match Match Schedule & Results

[Reserve]
GK:30, Katsuya MATSUSHIMA
DF:32, Yoshiatsu OIJI
MF:-
FW:-

○Match Digest
The opponent in Sec. 4 of the Japan Club Youth Soccer Championship (U-18) Kanto Tournament Second League is Urayasu SC.

So far, Tokyo has gained momentum with three consecutive wins. However, since the Kashima vs. Chiba match in the same group kicked off at 11:00 a.m. on the same day and Chiba won 3-2, even if Tokyo wins this match against Urayasu, their place in the top two of the group is not yet secured.

Before the match, Coach Sato informed the team of the results from other venues mentioned above. He also confirmed with the players, "Let's definitely win today's match against Urayasu and build on it," and "Respect the opponent and play with unity." The entire team formed a huddle and faced the match. The game kicked off at 3:00 p.m. with Tokyo in possession at the Tokyo Gas Musashino-En Multipurpose Ground amid steady rain.

The match was evenly contested, with both teams carefully circulating the ball until Tokyo scored the opening goal. The opponents, when in possession, used the width of the pitch through their defensive line and defensive midfielders to circulate the ball and try to break down Tokyo's defensive network. However, Tokyo's three lines—FW, MF, and DF—shifted laterally in unison, preventing the opponents from delivering effective vertical passes.

The first shot of the match came at the 11th minute. MF Koyama received a long ball from DF Onishi and sent a cross from the left side to FW Okuma in the center. Okuma contested with the opposing DF and headed the ball towards the goal, but could not hit the target.

At the 13th minute, Tokyo was broken through on their own right side and a cross was delivered, but Onishi blocked it with his body to clear. This play resulted in a corner kick for the opponent. From this corner kick, the cross was met by an opposing player in the center, but the shot lacked power, and GK Ito, making his first appearance this season, calmly handled it. Then, at the 17th minute, the ball was intercepted in midfield leading to a short counterattack, but DF Takada maintained solid positioning and prevented the opponent from creating a clear scoring chance.

At 20 minutes, from a breakthrough by MF Hasukawa, MF Nagasawa connected a corner kick to FW Okuma on the far side, but they could not shake the net. At 24 and 27 minutes, Hasukawa appeared in the center of the area and called for the ball to take shots, but Tokyo struggled to score against the opponent's dedicated and physical defense.

The game changed in the 31st minute. Hasukawa received the ball on the left side, broke through the flank with individual skill, and crossed to Nagasawa in the center. Nagasawa took a shot with his right foot, which was initially blocked by a defender, but he quickly followed up on the rebound and scored the long-awaited opening goal.

With the opponent losing focus, Tokyo did not ease up on their attack. In the 37th minute, MF Abe, having won the ball in midfield, dribbled through the center by himself and faced the opposing GK one-on-one. The opposing GK fouled Abe’s powerful dribble to stop him, earning a penalty kick. However, this penalty missed the target, and no additional goal was scored.

However, in the 39th minute, Tokyo, carefully connecting passes and looking for the right timing to play a vertical pass, sent a perfect pass from MF Takahashi to DF Yamagishi, who ran behind the opponent's defensive line. Yamagishi, facing the opposing GK one-on-one, calmly slotted the ball in with his left foot to make it 2-0. In the 42nd minute, Nagasawa also found himself one-on-one with the opposing GK and calmly took a shot to add another goal. The first half ended 3-0.

At halftime, Coach Sato called out, "Let's apply strong pressure on the ball holder and play at our own rhythm," and "The opponent's defensive line is shallow. Let's actively target the space behind them."

In the second half, the opponent's stamina dropped, leading to a scenario where Tokyo held possession for longer periods.

From the start, Tokyo applied aggressive pressing. In the 54th minute, Hasukawa received the ball from MF Koyama, cut in from the left side to the center, and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot that spectacularly shook the net, making it 4-0. In the 56th minute, Sasaki was brought onto the pitch, replacing Okuma. Then, in the 59th minute, Hasukawa, who was left free by a trick play from a corner kick, struck a fierce shot to make it 5-0.

At the 61st minute, Nagasawa and Hasukawa, who had been continuously targeting behind the defense, were substituted off and Wataru Watanabe and Sato were sent onto the pitch simultaneously.

The fresh members who came on as substitutes showed great activity. At the 67th minute, Sasaki received the ball from DF Takada in midfield, turned forward with one touch, and despite being surrounded by four opposing players, skillfully evaded them with clever footwork and broke free, but was unable to take a shot. Then, at the 68th minute, Sasaki made a diagonal move and sent a through pass to Wataru Watanabe, who appeared in the center, creating the sixth goal.

With the score at 6-0, Tokyo made a substitution in the 72nd minute, bringing on Okazaki for Abe. The team continued to maintain possession throughout, but in the 76th minute, they were caught off guard for a moment and the opposing player took a long shot, which was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Ito, preventing a goal. In the 78th minute, Sasaki calmly connected with a cross from Sato, who had cut in from the left side, making it 7-0.

At the 81st minute, Yanagi was brought on to replace Yamagishi. Entering on the right side, Yanagi actively made repeated runs behind the defensive line within the limited time given, creating chances. At the 85th minute, Sato received the ball from Ryuu Watanabe, dribbled up to the opponent’s goal, and faced the opposing GK one-on-one. He scored with a brilliant lob shot over the advancing goalkeeper’s head, making it 8-0.

Tokyo continued to press the opposing ball holder without easing up despite the growing goal difference, securing a victory with a clean sheet.

With today's match result, Tokyo maintained first place in the group with 12 points. Although they hold an advantage in goal difference, they aim to prepare well over the next week for the upcoming match against Kashima and secure the right to participate in the Japan Club Youth Championship as the group leader.

Thank you very much for your warm support for the players today as well. We kindly ask for your continued warm support for FC Tokyo U-18.