Match Review
After defeating Fukushima United FC in the 2nd round of the Emperor's Cup on June 7th, July 12th became a "special day". One month later, the time has finally come to settle the score.
Meanwhile, Tokyo has changed coaches and is currently in the process of building a new style starting with defensive improvements. Some new players have joined the team, while others have left. Although there are concerns about the number of injured players, the team's situation is irrelevant when it comes to the Verdy match. What matters is the upcoming game. In order to win and defeat Verdy, the Tokyo club will give their all to show their blue and red colors.
Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI said.
"Personally, I have experienced several derbies, but I understand that this Verdy match is a special game. For fans and supporters, this match may be everything. There are emotions in football that cannot be explained in words, and that is also an important part of football. I want to play the game with that passion for them."
The first Verdy match in 12 seasons opened at Ajinomoto Stadium.
1stHALF - Tsukagawa's powerful middle shot takes the lead
As the chant "We can't lose to Verdy" continued to be sung, the game started with the opponent's kickoff. Although the game started with pressure, in the 8th minute of the first half, player Shuto ABE took the team's first shot and changed the momentum. In the 15th minute of the first half, a heading shot hit the post from player ARHAN's long throw, but they managed to overcome the only dangerous situation and took control of the game.
The flow continued and in the 20th minute of the first half, they succeeded in taking the lead. Diego OLIVEIRA, who received the ball in the midfield, carried it and made a final pass to Koki TSUKAGAWA, who was running alongside him. Number 35, who was playing as an attacking midfielder, confidently swung his right foot and the shot bounced in front of the opposing goalkeeper, shaking the back of the net.
After taking the lead, we proceeded with the game with even more ease. The final line showed a concentrated defense, with Kuryu MATSUKI and Diego TABA's double volante gaining an advantage in recovering second balls and increasing possession rate. And, with Tsukagawa pulling out the ball in space and Diego TABA putting his body on the line to secure it, we created the starting point for our attacks. In the 26th minute of the first half, Abe, who had jumped in from the third line, had a chance to score an additional goal.
Even when defending, Henrique TREVISAN continues to shut down the opposing forward and does not allow any chances to be created from the flow of the game. Jakub SLOWIK, who is the biggest threat with his long throws, reads the trajectory after the second throw and catches them firmly. He snuffs out the opponent's attacking opportunities and safely leads by one point as they reach halftime.
2ndHALF - Diego's close shot is caught up and extended
In the second half, Verdy, who had substituted two players at halftime, was pushed back, but they quickly settled the game and earned a corner kick in the 10th minute of the second half. Kicker Matsuki encouraged the fans behind the goal, and from the second attack, Diego TABA took a shot that hit the crossbar. Furthermore, Tsukagawa broke through and scored a goal, but it was not counted as an additional point due to an offside call.
As a result, the flow of the game gradually shifted towards Verdy. They were pushed back by the opponent who made early substitutions and sent fresh players to the front line. And in the 25th minute of the second half, they conceded an equalizing goal from a corner kick.
It was a clash of wills after the score returned to the starting point. Tokyo had more time pushing forward, but the goal seemed far away and there was no breakthrough. In the end, the match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes. The derby, after a gap of 12 seasons, entered into a battle of 120 minutes.
EXTRA TIME—Unable to capitalize on the opportunity at the start
As the game entered extra time, Tokyo created a big chance just 38 seconds after the start. They broke through on the right side and Tsukagawa crossed the ball. Keigo Higashi, who had made a near post run, headed the ball in front of the opponent's player, but the shot missed the target.
Both teams understand the value of the next goal and continue to play the game with an attacking mindset while maintaining balance. In the midst of that, in the 11th minute of extra time in the first half, they were once again threatened by a shot from a long throw-in, and in the 15th minute of extra time in the first half, they had a close call due to a defensive clearance mistake, but were saved by the opponent's missed shot.
The balance of the game remains unchanged even after entering the extended second half. At this point, Naoki Kumata is brought into the front line, but the team as a whole is visibly fatigued and struggles to bring the ball up to the front. Before they know it, the clock has reached 120 minutes. The game continues into extra time, but with no resolution, it eventually leads to a heated penalty shootout.
PENALTY SHOOTOUT - Kubo stops the 9th shot! Victory in a fierce battle
Tokyo, the first to attack, calmly scored to the right with player Matsuki. The second player, Yasuki Kimoto, also succeeded. Furthermore, the third player, Tsukagawa, scored to the bottom left, and the fourth player, Kumada, scored to the bottom right. And although player Yuto Nagatomo also scored, Verdy's five players all succeeded, leading to an extended penalty shootout.
The sixth kick by player Abe was initially touched by the opposing goalkeeper, but the mistiming resulted in it rolling into the goal. The seventh kick by player Tsubasa Terayama went straight to the center. The following eighth kick by player Kei Koizumi was also successful, and the ninth kick by player Higashi was kicked into the upper left corner, making it a perfect success for all nine players from Tokyo.
And then, they faced the opponent's ninth kicker. Jakub SLOWIK, who had been unable to stop despite reading the course several times, finally stopped this ninth kicker. They won the fierce battle against Verdy and advanced to the 4th round of the Emperor's Cup.
MATCH DETAILS
＜F.C.Tokyo＞
STARTING XI
GK Jakub SLOWIK
DF Kei KOIZUMI/Seiji KIMURA/Henrique TREVISAN (Extra time 13': Kyosuke KIMOTO)/Yuto NAGATOMO
MF Kuryu MATSUKI/Shuto ABE/Takaki TSUKAGAWA
FW Ryoma WATANABE (Second half 31': Tsubasa TERAYAMA)/Diego OLIVEIRA (Extra time 0': Naoaki KUMADA)/Kota HYOZUMI (Second half 16': Keigo HIGASHI)
SUBS
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Shuhei TOKUMOTO
FW Leon NOZAWA
GOAL
First half 20 minutes: Koki TSUKAGAWA
＜Verdy＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Matheus
DF Yuta Narawa/Yuto Tsunashima/Tomohiro Taira (46': Kaito Chida)/ARHAN (ET 95': Junki Koike)
MF Daiki Kusunoki (68': Ryosuke Shirai)/Toyofumi Sakano (74': Kosuke Sagawa)/Koken Kato (46': Kohei Yamakoshi)/Ryo Nishitani/Ryuji Sugimoto (63': Yuji Kitajima)
FW Keito Kawamura
SUBS
GK Yuya NAGASAWA
GOAL
Second half 25th minute: Ryosuke SHIRAI
PENALTY SHOOTOUT
[Comments from Head Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI's Press Conference]
Q: please review the game.
A, it was a cup match and a heated Verdy match, so I thought that various things would happen in the game. Based on my experience, you never know what will happen in a cup match, so you have to be prepared for everything. It's the same in today's match. What was really important and crucial was to control our emotions and give our all.
I think they firmly carried out their own way of thinking and played a very good football. There were also moments where we could have scored more goals, but we couldn't convert those chances and ended up struggling. And we were caught off guard by the opponent's set plays. That is a disappointing aspect. However, in the midst of that, the players fought bravely and selflessly with a belief in this club. I think it is the effort of everyone in the club. And for the fans and supporters, I think today's victory became something special.
Tokyo is blue and red.
Q, it was almost the same lineup as the Urawa Reds match in the league.
A, considering the balance of freshness and safety, this member selection has been made. First, it is important to fight stably and to firmly coordinate the team. I would like to continue moving forward step by step while doing it firmly in practice in the future.
Q, extra time, and even penalty shootouts were needed.
A, it is wonderful that they were able to give their all until the end. They fought bravely and with heart. They had given everything they had until the gas tank was almost empty. I am truly proud that they were able to run for 120 minutes in that way.
Q, I think I made a name for myself in the Verdy match, which is the first in 12 seasons.
A, I have a great respect for the club's past pride, and it was a memorable battle that the people of Tokyo can be proud of. I am proud that I was able to share these things with the group and the players, not just myself. It was also important that we took another step towards the trophy. I am proud of everyone involved with the club, and I think it was good to win for the fans and supporters.
Q: Did you anticipate that the match would go into a penalty shootout?
A, I think preparation is everything, and within that, we were able to have good practices. We were also able to work on penalty kicks during practice. We have had a really good preparation this week and have prepared to fight for 120 minutes. Also, I really want to express my gratitude to the fans and supporters. I am happy that we were able to send off our teammates who continued to cheer us on from warm-up until the end of the game with smiles on their faces.
Q, since becoming the coach, there have been no losses in the 4 official matches played.
A, I think this is the result of everything that everyone involved in the club, including the players, coaching staff, and medical staff, has done. By coming together and preparing diligently day by day, we have been able to perform well. It's a great start, but there is still much more we can do. There is still a lot of potential and possibilities, and we need to work step by step to bring them out and continue without letting our guard down. By doing so, I believe we can get closer to becoming our dream team.
[Player Interview]
<Yuto NAGATOMO>
Q, the match against Verdy turned into a fierce battle that even went into a penalty shootout.
A, ideally, we wanted to settle the match within 90 minutes, but Tokyo Verdy also had many fresh players, and both teams fought desperately in this heat. We expressed our style of soccer, ran through the full 120 minutes, and ultimately it came down to a penalty shootout. I think there is some luck involved in penalties, but I believe that everyone having a strong feeling of “We don’t want to lose to Verdy” and “We, the blue and red, are Tokyo” led to our victory.
Q, for 120 minutes, his endless movement up and down the left side saved the team.
A, I truly feel that my condition has greatly improved. I played for 120 minutes, but I had no physical issues at all. I am 37 years old, but I felt that I can still keep playing, and I was able to regain confidence in my physical stamina.
Q: In the penalty shootout, you aimed for a calm shot. Did you decide on the target before taking the shot?
A, I calmly judged the shooting course by watching the opposing goalkeeper's movements. When I was with Inter Milan, I also served as a penalty kicker in matches like the Milan Derby and successfully scored. I was able to approach it with confidence, and above all, I competed with a strong mindset.
<Koki TSUKAGAWA>
Q, please look back on today's game.
A, it was a match that had to be decided within 90 minutes, but since it was the Emperor's Cup, where every single goal is crucial, I deeply felt the importance of scoring an additional goal, so next time I want to be more aggressive. Also, despite it being a weekday night, many fans and supporters came, creating an atmosphere that the players alone could not have built, which left a strong impression on me.
Q, it was a splendid goal with a powerful swing of the right foot.
A, during the scoring scene, when I received a pass from Diego OLIVEIRA, Diego moved again to reposition himself, and since Ryoma WATANABE was also ahead, at first I was looking for a passing option. However, seeing the goal, I swung through, and the ball landed perfectly on my foot, curving like a knuckleball and going into the net. Scoring goals is one of my strengths, so I want to be fully conscious of finishing when the opportunity arises, whether in shooting practice or mini-games during training.
It was a penalty shootout after a 120-minute match, but I was able to stay calm and score.
A, my legs had no strength left, but I pushed the ball into the goal with determination.
Q, there is a league match against Kashima Antlers in 3 days. Please tell us your enthusiasm.
A, the Emperor's Cup and the league matches are different, so I want to build up steadily starting from practice. (Looking at Kei KOIZUMI sitting next to me) Since the next match is against KOIZUMI's former team, I believe he will score, and I hope to play boldly and contribute to the victory (laughs).
<Tsubasa TERAYAMA>
Q, what instructions did you receive from Coach Klomovski before entering the pitch?
A, first, I focused on whether I could enter this intense match well. Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI told me to firmly express what I have and my strengths. After being caught up with a tie, we were in a situation where we had to go for the second goal, so as a team, I was conscious of directing our vector forward and recovering the ball in the defensive midfield position to connect to the attack.
Q, I think we had a lot of time being chased by the defense. What kind of balance did you find on the pitch?
A, I focused on going for the second goal and not allowing the opponent to score additional goals. While communicating with Kuryu MATSUKI, who formed the double defensive midfield, I was conscious of balancing offense and defense, recovering second balls, and playing the role of a link in attack depending on the situation. I especially played aiming for chances to score additional goals.
Q, it seems that I was able to smoothly enter the game in difficult game developments such as the Urawa Reds game and this week's Verdy game, where the opportunity to play in the middle of the game has increased.
A, although I often come on as a substitute, I do feel the difficulty of entering the pitch in a closely contested game. In the past few matches, I have been focusing on being conscious of my first touch and fully expressing my own strengths to create a rhythm in my play. The number of times I can show good plays in matches has been increasing, but my positioning and mistakes have also been noticeable. I want to refine these further and grow so that I can start matches rather than coming on as a substitute.
Q, the performance and intensity after scoring a goal in a penalty shootout left a lasting impression.
A, I focused on delivering goals and victory to the fans and supporters. I was a little nervous, but I had decided to kick straight down the middle. I made sure to score firmly, raising the energy of Tokyo’s fans and supporters to the highest level, with a strong desire to support Jakub SLOWIK so he could stop the penalty kicks.
<Seiji KIMURA>
Q, please review the game.
A, in the first half, I was able to bring out my strengths and effectively contain the opponent. I felt that I was able to make good plays. However, in the second half, pass mistakes became noticeable, and I was late against the opposing forwards, unable to challenge strongly, which allowed them to create space. I believe that if I don't clear up these small mistakes and fine details, victory will slip away. As a center back, I am required not to give the opponent freedom in their attacks and to nip potential threats in the bud, so I want to correct these one by one starting from practice.
Q, we started the game with a focused start, and at times, we also saw plays that became the starting point of our attacks.
A, entering extra time, many players on the pitch were fatigued in the final moments, so rather than forcing ball possession, I thought that sometimes simple plays are also important. I was especially conscious in the closing stages of the match to effectively utilize long feeds from our own defensive area and push up the defensive line. As the game progressed, Tokyo Verdy also made substitutions in their forward line, focusing on fresh players aiming to score, but I prioritized not losing in speed, anticipating their moves, and cutting off scoring opportunities.
Q, the stadium was enveloped in a unique atmosphere throughout. How did you feel on the pitch?
A, despite it being a weekday night match, many people came to the venue. There were overwhelmingly more Tokyo fans and supporters than Verdy’s, so I felt the excitement on the pitch. I felt the push toward victory, and I was honestly happy to be able to share the joy with the fans and supporters.
