Match Review & Preview
Review of the Previous Match Against Mito Hollyhock
The first match of the crucial five-game stretch that will determine the course of the season saw Mito Hollyhock visit Ajinomoto Stadium, where the Blue-Red Army fully demonstrated their inherent attacking power.
With attention focused on how to respond to Mito’s high press and solid defensive block that troubled them in their previous encounter in March, Tokyo took control and overwhelmed their opponents with an attack blending build-up play from the back line and counterattacks. Although Mito gained momentum after taking the lead by exploiting a brief lapse in the 17th minute of the first half, Tokyo quickly regained control, and in the 35th minute, Marcelo RYAN scored a spectacular goal, unleashing a powerful right-footed shot from outside the penalty area to equalize.
In the 43rd minute of the first half, Tokyo added another goal through their characteristic hard work. Sei MUROYA’s vertical pass allowed Keito SATO to break free and launch an intense chase, forcing the opposing player into a desperate back pass. At this moment, Ryunosuke SATO coordinated to apply pressure on the opposing goalkeeper, and without hesitation, Keito SATO, who repositioned in front of the goal, picked up the loose ball and scored to complete the comeback. Furthermore, in first-half stoppage time, Lukian was fouled and earned a penalty kick. Lukian himself converted it, securing the third goal and extending the lead going into halftime.
Even after entering the second half, Tokyo continued to neutralize Mito's strengths as the match progressed. They focused on counterattacks launched from deep in their own half, inserting effective vertical passes to seize control. In the 23rd minute of the second half, following a corner kick sequence, player Muroya powerfully carried the ball forward and unleashed a fierce right-footed strike to score the fourth goal.
Although conceding a goal immediately after scoring is a point for reflection, at the 30th minute of the second half, Lucas RIAN broke through on the left side and crossed the ball, which Ryunosuke Sato converted into his first goal at Ajinomoto Stadium, making it the fifth goal. They recorded their highest number of goals this season with a total of five and marked the start of the five-match stretch with a convincing victory.
This Week's Preview
Four days after the big win, FC Tokyo faces an away match against Kashiwa Reysol. The situation remains unchanged as they trail the league leaders Kashima Antlers by six points, and this is a game where they must continue to accumulate victories over the full 90 minutes to keep their hopes of a comeback championship alive.
Following the big home victory, there is a tendency to enter the match a bit too lightly. However, the current team atmosphere even tightens up such complacency. Rikizo MATSUHASHI, the head coach, spoke to the players ahead of this upcoming match against Kashiwa.
There is a saying that Katsuya Nomura valued greatly: 'There are mysterious wins, but no mysterious losses.' Victory is what we desire most, and the win against Mito is not mysterious because it is the result of what we have built up so far. However, when we lose, it is not to the opponent but to ourselves. Since this is a sport with an opponent, losing to them can happen, but if we stop valuing what we have continued to do and stop doing the basics, we lose by our own doing. We must not stop doing what needs to be done moment by moment, and mentally, we must not lose to ourselves in thoroughly enforcing this.
Looking back, the second goal against Mito, where player Keito Sato relentlessly chased the ball and pressed in coordination to force it in, is emphasized by the coach as a scene that demonstrated the parts the team has valued. Every player on the pitch left no gaps and showed seamless continuity to score the goal. It can be said that this goal contains what Tokyo should cherish.
FC Tokyo lost 0-2 to Kashiwa Reysol in their previous match on February 28. This was the only defeat in 90 minutes they have suffered so far in this season's special tournament. They failed to convert many early chances, gradually lost momentum, and were unable to demonstrate their strengths in both offense and defense during the second half.
Inamura Hayato, who started as a center back in this match, quietly expressed his fighting spirit: "Personally, it was a frustrating game, and I definitely want to win to repay that loss. I remember not being able to completely shut down Kakita, and the coach’s words, ‘There are mysterious wins, but no mysterious losses,’ resonated with my own thoughts—I truly believe that. In the Mito match, the team conceded two goals, and it didn’t feel like a game where we scored five. We have no choice but to win every game from now on, so no matter who the opponent is, I want to focus on winning within 90 minutes."
Kashiwa, led by coach Ricardo RODRIGUEZ, has built their results around possession soccer, but for this match, key attackers Kubo and Koizumi are suspended. Even so, the team's concept remains unwavering, and FC Tokyo aims to fully demonstrate their strengths while understanding the advantages of these players. Coach Matsuhashi expressed confidence, saying, "We will turn what lies behind the opponent’s strengths into our own strengths. The opponent will also be thinking ahead, but we want to bring out our strengths in a well-balanced way while making the most of our current momentum."
With the 5 goals in the previous match, the team's total goals have become the highest in the EAST group. The expected goals are also at the top. The attacking unit has firmly begun to blossom. The style of possession soccer combined with sharp counterattacks, deployed according to the situation, is steadily maturing. The attacking force has become solid and formidable.
We have no choice but to keep winning. There is no other path. After the defeat in the previous match, a chant from behind the goal at Ajinomoto Stadium inspired the team: "Pour out your passion! Seize the championship!" About two months have passed since then. With strong conviction in our hearts, the entire Blue-Red family has come this far, firmly keeping our goal in sight while greatly growing ourselves. The never-give-up attitude is the style Tokyo has cultivated over generations. Step by step, match by match, the Blue-Red squad will advance this round with the determination to win every game, buoyed by the encouraging voices of our supporters.
Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI
Q: There was a two-week preparation period before the last match, but this time the schedule is four days between games. What kind of message did you give to the players during this period?
A: Since it was after a big win, it wasn’t about closing things off completely, but we had that kind of communication. Then, I suddenly recalled a phrase often mentioned by Katsuya Nomura, which might also be related to Sun Tzu’s Art of War: 'There are mysterious wins, but no mysterious losses.' Winning is, of course, what we want most and what fulfills our goals. However, I don’t see this recent victory as mysterious since it was built up over time. I wondered what it means that there are no mysterious losses. When I thought about it, I felt that, perhaps intuitively, when we lose, it’s not that the opponent beat us, but that we lost to ourselves. That’s probably why there’s nothing mysterious about it. Since we are competing against an opponent, losing to them is natural. The match result is uncontrollable, and it’s about how we perceive it. Simply put, I told the players to stop losing to themselves or causing losses by their own actions.
To lose to yourself, or to lose by your own doing, means that you can no longer continue what you have been doing, you lose focus on it, you stop doing the basics as a matter of course, or simply fail to switch your mindset. This was clearly demonstrated in the second goal against Mito Hollyhock. The ball was passed from Sei MUROYA to Kei SATO, but it was by no means a good pass. At that moment, some forwards might have given up, or stopped moving and hesitated to press, perhaps allowing a back pass. But he did not do that. If the ball was not going to be his, he immediately switched to defense and went into pressing. The moment the ball reached the goalkeeper, Ryunosuke SATO coordinated well and initiated pressing on the opposing goalkeeper. As a result, they forced a mistake from the opponent, which Kei SATO then seized and scored a goal. Everything happened within the flow of the game, and at each moment, without thinking about what needed to be done even for a second, they played seamlessly and continuously. Whether they could maintain that continuity and seamlessness was a crucial point.
It is extremely important to continue doing that from now on. This is not about physical strength but about mentality. If, moment by moment, we stop doing what we should do or reduce our actions toward what needs to be done, it might lead to losing to ourselves or losing from within. Watching the moment of the second goal in the Mito game and recalling times when we had to tighten things up, these were the words I conveyed to the players within myself.
Q. The next opponent, Kashiwa Reysol, is the only team that has defeated us in 90 minutes this season. In that match, although we created quite a few chances in the first half, we couldn’t finish them off, and it seemed the momentum shifted to the opponent. With that in mind, what are your thoughts?
A, I have been watching their recent matches as well, and rather than focusing on whether we view that match positively or use it as a reference, I have thoroughly analyzed the current Kashiwa team and communicated this to the players. Instead of focusing on the loss from our previous encounter, I have focused on our strengths, what we have built up since then, and what we still need to work on. I believe we have made this period a time for solid analysis and preparation for this game. They are a team skilled at controlling the rhythm of the game, so it is about us calmly doing what we must and figuring out how to disrupt that rhythm. We understand their strengths in creating rhythm and aim to apply our own strengths to counter what lies behind it. If we can do that, I believe we can fully leverage our current momentum. However, I also expect the opponent to be thinking along similar lines, so I am considering how we can balance and express this effectively.
Q, this will be the second match of a five-game stretch. We are still 6 points behind the league leaders, Kashima Antlers. I believe the situation where we must keep winning has not changed, but how do you view the importance of this match?
A, that has not changed. Each match from here on is extremely important, and of course, there is the momentum from the previous game as well as the fact that we lost the last match against Kashiwa, so naturally there are feelings about that. However, right now, I think it is crucial to focus on how we can earn 3 points in each individual match.
Player Interview
Marcelo RYAN
Q: Expectations are rising for scoring in three consecutive matches.
A: Of course, it would be great to score in three consecutive matches, but right now, I believe the team's victory is more important than my own goals. I am focusing on preparing for the next match and securing the win.
Q. This will be a match against an opponent we particularly struggled with in the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League.
A, everyone understands that this will be the most difficult match scenario. For tomorrow's game, we have prepared to the fullest to show a different side than the last time we faced them, and we want to stay focused for the full 90 minutes to secure the victory.
Q, If they come with a high press, I think it will be important to effectively use the space behind.
A, In the four days since the match against Mito Hollyhock, we have also done tactical training, and Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI has communicated how to respond on the pitch. We want to properly express what we have prepared during this period in the match and aim to secure a victory.
Q. In the situation where we are chasing the Kashima Antlers, we face matches where only victory is allowed.
A. Right now, the most important thing is not to worry about Kashima, but to fully express what we can do and win the match in front of us. That is the most important thing at this stage.
Hayato Inamura
Q. In the previous match against Kashiwa Reysol, we had a good flow in the first half, but from the middle of the second half, they took control and we ended up losing. What are your thoughts heading into this match?
A. So far, the only match we have lost in the full 90 minutes was against Kashiwa, so while it’s not exactly about settling the score, it was a personally frustrating game, and I definitely want to win this time. In the last match against Mito Hollyhock, we maintained high intensity and managed to win with multiple goals, so I want to continue that.
Q. Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI said, "There are mysterious wins in victories, but no mysterious losses in defeats." How did you feel when you heard those words?
A. I thought that was exactly right. In the previous match against Kashiwa, there were many scenes where I couldn’t completely shut down the ball going to player Kakita, so I also have the desire to be able to stop that. Coach Matsuhashi’s words matched what I was thinking, and I truly felt that was the case.
Q. After scoring 5 goals, I think there is inevitably a tendency to enter the next match a bit lightly. After hearing Coach Matsuhashi's words, how has the team's atmosphere changed?
A, We scored 5 goals but conceded 2, so as a team, it didn’t feel like a match where we simply scored 5 goals. The game had many transitions between offense and defense, so we weren’t particularly conscious of having scored 5 goals.
Q. The goal remains to win all the remaining matches, but could you tell us about the importance of this match and the key points to focus on?
A. We have no choice but to win all the remaining matches, so regardless of the opponent, we want to focus on securing victory within the 90 minutes. The opponent’s defense is skillful, so including myself, we need to firmly shut down their key plays and make sure not to lose in individual battles. Offensively, we have developed various attacking options, so by using them effectively, we aim to score an early opening goal and take control of the game.
Q. While the opponent is circulating the ball, Tokyo can also choose to circulate the ball or launch quick counterattacks. What are your thoughts on this?
A. In the previous match against Mito, we scored through counterattacks and also by connecting multiple passes, so we want to continue that. In practice, Coach Matsuhashi has told us to "improve the quality," so we want to keep raising that level. Also, we want to be able to score from set pieces as well.
