match Match Schedule & Results

[Reserve]
GK:16, Katsuya MATSUSHIMA
DF:
MF:20, Yoshiatsu OIJI
FW:

○Match Report
[Continuing the Build-Up and Inheriting the History]

Sec. 3 of the group stage was held with a one-day interval. This tournament, with three matches played over four days, truly tests the strength of the team.
This round's opponent is Vissel Kobe U-18.
Having advanced from the Kansai qualifiers in third place, this team showed resilience by scoring the opening goal against Fagiano Okayama in the previous round, conceding a reversal once, but then turning the match around once again.
After completing two group stage matches, both teams having won twice and secured advancement to the final tournament, the match was played with each side rotating their members.

Before the match, Coach Sato emphasized the word 'Challenge' to the players.
"I want each of you to take on a challenge. Show your strengths, enjoy this stage, and give it your all! And let's go win with a sense of unity!" he encouraged.
And from the supporting members as well, with phrases like "We will definitely win! We will win with our spirit!", they truly took on this match with a sense of unity.

The venue was the Gunma Prefectural Shikishima Park Soccer and Rugby Stadium, located next to the auxiliary stadium where the match against SANK was held.
In the high temperature of 35.5°C, many supporters who rushed from Tokyo watched from the stands, cheering loudly.

Tokyo switched their system from the usual 3-4-3 to 4-5-1 and kicked off.

《First Half》
From the start of the match, Tokyo showed aggressive play.
At 2 minutes, when the opponent's right side back passed the ball back to the GK, Nishimoto launched an intense press.
The opposing GK attempted a long kick, but Nishimoto blocked it with a sliding tackle. He then took the ball and faced the GK one-on-one, but was stopped by the opponent GK's excellent save.
Tokyo actively engaged in duels and approaches to the ball, which helped them smoothly settle into the match.
In attack, they took control by simply playing middle passes behind the opponent's DF line, dominating both offense and defense.
At the 8th minute, they expanded widely to the right side, with Arakawa overlapping and delivering a cross to the center of the goal.
The opposing DF deflected it, but they showed a powerful attack.
At 12 minutes, Jogataki and Nishimoto applied coordinated pressing on the opponent’s DF line, leaving no gaps.
However, the opening goal was scored by Kobe.
At 19 minutes, following a long throw from the opponent on the left side, a scramble occurred in front of the goal. Yamaguchi made a great save once, but the rebound was kicked in, resulting in a goal conceded.
Furthermore, at the 25th minute, the ball was taken away at the DF line, and after allowing a dribble penetration, a powerful long-range shot was driven in from a slightly backward pass.
Determined to break the momentum, Yamaguchi, who wore the captain's armband that day, shouted loudly, "This is where it starts!" to tighten the team.
Then, at the 26th minute, after winning a right corner kick, Jogataki approached to receive a pass and crossed to the far side.
Kobayashi (Miki), who broke free from his marker, jumped in to head the ball but failed to score.
At 36 minutes, Tokyo dismantled the opponent with their characteristic passing play; multiple players combined on the left side to break down the defense, and finally, Shirogataki advanced into the penalty area but was surrounded by opposing defenders.
At the 40th minute, Watanabe softly played a vertical ball behind the opponent's DF line on the left side, Minami made a run and crossed from near the goal line, but unfortunately it did not connect.
In stoppage time, Hangai repeatedly approached the opponent's goal using his specialty dribbling, but was unable to score.
Although they conceded a goal, Tokyo approached the Kobe goal and ended the first half in that situation.

《Halftime》
While the players checked things among themselves, Coach Sato raised the players' morale by saying, "Let's simply finish this. We can't end it like this. Everyone, work hard and turn this around!"
At halftime, Tokyo made substitutions, replacing Ito with Shinada and Watabe with Uchida, aiming for a comeback.

《Second Half》
The second half started with Tokyo in possession, and Tokyo maintained control.
At the 44th minute, Yamaguchi threw the ball he caught to Shirogataki, who was on the right side of midfield. Shirogataki faced forward, and Uchida made a well-timed run behind, receiving the ball there.
While competing with the opposing DF, Uchida approached the goal but was stopped by the opposing GK.
At this point, Tokyo was struck by an accident.
At the 46th minute, Kobayashi (Shin) delivered a superb long pass behind the opposing DF line, and Minami ran diagonally from the right side toward the goal.
Then, he collided with the rushing opposing GK and had to be substituted due to injury.
Hishiyama was brought on to replace Minami.
Shirogataki and Yamaguchi loudly encouraged their teammates, saying, "We'll fight for Daisuke's part too!"
Shinada aimed for the upper left corner of the goal with his right foot from the free kick earned here, but the bar blocked it.
Hishiyama, who said, "The coach told me to take on the challenge before the match, so I focused on attacking vertically," repeatedly broke through the right side by dribbling after this.
At the 56th minute, Shirogataki expanded play to the right side, and Hishiyama dribbled past the opposing DF to approach the goal.
In defense, at the 60th minute, despite facing consecutive threats following the opponent's left corner kick, Yamaguchi put his body on the line to protect the goal and prevent any additional goals.
In the 68th minute, from a throw-in on the right side, Hishiyama received the ball and advanced to the goal line. He crossed to the far side where Uchida jumped in, but it did not result in a goal.
In the following 69th minute, Nishimoto got involved in a chance created by Hishiyama’s dribble breakthrough on the right side.
At the 71st minute, Hishiyama and Uchida dribbled down the right side, followed up by Yoshimura and Nishimoto, continuously pressing towards the goal but unable to shake the net.
"Don't give up until the end," Yamaguchi's voice sharpens the team's concentration.
Continuing to press towards the opponent's goal, at the 73rd minute, Shinada faced forward in midfield, and Yoshimura made a perfectly timed run to shake the goal net, but it was ruled offside.
Replacing Hanya, Iwamoto was sent on by Tokyo during stoppage time. Nishimoto played a hold-up role in midfield and connected to Yoshimura, who then drove forward with a vertical dribble and delivered a cross.
Iwamoto made a run from the center slightly toward the far side but was unable to score, and the match ended 0-2.

Tokyo advanced to the knockout stage as the second place in Group C.

[Player & Staff Post-Match Comments]
Coach Sato
"The start of the match was not bad, but Kobe’s skillful play, not missing any openings, was impressive. The players who participated in the match worked very hard. Also, the substitutes who came on changed the flow of the team and showed their fighting spirit. We want to continue building on this in the knockout stage starting tomorrow."

Player Yamaguchi
"It was a match we could have won. Weaknesses appeared in the final parts of both offense and defense. Small things like just half a step more were needed. Personally, I was able to play well, but it is disappointing that it did not lead to a team result. I believe my strength lies more in the mental aspect than the technical. In the next match as well, I want to unite as a team and aim for the goal of winning the championship."

Player Nishimoto
"I was mentally prepared before the match, but it was disappointing not to score. Small things by each individual accumulate and become significant. Although it was a tough match, the result changes depending on whether you do just a little more or not. Personally, I maintained my focus on scoring throughout the 90 minutes. I definitely want to win the championship. I want to face each opponent in front of me with determination. Regardless of whether I play or not, I want to go to Mitsuzawa.A to retrieve what the seniors left behind."

Player Hishiyama
"I came on while we were behind, but the coach told me to challenge before the match, so I focused on attacking vertically. My strengths are dribbling breakthroughs and creating chances with crosses at high vertical speed. However, in today’s match, I felt once again that I want to be particular about the quality of my final dribble and crosses and that I need to raise my level. Moving forward, I want to unite with the team to contribute to our victories."

Thank you very much for your warm support to the players today.
Continuing, we kindly ask for your passionate support for FC Tokyo U-18.