Match Review
The supporters behind the goal were already fired up before the match. A loud chant of "We can't lose to Verdy. Let's show them our strength" welcomed the players heading out for their warm-up.
Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League EAST Group has 3 matches remaining. To keep Tokyo Verdy, who share Ajinomoto Stadium as their home, within sight as they chase the top-ranked Kashima Antlers by 5 points, and to prove that Tokyo is blue and red, this match is one where they must firmly secure 3 points.
In the first match of the “last 3,” the blue-red starting eleven made four changes from the previous match. The goalkeeper was Kim Seung-gyu, and the back line from the right consisted of Sei MUROYA, Alexander Scholz, Masato MORISHIGE, and Yuto NAGATOMO. Scholz started for the first time since Sec. 12 against Mito Hollyhock, Morishige made his first start of the season, and NAGATOMO, who returned to the squad last match, was named in the starting lineup for the first time in about two months. The double pivot was formed by Kento HASHIMOTO and Kota TOKIWA, the attackers were Keisuke SATO on the right and Keita ENDO on the left, and the two forwards were Marcelo and Ryunosuke SATO.
To achieve a comeback championship, in the next match,they must secure back-to-back wins within 90 minutes and then wait for Kashima’s result. The players, determined to win this crucial match by doing everything possible and leaving their fate to destiny, entered the field as the 'blue-red cross flag' appeared behind the goal and the 'TOKYO' choreography lit up the back stand. The match kicked off at 3:03 p.m. in the best atmosphere that united the stadium as one.
1st―Conceding the First Goal,the Captain'sStrikeLevels the Score
From the start, the game developed with intense battles for the ballAt 4 minutes, Tokyo created a chance through the movement of Kento HASHIMOTO advancing from midfield. Number 18 switched the play to the left side and moved forward, then after passing through Yuto NAGATOMO, Keita ENDO received the ball, adjusted his position, and sent in a cross, which Kento HASHIMOTO headed. Although the shot went over the bar, they immediately showed a strong attacking presence.
Tokyo, alternating between high press and mid-block,also looks for attacking opportunities by mixing build-up play with sharp attacks against V. On the left side, Nagatomo shows enthusiastic play with powerful long dashes and high-point headers, while Sato Ryu drops from the front line to midfield, becoming an outlet for build-up and a key point in the attack.
First halfIn the 19th minute, Endo on the left side made a large side change to the right front, where Sato Kei broke through and drove forward, unleashing a powerful shot with his right foot. Although it unfortunately hit the crossbar, Ajinomoto Stadium erupted in response to the dynamic and intense attack.
Furthermore, at the same24th minute, Ryuu Sato, facing forward in a tight area, delivered a through pass that broke through the opponent's defensive line. Lucas RIAN aimed with his right foot, but the opposing goalkeeper dived to make the save. The ball just barely failed to shake the net.
Although Tokyo was initially pushed back by the opponent's high press early on, Ryū Sato skillfully positioned himself in the intermediate area to turn, and Hian targeted the space behind, which encouraged the entire team to stay positive. They want to score the opening goal as soon as possible.
However, in the first half at the 29th minute, they were pressed after a long ball from the opposing goalkeeper, and Morita broke through with a one-touch play, resulting in a conceded goal. Despite controlling the game, they unfortunately allowed the opponent to take the lead.
FC Tokyo first aimed to even the score. In the 36th minute of the first half, after Scholz’s through pass, Sato Kei broke through on the right side and crossed the ball back, where Muroya made a run in front of the goal and took a one-touch shot. However, this shot went straight to the opposing goalkeeper, preventing an equalizing goal.
Tokyo continued to increase the pressure. Multiple players powerfully engaged with the ball, pushing into the opponent's territory and showing a solid attack from both the left and right sides, raising their desire to score the equalizing goal. While Tokyo V set up a formation leaning towards a five-back defense, the key point was how to break down the opponent's defensive network.
That pressure finally bore fruit. In the 41st minute of the first half, Ryuu Sato, who received the ball in an intermediate position just before the penalty arc, made a precise through pass with his right foot after a series of delicate touches and a turn. The player who broke through in front of the goal was Sei MUROYA. The captain, who had said the day before the match, "We want to prove our attitude on the pitch," swung his right foot and struck the goal, allowing Tokyo to successfully bring the match back to even.
The first half ended at 1-1. This must-win game would be decided in the second half.
2nd―Motoki's dramatic Final Round goal leads to a come-from-behind victory! WE ARE TOKYO!
Determined to win at all costs—facing the second half with resolve, Tokyo V made a substitution, replacing attacker Kumatori with Arai, while Tokyo proceeded without making any changes.
At the 4th minute of the second half, Nagatomo, who showed aggressive play, energized the stadium with a big gesture,when Sato Ryu delivered a free kick from the left side, Morishige aimed with a header from the center. Although it went over the goal, it was an attack that immediately showed the desire to win.
A fierce battle for the ball continued, and Tokyo intensified their offensive to aim for a comeback. In the 20th minute of the second half, a long ball supplied from the back was missed by the opposing defender. Lucas RIAN, who was targeting this, broke through and took a shot, leading to a chaotic scramble in front of the goal. Endo and Muroya entered aiming for the goal, and when the opponent cleared the ball, the referee blew the whistle and pointed to the penalty spot. However, with VAR support, an on-field review was conducted, resulting in a decision of no penalty kick. Unfortunately, Tokyo could not secure the kick that could have led to a comeback.
Determined to score the go-ahead goal at all costs, Tokyo made their first substitution in the 32nd minute of the second half. Replacing Hian and Nagatomo, Motoki NAGAKURA was brought in as one of the two forwards, and Kento HASHIMOTO was introduced at left side back.
Amid chants of "Let's show them our strength," Tokyo firmly defended their goal and kept aiming for the go-ahead goal. In the 41st minute of the second half, they substituted Morishige with Hayato Inamura at left center-back, and Ryū Sato with Teruhito NAKAGAWA up front.
In the 7th minute of second-half stoppage time,Tokyo used their final substitution, switching from Endo to Fuki YAMADA. Kei Sato was moved to the left attacker position, and Yamada took the right side.
Tokyo pushed forward with Kento HASHIMOTO as the target man up front, supported by Kento HASHIMOTO’s left cross and Inamura’s feed.Then, at 90+5 minutes, the passion of the Blue-Red family brought joy to Ajinomoto Stadium.
While continuing to press forward aiming for the goal, player Kei Sato took a shot-like kick. Although he didn’t make clean contact, Nakakura in the center skillfully trapped the ball with his left foot and carried it forward, then, gauging the opposing goalkeeper’s position, lofted a delicate shot with his left foot—a brilliant goal! Finally, they succeeded in turning the game around.
With a dramatic goal scored at the last moment and everyone defending the goal until the very end, the final whistle blew. 'WE ARE TOKYO!' was loudly cheered and applauded, followed by the chant of 'Pour your passion into it! Seize the championship!' echoing throughout.
In a game they absolutely had to win, they showed a passionate battle and earned a hard-fought 3 points with a dramatic goal near the end.On this day, Kashima won against Yokohama F.Marinos in a penalty shootout in a separate match, narrowing the point gap with the top team to 4.
After winning the final home game of the regional round, the players and fans sang the victory anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” together, believing in the comeback championship.With the right to challenge for the comeback title still in hand, the entire Blue-Red family united to take on the last two away matches.
Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI
Q. Please reflect on the match.
A. It was a difficult game, but I think it was truly wonderful that we managed to win solidly over 90 minutes and earn 3 points. I am grateful to the players, and I would also like to thank the fans and supporters who created this atmosphere.
Q. The game became difficult, and while I think the opponent’s strengths were a factor, what are your thoughts on this, Coach?
A. First, regarding how we would bypass the opponent’s pressing,the opponent’s defensive awareness and their organized structure are, in a way, somewhat straightforward to understand, so we worked while considering the intensity there and how to slightly shift that intensity. Rather than moving things around in training, we had already been working on how to build our approach against teams using a five-back formation, so we reviewed that in the pre-match meeting.
However, the timing of the defensive midfielders' involvement was a bit too early. This caused the central area to become thin earlier than desired, and although we originally wanted to start with wide play, there were many passes inserted through the center. From there, while chances arose, it was also clear that if we lost possession, the opponent could quickly counterattack through the center. So, in the second half, we aimed to correct this and smooth the center backs' forward movement. This was a somewhat difficult aspect in the first half. Ideally, we wanted to secure the space on the flanks, which was slightly offset, but rather than just taking space, we aimed to establish territory there and use it as a base to penetrate centrally or switch to the opposite side to create chances. That part did not go very well. While this was partly due to our own performance, it was also a difficulty that became apparent given the opponent's excellent defensive organization.
Q. How did you switch your mindset from the match against JEF United Ichihara Chiba four days ago? Also, please share your evaluation of Yuto NAGATOMO.
A. The previous match was truly a very frustrating defeat. However, when I went to the locker room after the game, the players had already firmly switched their focus to this game.Of course, there was still frustration, but since the remaining games are limited, they shifted their attention to what we can do. Because of that, I didn’t feel the need to say anything further, and I think it was truly wonderful that they expressed that mindset firmly in today’s game.
Regarding Nagatomo, despite the difficulty of accumulating match-like training during this series of consecutive games, he himself, along with the physical and medical teams, has carefully monitored his condition and steadily improved it up to this point. Being able to raise his condition and demonstrate such performance without the opportunity for match-like training during this congested schedule is certainly due to his abilities, but more importantly, it clearly reflected his spirit and willpower. He provided that energy firmly to the team today. Perhaps that energy even reached the entire stadium. I believe this game once again showed his wonderful character as a person and his excellence as a player.
Q,This season, due to the transition in the season schedule, we are able to compete for the championship amid an increase in attendance during the consecutive matches over Golden Week. How is this situation affecting the team?
A, Since this tournament is divided into East and West, we cannot face all teams, but even so, many people call it a “special tournament,”for me, it’s not so much a special feeling, but rather focusing on how the team can produce results within the given circumstances and environment. We have approached the start of the season with that focus. We set our goals and steadily work toward them. Being able to create a state that approaches achieving those goals builds confidence as a team. However, I don’t think this guarantees anything for what comes next, so it’s not about having had an extremely important or valuable experience. Instead, we have always considered what we can do in the current situation we are placed in. In that sense, I believe the current results are truly excellent.
Q. In a situation where you wanted an additional goal,please tell us the intention behind substituting Marcelo RYAN for Motoki NAGAKURA.
A. RYAN was in a situation where it’s not common for him to start and play in such a short period of consecutive matches. While confirming with him, he played very aggressively and created some close chances,but by bringing in a player with a slightly different playing style, we wanted to create more variation. NAGAKURA is also very skilled at ball retention and has the ability to draw the ball out. Also, he has the power to score goals in situations like the one that produced that goal, even when turning with his back to the goal. While the result was positive, when he came on as a substitute, I told him, "If you don’t lose the ball, there will definitely be chances." He embodied that well, and on top of that, he contributed to scoring, so I think NAGAKURA had a very wonderful performance.It’s quite difficult to find the correct way to change the flow of the game, but we were definitely aiming for that. Also, with NAGAKURA coming in, the combination with Teruhito NAKAGAWA is good, so if we could add that positive factor, we expected it to lead to even better attacks, which was why we made the substitution.
Player Interview
Motoki NAGAKURA
Q、You came on as a substitute; what were you conscious of when entering the match? What words did Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI say to you?
A、The result is everything, so I entered the match with the mindset of scoring a goal. Coach Matsuhashi told me, "If you don’t lose the ball, a chance will come." I watched the team from the sidelines when I wasn’t playing, and everyone was performing well, so I worked hard to get involved and play my part.
Q. Please look back on the scoring scene and share your comments. I think calmly taking the shot in that moment is also characteristic of Motoki NAGAKURA.
A. I received a perfect pass from Keito SATO. After that, I played in my own world. When I broke free, it was a one-on-one with the opposing goalkeeper, and I saw that he jumped in first, so I think I was able to stay calm.
Q,the fans and supporters created a wonderful atmosphere. How did it feel to be on the pitch?
A, the usual match atmosphere is also great, but I definitely felt that the Tokyo Verdy match had a special vibe. The cheers when I scored the final goal were incredible.
Q, The competition within the team is intense. How do you feel moving forward?.
A, In the end, I believe it comes down to the strength of the team. There is competition within the team, but I think we have overcome that at this point.
Q. The next match is against the Urawa Reds, who are on a 4-game winning streak. What will you focus on?
A. Since the consecutive matches have ended, we will take a break together for a while and prepare to beat Urawa, who are gaining momentum. I think scoring the first goal is important, so I want to focus on that.
Q, The point difference with Kashima Antlers is 4. You are still in a position to catch up with Kashima; how do you feel about that?
A, To make the most of today's victory and to put pressure on Kashima, we just have to win the next match as well.
Sei MUROYA
Q: please review the game.
A: It was quite a difficult match, but we managed to catch up in the first half. I believe it was the result of everyone believing and working hard.
Q. You skillfully found a pocket in the opponent’s defense for the goal scene. Was that intentional?
A. Since the opponent was playing with five at the back, I thought there would inevitably be mismatches or openings around the full-back area, so I planned to keep receiving the ball inside. I intended to have Keito SATO positioned wide so I could receive the ball, and Ryunosuke SATO delivered a really good pass, so I was able to finish well in a good situation.
Q, Did the shot feel good?
A, I just went for it with all my might.
Q. The second half included some difficult periods. What were you thinking about as you played?
A. The opponent eased up on their pressure compared to the first half, and we had more opportunities to keep possession, so I thought there might be chances. While focusing on not conceding, I tried to add depth to our attack, andI played with the mindset of preventing the few chances the opponent had from turning into goals.
Q. How did you feel the moment Motoki NAGAKURA scored the goal?
A. Honestly, it was pure joy. Everyone felt the same way, but it was nothing but happiness. It was truly the best moment.
Q, during the match, it seemed like you were encouraging the team more than usual.
A, the purpose was to encourage the team, but today, with Masato MORISHIGE and Yuto NAGATOMO present, the veteran players, I truly felt we could fight with great confidence.
Q, The points gap with Kashima has narrowed by one. With two matches remaining and a four-point difference, how do you look ahead?
A, Our focus is simply to keep earning 3 points. While we are somewhat relying on others, we will continue to do what we can.
Q, I believe this is your highest number of goals in a single season in your career. What do you think is the key factor behind your ability to deliver these results?
A, In terms of offense, I think the biggest factor is that Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI gives me freedom. Also, my teammates cover the spaces I leave when I move forward, which is very significant. So, I believe these results are not just mine alone.
Q. How did you feel about the atmosphere in the stadium today?
A. It was truly a wonderful atmosphere with a lot of pressure, and I think we were challenged to see what we could do within that environment.Being able to achieve a result under such pressure was a very important 3 points for the team.
Masato MORISHIGE
Q, You started in the big match despite having gone through a tough period this season.
A, I was always prepared so that I could take any opportunity that came my way. I believe that preparation led to today's match result. Hayato Inamura, Alexander SCHOLZ, and Rio OMORI have consistently performed well as center backs this season. I was inspired by their play. I entered the match with the intention of expressing the play I needed to do.
Q, Yuto NAGATOMO played as the left side back, forming a line together in the back line.
A, There was a man even more passionate than me right next to me on the left (laughs). Naturally, I was drawn in by that energy, and since we went through rehabilitation during the same period in the season, I was inspired by watching Yuto NAGATOMO’s approach right beside me. I’m happy that the two of us started together and won.
Q, There is a 4-point difference with the Kashima Antlers, who are first in the EAST group.
A, It’s not about Kashima specifically; what’s important is to win the next match and continue the winning streak. That kind of determination in today’s game led to the victory. We want to keep that mindset and fight tenaciously until the final match.
Q. How did you watch Motoki NAGAKURA's additional time goal from the bench?
A. I thought, "It's definitely NAGAKURA," (laughs). I was reminded once again that he is a wonderful player who delivers in big moments.
Ryunosuke SATO
Q: We won an important match. First, please review the entire game.
A: I felt a huge rush of adrenaline, and I believed that only a victory over the full 90 minutes could truly make the fans and supporters happy from the bottom of their hearts. Fighting together as one club, I am really glad about today’s match in that sense.
Q. You set up Sei MUROYA with the final pass for the equalizing goal after conceding the opening goal.
A. In the past few matches,there were several moments when MUROYA came inside and was quite free, and I’m glad that the accumulation of those moments connected well today. I was happy to be able to deliver a pass that led to a goal.
Q. With the World Cup squad announcement coming up next week, do you think this was a good opportunity to make an impression?
A. Not just for this match, but I have always given my best, so I have built up my performance in every game so far. There was nothing special about today in particular.
Q, The Regional League Roundwill also end withtwo away matchesfrom here. Given today's result, there is still a chance for a comeback victory. Please share your enthusiasm toward that goal.
A, There is the final match, but first, I want to focus solely on winning the next match against the Urawa Reds.
Q. Before the match, the stadium had a really great atmosphere, and the fans and supporters brightened up the stands with a choreo to cheer us on.
A. I got goosebumps from the warm-up, and I feel happy to have been able to take the pitch as a player who came through the academy in such a special match against Tokyo Verdy.
Q, Do you feel that the power of the supporters was a factor in bringing about the comeback victory?
A, Yes. I definitely think that was the case.
Q. Before the second half started, you were the first to come out onto the pitch, and it looked like you were feeling something as you looked at the stadium atmosphere and the fans and supporters.
A, I was imagining myself scoring and heading toward the supporters behind the goal.
Q, At the end, you linked arms and sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone” together with the fans and supporters. How did that make you feel?
A, It was my first time singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” and also my first time joining in the chants, but since I was able to sing along, I think I did pretty well.
