Match Review
Tokyo, who suffered a defeat in the previous match against Avispa Fukuoka, saw their winning streak come to a halt. This game served as a reset to regain momentum. The start of the match was delayed by 30 minutes due to a thunderstorm and heavy rain, but after adjusting the match time, the rain stopped and the pitch conditions improved. The kickoff took place amid lingering humidity.
In Tokyo, Taishi Brandon NOZAWA, who was selected for the U-23 Japan national team for the Paris Olympics, took the position of goalkeeper, with the final line consisting of four players from the right: Kosuke SHIRAI, Kyosei KIMOTO, Teppei OKA, and Yuhei TOKUMOTO. In the defensive midfield, Takahiro KO and Kei KOIZUMI were positioned, with Teruhito NAKAGAWA playing just behind the forwards. The wings were occupied by Hayate ANZAI on the right and Kota TAWARATSUMIDA on the left, with Diego Oliveira leading the front line. Additionally, Ryotaro ARAKI, a member of the U-23 Japan national team for the Paris Olympics, and captain Kuryu MATSUKI were placed on the bench for the match.
1st HALF—Diego's goal in the 2nd minute, but the lead is overturned
The match started with immediate action. From the beginning, Tokyo connected passes and attacked. Using the goalkeeper to create angles in passing exchanges, they avoided the press. At this point, Nakagawa was fouled and from the resulting free kick, the ball was played out to the right side, where Shirai made a through pass forward. Anzai then sent a cross with his right foot right on the goal line, and Diego met it in the center in front of the goal. With this lightning-fast strike in the 2nd minute, Tokyo succeeded in taking the lead.
The team, which had issues with their approach and momentum in the first half, showed an aggressive attitude from the start and took the lead. Diego, who scored against his former club, ran over to the bench. He embraced the staff and substitute members and showed a powerful fist pump.
In the 5th minute of the first half, Takahashi took a middle shot with his left foot from a wave-like attack. In the 13th minute of the second half, Tawaradzuma player broke through the left side and took a close shot in front of the goal. Tokyo is increasing their offensive pressure.
Tokyo created consecutive chances, but conceded a goal in the 14th minute of the first half. Matheus SAVIO delivered a pinpoint through pass from near the penalty arc to the left side, and Diego broke through near post to equalize.
Tokyo, boldly pressing away from home, expanded play widely to the right from the left side through Tokumoto in the 23rd minute of the first half. Diego broke through diagonally, and after initially losing the ball, they regained possession to earn a corner kick. They continued to win corner kicks afterward, pushing forward in front of the opponent’s goal to create a big chance. However, they were blocked by the opponent’s physical defense and could not score the go-ahead goal.
In the 29th minute of the first half, player Tawaratsumida powerfully broke through vertically with a high-speed dribble from just before the halfway line. He kept advancing steadily, entered the penalty area, and unleashed a fierce left-footed shot. The ball grazed the crossbar and went over the goal, but he created a chance through individual skill.
However, in the 32nd minute of the first half, Tokyo lost the ball while trying to build up play from their own half. Nozawa’s floated vertical pass was intercepted by the opponent, and Takamine quickly took a shot with his left foot after trapping the ball. With the goal left open, Tokyo conceded an unexpected go-ahead goal.
While Tokyo aggressively pressed forward, Kashiwa looked for chances on the counterattack. They scored the opening goal early on and continued to create opportunities but failed to convert them, while scenes of Tokyo struggling against Kashiwa’s quick attacks increased. Tokyo also showed tenacious defense, and just before the end of the first half, Nozawa stopped a close-range shot from an opponent’s corner kick. The first half ended 1-2, with Tokyo trailing by one goal at halftime.
2nd HALF— TETSU’s First Pro Goal but Immediately Conceded the Lead
Tokyo, eager to equalize first, continued to show an aggressive vertical approach in the second half, pressing toward Kashiwa’s goal. At the 3rd minute of the second half, they pushed into the opponent’s territory, and Kimoto was fouled near the penalty arc, earning a free kick opportunity. From a good position directly in front of the goal, Tokumoto aimed with his favored left foot, but the ball narrowly went over the bar. At the 12th minute, from Tokumoto’s left corner kick, Shirai tried to strike the rebound with his left foot, but this too failed to find the target.
Tokyo, who continues to push in, takes the ball at a high position and creates chances with one-touch connections and vertical passes that change the rhythm of the game.
At the 20th minute of the second half, three substitutions were made all at once. Araki was brought in as the lone striker, Matsuki as the attacking midfielder, and Keita ENDO on the left wing to intensify the attacking pressure.
The defense also held firm. At the 26th minute of the second half, the right side was broken down and the near side was targeted, but Nozawa made a flying save. With a determined shot stop that would allow no further goals, Tokyo continued their desperate defense to regain momentum.
At the 30th minute of the second half, Yuto NAGATOMO was sent in as right side back, and at the 33rd minute, he took a chest trap on a loose ball from a right corner kick and shot with his left foot. He actively called out to his teammates, energizing the pitch with both words and play. Furthermore, at the 38th minute of the second half, he appeared in front of the goal with an inner overlap, exchanging direct passes with Araki and Matsuki while getting involved in the chance.
Then, in the 43rd minute of the second half, from a free kick opportunity gained on the left side, Tokumoto delivered a sharply dropping ball, and it was Oka who powerfully headed it in at the far side. The rookie, starting for the fourth consecutive match, scored his first professional goal with a header that saved the team, finally bringing Tokyo back to level terms. On the bench, Go HATANO and Nakagawa also energized the team, raising the supporters behind the goal with both hands and creating an atmosphere geared toward a comeback.
Tokyo launched relentless attacks even during the 8 minutes of additional time. However, during the pressured period, players lined up on the last line, leaving the vital area open, allowing a free lofted pass, which led to conceding a goal amid the scramble in front of the goal. They allowed the go-ahead goal with only a short time remaining.
Immediately after, from Tokumoto's sharp left cross, Anzai's powerful direct volley hit the target but went straight to the opposing goalkeeper, failing to shake the net. After that, they launched attacks with long balls to the front line, but the counterattack did not bear fruit. It was a frustrating loss away from home, resulting in the team's first consecutive defeat of the season.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC TOKYO>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Kosuke SHIRAI (30th minute 2nd half: Yuto NAGATOMO) / Yasuki KIMOTO / Teppei OKA / Shuhei TOKUMOTO
MF Hiroaki TAKAO (36th minute 2nd half: Riki HARAKAWA) / Kei KOIZUMI / Teruhito NAKAGAWA (20th minute 2nd half: Ryotaro ARAKI)
FW Diego Oliveira (20th minute 2nd half: Kusei MATSUKI) / Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (20th minute 2nd half: Keita ENDO) / Soma ANZAI
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
DF Masato MORISHIGE
GOAL
2nd minute of the first half: Diego OLIVEIRA / 41st minute of the second half: Teppei OKA
<Kashiwa Reysol>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Kenta MATSUMOTO
DF Daiki SEKINE / Hiroki NODA / Taiyo KOGA / Diego (36th minute 2nd half: Eiichi KATAYAMA)
MF Eiji SHIRAI / Tomoki TAKAMINE (36th minute 2nd half: Kazuki KUMASAWA) / Yushi YAMADA (27th minute 2nd half: Takuya SHIMAMURA)
FW Mateus SAVIO (27th minute 2nd half: Sachiro TOSHIMA) / Tomoya KOYAMATSU (15th minute 2nd half: Kosuke KINOSHITA) / Mao HOSOYA
SUBS
GK Masato SASAKI
DF Naoki KAWAGUCHI
GOAL
14th minute: Diego / 32nd minute: Tomoki TAKAMINE / 45+4th minute: Sachiro TOSHIMA
[Interview with Peter CKLAMOVSKI, Manager]
Q, please give us an overview of the match.
A, I think it was a highly entertaining football match. While delivering our performance and our style of football, the players gave their all on the pitch. However, it is very disappointing and frustrating that we did not get the result. There were parts of what we have been building that we were able to show in this match, but there are still many things we need to learn. We must continue to steadily improve those aspects, and we are still a special team capable of growing further. I am proud that the players fought fiercely and gave everything to try to achieve a result. Nevertheless, we still need to eliminate the simple mistakes that lead to conceding goals. Because of those easy goals, the match became a tough battle for us, like climbing a big mountain. I am truly grateful to the many fans and supporters who came out and pushed us forward. I hope they will continue to support us without giving up.
Q, I think you have been able to get in front of the opponent’s goal by making use of the strengths of the forward players, but how do you view the final accuracy?
A, The finishing part is something we still need to improve. We have been able to get into dangerous areas and inside the penalty box, which shows that we are continuing to play the football we have developed. Today, we were able to demonstrate growth in that aspect of our football. However, there are still things we need to learn and improve. I believe this was one of the matches where we could have earned points. We feel, grow, and must continue to learn.
[Player Interview]
＜Teppei OKA＞
Q: This was your first professional goal. Please look back on the scoring scene.
A: We were in a situation where we had no choice but to equalize, and I was able to make eye contact with Ryotaro ARAKI, find a good position, get free, and enter the area in good timing, so that was good. Then, a good ball came from Shuhei TOKUMOTO, so all I had to do was connect with it.
Q, We had the ball for a long time, but there were many periods when we couldn't complete our attacks.
A, It would have been better if we could have attacked more effectively by cooperating with the midfield players while speeding up. It was difficult to make an effective pass on my own because the opponent defenders were also wary of it, but I was conscious of using the central midfielder to release the pressure while quickly developing the play.
Q. How did you respond to the opponent's attacks from the sides?
A. There were many attacks from the sides, and in the previous match against Avispa Fukuoka, they got past me in that area, so I was especially conscious of preparing in advance and coordinating with Kei KOIZUMI, who plays one line ahead. However, there were several occasions when the ball was played backward and the central midfielder was late to apply pressure, so I think I should have pushed the central midfielder out more. There were also several scenes where we conceded shots from outside the box, so I believe we need to improve on that.
Q, You have continued to start in the starting lineup.
A, I am conscious of growing match by match. I believe the worst thing is to repeat the same mistakes. As a first-year professional player, I think I have nothing but room to grow, so it is important to correct myself, absorb good things, and continue to develop. I have not yet achieved results, so I want to increase the plays that contribute more to the team.
Q, From here, we have matches every three days: the Emperor's Cup match against JEF United Chiba, followed by the game against Albirex Niigata at the Japan National Stadium. How do you plan to approach these games?
A, We absolutely must not suffer three consecutive losses, so first, we want to thoroughly pursue our style of soccer and prepare well to definitely win the Emperor's Cup match.
<Shuhei TOKUMOTO>
Q, despite having a lot of possession, it was a frustrating defeat. Please reflect on the overall match.
A, we were able to move the ball fluidly while watching the opponent's space and the movement of our teammates, with the focus on the central midfielder. However, as a team, we want to increase the accuracy of our final shots and the number of chances created.
Q, we were progressing well in the game, but then we conceded goals in quick succession.
A, we conceded an easy goal that could have been prevented. No player was careless during the conceding scenes, but we want to take this as a valuable lesson and connect it to the next game.
Q, after successfully overcoming a difficult period, Teppei OKA scored his first professional goal assisted by Shuhei TOKUMOTO.
A, we were trailing 1-2, but we had possession of the ball and were looking for chances by repeatedly moving the ball in and out, mainly through the central midfielders. The assist came from a free kick, which I was able to take with confidence. After equalizing, we had opportunities to score a third goal, but unfortunately, the opponent was more clinical in finishing, leading to a frustrating outcome.
Q, it was reminiscent of the free kick that assisted Soma ANZAI's goal in the match against Júbilo Iwata.
A, before taking the kick with Riki HARAKAWA, we talked about wanting to at least get the ball over the opponent players near the near side. Thanks to that advice, I was able to deliver a good ball. I also had a good feeling from assisting Soma ANZAI's goal in the Iwata match, so I was able to aim confidently. The cheers from the fans and supporters behind the goal also gave me strength, so I was full of the desire to somehow meet their expectations. I am also grateful to Okazaki for finishing it off with a good header.
Q, Next weekend we also have a match against Albirex Niigata at the Japan National Stadium.
A, I believe this result is a matter of mindset, and how we switch gears is important. We want to communicate well among the players, especially led by the three captains, and make proper adjustments. We aim to secure a solid victory against JEF United Chiba in the Emperor's Cup 3rd Round on Wednesday, and build good momentum so that we can achieve a strong win at "our National".
