Match Review
An away game that could be a turning point this seasonand the second match of a three-game stretch. The Sec. 7 match of the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Concept League EAST Group against JEF United Chiba, held after three days’ rest, kicked off with six changes to the starting lineup from the previous match.
In the defense, goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, right side back Sei MUROYA, and center back Alexander Scholz started for the seventh consecutive match since the opening. In the center of the back line, Hayato Inamura made his first start since Sec. 4 against Kashiwa Reysol, and at left side back, Kento HASHIMOTO made his first start in blue and red, replacing Yuto NAGATOMO who was substituted in the first half of the previous match.
In the defensive midfield, Kei KOIZUMI made his first start of the season, partnering with Kouta TOKIWA, while the attackers featured Fuki YAMADA making his first start in blue and red on the right, and Keita ENDO on the left. Up front, alongside Motoki NAGAKURA, Teruhito NAKAGAWA was also selected to start for the first time this season. Expectations were high for NAKAGAWA’s fighting spirit, as he had been hungry for playing time and goals until now. Additionally, Kashif BANGNAGANDE was included on the bench for the first time this season. Takahiro KO was named in the squad for the first time since the second round match against the Urawa Reds.
So far3rd place with 5 wins, 1 loss, and 12 points. Despite the tight schedule, this is a game where we want to firmly hold on to the top positions by showcasing soccer that maintains its quality no matter who plays. This all-out battle kicked off at 7:03 p.m. at the away Fukuda Denshi Arena.
1st HALF—Coordinated in offense and defense, pressing the opponentwith diverse attacks
From the start of the match, Tokyo showed aggressive play and pushed into the opponent’s territory. While firmly responding to the opponent’s long balls, they seamlessly connected to attacks through bold pressing from the front line and sharp interceptions based on keen anticipation, and in attack, in addition to advancing from the back line,the two forwards displayed fluid coordination to seize control of the game.
A characteristic so far has been the defensive midfielder dropping between the center backs at just the right timing to engage in build-up play, while encouraging both fullbacks to join the attack. Even when the opponent has possession, multiple players surround the ball to create a numerical advantage, preventing dangerous situations. There is also a strong awareness of creating passing lanes after winning the ball, and in the early stages, Tokyo’s strengths stood out as time passed.
Tokyo quickly switched into attack mode, showcasing fluid passing and a robust offense. In the 8th minute of the first half, Kento HASHIMOTO made a diagonal run, connecting with Nakagawa and Endo, leading to a shot by Nagakura. Then, in the 18th minute, Nagakura broke forward to the right front after receiving a pass from Yamada in the center and delivered a cross, which Muroya headed towards goal. Nakagawa attempted to capitalize on the rebound saved by the goalkeeper, bringing the team close to scoring the opening goal.
In the 26th minute of the first half, Endo launched a counterattack, and when Tokiwa picked up the loose ball and took a mid-range shot, an opposing player blocking near the penalty area handled the ball. Initially, it was judged a free kick, but with VAR support, the decision was changed to a penalty kick. Scholz calmly converted this big chance with his right foot, and Tokyo finally succeeded in shaking the net for the opening goal. Right after scoring, the players encouraged each other and refocused, a scene that reflected the lessons learned from the opening match and the previous game.
Tokyo's relentless attack continues. In the 37th minute, from Yamada's right corner kick, Nagakura showed skillful movement inside the penalty area and headed the ball at the far post. However, this was cleared by the opponent just before the goal, preventing an additional score.
Allowing the opponent almost no opportunities,Tokyo ended the first half with a one-goal leadafter four minutes of additional time.
The two forwards alternately drop into midfield, and the defensive midfielders not only join the build-up at the back line but also form a flexible system close to a 4-3-3 by aligning with the dropped forwards and shadows. After winning the ball high up, they want to continue showcasing a variety of attacking patterns in the second half, such as short counters, long counters that rapidly accelerate by pulling back into their own half, and one-touch attacks that slice through the opponent’s defense, all while reading the opponent.
2nd HALF—Equalized but quickly took the lead again to secure 3 points
Tokyo, who entered the second half without any changes to the lineup, faced Chiba makingtwo substitutions at halftime. Yasui was brought in as a defensive midfielder, and Goya as a forward, reinforcing both offense and defense including pressing from the front line.
At the start of the second half, Scholz suffered a hard tackle and injured his right leg, but he somehow managed to continue playing. The fighting spirit who scored the opening goal continued to bravely support the team from the back, becoming a starting point for attacks by advancing at the right moments.
There was a period during which we couldn’t break down Chiba, who had increased their pressure from the front, but at 15 minutes into the second half, we allowed them to have the ball, intercepted multiple passing options with several players, then quickly connected one-touch passes vertically into the attacking third, and finally Nagakura took a shot. Although it was blocked by the opposing goalkeeper, it raised expectations for an additional goal by recreating the fluid attack we showed in the first half.
At the 26th minute of the second half, Tokyo made their first substitution. Kento HASHIMOTO was brought in as a defensive midfielder replacing Tokiwa, and Keito SATO was introduced as a right attacker replacing Yamada. Immediately after that, Nakagawa and Endo were switched out for Ryunosuke SATO and Leon NOZAWA. NOZAWA, entering as one of the two forwards, made his long-awaited first appearance of the season.
34 minutes into the second half, a momentary lapse on the left side allowed an intrusion into the penalty area, and the rebound was pushed in, resulting in an equalizer.
However, Tokyo immediately shook the net in a play that perfectly applied the lessons learned from the previous match. This happened in the 35th minute of the second half.
Kei Sato, who had the ball on the right side, passed it forward. Ryunosuke Nozawa broke free, skillfully controlled the ball while maintaining momentum, and delivered a sideways pass. Charging in to meet it was Ryu Sato! In a way that repaid the loss of the ball in the scene where the equalizer was conceded, he powerfully struck the ball to take the lead. This goal showcased the team’s growth right before the eyes of the Aoaka family and became a moment of shared joy with the comrades who had come from afar to support the team.
At the 45th minute of the second half, Kashiho entered the left side-back position for his first appearance of the season, replacing Kento HASHIMOTO. The team entered 6 minutes of additional time while maintaining a one-goal lead.
At 90+2 minutes, we faced a major crisis when they broke through on the counterattack down the flank, but the opponent’s shot hit the post, narrowly escaping danger.
The Blue-Red Eleven, who did not lose their energy until the final stages, aggressively defended from the front to take away freedom and calmly dealt with Chiba’s long balls. Although there were some tense moments, they closed out the match with focused defense. Even as players were substituted, those on the pitch delivered excellent performances, showcasing Tokyo’s style both offensively and defensively, and impressively secured 3 points away from home..
After the match, the victory chant of 'The City That Never Sleeps' echoed from the blue and red family filling the stands behind the goal, and loud cheers and chants were sent in support for the next match.
Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI
Q: please review the game.
A: I am very pleased that the match was properly decided within 90 minutes. I appreciate the players' hard work.
Q,I think the first half was a high-intensity, good game, but in the second half, the opponent gained a bit of the upper hand. Even so, was there a flow in which you felt you could win?
A,That is hindsight. In the first half, there were parts where the players were able to express well the things we had prepared, consciously using them as means to create good situations. However, we couldn’t score easily there. Despite having clear chances in the finishing phase, we couldn’t convert them. The objective is, after all, to score goals. There is a part that might look like the means or methods have become the objective themselves, but we need to thoroughly pursue how to connect those means to the actual objective.
Q,Was it significant that you were able to score the opening goal in the first half?
A, There were chances to score a second goal, and our inability to capitalize on those is a major issue we face. To repeat the same point, even if the expected value of goals is high, it means nothing if we don’t win, and we must be able to score despite high expectations. Teams aiming for the top will exceed those expectations. We want to constantly pursue that.
Q,Despite making many substitutions, you played a wonderful game characteristic of Tokyo. Please tell us your evaluation of the players who started and about competing with overall team strength.
A,I think they delivered a truly outstanding performance. There were players who rarely got playing time, but I believe that is naturally because they have been working hard in their daily routines, and they were able to play while understanding the means of preparation. How that connects to the objective is something that could have allowed each player to demonstrate even more of their ability, which is both a challenge and a positive aspect.
Q、I think the two defensive midfielders took on many tasks, dropping back to the defensive line and moving forward to fulfill the shadow role. Please tell us what you asked of them and your evaluation of their performance.
A、In terms of involvement in the build-up, it is a major task for the defensive midfielders to be involved. However, as I mentioned earlier, I think they were able to play while feeling and thinking about each situation, not just relying on formality to move toward the goal and score. Their range of play is wide, but this is also due to the overlapping role of the wingers in creating space. The players executed well what they had prepared tactically in this game. In that sense, I believe they were able to demonstrate great strength.
Q,The two players brought on in the 30th minute of the second half were involved in the go-ahead goal. Please share your instructions to them and your evaluation.
A,We brought in fresh players to steer the game in a better direction, aiming to break through from the flanks. I am very pleased that they met those expectations solidly, and I hope they continue to do so.
Q,Regarding Ryunosuke SATO, there was a mistake before the goal that led to conceding a goal. Is there anything you talked about after the match?
A,Well... it was a self-inflicted mistake. And I did say, "Don't mess around," just to be clear. Everyone teased me about it while saying things like that, but since the game swung in our favor, I can say it like that now. However, to reach the goals we aim for, I think our play is still somewhat careless. We need to reduce those kinds of plays, and the precision there can only be improved through daily practice. I believe the answer lies in how we value those daily routines.
Q,In the previous match, we conceded immediately after scoring, but in this match, we scored immediately after conceding.
A,I have personally felt that the moments right after a goal are dangerous periods, but in terms of how we managed to take advantage of those moments, I think it was a learning experience from both perspectives. However, whether we can press on and capitalize at those times is something we still need to develop. We must continue to seek how to exploit those brief openings moment by moment.
Q,The next match will be held at Ajinomoto Stadium, but how do you feel about facing Tokyo Verdy as an away game?
A,Each of these three consecutive matches is very important, and while there may be factors beyond our control, it is possible that the perspective we have is changing. We have been challenging these three matches to make that perspective as good as possible. The last opponent in this series is Tokyo Verdy, and we absolutely cannot lose. I believe that only by winning can we earn everyone's understanding, and we will just prepare thoroughly for that.
Player Interview
Kei KOIZUMI
Q. I felt that the number of interceptions was very high.
A. Even when I went in, the players around me provided a lot of cover, and there were parts that were easier to target individually, so rather than it being about me personally, I think the team's defense as a whole was working well.
Q. The ball was circulated well even in the build-up phase.
A. While playing fluidly, Teruhito NAKAGAWA dropped back to the midfield. The forwards were also playing quite fluidly, and whether to circulate with three or four players between myself and Ryota TOKIWA was something we discussed in practice. However, I think I could have done a bit better, and there were moments when I needed to break through individually, so I believe I have to work harder on that. Also, I feel frustrated that I wasn’t able to deliver the side changes and diagonal passes that I consciously try to make.
Q. Looking back on the match, I think if we had scored the second goal, the game would have been more comfortable.
A. That's absolutely right. We had many chances in the first half as well. I may have said this many times before, but if we don’t convert those chances, the match becomes difficult like this. Although we managed to win within 90 minutes today, I believe we could have won more dominantly. If we are truly aiming for the Final Round, we needed to win in that manner.However, I think it was good that we were able to secure the win firmly during this consecutive away game stretch.
Q. Overall, it was a good match.
A. We were able to connect good defense to good offense from the first half.I believe this is something we must do consistently against any opponent.
Q. This was your first start of the season. How do you feel about your performance?
A. I believe that if we don’t win matches like this, the competition within the team won’t become intense.There were players, including myself, who started for the first time in a while today. Not only individually, but also as a team, this victory was necessary for us to become a stronger team and a championship-winning team going forward. In that sense, I think it was good.
Q. Please share your enthusiasm for the next match.
A. This is a match where only the result matters. We will switch our focus from today, prepare well together again, and work as a team to secure the victory.
Ryunosuke SATO
Q: Please review the goal scene.
A: I felt that I had to score, so I ran into that position with more determination than usual, and the ball came to me.
Q, Does the part about "having more determination than usual" relate to the ball loss that occurred just before the conceded goal scene?
A, Yes. It directly led to the conceded goal, so I felt I had to make up for it.
Q, We are in the middle of a series of consecutive matches, but I think you also had the desire to produce results after being dropped from the starting lineup.
A, My goal is to deliver results in the time I play in every match, so I want to continue doing that.
Q, I felt that your joy after scoring was greater than usual.
A, Yes, there was a feeling of both joy and relief.
Q, You will be heading into the next match in good form, right?
A, I think the next match is one where only the result matters, so I want to focus on the resultand play in a way that directly leads to victory.
Leon NOZAWA
Q. What instructions did you receive when you were brought on in the second half?
A. I was told to run both offensively and defensively, especially to keep making runs behind the defense in attack, and to press higher up when defending. Also, I was told to just go out and score goals, so I really wanted to meet those expectations. Since it was my first appearance this season and I’m a forward, I knew I needed to produce numbers individually, so I’m really glad I was able to record at least one stat.
Q,How do you feel about your performance, having contributed an assist including defensive efforts from the front line?
A, Of course, it’s good that I was able to provide an assist, but since I came on midway, I got pretty exhausted from the defensive work, and I wish I had been more active behind the defense to become a starting point for the attack. That was expected of me, and I think I need to keep improving in that area. There was also a chance where I could have scored a goal, so even though I had 1 goal and 1 assist in the match, I am not satisfied at all. I believe I could have made the game more reassuring for everyone, so I want to practice more and refine my play further.
Q,Were you aiming for that assist moment?
A, Well, I was aiming for Nagakura (laughs). When I had the ball and looked inside,Nagakura was there, and it looked better to pass backward rather than sideways, so I sent it there, and then Sato Ryu was there, so I think it turned out well. However, this is also one of our attacking patterns, and I want to increase more situations like that.
Q. Please give us a message for the next match.
A. As the fans and supporters sang chants after the match, we absolutely cannot lose to Tokyo Verdy. Having grown up in their academy, I have that blood in me that refuses to lose to Tokyo Verdy, so first, I want to rest well and prepare thoroughly.Personally, I definitely want to score goals, so I want to prepare well to contribute to the team’s victory and to achieve good personal results.
