Match Review
The Red and Blue Army headed to Nissan Stadium for the match against Yokohama F.Marinos, aiming for their second three-game winning streak of the season.
Tokyo, riding their winning momentum, kept most of the same lineup and made only one change from the previous match against Urawa Reds, where they secured a clean sheet victory. Yuto NAGATOMO returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Sec. 28 against Kyoto Sanga F.C.
With the intense heat easing, it became possible to move the kickoff time earlier from this matchweek, and the away game kicked off at 5:00 p.m. while there was still daylight.
1st HALF—Conceded the first goal but equalized with Tetsu’s strike
Having emerged from the summer slump, Tokyo has been taking control and gaining the upper hand early to advance the match favorably and secure consecutive wins. In this match as well, from the start, Keigo HIGASHI showed a determined fight, pressing back with a passionate sliding tackle to win the ball.
Tokyo wanted to bring the game into a similar flow as their ongoing winning streak, but from the start, they were pushed back by the opponent's aggressive pressing and conceded a goal in the 4th minute after their central defense was broken down by passing play. They fell behind early in the match.
However, the current Tokyo team does not get discouraged by this. They steadily connected passes and looked for chances, and in the 13th minute of the first half, Takahiro KO unleashed a well-aimed right-footed long-range shot. The strike was on target but was stopped by a fine save from the opposing goalkeeper, yet Tokyo intensified their attack and pressed into the opponent's territory.
As they built attacking shapes through coordinated play, at the 19th minute of the first half, a sharp through pass from HIGASHI brought the equalizer to the blue and red. Number 10, who had the ball on the right side, made an inner overlap and broke into the space behind to NAGATOMO. After cutting through the opposing defense with this vertical pass and returning it to the center, Ryotaro ARAKI connected the ball, and Kota TAWARATSUMIDA on the opposite side took a shot. Although it was blocked by the opponent, the rebound was chased down by Teppei OKA. He powerfully slotted a well-aimed shot with the inside of his right foot. The left-back, who saved the team with a spectacular shot block in the previous match, this time joined the attack and struck a blow that reset the game. His powerful jumping guts pose excited the fans and supporters who had gathered at the away stadium.
After that, the battle continued with both sides vying for control of the ball. Tokyo thoroughly enforced the central defense that had been effective in recent matches, preventing clear scoring chances despite being pushed from the flanks several times. In attack, Araki, who surged forward to meet Nagatomo’s early cross, attempted a shot off a chest trap, while Teruhito Nakagawa and Tawara Tsukida, positioned on both sides, showed aggressive breakthroughs, but none resulted in a goal. The first half, with each side scoring once, concluded after five minutes of added time.
2nd HALF—Withstanding the early onslaught, turning the game around with goals from Tawara and Teru
At halftime, Yokohama FM replaced player Kida with Yamane, while Tokyo made no changes. They started the second half with the same 11 players as in the first half.
The second half began with a somewhat open play. By the 11th minute, Tokyo faced successive threats from corner kicks, half-volleys from counterattack rebounds, and central mid-range shots, but all shots went over the bar, allowing them to escape danger.
Then, in the 15th minute of the second half, a brilliant sequence of coordinated offense and defense produced the go-ahead goal.
Against Yokohama FM, who were calmly holding the ball in midfield, Araki fiercely pressed back and stole the ball. After shaking off the opponent’s pressure in midfield and dropping the ball to Diego OLIVEIRA, Araki supplied a through pass forward. Tawaratsumida sharply broke into the space behind at high speed and went on a solo run. Leaving the pursuing defenders behind, he advanced to the front of the goal, checked the goalkeeper’s position, and calmly slotted the ball in with his left foot for the go-ahead goal. Araki’s high defensive awareness, the intricate passing in midfield after winning the ball, and the speed-filled attack that exploited the space behind—all combined in a stunning breakthrough that allowed Tokyo to turn the match around.
In the 26th minute of the second half, Keita ENDO and Riki HARAKAWA were brought on to replace the outstandingly influential players Tawara Tsukida and Azuma. ENDO, facing his former club, made his first return to Nissan Stadium, while HARAKAWA made his official match comeback since Sec. 27 against Tokyo Verdy on August 17.
Tokyo, wanting to energize the pitch, made further moves. Hotaka NAKAMURA was sent out to right back in place of Yuto NAGATOMO, Ryotaro ARAKI was switched out, and Soma ANZAI was positioned as the right winger. The formation was changed to place Teruhito NAKAGAWA in the center.
In the 41st minute of the second half, an accident occurred where TEPPEI OKA, who had been fighting hard at left back including scoring the equalizer, cramped both legs and was unable to run. At this point, Leon NOZAWA was brought in as the right winger, and Soma ANZAI, who had just been sent on, was moved to left back to respond.
In the final moments at the 44th minute of the second half, the recently introduced right-side duo created a chance, and the man returning to his former club struck the decisive third goal of the match.
Nakamura, who created space high up the pitch, passed to the right front. Leon NOZAWA made a run and delivered a grounded return pass, and the one who rushed into the center was Nakagawa. Skillfully opening his body to receive the ball coming from the right, he connected with the inside of his left foot and struck the net directly. It was a brilliant goal scored in front of the many fans and supporters who had come to the away game. The hero wearing number 39 then headed straight behind the goal, dancing and sharing joy with his teammates while keeping rhythm to his own chant.
The 8 minutes of additional time were firmly closed out. Despite conceding an early goal, the defense was reorganized, and with three brilliant goals, a stunning comeback victory was secured, achieving the second three-game winning streak of the league season. The victory chant "The City That Never Sleeps" echoed throughout the away ground in Yokohama.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Keisuke NAGATOMO (36th minute 2nd half: Hotaka NAKAMURA) / Masato MORISHIGE / Yasuki KIMOTO / Teppei OKA (39th minute 2nd half: Leon NOZAWA)
MF Yu HIRO / Keigo AZUMA (25th minute 2nd half: Riki HARAKAWA) / Ryotaro ARAKI (36th minute 2nd half: Soma ANZAI)
FW Diego Oliveira / Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (25th minute 2nd half: Keita ENDO) / Teruhito NAKAGAWA
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
FW Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA
GOAL
19th minute 1st half: Teppei OKA / 15th minute 2nd half: Kota TAWARATSUMIDA / 44th minute 2nd half: Teruhito NAKAGAWA
<Yokohama F. Marinos>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK William POPP
DF Ken MATSUBARA (39th minute 2nd half: Ren KATO) / Shinnosuke HATANAKA / Eduardo / Katsuya NAGATO (39th minute 2nd half: Taiki WATANABE)
MF Kota WATANABE (31st minute 2nd half: Kenta INOUE) / Takuya KIDA (0 minute 2nd half: Riku YAMANE) / Jun AMANO (19th minute 2nd half: Asahi UENAKA) FW Jan Mateus / Anderson Lopes / Eubel
SUBS
GK Fuma SHIRASAKA
FW Kota MIZUNUMA
GOAL
4th minute of the first half: Anderson LOPES
[Interview with Peter CKLAMOVSKI, Manager]
Q: please review the game.
A: It was the match we expected. There were many exciting moments, and within those, we were able to deliver a strong performance. We had talked about building on our performance from recent games. We also believed we could exploit the opponent’s gaps in attack. By using good spaces, we created good opportunities and were able to score good goals from them. The flow of the game was such that scoring a few more goals wouldn’t have been surprising. That is an area we still need to continuously improve. Defensively, we thought we needed to defend as aggressively as possible. From the start, we went at them aggressively, and although we conceded, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, I do feel disappointed that we couldn’t keep a clean sheet.
As a team, we fought very strongly in terms of performance and executing our agreed-upon tactics. The players gave their all, playing aggressively and with high intensity. I am proud of their performance and their commitment. What we did was rewarded. Also, to all the fans and supporters who traveled to the away game, as well as those who couldn’t make it here, you all truly gave us strength. Tokyo hadn’t been able to secure a victory against Yokohama F.Marinos for a while, but today the players achieved a win that the club can be proud of.
Q: After conceding a goal early in the first half, how did you instruct the team to regroup?
A: Actually, I sent the players out encouraging them to score the opening goal. Conceding early in the match made it a very difficult game, I think. However, that was a challenge we had to overcome, and by delivering our strong performance, we were able to get past it. This performance is closely connected to our mentality. This mentality has been built up through our daily efforts. Truly, I believe the players gave their all on the pitch.
Q: The players seemed to be in good condition.
A: I believe the preparation process is important. By continuing that, we are able to build the engine that allows us to fight aggressively. Yokohama FM is a team that has built that kind of system over many years, but we have also been creating such a system step by step. I believe we will continue to improve and become stronger. We will firmly focus on ourselves as we approach next week's home game.
[Player Interview]
＜Teppei OKA＞
Q. Even though conceding the first goal could have created a tense atmosphere, it was a thrilling goal.
A. It was a goal driven purely by determination. I believed the ball would spill into that area and ran towards it, which led to the goal. I’m grateful to my teammates who carried the ball to create that opportunity. After the goal, VAR was called, and I panicked for a moment. VAR was also called after the goal in the match against Kashiwa Reysol (laughs). I kept telling myself it was okay, but inside I was nervous.
Q, As declared, you contained the opponent's attackers.
A, We are still far from perfect. We haven't been able to fully contain them in every situation, so I want us to grow to the point where we can win every battle. I want to strengthen our physicality in one-on-one situations and improve our agility.
Q: The attacking awareness you have been continuously working on is also beginning to take shape, isn’t it?
A: Kota TAWARATSUMIDA told me, "I want you to skillfully draw the opponent in to create space for cut-ins and vertical breaks," so I focused on playing in the inside space myself. We need to continue the movement that disperses the opponent’s marking and increase its frequency, and I want to support Kota TAWARATSUMIDA so that he can receive the ball in a better condition and make his moves.
Q: I think you have made a significant contribution to the second three-game winning streak of this season.
A: I believe that to win matches, it is important for the entire team to work at a high standard starting from practice. Even players who are not currently playing in matches are working hard in training, and we want to build motivation toward victory, align our direction firmly, and prepare thoroughly for the home game against Sagan Tosu.
<Kota TAWARATSUMIDA>
Q: please review the game.
A: Ryotaro ARAKI stole the ball in our own half and sent me a good pass, so all I had to do was carry it forward and take the shot. It was exactly as planned, slipping the ball through the goalkeeper's legs.
Q: I feel like my condition is improving. How do you personally feel about it?
A: I feel that my movement itself has improved significantly.
Q: Teppei OKA mentioned that he supports Kota TAWARATSUMIDA to make it easier for him to take on opponents. How do you feel about that?
A: The two of us have been able to build a good relationship. I feel that we can play well together, calling out to each other and maintaining a good connection. In defense as well, Okazaki moves me from behind, which makes things easier for me.
Q: Do you feel that Tawara Tsukida himself has become more defensively aware?
A: Compared to the beginning, I have a sense that his defensive abilities and such have gradually improved.
Q, there was also talk about focusing on the numbers, and you have been steadily accumulating good stats with assists, plays leading to goals, and goals as the matches progress. Please share your enthusiasm for the future.
A, we have yet to achieve four consecutive wins this season, so first, I want to work hard to make that happen. The next match is at Ajinomoto Stadium, and it would be fantastic if my goal there could lead to a fourth consecutive win.
<Teruhito NAKAGAWA>
Q, please look back on the scoring scene.
A, I received a good ball from Leon NOZAWA, and the form we have been continuously working on in daily practice paid off. As a forward, my job is to make runs into that area, and I am happy that the movement I have kept up led to a goal. I also saw the position of the opposing goalkeeper and think it was a goal where I calmly connected with my left foot.
Q, Although we conceded the first goal, we came back to win. Please reflect on the overall match.
A, In the previous match against the Urawa Reds, we also had a poor start, and in today’s game, we conceded the opening goal within 4 minutes. That is something we need to correct. We scored 3 goals, but it was only after conceding that the switch was flipped, so we want to improve on that.
Q, the team has achieved three consecutive wins.
A, after the defeat against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, the entire team discussed it, and since then we have been able to connect that to victories. The key factor is that we have been able to transition from good defense to attack. We want to maintain this momentum, achieve results in the league matches, and clearly show the fans and supporters through our results. There are still plenty of opportunities to aim for the top positions. We are able to play with dynamism, so as a united team, we will aim higher.
