<Match Review>
The league was interrupted during the representative activity period, and Tokyo faced Fuji University, the representative of Iwate Prefecture, in the 2nd round of the Emperor's Cup.
The team was composed mainly of players with long playing time in the league. In goal, Go HATANO. The defense line consists of Hotaka NAKAMURA, Yasuki KIMOTO, Masato MORISHIGE, and Ryoya OGAWA from right to left. In the anchor position, Keigo HIGASHI, who was also used in the league match against Shimizu S-Pulse, was placed. In the inside half positions, Ryoma WATANABE and Shuto ABE formed a combination. In the front line, Keita YAMASHITA was used as the center forward, with Kensuke NAGAI on the right wing and Adailton on the left wing.
The match progresses with Tokyo holding the ball and Fuji University setting up a defensive block to aim for a counterattack. From the beginning, they push the opponent back from the sides and create scenes where Yamashita player brings the ball from post-play to a shot, but they are unable to hit the target. Compared to the league games, Tokyo has more room in the ball contest, but against opponents with fast slides to the ball side, they change sides through the center back and wait for the timing to attack.
In the 24th minute of the first half, Kimoto headed Ogawa's free kick in front of the goal, but the shot hit the post. In the 26th minute of the first half, Adailton used his strong physicality to dribble past one or two opponents and took a shot in the penalty area, but it was blocked. Although they held onto the ball, they struggled to penetrate deep into the opponent's territory. However, in the 36th minute of the first half, Adailton made a chance after breaking through. Adailton, who had entered the penalty area from the left side, passed the ball backwards along the goal line. Nakamura, who was positioned in front of the goal, used his body to leave the ball, and Watanabe calmly slotted it in, taking advantage of the position of the player who had entered the goal cover, to score the first goal.
In the 43rd minute of the first half, Adailton, who received a side change from the right side, was fouled in the left end of the penalty area while trying to dribble past the defender. This resulted in a penalty kick, which Adailton himself confidently converted to extend the lead just before the end of the first half.
At half-time, Yuki KAJIURA was substituted for Nagai and Watanabe was moved to the right wing. In the 10th minute of the second half, they were threatened with a counter-attack when they used space with a long ball, but the shot from the left side was off target. In the 13th minute of the second half, Yamashita entered the gap in the defense line and received a pass facing towards the goal, but his one-touch shot went straight to the opposing goalkeeper. In the 14th minute of the second half, Adailton broke through and passed between the opposing goalkeeper and defender, but it narrowly missed Yamashita who was diving in. Watanabe picked up the ball that had flowed to the opposite side and attempted a looping shot, but it also narrowly missed to the left of the goal.
In the 17th minute of the second half, Kazuya KONNO was substituted for YAMASHITA, and Kashif BANGNAGANDE was substituted for OGAWA. In the 18th minute of the second half, BANGNAGANDE made a cross from the left side, completely shaking off the marker. Adailton, in front of the goal, took advantage of the opponent's mark with a one-touch, but his shot turned and missed to the left of the goal. In the 35th minute of the second half, Kojiro YASUDA was sent onto the pitch in place of WATANABE. In the 43rd minute of the second half, Adailton took a powerful shot from the front of the goal, creating numerous opportunities to score towards the end of the game. However, they were unable to shake the net of the Fuji University's persistent defense. They were unable to score an additional goal, but they maintained their lead from the first half and advanced to the 3rd round.
The 3rd Round will take place on June 22nd (Wednesday) in Nagasaki, where we will face off against V-Varen Nagasaki.
[Albert PUIG ORTONEDA Interview]
Q: please review the game.
A: For us, it was an important match to continue growing. We played aiming to create many decisive chances while firmly controlling the game. Throughout the entire match, we were able to create numerous opportunities and maintain control of the game for the full 90 minutes.
The remaining improvement point is that despite creating so many clear chances, we only scored 2 goals. If we create chances but lack finishing ability, there is a risk that the game will become even more difficult if the opponent scores.
However, there were also many positive aspects. Keigo HIGASHI expressed his excellent play for the full 90 minutes. Kashif BANGNAGANDE also showed parts where he fully expressed his strengths.
You may doubt it, but I believe this was one of the most difficult matches for us this season. In that sense, I want to commend the opposing team. I also told their players directly after the match that, as young players, they boldly and bravely expressed what they needed to do through their play. I want to praise their performance today for that reason as well. It is precisely because they played with such bold and wonderful play that our fans and supporters gave them warm applause.
Q, please tell us about the significance of approaching this game with key players and the positioning of this match.
A, regardless of the opposing team, we must continue to grow. In that sense, I thought this was a very important match for our growth, and I conveyed that to the players as well. (Continuing with this style) After a few years, when the team has grown, I think we will need to send the message to the players, "Don’t relax just because you’re playing against university students." However, we are not in a mature state yet; we are still a team that needs to grow. That is precisely why I conveyed the message to the players to use today’s match as an opportunity for growth.
Q: It was said that the match against Fuji University was one of the difficult matches of this season. Specifically, which parts were difficult?
A, today’s match was one of the difficult ones. The opposing team had nothing to lose. I believe that to surpass the opponent, we must play with the same level of intensity. Since the university players have nothing to lose, it was naturally expected that they would play with high intensity. Facing such an opponent, we were able to create chances, but it was also quite possible that we wouldn’t be able to shake the net. When the scoreless state continues for a long time, the game becomes tense. In that sense, I think it was a difficult match. However, in front of such a challenging game, our players stayed focused and played with a proper understanding of the difficulty of this match. I want to commend the players’ performance.
Even in today’s match, we saw better coordination in the attack than ever before. Through today’s game, I believe the team has grown further. Go HATANO, who guarded the goal today, also delivered a wonderful performance. I think he is one of the young players with great potential who is highly likely to carry this club and this country in the future. Although he is still a young player, he has proven himself to be maturing with each appearance on the pitch. Keigo HIGASHI played almost like a brother of Busquets.
[Player Interview]
＜Ryoma WATANABE Player＞
Q, I think today's position was inside half. What was the difference from when you were wide?
A, it’s about defense. The positioning when going to take the ball from the front and the way of pressing are completely different from when I was in the wide position, so I was conscious of that. Also, I focused on plays aiming behind the opponent.
Q: In the first half, it seemed like the team as a whole was not quite clicking. What do you think was the difficulty in getting into the game or where do you think the problem lies?
A, at this stage (immediately after the match), I have not yet been able to sort out exactly where the coordination was lacking, but overall the distances were too far apart. Even when circulating the ball at the back, there were times when the ball got stuck at the full-back. I reflect on whether it was due to my poor positioning, the distance between me and Nagai, or where I should have prioritized my play choices.
Q, how do you feel about winning the first match despite the challenging game situation?
A, From before the match, everyone understood that this would be a difficult game, so we approached it with a shared mindset: not to rush even if we couldn't score, and even if we couldn't get a large number of goals like five or six, the important thing was to win this match. That was a positive point.
Q, please look back on the goal scene.
A: I missed my first touch and couldn’t shoot at the timing I wanted, but I feel that if I can score more of those gritty goals like that, my goals will increase as well, so I want to keep aiming for goals.
<Kashif BANGNAGANDE>
Q: I think the first match of the Emperor's Cup will be difficult, but how have you prepared?
A: In last season's Emperor's Cup, we lost to Juntendo University in the first match, so we focused on winning and worked hard this past week, and I'm glad it led to a good result. It was Ryoya OGAWA's last match at Ajinomoto. Since I returned from injury, I had been going back and forth between being sidelined and rejoining the team, but because it was Ryoya's last match and we had lost to Juntendo University last season, and since the opponent was also university students, it was a match I really wanted to play in. I had injured my knee again a week ago and took a short break, but I was glad to be able to come on as a substitute for Ryoya. I had a chance to assist, and I am very frustrated that I couldn't connect the goal in the final moments. I want to keep refining myself from here on.
Q: What do you focus on during training, considering injuries and other factors?
A: Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA tells me that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as I keep challenging myself. From regular practice, I’m required to "bring out my own strengths," and since I believe my characteristic is attacking, even though I play as a side back, if I can’t create a difference in the attacking aspect compared to other players, then there’s no point in me being on the field. In that sense, I have nothing to lose, so I entered the match with the mindset to keep challenging myself aggressively.
Q: What were the differences between last season's Emperor's Cup battles?
A: There were chances in last season's match as well, but we failed to finish and gradually slipped, conceding a goal that led to extra time. This season, we were able to push forward aggressively from the start, and although it would have been better to score more goals, our finishing ability has been gradually improving, including in the league matches, and the team's form has been rising accordingly. I believe that improved finishing ability was the key difference from last season.
Q: You mentioned that your strength is in the attacking aspect, and today you also felt the potential in crosses. How do you plan to coordinate with the incoming players in front of the goal?
A: In regular training, when I actively deliver crosses, my teammates position themselves expecting "this kind of ball will come." Today, when I looked up, I made eye contact with Adailton. I believe this is the result of my challenges during daily training and everyone adjusting accordingly. I also took corner kicks today, and by thoroughly refining my ability to deliver crosses, including set pieces, in daily training, I think it will lead to assists in actual matches as well.
Yuki KAJIURA
Q: How was it looking back on playing against college students?
A: Right after entering the match, I was able to successfully turn and play through passes to Yamashita several times from Higashi. However, I made many mistakes afterward, so I want to improve on that. Personally, I wanted to continue the initial plays, so it was a frustrating match for me.
Q: You entered the game in the second half, what was your intention when you came on?
A: Since I played as an inside half, I entered the match with the intention of fulfilling my role properly and making runs behind the opponent's defense. However, I painfully realized in today's game that my intensity was lacking, so I believe I need to work harder on that.
Q: The opposing team also seemed to connect the ball well. How did you feel about that?
A, I think it was necessary to control the pressing while communicating with the surrounding players. I want to watch the plays of Abe and Matsuki more closely, re-recognize to what intensity I need to raise myself, and work on it starting from practice.
Q, I think as a team we were definitely able to convert our chances into goals.
A, It is important to reliably score goals, and I want to be able to score more from various positions.
Q, I think you were actively involved with the ball.
A, I repeated mistakes several times. They were simple errors made while going to receive the ball, and since I believe this is a position where mistakes must be eliminated, I want to work on improving that.
Q: What kind of preparations do you want to make for the next game?
A, I have been watching from the outside for a long time, and playing in this match made me realize that I still have a long way to go. I want to increase the intensity of my training so that I can grow to a level where I can participate in league matches and be ready to play whenever called upon.
