Nabisco Cup Opening! Challenging Nagoya as the "Final Summary of 4 Matches"

　This season's Nabisco Cup has kicked off. On March 31, as the first match of the preliminary league, we face Nagoya Grampus. Coach Shirofuku said, "Ultimately, the next match is the final assessment of the four matches this season. Winning last season and gaining a successful experience is a big plus, but at this stage, we have not been conscious of being the defending champions, and we will extract the issues that have emerged so far and work to solve them in the next term. That accumulation does not change even if it is a different tournament from the league," expressing his intention to do his best at this stage and aim for steady growth, making this match a crucial step in that process.Although it will be only two days after the previous league match against Omiya, Coach Shirofuku explained, "We will consider players with injuries or strains, but the schedule does not matter; we will choose the best possible lineup." Hanyu, who was injured in the Omiya match, is not seriously hurt. Suzuki has also returned and will start. On the other hand, Nagatomo suffered a strong blow to his waist in the Omiya match and will miss the game due to rebound effects. Morishige will start on the bench considering the condition of his leg. Therefore, Kim Young-gun will play left side back, and Hiramatsu will play center back in the starting lineup.On the other side, Nagoya has newly added a stellar lineup this season, including DF Tulio, Chiyotanda, MF Kanazaki, and Danilson. In addition to having individually skilled players, they are actively strengthening the team, including foreign player slots. The league's Sec. 4 match was held in April due to Hiroshima's ACL participation, and there was no match last weekend, but today they changed the lineup with GK Nishimura, DF Chiyotanda, Abe, MF Danilson, Bruzanovic, Nakamura, and FW Maginu starting. However, with a 4-3-3 formation, the side forwards Kanazaki and Maginu aggressively attack, and the tall FW Kennedy leads a powerful offense.Coach Shirofuku also warned, "If the game goes to aerial battles, it will be Nagoya's pace," emphasizing the importance of moving the ball on the ground and advancing it to the front line as a key point. Against Nagoya's tall and strong defenders, the key to victory will be how to lure the opponents out and exploit the spaces. This match aims for the first victory of the tournament at the home Japan National Stadium. Despite the cloudy sky, the recent coldness is not strongly felt, and the match started exactly at 7 p.m. with Nagoya's kickoff.

Withstanding the early momentum of Nagoya, they create chances but...

　From the start, we were pushed back by Nagoya's aggressive attacks and struggled to create our own rhythm. In the 7th minute, FW Maginun matched a long feed from Nagoya's backline, skillfully trapping the ball and breaking behind the DF to win a corner kick. This right corner was headed back by FW Kennedy at the far post. Tokyo's DF cleared it once, but the ball reached Nagoya MF Kanazaki, who took a shot. In the 15th minute, from Nagoya's restart, left side back Abe crossed, DF Chiyohanda closed in, and MF Danilson, who picked up the rebound, took a decisive shot. However, both shots went off target. Supported by these shooting mistakes, we withstood Nagoya's attacks and, on the contrary, Tokyo created consecutive chances through quick passing. At 20 minutes, Hirayama passed to Ishikawa on the right front line, who immediately passed to Hanyu inside the right area. Hanyu turned and shot with his left foot, hitting the far post directly... At 23 minutes, Hirayama took a middle-range shot from just outside the area, but it went off target. At 27 minutes, Tokunaga quickly connected to Hanyu, who ran down the right side to Ishikawa. Ishikawa's cross went over the opposing DF, and Nakamura dived for a header at the far post! They created a decisive chance but were stopped by the GK's save. Then Hirayama advanced deep into the left area, crossed in front of the goal, and free Ishikawa volleyed with his left foot, but missed a big chance by shooting wide. Unable to finish the chances, at 30 minutes Hanyu lost the ball in midfield, and Nagoya FW Maginun sent a "one-touch" ball behind Tokyo's DF. FW Kennedy broke through there and scored a lob shot, conceding a goal... As Tokyo pushed forward, they were caught behind and allowed the first goal. Afterwards, using the sides as a base, Hanyu and Mukuhara sent crosses trying to create chances, but Nagoya's DF repelled them, preventing shots. The first half ended with us trailing by one goal.

Jumatsu scores in consecutive official matches! Dramatic draw in stoppage time

　In the second half, Morishige was brought on to replace Hanyu. Konno moved up to defensive midfield as the formation shifted to mount a counterattack. However, at 48 minutes, from a Nagoya corner kick, amid a scramble in front of the goal, Hiramatsu was judged to have committed a foul inside the area, resulting in a penalty kick awarded to Nagoya. But the PK taken by MF Bruzanovic was saved by Gonda, preventing the danger of an additional goal.At 55 minutes, Shigematsu replaced Suzuki. Shigematsu fiercely chased, pressing from a high position to gain rhythm. Then at 68 minutes, after a pass exchange with Konno, Tokunaga timed his run and passed to the right flank. Ishikawa ran in and delivered a low pass from a high position near the sideline to Hirayama in front of the goal. Hirayama neatly connected and slid the shot under the goalkeeper’s legs to equalize!Immediately after, Otake came on for Nakamura. Tokyo increased ball possession and aimed to take the lead. However, at 74 minutes, from a Nagoya free kick on the left side, the ball was connected to DF Tulio and FW Tamada in front of the goal, and the ball spilled behind Tokyo’s defense to DF Chiyohanda who scored... Although they were wary of the opponent’s height, Tokyo conceded the go-ahead goal due to a lapse in marking during the set piece. Still, in the final stages, Tokyo controlled the ball and tried to create chances through passing. But Nagoya’s pressing was intense, and no decisive chances were created as time passed. There were also noticeable moments when the ball was lost during attacks, leading to counterattacks.Although they did not concede a third goal, as time approached full time, the prospect of defeat began to loom. However, without panic and with no one giving up, they pushed toward the goal. Then, in stoppage time at 90+2 minutes, Shigematsu on the left side exchanged a one-two with Otake and charged into the area. Ignoring the pursuing defenders, he struck a sharp shot with his right foot that went into the goal! Shigematsu, despite coming on as a substitute, scored in two consecutive official matches. His strong attacking spirit paid off, earning a valuable point, and the season’s Nabisco Cup started with a draw.Player CommentsOtake: “I strongly feel I could have done more. (Regarding playing) The opponent pressed without retreating, so I dropped back a bit to receive and circulate the ball to create rhythm. But I couldn’t create situations to speed up, and I regret not fully communicating what I wanted to do during the match. However, I talked immediately after the game, and I think we can play more breaking football by improving coordination. (Regarding the pass to Shigematsu) I thought Shigematsu would definitely speed up, so I floated the pass slightly to avoid the opponent’s foot. Even before coming on today, I told him on the bench, ‘I’ll pass to you, so score.’”Shigematsu: “When a forward comes on as a substitute, I thought I was expected to change the flow or score. I believed chances would come, so I concentrated on being ready. For the goal, when I saw the ball and goal, Otake caught my eye, so I thought if I passed to him, he’d do something. The return pass came as I ran with the flow, so I just had to connect. Nagoya’s defenders were strong, but I think I could have done more plays like flicking the ball behind when I had my back to them. I also regret not making better decisions by calmly observing around me. But I want to build on this valuable experience and contribute to future victories.”Coach Shirofuku’s Press Conference Summary“We aim to be the team with the fewest goals conceded, just like in the league. In that sense, this Nabisco Cup game was full of points to reflect on. We conceded two goals and a penalty, and even considering Nagoya’s strong and individually skilled attack, there are many defensive aspects to improve. However, the second goal seemed to come from an unlucky situation where the opponent appeared to pass with his hand. Within that game flow, we were able to apply the lesson from the league match against Omiya, where we rushed forward. Instead of rushing forward, we connected in midfield and calmly decided where to speed up as a team, which I think was today’s achievement.It’s difficult to apply the Omiya match lesson in this situation. Mentally, it’s easy to rush forward, but the fact that the players could do this calmly three days after that game shows they are progressing step by step. Taking a point by playing the football we want and aim for in that situation is positive. (Regarding Hanyu’s substitution) We had to be offensive to get three points at home. Hanyu was not feeling well today and was not showing his true ability. So we considered who to put in defensive midfield and moved Konno up as an attacking option. Removing Konno from center back carries risks, but it’s part of our attacking options. Also, considering Morishige’s knee condition, medical advice said he could play for 45 minutes, so we made that decision.”Nagoya Coach STOJKOVIC’s Press Conference Summary“It was an interesting game. There were four goals between the two teams, so I think the fans at the stadium were very pleased. (Regarding the stoppage time goal conceded) Of course, we are frustrated to concede like that at the end. But that’s part of life. It happened within the game of football. Last year in the Nabisco Cup, we lost 1-5 to FC Tokyo and learned many things from that. I think we managed the game well enough to win today, but the result didn’t follow. Still, I’m proud that the players stuck to the tactics and maintained good positioning, doing what they were supposed to do.”