TOKYOism

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
-

[Peter CKLAMOVSKI Coach Interview]

Q, please review the game.
A, as expected, it was a tough match. I believe Cerezo Osaka has good players and is a very good team. It was important for us to execute our game properly and deliver a strong team performance. We followed the game plan well and I think we delivered a performance worthy of victory. I am proud that the players gave their all to make it 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 fought for them and for everyone who loves Tokyo to achieve victory.

Q: The counterattack worked well against C Osaka, was it the development you aimed for?
A, we were able to effectively utilize that advantage. I believe we connected our build-up play to the goal up until the second goal. I think we linked it well from the goalkeeper to shaking the net. The players did a great job using the spaces we analyzed as available. I think it was a really good goal.

Q, I think it was ideal that Diego OLIVEIRA was two goals behind before being substituted.
A, we could have scored a bit more, but we fought with very high motivation. The plan was to use Diego for about 80 minutes. However, he gave everything 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 way. It must have been a match that he will remember for a lifetime.

Q: What has the past 7 seasons been like since coming to Japan?
A, I think there were many chapters. There were various things that happened. For me and my family, Japan feels like home. I want to thank everyone I have been involved with over the past seven years. I have met truly wonderful people. This applies to football as well as outside of football. Those people will remain in my heart for a lifetime. I am truly grateful to all the clubs I have been involved with. Family and friends are things that last a lifetime. Now, a special chapter is about to close, but I believe it will continue in another place. I will come back here someday.

[Player Interview]
＜Diego OLIVEIRA＞

Q, thank you for your hard work during your active career.
A, today has truly become an unforgettable day. Once again, the fans and supporters cheered for us, making it a truly wonderful ending. It makes me so happy to retire in front of all of you whom I love. I felt that you all respect and love me. It is because of all of you that I have 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 express my gratitude to the players of C Osaka, the staff, and all the fans and supporters for respecting me. I could feel the Tokyo fans and supporters calling my name and cheering for me from the warm-up period. It truly makes me very happy.

Q: What kind of club has Tokyo been for Diego TABA?
A, it has been a long football life, and during that time, Tokyo has become the club where I have spent the longest period. It is a club to which I have devoted so much of my life. I am truly grateful to all the fans and supporters who have fought alongside us. You are an unforgettable presence, and I believe you will always be 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 be a source of support. I will be leaving the club, but I hope everyone achieves the league title that you are all aiming for. Although I will be cheering from afar, I will always support 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 to Ajinomoto Stadium. I believe the strong desire to deliver a victory, especially for the retiring Diego OLIVEIRA, and the sense of unity contributed to our 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 of awareness and performance than usual, and I want to use this as a foundation. I believe that by doing so, we can attract more good matches and victories. It was also an emotionally charged match for Diego TABA.

Q, didn't you feel the strength of the fans and supporters once again?
A, of course. I was surrounded by calls for Diego, and many people came to support us. I am most happy that we were able to win in front of many fans and supporters, in the best atmosphere. This season, I felt very sorry that we couldn't deliver victories at our home, Ajinomoto Stadium, and I believe the players were determined to end the season with smiles. I am glad that we were able to send off Diego with smiles.

<Takahiro KO>

Q, please review the goal scene.
I had the awareness to move forward, and when I challenged the opponent, the ball spilled out, so I focused on striking with my foot and it was good that I managed to hit the opponent and score.

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?
It was a match that we had to win at all costs, so everyone was fully engaged, 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 compactness, and even after scoring, we maintained our focus. Including myself, we were encouraging each other to "finish with zero." 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 some difficult times, but I kept going with the desire to win. I was able to see various things, including growth. I want to continue to work so that both I and the team can grow.

<Henrique TREVISAN>

Q, the additional goal that determined the victory was a wonderful goal.
I have been working hard for a year, wanting to score a goal, and I was disappointed that I couldn't do it until the final match, but I was happy to finally score. 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, I have always practiced set plays, so I was able to head the ball into a good shape from a good ball. It didn't go in as it was, but the ball hit the goalpost and bounced back 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嬉しい, and for us defenders, I think it's very good that we won and finished without conceding any goals. I'm really glad we were able to win in a good way in the final match.

<Taishi Brandon NOZAWA>

Q, it was a victory with a clean sheet. Please review the game.
I can't say that I was perfect myself, but I am confident in my ability to defend the goal, so I am very happy to have achieved that in the form of a clean sheet. I think we all put our bodies on the line for defense today, so I am grateful to everyone on the team.

Q: What were you conscious of in terms of defense?
If I had to say, it would be 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 within that, we were able to exploit the opponent's gaps and create opportunities in the front line. I believe we were able to create a good flow while effectively using long balls and short passes.

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 I do not feel convinced. I wanted to compete, but I also realized my own inadequacies in 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 carry this forward into next season.