Match Review
The final match of this season, dubbed “Big Thank You Day.” This game served as an opportunity for the club and team to express their gratitude to all the fans and supporters, and at the same time, it was Keigo HIGASHI’s final match in blue and red since joining in the 2013 season, making it a day for the entire blue and red family to convey their deep appreciation for his contributions over the years.
In the second leg of the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League Playoff Round 3rd-4th place decider, FC Tokyo faces Cerezo Osaka, who finished 2nd in the WEST division. Tokyo drew 2-2 in the first away match, and this game will decide the 3rd place for the season.
For the match to send off a key contributor who absolutely cannot be lost, Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI selected the same starting eleven as the first match last weekend. Hayate TANAKA was in goal, with a back line of four players from right to left: Naruki Muroya, Alexander Scholz, Hayato Inamura, and Kento HASHIMOTO. The central midfield duo consisted of Kouta TOKIWA and Kei KOIZUMI. The attackers were Keisuke SATO on the right and Keita ENDO on the left, with Marcelo HIAN and Ryunosuke SATO forming the two forwards. Additionally, Wataru GOTO was on the bench for an official J.League match for the first time. Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA was included in the squad for the first time since the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 29 match against Tokyo Verdy on September 15 last season, when he was forced to leave due to injury, and Keigo HIGASHI was also named in the squad as a “game changer.”
1st―Launching an Early Offensive but Conceding 3 Goals by Half-Time
The first half kicked off with the chant 'Today is a day we cannot lose,' and Tokyo created chances from the start, initiating attacks from a pass by Ryunosuke Sato and pressing deep into the opponent’s territory. At the 5-minute mark, from Ryunosuke Sato’s left corner kick, Keito Sato struck the ball with his left foot amid a scramble in front of the goal, but VAR intervened due to a possible handball by RIAN just before the play, and after an on-field review, the goal was disallowed.
Tokyo, wanting to intensify their attack without losing heart, suffered a counterattack after a vertical build-up pass was intercepted, conceding a goal to Honma in the 10th minute of the first half. The aggregate score over the two matches became 2-3.
While barely holding off the opponent who suddenly increased their offensive pressure and created scoring chances, in the 15th minute of the first half, Ryunosuke Sato fiercely chased down the ball near the opponent’s goal line and stole it. From there, he crossed it back to the center, creating a big chance, but once again, Tokyo could not push through the scramble in front of the goal and failed to shake the net.
An accident occurred for Tokyo here. At the 26th minute of the first half, Keigo SATO injured his left leg and went off the pitch. At the 29th minute, Leon NOZAWA was brought on and took the position of right attacker.
Tokyo, with Ryunosuke SATO actively involved with the ball, tried to build attacking plays, but the opposing goalkeeper made a series of fine saves, preventing them from scoring. On the contrary, at the 33rd minute of the first half, Tokyo conceded a penalty kick after fouling an opponent who had broken into the penalty area. Sakuragawa converted the penalty, extending the lead to two goals. Then, at the 43rd minute, Tokyo conceded again from a short corner, making the aggregate score 2-5 over the two matches.
The players, faced with an unexpected turn of events, gathered on the pitch before the restart to reaffirm their strategy moving forward. They refocused their determination in the situation of chasing a three-goal deficit.
The first half ended after 9 minutes of additional time. The opening goal, which seemed to have been scored at a good moment, was ruled out, and the subsequent conceded goal disrupted their rhythm. Everyone must rally once again and show the pride of the blue and red. The key is whether they can properly regroup during this halftime.
2nd―Keigo’s Final Appearance as a Blue-Red
In the second half, chasing a three-goal deficit, there were no substitutions at halftime. The fans and supporters behind the goal raised the voltage and sent out loud chants. We must respond at all costs to the passionate cheers from the Blue-Red family who have fought alongside us so far.
Tokyo wants to score a goal early on. Against an opponent defending by forming a block, the back line holds a high position beyond the halfway line, searching for attacking options while being mindful of counters. They also speed up their reaction to second balls after pressing and recover them firmly. The situation, with very little space available, raises the question of how to break through.
At the 16th minute of the second half, the Tokyo bench made their next move. Replacing Endo and Hian, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA was brought in as the left attacker, and Fuki YAMADA was inserted as one of the two forwards. This substitution quickly changed the flow of the game.
Immediately after, TAWARATSUMIDA launched an attack from the left side and delivered a long pass, which YAMADA took a shot at. Then, in the 17th minute, from a short counterattack, Nozawa sent the final pass, and Ryu Sato struck a powerful right-footed shot after one touch, scoring a counterattack goal.
Tokyo, having narrowed the gap to two goals, intensified their offensive pressure. While drawing out Tawara Tsukida's breakthrough ability on the left side, the team regained their attacking momentum with players surging forward from behind, and defensively overwhelmed the opponents with immediate ball recovery. The entire team displayed a dynamic and energetic style of soccer.
In the 27th minute of the second half, after a move by Tawara Tsukida, Ryū Satō connected the play, and Yamada unleashed a powerful shot with his left foot. The shot struck the crossbar, and Tokiwa attempted to head it in, but unfortunately, it just missed the target. Since they are so close, they want to somehow score quickly and keep the comeback within reach.
Here, Coach Matsuhashi plays his final card. At the 32nd minute of the second half, he makes a switch from Tokiwai and Kei Koizumi to Koga and Keito Azuma. Koga is positioned at the forefront, while Azuma lines up alongside Ryu Sato in the midfield. The number 10, who is playing his last match in blue and red on this day, is entrusted with directing the attack and leading the team to a comeback victory.
Tokyo's back four also actively joined the attack and pushed forward, increasing the pressure. Then, during the six minutes of added time in the second half, Yamada, after a one-two with Muroya, entered the penalty area and was brought down. The referee blew the whistle and pointed to the penalty spot. However, with the support of VAR, this was unfortunately judged to be offside.
Nevertheless, Tokyo continued to press forward relentlessly. Fueled by the electrifying atmosphere of the stadium, they launched bold attacks, but despite their fierce efforts, time ran out. They lost the 3rd-4th place playoff against C Osaka with an aggregate score of 3-5 over two matches, concluding the half-season special tournament in 4th place overall.
After the match, the season-end home final game ceremony was held, with Coach Matsuhashi and Captain Muroya giving greetings. From the stand behind the goal, a banner reading "We love you! KEIGO 10 See you again." was displayed, and encouraged by the chants of fans and supporters, number 10 stood in front of the microphone and tearfully expressed his gratitude for 14 years.
"It's farewell, isn't it? I am truly proud to have been able to play for this beloved team for 14 years. But I also felt a little that I just didn't have what it takes to win in the end... and realized that soccer isn't that easy. I had been holding back my tears for about two weeks, but I ended up crying before the match, and thinking that it might have made the players tense, I feel a bit sorry. I really love this team, and I hope to come back someday. Thank you so much for these 14 years!"
Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI
Q, please give us an overview of today's match.
A, the start of the first half did not look bad at all, but gradually the opponent imposed their style, and we were unable to respond, which led to conceding goals and made the game difficult. Although we managed to align our focus at halftime and bring the momentum back to our side, ultimately Cerezo Osaka scored more goals. We had chances as well but failed to convert them. I believe that led to our defeat. The way the start unfolded directly affected the result, making it a very disappointing game.
Q, having finished the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League with 2nd place in the Regional League Round and 4th place overall, how do you perceive these results?
A, there have been many truly good games so far, and many matches where the results matched the performance, which I believe has led to our current ranking. Now that the season has ended, I feel we should be somewhat satisfied with these achievements. However, I have absolutely no intention of being complacent and just moving on. Whether we are 4th, 10th, or 18th, the fact remains that we have gained nothing. We must fully acknowledge this and be prepared to continue challenging ourselves next season.
Q, during the lead-up to this match, the club announced the contract renewal of Coach Matsuhashi for the 2026/27 season. How do you plan to build on this season’s content and results for the next season?
A, I have a strong feeling that we cannot continue as we are. We must further raise the quality of the team. While our methods need to be flexible and diverse, I believe that unless we enhance the fundamental aspects more, we will not reach our goals. We need to elevate our level step by step—one stage, two stages, three stages.
Q. It was announced that Keigo HIGASHI, who has played for FC Tokyo for a long time, would not be renewing his contract, and today was his last game in Tokyo. Could you tell us what words you said to him?
A. I believe he showed his characteristic style of play to the fullest until the very end. He has made a great contribution to the club over many years and has been loved by many fans, supporters, and people around him. Personally, I feel truly fortunate to have met him. He was a player who valued the essence of what should be important in play, as I mentioned earlier. I was impressed by that attitude even during the first training camp after I took office, and it has never changed to this day. Although his playing opportunities were limited, whenever he appeared on the field, he always gave his all. That is the result of his daily efforts and also a testament to his great talent. He was also a player with a very strong influence on his teammates. I have heard that he intends to continue his playing career, so I look forward to his future success and would be happy to meet him again somewhere. Once again, I want to express my gratitude to him.
Player Interview
Keigo HIGASHI
Q. This was your last game with FC Tokyo. How do you feel now that the match has ended?
A, It was enjoyable. The match was not easy, and I was reminded of how difficult it is to win. Even so, I am truly glad that Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI sent me onto the pitch at the end and that I was able to play at the Japan National Stadium.
Q. After the match, many fans and supporters saw off Higashi. How did you feel about that?
A, many held up their jerseys and sang the cheering songs for me. Being sent off like this is truly a happiness for a soccer player. Over the 14 years at this club, there were tough times and moments when I almost came to dislike it, but looking back now, I feel that I was loved. I am filled with deep gratitude.
Q. What feelings did you convey in your greeting to the fans and supporters?
A. Honestly, I did not expect to give a greeting at that moment. I believe it was the fans and supporters who created that opportunity. I expressed my gratitude sincerely and spoke about how thankful I was to be able to see that scene one last time. Also, since Masato MORISHIGE is still on the team, I mentioned to please take care of him when the time comes.
Q. Please tell us your thoughts about Masato MORISHIGE and Yuto NAGATOMO.
A. I believe that I am who I am today because of MORISHIGE. I am truly grateful to him. I also learned professionalism from NAGATOMO. I am thankful to both of them, and I would be happy if we could work together again someday.
Q. Do you have any desire to return to FC Tokyo in the future?
A. I don’t think there is any player who, having experienced that atmosphere, wouldn’t want to come back. I am truly grateful to this club, so I want to give back someday. My biggest ideal is to return as a manager and become a champion. However, winning is really difficult, so I believe I have to thoroughly pursue many things to achieve that.
Q. Please tell us about your thoughts on continuing your playing career.
A. I still have the desire to continue playing. Please write an article about it and I'll be waiting for offers (laughs). If I don't get any offers, I won't have work starting in July, so please, I’m counting on you.
Q. How do you look back on your 14 years at FC Tokyo?
A, I was able to play with truly outstanding players who each had strong personalities. Many players also went on to play overseas, and I was able to learn and gain a lot as a soccer player. There was a time when I was arrogant in my youth, but I believe I was able to grow by seriously facing soccer.
Q. Despite receiving offers from other clubs, what was the reason you stayed with FC Tokyo for such a long time?
A. Because I wanted to win the league with this club. I was attracted to the fact that this club had never won a title, and I didn’t want to run away from that. In the 2019 season, we came very close, and I kept thinking, 'Next time for sure,' and that’s how I have continued until now.
Q. Looking back on your time at FC Tokyo, is there any particular event that left a strong impression on you?
A. When Yuto NAGATOMO returned, it was truly shocking. I was glad to be able to play alongside him, and I learned what it means to be a professional.
Q. How do you feel FC Tokyo as a club has changed from when you first joined to now?
A. The change of the emblem is symbolic, but the club has always been striving to evolve. Of course, there are parts that must not change, but I feel that the desire to win titles has become stronger than before.
Kota TAWARATSUMIDA
Q: There was an impression that you changed the flow after coming on as a substitute. Please review the game.
A, I think we were able to change the flow, but at that time, drawing or securing a win is necessary to become champions.
Q. What did the coach ask of you when you entered the match?
AI focused on trying to take the initiative and change the game.
Q. Did you feel that the momentum changed after Kota TAWARATSUMIDA and Fuki YAMADA came onto the pitch?
A, I did feel the momentum shift, but more strongly, I felt that as a team we wanted to finish off and score during those good periods.
Q. How was your coordination with those around you?
A I sometimes create passing lanes myself, and players around me like Yamada also actively came to receive the ball, so there were various options which made it easier to play.
Q. During the period you were sidelined due to injury, what kind of image did you have in mind regarding your return?
AI was always thinking about making plays that directly lead to goals and dribbling to change the flow of the game like I did today. While watching matches, I sometimes thought, 'Maybe I should try this kind of play.'
Q. How is your condition and your feel for ball touches?
AI think it’s not bad.
Q. You started this season behind due to injury, but how do you want to spend your time preparing for the next season?
A, Because I fell behind, I want to carefully think about and work on how I spend this off-season and on building my body in my own way.
Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA Player
Q: please review the game.
A, It was truly my first match in a long time, and I definitely felt the difficulty. I also realized I still need to improve my condition. However, the biggest gain today was finishing the match without injury. I want to continue working so that I can participate in matches like this consistently.
Q. Please tell us your thoughts on playing while receiving cheers from the fans and supporters for the first time in a while.
A. When I came on, the team had just scored to make it 1-1, and the atmosphere was very lively. It was great to be able to play while feeling that energy, but I also feel disappointed that I couldn’t repay that with a good result.
Q. You had an injury and were away from matches for a while. How did you spend that time mentally?
A. I was quite anxious. Since I couldn't even participate in practice matches, I felt myself drifting further away from playing in games, and I was really worried about whether my condition would fully recover. Overcoming that and being able to play in today's match is an achievement, but I want to play in more matches going forward.
Q. You showed some Kobashi-like plays, such as receiving the ball in tight spaces and coordinating with those around you.
A. However, there were still many parts where I wasn’t in sync with those around me, so I need to work on improving that. I want to further fine-tune things so that I can coordinate well with my teammates and also receive the ball when I start my movements.
Q. Please tell us your enthusiasm for the new season.
A, Although we are entering the off-season, I am not very fatigued, so I want to build my body properly and enter camp in good condition. I also want to prepare thoroughly so that I can participate in matches from the opening game.
