GAME RESULTGame Result

Semifinal Round 2020/10/07 (Wed)
Attendance 6,635 
Weather: Rain, Light Temperature: 19.4 degrees Humidity: 74% 
Referee: Yuichi NISHIMURA Assistant Referees: Isao NISHIHASHI / Yukitaka KUMAGAI Fourth Official: Masuya UEDA

YLC Prime Stage Semifinal Round

Todoroki

HOME

Kawasaki Frontale

0-2

Match Ended

First Half0-1

Second Half0-1

AWAY

FC Tokyo

Kawasaki Frontale FC Tokyo
Scorer 14' Leandro
62' Leandro
46' Yasuto WAKIZAKA → Ryota OSHIMA
46' Gaku Saito → Kaoru Mitoma
65' Ao Tanaka → Reo Hatate
65' Leandro DAMIAO → Yu KOBAYASHI
77' Miki YAMANE → Taisei MIYASHIRO
Player Substitution 55' Takumi NAKAMURA → Hotaka NAKAMURA
74' Kensuke NAGAI → Adailton
74' Hirotaka MITA → Takuya UCHIDA
90'+1 Leandro DAMIAO → Yojiro TAKAHAGI
11 Shoot 5
9 CK 2
11 FK 16
23' Yasuto WAKIZAKA
Warning 90'+1 Leandro
Ejection
Kawasaki Frontale Starting Lineup
GK 1 Sung Ryong JUNG
DF 13 Miki YAMANE
DF 4 Jesiel
DF 5 Shogo Taniguchi
DF 2 Kyohei NOBORIZATO
MF 6 Hidemasa Morita
MF 25 Aoi Tanaka
MF 8 Yasuto WAKIZAKA
FW 41 Akihiro IENAGA
FW 19 Saito Manabu
FW 9 Leandro DAMIAO
Kawasaki Frontale Bench
GK 27 Kenta TANNO
DF 7 Shintaro Kuruma
MF 10 Ryota OSHIMA
MF 18 Kaoru Mitoma
FW 20 Taisei MIYASHIRO
FW 30 Reo Hatate
FW 11 Yu KOBAYASHI
FC Tokyo Starting Lineup
GK 33 Akihiro HAYASHI
DF 22 Takumi NAKAMURA
DF 4 Tsuyoshi WATANABE
DF 3 Masato MORISHIGE
DF 6 Ryoya OGAWA
MF 7 Hirotaka MITA
MF 45 Arthur SILVA
MF 31 Shuto ABE
FW 11 Kensuke NAGAI
FW 9 Diego OLIVEIRA
FW 20 Leandro
FC Tokyo Bench
GK 13 Go HATANO
DF 32 Joan OUMARI
DF 37 Hotaka NAKAMURA
MF 8 Yojiro Takahagi
MF 28 Takuya UCHIDA
FW 15 Adailton
FW 23 Kiichi YAJIMA

[Highlight Video]

[Player and Coach Comments]

Leandro
(Did you see the GK's movement for the first goal?)
"When I saw the GK, there was a little space on the near side, so I aimed directly for it."

(The second goal was scored after a long run)
"Nagai is very fast, and I was sure he would win the race.
Believing in that, I ran into the goal area. I was happy when the goal was scored, and I think Nagai was happy too.

(Today, the DF was also running well)
"We talked about doing our best before the match started today.
We had decided to run together, so we were able to complete it as a team.

(The team's atmosphere after securing a place in the Final Round)
"I'm happy we won today, but we haven't accomplished anything yet.
Of course I'm happy, but it means nothing if we don't win the next match.
I want to win the next one and celebrate together

(Enthusiasm for the Final Round)
"There are many J.League matches before the Final Round. I want to think about each match. When the Final Round approaches, I will think about it again. First, we have the home game against G Osaka. As it gets closer, I want to think carefully about the Final Round."

《Tsuyoshi WATANABE》
"If we can keep Kawasaki's attacking line to zero, we knew there would be a chance to win.
Today, there was absolutely no stress regarding defense, and as a team, we were unified in our intention to start with solid defense and connect it to our attack, so in that regard, we were well prepared mentally.

(Including foreign players, the efforts of the forwards were also shining)
"Players like Diego OLIVEIRA and Leandro showed their determination in defense despite being offensive players. Seeing that, we in the defense felt strongly that we had to work hard as well, and we understood that if we played like that together, we could achieve victory, which I believe is the accumulation of what we have fought for so far."

(Victory with all my heart and soul. Feelings towards the Final Round)
"We have had frustrating losses against Kawasaki in the past. Our pride was hurt, and I'm glad we could win today.
I haven't accomplished anything yet. I want to switch gears and focus on the next challenge.

(There is also the Final Round, but towards the upcoming matches)
"As a team, we have been preparing for Kawasaki, and I am very happy that we were able to win that match.
There are challenges with consecutive matches and a tough schedule, but I believe that even with changes in the lineup, Tokyo can continue to win.

(Thoughts towards the National Stadium)
"If there were an Olympics this year, I might have stood on the pitch that was being used there.
I wanted to play here, so I am happy to be able to compete in the Final Round.
I want to make a strong appeal in the league as an individual so that I can compete in the Final Round.

《Kensuke NAGAI》
(Looking back at the match)
"It really became a game according to plan"

(Looking back at the second goal scene)
"Mita provided a great pass into space."
I was able to receive the ball and carry it well, and when I saw Leandro in the center, I thought that passing it would lead to a goal.
I think it was a goal just as I imagined.

(What I was conscious of during the match)
"The key was how to nullify the strengths of the opponent's midfield."
I was playing with the awareness of not allowing vertical passes from the defensive midfielder and instead directing the play to the sides.
We were in a deeper position, but from there we were able to attack with momentum, and I think it turned out well.

(Determined to win the title)
"I think many fans and supporters from Tokyo will come to watch next time."
This is the first chance to win a title since moving to Tokyo.
I want to prepare well again and approach the Final Round.

《Tokyo - Summary of the Press Conference with Director Kenta HASEGAWA》
"The victory is the result of everyone putting their feelings forward and working hard."
I am proud of the players and I think they did well.

(Reasons for the starting members and substitution strategy)
"After winning the quarterfinals, I selected the members in the best condition while observing the state of the matches. Many of the members who won against C Osaka and Urawa were sent out. It's inevitable that we will have to let Kawasaki have the ball.
I thought the game was decided after we took the ball. We always get scored on before the water break, so I believed if we could manage the game until then, we would have a chance. As for the substitutions, Mitoma is a player with special abilities. We countered with Hotaka NAKAMURA, who also has special abilities. Bringing in Adailton and Uchida was necessary because just defending wouldn't be enough, so we brought them in.

(A match where feelings were conveyed. The key player, Kensuke NAGAI, also performed well)
"The foul for the first goal and the assist were both by Kensuke. Kensuke and Leandro did well today, and I think Diego OLIVEIRA also fought well."

(As both a player and a coach, this will be the 8th time in the League Cup Final Round)
"I have only won twice out of the 7 times so far (laughs), so I want to do my best to win the 3rd time"

《Kawasaki - Toru ONIKI Coach Press Conference Summary》
I feel sorry for losing in the Semifinal Round at home, and I am very disappointed.
The players truly had a passionate desire for this game, and the fact that they couldn't turn that passion into victory is due to my lack of ability.
Even if we conceded the first goal, we have managed to equalize and come from behind until now, but we needed to be more aggressive and stronger in that aspect. We were unable to surpass what the opponent had thoroughly prepared.

(It felt like we fought on the opponent's turf after conceding a goal. What kind of difficulties did we face?)
"We couldn't raise our tempo, and once they took the lead, their concentration increased significantly in every game. In that sense, we made it difficult by conceding the first goal. Even knowing that, the result turned out this way, and I think there were more things I should have done."

(It seemed that the passes and traps were off from the first half)
"I think there was pressure from the opponent. In a situation where we have to compete on quality, they came to take the ball, slid in, and followed closely, and I believe that’s where we were properly challenged. I think that’s where we started to get a little off."
I believe that our inability to detach from that, which is also our strength, led to this kind of game.

(Overall, I think there were moments when we couldn't break through and couldn't take a shot while the opponent was defending deeply. I'm considering what could have been done better in that regard)
"I think there are various contradictions, but one is to break through on the sides, or even if we can't fully break through, to boldly make a cross. Another aspect is the need to differentiate between being meticulous and breaking through completely at the final stage."
There were areas where the intensity was high and areas where it wasn't. Additionally, the opponent was bringing in numbers on the outside, including the side midfielders, so I think it was a tough situation where we needed to improve our quality in the center. I believe that is something we need to focus on as we continue to grow.