Match Review
Finally, this day has come. It is the last match of Diego OLIVEIRA, who has led the team wearing the number 9 jersey for a long 7 seasons since the 2018 season. In the goal area, dyed thoroughly in blue and red, messages were displayed, and during the player entrance, a vibrant choreography of "9" and the word "DIEGO," along with the familiar chant, welcomed him.
Furthermore, this match will be the last time that head coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI and goalkeeper Tsuyoshi KODAMA, who have been in charge since last summer, will fight together due to the expiration of their contracts. All we want is victory. We welcomed the last kickoff of the season at Ajinomoto Stadium.
1st HALF - Two goals that convey the determination for victory
The intensity from Tokyo was palpable on this day. They did not back down in battles for the ball, quickly transitioning between offense and defense, and when they gained possession, they charged towards the goal with power. In the 6th minute of the first half, during a set piece, Kanta DOI's shot unfortunately missed, preventing them from taking the lead, but they succeeded in scoring first with a brilliant attack in the 12th minute of the first half.
Diego, who picked up the second ball in the opponent's territory, passed it to Ryotaro ARAKI, who did not miss the exquisite course and made a through pass. Teruhito NAKAGAWA, who received this, scored with a perfect trap using his right foot and shared the joy with Diego.
Tokyo, aiming for additional goals, gathers the ball to number 9 in the last match. In the 26th minute of the first half, they brought the ball to a shot from a counterattack, and in the 37th minute, they headed a cross from Kosuke SHIRAI, unleashing a powerful header. However, both attempts were saved by the opposing goalkeeper, resulting in no goals.
Still, the team's momentum did not wane, and in the 42nd minute of the first half, the second goal emerged. Connecting the ball firmly from their own half, it reached Keita ENDO waiting on the left side, who then made a move. Although the cross was deflected, Takahiro KO reacted to the loose ball in the penalty area and struck it directly, with the ball hitting the opponent's defender and being sucked into the goal.
With no complaints about the content and results, Tokyo successfully turned the tide at halftime.
2nd HALF - Maintain concentration for additional points, conclude the season with a victory
The momentum and focus of Tokyo remained unchanged in the second half. In the 6th minute of the second half, they faced a crisis, but Taishi Brandon NOZAWA made a calm save as usual, ensuring they did not lose control.
Then, in the 18th minute of the second half, when the substitution of Diego TABA was announced, the players from both teams formed an aisle at the center line to send him off in his final appearance, and the stadium was filled with loud applause.
After that, the match resumed with lingering excitement, but players who entered the pitch later, such as Kota TAWARATSUMIDA, Keita YAMASHITA, and Kei KOIZUMI, brought further dynamism to the team. In the 28th minute of the second half, YAMASHITA picked up a cleared ball in his own half and directly passed it to ENDO on the left side, who delivered a sharp cross in front of the goal with one touch. This was pushed in by TAWARATSUMIDA, who had made a run in from the right side with his right foot. However, due to VAR support, ENDO's position was ruled offside. The goal was disallowed, but Tokyo's momentum did not stop.
Tokyo, maintaining their attacking posture, repeatedly approached the opponent's goal and scored their third goal from a corner kick in the 43rd minute of the second half. Henrique TREVISAN connected with a precise ball from Araki with a high point. Although his header hit the post, he quickly reacted to the rebound and pushed it in with his left foot, sealing the victory.
The game that we absolutely had to win ended 3-0. On this day, Diego TABA left the pitch with a smile, savoring the victory.
After the match, a final ceremony was held, where Coach Klamovski and Captain Kei Koizumi gave their greetings, followed by Diego TABA expressing gratitude to the fans, supporters, and everyone involved in Tokyo. Surrounded by the unending Diego chant, the 2024 season came to a close at Ajinomoto Stadium.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Kosuke SHIRAI/Kanta DOI/Enrique Trevisan/Soma ANZAI
MF Takahiro UHIRO/Keigo HIGASHI (26th minute: Keisuke KOIZUMI)/Ryotaro ARAKI (45+2 minute: Leon NOZAWA)
FW Diego Oliveira (18th minute: Kota TAWARAZUMI)/Keita ENDO (45+2 minute: Yuto NAGATOMO)/Teruhito NAKAGAWA (26th minute: Keita YAMASHITA)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
DF Teppei OKA
GOAL
12th minute of the first half: Teruhito NAKAGAWA/42nd minute of the first half: Takahiro KO/43rd minute of the second half: Henrique TREVISAN
<Cerezo Osaka>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Kim Jin-hyeon
DF Ryosuke Shindo/Hayato Okuda/Daitaki Tameida (substituted at 44 minutes: Ryo go Yamazaki)/Ryuya Nishio
MF Shunta Tanaka/Hiroaki Okuno (substituted at 44 minutes: Satoki Uejo)/CAPIXABA (substituted at 18 minutes: Kyohei Noborizato)/Lucas FERNANDEZ (substituted at 18 minutes: Hiroto Yamada)
FW Leo Ceara/Sota Kitano (substituted at 0 minutes: Masaya Shibayama)
SUBS
GK Yan Han-bin
DF Koji TORIUMI
GOAL
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[Peter CKLAMOVSKI Coach Interview]
Q, please review the game.
<div>A, it was a tough match as expected. Cerezo Osaka has good players and I think they are a very good team. It was important to thoroughly play our own game and deliver a performance as a team. We followed the rules of the game properly and I believe we delivered a performance worthy of victory. I am proud that the players gave their all to make this a special day. It was also a special day for the club legend Diego OLIVEIRA. And Tsuyoshi KODAMA is also a club legend. I believe all the players and staff secured the victory for them and for everyone who loves Tokyo.
Q: The counterattack worked well against C Osaka, was it the development you aimed for?
A, we were able to use that advantage effectively. I believe we were able to connect our build-up play to the goals up until the second goal. I think we successfully linked from the goalkeeper all the way to shaking the net. The players skillfully utilized the spaces we had analyzed as usable. I think it was a very good goal.
Q, I think it was ideal that Diego OLIVEIRA was two goals behind before being substituted.
A, we might have been able to score a few more goals, but we fought with very high motivation. The plan was to use Diego for about 80 minutes. However, he gave his all until he ran out of gas at 60 minutes. He is a legend of our club, and we are grateful to C Osaka for sending him off in that manner. It must have been a match that will remain in his memory for a lifetime as well.
Q: What has the past 7 seasons been like since coming to Japan?
A, I think there were many chapters. Various things happened. For both me and my family, Japan feels like home. I want to express my gratitude to everyone I have been involved with over these seven years. I have met truly wonderful people. This applies both in football and outside of football. Those people will remain in my heart for a lifetime. I am truly grateful to the clubs I have been involved with so far. Family and friends last a lifetime. Now, a special chapter is coming to a close, but I believe it will continue in another place. I will come back here again someday.
[Player Interview]
＜Diego OLIVEIRA＞
Q, thank you for your hard work during your active career.
A, today truly became an unforgettable day. Once again, the fans and supporters cheered for us, making it a truly wonderful ending. Being able to retire in front of all of you whom I love is something I am sincerely happy about. I felt that you all respect and love me. It is because of all of you that I was able to come this far. I want to express my gratitude to all of you.
Q: Before the match, a choreography was displayed, and during the substitutions, the players of Cerezo Osaka also helped create a flower path.
First of all, I would like to thank the players of C Osaka, everyone involved, and the fans and supporters for respecting me. Also, from the warm-up, I could feel the fans and supporters of Tokyo calling my name and cheering for me. It truly makes me very happy.
Q: What kind of club has Tokyo been for Diego TABA?
A, it has been a long football career, and among them, Tokyo has been the club where I spent the longest period. It is a club to which I have devoted so much effort that I can say it encompasses my entire life. And I am truly grateful to the fans and supporters who have fought alongside us. They are unforgettable, and I believe everyone will always remain in my heart.
Q: How would you like Tokyo to develop in the future?
A, from now on I want to support Tokyo as a fan and supporter, and I want to stand by the team. I am leaving the club, but I hope everyone can win the league title that is their goal. Although I will be far away, I will always be cheering for you.
<Teruhito NAKAGAWA>
Q, please review today's game.
A, it was the final home game of the season, and many fans and supporters came rushing to Ajinomoto Stadium. I believe the strong desire and unity to surely deliver a victory, especially for Diego OLIVEIRA who is retiring, led to the win.
Q: From the start of the first half, there were moments where the team showed passionate play.
A, we were able to enter this match with a higher level and awareness than usual in everything, and we want to make this our base. By doing so, I believe we can attract many good matches and victories. It was also an emotionally charged match for the sake of Diego TABA.
Q, didn't you feel the strength of the fans and supporters once again?
A, of course. We were surrounded by calls for Diego, and many people came to watch. I am most happy that we were able to win in front of many fans and supporters, in the best atmosphere. This season, we were unable to deliver a victory especially at our home, Ajinomoto Stadium, and I was filled with feelings of apology. I believe the players also approached the game with a strong desire to bring smiles at least at the end of this season. And I am glad that we were able to send off Diego with smiles.
<Takahiro KO>
Q, please review the goal scene.
A, I had the mindset of moving forward, and since the ball spilled after hitting the opponent, I focused on swinging my foot and was glad to successfully make contact with the opponent and get the ball in.
Q: Diego OLIVEIRA's last match as a player, the final match of the season, and various other situations occurred. What was your mindset going into the match?
A, It was a match we absolutely had to win, so everyone was fully motivated, and it was a very good game.
Q: The defense worked smoothly together and finished with a clean sheet. As a midfielder, how do you feel about the factors contributing to the defense?
A, there was also compactness, and even after scoring, including myself, we kept our focus and encouraged each other with the phrase "Let's finish with zero" towards the inside. I think there was a sense of unity there.
Q: Wasn't it a difficult season since you became captain midway through the season?
A, I myself came to Tokyo this season, and at first, there were quite difficult times, but I kept going with the desire to win. Including my growth, I was able to see various things. I want to continue working so that both I and the team can grow.
<Henrique TREVISAN>
Q, the additional goal that determined the victory was a wonderful goal.
A, I have been working hard all year hoping to score a goal, but I was disappointed that I couldn't score for a long time. I was happy to be able to score in the final match. Today was Diego OLIVEIRA's retirement match, and it was also the last match in Tokyo for Tsuyoshi KODAMA and Peter CKLAMOVSKI, making it a very important game. It is very sad that they will be leaving, but I am glad that I was able to score and help the team win.
Q. I reacted to the rebound of my own header shot faster than anyone else.
A, since we usually practice set plays, I was able to make a good heading shot from a good ball. It didn't go in directly, but the ball bounced off the goalpost and came loose in front of me, so I was able to quickly put my foot out and score.
Q: Isn't it a significant achievement that you finished today without conceding any goals?
A, winning is very pleasing, and for us defenders, I think it is very good to have won and also finished without conceding any goals. I am really glad that we were able to secure a victory in good form in the final match.
<Taishi Brandon NOZAWA>
Q, it was a victory with a clean sheet. Please review the game.
A, I can't say I performed perfectly myself, but I am confident in protecting the goal, so I am very happy to have achieved that in the form of a clean sheet. I think everyone played tough defense today, so I am also grateful to all my teammates.
Q: What were you conscious of in terms of defense?
A, if I had to say, it was game control. The timing of the opening goal was good, and we were able to score an additional goal in a good way. The second half became a bit more open, but even then, we skillfully exploited the opponent's gaps and were able to create opportunities up front. By effectively using long balls and short passes, I think we were able to create a good flow.
Q: I believe this match has become a culmination of our efforts in both offense and defense this season.
A, I am still not satisfied and not convinced yet. I wanted to compete, but I also deeply felt my own frustration at not being able to do so. However, at the same time, I learned a lot, and I think I was able to express that in today's match. I want to build on this for the next season.
