match Match Schedule & Results

[Reserve]
GK:30, Kazuki Takase
DF:27, Sota Hasukawa
MF:
FW:14, Daisuke Minami

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

"Fight passionately and calmly, and show our unity!"

The 2015 J Youth Cup, 23rd J League Youth Championship, is finally at the Semifinal Round.

This time, the opponent is Nagoya Grampus U18, who were defeated in the first match of the summer Japan Club Youth Championship (U-18) final tournament.
Although they lost 1-4 to Vissel Kobe U-18 in the recent Premier League, the team as a whole possesses strong individual abilities with vertical momentum.

Tokyo approaches this match with the same members and system as in the Kobe game.

"We are challengers. We have a trustworthy lineup including players outside the main squad. Let's fight with a sense of unity," Coach Sato told the players to unite as one team.
Then, continuing with specific instructions about the opponent's characteristics, "The key is set pieces. We must not show any lapse even for a moment."
Including players not in the lineup, everyone formed a circle and headed onto the pitch.

The match at the "Ajinomoto Stadium West Field," where many Tokyo supporters gathered, started with Tokyo's kickoff.

《First Half》
A quiet start with both sides looking for chances through build-up play.

Tokyo showed a bit of stiffness but took the momentum after their first shot.
At 5 minutes, Okaniwa unleashed a powerful long-range shot from outside the right side of the penalty area, but it went straight to the GK.
At the 8th minute, Abe picked up the ball in midfield and passed it to Ikiji. Ikiji then tried to break down the left side, but the opposing DF blocked, resulting in a left corner kick.
They scored the opening goal from the set piece that was called the "key" before the match.
Okuma aimed the corner kick near post, and from the contest, the ball flowed directly to the far side, where Yanagi, who said it was "just like in practice," headed it in to successfully score the opening goal.
Although Tokyo took the lead, Nagoya gained control and continued to press them.
At the 25th minute, a ball was played from the left side to the center, leading to a long-range shot.
Yamaguchi saved it, but the rebound was followed up and resulted in an equalizer.
Although Nagoya continued to press toward Tokyo’s goal, over time Tokyo managed to regain control of the flow.
Tokyo found a breakthrough on the left side.
At the 31st minute, Ikiji and Abe together took the ball on the left side and passed it to Sato.
Sato then attempted a vertical breakthrough and delivered a ground cross to the far side, but it just missed connecting.
Furthermore, at the 38th and 41st minutes, centered around Abe, Koyama, Okuma, Sato, and Ikiji combined to show a typical Tokyo attack, connecting short passes on the left side.
In the scene at the 41st minute, Ikiji unleashed a powerful shot at the end of the passing sequence, boosting the team's morale as they went into halftime tied 1-1.

《Halftime》
While the players carefully checked even the smallest details among themselves, Coach Sato gave instructions: "The second half is the decisive battle! After winning the ball, let's increase the passing speed. Since we have many attacks on the same side, make good use of the opposite side as well."
There were no substitutions for either team as they headed onto the pitch for the second half.

《Second Half》
Nagoya immediately took a shot from the left side at the start, gaining the upper hand over Tokyo.
Then, in the 52nd minute, Tokyo lost the ball in their own half and conceded the go-ahead goal before their defensive formation could be set.
From here, Tokyo launches a counterattack.
The one who raised the signal was Sato. At the 53rd minute, he broke through the left side alone and faced the GK one-on-one, but was blocked.
Three minutes later, Okuma broke through behind the right side and proceeded diagonally into the penalty area.
He passed to Sato, who was positioned in the center, and Sato's shot went just over the crossbar.
They approached the Nagoya goal from both the left and right sides.
To accelerate the momentum of the attack, Tokyo sent out Aihara, Uchida, and Ito one after another onto the pitch.
In the 88th minute, Abe stole the ball in the central midfield, broke through alone by dribbling, and took a shot with his left foot, but it missed the target.
Additional time is 3 minutes.
Just when it seemed the match would end as is, Sato scored the equalizing goal at 90+1 minutes.
On the left side, Koyama delivered a floating ball to Sato, who skillfully switched bodies with the opposing defender and entered the penalty area while contesting with the defender.
Sato, who said "I could clearly see the opposing GK's movements," calmly executed a lob shot to equalize the score.
Tokyo, pressing further, saw Sato break free and take a shot in a similar manner at 90+2 minutes, but the opposing DF cleared it, and the match proceeded to extra time tied.

《First Half of Extra Time》
Aihara, who said "I wanted to score a goal," took the lead 31 seconds after the start.
Koyama broke through the left side and delivered a ground cross to Okuma in the center.
Aihara quickly reacted to the ball that was contested with the opposing DF and spilled loose. Running forward, he took a shot that pierced into the left side of the goal.
Tokyo, aiming to score an additional goal, connected passes on the left side between Koyama and Abe in the 97th minute. Sato then timed his run perfectly to break behind the left side, swapping positions with the opposing defender and entering the penalty area.
He sent a cross to the far side, but it was blocked by the opposing defense.
Furthermore, at 100+1 minutes, Uchida cut inside from the left side and took a right-footed shot, but it was blocked by the crossbar.

《Second Half of Extra Time》
After kickoff with Nagoya's ball, they conceded a goal in just 18 seconds, and the match was back to square one.
“It’s still just the beginning!” Yamaguchi’s loud voice echoes across the field.
Tokyo makes a substitution from Okuma to Hasegawa, energizing the front line even more.
At the 103rd minute, they win the ball in central midfield, pass from Hasegawa to Uchida, who then dribbles forward through the center.
Finally, a last pass is sent to Sato running down the right side, but the opposing GK catches it just before him.
Both teams continued to create chances near the goal, but no winner emerged, leading to a penalty shootout.

《Penalty Shootout》
FC Tokyo kicks off first.
Tokyo’s first kicker calmly scored, and the second player also scored, but the third and fourth attempts were saved by the opposing GK.
Nagoya scored with all four players, and Tokyo lost the penalty shootout 2-4, resulting in elimination in the Semifinal Round for the second consecutive year.

As a result, we finished the tournament in third place.

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.

[Player Comments]
Coach Sato
"It was an exciting game to watch. There were many goals scored near the end of this tournament, showing great resilience, and I felt the players’ growth. The players had very strong feelings invested in this tournament. Nagoya had many players with vertical driving power, and there were parts where we were beaten by individual skill. For the penalty shootout, we let the third-year students decide the order. I am truly grateful to the third-year students. (What is your determination toward the Premier League?) New players are emerging. We want to blend them well. We want to approach these three matches as very important."

Player Aihara
"(What instructions did you receive when you came on as a substitute?) I entered the game focusing on taking on challenges and shooting without fear of failure. In the second half, since the team was under attack, I wanted to change the momentum. (About the scoring scene?) I scored with determination. I really wanted to score a goal. (There are only 3 Premier League matches left, how do you feel?) Since there are few left, I want to do everything I can."

Player Watanabe
"Since we made it this far, I wanted to win. I think we fought with a sense of unity until the very end. We took the lead, conceded a goal, and allowed a comeback, but on the field, we were still confident we could go on! That was what we talked about. It was good that we kept running until the end. The match turned into a shootout, and although we lost in the penalty shootout, I believe everyone gave their all, so I want to carry this into the Premier League. (There are 3 matches left in the Premier League, how do you feel?) I am grateful to many people, and I want to fight with all my strength until the very end and finish with a smile."

Player Yanagi
"I couldn't demonstrate my full ability on the big stage. The team was able to play well, but I wanted to contribute more to the team. (About the scoring scene?) It's a pattern I aim for every time. Just like in practice. The opponents were very strong individually, and I thought if we lost one-on-one battles, the team would collapse. However, there were some gaps and shortcomings. (There are 3 Premier League matches left, how do you feel?) I was able to grow through the J Youth Cup. I want to work hard to grow even more in the last three Premier League matches."

Player Sato
"The opponent we lost to in the summer. We knew they had strong attacking power, so first, we aimed to defend solidly. Nagoya had conceded goals in many Premier League matches, so I thought we could score. (About the scoring scene?) I expected to receive a pass from the defensive line. From the moment I trapped the ball, I was looking at the goal, thinking I would score here. I could clearly see the opposing goalkeeper's movements, and it was an ideal goal. (There are 3 Premier League matches left, right?) There are 3 matches remaining. As long as there is still a chance to win the championship, I want to aim for the title. And I want to leave something for the team. Personally, I also want to maintain my position as the top scorer."