Match Review
After a 1-5 defeat in the opening match, FC Tokyo have reset mentally and head into a match in which they hope to secure a fresh-start victory. Seeking to bounce back, the team travel to face Vissel Kobe, champions of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Centennial Vision League.
With Kento HASHIMOTO suspended, Tokyo made three changes to the starting eleven from the opening match. Kim Seung-gyu started in goal, while the back four, from right to left, consisted of Sei MUROYA, Alexander SCHOLZ, Masato MORISHIGE, and Kashif BANGNAGANDE. For Kashif, who had started one match in the special tournament, this was his first league appearance since August 31 of the 2025 season, raising expectations for his trademark left-footed delivery. In defensive midfield, Kento HASHIMOTO, who was set to turn 33 the following day, partnered Kuryu TAKAHASHI. Keiin SATO started on the right in attack, while Shion HOMMA made his first league start for the Blue and Red on the left. Marcelo Ryan, who scored the opening goal in the season opener, formed a two-man front line with Motoki NAGAKURA.
In addition, Soma ANZAI, who has returned from a loan spell at Penafiel in Portugal, was named in the squad for the first time since his return. Kizuna KOMINATO, whose arrival from next January has been confirmed and who is registered as a JFA/J.League Special Designated Player, was named on the bench for the first time since making his J1 League debut in August of the 2025 season.
In addition, Noevir Stadium Kobe has been renovated for the new season, with the pitch changed from hybrid turf to natural grass. For this match, the retractable roof was closed as a measure against the extreme heat, and the repaired air-conditioning system was operated on a trial basis to measure how effectively it lowers the temperature.
1st—Creating chances on the counter, Nagakura opens the scoring
The match got underway at a high intensity. As expected, Kobe launched attacks featuring frequent crosses, looking to pick up loose balls and press forward. Tokyo began to find their rhythm by mixing build-up play from the back with sharp vertical passes, and the momentum gradually shifted in Tokyo's favor.
In the 12th minute of the first half, Sato met Kashifu Bangnagande's cross at the far post with a direct volley. Two minutes later, Nagakura made a move near the penalty area, and Marcelo Ryan took a shot after the ball had run slightly away from Nagakura's feet. Although it missed the target, Tokyo continued to create attacks by linking play while receiving the ball in intermediate positions.
In the 21st minute of the first half, Hein drove forward from a sharp attack and played the final pass to Sato, who was looking to break free through the middle while timing his run. However, their steps were just out of sync, and he was unable to put the ball into the net.
After that, the pattern remained unchanged: Kobe attacked mainly with long balls and crosses, while Tokyo mixed build-up play with counterattacks. Tokyo looked for opportunities by staying compact in the middle and defending in a way that prevented Kobe from freely playing the ball out.
It was the sharp counterattack that the Blue and Red are known for that broke the deadlock. In the 35th minute of the first half, Sato carried the ball up the right flank with a long dribble and delivered a precise low cross with his right foot. Nagakura, arriving at the far post, met it with a one-touch finish to score! Tokyo, who had remained composed away from home, successfully took the lead.
However, in the 41st minute of the first half, a mistake in the build-up allowed Osako to apply pressure, and Sung-gyu lost possession, leading to an equalizer. Tokyo were pegged back shortly after taking the lead.
The first half ended 1-1. The outcome would be decided in the second half.
2nd—Nagakura’s Brace Gives Tokyo the Lead, but Late Concession Results in a Draw
After halftime, passionate cheers rang out from the Blue and Red Family who had travelled to the away match. With no substitutions made, it was Tokyo who took the first shot of the second half. In the 51st minute, Hian cut inside from the left with a dribble and played a pass. After Sato laid it off, Taka aimed a right-footed mid-range effort at goal. It sailed over the crossbar, but the move, involving several players before the finish, hinted at a goal to come.
Homma, who moved into the left attacking role from this point, began to make his presence felt. He met a deep cross from Muroya at the far post and looked to break into the penalty area with a one-two with Morishige, repeatedly showing his strengths in receiving the ball in the spaces between the lines and combining with those around him.
Tokyo made their move in the 63rd minute, bringing on Teruhito Nakagawa as one of the two forwards, Hironori Ishihara at left back, and Kyota Tokiwa in defensive midfield in place of Kein, Kashif Bangnagande, and Kota. Making a triple substitution all at once, they looked to swing the momentum of the match in their favor.
In the 69th minute, Sato delivered a cross from a move down the right flank. The ball deflected off an opposing defender's head and changed direction, and Nakagawa challenged for it in the middle before Nagakura headed the loose ball home. The assistant referee initially raised the offside flag and the goal was ruled out, but following a VAR review, the goal was awarded and Tokyo regained the lead. The blue-and-red side, fighting relentlessly for their first victory, took a step forward away from home.
The bench makes another move here. Sato, who had continued to battle up front, is replaced by Anzai. Wearing No. 7, a player capable of working tirelessly both in attack and defense, he goes straight into the right attacker position. Then, in the 90th minute, Kominato comes on as the left attacker in place of Homma. With their final substitution, Tokyo look to pull victory their way.
With eight minutes of second-half stoppage time indicated, Tokyo endured a spell on the back foot against Kobe, who launched a power play with long balls. Then, in the 90+3rd minute, Muto struck home after a long throw-in from the right was allowed to run through, conceding the equalizer. The match was once again back to square one.
Kobe continued to pin Tokyo back with their power play, but they held firm until the final whistle. Tokyo showed tremendous spirit in both attack and defense and matched, if not surpassed, Kobe, the champions of the special tournament. However, despite taking the lead twice, they were unable to see it through. They had to settle for a hard-fought point away from home, with their first win delayed until the next match or beyond.
Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI
Q: Please give us your overall assessment of the match.
A: Over the full 90 minutes, the players showed what we are about and fought hard. It is extremely disappointing that it did not ultimately lead to three points. Of course, this is everyone’s responsibility, including mine. It is important that everyone who came on this trip takes it on board once again and works out how we can turn it into the next three points. We want to prepare well again with that in mind.
Q: Please assess Motoki Nagakura, who scored two goals. Also, do you feel more strongly that the team earned one point or dropped two points in this match?
A: Since suffering a major injury last season, Nagakura has spent the season struggling to fully show his true ability. This season, he has progressed smoothly since camp, and although he has had some minor discomfort, he fought hard for the full 90 minutes today. On top of scoring two goals, he delivered a performance that truly helped lead the team toward victory. Beyond his goals, when the opposition dropped their line, he received the ball well between the lines and set the rhythm of the game. He also held onto the ball in difficult situations to link play and create our next attacking opportunities. Overall, he gave an outstanding performance.Now that the match is over, I strongly feel that we dropped two points. But I want to make this one point a meaningful one. This may happen every season, but as with anything, I hope we can shift our focus, even a little, toward how we make the most of what we have gained.
Q: Soma Anzai returned in today’s match. Please tell us what you expected from him and what you hope to see from him going forward.
A: Anzai came on as a substitute, but he more than fully demonstrated his strengths. He is still not at 100 percent physically, but we had anticipated that possibility in preparing for this match. His appearance today was planned with that in mind, and I believe he showed his ability more than adequately.
Player Interview
Motoki NAGAKURA
Q: First, looking back on today’s match as a whole, how do you feel?
A: It is frustrating that, at the very end, we were unable to come away with the win.
Q: You scored two goals. First, please look back on your first goal.
A: I think we executed the counterattack well as a team.
Q: How was the second goal?
A: Thanks to Teruhito NAKAGAWA doing the hard work, all I had to do was finish it.
Q: In addition to your goals, you showed your strengths well by finding space between the lines to receive the ball and providing the final pass. How do you feel about that aspect of your performance?
A: As a team, there were areas where I was able to receive the ball, and there were also moments when Keisuke Sato, Marcelo Ryan, and Shion Homma were able to receive it in good positions. I think it was good that everyone was in a position to receive the ball well.
Q: Your combination play with the forwards and midfielders seems to have improved considerably since training camp. How does it feel?
A: We scored, and although some good attacks did not result in goals, I think our link-up play is gradually improving.
Q: What is needed to take that final step and see out a win?
A: Above all, it is about seeing the game out defensively. In the end, I think Kobe, the champions of the previous tournament, showed their strength in being able to take points, so that kind of resilience is important.
Q: Next week, you will be back at home for a match at MUFG Stadium (Japan National Stadium). What are your thoughts going into it?
A: We will give everything to pursue nothing but victory.
Kashif BANGNAGANDE
Q: This was your first appearance in a while. Looking back on the match, how do you feel?
A: As a team, we had worked throughout the week with the aim of winning, and it was a performance that deserved a win, so I am extremely disappointed that the result was a draw. However, there were also aspects in which we were able to show what we have been building, so we need to continue the good things while correcting the issues that came up again this time as we move forward.
We have another match in a week, and I think a win will be absolutely required, so I want to reset and focus on that.
Q: How do you assess your own performance?
A: The coach told me to focus on plays that lead to goals and to be more attacking-minded. However, I was unable to produce any direct goal contributions in terms of numbers, so that remains an area for me to improve. Last week, Kento Hashimoto was sent off due to an unfortunate incident, and after that match I had various discussions with the coach, which led to me starting this time. I stepped onto the pitch today with a real desire to help the team win, and since it had been a while since I last played, I was especially determined to get the win. That is why I am particularly disappointed with the result.
Q. The crosses you have been working on since camp, as well as breaking through with combinations involving Shion Homma, seemed to produce a lot of positive moments. How do you feel about it?
A. Those are things we have built up as a team since camp. This time, I played alongside Shion Homma and Koyo Takahashi, with Masato Morishige on the left, but we were just putting into practice what we had been doing throughout camp, so I was able to fit in straight away without any discomfort. The support I received from the players around me meant a great deal to me, and I am very grateful to them. That is precisely why I feel so strongly that I wanted to win.
Q: Next, you return home for Friday J at MUFG Stadium (Japan National Stadium). What kind of performance do you want to show?
A: Including the opening match and this game, I think we are just a little short as a team. We need to keep working on those details, and I believe we are a team capable of producing great results once everything clicks. I have felt that while playing myself, watching the opening match from the outside, and in our everyday training. I believe we have the ability to win the title. But that will only happen if we prepare thoroughly again this week and prove it on the pitch, so I want us to prepare well for the Chiba match.I think a win will absolutely be required, and in order to win, each of us needs to take a good look at ourselves and prepare properly over the week so that we can show it in the match.
