match Match Schedule & Results

[Reserve]
GK:30, Kazuki TAKASE
DF:
MF:34, Manato SHINADA
FW:15, Yosuke HANTANI

○Match Report
[Continuing the Build-Up and Inheriting the History]

Only 5 matches remain in the 2015 Premier League EAST of the Prince Takamado U-18 Soccer League.
Each match carries more weight than ever before.

FC Tokyo currently stands 5th with 6 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses, totaling 22 points.
Their opponent in Sec. 14, Ichiritsu Funabashi High School, is 4th with 7 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses, and 23 points. They lost their previous top-tier match against Aomori Yamada High School and want to avoid consecutive defeats.
The prestigious team, which includes Yuki Kudo, tied for 3rd in the scoring rankings (7 goals), as well as players already confirmed to join J clubs next season, was the runner-up in this year’s National High School Soccer Tournament.

In the previous match, although they conceded a direct free kick goal in the first half, they caught up with a goal by Sato in the late second half and drew the match.

Tokyo cannot afford to give in in today's match in order to chase the top ranks.

Tokyo, with Go HATANO starting for the first time in a while, will challenge using the 3-4-3 system they have built up so far this season.
In response, Ichiritsu Funabashi sets up a 4-5-1 formation.

In the pre-match meeting, Coach Sato encouraged the team by saying, "Let's put everything into the match right in front of us."
Also, he conveyed more specific points on both offense and defense to the players than usual.

Amid occasional strong winds, the uncompromising battle kicked off at 11 o'clock with Tokyo's kickoff at Funabashi City Hodokubo Park (Graspo) Ball Game Stadium.

《First Half》
The match, approached with strong determination, saw the score change immediately after kickoff.
In the 3rd minute, a foul was called inside their own penalty area, resulting in a goal conceded from a penalty kick.
As Koyama said after the match, "In the past, we might have felt a bit mentally down, but that wasn’t the case today," Tokyo took control on both offense and defense.
At the 6th minute, the ball was passed to Koyama on the left side, and Uchida made a vertical run to receive the ball.
Uchida won the duel against the opposing DF, dribbled cutting inside near the goal line, and passed to Ito, but Ito's shot was blocked by the opposing DF.
He then picked up the loose ball and approached the goal from the right side but was stopped.
At 11 and 13 minutes, they approached the goal from the left side, but the opposing DF used their body to block.
At 16 minutes, Suzuki headed a free kick obtained on the right side toward the far post, but was stopped by the opposing GK's excellent save.
At 23 minutes, showing a solid attack, Uchida dribbled the ball diagonally from the left side to the right side.
From there, a cross was delivered, and Sato and Okuma consecutively threatened the goal, but the opposing defense once again used their bodies to block.
At the 34th minute, true to Tokyo’s style, multiple players combined with quick, short passes inside the opponent’s territory. Finally, near the left corner of the penalty area, Abe laid off a backward pass to Sato, who struck with his left foot.
Here, the Ichifuna GK made a great save, preventing a goal.
In defense as well, Tokyo applied continuous team-wide pressing from the front line, not allowing the opponent to gain momentum.
In the 41st minute near the end of the first half, they created a starting point on the left side and switched play to the right side where Ito and Yanagi were positioned, then Yanagi delivered an early cross to the center in front of the goal.
Okuma, who skillfully positioned himself in the gap of the opponent's defense, aimed for the goal with a header but narrowly missed to the left of the goal.
They repeatedly approached the opponent's goal, but could not break through the very tenacious defense, ending the first half 0-1.

《Halftime》
Coach Sato, while confirming positioning, instructed, "Work harder than in the first half. Winning matches like this is very positive for the team. We will definitely win!"
The players also confirm how to approach crosses and their positioning as they take on the second half.

《Second Half》
In the second half, with the wind advantage, Tokyo approaches Ichifuna’s goal just like in the first half.
Although the start is a simple exchange on both sides, they find a breakthrough through battles for the ball in midfield.
Even so, Tokyo begins to find their rhythm from defense.
However, the first chance of the second half goes to Ichifuna.
At the 51st minute, when the ball is played behind on the left side, Go HATANO faces the opposing FW one-on-one. Hatano uses his body to block and protect the goal.
In response, Tokyo creates a chance from a set piece.
At the 53rd minute, a continuous press by Sato high on the left side earned a left corner kick. Okuma connected to Yanagi at the far side, but the opposing goalkeeper saved it, resulting in a right corner kick.
This right corner kick was also aimed at Yanagi at the far side, and Watanabe attempted a header shot on the crossed ball, but once again the opposing goalkeeper made a great save.
The next left corner kick was aimed at Sato in the center in front of the goal, but it went over the crossbar.
Tokyo substituted Hasukawa for Suzuki, switched positions, and changed the rhythm.
At the 71st minute, they broke down the left side with passing play, and Koyama delivered a low cross into the penalty area.
The ball was once stopped near the near side, then spilled over to the far side. Uchida rushed in to seize the loose ball but could not complete the shot.
At the 78th minute, they exploited a coordination error in the opponent's defense to create a chance, but the opposing DF cleared the ball.
They regained possession of the cleared ball and sent a cross from the right side, but it was caught by the opposing GK.
In the 81st and 82nd minutes, they approached the goal from the left side but couldn't break through the defense.
In stoppage time, Sato crossed the ball from the left side to the center, but the opposing DF couldn't clear it completely, and the ball spilled loose.
Jogataki reacted to this and took a volley shot, but it missed the target.
Unable to break through the opponent's extremely tenacious defense, the match ended 0-1.

[Players & Staff Post-Match Comments]
Coach Sato
"Not scoring in the first half was significant. It comes down to whether you can finish your chances or not. When we can't carry out the game plan as intended, everyone needs to calmly consider how to respond, and as players, we must mature—not just fight with emotion alone. It’s not a game content to be pessimistic about."

Player Koyama
"We conceded a goal early on, and in the past, I might have felt a bit mentally down, but that wasn’t the case today. In the first half, we were able to press the opponent, but we couldn’t score. In the second half, we attacked with variations such as set plays, but still couldn’t finish. Personally, the opponent’s pressure was quick, so I focused on moving the ball with few touches and improving the quality of off-the-ball movement. A challenge for me is to shake off opponents when receiving the ball. (You’ve been attacking more from the left side—is that right?) Compared to the first half of the season, I’ve been communicating regularly with Uchida during practice and have built a good relationship. Okazaki is also involved, and we’ve been able to break down the side well. (What are your thoughts for the next match?) Although we’ve fallen one step behind in the title race, what we need to do hasn’t changed. We want to bring out our strengths and win one game at a time."

Watanabe
“We conceded a goal early on, but I switched my mindset. We had scoring chances, but we couldn’t convert them, so we need to develop a stronger competitive edge. We also had opportunities from set plays, and it was good that everyone was focused on attacking the goal. However, the opponent had an even higher defensive awareness, and we lacked a bit of grit. I think we have been gradually improving in that gritty aspect, but the opponent was superior in that regard. It’s very frustrating to lose to a team similar to ours. (What are your thoughts for the next match?) I want to win one game at a time and put pressure on the top teams. I will focus on fighting spirit and ball challenges in practice and use today’s loss as motivation to prepare well for the week.”

Player Uchida
"We conceded a goal early on, and the issue was not being able to capitalize on the chances afterward. (How will you overcome this challenge?) I need to have a stronger mindset that I will be the one to score. I must pay attention to the finer details even during practice. (How do you compare your play to the first half of the season?) I think I have gradually improved in judging whether to take on dribbles or not while considering the overall flow of the game. I want to strengthen my awareness not only to dribble but also to shoot, score goals, and contribute to the team. (What is your motivation for the next match?) Winning as a team is important. It would be great if I can score, but I want to ensure the team can score. I also want to contribute to the team by working hard defensively."

Thank you very much for your warm support to the players today.
Continuing, we kindly ask for your passionate support for FC Tokyo U-18.