Match Review & Preview

Review of the Previous Match Against Urawa Reds

A game where we absolutely want to secure a victory within 90 minutes and keep our hopes alive for the final round. In this match, where we aimed to put pressure on the top-ranked Kashima Antlers, who are 4 points ahead, a large number of blue-red family members filled the away goal stand, inspiring the team with countless flags and loud cheers. United as one, we aimed for victory.

Responding to that support, Tokyo approached the ball aggressively from the start. Although Urawa closed down the spaces, causing a period early on when they couldn’t speed up their attacks, the team raised their awareness of all-out offense and all-out defense, patiently aiming to create chances.

In the 35th minute of the first half, Hayato Inamura skillfully redirected the ball with a header from a short corner, but the ball struck the left post directly. Then, in the 44th minute, Kouta Tokiwa, who had won the ball in midfield, exchanged passes with Marcelo RYAN and advanced close to the goal, but this also failed to shake the net. They created some close chances as the first half came to an end.

In the second half, the Blue-Red squad shifted up a gear and launched an assault on the Urawa goal. They brought intensity with sharp and substantial attacks, expressing their desire to win on the pitch. In the 25th minute of the second half, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA made his first appearance of the season. Wearing the number 33 jersey for the first time since last November, he immediately showcased his strengths by initiating high-speed dribbles with a sticky touch, creating opportunities with powerful play.

Tokyo continued to show their style while containing Urawa's threat, but they were unable to change the score until the end. The outcome of the match was left to a penalty shootout.

While one Tokyo player missed, Urawa, who kicked first, had two misses. However, at the fifth kicker with the score tied 3-3, Muroya's kick went over the crossbar, preventing a decision. From there, three players each scored until the ninth kicker, when Kim Seung-gyu made a fine save and Tokyo's Scholz's kick was stopped, again preventing a conclusion. When the kickers came full circle to the thirteenth kicker, Urawa's Watanabe missed, and Tokyo's Kento HASHIMOTO carefully read the opposing goalkeeper's movement and scored to win. After a fierce penalty shootout with a total of 26 kicks between both teams, Tokyo took home 2 points from the away match.

This Week's Preview

The day after the match against Urawa, where Tokyo closed the gap to 2 points, Kashima Antlers secured a victory over JEF United Ichihara Chiba, eliminating the possibility of advancing through the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League's Regional League Round in first place. The team had set a goal to keep the chance of a comeback championship alive through the direct confrontation with Kashima in the final round, but unfortunately, they fell short of that target.

However, it is precisely because of what we have built up so far that we can feel this frustration. Captain Sei MUROYA prefaced by saying, "It’s not the way we envisioned," and commented, "I think we have been able to fight well throughout the season. Our strength will be tested by how well we can perform against first-place Kashima. First, we must continue to keep going toward the playoffs, and to leave a bad impression on Kashima, we want to win firmly and head into the next stage in good form." He said this will be two 'restarts'—the playoff round starting next week and the new season kicking off in August.

Masato MORISHIGE, who celebrated his 39th birthday on the 22nd, the day before the match, emphasized the pride of the blue and red. "Everyone is acting as usual, but I’m sure they feel quite frustrated now that the possibility of winning the championship is gone. We don’t think we are inferior to Kashima. However, in the end, Kashima is above us. It’s really a matter of stubbornness or pride at this point. Although we are behind in the standings, we want to prove in the end that we are the superior team," he said, vowing to demonstrate Tokyo’s strength by winning the direct confrontation, fueled by the confidence they have built up so far.

This season's special tournament concludes with the Kashima match as the final round. Here, the rankings of the regional league ground will be finalized, and clubs that finish in the same position in the EAST and WEST groups will face each other in a home-and-away format playoff round starting the following week.

With greater determination and passion than ever before, we must secure a victory of pride as we powerfully step forward into the playoff round and toward the future. This will truly be a match to prove the strength of the blue and red.

Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI

Q. As of the end of the previous match, the Kashima Antlers have secured the top spot in the EAST Group. I believe this match will be an opportunity to prove what the team has built up so far. What are your thoughts heading into this game?
A, I think we just have to go for the win. It’s not about proving something now, but because we have been continuously proving ourselves. It’s not about numbers or rankings, but expressing what we have envisioned firmly. Winning is not an easy thing, so it’s hard to say we will definitely win, but the point about what we called “worthiness” from the start is something we build up in football as well, so we want to fully show our “style” in tomorrow’s match. Since it’s an away game at Kashima, I expect a strong atmosphere, but we are somewhat accustomed to it from the previous match against the Urawa Reds, so I believe that by clearly surpassing the opponent and earning 3 points, it will definitely lead to the next playoff round.

Q. Although you just missed the target you had set, I think this match will require the power to take another step forward from here. What did you convey to the players?
A. There is nothing special that I conveyed. Of course, the result was disappointing, but since we cannot control the results of other teams' matches, rather than conveying something anew, I believe it is important to firmly carry through how we can continue within the current flow until the very end.

Q. Looking back after the season ends, we will move forward to the next season considering one point gained, one goal scored, and one goal conceded. How do you feel about just narrowly missing your target?
A, I am not being overly optimistic, but soccer is truly irrational and there are many unpredictable aspects. There were moments when a shot could have gone in, and moments when a shot could have missed. It’s not that we are not cautious of the opponent, but even if our analysis shows we dominated, soccer often includes situations where a shot still goes in. When considering how much we can pull those situations in our favor, there are still many areas where we fall short. If we can bring it to the point where we play the way we want while preventing the opponent from playing the way they want, I believe the possibility and probability of accumulating points will naturally increase. We must strive to reach that level.

It is easy to put into words, but during the season we aimed at how to earn that one point, and what has been lost cannot be recovered. When considering the cause, it is not something to be dismissed as bad luck or such; there were definitely areas where we could have built up ourselves. For that reason, as I mentioned earlier, it is necessary to play even more in the way we want, while putting the opponent in a position where they cannot do what they want. If we can bring it to that level, I think there may have been cases where one or two more points could have been accumulated. I want to understand it that way and connect it to the next step.

Q. Please tell us your impression of Kashima Antlers. What aspects do you watch out for, and how do you want to surpass them?
A, They are truly an excellent and well-organized team. Rather than focusing on how to let them build their play, I believe it is important, as I mentioned earlier, to play offensively and not let the opponent play the way they want, but rather to play the way we want. 

Q. The match will be between two teams, Tokyo and Kashima, both capable of observing and responding to each other’s tactics.
A. I have watched many Kashima matches, and they never seem to panic. Of course, there may be moments like that within the team, but they quickly and accurately steer the game in a positive direction, showing flexibility and breadth in making adjustments or changing their approach. Sometimes, while watching a match, I might think it’s not really a typical Kashima game, yet by the end, they end up winning. Naturally, they observe the opponent’s moves, but there is also the question of whether they can truly accumulate points just by doing that. To repeat, increasing the probability of success comes down to playing exactly how we want to while preventing the opponent from playing how they want. I believe it’s about how well we can build on that.

Q. How do you plan to focus mentally heading into the match against Kashima?
A. I don't think there is a need to focus on it in any special way. It is an important match, and the fact that the final round is an away game against Kashima was decided from the beginning. Although it may sound different, I believe the stage is set, and I think the players will approach it with the same mindset.

Player Interview

Alexander SCHOLZ

Q. This is the final match of the regular season. First, how do you look back on the entire season so far?
A, I think it has been a very positive season. Of course, it is disappointing to have missed the chance to win the league, but the Kashima Antlers were very strong and truly deserved to be first in the EAST group. Therefore, now we must play a good match against them and show that this is a clash between first and second place in the entire league. The team is steadily growing, and we just need to keep going at this pace.

Q. What do you think is the area where you have grown the most this season?
A. I think there are many, but overall our mindset has become more aggressive, we defend with a high line, and I feel that mistakes have decreased. Also, on an individual level, our quality has improved, making us a tough team for opponents to face.

Q. In terms of offense as well, you have scored 28 goals, tied with Kashima for the top in the EAST group.
A, I believe soccer should be entertainment, so I think this is very positive. The value of soccer lies in making matches worth watching for fans and supporters. And I think this is exactly the image Tokyo was already trying to create a few years ago when they launched the “+1Goal (One More Goal)” strategy. Of course, if “+2 (Plus Two)” is possible, we will aim for that. However, the important thing is to score goals. Therefore, I think we should continue to work hard to score even more goals as we have been doing.

Q. Regarding the improvements in both attack and defense that you mentioned earlier, is it the result of them positively influencing each other?
A, I think that’s a good point. This is because many of our goals come from high pressing. That’s also an interesting aspect. Our high press has improved significantly, and its intensity is very high. Also, when pressing high up the pitch, the distance to the opponent’s goal is not that far, so there is the advantage of conserving energy. On the other hand, if we drop too deep, as happened several times in the 2025 season, the distance to the opponent’s goal becomes quite long. It is certain that attack and defense positively influence each other.

Q. The match against Kashima is no longer a contest for first place. Is it not difficult to maintain motivation?
A No, it is not difficult. Because if you are a soccer player, you naturally want to play. As I mentioned earlier, it is very disappointing not to be able to play because there is no match. It would have been the best situation to play for first place, but even so, we have the motivation to continue growing. We also want to prepare well for the playoffs. That’s why I always say, I truly believe every match is the same. Just because the standings are decided, I don’t at all want to take a day off tomorrow. I want to keep playing, and I think everyone on the team feels the same way.

Q. What do you want to demonstrate in this match?
A In this Kashima match, we must clearly show not only to many fans and supporters but also to ourselves that the team has taken the next step forward. We also need to demonstrate our determination to remain at the top level. Currently, we are second in the EAST group, so first, we aim to join the top race. At the same time, we must have the strength to beat the top team, Kashima. When we faced them at home before, despite having a numerical advantage, the match ended in a draw. Since that game, Kashima has consistently maintained their strength. That is why I feel this is an opportunity to show how much we have grown and to compare the degree of our progress.

Q. How do you evaluate your own performance? What do you want to show the fans and supporters in this match?
A, It is always enjoyable to face Kashima. They are a big club with wonderful fans and supporters, as well as excellent players. Especially up front, they have some of the league’s strongest individual talents. So, tomorrow will be a good challenge. I’m not sure who is leading the scoring chart, but it’s probably Leo CEARA or Suzuki. Both are outstanding players, and I always look forward to competing against them. I’m excited to see who will come out on top.

Ryunosuke SATO

Q. In the match against Urawa Reds, you were unable to score a goal until the very end.
A. We created many chances close to the goal, but we lacked the final quality. I feel that it was a match where we needed to take more control from the start.

Q, it seems that Ryunosuke SATO is involved with the ball more often now.
A, I am consciously maintaining a position that consistently creates goal-scoring opportunities. I want to not only receive and distribute the ball but also increase my involvement with Marcelo RYAN and the wide players near the goal, making movements that lead to more goals. My coordination with RYAN has improved significantly with each match, and we constantly check each other's positions while playing. Since RYAN’s strength is his runs behind the defense, I focus on drawing that out. I believe we can still bring out the best in each other, so I want to continue becoming an even greater threat to the opposition.

Q, To win within 90 minutes, we must break down the solid defense of Kashima Antlers, who have recorded the fewest goals conceded.
A, I think bold and decisive play will be crucial. The most important thing is to confidently demonstrate the strengths we have built up so far through our play. With only the last three matches remaining, I want to perform in a way that brings out even more energy from our fans and supporters than ever before.

Q. This will be the last match of the Regional League Round.
A Winning against Kashima means defeating the top team of the EAST group. We had a good season this year, which makes the disappointment of not winning the championship even stronger. I want to express that feeling through my play in this match. We absolutely want to finish with a victory.

Q. Please give a message to the fans and supporters who are always cheering passionately.
A. For the final match of the Regional League Round, I definitely want to celebrate together with everyone on Kashima’s ground. Let’s fight together! Thank you for your support!