＜Match Review＞
Júbilo Iwata's match against Shonan Bellmare and FC Machida Zelvia will be their first official game in three weeks after suffering consecutive losses. During this time, many things have happened to the team. The announcement of Peter CKLAMOVSKI's resignation at the end of the season and Diego OLIVEIRA's retirement as a player. Although they cannot compete for the top spot in the remaining two games, there is a very important reason for the blue and red team to win.
From the match at Japan National Stadium, three players were changed in the starting lineup. Henrique TREVISAN started as center back, Teruhito NAKAGAWA returned from injury to play as right wing. Takahiro KO also returned to the starting lineup as a midfielder. And Diego TABA continued to lead the front line as usual. The blue and red fans and supporters gathered at Yamaha Stadium eagerly awaited the kickoff whistle, welcoming the number 9 ace with passionate chants.
1st HALF - Although they were passive in the beginning, they were able to grasp the rhythm and move on to the second half.
It will be a tough start for Iwata, who will be relegated to the J2 league if they don't win this match. They have been pushed back by their opponents, who have been taking high positions on both wings and sending in crosses. In the 10th minute of the first half, a cross from the left side was met by Matsushita on the right wing, causing a dangerous situation. In the 19th minute, they faced another threat when Matsubara, the left back, sent in a low cross and Jean jumped in. He managed to connect with the ball with his right foot, but it narrowly missed the goal post.
However, right after that, Keita ENDO's cross created a close chance for Diego TABA, gradually shifting the momentum and making the build-up from their own half smoother. In the 24th minute of the first half, Yasuki KIMOTO's header from a corner kick did not find the target and did not result in a goal, but it increased their control of the game.
And in the 39th minute of the first half, they created a chance from the flow of the game. Keigo Higashi, who picked up the second ball, entrusted it to Ryotaro Araki, and Nakagawa ran on the right side. Nakagawa's cross floated too high, and Diego Taba, who had jumped into the goal area, couldn't finish it, but they finally showed the attack they had been aiming for. The score remained unchanged, but they ended the first half in a good rhythm.
2ndHALF - Anzai scores first but allows a comeback
Diego TABA, who was injured just before the end of the first half, will be substituted in the beginning of the second half, and Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA will be brought in. Tokyo continued to dominate the game from the start of the second half, building on the rhythm they established in the first half. In the 6th minute of the second half, they broke through the right side after a wide play. Although NakaGAWA was able to pass through the ball from the near side, there was no one to finish it off, and they were unable to score.
Still, in the 8th minute of the second half, they finally shook the goal net from a short corner. Araki passed it to Nakagawa in front, who then entrusted it to Higashi. Higashi crossed it in and Soma ANZAI, who was waiting free, headed it in for the first goal.
It seemed like the game was progressing smoothly, but in the 32nd minute of the second half, an accident occurred. Yasuki KIMOTO fouled an opponent who had just entered the penalty area, resulting in a red card. From the resulting free kick, the opposing team scored an equalizing goal. The momentum quickly shifted against us and we ended up conceding a penalty kick near the end of the game. This was converted by player Julian and the score was turned around.
Unable to turn the tide against an opponent that could secure their survival with a win, we were unable to overcome a one-goal deficit in a numerical disadvantage, and the game ended 1-2. We were unable to end our losing streak and now only have one more game left in the 2024 season.
MATCH DETAILS
＜FC Tokyo＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Hotaka NAKAMURA (45+4 minutes in the second half: Leon NOZAWA)/Yasuki KIMOTO/Enrique Trevizan/Soma ANZAI
MF Kou Uyo/Keigo Higashi (34 minutes in the second half: Kei Koizumi)/Ryotaro ARAKI (21 minutes in the second half: Kota TAWARATSUMIDA)
FW Diego Oliveira (0 minutes in the second half: Tsuyoshi Kogashiwa)/Keita ENDO/Teruhito NAKAGAWA (34 minutes in the second half: Teppei Oka)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
DF Kosuke SHIRAI
GOAL
8 minutes into the second half: Soma ANZAI
＜Júbilo Iwata＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Eiji KAWASHIMA
DF Ueda MATSUYORI/Makito ITO/Keita TAKAHATA (18th minute of the second half: Kotaro FUJIKAWA)/Ricardo GLASSA
MF Masaya MATSUMOTO (11th minute of the second half: Mateus PEIXOTO)/Jordi CRUIJFF (45+11th minute of the second half: Shunsuke NISHIKUBO)/Shun NAKAMURA (11th minute of the second half: Rikiya UEHARA)/Rei HIRAKAWA (18th minute of the second half: Hiroki YAMADA)/Hiroto UEMURA
FW Ryo GERMAIN
SUBS
GK Ryuki MIURA
DF Kaito SUZUKI
GOAL
35' Second Half: Matheus Pei Shot / 44' Second Half: Hiroki YAMADA
[Interview with Peter CKLAMOVSKI]
Q, please review the game.
A, We are very sad that we made this game difficult for ourselves. We were able to perform well enough to deserve a 1-0 lead, but there were also situations where we could have scored a few more goals and put the opponent under pressure. Júbilo Iwata was in a situation where they were playing away at the opponent's home, so I think there were various emotions involved. We gave the opponent an opportunity and put pressure on ourselves. We are very disappointed to have lost in this way.
Q, what was the opponent's pressure like?
A, Iwata had been fighting with everything to get results. We were able to respond well to most of the time zones. There was a long ball that led to a goal, but we couldn't respond to it and ended up conceding from nowhere. I think we were able to respond well to the opponent's high intensity in other areas. In the midst of that, we became outnumbered and the flow went to the opponent, making it a game where they could get into the game. There were moments where we were scored from a free kick and a penalty kick, making it a difficult defeat. I think the players fought with everything to get three points. I am saddened by the fact that we gave away three points from ourselves in this way.
We want to recover firmly from the sadness of this defeat, and fight hard in next week's match. And as we head towards the final match of this season, we want to deliver 3 points to our fans and supporters, as well as to the club legend Diego OLIVEIRA.
[Player Interview]
＜Soma ANZAI＞
Q, please review the game.
Our weakness was exposed in the part where we allowed a comeback. I am frustrated and feel inadequate myself. We were aiming to win the last two games as a team, but we couldn't win today. However, I believe that winning the final game of the season will be the best way for me to repay Peter Cklamovski, our coach, and Diego Oliveira, our player, who have taken care of me. We will prepare to the fullest for the upcoming game.
Q, please review the scoring scene.
In the second half, Coach Yu TOKISAKI instructed us to take a short corner kick, saying that the ball would come there. I was in that position and received a good ball from Keigo HIGASHI, so I think it flew well into the goal even though there was some distance. Since the ball came as I had imagined, all I had to do was guide it in.
Q, it was your first time playing as a left back. What were you conscious of during the game?
A, players such as Keita ENDO, Henrique TREVISAN, and Ryotaro ARAKI helped us a lot. I think we had a good connection and were able to create good build-up plays, so our relationship was very good. We struggled with build-up in many games this season. I always thought about what kind of play I could make when I played as a full-back. Today, I think we saw the results of our build-up efforts.
<Keigo HIGASHI>
Q, Assisted Soma ANZAI's goal from a short corner. Please give us your thoughts.
A, the ball I kicked flew to a good place. I am grateful to player Yasuaki who scored for me. Coach Yu TOKISAKI made good preparations for the short corner and incorporated them into the players. There were also several corner kicks in the first half, and I think it led to a good goal. I think we were able to take the lead at a good time.
Q, we also faced pressure from the opponent and ended up losing in a comeback.
A, the last 15 minutes was a crucial time where we had to endure. When the opponent kicks rough balls, it often leads to a stretched out game, so we wanted to endure and effectively use the space behind them to turn the game around and score an additional point. At the timing of the conceded goal, I was on the bench, but we still lack the ability to control the game and take leadership on the pitch.
Q, the next match will be the last game of this season. Please give us your enthusiasm.
For player Diego OLIVEIRA, I have a strong desire to send him off with a victory no matter what. I have learned a lot from him not only as a player, but also as a person. I want to repay that by expressing it on the pitch, and I believe that victory is the ultimate form of respect.
