<Last Match Review: Nagoya Grampus>
One game, one victory. The one who shone in the game with a strong determination was the number 10, who had been holding back so much frustration up until now, and everyone involved with Tokyo approached the game with a strong mindset.
Keigo HIGASHI, who was named in the starting eleven for the first time this season in the league match. The 34-year-old, who has struggled to get playing time, finally seizes the opportunity and shines on the pitch.
After 40 seconds of starting, he took the team's first shot and controlled the game with accurate positioning and precise passes, reading the development from the defensive midfielder position. He continued to strengthen his presence while maintaining the overall balance.
In the 13th minute of the first half, Teruhito NAKAGAWA took advantage of the open space by shifting the opponent's defense with a free run to the front line, and scored the opening goal by following up on the rebound from his daring dribble shot. His early strike helped the team and ignited the Japan National Stadium, with chants praising him echoing from the goal end.
"Teru took a bold shot and it fell in a good spot. I didn't expect it to roll over to this side, so it was lucky. I went through some tough times, but I always believed that chances would come and practiced for it. It was great to score a valuable first goal. Maybe it was a reward (that the ball rolled) in front of me. I am grateful to the god of soccer."
I definitely wanted to win. "Even during a difficult time, the fans and supporters, including the Sanfrecce Hiroshima match, gave us a boost and it had an impact on the players. We knew we had to respond," said the veteran who led the team. After that, the team continued to control the game with sharp attacking and skillful ball possession, typical of Tokyo. They scored a total of four goals, including Diego Oliveira's penalty kick, Takahiro KO's first goal in blue and red, and Nakagawa's powerful final goal, securing a comfortable victory. They extended their unbeaten record at the new Japan National Stadium and achieved their first win in seven league matches.
After the game, the players linked arms in the goal end and shared the joy with the entire stadium with a long-awaited victory's "You'll Never Walk Alone".
"I thought Tokyo's fans and supporters were the best, and I need to work even harder for them. There are still challenges for the team, and if we are satisfied with just one win, it will be the end. I have experienced the "Yuruneva" (relaxed atmosphere) while competing for the championship, so I want to take it one step at a time to get back there."
Not over yet. I want to respond to the people who are supporting me with results. The determination of the number 10, who fights with the pride of blue and red, turned into a game that excited 55,896 people who gathered at the Japan National Stadium.
<Match Preview>
"We got the long-awaited white star at our national stadium." We took on Nagoya Grampus and scored a massive 4 goals, securing our first league victory in about 2 months.
The blue and red army overcame numerous frustrations and seized victory with a spirited battle. The game saw midfielder Keigo HIGASHI, who made his first start of the season, become a balancer and score the opening goal in the 13th minute to boost the team's momentum. The team then pressed high, countered quickly, and attacked from the sides under a unified consciousness, constantly threatening the opponent's territory and maintaining a high ball possession rate to calmly control the game. It was also a game where the experienced players stood out, with Takahiro KO scoring his first goal for the blue and red team and Teruhito NAKAGAWA contributing to 3 goals, including one of his own.
This is the first league victory in about two months since the Albirex Niigata match in the 23rd round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League on July 13. The team has overcome a difficult period of six games without a win and is now riding on momentum. They hope to use this momentum to secure a consecutive victory in the upcoming match against Urawa Reds and make a comeback.
In addition, this week, Soma ANZAI, who had been absent due to a broken nose, has fully joined the team practice. As a player who can play in multiple positions, there is no doubt that his return will greatly strengthen the team.
Urawa, on the other hand, won 1-0 against Gamba Osaka in their away match last week. They dismissed their coach, Mateus Hegmo, at the end of August and brought back Maciej Skorza, who had been in charge until last season. They secured their first victory under his leadership. This was their first league win since June 30th. After going through major changes, the team has finally emerged from a long tunnel, just like Tokyo.
Since the last time we played at the Japan National Stadium in April, there have been major changes in player composition. Many players such as Sakai, Ito, and Iwao have left the team, and Honma, Naganuma, and Nitta have been acquired. Furthermore, on September 1st, former Japan national team player Haraguchi returned after 10 seasons and made a substitute appearance in the previous match. He was used in the defensive midfield position and contributed to the victory in his first official match for Urawa in 3,758 days. The veteran with a strong mentality also hopes to play an attacking role, making him a player that Tokyo should be wary of regardless of how he is used.
This round will be a homecoming game for Coach Skorza and Player Haraguchi, but for Tokyo, who will be away, they will want to show a level of intensity that will not be overshadowed by the unique atmosphere of Saitama Stadium 2002. If they can continue the determination shown at the National Stadium, the strategic game play, and the united battle between the pitch and the stands, victory is sure to be within reach.
[Interview with Peter Cklamovski]
Q: How do you plan to continue your winning streak from the previous match?
A, As I mentioned last week, it is important to continue with a good performance in the next game. The Urawa Reds match is just about continuing the good parts as well.
Q, Urawa, who will be playing against us this week, also won last week and is a team that is on the rise.
A, it is a good team, but we want to focus on how we will fight against Urawa. We want to embody the team's rules, show high performance, and work hard to achieve results. Urawa has high-quality players, but in terms of attack, it is important to effectively use the opponent's space, make runs behind the opponent's defense, and not lose in negotiations. In terms of defense, I believe that standing strong against the opponent who moves the ball without breaking the compact formation will lead to a clean sheet.
Q, What points should I pay attention to in the away game against Urawa?
A, Maciej SKORZA, who has left many things at the club (Urawa) so far, returns as a coach and after winning the last match, they will come back home. It is important not to be overwhelmed by the atmosphere of the opponent's home. In order to do that, it is important to play our football, control the game, and score the first goal, which will give us an advantage in the match. By expressing such a game on the pitch, I believe we can remove the emotions unique to away games. I want to deliver the joy that will make Tokyo fans and supporters jump for joy.
[Player Interview]
Kota TAWARATSUMIDA
Q, it was my first start in a while in the previous match against Nagoya Grampus.
A, the team won 4-1, but I couldn't show any numbers such as goals or assists. I am not satisfied with anything as an individual, so I want to prepare well for the next game.
Q, please tell us the reasons why we were able to score 4 points against Nagoya, while we were away from victory for a while.
A, it seems that the team as a whole has gained momentum by taking the first goal. Momentum is important in playing, and I hope to continue the victory of the previous round to the Urawa game.
Q, Starting lineup for the first time since the Kashiwa Reysol match on July 6th. The team also went through a tough period during the same time, but what did player Tawaradzuma Takada do during that time?
A, I have been continuously working on the accuracy and quality of crosses since the start of this season, and have been strongly aware of it during training. I believe that continuous effort is crucial, and what we have been doing and building up will lead to our performance in the game. I want to continue working on it in the future.
Q, In the previous match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA assisted in scoring. I think that goal led to the victory against Nagoya.
A, In the previous match against Nagoya, the opponent set up a solid defensive block and defended by crowding around the ball, creating a situation where there were always many opposing players in front of us. In the match against Hiroshima, it was towards the end of the game and the game was more open. In such a situation, spaces are created and our strengths can be utilized, and we can also make plays like the one where we assisted Kobayashi's goal by carrying the ball forward. On the other hand, when facing a defense like Nagoya's that doesn't give us any space, it becomes a key point to figure out how to break through.
Q, this round is a match against Urawa Reds. In the previous match, Tawarazumi Tada's assist led to the winning goal.
First of all, I think it is important to have a consciousness of shooting. When we are not in good condition, we cannot carry the ball to the shooting, and it gives the impression that we cannot finish the attack with a shot. I want to approach this game with a strong awareness of that.
＜Kei KOIZUMI player＞
Q, This week's away game is against Urawa Reds. Please tell us what we need to do to continue our winning streak.
A, I think that focusing on the results and content of the Urawa game, rather than dwelling on the previous game, will lead to consecutive wins. The biggest factor in our victory against Nagoya Grampus was that we were able to fight harder than our opponents at a fundamental level. Our proactive attitude and ability to fight harder than our opponents led to many chances and ultimately, the victory. By focusing on fundamental aspects and the necessary pace in our fights, I believe the chances of winning will increase. I think this is what is expected of each and every player.
Q, Was it because Koizumi was able to express the "fundamental part" that he was able to achieve a long-awaited victory in the previous match?
A, about two months away from victory, both the team and individual players struggled a lot. As a result of everyone searching for "how to win", we were able to achieve victory against Nagoya. What I felt on the pitch was that we were able to win against the opponent in the game situations. Winning in these situations has a big impact on the outcome of the game, and if we can't surpass the opponent, it becomes difficult to achieve both the game content and the result. Of course, this "fundamental aspect" is absolutely necessary in every game. Perhaps, I feel that it is also being demanded not only from us, but from the entire J-League.
Q, you played as a right back for the first time in a while in the Nagoya game. How do you feel about the challenges and response again?
As a side back player, there are still many challenges. I feel unsatisfied and want to demand more from myself in terms of contributing to goals and defending against opponents. There were also many scenes where I was saved by the opponent's mistakes. I want to improve firmly and continue to raise the parts that I was able to express in the Nagoya game. I feel like I can do more, and I have to do more, so I want to prepare well regardless of my position for the team to win.
