Match Review
The losing streak from the opening three consecutive wins was halted by the defeat against Kashiwa Reysol in the previous match, making this game a chance for a fresh start at “Our National.” The team approaches the game against Yokohama F.Marinos aiming to demonstrate the principle that “championship-winning teams do not suffer consecutive losses” through their results.
The team is able to take control of the game both offensively and defensively. That is why it is essential to focus on the critical moments. Winning the battles for the ball, improving the precision in finishing chances, and solidifying the defense are key.
The red and blue starting eleven aiming for a restart victory placed Kim Seung-gyu as the guardian, with the back line consisting of four players from right to left: Sei MUROYA, Alexander SCHOLZ, Rio OMORI, and Yuto NAGATOMO. In the midfield were Kento HASHIMOTO and Kota TOKIWA, with attackers Keito SATO on the right and Ryunosuke SATO on the left, while the two forwards were Marcelo Hian and Motoki NAGAKURA forming the partnership.
Player Omori, who returned to the Blue-Red this season, was named to the bench from the start and takes the pitch here for the first time. For him, this is his first J1 League appearance since making his J1 debut as a substitute in Sec. 35 of the 2021 Meiji Yasuda J1 League season. The opponent is the same Yokohama FM team from that match where they suffered a heavy 0-8 defeat. This game is an opportunity to demonstrate solid growth and contribute to the team’s victory.
1st HALF—Perfect Game Management After an Early Opening Goal
The Red and Blue warriors’ strong desire to "win at all costs" immediately bore fruit. It happened right after kickoff.
Kei Sato, receiving a vertical pass from Muroya, faced forward and delivered a perfectly timed through pass in front between the last line and the opposing goalkeeper. Nagakura broke through between the opposing players here, stretched out his left foot, and calmly slotted the opening goal. This lightning-fast strike at 33 seconds from the combination of the two players hungry for goals gave the Red and Blue an immediate lead.
With this confidence, Tokyo maintained possession and played for extended periods in the opponent’s half. The players around the ball holder provided solid support, creating multiple passing options and advancing the game in their favor.
During a period of active offense and defense, at the 13th minute of the first half, Keito Sato canceled a run behind the defense to engage in hold-up play, received a wedge pass, and turned with one touch. From that through pass, RIAN took a shot. Although it was saved by the opposing goalkeeper, Sato’s quick thinking created a big chance.
The relentless assault of the blue and red continues. At the 16th minute, a powerful goal that shook the Japan National Stadium was scored. The protagonist was Ryū Sato. Cutting in from the left side and carrying the ball to the center, he unleashed a fierce shot with his right foot that slipped through the legs of the opposing defender who tried to block, knocking the opposing goalkeeper aside and driving in the additional goal. Wearing number 23, who had long expressed his desire to "leave overwhelming results," electrified the stadium with his first goal for the blue and red, and Tokyo succeeded in scoring an early second goal.
Continuing to switch between aggressive pressing from the front line and a mid-block, they denied Yokohama FM any freedom. They firmly imposed restrictions, narrowed passing lanes, and controlled time and space without allowing the opponent to create almost any chances.
In the 37th minute of the first half, after connecting passes in the back line to assess the situation, MF Muroya quickly delivered a long ball to the front on the right side. Nagakura, who burst forward to meet it, took a left-footed shot that went over the bar, but this flexible decision-making turned a previous issue from the last match into a clear scoring opportunity.
Just after entering the 4 minutes of additional time, from Ryu Sato's right corner kick, Kento HASHIMOTO pushed forward and took a shot. At this point, the referee blew the whistle and pointed to the penalty spot due to a block by an opposing player, but with VAR support, the decision was overturned to no foul, and no penalty kick was awarded.
Near the end, RIAN shook the net on a counterattack, but it was ruled offside and disallowed. In the end, the first half ended with the score at 2-0. Tokyo's strengths stood out on both offense and defense, and they went into the second half with a strong performance that was almost like a half-court game.
2ndHALF—Pulling Away with a Goal 54 Seconds In for a Comfortable Win at "Our National"
Tokyo, having delivered a wonderful performance in the first half, entered the second half determined to carefully read the opponent’s movements and maintain their focus, aiming aggressively for an "+1 GOAL" without letting their guard down. While Yokohama FM made two substitutions at halftime, Tokyo faced the second half with an unchanged lineup.
And early in the second half, “Our National” erupted in joy once again. This time, it was just 54 seconds from kickoff. After surrounding the opponent in midfield and winning the ball in a good position, Scholtz cut in and carried the ball forward before delivering a through pass. Lucas RIAN broke free, and although his shot was initially deflected off the post, he calmly followed up and successfully scored the third goal.
Tokyo did not ease up their attack at all. In the 10th minute of the second half, from a position pressed near the penalty area, Keigo Sato took a shot at the drop of a floating ball. Then, in the 12th minute, from a slightly wide position, Keigo Sato made a through pass, and Muroya ran through with an underlap and swung his right foot. Although this was unfortunately ruled offside, they showed an attack reminiscent of the winning goal against Kawasaki Frontale in Sec. 3.
Maintaining control, the first substitutions were made in the 29th minute of the second half. Replacing Nagatomo and Kei Sato, Kento HASHIMOTO was brought in at left side-back, and Fuki YAMADA was introduced as the right attacker. By swapping one player on each side, the formation was adjusted to launch attacks in a different style than before.
Another substitution was made in the 34th minute of the second half. Marcelo RYAN and Ryu SATO, who had been scoring, were replaced by Keita ENDO and Teruhito NAKAGAWA, both facing their former club. The two, who can outperform in stamina and ball battles, were entrusted with adding more goals and closing out the final stages of the match.
With fresh players added, Tokyo regained dynamism in both offense and defense. They displayed a robust attack with players continuously surging forward from the back, once again pressing hard on the opponent’s goal. Defensively, they set up a mid-block and, while assessing the situation, incorporated a low block to solidify the center, preventing effective passes from being made.
In added time of the second half, a switch was made from Kento HASHIMOTO to Kei KOIZUMI. Sending in the number 37, who can intercept the ball, to tighten the defense, the match was brilliantly closed amid the resounding cheers of the Blue-Red family’s “The City That Never Sleeps.” Scoring three goals including those at the start of both halves, the team recorded their first clean sheet of the season and made the best possible restart toward the championship at “Our National.”
MATCH DETAILS
Detailed match data is available here
Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI
Q. Please give us a summary of today’s match.
A, I think they played a wonderful game, maintaining high concentration until the very end.
Q. Goals were scored early in both the first and second halves. Please reflect on being able to convert those chances into goals, especially after emphasizing the strong desire to score.
A Scoring goals naturally drives our awareness and attitude, and it goes without saying that goals are truly important. I believe we were able to express today how we create the rhythm of the game through that. From having achieved that, the question is how we move forward next. I also think there is a need for us to continuously raise our own hurdles and overcome them.
Q. It was truly a wonderful match, but I believe the coach has thoughts on what could be improved slightly to reach the next level. What are your thoughts on this?
A. It’s about the transition in the attacking phase. Choosing to go forward during transitions and exploiting the opponent’s spaces is one of our strengths, and I think we demonstrated this many times in this game. However, regarding the first half, I believe we need to improve our decision-making when pressing forward and the quality of our technical execution in the final moments.
Even though we won the ball well, there were many occasions in the first half where we gave the opponent the attacking rights. Of course, attacking quickly and with fewer touches is an important aspect, but by also making the right decisions when that becomes difficult, and skillfully mixing in our attacking intentions from deeper positions while moving the opponent, the thickness of our attack will increase. We are also challenging ourselves to try to score in such situations. I hope we can show a bit more of that, and I want to convey to the players that we should aim to do so next time.
Q. Please tell us your evaluation of Ryunosuke SATO’s first goal and, amid a very high-level competition for the starting lineup with Keita ENDO, what qualities you expect from them and how you decide to start them after winning the competition.
A. I think he has been performing exceptionally well both offensively and defensively. Regarding selection, a major point is carefully considering the opponent and how to start the game. ENDO and Ryunosuke SATO have slightly different characteristics, but both are players who can influence the flow of the game in our favor if they fully demonstrate their roles on the wings. From there, we also take into account their condition, form, and the opponent. We will continue to consider these factors carefully when deciding on their selection going forward.
Q, Rio OMORI made his first start as a center back. His style is different from Hayato INAMURA's, but could you please share your evaluation of OMORI's performance today?
A, Honestly, I would say it was truly outstanding. Until now, he hadn’t had many opportunities to play, and when we considered where to use him, his main position has been on the right, and we have always tried him there. In that context, this time we decided to use him on the left, and he responded very positively to that. Above all, despite the lack of playing time so far, he has maintained a clear sense of purpose about where we are headed, and his words and attitude during training matches and other sessions have shown how much he has built up during this period. Seeing that come through in his play today is very gratifying, and I believe it has given him great confidence. I think he has also gained a clearer vision of how to move forward from here. He truly delivered an excellent performance.
Q, Today, many people came to watch soccer for the first time, and 52,934 spectators attended at the home MUFG Stadium (National Stadium). Please give a message to the fans and supporters who filled the stadium.
A, We are very happy to have so many people come to watch, and we sincerely hope that after seeing matches and the stadium atmosphere like today’s, they will come again. This is true for every game, but we have a strong sense of mission to continue playing games that respond to the feelings of those who come to support us. We will do our best to put on a good game next time as well, so we hope more and more people will come to the stadium.
Player Interview
Motoki NAGAKURA
Q: Please review the lightning-fast goal scene.
A, I was surprised myself, but I think it was good for the team to score so early. I didn’t expect a chance to come so quickly, but Keito Sato passed the ball at just the right timing, and after that, I was able to finish one-on-one with the goalkeeper, which was great. We had been having matches where we couldn’t finish even when we had chances, so being able to dispel that and have the team win with my goal was very satisfying.
Q. Did you have an image of a ball being played between the goalkeeper and the defender like that?
A, It’s not so much an image as it is a tactical play, so I think everything depended on Keito Sato seeing that and delivering the pass at just the right timing. I pretended to move slightly toward the ball, but since I haven’t seen the footage, I’m not sure how it looked. Still, Keito Sato passed the ball at the perfect moment, and in a position where I could strike it with one touch, so it was truly a great pass. I feel that I’m able to show my strengths here at FC Tokyo, and because the team atmosphere is good and there are many players I connect well with, I think I’m receiving good balls as a player who can make use of them.
Q, After that, you also set up Ryunosuke SATO's goal.
A, It was good because Ryunosuke SATO finished it well. Just a little before that, he told me, "I'm open, so pass it to me." It's a small thing, but I think those things are important.
Q. How do you feel about the team’s convincing victory with three goals?
A, Although there were more chances to score in the first half, being able to score again early in the second half meant we managed the flow of the game well.
Q. Up until now, you talked about wanting to score and secure the win yourself, but did you feel that you decided the game with your own goal today?
A, I’m happy about it myself, and since we were able to take control of the match overall, that was also a positive aspect. I want to continue this, and I hope we can become a team that can secure wins over the full 90 minutes.
Q, after a one-week break from here, a series of three consecutive matches awaits.
A, the environment will change from when we were building the team over one week, so not only the opponents but also we will face an all-out battle. I think that earning this victory in a match where new players like Rio OMORI appeared has also given him good confidence.
Q. Please tell us again about your personal goals and the team's goals.
A, my personal goal is to play through without injury. As a team, our goal is to win the championship.
Ryunosuke SATO
Q: It was a goal that fulfilled your promise. Please look back on the goal scene.
A, Did I say that? (laughs) I think it was an important goal for me. In the previous scene, when Motoki NAGAKURA had the ball, he passed it to Marcelo RYAN, and at that time the opposite side was free, so I told him, "The opposite side is free, so please watch it." Then, in the next play, a good ball came, so I placed it in a spot where I could shoot either near or far post and aimed between the legs. It’s a shape I’m good at, and in that situation, I thought they would try to block with their foot, so aiming between the legs is always an idea I keep in mind.
Q, Today there were many moments when you turned and faced forward, and your play seemed sharp.
A, I think this was the sharpest I've been all season. When I played every match last season, I was always able to play like that, so I feel like I’m finally getting that feeling again this season.
Q, You played for the first time at MUFG Stadium (Japan National Stadium), where you signed your professional contract. How was the experience?
A, The grass was incredibly good, and the atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic, so it was really great to be able to score here.
Q. How do you feel about securing a victory after the team’s first loss of the season, knowing that you couldn’t afford to lose consecutive matches?
A. I think the match following such a frustrating game is very important, and since everyone increased their communication heading into today’s match, I believe we were able to create a really good atmosphere.
Q, Today, over 50,000 spectators attended the match. Do you feel you were able to prove your presence to the audience?
A, There is the result aspect, of course, but I was finally able to show my true self in my play as well, so I want to keep this momentum going without stopping.
Q. You showed quite a selfless style of play. Do you feel confident about your defensive performance?
AToday, I partnered on the flank with Yuto NAGATOMO, and I didn’t feel like we would be beaten. I think we were able to work hard both offensively and defensively while watching each other.
Q. You showed your emotions openly after the goal. What were you feeling at that moment?
A, I was very happy, and although it was said to be my first goal since returning to FC Tokyo, it is actually my first goal in Tokyo after three years as a professional, so I felt that it has been a very long journey to get here.
Rio OMORI
Q. You showed good play as a starter for the first time this season. How do you look back on the match?
A. As a team, we prepared well, and defensively, we applied pressure from the front line and followed up from behind to firmly regain possession. We were able to demonstrate what we built up as an organization over the week, and the players around me were very considerate in their play, so I was able to perform in a very comfortable environment. Winning without conceding a goal is very pleasing for the team, and I believe it will lead to good things moving forward.
Q, You didn't seem nervous.
A, Yes. I thought I might be a little more nervous, but since I was with the members I always play with and I can't suddenly become better, I just tried to do what I usually do. In that sense, I think I was able to play calmly.
Q. As a defender, how do you feel about achieving your first clean sheet victory in a match you played?
A. The timing was good, but we thoroughly executed what the team needed to do. We managed to score three solid goals in attack and were able to nip potential threats in defense. I controlled the line together with Alexander SCHOLZ, Sei MUROYA, and Yuto NAGATOMO, and Kim Seung Gyu also reacted well to balls that got behind us. I think my presence encouraged everyone to communicate more than usual, so I believe that was a positive factor.
Q, I think you were able to fully demonstrate the quality of your feeds and other attacking aspects.
A, Everyone took good positions. Today especially, there were so many passing lanes that I was almost spoiled for choice. In that regard, it was very easy for me to play.
Q, that header shot was close, wasn’t it?
A, I hit it too thickly.
Q, besides that, I think you were very strong in aerial duels.
A, I have also built up my physical strength, so I think I was able to play with confidence.
Q, Having continued your training through loan spells until now, how do you feel about wearing the blue and red uniform and playing in a match again?
A, I wanted to return to Tokyo and get on the field as soon as possible. Of course, I intended to fulfill my role, so even if I was on the bench, I wanted to fight hard for the team. However, when the opportunity came, I wanted to seize it firmly. Although this is just the beginning, I want to continue this winning streak from here. There are also several players currently out on loan, and I believe that me coming back to Tokyo and being able to play will give them confidence as well. First of all, I want to show that side of myself this season.
Q. What is the area where you have grown the most through gaining match experience during your loan spells?
A, I think being able to absorb various styles of soccer has been very significant. It's hard to put into words, but the matchsense and the ability to finish matches without conceding, like in today's game, is not just about my own strength, but also about mental toughness and the ability to sense dangerous moments, which I believe I have built up through match experience.
Q. How was the experience of having your name called out among 50,000 spectators?
A, It was a really great stadium atmosphere. Personally, I have always had the feeling that I would rather play at Ajinomoto Stadium, but the fact that MUFG Stadium (National Stadium) is also being emphasized as Tokyo’s home game hasn’t changed. First and foremost, I think winning is the most important thing, so I would be happy if many fans and supporters come again next time.
Q. You made a guts pose when the final whistle blew. What were you feeling at that moment?
A. I had a strong desire to win, and since the opponent was Yokohama F.Marinos, I definitely wanted to get back at them. I was happy to have given my all for the full 90 minutes.
Q. Did you in any way carry the weight of the 0-8 result (your debut match in 2021 against Yokohama F.Marinos)?
A. Rather than carrying it with me, I had been playing in the J2 League until last season, so I hadn’t had the chance to face Yokohama F.Marinos. This time was a great opportunity, so I’m really glad we were able to win.
Q. How do you want to build on this first step?
A. I want to improve the accuracy of my own play even more, and as a team, I want to pursue things like earning 3 points and finishing with a clean sheet. Since the team’s results are directly connected to my own results in my position, I want to continue to pursue that greedily.
Q. When you show a good performance like today, the coach must have a hard time deciding the lineup for the upcoming matches, right?
A. I believe that not only the starting eleven but the entire team continuously delivering good performances and competing will bring us closer to winning the championship, so I want us to keep competing fiercely. Also, since my older brother is on Mito Hollyhock, I definitely want to play in the next match against them.
