Match Review
The rain that had fallen until the morning stopped at Ajinomoto Stadium. Aiming for the first consecutive wins of the season in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, they faced the reigning champions Vissel Kobe, who are defending their league title.
This matchweek, the goalkeeper was switched from Taishi Brandon NOZAWA, who has guarded the goal in all league matches since the season opener, to Go HATANO. The back line featured the same three players as the previous match: Kanta DOHI, Seiji KIMURA, and Enrique TREVIZAN. Additionally, Takahiro KO, who was forced to leave the field due to a heavy collision in the last match against Albirex Niigata, was left off the bench, and the defensive midfield duo consisted of Kento HASHIMOTO and Kei KOIZUMI. On the wings, Kosuke SHIRAI played on the right and Keita ENDO on the left. Up front, the same 3-4-2-1 formation as the previous match was used, with Keiun SATO and Kota TAWARATSUMIDA as inside halves and Marcelo HIAN as the lone striker.
The focus is on Go HATANO, who wants to energize the team with a loud voice while showing precise instructions and sharp reactions. Having contributed to advancing in the J.League YBC Levain Cup with fine saves, he aims to make his presence felt and help secure victory in this match as well. Also, Yuto NAGATOMO has returned to the bench after recovering from injury. His play is expected to tighten the team at critical moments.
1st HALF—Creating chances but unable to shake the net
As expected, Kobe pressed forward from the start with long balls and high pressing. Tokyo responded aggressively in duels, recovered second balls, and connected passes to look for attacking opportunities. Although there were moments when possession in deeper areas came under Kobe's pressure, Tokyo also increased their ball retention in the attacking third, resulting in a back-and-forth period of play.
The first big chance came in the 27th minute of the first half. Kimura received the ball connected from the back line and made a long feed quickly to the right front. Shirai, who broke away with perfect timing, received the ball and drove forward powerfully with a dribble, aiming with his right foot, but unfortunately, the opponent's fine save prevented the opening goal.
At the 39th minute of the first half, RIAN broke through the center of the pitch with a dribble from a counterattack and passed to the right side. Sato returned the ball, but it just missed RIAN. Then, at the 40th minute, again from a counterattack, RIAN broke through and carried the ball to the front of the goal, aiming a shot while moving to the right, but he could not make a strong impact shot.
Tokyo looks for chances with sharp attacks against Kobe, who show a power-based style of soccer. The entire team continues to firmly repel set-piece defenses, which were identified as an issue in the previous match. Both teams create opportunities but fail to shake the net, and after three minutes of additional time, the first half ends scoreless.
2nd HALF—Hian's consecutive goals in 2 matches lead to the first winning streak of the season
After both teams started the second half without substitutions, Tokyo created the first chance. At the 3rd minute of the second half, player Tawara Tsukida received the ball on the left side of his own half, changed direction diagonally while advancing forward and attempted a dribble, then played a vertical through pass. Lucas RIAN broke into that space, and at the moment he dodged the opponent with a feint, he quickly aimed with his right foot, but the shot missed the target and went to the right of the goal.
Continuing their sharp attacks, the Red and Blue pressed into Kobe's territory. When Shirai supplied a cross from the right and Tawara Tsukida from the left, at the 18th minute of the second half, RIAN carried the ball dribbling from the right side of his own half and gently laid off a final pass that Sato aimed at, but the close-range shot was blocked by the goalkeeper. Then, at the 20th minute, RIAN's powerful shot from the right side struck the crossbar. Tokyo launched numerous intense attacks throughout the match.
Kobe, having made three substitutions by the 25th minute of the second half, fought back with fresh players, prompting the Tokyo bench to respond. In the 32nd minute of the second half, Soma ANZAI was brought on as left wing-back, replacing Endo. Then, immediately at the 33rd minute, RIAN was fouled inside the penalty area after a one-two with Sato, but no penalty kick was awarded. Furthermore, in the 36th minute, from a counterattack, ANZAI cut inside and took a shot. However, the goalkeeper blocked it, and the rebound could not be converted.
At the 38th minute of the second half, three players were substituted at once. Kouta TOKIWA was brought in as defensive midfielder, Teruhito NAKAGAWA as inside half, and Yuto NAGATOMO as right wing-back, replacing Koizumi, Sato, and Shirai respectively. Then, at the 45th minute, Tawara TSUMITA was taken off and Maki KITAHARA was positioned as inside half. Having used all substitution slots, the players on the pitch were entrusted with breaking through the situation.
After 7 minutes of displayed second-half additional time, player Hian powerfully struck the net with his right foot inside the penalty area, but the goal was unfortunately disallowed due to a handball by player Nakagawa in the preceding play.
And finally, in the 45+13 minute of the second half near the end, the match takes a turn.
Go HATANO's ultra-long feed allowed Nakagawa to break free and take a shot. Then, when Anzai tried to push in the rebound, VAR support was called due to a possible handball from the opponent's sliding block, and after an on-field review, a penalty kick was awarded at the last moment.
Ajinomoto Stadium watched with bated breath. Wearing number 19, standing at the penalty spot with a focused expression as if entering a zone. When the right-footed kick, swung with full force, pierced the net, the entire stadium rose to their feet in joy. Then, the victorious anthem "Sleepless City" echoed immediately. The ace, who was involved in many chances, made a big impact at the very end, scoring in two consecutive league matches and leading the team to victory. With this, Tokyo secured their first win at Ajinomoto Stadium since Sec. 3 against Nagoya Grampus, and achieved their first consecutive wins of the season.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Go HATANO
DF Kanta DOI/エンリケ トレヴィザン/Seiji KIMURA/Kosuke SHIRAI (38th minute 2nd half: Yuto NAGATOMO)
MF Kento HASHIMOTO/Keita ENDO (32nd minute 2nd half: Soma ANZAI)/Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (45th minute 2nd half: Maki KITAHARA)/Kei KOIZUMI (38th minute 2nd half: Kyota TOKIWA)
FW Yoshimasa SATO (38th minute 2nd half: Teruhito NAKAGAWA)/Marcelo ヒアン
SUBS
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Teppei OKA/Yasuki KIMOTO
FW Leon NOZAWA
MANAGER
Rikizo MATSUHASHI
GOAL
Second Half 45+13 min: Marcelo RYAN
<Vissel Kobe>
STARTING XI
GK Daiya MAEKAWA
DF Gotoku SAKAI/Tetsushi YAMAKAWA/Yuki HONDA/Rikuto HIROSE (Second half 25 min: Mateus Tourel)
MF Takahiro OHGIHARA/Eriki (Second half 25 min: Jean Patrick)/Yosuke IDEGUCHI/Koya YURUKI (Second half 14 min: Yuya OSASAKO)
FW Taisei MIYASHIRO/Daiju SASAKI (Second half 40 min: Gustavo Chrisman)
SUBS
GK Shota ARAI
DF Takuya IWANAMI
MF Haruya IDE/Nanasei IINO/Kakeru YAMAUCHI
MANAGER
Takayuki YOSHIDA
GOAL
―
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q, please look back on today's game.
A. First of all, rather than focusing on the content, I am very happy that we were able to secure consecutive wins, that the players never gave up until the very end, and that we achieved these wins amid the passionate cheers of everyone who came to the stadium. As for how we connect this moving forward, there are many points in the game’s content to work on, so I want to prepare well to be able to properly take on those challenges.
Q. I think the selection of players was very well suited for the match against Vissel Kobe. Could you please explain the intention behind today's team selection?
A. Not entirely, but the selection was carefully made with the intention of neutralizing the opponent's major strengths, and these were players who have been delivering results as we have played more matches. That was the basis for the selection. Of course, we also considered how to prevent the opponent from showing their style and, in addition, how we could express our own style. However, I think in the first half, that was almost nonexistent. The question is how we will continue to try in that regard. The attacks in the second half after we scored are, in a way, also our style, so I believe we must challenge ourselves even more by firmly backing that style.
Even if we can't do it, that is our style, and maybe we can rely a bit more on the moments when we have a chance to make a breakthrough. On top of that, we need to steadily improve the accuracy of the challenges we are currently undertaking. In the second half, rather than focusing on methodology, I think there were several moments where we took the initiative by restarting quickly and playing with speed.
Q. Specifically, what kind of adjustments did you make during halftime?
A. First, rather than starting with methodology to gain their understanding and reassurance, I talked with the players about what they should correct. Although everyone’s minds were focused on the method, they actually had simple options to get the ball in, so I thought about what could change things, and it was the quick start I mentioned earlier. Instead of waiting for the opponent to prepare and us to prepare before starting, I told them to pass the ball quickly if there was a free player. I thought there might be some difficult moments there, but if the opponent couldn’t afford to make errors in how they responded to that, then to avoid conceding our strength in short counters and fast vertical attacks, they probably wouldn’t be able to push forward easily.
So, in my mind, let's start quickly, and once the goalkeeper has the ball for a restart, let's immediately use the players in good condition one after another. In that context, we slightly eased the expression of build-up play involving the goalkeeper. Since the opponent is a team known for strong high pressing, by properly breaking through that press, if space opens up in the midfield or if the opponent's defensive line pushes forward creating deep space, we can exploit it with our speed and talent. Since that didn't quite happen, rather than making halftime corrections, I conveyed the idea of trying such an approach.
Q. Please tell us your evaluation of Go HATANO, who was in the starting lineup for the first time in the league match.
A. Although his appearances have mainly been in cup matches, he has truly maintained good performance through daily training. Of course, his selection was made while considering the goalkeeper coach's opinion, but he was able to fully demonstrate his strengths in his performance. I think the plays where he clearly showed his characteristics and triggered the decisive moments of the game were truly excellent. I always tell the goalkeepers to aim for assists, and although it wasn't an assist today, it was just one step away from an assist, an assist of an assist. Also, I think the accuracy of that was truly outstanding.
Q: It was our first victory at Ajinomoto Stadium in a while.
A. From my experience, I think the idea that we just can't win is simply a misconception, and humans tend to be influenced by such beliefs once they take hold. I believe it is important to always have a strong mindset of 'next time, next time for sure,' and I think the loud support from our fans and supporters has contributed to this winning streak.
[Player Interview]
<Marcelo RYAN>
Q, It was a goal that led the team to victory. I think it was a penalty kick with a lot of pressure, but how did you feel at that moment?
A: Of course, I was nervous given the situation. However, we had practiced well to win this match and earn 3 points, so I was confident and able to calmly take the shot.
Q. You managed to break through the defense several times and passed the ball to player Kei Sato, showing good teamwork throughout the 90 minutes. How do you feel about that?
A. Yes, I think the coordination up front has deepened. There were chances that we forwards had to finish, but unfortunately, there were also scenes where we couldn't score. However, since good opportunities are increasing, I believe we will be able to win more matches from now on.
Q: Do you think the momentum from scoring a goal against Albirex Niigata also led to today's goal?
A, The goal against Niigata did have some influence, but not that much. Every day, we are putting in good practice to earn 3 points and to win the matches in front of us, and that is translating into our play.
Q: This season's first consecutive wins. Next match is an away game against Urawa Reds.
A. Having gained confidence from consecutive wins, although it is an away game, I want to win against Urawa in the next match as well, deepen my confidence further, and aim for a top position.
Q: After scoring a goal, you do a salute pose during the celebration. Could you tell us the reason?
A: Many of my relatives work in law enforcement, and they told me they want me to do it whenever I score a goal. I do it with love for my family.
<Go HATANO>
Q, I have participated in cup matches, but this was my first appearance in a league match.
A, to be honest, I have had a very tough time this season up until today. I was determined to win no matter what today. I was really nervous before the match, but once the warm-up was over and I stepped onto the pitch, I was able to get into the usual mindset, so I’m glad I could perform without difficulty.
Q. The cheers behind the goal sounded louder than usual.
A, I was happy to hear the HATANO chants at Ajinomoto Stadium for the first time in a while. I wanted to share the victory with all the fans and supporters, so I’m glad we won today and that I was able to do the 'Sha' at Ajinomoto Stadium for the first time in my life.
Q. When the penalty kick was scored, I saw him running towards Taishi Brandon NOZAWA.
A. My body moved naturally. When I saw the yellow uniform, I was drawn to it like a magnet. We have both gone through tough times and understand each other, so I want us to have even better competition and work together in training again starting tomorrow.
Q. What did Shota YAMASHITA, the goalkeeper coach, say to you before the match?
A. He told me, "You can do it," so I'm glad I believed him. I was able to prove it.
