<Match Review>
After a two-day interval, they showed a passionate fight and achieved a come-from-behind victory in the Emperor's Cup quarterfinals against the Urawa Reds, and then faced an away game against Nagoya Grampus after a three-day interval. Despite the tight schedule, this match is especially important as it is against an opponent placed 16th, just 2 points behind.
This week, experienced players Yuto NAGATOMO, Kento HASHIMOTO, and Kei KOIZUMI are suspended, creating a difficult situation. However, head coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI places his expectations on the players sent out, saying, "Rather than being 'replacements,' I want the players who have been given the chance to fully express themselves."
The starting eleven in blue and red made six changes from the Urawa match. Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu was brought in, and Soma ANZAI returned to the lineup at right side-back after about a month and a half. At center-back, Masato MORISHIGE, who had returned to the bench in the Urawa match, paired up with Alexander Scholz, while Kashif BANGNAGANDE took the left side-back position. In the holding midfield, captain Keigo HIGASHI was joined by Motoki NAGAKURA, who started again following the Emperor's Cup. The attacking midfielders were Reon Nozawa on the right and Kota TAWARATSUMIDA on the left, with the two forwards being Keita YAMASHITA and Motoki NAGAKURA, who was unable to play in the Emperor's Cup match against Urawa due to contractual reasons. Additionally, attackers Megumu Sato and Keita Endo returned to the squad and were on the bench, adding depth to the attacking lineup.
While the number of players unable to participate in the match has increased, the fact that many players have returned to the lineup is a positive sign. We want to continue the spirited play shown in the Urawa match and have each player demonstrate their individual strengths while being mindful of teamwork.
1st HALF — Looking for opportunities through focused defense but unable to score
From the start of the match, there was an intense back-and-forth between offense and defense. Against Nagoya, who attacked mainly from the flanks, Tokyo’s Tokiwa took a middle-range shot from a loose ball on the counterattack in the 5th minute of the first half. Although the shot was well-placed on target, it was stopped by the opposing goalkeeper. The number 27, making his first league start and who had said he wanted to "produce results that show up in the stats," showed great assertiveness.
In the 12th minute of the first half, a direct free kick was conceded right in front of the goal, but Morishima's right-footed shot hit the crossbar, narrowly avoiding danger.
From the open play that continued in the early stages, Tokyo shifted to a style of connecting from the back line to seek attacking opportunities. They maintained possession while advancing, aiming for decisive chances, and even when losing the ball, they recovered second balls to push into the opponent's territory. Since Tokyo was able to play with concentration both offensively and defensively, they aimed to create big chances by incorporating creativity in finishing within the attacking third.
In the 18th minute of the first half, a scramble in front of the goal led to a dangerous situation, but the players defended with their bodies, not allowing any freedom. In the end, Yamagishi's shot was deflected off the crossbar, and they managed to hold on.
Tokyo, eager to create a good scoring opportunity, launched a counterattack from high pressing in the 42nd minute of the first half. Nagakura delivered a through pass that sliced through the opponent’s defense, but Tawara Tsukida, despite breaking free at a good timing, failed to control the ball and could not connect it to a shot.
Just after entering stoppage time, Nagakura received the ball in midfield, dribbled forward, and made a perfectly timed through pass diagonally to the left. Yamashita broke free and took a shot with his left foot, but the goalkeeper blocked it. Nagakura then tried to push in the rebound, but that was also caught, and unfortunately, they could not shake the net.
In the end, the first half ended goalless. While maintaining possession and pressing forward, they created several big chances but failed to score. They headed into halftime with challenges remaining in breaking down the attacking third.
2nd HALF—Endo’s determined equalizer in the final stages
In the second half, wanting to bring fear and consistency to the attack, Coach Matsuhashi sent out the same members onto the pitch as in the first half.
The first big chance in the second half came from Nagoya. At the 5th minute, following a corner kick, a cross was delivered and a header shot was taken, but here Kim Sung-gyu made a fine save with a flying dive using just his right arm! Truly a performance befitting a guardian deity, he protected the goal.
At the 10th minute, Marcos Guilherme and Marcelo RYAN, the speedy duo, were brought on to replace Tawara Tsukida and Yamashita. These two players, who played a key role in the comeback victory in the Emperor's Cup match against Urawa three days earlier, were sent onto the pitch again with expectations to add an accent to the attacking lineup.
Marcos immediately created a highlight. He earned a direct free kick slightly to the right in front of the goal. Higashi and Yoshifu carefully blocked the view and prepared thoroughly, and at the moment Higashi left the spot, Marcos caught the opponent off guard with a soft kick using his right foot. Although it just missed to the right of the goal, he demonstrated the well-known accuracy of his set-piece kicks.
However, in the 20th minute of the second half, they conceded a goal after being pushed into a scramble in front of the goal from the opponent's right corner kick. Despite increasing pressure from the front compared to the first half, they ended up conceding the opening goal as they gave Nagoya more opportunities for set plays.
In the 29th minute of the second half, Sato and Endo, both making their return matches, came onto the pitch replacing Nozawa and Nagakura. Endo took the right attacker position, and the formation was changed to place Sato as one of the two forwards. Then, Sato, who had said the day before the match that he wanted to play in a way that would make the team face forward, immediately showed a sharp turn and attempted a vertical breakthrough inside the penalty area, activating the attacking line with his moves.
At the 32nd minute of the second half, a switch was made from player Higashi to Kanta DOI. DOI entered the defensive midfield position, replacing Higashi.
Then, at the 37th minute of the second half, Tokyo’s determination and concentration produced the equalizing goal. The target was the newly introduced number 22.
Kashifu, who had the ball high on the left side, cut back and crossed with his right foot. The ball hit an opposing player’s head and flowed in front of the goal, where the opposing goalkeeper made a catching error. Endo did not miss the moment, quickly stretched out his right foot, and pushed the ball into the goal for the equalizer. Endo’s attitude of never losing concentration paid off, and Tokyo brought the match back to a 1-1 tie.
In the six minutes of added time displayed in the second half, Tokyo created a big chance. Marcos dribbled vertically and delivered a through pass that sliced through the opponent’s defense, and Endo appeared to shoot with one touch but instead cut the ball back to the center. However, because this final pass was slightly off in the negative direction, Sato’s shot did not connect properly. Missing this big chance, the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
After the match, the blue and red fans and supporters encouraged the players, who were downcast from not being able to secure a win, with a banner reading "We must not lose to Verdy" and loud cheers. They called for unity ahead of the upcoming match following the break.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC TOKYO>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Kim Seung-gyu
DF Masato MORISHIGE/Kashif BANGNAGANDE/Soma ANZAI/Alexander Scholz
MF Keigo AZUMA (32nd minute 2nd half: Kanta DOI)/Kota TOKIWA/Leon NOZAWA (28th minute 2nd half: Keita ENDO)/Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (11th minute 2nd half: Marcos GUILHERME)
FW Keita YAMASHITA (11th minute 2nd half: Marcelo Hian)/Motoki NAGAKURA (28th minute 2nd half: Megumu SATO)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
DF Teppei OKA/Henrique Trevisan
MF Maki KITAHARA
MANAGER
Rikizo MATSUHASHI
GOAL
37th minute of the second half: Keita ENDO
<Nagoya Grampus>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Alex Pisano Yukifuyu Horio
DF Yota SATO/Haruya FUJII/Takuya UCHIDA
MF Katsuhiro NAKAYAMA/Tsukasa MORISHIMA/Sho INAGAKI/Ryuji IZUMI (19th minute of the second half: Yuya ASANO)/Soichiro MORI (28th minute of the second half: Yuki NOGAMI)
FW Kensuke NAGAI (28th minute of the second half: Yudai KIMURA)/Yuya YAMAGISHI
SUBS
GK Yohei TAKEDA
DF Kennedy Ebus Mikuni
MF Gen KATO / Haruto SUZUKI / Masahito ONO
FW Shungo SUGIURA
MANAGER
Kenta HASEGAWA
GOAL
37th minute of the second half: Yota SATO
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q, please look back on today's game.
A, I think the players really did their best in these three consecutive matches played within a short period of two to three days. This applies to those who played in consecutive games, those who did not, players who appeared after a long time, those who started the match, and those who came on as substitutes. I believe we were able to firmly demonstrate our strengths among the players we currently have. Regarding the content of the match, there were many challenges in how to break through the opponent's solid defense. However, towards the end, there were parts where we could show some of what we intended, and in the first half, we saw good progress with well-aligned focus during the build-up. What remains is improving the quality of how we enter the final third and how we finish there. Nevertheless, we never gave up until the end, and with the support of our fans and supporters, a goal was born. I want to take that in a positive light.
Q, the substituted players showed involvement in scoring. How do you view that?
A, how to shift gears. Each player has their own strengths, and since we have many players with different qualities, we anticipated before the game that we could use those differences to break down the opponent's solid defense both as a team and individually. Of course, the players starting from the beginning are also very capable, but considering the consecutive matches and, as I mentioned earlier, some players who haven't played much suddenly started in the lineup. Even so, I think they performed very well.
Q, you mentioned that the opponent's defense was solid, which was especially evident in the first half. Was it as expected that, with the opponent organizing their defensive formation compactly, you would have no choice but to enter areas with high density?
A, I thought they might push up a little more, but when we pressed, their defense was indeed very solid, and Nagoya's defense is characterized by committing enough players to the ball side. We had a certain level of understanding of that, so the question was where to target. Rather than being absorbed there, the aim was to create a slight numerical advantage just before that point and observe how the opponent would respond. Based on that, the plan was to see who would exploit the space behind. It’s not that we were completely ineffective, and as you mentioned, the players made judgments based on the situation, so I think that was a very positive aspect.
Q. Please share your evaluation of Soma ANZAI, who played as right side back for the first time in a while, and also what you expected from Kanta DOI, who usually plays as center back but appeared as a defensive midfielder today. Additionally, how do you perceive ENDO’s concentration and focus in seizing the opportunity and scoring in such a moment?
A, regarding the first question, the word that comes to mind for both players is truly 'wonderful.' It had been a while since they last played, and although the playing time differed, they were able to fully demonstrate their strengths. Of course, there are still areas that need to be improved, but I believe they performed more than adequately. As for Endo's goal, it was not just instinct but a kind of intuition—he did not miss the opponent's gap at that moment, which resulted in the goal. He is a player who can play while reading the opponent, so I think it is truly remarkable that he was able to score.
Q. How do you view Kyota Tokiwa's growth, including from the start of the season, given that this was his first start in a J1 League match?
A. Although there have been ups and downs, I think he has firmly demonstrated his performance and strengths in the two matches so far. In the first half of the first match, there was a lot of tension, and I feel he wasn’t quite able to show his true form. At that point, not only for him but for the entire team, we gave a push, and it felt like there was no choice but to go all out, as if a weight had been lifted. His very calm play, along with one of his strong points—his one-on-one defensive ability and anticipation—were clearly visible during the game, which was truly wonderful. I hope he continues to build on this going forward.
[Player Interview]
<Keita ENDO player>
Q. Please reflect on the equalizing goal that brought the team 1 point.
A. It was a situation where I rushed toward the opposing goalkeeper on the cross ball, thinking "if something happens." The ball spilled out without me having enough time to prepare properly, so it was difficult to react, but I’m glad I was ultimately able to push it into the goal.
Q. You entered the pitch while the team was losing. What kind of mindset did you have going into the game?
A. Many players were playing within their own comfort zones, and there were noticeable moments where the timing of passes was too early or did not connect well with the receiver. It looked like they were playing in a constrained manner, so precisely because of that, I wanted us to take the initiative and be able to choose between shooting, passing, or dribbling. I told Soma ANZAI, who was on the same side, that I wanted him to get involved in the play. During the summer match period, there were many games I couldn’t participate in, which caused trouble for my teammates. I want to make up for that from now on.
Q. Including after the goal, Keita Endo's encouragement of the team in the final stages of the match was particularly impressive.
A. I thought there are often cases where you concede a goal after equalizing, and in an away game, there is a huge difference between earning 1 point and 0 points. In that situation, I was hoping at least for a 1-1 draw, and then to score on the next chance to make it 2-1, so after equalizing, I told Marcelo RYAN, Keisuke Sato, and the other attacking players to make sure to get back defensively.
Q. After about a two-week break, the next match will be against Tokyo Verdy.
A. We were only able to respond with the bare minimum result in front of the fans and supporters who came all the way to Aichi to cheer us on. I believe that only a victory will be acceptable in the next match. I also think many players will be returning from injury, and we want to show a stronger team.
Kota Tokiwa
Q. This was your first start in a J1 League match.
A. Above all, I wanted to win, and I had a strong desire to help the team win by starting the match. It is most frustrating that we couldn't secure the 3 points. Although the team ended with a draw, looking at it individually, I feel that the things I can do are definitely increasing one by one, and I believe my range of play has expanded since the recent Emperor's Cup. I wanted to show plays that would decisively secure victory.
Q. I think it was a hard-working 90 minutes both offensively and defensively, including a long-range shot on target and ball recoveries.
A. I focused primarily on playing proactively and always kept in mind to strike the ball whenever I saw a chance to score. Defensively, I believed that winning battles for the ball and second balls would allow us to control the game, and this is also one of my strengths. I think I was able to contribute at least a little.
Q, In today's match, you played as a double pivot alongside Keigo HIGASHI.
A, I dropped back a bit to receive the ball, while HIGASHI showed aggressive play. I think we were able to play in a good balance in the midfield position, and it was very comfortable.
Q, In the final stages of the match, there was a period when you played wearing the captain's armband.
A, I believe that once you step onto the pitch, age and years of playing experience don’t matter at all. Everyone must show their commitment on the field for the team and for victory. There was nothing special about being the captain, but when I received instructions from the coach, I felt a strong desire to respond with results, and that frustration remains.
Q. The next match will be against Tokyo Verdy.
A. In the first half of the league, I could only watch the matches from the bench, and considering our current ranking and situation, this is a special match. Nothing but a win is expected. We will go all out to win no matter what.
<Soma ANZAI>
Q. How was it to finish a full 90-minute match after such a long time?
A. I just gave it my all and tried my best to perform at the highest level I can right now.
Q. There were also moments when you desperately pressed back as the opponent broke through behind the defense. What was going through your mind then?
A, There was a long period when I couldn’t get involved in matches, so I watched the games while going through a tough time myself. During that time, there were also periods when various things were said about me on social media, but even so, as a player, the only thing I can do is prove myself by playing on the pitch. I believe that standing on the pitch is where I can demonstrate my purpose, and not only for the next match but also because there are consecutive matches we cannot afford to lose, I want to get back on the pitch and give it my all again.
Q. What did the coach say to you ahead of today’s match?
A. It was just something like, "Can you go?" I believe I have prepared as much as possible within the limited time, so from here on, I want to improve my condition and keep going.
Q. You secured the minimum 1 point, but how will you build on this going forward?
A. The match was difficult in terms of content, but I think this 1 point was significant in preventing the opponent from gaining points. Making this 1 point meaningful will depend on the results of the upcoming matches, so I want to make sure it is never wasted.
Q. The next match is against Tokyo Verdy.
A. Since the outcome has remained undecided for a long time, the next match is at our home ground, so we want to prepare thoroughly and face it with determination.
