always feel your cheers and the amazing atmosphere on the pitch, and it was great to see everyone smiling and singing 'Yuruneva'.
<Takahiro KO>
Q: Please tell us the positive aspects of playing alongside Keigo HIGASHI as a defensive midfielder.
A, with Nagoya Grampus as the opponent, I felt that we could relatively draw out and move the ball. While thoroughly managing risks, we were able to actively and fluidly move with player Higashi, so I think that went well.
Q: I think the game management was very good.
It was significant that we were able to take the lead with A. Higashi's goal, and we also scored an additional point. There were voices in the locker room at halftime suggesting we aim for a third goal in the second half, so I’m glad we were able to decisively finish the game.
Q: Player Ko has finally scored his long-awaited first goal. How do you feel looking back on it?
A, it was good. I was delighted, but the cancellation from last time crossed my mind, and I thought it might be canceled again (laughs). It was the type of cross that the coach demands from the team, and it was a wonderful cross from Keita ENDO, so I was glad I could get in there and score with my instinct.
Q: How was the response from the fans and supporters behind the goal after the match?
During a long period of not being able to win, we had fans and supporters who cheered for us even in the midst of the typhoon during the last match, and I really wanted to deliver a victory as soon as possible. I'm glad we could celebrate together.
