Match Review & Preview
Review of the Previous Match: FC Machida Zelvia
A match against the same opponent just three days later. Since the top-ranked Kashima Antlers had lost in a penalty shootout the day before, this game was also about maintaining the momentum from the previous 3-0 victory and securing 3 points to intensify the title race.
Tokyo kicked off with five changes from the previous match, including Ryunosuke SATO and Kim Seung-gyu, who had returned from Japan-Korea national team duties. SATO formed a two-forward partnership with Marcelo RYAN.
From the start, Tokyo controlled the ball and maintained the initiative. Their transition immediately after losing possession was quick, allowing them to enter the match in good form. However, since Machida, who had conceded three goals four days earlier, tightened their defense, Tokyo struggled for a long time to break down the opponent’s five-back formation. With the spaces closed off, they couldn’t find passing options, and scenes where shots failed to materialize were noticeable.
At the start of the second half, Keito Sato, who had been playing as the right attacker, moved to the front line and swapped positions with Ryunosuke Sato. They tried to add an accent to the attack with this positional change, but still struggled against the opponent’s defensive network and couldn’t deliver effective passes. Meanwhile, Machida began to show more aggression in their attacks while maintaining a solid defense, but Tokyo’s Min Gyu JANG repeatedly made fine saves to keep the goal intact, and the match continued scoreless.
Mixing in direct play to break through, in the 17th minute of the second half, Kashif BANGNAGANDE delivered a cross which Kei Sato skillfully headed, but it was deflected off the crossbar and no goal was scored.
Both teams showed focused defense until the very end, and the match ended 0-0 after the full 90 minutes, leading to the outcome being decided by a penalty shootout.
Tokyo, who took the first kick, saw their first shooter Alexander SCHOLZ and third shooter Takahiro KO miss, while Machida succeeded with all four of their shooters, sealing the outcome. Tokyo was unable to secure a victory to chase the league leaders Kashima and ended with the frustrating result of earning just one point at home.
This Week's Preview
This week, we head to Nissan Stadium, the home of Yokohama F. Marinos. In the previous match on March 7 at MUFG Stadium (National Stadium), we achieved a complete 3-0 victory over them. It will be a rematch after a short period of about one month.
When Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI was asked by the press whether the team should enter the match with that positive image or reset, he replied, "Absolutely reset," and continued as follows.
“However, although there is the difficulty of a short span, it is also an opportunity to develop the strength to overcome it. Teams participating in the UEFA Champions League and AFC Champions League experience home-and-away matches within a short period while also playing league matches. These inevitably become important games as they rise. I think that was the case in the previous match against Machida. That’s why there was quite a bit of frustration when it ended. After the match, I ended up giving the players a somewhat strong message. There will always be tough times, and there will always be difficult moments. Overcoming those is something you can experience in this tournament. Of course, there are also times when the intervals between matches are longer. On the other hand, we face Kashima Antlers at the beginning and the end. I think this tournament is also one where you can experience various styles of play.”
To achieve a “season double” against Yokohama F. Marinos, it depends on whether we can break apart their compact defensive formation. It will be about whether we can launch attacks that freely combine penetrating runs behind the defense and lateral shifts to unsettle them.
Ryunosuke SATO, who scored his first goal for the Blue-Red in the previous match, said ahead of the rematch, “Even if we play well, the opponent will watch that game and prepare countermeasures. To overcome that, we also need to improve; otherwise, we can’t win. Tactics become important in that regard. If we refine our level of play while bringing out each other’s strengths, I believe we can definitely play good soccer.”
The matches that cannot be lost continue as we chase the top-ranked Kashima Antlers. We have no choice but to carefully spend each day, accumulating points with the mindset that "the enemy right in front of us is the greatest enemy."
Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI
Q: Please tell us your impression of Yokohama F.Marinos.
A: They give the impression of being a tough team to face once they get going. They have a well-established attacking style, and their defense is also compactly organized. However, if we can clearly express our intentions, I believe we can break apart that compactness. First, if we can properly align our perspectives, a fluid match development will emerge.
Q: The match against FC Machida Zelvia was held earlier due to an irregular schedule. Is there anything you emphasized to the players heading into the second half of the season?
A: The players fought tough in the two matches against Machida, and the content was by no means bad. We created several chances, and I think it was a decent start to the second half of the season. Within the team, we talked about "reassessing where we currently stand." Rather than losing confidence just because of the loss, we discussed the importance of correctly evaluating ourselves now and demonstrating what we have built up in the next match, using the frustration as motivation to move forward.
Q: While chasing the top-ranked Kashima Antlers, we often hear players say they want to "always be challengers." What is important as a challenger?
A: I believe it all comes down to living a daily life worthy of that role. We must become a team that assumes winning the championship as a given. This is not easy and requires a long history and experience. Although we already have a wonderful history, I think our experience is still insufficient. That is why daily accumulation is crucial. We need to consider where this worthiness is cultivated from, and first cherish each day, continuing appropriate preparation, attitude, and behavior. This accumulation is important, so while keeping that in mind, it is vital to fight each match carefully without falling behind Kashima, who are just above us, holding on to their backs.
Q. It seems the team is gaining confidence. How do you see it from Coach Matsuhashi's perspective?
A, I’m not sure if I can say it’s outright 'confidence,' but I think we are beginning to grasp a sense of assurance and some key points as we play more matches. Especially significant is that the entire team’s focus is aligning. To build even more confidence, as was the case in the Machida match, we cannot just do the same things over and over. There will always be tough matches and difficult situations. Overcoming those is what will give us confidence moving forward. Simply repeating what worked before is not enough. I believe there are crucial moments in matches that become turning points. Beyond those, we can increase the confidence we have been cultivating so far. That kind of momentum and confidence will drive us toward our goals.
Q. It seems that the level of demands has also increased. What is your view on this, Coach Matsuhashi?
A. Since we are always aiming higher, that is only natural. However, the most important thing is to keep our feet firmly on the ground. Pursuing rankings or results alone without that foundation is meaningless. There is no guarantee of winning just by chasing those. In fact, many of the things we seek are simple, but the most crucial and difficult part is how much we can improve their accuracy and quality.
Player Interview
Sei MUROYA
Q: The season has entered the second half. Please review the developments so far.
A, there have been many good matches, and I feel very positive about actually being involved in the title race now. In terms of the progress made since last season, we have been able to play the style of football we aim for in many games, so I think it’s really something very good. The same goes for the last match against FC Machida Zelvia and the one before that against Tokyo Verdy, but there were matches we couldn’t finish off with a win, so while I do wish we could have won those games... when looking at the first half of the season from a broader perspective, I take it very positively.
Q. If you were to point out an issue, would it be that you don’t drop points even in matches that aren’t necessarily your best?
A. We definitely want to secure wins even when things aren’t going well. What makes this season’s regulations difficult is that we can’t just aim to settle for draws when we’re not playing well. Under the usual regulations, I think we could have earned 4 points from the consecutive matches against Machida, which wouldn’t be bad, but because of the (penalty shootout) system, we end up giving Machida 2 points. That works negatively against us in the title race. The reverse is also true, so there are times we can earn 2 points, but overall, the accumulation of points feels a bit more complicated than in a normal season. That’s why we really have no choice but to win within 90 minutes and accumulate 3 points. We want to make sure we can earn those 3 points even in tough matches.
Q. On the other hand, what are the good aspects of the team?
A. Rather than this season being good or bad, it’s that the defensive aspect has been stable with few goals conceded, building on last season. Of course, it’s not just the defenders but everyone working hard defensively to prevent the opponent from playing, which I believe has contributed to earning points. This is something we have been able to maintain since last season. In addition, not only defensively but also having a solid grip on the ball while attacking gives us confidence. We should be creating quite a few chances, so the fact that we concede few goals while generating many opportunities is very positive.
Q. Do you feel that the intensity of Muroya's individual performance is effectively spreading throughout the team?
A Yes, everyone is very conscious of that, and it is becoming the foundation of the team, which I believe is a great strength.
Q. The first half of the season match against Yokohama F.Marinos was accompanied by both good content and results. Considering that, aren’t there various difficult aspects to tomorrow’s match?
A, It’s possible that it will be difficult, but on the other hand, we don’t think of ourselves as a team superior to Yokohama FM, and Yokohama FM is definitely a club with history and resilience. We haven’t won any titles yet, and we have always said that we will play with the mindset of challengers. This is not limited to matches against Yokohama FM; we approach every game with that attitude. Just because we had a good win in the previous encounter doesn’t mean our stance for tomorrow’s match will change much, nor will our behavior on the pitch.
Q. The current team gives the impression that when the style of play that worked well in other matches cannot be expressed in a different match, the players on the pitch flexibly adapt based on their own judgment.
A. I believe there is a shared understanding of what to do, but if we can improve in that area, we will become even better. That’s why, even in difficult matches, we can at least finish with a draw after 90 minutes, but the challenging part is that we want to increase the number of matches we can win 1-0.
Q. This will be an away game, but please share a message for the fans and supporters who are supporting us from various locations.
AAs I mentioned earlier and always say, we are fighting as challengers. I hope the fans and supporters share that feeling with us and continue to fight alongside us.
Keita ENDO
Q. There have been some irregularities, but we have reached the halfway point of the league. How do you look back on it so far?
A. I think we have been able to express the good football we want to play on the pitch. There are times when we can play matches with substance, and there are also matches where we lose surprisingly easily. I feel that we still lack the mental toughness to win in crucial moments, such as losing in penalty shootouts. From here on, we face a series of matches where we cannot afford to drop any points. At times like these, having someone to lead the team, the emergence of young players, or some kind of surprise can lift the team further and help us keep up with Kashima Antlers. I believe that this kind of push from below is also important.
Q. We often hear the phrase "to win the championship" from the entire team, but what do you think is important to keep up with Kashima?
A. Now that we've come this far, I think it all comes down to who will step up and lead the team. I believe everyone on the team is aware of this, and it is most important that no one is missing from the team—both the forwards and the defenders—and that everyone shares this awareness.
Q: Please review the previous match against FC Machida Zelvia.
A, I believe both the fans and supporters as well as the players understood that winning that match was essential. Especially, I could strongly feel the passion of the fans and supporters even before the game, and if we players had been able to respond to that, I think things would have headed in a better direction. However, the fact that we couldn’t express that on the pitch is our responsibility. That said, rather than dwelling negatively on losing in the penalty shootout, it’s clear that we are still in a position where we can aim for the championship, so we are switching our focus and thinking about winning the next match.
Q: Please tell us your impression of Yokohama F.Marinos.
A, when they win, they score multiple goals, and when they lose, they fail to score at all, so I think they are a very unpredictable team right now. All their players have high abilities from the start, so when their gears mesh well, they demonstrate incredible strength. I believe they will come into the match with a strong determination not to lose at home, so we want to overcome that and secure victory. I think playing with courage will bring us closer to winning.
Q. What kind of play do you want to make to secure a victory against Yokohama FM?
A. I want to make the most of the strengths of the players around me. However, if I only do that, I think the opponent won’t be afraid, so I want to actively get involved in the attack myself as well. I haven’t been able to make a very impressive play in previous matches against Yokohama FM, so I have a strong desire to leave a mark this time.
Q. Lastly, please give a message to the fans and supporters.
A I want to celebrate together when we win. For that, we stand on the pitch and play with all our might. When we give our all but lose, I want to share the sadness together. That’s how much the players want to be united with the fans and supporters. The fans and supporters of Tokyo give that impression, so with only a few matches left, I want us all to give our best, sharing both the times we cry and the times we laugh together.
