<Match Review>
The J1 League has reached the halfway point of the season and has entered the second half of the season from this round. It will be the second round of battles with the opponents who have already played once, switching between home and away. The first match of the second half is against Sagan Tosu, who lost 0-1 at home at Ajinomoto Stadium. They have lost 6 consecutive matches in the league and are a difficult opponent in terms of results. As for Tokyo, who have lost their last 2 official matches, they want to see results along with a sense of growth. Ryoya OGAWA, who will play his last match at Tokyo before moving overseas, started in the starting lineup. Hotaka NAKAMURA entered as the right back.
1st HALF - Tokyo concedes the first goal in a back-and-forth battle for control
Early on, Tokyo moves the ball calmly from the back while defending against Sagan Tosu's attempts to push forward from the front. While they don't create any finishing opportunities, the inside halves and wingers are able to exploit gaps in the opposition's defense, switching the attack and entering their opponent's half.
As time passed, Tosu gained more possession of the ball. Even after winning the ball, they were unable to quickly transition to attack and were often dispossessed by the opponent. Around the 20-minute mark, they were able to bypass the midfield and play a through ball to center forward Adailton, gradually pushing their formation forward and entering the opponent's half. In the 26th minute, Shuto ABE and Ryoma WATANABE played a one-two pass, allowing ABE to break through on the right side. As the opponent's defender rushed back, ABE passed backwards. Adailton was waiting there and took a one-touch shot, but was stopped by the opponent's goalkeeper.
In the 30th minute of the first half, it seemed that we were gradually pushing back, but when the second ball was picked up by Yuto IWASAKI, we couldn't put pressure on and allowed a powerful middle shot to be scored in the upper right corner, giving up the lead. In that scene where we were aiming to recover the second ball, Abe was injured and Leandro was sent onto the pitch, and Watanabe changed positions to inside half.
Tokyo, who is trailing by one point, collects the ball near the penalty area with Adailton and Leandro as the starting point, but cannot bring it to a shot as the opponent quickly fills the space. There was also a scene where Watanabe broke through and faced the goalkeeper one-on-one, but he was unable to equalize due to the opponent goalkeeper's great save. In the midst of both teams holding the initiative, they turned the game around with one point behind, taking advantage of a momentary gap.
2nd HALF - Continuing the counterattack, but conceding goals
Tokyo wants to go on the offensive, but in the 3rd minute of the second half, they were pushed back near the goal and couldn't clear a cross ball from the right side, allowing Diego to score an additional goal. Despite struggling to bring the ball to the front line, in the 8th minute of the second half, Leandro received a pass in the vital area and dribbled past multiple defenders before taking a shot. Although he couldn't find the target, by increasing the speed of their passes and incorporating more direct plays compared to the first half, Tokyo was able to create more chances near the opponent's goal.
In the 15th minute of the second half, three players were substituted at the same time, with Keita YAMASHITA, Keigo HIGASHI, and Yuto NAGATOMO taking to the pitch. Then, in the 18th minute of the second half, YAMASHITA, who had broken through the opponent's defense, received the ball and before the defender could make a tackle, Leandro was able to pick up the ball and aim for the goal.
After 25 minutes into the second half, when Tokyo's attack began to activate, they were unable to respond to the opponent's quick counterattack after their wedge pass to the front line was blocked. Fuchi HONDA, who received the ball on the right side, cut in and scored a goal on the near side. Furthermore, in the 33rd minute of the second half, they lost the ball due to a coordination mistake during the build-up, and were pushed wide by the opponent's counterattack, resulting in a goal by Yuki KAKITA in the penalty area.
Despite the spread of the behind, Tokyo wants to grab the thread of the counterattack while firmly connecting the ball, but in the 40th minute of the second half, when the ball was trying to be connected from the defense line to the side, it was taken away and the ball was not able to be cut off to the ball side, and Kaito Kaida scored a spectacular fifth goal. The play towards Tosu's goal continued until the final whistle, but compared to the first half, they were unable to create decisive opportunities, and Ogawa's last match before his overseas transfer ended in a disappointing result.
MATCH DETAILS
F.C.Tokyo
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Jakub SLOWIK
DF Hogao Nakamura (15 minutes into the second half: Yuto Nagatomo)/Yasuki KIMOTO/Masato Morishige (38 minutes into the second half: Shinji Okazaki)/Ryoya Ogawa
MF Kuryu Matsuki (15 minutes into the second half: Keigo Higashi)/Takuya AOKI/Shuto Abe (33 minutes into the first half: Leandro)
FW Ryoma WATANABE/Adailton/Keita YAMASHITA (15 minutes into the second half)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
FW Kazuya KONNO
GOAL
―
Sagan Tosu
Starting XI
GK Ilgyu PARK
DF Wataru HARADA/Ryunosuke SAGARA/Fansoko/Diego
MF Yuki HORIGOME (21st minute of the second half: Taichi KIKUCHI)/Akito FUKUTA/Kei KOIZUMI (38th minute of the second half: Naoyuki FUJITA)/Yuji ONO (17th minute of the first half: Fuchi HONDA)
FW Yuto IWASAKI (38th minute of the second half: Ryunosuke SAGARA)/Taisei MIYASHIRO (21st minute of the second half: Yuki KAKITA)
SUBS
GK Tatsuya MORITA
DF Shinya NAKANO
GOAL
First Half 30 Minutes: Iwasaki/Second Half 3 Minutes: Diego/Second Half 25 Minutes: Honda/Second Half 33 Minutes: Kakuta/Second Half 40 Minutes: Kakuta
[Albert PUIG ORTONEDA Interview]
Q: please review the game.
A: It was a match with a clear difference in the flow between the first and second halves. In the first half, we created several decisive chances and I think there were many periods when we controlled the game well. We had two clear scoring opportunities. However, unfortunately, while Shuto ABE was down, Sagan Tosu scored a shot.
And regarding the second half, I think the development was completely different from the first half. There were many instances where we lost the ball easily, and the defensive intensity was not as expected. I also think there were many moments where the fighting spirit was lacking. These factors combined led to conceding multiple goals.
The soccer that this team had been playing until last season and what we are looking for this season are different. It is not necessarily easy to adapt to those changes. Everyone expected this season, which is undergoing reforms, to be very difficult, but I think we should not allow the performance in the second half. I think we should not rely solely on Shuto ABE and Kuryu MATSUKI to provide high intensity to the entire team.
We want to thoroughly and critically reflect on today’s match, make improvements, and connect them to the next game. Also, to realize the playing style we aim for, we cannot afford to lose the ball so frequently as we did in the second half today.
Q: Was the impact of playing 120 minutes against Nagasaki significant?
A: Only four or five players played for 120 minutes. The other players did not play 120 minutes on Wednesday. I do not think physical condition was a major cause. Since the cause lies elsewhere, I believe we need to critically reflect on ourselves.
Q, among them, player Morishige who had played for 120 minutes, was substituted in the middle of the second half.
A: Regarding Morishige, fatigue may have had an impact. However, the current situation is that we do not have many center backs who are fit to play. Henrique TREVISAN has also suffered an injury.
I believe that this club, carrying the name Tokyo, must aim higher. We must continue to fight aiming for the top. While there is the matter of reforming our playing style, what is also important is the reform of this club’s mentality.
Q: Was there any difference between what you actually expected and what happened with Tosu?
A, I have great respect for the team Tosu and their coach. I want to commend both the style of soccer they express and the content of today’s match, as well as today’s victory. However, the reason for our defeat due to conceding multiple goals today lies with us.
[Player Interview]
＜Ryoya OGAWA Player＞
Q: please review the game.
A: We fought for 120 minutes in the Nagasaki match, and as a whole team, our bodies were not moving well due to fatigue. However, as professional soccer players, we cannot use that as an excuse, and if our bodies aren’t moving, we should adjust our way of playing accordingly and find things we can do. I think the current Tokyo team lacks the ability to change things in a positive direction.
Q, it was the last game before transferring overseas in Tokyo.
A, I realized it from the warm-up, but many fans and supporters came to cheer wearing the number 6 jersey, and including the fans and supporters of Tosu, when my name was called, I received a huge round of applause, which made me truly feel that today is the day I leave the J.League.
Q: What kind of team is Tokyo for player Ogawa?
A, it is still not a consistently winning team and there are many areas still developing, but I truly believe it has the potential and the members to win the championship. I am glad that I have spent seven and a half seasons with Tokyo.
Q, a new challenge begins as an individual
A, first of all, I will start by securing a position, so I hope to aggressively make my presence known just like when I first became a professional. I definitely want to grab a position and work hard to be able to give a good report to the Tokyo fans and supporters in Japan.
<Masato MORISHIGE>
Q: please review the game.
A, I think if we had finished the chances we had, we could have gone into the break with the game in a different state. We conceded first in the second half during a bad flow, and including the timing of the goal, the opponent took control of the rhythm.
Q: Did you have any damage from playing for 120 minutes on Wednesday?
A, I felt that I was able to move better than I expected. I was able to play without any problems in that regard.
Q: We have lost three consecutive official matches. What is necessary to regroup for the next one?
A, I don't know exactly what we should do right now, but only we can turn this situation around, and we knew this kind of period would come. We just have to stay calm and do what needs to be done.
<Keigo HIGASHI>
Q, it was a difficult situation to come on as a substitute.
A, I wanted to change the momentum, but things just kept slipping away. Everyone was tired, so our work rate didn’t increase, and it was a complete defeat.
Q, how do you want to improve the situation where you keep conceding goals?
A, it becomes a matter of hindsight, but there are parts that players can do, and while talking with the coach and staff, I hope we can calmly reflect on what we feel, what we need to do, and what we must improve, and have a proper discussion after taking a break.
Q: Does the mental aspect also have an impact?
A, the mental aspect also plays a significant role in soccer. I believe this is a crucial moment to hold on, and when a new coach comes in and changes happen, various things occur. I want to properly accept that and move forward.
Q, I think it was a match that the team really wanted to win, as it was the last game before Ogawa's overseas transfer.
A, everyone had feelings about that, and as for Ryoya OGAWA, even after going overseas, I hope he will make the most of the experiences he had in Tokyo and do his best. I want him to go for it boldly.
Q, please send a message to the fans and supporters who came to support us all the way to Tosu.
A, I believe there were people who came all the way from Nagasaki for the Emperor's Cup, so I truly feel sorry, and I want to somehow hold on here, bounce back, and respond to the support.
<Kuryu MATSUKI>
Q: please review the game.
A, in today's match, the defensive line and the forward line were very disjointed and stretched out, allowing the opponent to break through the midfield line. When the defensive line drops back, we naturally have to retreat as well, so in terms of stamina for counterattacks, or rather, we were unable to apply effective pressure on the opponent.
Q: How was the first match after returning from the U-21 Japan national team's expedition to Uzbekistan?
A: My condition wasn’t good, and I think if I had increased my defensive intensity more, the course of the match would have changed. There are still many areas where I need to improve, but on the other hand, precisely because I had this experience, I now have a clearer idea of how I should conduct myself and play football in the second half of the season. It’s not a matter of physical stamina or anything like that; I want to be able to win matches.
