＜Emperor's Cup Quarterfinals - Urawa Reds Match Review＞
The quarterfinals against Urawa Reds at Saitama Stadium 2002. Even before the start, the passionate chants of "Seize the cup" from the blue and red fans and supporters packed behind the goal encouraged the team. In addition to the tight schedule with only two days in between, and with Motoki NAGAKURA unable to play due to contract issues, five players were changed from the previous match against Kyoto SANGA F.C., and the team approached the game with full force.
From the beginning, we were pressed by the opponent for a long time and struggled to switch to offense. In the 42nd minute of the first half, we conceded a goal due to a disruption in our build-up play. We allowed the opening goal in an unfortunate manner.
Tokyo, wanting to change the momentum, made substitutions at halftime, bringing in Kota TAWARATSUMIDA and Kashif BANGNAGANDE. This decision shifted the course of the match.
In the 7th minute of the second half, Marcos Guilherme received the ball from Tawara Tsukida, who made a vertical run down the left side, then dribbled forward and crossed it back to the center. Keigo HIGASHI connected the ball, and Marcelo RYAN scored with his right foot after a difficult turn, leveling the score.
Tokyo, with rapidly improved attacking coordination, continued to launch aggressive attacks and finally scored the goal that turned the match around in the 20th minute of the second half. From a long feed by Alexander SCHOLZ, Marcos broke free, skillfully controlled the ball and delivered the final pass, where RIAN ran in and successfully pierced with his right foot to take the lead.
In the final stages of the match, many players suffered cramps due to the congested schedule, but against Urawa's power play, the team held on to a one-goal lead with all players defending, including 10 minutes of additional time, until the final whistle. They mustered all their spirit and stamina to endure desperately, securing a splendid come-from-behind victory and earning a ticket to the Semifinal Round.
＜Emperor's Cup Semifinal Round Preview＞
Following last week, we face FC Machida Zelvia again at Japan National Stadium. If the match is not decided within 90 minutes, the winner will be determined in a one-off match including extra time and penalty shootouts.
In the match a week ago, we struggled against Machida's high press, man-to-man defense, and soccer focused on long balls and set plays, but we endured patiently and scored the winning goal on a counterattack late in the game to secure victory. Demonstrating strong competitiveness, we achieved our first win in the fourth match against Machida.
And then comes the Emperor's Cup Semifinal Round. Although it will be the second consecutive match between the teams, the result from the previous week offers no guarantees for this game. On the contrary, it is easy to imagine Machida switching gears and stepping up their game after the defeat.
However, of course, Tokyo is not backing down either. Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI said, "If the opponent is going to press the switch, we want to press more switches than them and face the challenge firmly. The players are firmly turning the previous victory into confidence, and no one is thinking, 'It's okay because that happened.'"
The players also seem to be approaching the match with a good sense of tension. After last week's match against Machida, when the team returned to the locker room, Yuto NAGATOMO fired up the team by saying, "With this win, Machida will tighten their focus. We have to bring even more power than that."
It probably means "Don't let your guard down after a victory." The experienced number 5 said, "We must not be satisfied with this, and we need to switch our focus to the Emperor's Cup. I wanted to make sure we don't become complacent just because we won the league match," explaining the reason for his motivation.
This truly resonated deeply with the players. The players each left focused comments, and the atmosphere during training and interviews leading up to the Semifinal Round became more intense. The coach commented on Nagatomo's remarks, saying, "His leadership is not just words; it can dramatically change the atmosphere. If those receiving it do not properly pick up the message, the scenery will not change. I believe this aspect is also one of our strengths," expressing confidence in the progress made toward the Semifinal Round.
This game is one we absolutely must win to advance to the Semifinal Round and secure a ticket to the Final Round. Teruhito NAKAGAWA, who says his desire to reach the final is stronger than anyone else's, expressed his passionate feelings: "We have all connected our hopes up to this point, so we definitely want to make it to the Final Round. It has been quite a tough journey, but if we don't defeat Machida here, nothing will have any meaning."
The stage is "Our National Stadium." We want to unite the power of the Blue-Red family and face the Semifinal Round with a determination to win every match.
Everyone, let's go to National and win.
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q. How do you feel now ahead of the Emperor's Cup Semifinal Round, and what kind of preparations have you made for the consecutive matches against FC Machida Zelvia?
A, I am honestly looking forward to it. Having experienced last week's match, I believe there are aspects we can utilize, but how well we can adapt and respond on the pitch on the day is crucial. We have not emphasized the phrase "consecutive matches against Machida" to the players. After the previous encounter, we have shared within the team during this week's training about "how the opponent will play" and "what we should do." Including the content of the practice, we were able to make good preparations.
Q: In last week's match, were there any parts where the opponent's formation or other aspects differed somewhat from your prior expectations?
A, there were no particularly significant differences, and we always anticipate various situations. It is most important for the team to properly adapt in each scenario. It is essential for the team and players to align their perspectives, but rather than emphasizing and pushing through decisively, I believe it is necessary to proceed with the match by skillfully adapting to what happens on the pitch.
Q. It was a match where we capitalized on few chances through tenacious defense, but what kind of achievements and challenges did you feel from the game?
A, I believe that by moving the ball with a bit more stability, we were able to limit the number of attacks from the opponent. They simply relied heavily on long balls to press in the opponent's territory, and when the ball went out over the sideline, they used long throws, and when it went out over the goal line, corner kicks—this was their straightforward approach. Against such situations, we want to firmly repel them and try to avoid allowing such situations easily. Compared to the previous match, we aim to increase the number of attempts to do so.
Q. Was there anything you specifically focused on and communicated to the players regarding the match against Machida?
If we win the Emperor's Cup Semifinal Round, I believe we will see a different landscape. Of course, the players are preparing with that goal in mind, and even without me saying anything specific, they show their attitude through their daily training. On the day, it all comes down to how much of the power the players have can be demonstrated, and how much we can help them bring it out.
[Player Interview]
<Teruhito NAKAGAWA>
Q. Last week, you also faced FC Machida Zelvia. What do you think were the key points that decided the outcome?
A, I think set pieces will be the key point. We have maintained high concentration, and I believe the efforts we have put into practicing how to deal with crosses, which was a challenge, are starting to show results.
The opponent plays man-to-man defense, and if we can connect the ball well at the back, I think we can launch attacks with a good rhythm. The opponent won't easily give us freedom, so the key will be how we can break through in those situations. I want to skillfully engage in tactical battles with the opposing defense and exploit the spaces that open up.
Q. Is it important to maintain the right distance with teammates while avoiding the pressure from the opponent's defense?
A, If the awareness to connect becomes too strong and it becomes the only focus, it plays right into the opponent's hands. It is of course important to also play decisively according to the situation. We want to proceed with the match by skillfully combining the characteristics of the players on the pitch.
Q. Please tell us about Nakagawa's own feelings and determination for this match.
A, everyone has worked together to reach the Semifinal Round. Carrying the feelings of all the players, including those who cannot participate, we absolutely want to advance to the Final Round. To do that, we must first defeat the opponent in front of us; otherwise, all our efforts will be meaningless. This is the stage to demonstrate what we have built up, and I believe Machida will bring even more power since they lost to us in last week's match. We must never be passive or be overwhelmed by their pressure. Everyone must work hard both in attack and defense, and fight to move on to the next stage. Our desire to reach the Final Round is stronger than anyone else's, and I hope we can enjoy playing in this situation.
<Go HATANO>
Q, We are approaching the important Emperor's Cup Semifinal Round. With Kim Seung-gyu absent due to his activities with the South Korean national team, Go HATANO's performance is highly anticipated.
A, We have prepared well for over a week. Now, we just need to demonstrate that strength in the match. We will continue to prepare thoroughly with the remaining time and approach the game with confidence.
Q. This is a big match coming up despite the continued period of not being able to participate in games.
A, It is true that I spent a lot of time on the bench, but during practice and subsequent training, Ryota Inoue, the goalkeeper assistant coach, trained alongside me. For the sake of those who always support me, I want to deliver solid results and prove my strength.
Q. What do you focus on in matches against FC Machida Zelvia?
A, even looking at the previous match, there were many aerial battles, and players like Soma and Shimoda took powerful mid-range shots, giving the impression of a wide shooting range. If we lose focus even for a moment, we could be caught off guard, so we want to stay fully concentrated for the entire 90 minutes and be well prepared.
Q. As a team issue, there was a period when we conceded many goals from crosses and set pieces.
A, recently the number of goals conceded from crosses and set pieces has also decreased. Even in the last few matches, we have seen many defensive players holding their ground firmly until the end. For me personally, it will be my first match in a while when I step onto the pitch, and it is my job to stop the ball when it comes. I want to protect the goal while coordinating with the entire team.
