The 2012 season has arrived! Challenging the first FUJI XEROX SUPER CUP

　On Mar 3 (Sat), the FUJI XEROX SUPER CUP 2012 will be held, marking the start of the season ahead of the J1 League matches. Last season's Emperor's Cup champion Tokyo will face off against J1 League champion Kashiwa Reysol. This season, with new head coach Ranko POPOVIC, Tokyo will promote the slogan "C・O・A Football" and aim for organized, attacking, and attractive soccer. After starting training in late January with eight new players, they have undergone two camps and practices in Kodaira, and will finally reveal their form.

　During this time, Ishikawa left the team for activities with the Japan national team, Gonda for the U-23 Japan national team, and Hyun Soo JANG for the U-23 South Korea national team. However, in practice, the members were not fixed, and various combinations were tried. Coach Ranko POPOVIC explained that he requires players to handle multiple positions, stating, "Combination is not about 'who pairs well with whom,' but rather that anyone can connect with anyone. That is what team combination is about." Regardless of who plays, we have focused on fighting with the 'same quality' towards the football we aim for.

　The coach stated, "I selected the 18 players in the best condition at this point, including tactical understanding and physicality," and used Tokunaga as a center back. The newly joined Ota played as a left back, Hasegawa served as an attacking midfielder, with GK Shiota, right back Mukuhara, and the double pivot formed by Kajiyama and Takahashi, while the wings were occupied by Ishikawa and Tanizawa, and Lucas took the top position.

　As you know, Kashiwa won the title in J1 last season, just after being promoted. This season marks the third season under the management of NELSINHO. The team's tactical understanding has improved, allowing for organized defense and intense pressing to gain control, showcasing attacking football that utilizes the high abilities of forwards Leandro Domingues, midfielder JORGINHO WAGNER, and forward Tanaka.

　However, in response, Coach Ranko POPOVIC stated, "We have not communicated the analysis of Kashiwa to the players. At this point, it is important for us to analyze our own football on the pitch," clearly emphasizing the need to focus on their own style of play. It is crucial how they can express what they have been working on so far on the pitch and continue to implement a style of football characteristic of Tokyo. This match will be significant in determining the course of the season. Although the wind is cold, the National Stadium is calm and clear, and the match started at 13:36 with Kashiwa's kickoff.

Despite taking control, we conceded 2 goals as Kashiwa capitalized on their chances...

　Tokyo launched an aggressive attack right from the start. Connecting passes, they advanced into enemy territory, and Takahashi took a precise long-range shot. It was blocked by the Kashiwa goalkeeper, but they continued to press forward without hesitation. In the 10th minute, Ota made a breakthrough and earned a free kick just before the left area. Tanizawa took the kick, sending it just past the far post, but it was cleared by the goalkeeper. In the 15th minute, they demonstrated strength in ball contests. Takahashi won the ball in the defensive line, and from Morishige's setup, Ishikawa broke through on the right flank and cut inside. They maintained control, focusing on attacking from the sides.

　In the 17th minute, Lucas made a vertical pass to Hasegawa in the center before receiving a pass from the right side, and shot directly but it went over the bar. In the 18th minute, Kajiyama passed to Tanizawa, who set up Takahashi for a long-range shot. In the 19th minute, Tanizawa sent a long ball to Ishikawa, who was trying to break behind the opponent's DF. He controlled it well, quickly turned past the opponent's DF, and shot, but it went wide.

　However, just after that, in the 26th minute, a big play was initiated from Kashiwa's defensive line, and Kashiwa midfielder Jorge Wagner received the ball in midfield and advanced with a dribble. Seeing that there was no pressure, he struck with his left foot without hesitation from just before the penalty arc... and a powerful shot pierced the net... Tokyo had been progressing the match with a good rhythm, but during that time, they failed to score a goal and, on the contrary, allowed Kashiwa to take the lead.

　In the 41st minute, a header was made from a free kick by Kashiwa MF Leandro Domingues. The shot was saved by Shiota in the bottom left corner! Following that, Tokunaga cleared it high, but a foul by Morishige against Kashiwa FW Kitajima, who was trying to take the ball in Tokyo's left area, resulted in a penalty kick being awarded. In the 42nd minute, this penalty kick was confidently converted by Kashiwa MF Leandro Domingues, resulting in a disappointing second goal conceded, ending the first half.

Showcasing our soccer, Hasegawa marks his first goal. Gaining confidence and rewards.

　Although they were two goals behind, they calmly tried to counterattack with their own style of football, leading to a back-and-forth match in the second half. In the 50th minute, Tanizawa broke into the area from a coordinated passing play and appeared to be fouled by a Kashiwa defender, but instead, a foul was called on Tanizawa. In the 54th minute, Kashiwa attacked from the right side, and forward Kitajima received the ball in front of the goal and shot. The ball deflected off a Tokyo defender, changing its course, and although Shiota was caught off guard, he quickly regained his position and made the save. In the 57th minute, Ota advanced down the left side and passed to Hasegawa in the center. This pass was anticipated by Kashiwa, who marked him tightly, but Hasegawa persevered and connected with Lucas, turning to shoot. However, it went wide of the goal.

　In the 58th minute, Watanabe was brought on for Ishikawa at the front line. Lucas dropped back a bit, and Hasegawa moved to right midfield as they aimed for a goal. In the 60th minute, from Morishige's vertical pass, Hasegawa broke through behind the right side and crossed directly to Watanabe in front of the goal. Watanabe brought it down with his chest but couldn't get a shot off. The soccer that Tokyo aimed for paid off in the 65th minute. Watanabe received a vertical pass from Hasegawa, just on the edge of offside, and skillfully kept the ball before spreading it to the left. Takahashi, who had moved up perfectly in support, delivered a precise last pass in front of the goal. Hasegawa connected with it and shot! Although it was initially saved, he headed in the rebound for a GOAL!! He scored his first goal since transferring and simultaneously secured the team's first goal of the season!

　In the 73rd minute, Hanyu was brought on for Tanizawa. Utilizing their movement and work rate, Tokyo created consecutive big chances. In the 78th minute, Hanyu made a sharp run from the far post to meet Makuhara's right cross, diving in front of the opposing defender for a free header. It was a decisive moment, but it went wide to the right... Immediately after, Watanabe dribbled down the right flank. Hanyu made a run into the area to receive a final pass from Watanabe, creating another crucial scene, but the shot was blocked by the goalkeeper...

　In the 85th minute, Kono came on for Takahashi. In the final stages, both teams stretched their lines and engaged in counterattacks, and during stoppage time, there was a moment when Kashiwa's MF Leandro Domingues hit the bar with a shot, but the score remained 1-2 as time was up. Although they could not secure a victory, the game showcased both the challenges and the strengths of Tokyo. It should have been a start that instilled confidence and a sense of expectation for the future.

　[Player Comment] {HASEGAWA} "In the first half, we were able to move the ball well up to the goal area, but the support from Rucon when we went vertical was slow. So, we discussed it at halftime and made a conscious effort to play a bit closer to Rucon. I was thinking of running between the defender and the goalkeeper for the goal. Then, Takahashi sent a good ball to the near post. Scoring is not the only way to contribute to the team, and today's goal was not just my own effort. I think it was really good that we created chances by connecting the ball together. I believe that individuals can shine within what the team is trying to do, so I want to continue that kind of play and aim for goals as well."

　"Takahashi" said, "I think the awareness that all the players are working together to move the ball and score has permeated. However, I realized that we need to tighten up on the defensive side and against the opponent's counterattacks. Towards the end of the match, we were often pushed back by the opponent's momentum, leading to more shots on goal. When we lose the ball, and in terms of how we care for the defense in the box afterwards, I want to improve that as a group."

　[Summary of Coach Ranko POPOVIC's Press Conference] "I couldn't truly enjoy it because of the result, but I hope everyone else was able to enjoy it. Looking back at the content considering it was our first official match after the training camp, I think it wasn't bad. We were able to take control throughout the match. Unfortunately, we lacked precision in our finishing and couldn't convert that into results, but we should have been able to show what we want to do and what we are aiming for. I have the impression that we were a bit unlucky in terms of the competition. It's something that often happens in soccer, but Kashiwa connected their first shot to a goal and scored their second goal with their third shot.

　We are still in the process of forming a new team, and I think that's where the difference in experience lies. Today, I want to congratulate Kashiwa Reysol. The challenge we faced today was that we created a crisis from our own mistakes. Both Morishige and Tokunaga made a mistake once, leading to a decisive moment from both center-backs. We need to correct that. However, the season is still long, so I want to steadily build up one step at a time. Today was a festival of soccer, and I believe we were able to show a satisfying match that everyone could enjoy. Of course, I am not satisfied with the result, and since we will continue from here, I want to properly address the issues and connect them to the next steps.

　[Summary of Coach NELSINHO's Press Conference] "In the second match of the season, it was officially the first match of the season, but we were not in our usual rhythm. We were particularly noticeable in being pushed back by the opponent's press, often having to defend. Even when we regained the ball in our own half, we quickly lost it again or faced consecutive attacks due to our own mistakes. While we are still in the process of organizing our defense, it is true that the goal by midfielder JORGINHO Wagner brought some calm to the team. After that, we were able to stabilize and turn around the first half while taking care not to let the opponent's number 10, Kajiyama, create plays."

　In the second half, the opponent had various options with strong players, so there were moments when they created good formations and pushed us back. However, we were also able to create several decisive chances on the counter, and I think if we had scored another goal there, it would have changed the game.