<Match Review>
"The only title we can aim for right now is the Emperor's Cup. Above all, I want to reach the Final Round. Rather than breaking them down beautifully, I want to think about what we can do to win." (Player Kei Sato)
Following Sec. 36 of the 2025 Meiji Yasuda J1 League last week, the Emperor's Cup Semifinal Round marks the second consecutive week facing FC Machida Zelvia. This match at the Japan National Stadium is an extremely important game where the team aims to show the culmination of this season and seize the ticket to the Final Round.
In the game a week ago, we endured with tenacious defense, and Soma ANZAI scored in the final stages to secure a 1-0 victory. We maintained high concentration to defend thoroughly and clinched the three points with a strong counterattack strategy. For this match as well, we approach it with the determination expressed by Teruhito NAKAGAWA: "We will all defend together and attack together so that we don’t lose in spirit, and go for the win."
The starting lineup for this match saw two changes from the previous week's game. With goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu called up to the South Korean national team, Go HATANO took to the pitch for an official match for the first time since the June 22 Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 21 match against Gamba Osaka. The back line featured Yuto NAGATOMO, Alexander Scholz, Masato Morishige, and Sei MUROYA from right to left, while the defensive midfielders Takahiro Ko and Kei Koizumi started again as they did the previous week. In attack, Soma ANZAI, who scored the winning goal in last weekend's game, played on the right, Marcos GUILHERME on the left, and the forward line was formed by Megumu Sato and Teruhito NAKAGAWA. Additionally, Wataru GOTO was included on the bench for the first time since turning professional, and Marcelo Hian returned to the squad for the first time in about a month.
The blue-red family, filling the away side, supported the players with passionate cheers from the pre-match warm-up, creating a home-like atmosphere using blue-red flags in the Semifinal Round. The match kicked off at 1:10 p.m. under clear skies at the Japan National Stadium.
1st HALF—Allowing no openings to the opponent with high concentration and intensity
Machida presses forward using long balls just like in the previous match. Tokyo builds a two-line block with the back line and midfield, while the two forwards firmly limit the passing options, denying the opponent freedom, and everyone maintains a high awareness of second balls to prevent chances from forming.
Although the early stages saw noticeable time spent playing in their own half, by winning the battles for the ball, they gradually maintained possession and pushed forward, increasing their attacking opportunities. In the 16th minute of the first half, they connected passes on the right side, and Sato unleashed a powerful right-footed long-range shot. Although it was blocked by an opposing defender, it became a symbolic moment that drew the momentum of the match closer.
Tokyo continued to take the initiative in the match by having the forwards work together aggressively during negative transitions to immediately recover lost balls. With an increasing number of corner kicks, including shots from distance and crosses from the sides, there is growing anticipation for a goal from set pieces.
They also impress in defense after launching attacks. By pressing in a coordinated manner high up the pitch, they delay the opponent’s attack and decisively cut off Machida’s passes intended to launch counters, depriving them of freedom and preventing them from forming attacking plays.
They also firmly marked Machida’s key player, whom Nagatomo described as “about 80 to 90 percent of their attacks come from Yuki Soma.” In the 34th minute of the first half, Soma cut inside and delivered a cross, which Mitchell DUKE met with a header in the center, but goalkeeper Go HATANO securely caught it straight on. The number 13, making his first appearance in a while, supported the back line with stable play, also handling the opponent’s long throws with outstanding height.
Just before the end of the first half, they faced another danger from the hot line of a cross from Soma and a header by Duke, but it went wide to the left of the goal, narrowly avoiding trouble.
In the first half, Tokyo’s two forwards flexibly dropped into midfield to join the build-up, creating a numerical advantage while searching for attacking opportunities. Although the opponent’s five-back defense combined height and solidity, preventing a complete breakdown, Tokyo succeeded in taking control of the game both offensively and defensively through focused play and coordination. The match headed into halftime accompanied by chants from behind the goal of “Take the cup,” as the team prepared for the second half where scoring would be crucial.
2nd HALF—Unable to break the deadlock, the match goes into extra time
Both teams entered the second half without substitutions, and from the very start, Tokyo seized the momentum with aggressive pressing. Sato powerfully pushed forward vertically and delivered a cross. Nagatomo then aimed a mid-range shot at goal from the rebound, showing a strong intent to score the opening goal.
In the 6th minute of the second half, there was a scene where the ball hit the opponent's hand after a breakaway, but it was not judged as a handball, resulting in a corner kick for the opponent. However, Hatano firmly caught the ball in the center. He broke the unfavorable momentum and aimed for the opening goal again with aggressive play.
Tokyo aims to connect good defense to good offense. In the 16th minute of the second half, taking the initiative, they substituted Nakagawa and Marcos for Hian and Leon NOZAWA. Since Nakagawa had been the tactical centerpiece with his skillful positioning and pressing from the front early on, it is worth watching what changes this substitution will bring to both offense and defense.
The focused defense of the blue and red remains unchanged. In the 31st minute of the second half, after winning the ball in their own half and connecting a horizontal pass that slightly missed, nearly leading to a counterattack by the opponent, player Muroya made a fierce dash pressing back and executed a sliding tackle. Wearing number 2, he displayed excellent crisis awareness and a flawless, foul-free recovery, showing a brilliant play.
The match progressed scoreless, leading to a tense situation where a single goal would determine the outcome. Behind the blue and red goal, passionate support continued with the sound of trumpets, loudly cheering on the players and energizing the stadium as they aimed to advance together to the final stage.
However, the match remained unchanged, including the 4 minutes of additional time in the second half. The battle for the ticket to the Final Round was carried over to a 15-minute half extra time.
EXTRA TIME—Falling short of reaching the Final Round
As the team formed a huddle heading into extra time, chants of "Seize the Cup" echoed again from behind the goal, filled with blue and red flags. At the 10th minute of the first half of extra time, they connected passes on the right side to earn a corner kick, with Nagatomo making a big gesture moving both hands up and down to rally the blue and red family, as pitch and stands united in pursuit of victory.
At 11 minutes into the first half of extra time, Nozawa broke away on a counterattack and ran alongside an opposing player, approaching the goal, but he was unable to deliver a powerful shot under pressure and the goalkeeper caught it.
The defensive line, which had built a blue-red wall until now, was caught off guard for a moment. At 13 minutes into the first half of extra time, a long ball was dropped behind the defensive line, and Hayashi, who broke free, scored with a lob shot that went over Go HATANO's head. They conceded the opening goal in an unexpected manner.
The Tokyo bench immediately made a move in response to this development. Kanta DOI and Keita YAMASHITA came on, replacing Sato and Koizumi. YAMASHITA took a spot in the two-forward formation, while DOI assumed the defensive midfield position. Additionally, Keita ENDO replaced Anzai as they pushed to recover the one-goal deficit.
Desperate to get the match back on level terms, Tokyo used their final substitution at the 3rd minute of the second half of extra time, sending Keigo HIGASHI onto the pitch in place of Takahiro.
However, immediately after, at the 4th minute of the second half of extra time, Soma broke through deep on the right side of their own half, and the return pass was met by Se Hun OH at the near side, resulting in a conceded goal. A painful additional goal was allowed.
To the team pushed into a difficult situation, the supporters behind the goal conveyed their message with the chant, "Pour out your passion, seize the championship," continuously encouraging the players. Responding to this energy, at the 29th minute of the second half of extra time, Nozawa skillfully cut in from the left side with deft steps and struck powerfully with his right foot, but the shot went straight to the goalkeeper.
At the 15th minute of the second half of extra time, a scramble occurred in front of the goal from Endo’s left corner kick, and Go HATANO, who had pushed forward, aimed a right-footed shot, but it was blocked by the opponent and could not shake the net. United as one in blue and red, they made a desperate counterattack until the end, but it was in vain, and their challenge aiming for the top of the Emperor's Cup ended in the Semifinal Round.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC TOKYO>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Go HATANO
DF Naruki MUROYA/Masato MORISHIGE/Yuto NAGATOMO/Alexander SCHOLZ
MF Soma ANZAI (Extended 1st half 15+2 min: Keita ENDO)/Ko UTAKA (Extended 2nd half 3 min: Keigo HIGASHI)/Kei KOIZUMI (Extended 1st half 14 min: Kanta DOI)/Marcos GUILHERME (2nd half 16 min: Leon NOZAWA)
FW Keiun SATO (Extended 1st half 14 min: Keita YAMASHITA)/Teruhito NAKAGAWA (2nd half 16 min: Marcelo HIAN)
SUBS
GK Wataru GOTO
DF Henrique TREVISAN/Kosuke SHIRAI
MANAGER
Rikizo MATSUHASHI
GOAL
―
<FC Machida Zelvia>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Kosei TANI
DF Henry Mochizuki/Gen SHOJI/Dreshevich
MF Hotaka NAKAMURA (12th minute of second half extra time: Asahi MASUYAMA)/Hiroyuki MAE/Yuta NAKAYAMA (7th minute of second half extra time: Hokuto SHIMODA)/Kotaro HAYASHI
FW Mitchell DUKE (29th minute of second half: Sanho NA)/Yuki SOMA (12th minute of second half extra time: Kanji KUWAYAMA)/Shota FUJIO (29th minute of second half: Se Hun OH)
SUBS
GK Yoshiaki ARAI
MF Ryohei SHIRASAKI/Takaya NUMATA/Keiya SENTO
MANAGER
Go KURODA
GOAL
13th minute of the first half of extra time: Kotaro HAYASHI / 4th minute of the second half of extra time: Se Hun OH
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q, please give us an overview of today's match.
A, it was a very disappointing result. Throughout the match, I think there were many moments where we struggled to establish our own rhythm. While there were aspects of our defensive play against the opponent’s attacks that I was satisfied with, in a match and flow like this, it becomes crucial which side can seize that split-second opportunity. I discussed this with the players, but unfortunately, we were unable to do so and the opponent took advantage. It was a very regrettable game, but the players truly fought hard, and in that regard, I believe they delivered some excellent performances.
Q, entering extra time, there were various factors such as fatigue, but could you please explain the intention behind the substitution of the defensive midfielder?
A, first of all, there was considerable fatigue and some cramping in the legs, which was one reason. Also, since we had to go for a goal, the last card we played was Keigo HIGASHI. The intention was related to the distribution in attack. In a very open flow, by having the ball come to him at certain points several times, we wanted him to effectively utilize Marcelo RYAN and the forwards. That was the purpose of the substitution.
[Player Interview]
<Kei KOIZUMI>
Q: please review the game.
A: I think it was a straightforward complete defeat. The result is everything.
Q: When the match went into extra time, how were you thinking about trying to score?
A: The opponent was also simply aiming for the forward or kicking diagonal long balls, so our aim was to pick up those second balls, calmly connect passes, and push into the opponent’s territory. Although there may have been chances, I think we need to intentionally increase the number of opportunities we create, and personally, I feel I need to do more in terms of distributing and making runs to create chances.
Q: I think this was a tough match to face.
A: There have been many difficult situations even in the Emperor's Cup, but I believe we were able to get this far through the strength of everyone. Today as well, I wanted us to win with all our might and see an even higher level. However, I believe the result is everything, and although it may have been a small difference, those differences accumulated and ended up becoming a significant gap in the result.
Q. This season will end after two more league matches. How do you want to channel this frustration moving forward?
A. Physically, it might be good to reset once, but during the break, each of us needs to fully accept this defeat and, as professional soccer players and Tokyo players, work hard to show solid performances in the last two matches.
<Player Kei Sato>
Q. It was a closely contested game and a frustrating result. How do you look back on the match?
A. The opponent didn’t change anything from last week, but I think we could have connected more on the ground, and this result reflects that we couldn’t do what we wanted to do.
Q. I think the team’s desire to win the Emperor's Cup was strong, but how do you take this result and how will you switch your mindset from here?
A. We really wanted to win the Emperor's Cup, and as a team, our determination was strong. We wanted to win and advance, but unfortunately, we lost. However, there are still two league matches left this season, so it’s difficult to switch immediately. That said, as professionals, we must properly switch gears and fight in the league matches. Even though the fans and supporters were just as disappointed as we were, they applauded us after the match. I felt very ashamed and deeply regret that we couldn’t meet the feelings of the fans and supporters. When they applauded us as we made our final lap, to live up to their expectations, we really have to switch our mindset. We want to win the last two league matches and finish the season strong.
Q. Defensively, you were able to neutralize the opponent's strengths, but what was necessary in terms of scoring goals on the offensive side?
A. I think it was necessary to play our own style of soccer and be thorough with the ball at our feet. We knew the opponent was strong in the air, so the key was how we received the ball between their lines, drew them out, created space, and exploited it. The biggest reason for our loss was that we couldn’t execute what we practiced in that regard. Although the defense held up really well, it’s very frustrating that we couldn’t finish and score.
Q. It seemed like you were creating good opportunities in the first half, but it felt like things didn’t quite click in the second half. What factors contributed to that?
A. We were no longer able to apply pressing from the front, which allowed the opponent to maintain possession. Defending with just two forwards against their five defenders made it impossible to fully regain the ball. Their attack aimed to lure out our defensive midfielders and then play long balls to win the second ball. We decided it was less risky to let them play long balls and chase with two players, waiting for them to get impatient. We committed to defending with two players, but because we couldn’t fully win the ball back, the momentum shifted to the opponent’s favor.
<Sei MUROYA>
Q, We were just one step short of advancing to the Final Round.
A, We gave our best, but the difference in the details led to conceding goals. The match just ended, so I can't think about anything right now, but it's truly disappointing not to have made it to the Final Round.
Q. You conceded a goal in the first half of extra time in a tightly contested match. How do you reflect on the overall approach during the extra time?
A. We understood the opponent’s intentions and aimed to endure firmly and score through counterattacks. However, I think there were shortcomings in the quality of our counterattacks and the way the team moved the ball. Conceding a goal at that stage was painful for the team, and giving up an additional goal in the second half of extra time was the reason the match ended the way it did. We wanted to at least proceed with the score at 0-1, and as a team, we wanted to convert chances into goals until the very end.
Q. I think you demonstrated strength in one-on-one situations throughout the match, such as preventing the opponent’s counterattacks.
A. We understood the style of soccer FC Machida Zelvia would use to attack, and we also knew that if we couldn’t outperform them in key moments, we wouldn’t be able to secure a win. I believe the players on the pitch gave their 100 percent and executed our plan. We lacked a bit of strength and a little luck. However, I am proud of this team.
Speaking of the league matches, despite going through tough times caught up in the relegation battle, it was thanks to the efforts of the staff led by Rikizo MATSUHASHI, as well as the hard work of the teammates, that we were able to advance to the Emperor's Cup Semifinal Round. I am truly grateful for that.
