match Match Schedule & Results

[Reserves]
GK: 30, Katsuya MATSUSHIMA
DF: 3, Ryu YAMAGISHI, 32, Yoshiatsu OIJI, MF: 8, Yoshiki SHIMODAI, FW: -

○ Match Digest
After Typhoon No. 8 passed, the Prince League Sec. 8 was held under clear skies. The opponent was Kawasaki Frontale U-18. While the matches between the TOP teams have produced many memorable battles known as the “Tamagawa Clasico,” this was the first U-18 matchup since the 2012 season. Kawasaki had struggled with no wins in their first five matches this season, but since securing a spot in the Japan CY Championship, their offense has been lively in the last two league games, winning 4-1 against Urawa and 5-0 against Yamanashi Gakuin, making them a formidable opponent not to be underestimated.

In response, Tokyo suffered consecutive losses in the league against Yokohama FM and Omiya, but went on to win the Kanto CY Championship thereafter, and also played strong games against higher-ranked university and corporate teams in the Emperor's Cup Tokyo qualifiers. They have also secured consecutive wins since the league resumed, overtaking Omiya to take the top spot, showing the team is in good form. Their ability to continue delivering results despite a congested schedule reflects the overall strength of the team.

Before the match, the players warmed up with relaxed expressions while raising their motivation for the upcoming game. Coach Sato encouraged the players, saying, "The opponent is Kawasaki, who have been in good form recently, but let's play our own soccer without matching them," "Because it's hot, let's run smartly, win the ball, and take control," and "Let's make it a match that resonates with the hearts of the fans and supporters who came to cheer us on," before sending them out onto the pitch.

The match kicked off at 11:00 a.m. with Tokyo taking the ball at the Tokyo Gas Musashino-En Multipurpose Ground.

Right after kickoff, Tokyo’s MF Hasukawa broke down the left side with a wall pass involving DF Koyama and sent in a cross, but it didn’t connect in the center. Kawasaki responded at 2 minutes by moving the ball across the pitch width with six players—four in the defensive line and two holding midfielders—looking for the right timing to play a vertical pass. However, centered around MF Abe, Tokyo carefully covered the ball’s target areas and prevented any chances. At 4 minutes, Kawasaki penetrated through the center with intricate passing and dribbling, but DF Takada cut it out with a sliding tackle. Kawasaki took the first shot. Tokyo lost the ball on a pass error and Kawasaki quickly moved to shoot, but DF Takuya Watanabe tightened the center to deal with it, averting danger.

At 6 minutes, just after the first 5 minutes had passed, Tokyo's Onishi, who had pushed forward on the left side, took the ball away from an opposing player and quickly passed it to Hasukawa. Hasukawa dribbled forward and sent a cross to forward Okuma running into the center, but it was just slightly off. The opening goal came at 9 minutes. From an attack starting on the left side, MF Nagasawa, the corner kick taker, sent the ball to the far side, and despite being off balance, Takuya Watanabe headed it in to score the opener!!

After taking the lead, Tokyo carefully circulated the ball to avoid losing it easily, waiting for the opponent to get impatient and bite. The additional goal came in the 13th minute, created by using the space opened up when Nagasawa drew out the opponent on the right side. Passing from Nagasawa → MF Sasaki → Okuma → Hasukawa → Koyama, and finally, Okuma pushed in the cross that Koyama sent from the left side for the second goal. Tokyo extended their lead to 2-0, but in the 15th minute, Kawasaki created a clear chance. After breaking through Tokyo’s left defensive side and sending a cross to the center, an opposing player took a free header shot. However, goalkeeper Ito made a fine save to prevent the goal in this critical moment.

After that, Tokyo, while leading, did not rush their attacks and were controlling the game, but from the 25th minute water break onward, Kawasaki took control of the pace. At the 27th minute, due to a trapping mistake, and at the 29th minute, Kawasaki skillfully penetrated the narrow central space, pressing forward, but Tokyo's defenders responded with committed defense. Also, Tokyo's front three (Hasukawa, Sasaki, Okuma) diligently returned to their own half, and all 11 players firmly filled the spaces, preventing the opponent from attacking freely.

Having withstood the opponent's period of dominance, Tokyo scored their third goal in the 36th minute. Koyama sent in a cross from the left side, and Hasukawa took a shot, but the shot didn't fully connect with his foot and was temporarily taken by the opposing defender.

However, Ohnishi, who had pushed forward, quickly regained the ball from the opposing defender, and finally Okuma calmly shot in front of the goal, shaking the net. The first half ended 3-0.

Halftime. Coach Sato praised the players, saying, "The danger was almost all self-inflicted, but there were absolutely no problems in the first half!!" He then encouraged them, "If the opponent changes their system or tactics in the second half, let's communicate well on the pitch and adjust accordingly," before sending them out for the second half.

In the second half, Kawasaki immediately switched their system to a three-back. At 47 minutes, just after two minutes into the second half, Tokyo created a scoring opportunity. In midfield, Takahashi and Abe coordinated their defense to win the ball and then spread it to Hasukawa on the left side. Hasukawa won a one-on-one against Kawasaki’s right side back and sent a grounded cross to the center. Okuma, waiting near the central near side, reacted to the ball, drew the opposing DF, and passed through. Sasaki, positioned behind, received the ball and aimed for a shot but was closely marked by a tenacious opposing DF. However, Sasaki passed with a heel kick to Takahashi, who was making a supporting run. Finally, Takahashi took a free shot but just missed the target.

Unable to add another goal from this play, Tokyo gradually lost control of the pace to Kawasaki. At the 52nd minute, Kawasaki skillfully passed the ball to a player making a diagonal run behind Tokyo's defensive line and penetrated the central area, but the shot went off target. Then, at the 55th minute, Tokyo conceded a free kick to Kawasaki. Kawasaki aimed directly with this free kick and took a shot on a difficult course, but GK Ito punched it away. Thanks to GK Ito's excellent save, Tokyo held their defense, but at the 60th minute, they were caught off guard for a moment and an opposing player took a free middle-distance shot. This shot hit the net, resulting in a goal. 3-1.

Kawasaki, having scored a goal back, revived their spirit and launched an attack by committing more players to the front line to try for a second goal, but Tokyo's defenders stayed focused and responded until the end. Tokyo made substitutions for players showing signs of fatigue. At the 69th minute, Wataru SASAKI was replaced by MF Ryu WATANABE. At the 75th minute, Renkawa was replaced by FW Ryo SATO, who was sent onto the pitch. Fatigue was also visible among Kawasaki's players, and during this stretched period, two fresh substitutes known for their attacking skills added an accent to the offense. At the 79th minute, starting from the left side, Ryo SATO and Ryu WATANABE combined, and finally, the advancing ABE flowed the ball in for the fourth goal.

Tokyo, having scored their fourth goal during a tough period, made substitutions to close out the match: at the 82nd minute, Aihara came on for Koyama, and at the 86th minute, defender Okazaki replaced Takahashi, who had contributed to the attack with his dedicated defense and a mix of short and long passes that created rhythm. In the final moments, at the 88th minute, Onishi quickly intercepted an opponent’s vertical pass in midfield and passed to Watanabe Ryu. Watanabe dribbled, cutting in from the left side to the center, calmly took a shot, scoring the fifth goal and sealing the victory. The match ended with Tokyo winning 5-1.

A match under the harsh sunlight and heat. The team united as one to seize victory and maintain the top position in the league. However, the truly tough summer battles are still ahead. We want to continue gaining experience and further enhance the overall strength of the team

. We sincerely thank everyone for their warm support of the players today as well. We ask for your continued warm support for FC Tokyo U-18 in the future.