Match Review
The Emperor's Cup, which leads to the AFC Champions League 2, has opened this season as well. Aiming for the second championship in 14 seasons, coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI sent a fresh lineup onto the pitch at Ajinomoto Stadium for the first match to advance. The four-back system introduced from the Sec. 20 match against Cerezo Osaka in the 2025 Meiji Yasuda J1 League on the 14th was continued, but all 11 starting players were changed.
At the rear, Taishi Brandon NOZAWA took position, with the center backs being Teppei OKA and Kanta DOI. Yuto NAGATOMO was placed as the right side back, and on the left side back, Kashif BANGNAGANDE returned to the official match pitch for the first time in 383 days since the Sagan Tosu match on May 31 last year. Additionally, Maki KITAHARA and Kei KOIZUMI took the defensive midfield positions, with Leon NOZAWA on the right and Megumi SATO on the left. Up front, Motoki NAGAKURA, who joined in June, and Teruhito NAKAGAWA formed the two forwards.
1st HALF—Taking control, heading into the second half with two goals by player Sato
The lefty who overcame a tough rehabilitation life excited the venue. In the 22nd minute of the first half, player Yoshifu carried the ball deep on the left side and crossed it in front of the goal. Leon NOZAWA connected with a header in front of the goal, but it hit the bar directly. Then, in the 24th minute of the first half, he broke behind the opponent's last line and delivered a pinpoint pass to player Nakagawa. Receiving this, number 39 was fouled by the opposing goalkeeper and earned a direct free kick. Kitahara aimed directly at this, but the shot was unfortunately blocked by the bar.
While upsets occurred at other venues, Tokyo calmly controlled the match while holding the initiative on this day. Then, at the 32nd minute, a moment of joy arrived.
The "transition" that the coach mentioned as a keyword the day before the match created this moment. Although the ball was lost in midfield, the team quickly switched gears and immediately regained possession. From there, player Nakagawa advanced with a dribble, and player Sato, running alongside, calmly shook the goal net to successfully score the opening goal.
Furthermore, in the 44th minute of the first half, Leon NOZAWA received the ball high on the right side, broke through the sideline with individual skill, and crossed it to the center. Sato then headed it in to score an additional goal, leading by 2 goals at halftime.
2nd HALF—Including Nagakura player's first goal after transfer, pulling closer to advancing to the 3rd Round
From the start of the second half, the coach substituted Seiji KIMURA for Yoshifu and Ewerton Gaudino for Nakagawa. KIMURA took a position as one of the center backs, and Oka moved to left side back.
Tokyo did not want to ease up on their attack, but careless mistakes gave Kanazawa an opening. Gradually, they found themselves on the defensive more often. Even so, centered around Taishi Nozawa, they prevented conceding goals, and from the 29th minute of the second half, Takahiro KO, who came on as a substitute for Kitahara, calmed the game and regained control of the flow.
At the 34th minute, Sato once again had a great chance, but unfortunately, he couldn't hit the target. Then, just one minute later, Nagatomo broke through on a through pass from Taka and aimed a shot, but it was blocked by the opposing defender. Immediately after this, Sato was substituted off for Kota TAWARATSUMIDA. Although he missed out on a hat-trick, Sato contributed to the victory with two goals.
And the finishing touch came at the 40th minute. Nagakura quickly reacted to the deflection of Tawara Tsukida's shot and pushed it in with a diving header for the decisive additional goal. In his debut match, he delivered a signature strike. Kanazawa scored a goal just before the end of the match, but the victory anthem echoed through Ajinomoto Stadium for the first time in six official games. Welcoming new teammates, it was a valuable win that raised expectations for a comeback in June.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING XI
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Yuto NAGATOMO/Kashif BANGNAGANDE (Second half 0 min: Seiji KIMURA)/Teppei OKA/Kanta DOI
MF Leon NOZAWA/Kei KOIZUMI/Maki KITAHARA (Second half 29 min: Yu TAKAO)
FW Yoshimasa SATO (Second half 35 min: Kota TAWARATSUMIDA)/Motoki NAGAKURA (Second half 41 min: Soma ANZAI)/Teruhito NAKAGAWA (Second half 0 min: Ewerton Gaudino)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
DF Sei MUROYA/Kosuke SHIRAI
FW Marcelo RYAN
MANAGER
Rikizo MATSUHASHI
GOAL
32nd minute of the first half: Sato Yoshimasa / 44th minute of the first half: Sato Yoshimasa / 40th minute of the second half: Motoki NAGAKURA
<Zweigen Kanazawa>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Hiroto SHIRAI
DF Hiroto HATAO (2nd half 0 min: Daisuke MATSUMOTO) / Jefferson Jari (2nd half 0 min: Hayate NAGAKURA) / Shunya MOURI (2nd half 13 min: Takayoshi ISHIHARA) / Kaito MIYAZAKI / Norimichi YAMAMOTO
MF Keisuke OYAMA (2nd half 33 min: Tomoya OSAWA) / Jin MURATA / Shintaro SHIMADA
FW Yusei TOSHIDA / Hayato OTANI (2nd half 13 min: Yusei SHINOMIYA)
SUBS
GK Itsuki UEDA
MF Taiki KATO/Andrew KUMAGAI
FW Kyohei SUGIURA
MANAGER
Masaki Tsujita
GOAL
44th minute of the second half: Jin Murata
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q, please review today's game.
A, I am relieved that we were able to safely advance to the next stage. I believe there are many points to reflect on, especially since we won. I am reassured that we were able to deliver a victory to all the fans and supporters.
Q. Kashif BANGNAGANDE made his first competitive return in about a year and was immediately used as a starting member. Please explain the intention behind his selection and evaluate his performance.
A, this decision was made carefully with the medical staff. I was also waiting for the right timing. When I saw Yoshifu's face in the meeting, it really moved me. Considering the period since the injury, I haven't been with him that long, but since coming to this club, I haven't seen Yoshifu playing for very long, so I want to believe he was able to make a good start, and I think he was able to perform at a level that matches that.
Q. Was his performance in the first half such that it did not cause any concern?
A, while the feeling is to play the full match, the team is also aligned on using him cautiously. However, I believe today's 45 minutes could very well be the start of something.
Q. Although there may have been differences in categories with the opponent, you were able to break free individually and the ball moved well. Don't you feel that the team made progress?
A, in my view, when I think about how many players were able to understand what we practiced in rehearsal and add something extra to their play, I feel the number was probably small. I talked about this at halftime, and although it was gradual, it took time for the team to settle after the lineup changed and the second half started. There were moments when we were caught by the opponent's counterattacks, peeled off during build-up, and allowed things that should never have happened to happen without resistance. The start of the match is also important, with the mindset of "Can you guys approach the start of the second half as if it’s 0-0, not 2-0?" In that sense, the start of the second half became a difficult phase.
Q. Today was Motoki NAGAKURA's debut in Tokyo, and he also scored a goal. Please tell us your evaluation of him.
A, we were able to bring out his good qualities well, and there were several scenes where his strengths would shine even more if the fit was right, so I think the next step is to work on that fit. I also talked to him at halftime, and there were some parts where we could see the relationship with the passer a little. However, in terms of being the starting point of the attack, he did a good job in properly controlling the ball and the accuracy of the next pass after controlling it.
Q. Maki KITAHARA, who was used as a starting member, also had some close chances.
A, in the first half, it felt like he often played in somewhat safe areas. While we couldn't fully bring out the aspects we aimed for, he had many opportunities to touch the ball and often set the tempo, but he didn't always deliver passes to good positions and made many mistakes. In the second half, due to physical issues, he completely ran out of energy. We selected him because we believe he can fully demonstrate his strengths, and he is well prepared to be on the pitch. However, I think he himself was not satisfied with today's performance.
[Player Interview]
<Kashif BANGNAGANDE>
Q. How was the pitch at Ajinomoto Stadium after such a long time?
A, I was very nervous when I entered, but once the match started, my nerves eased and I was able to enter the game in a good state. It felt nostalgic, but I was able to get into the match without any discomfort. The fans and supporters called out my name and sang chants, creating a great atmosphere, so I was able to approach the match smoothly.
Q. It was the first official match in 383 days. How do you look back on the game?
A, there were many parts that needed correction in terms of content. First of all, as a team, it was good to be able to win for the first time in a while. More than the content, I thought it was a time when results were necessary, so it was good to be able to produce results. From here, I hope this match becomes a turning point for the team to get on a good track, including the league matches. I think the next match will be really important.
Q. It took some time for your return, but it feels like you have come back much stronger.
A, during this period, I have faced myself day by day and kept going, so I am happy to have been able to express that on the pitch. Today was 45 minutes, but when my playing time increases from here, I want to continue playing with the same quality, and conversely, I want to make sure to deliver results during the tough times for the team. Today, I couldn't leave results in numbers like assists or goals, so I want to focus on that and power up. Once I can leave numbers, I believe I can contribute even more to the team. Therefore, I want to firmly pursue those numbers.
Q. There were many plays characteristic of Kashif BANGNAGANDE.
A, I entered the match thinking I would play in my own style, and my teammates and staff encouraged me to enjoy it. I was determined to show what I have done so far and played with that single-minded focus.
Q. From here, the league matches will also be consecutive. How do you plan to approach these consecutive matches from now on?
A, we were able to win today, but I believe it means nothing if we cannot secure victories in the upcoming consecutive matches. In the league games, to achieve solid results, personally, I don't know how much I can be involved in the matches, but if given the chance to play, I want to perform in a way that brings the team the result of a "victory."
Q. Please give a message to the fans and supporters who have been waiting for player Yoshifu's return.
A, thank you always for your support. Even during this period of absence, I received many voices of encouragement through social media and interaction spaces. That truly became my source of energy, allowing me to keep making daily efforts even in difficult times. From here on, I hope to show everyone an even more powered-up version of myself. I appreciate your continued support.
<Motoki NAGAKURA>
Q, This was your debut match after joining Tokyo. Please reflect on today's match, where you also scored your first goal.
A, I want to increase the number of times I touch the ball and improve the quality of my play from now on. It was lucky to score in my first appearance. As a forward player, scoring immediately after joining, in any form, is a big mental boost. Regarding the scoring scene, when Kota TAWARATSUMIDA was dribbling, I was aware that "if the shot is blocked, it will come here." Reacting well to the rebound is also the job of a forward. There is some luck involved, but I think it was good that I was able to react well.
Q. The two forwards changed in each half. What kind of mindset did you have while playing?
A, I paid particular attention not only to my own movements but also to Teruhito NAKAGAWA's movements in the first half and Ewerton Gaudino's movements in the second half, focusing especially on the coordination and spacing of the two forwards. I was conscious of positioning from the stage before the match.
Q. There were many instances of off-the-ball movements, which are a strong point, as well as significant contributions on the defensive side.
A, since it is a characteristic and a style of play that I take pride in, I especially focused on playing for the team. However, I want to be more particular about the quality and continue to improve it. Regarding defense, the way we applied pressure from the front line did not work well as a team in the second half, and we were unable to transition smoothly from defense to attack like we did in the first half. I feel this is an issue to address moving forward.
Q. The league matches are coming up this weekend. How do you want to contribute to the team from here on?
A, There are various types of forwards, but I consider myself a player who is "brought to life by teammates." To be utilized well, I want to keep being conscious of maintaining good positioning. Ahead of this weekend's match against Gamba Osaka, I want to make good preparations from here and play in a way that leads to victory.
