＜Previous Match: Shimizu S-Pulse Review＞
An away game marking the restart after conceding 3 goals in 11 minutes and ending the 3-game winning streak against Yokohama F.Marinos. The match against Shimizu S-Pulse, tied with 40 points, was played wearing the gray-colored Special Kit.
From the start, Tokyo aggressively applied pressure and created numerous big chances with a solid attack. They connected passes to execute perfect breakdowns, and then launched sharp counterattacks against the opponent's goal.
However, as the team continued to miss chances due to a lack of finishing accuracy, the momentum gradually shifted to Shimizu. Then, in the 34th minute of the first half, they left the opponent's right side free, and from a sharp left-footed cross, Takahashi scored a painful opening goal with a header. Despite pressing forward, they failed to finish, and instead, conceded a goal from a single chance, leading to a bad turn of events.
In the second half, the change in momentum came from Tokyo's substitution. Kota TAWARATSUMIDA, who was brought on in the 16th minute of the second half, immediately created a great opportunity with a cut-in and through pass, increasing Tokyo's chances. Then, in the 31st minute of the second half, the long-awaited equalizing goal for the red and blue was scored.
From Morishige player's long feed, Tawara Tsukida player broke through the center and skillfully trapped the ball to connect to the right. Receiving this, Sato Yoshimasa player made a one-feint move to the right and unleashed a powerful shot with his right foot. With a solidly met fierce shot, he spectacularly pierced the near side, bringing Tokyo back to even in the match.
In the later stages, the game opened up with both teams creating chances in a back-and-forth battle. However, neither side was able to find the net before time ran out. The away match ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving the impression that although the team broke the negative streak and managed to equalize, they couldn't secure the win.
This Round's Preview
The league matches are finally in the final stages.
This season's official matches consist of five Meiji Yasuda J1 League games, with only the Emperor's Cup remaining up to the Semifinal Round. Following the International Match Week, this round will see the opponent Sanfrecce Hiroshima heading to an away game held on Friday night, as they will compete in the AFC Champions League Elite in South Korea next Tuesday.
Tokyo welcomed back Yuto NAGATOMO from the SAMURAI BLUE (Japan national team) and Min Gyu JANG from the South Korean national team to the squad. The SAMURAI BLUE achieved a stunning comeback victory against the “Kingdom” Brazil in the Kirin Challenge Cup 2025 held on Tuesday, electrifying Ajinomoto Stadium, the venue in Tokyo, and all of Japan. Although Yuto NAGATOMO did not get playing time, he passionately commented after the match, "I was incredibly inspired and felt I need to improve even more to become an overwhelming presence in the J.League. We will carry this momentum into the Hiroshima match as well." Meanwhile, Min Gyu JANG played the full match in the Paraguay game, contributing to a 2-0 shutout victory. He successfully made his case for a fourth consecutive World Cup appearance.
During this period, the team focused on addressing past challenges and training for the final stages of the season. Emphasizing the handling of crosses, which had been a noticeable issue in conceding goals, they concentrated on how to attack and break down opponents, considering that most of the remaining opponents play with a 3-back or 5-back formation. They conducted various checks, viewing offense and defense as two sides of the same coin.
Naturally, the main focus was on countermeasures against Hiroshima, who we will face next. So far, they are 5th in the league with 17 wins, 7 draws, and 9 losses. Being 7 points behind the top spot, this match is crucial for them to secure points and stay in the title race at all costs. Additionally, they are a team that consistently competes at the top with an aggressive style, having advanced to the Final Round of the J.League YBC Levain Cup and the Semifinal Round of the Emperor's Cup.
Its standout feature is undoubtedly the three-back defense with exceptional individual skills and the league's top defensive strength anchored by Keisuke OSAKO, the Japan national team goalkeeper. Conceding only 23 goals in 33 league matches is the fewest in the league. While using the stability of the back line as a major weapon, they boldly press from the front to take away the opponent's freedom, attacking with wing plays and sharp counterattacks.
Tokyo aims to win the many one-on-one battles that will likely occur on both offense and defense, applying pressure while preventing the opponent's wing-backs from advancing forward. The key point is how to create gaps in Hiroshima's solid defensive line. Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI also says this is the crucial moment.
"(The opponent) is not tight for the entire 90 minutes, so I want to look for those gaps and aim for the right timing to advance firmly. The chance comes when their momentum breaks. At that moment, it is necessary to speed up the attack and deliver the ball near the goal while penetrating the opponent's defense. The opponent sets up a very solid block, so if we lose the ball, it could lead to a counterattack. However, there should be points where we continue with secondary and tertiary attacks without retreating. By firmly holding the ball and creating chances, even if we lose it, we quickly switch between offense and defense to regain possession, then move the ball again to unsettle the opponent. We want to bring the game to a state where it becomes difficult for the opponent to show their strengths."
Alexander SCHOLZ, who is also a key pillar of the defense, cites "individual battles" as a crucial point in the match.
"Hiroshima is one of the tough opponents. Since this is an away game, it will be a difficult match. Even if we look for tactical solutions as a team, Hiroshima constantly tries to create one-on-one situations with high intensity, and they neutralize that individually. It will be a high-intensity match, and since individual quality is important, I think it will be a very big challenge both for the team and for each player."
The previous match held at Japan National Stadium ended in a complete defeat with a score of 0-3. Also fresh in memory is the away game last season, when the typhoon caused the Shinkansen to stop, forcing a difficult journey arriving in Hiroshima on the day of the match at noon. However, in that match, despite conceding 3 goals early, the team fought back with 2 goals in the second half, which became a turning point to improve form heading into the final stages of the league.
In the upcoming match against Hiroshima, the team aims to thoroughly implement their strategy, win individual battles, and show a passionate game, hoping to bring back confidence and results as they head into the final stages, including the Emperor's Cup.
Teruhito NAKAGAWA, who showed determination despite being tossed around by the typhoon and still fell short after last season's away game, recalls that time and shares his thoughts on this matchweek while receiving cheers from the fans and supporters behind the goal, which brought him to tears.
"I think it will be a match like a clash of souls. We have memories from last season, and we also lost 0-3 in this season's home game, so everyone wants to channel their frustration."
Yes, it's a battle of the soul.
From here, we must increase our intensity toward the Emperor's Cup and continue playing with fighting spirit. Surpass the opponent with teamwork, individual skill, and determination. If you believe in yourself, victory will follow. The culmination of the 2025 season shown by the blue and red. We want to make this week's match against Hiroshima the first step.
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q. Based on the content and result of the match against Shimizu S-Pulse, what kind of training have you been doing during the break period?
A, first of all, for this week's match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, we made full use of the two-week break period to spend time confirming both offense and defense. On the offensive side, we shared strategies focusing on the opponent's weak points and the spaces that open up, discussing how to break through with various approaches and breakthroughs. On the defensive side, we worked on countermeasures against an opponent who frequently uses crosses. Many of the teams we will face from now on use three-back or five-back formations. We have been focusing on building up through continuous training. I believe this period allowed us to conduct repetitive and consistent training.
Q. How to avoid Hiroshima's press is also a key point directly linked to the outcome of the match.
A. It is about not missing the moment when the opponent's arrow breaks down in build-up play or one-on-one situations. We believe there is a chance to advance at that moment. Considering that it is difficult to play tightly for the entire 90 minutes, we also need to keep in mind a game plan that does not miss those opportunities. I think there will be times when Hiroshima holds the ball, but I believe the team was able to share training that anticipates various situations during the break period.
Q. I think it is important to see how much you can outperform your opponent in one-on-one situations both offensively and defensively.
A, Hiroshima applies pressure using a system focused on the front line, such as 3-4-3 or 3-2-5. They play almost man-to-man defense in the opponent's half and press high to win the ball even in their own half. If we lose easily in one-on-one situations, the opponent's style will become more apparent. I think this is a key point to carefully manage.
[Player Interview]
<Masato MORISHIGE>
Q, this week's opponent is the in-form Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
A, in the recent Levain Cup, they secured a spot in the Final Round and are in good form, making them a strong opponent. We have fully felt this through our matches in the first half of the league as well. However, even so, I believe there are gaps within the 90 minutes. To break out of this situation ourselves, although it is an away game, we must take all 3 points.
Q. Hiroshima traditionally uses a system centered around a three-back formation. How do you want to effectively utilize the system misalignments and the misalignments you mentioned earlier?
A, Hiroshima plays with a three-back formation, so when defending, they have five players in defense. We want to carefully assess how we can launch our attacks. Due to the characteristics of their system, their defensive shape looks compact with little space, but by coordinating with teammates to exploit their weak points and spaces, we aim to distribute the ball effectively from the back line. By consistently targeting these areas, I believe there will come a moment when the opponent can no longer hold out. We want to avoid falling into the defensive traps they set and actively target their weak points to break down their defensive block.
Q. How did the team work on the challenge of reducing goals conceded and finishing matches without conceding during the suspension period?
Regarding efforts to reduce conceded goals, we were able to steadily work on improvements through training even during the break period. However, not everything improves immediately just because we trained, and I feel that by continuing these efforts, we have been able to align our awareness and improve the finer details. Our opponent this round also tends to attack using crosses, so we want to show strong resilience in repelling them effectively.
<Teruhito NAKAGAWA>
Q. Including last season's away match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, I think there are various thoughts about tomorrow's game.
A, Considering last season and the fact that we lost at home this season as well, the whole team wants to channel our frustration and get our revenge.
Q: The upcoming match is against a team we haven't beaten in the last 6 games. What do you think will be important to secure a victory?
A, Hiroshima basically marks man-to-man. Therefore, I think it is important to win in one-on-one situations. The outcome of the match is decided by not losing in the clash of souls. In tomorrow's game, I want to value that kind of spirit.
Q. Even if you avoid the intense pressing from the opponent's front line, the league's top-class three defenders and goalkeeper are waiting. How do you plan to break through?
A, Many Tokyo players also have high abilities, so I will trust my teammates and approach the match with confidence. By finishing off the first clear chance, we can seize the flow of the game, so I believe the opening goal will be a crucial point that decides the match.
Q: The next few matches, starting from the Hiroshima game, will be against strong opponents using a similar system. I believe that by securing victories in these matches, we will gain valuable insights.
A, it is important to figure out how to break down a team that sits back. Even with the same system, the way each team plays differs, so we want to find spaces, exploit the opponent's weaknesses, and take control of the match. As an individual, I also want to score goals and contribute to the victory.
