Overcoming Incompatibility, Aiming for 3 Consecutive Wins!

　J1 League Sec. 5 saw an away match against Nagoya Grampus. In the previous match, they won 1-0 against Iwata, who they hadn't beaten since the 2000 1st Stage, and maintained their top position with 3 wins and 1 draw, as well as a goal difference advantage over Kashima. Not only was the win against Iwata significant, but also winning the first match of the 3 consecutive games in 2 days means that the team can approach today's match against Nagoya and the match against Urawa on the 16th with a good atmosphere.

　Nagoya is currently in 7th place with 1 win, 2 draws, and 1 loss, earning 5 points. They were defeated by C Osaka, who had no wins in the previous match, so it can't be said that the team is in a good condition. Additionally, one factor can be the decline in form of FW Weslley, who was the top scorer in 2003, and has not been included in the lineup since the 2nd match. However, the renowned coach NELSINHO has made a change in the system from 4-4-2 to 4-5-1 as a countermeasure against Tokyo. It can be inferred that the intention is to thicken the midfield and intercept Tokyo's fast attacks from the center to the sides. The return of the Japanese national team GK Narazaki, who was absent due to injury in the previous match, is also reassuring.

　Tokyo, on the other hand, lost defender 加地 to a left ankle injury in the previous match and will be out for about 4 weeks. In his place, 藤山 will enter the lineup, but other than that, the team will face the match with the same members as the previous match. In fact, Tokyo has no wins in the past matches against Nagoya at 瑞穂陸上競技場, with 2 draws and 3 losses. Especially in the recent 2003 2nd stage, they lost after a 2-point deficit, and their record in the past 10 league matches is also not good with only 2 wins. However, just like in the match against Iwata, the current Tokyo team has a strong momentum that cannot be judged by past records, and we hope they can win and overcome this bad record. The match started at 7:04pm in Tokyo, with a cold wind blowing.

Battling The Bogey Teams

The 5th game of the season saw F.C. TOKYO travel to Nagoya to take on Grampus Eight. The first win over Jubilo in five years in the previous match had kept TOKYO top of the table, ahead of Antlers on goal difference. The win over Jubilo was doubly important as it set the mood for a potentially difficult program of three matches in six days, with a home fixture against the Reds on the following Saturday.
Grampus lay in 7th place before kick-off with 5 points and had struggled to their first defeat of the season in the previous game. This could perhaps be traced to the absence of 2003 Golden Boot winner Ueslei, whose sudden loss of form had led to his exclusion from the squad. Wily Grampus manager Nelsinho had eschewed his team's usual 4-4-2 for a 4-5-1 formation clearly designed to stifle TOKYO's preferred attacking mode of gaining possession in midfield and using the flanks. The return of Japan keeper Narazaki from injury boosted the home side.
Fujiyama replaced Kaji, sidelined for at least a month with an ankle injury, in an otherwise unchanged TOKYO team. Mizuho Athletics Stadium was an unhappy hunting ground for TOKYO; they had failed to win five previous appearances there, drawing twice and losing three times. In 2003 Grampus had overturned a two-goal deficit to take the three points. In fact, TOKYO had only beaten Grampus twice in the ten league meetings between the two teams. However, the dramatic win over the other perennial bogey team Jubilo had heartened the team and they entered the game full of confidence. The visitors kicked off just after 7pm on a chilly evening.

Unable to score even with a PK chance, unable to take control

　The head coach said, "No matter what tactics the opponent uses, let's play Tokyo's soccer." As usual, we fiercely competed in the midfield and took the ball to launch attacks from the sides. In the 1st minute of the match, the ball was passed to Lucas on the right side from Miyazawa, and he took a shot. In the 4th minute, we seized a chance from Miyazawa's free kick on the left side, and Kurizawa took a shot from outside the penalty area. It was not a bad start to the game.

　And in the 12th minute, Nagoya MF Honda's foul on Lucas earned a left FK, which Miyazawa put in front of the goal. It was passed to Konno, who chest-trapped it and entered a shooting position, but Nagoya DF Masukawa couldn't help but stop it with a foul, earning a PK. Lucas took the shot, aiming for the bottom right corner, but GK Narazaki saved it, missing a great chance to take the lead. Then, in the 14th minute, an unexpected accident happened for Tokyo. Fujiyama injured his left knee and was replaced by Mashima. They had already used one substitution card so early in the game.

　Nagoya has thoroughly prepared for Tokyo. They have stopped passing in the midfield and instead, they quickly send long balls to the left and right sides. On the right side, MF Nakamura and DF Tsunoda attack, while on the left side, MF Honda and DF Nakatani attack. They also constantly engage in 1v1 battles and aggressively mark the ball, sometimes resulting in fouls. Once they win the ball, they immediately counter and attack Tokyo's goal. In the 22nd minute, a middle pass was sent to Honda who ran into the penalty area from the right side by Tsunoda, who then drew in Tokyo's DF and sent a last pass to FW Marques, but it was barely saved by a corner kick. From that corner kick, Marques headed it near the goal, but it was saved by a nice save from Doi.

　Tokyo is unable to completely take the lead, but they attack the Nagoya goal. In the 24th minute, Ishikawa on the left side dribbles and sends it to Mashima on the right side, who then centers it. Toda, who was in front of the left goal, gets into a shooting position, but GK Narasaki makes a save. In the 38th minute, Jean passes to Toda, who then passes to Lucas on the right side. Lucas sends a cross to the center, but Toda's shot is not successful and is cleared. In the 41st minute, Konno passes to Kurizawa and they pass back and forth on the left side. Konno then runs behind the opponent's DF and receives a pass in the center. He crosses it back, but Mashima's shot is cut off by the opponent's DF. In the 44th minute just before the end of the first half, Miyazawa and Ishikawa take consecutive shots, but are unable to score a goal. The first half ends as is.

Missed Penalty Disrupts Rhythm

"Regardless of the opponent, we'll play our own football," commented TOKYO manager Hara before kick off and, true to his word, his team began the game battling fiercely to gain possession in midfield before sweeping the ball out to the flanks. Lucas shot from Miyazawa's right wing pass in the first minute and Kurisawa fired wide following a left wing free kick in the fourth minute as TOKYO began brightly.
TOKYO seemed set to open the scoring in the 12th minute after the referee awarded a penalty for a foul on Konno as he shaped to shoot after neatly trapping a Miyazawa free kick on his chest. Narazaki guessed correctly though, diving low to his left to block Lucas' attempt, and a golden opportunity was wasted. To make matters worse Fujiyama was forced off the field with an ankle injury in the 14th minute, Masushima taking his place.
Grampus bypassed the midfield and its attendant dangers with long balls played along the flanks that allowed Nakamura and Kakudo on the right and Honda and Nakatani on the left to attack the TOKYO defense. Tight man marking and barely legal challenges regained possession and the ball was played forward as quickly as possible again. Honda took the ball to the byline inside the TOKYO area in the 22nd minute but ran out of room after drawing the defense towards him and failed to thread the ball through to Marques. Marques met the resulting corner with a firm header at the near post but Doi pulled off a smart save.
TOKYO had failed to seize the initiative but still managed to threaten the Grampus goal. Narazaki whipped the ball off Toda's boot in the 24th minute following a fast break out of defense and superb crossfield pass from Ishikawa. Toda again came up short in the 38th minute as a sharp block prevented Lucas' cross reaching him in a good position. Masushima and Konno led a rapid counter attack in the 41st minute but the former failed to make contact with the latter's cross as the home defense again proved solid. Miyazawa and Ishikawa both had shooting opportunities in the 44th minute but neither could convert and the first period ended scoreless.

Unable to grasp the rhythm of the attack until the end, conceding a goal from a mistake, resulting in a defeat

　Even in the second half, the situation of Nagoya's defense and counterattack against Tokyo's attack remains the same. In the 49th minute, Tokyo's long ball from Miyazawa was crossed by Ishikawa near the end line, and Toda passed it to Lucas for a shot, but it was blocked by the opponent's defender. In the 51st minute, Nagoya had a decisive opportunity with a shot from MF Clayton to Honda in the left area, but Tsuchiho made a fine save and didn't allow a goal.

　Tokyo made a substitution in the 53rd minute, replacing Miyazawa with Kajiyama in an attempt to change the rhythm of the attack. Then, in the 54th minute, Ishikawa intercepted the ball and ran up the left side, passing it to Kurisawa who had made a run into the area. Kurisawa took a shot, but it was saved by goalkeeper Narasaki. In the 58th minute, Ishikawa put a liner-like ball into the right corner kick, which flowed to the left side. This time, Masushima crossed it back to the center, and Toda took a volley shot, but it went over the goal. Amidst the stalemate, Tokyo conceded a goal from one mistake. In the 61st minute, Kajiyama lost possession in the midfield, leading to a counterattack. Midfielder Nakamura dribbled forward, drawing the Tokyo defenders towards him, and then made a final pass to Marques on the left side. Marques finished it neatly, resulting in a conceded goal.

　Tokyo also turns to attack. In the 65th minute, Masushima raises a lob from the right to the goal area, but Lucas' shot hits the opponent's defender in the scramble. In the 73rd minute, Kondo Yusuke is substituted for Ishikawa, trying to attack with more players, but they struggle to bring it to a finish against Nagoya, who completely retreat and defend. On the contrary, Tokyo's defense does not allow any goals even when dangerous situations are created occasionally from the combination of Nagoya's forward Marques and midfielder Nakamura's counterattacks. In the 89th minute, Mochida is injured and sent off due to another accident, leaving Tokyo with 10 players as they had already used all their substitution slots. Tokyo tries to counterattack until the end, but fails to score and the game ends as it is. They couldn't grasp the rhythm of the attack throughout the game, resulting in a frustrating defeat.

　　[Player Comments] {Toda} "I think the reason for our defeat was that we were kicked more than expected by Nagoya, and we couldn't respond or make adjustments during the match. The throws were of a slightly different quality than those against Kashiwa in the Nabisco Cup, and I was confused by the opponent's full-backs recklessly pushing up, leading to a do-or-die play... We received intense play early on, which also contributed to the chaos. The whole team tried to stay calm, but we became frustrated. However, there's no point in being down about this defeat. We need to switch gears quickly." {Masushima} "The substitution wasn't unexpected since I was already warmed up, but the first half was tough. I wasn't beaten, but my legs were tight. In the second half, I got used to it and tried to create chances from early crosses and attacks. The moment we conceded a goal was when I was pushing up. I believe that you have to take risks to score, but that's also a challenge for the next match." {Kanazawa} "The balance of our attack was off, and the truth is we couldn't show our good points. We have to overcome the opponents who come at us fiercely and win... I felt that the opponent had more players in midfield. We need to correct our defense on set pieces like corners and free kicks."

　[Summary of Coach Hara's Press Conference] "We haven't been able to win against Nagoya away, so we came here wanting to win today, but they didn't connect much at the back and threw the ball in earlier than expected. The players stayed up front, leading to a situation where we were picking up loose balls, and it was a tough scene. There were quite a few intense battles, and many yellow cards. When we lost the ball in midfield, I felt that Nagoya was creating their rhythm. However, early in the first half, from a free kick, Konno earned a penalty, and Lucas, despite having hurt his foot, said he was okay to take it. If we had scored there, it might have led to a different development. More importantly, as a team, it was painful that Kaji got injured in the last match and today Fujiyama got injured again. At halftime, we talked about maintaining balance in midfield, but there were some chaotic moments. I could see fatigue in Miyazawa, so I brought in the fit Kajiyama. I thought the ball would settle there, but we were caught out by a small mistake. Without Fujiyama, Mashima had also been practicing on the side, but since he is originally a center-back, he was a bit slow to respond. I don't think the content was bad at all. Of course, Nagoya came with a lot of spirit. We wanted to win, but Shigeno also got injured at the end. However, we have another match on Saturday, and in these tough times, I hope we can prepare well for the next match with fresh players and the strength of other players."

　[Nagoya NELSINHO coach's press conference summary] "It was a fast-paced and intense game. In the first half, the quality of passes was not good, although we had better ball retention. There were many dangerous situations due to misplaced passes. At halftime, I emphasized the importance of valuing passes and having a clear understanding of what we want to do when attacking. Since it was unclear whether to finish, pass, or cross, I gave instructions to play with a clear intention. Since FC Tokyo was launching counterattacks, we also aimed to counterattack. I told the players to maintain a solid defense like in the first half and be clear when launching attacks. Marques scored a goal from one of those counterattack opportunities, which was a crucial victory for the team. Akita's substitution was also based on the expectation that FC Tokyo would play long balls, and because Masukawa's performance was unstable. Narasaki also did well, but today's match was notable for the performance of both teams' goalkeepers."

Failure To Find Attacking Rhythm Leads To Defeat
The second period followed the same pattern as the first. In the 49th minute, Ishikawa took Miyazawa's long ball to the byline, but Lucas was unable to capitalize on the pull back as the Grampus defense smothered his effort. In the 51st minute, midfielder Claiton slipped the ball to Honda inside the TOKYO area, and Doi averted a certain goal with a fine save.
TOKYO replaced the tiring Miyazawa with Kajiyama in the 53rd minute in an attempt to alter their attacking rhythm. In the 54th minute, Ishikawa latched onto an interception and raced forward before moving the ball over to Kurisawa on the left. Kurisawa struck firmly, but Narazaki produced a fine save to deny TOKYO the opening goal. Ishikawa struck a low corner to the far side in the 58th minute; Masushima played the ball back into the center, but Toda failed to keep his volley down and it sailed over the bar.
The stalemate continued until a simple mistake led to the decisive moment. Kajiyama played a loose pass in midfield, allowing Grampus to counter through Nakamura. Nakamura raced forward, drawing defenders to him before crossing to Marques at the far post. Marques finished cleanly, and TOKYO were behind.
TOKYO were forced onto the offensive. In the 65th minute, Masushima lobbed a high ball into the Grampus area that caused a wild melee; Lucas struck only to see his goal-bound effort cannon off a defender. Yusuke Kondo replaced Ishikawa in the 73rd minute, and TOKYO threw men forward but to no avail. Grampus were content to defend in depth and counter through Marques and Nakamura, a tactic that nearly brought a second goal as the TOKYO midfield became stretched. To add insult to injury, a leg injury forced Moniwa from the field in the 89th minute, leaving TOKYO to finish the game with 10 men. Despite the best efforts of the team, it proved an impossible task and the final whistle blew on a disappointing loss.


Players' comments
Toda
"Grampus kicked into us far more than we had expected and our inability to cope with that led to the defeat, I think. It was slightly different from the Nabisco Cup game against Reysol though; their sidebacks took a huge gamble in pushing forward so much and we were bewildered by the all-or-nothing attitude. The opening period was very rough and there were a few stormy moments. We tried to keep cool as a team but it was difficult not to be ruffled. It's no use being down over the loss though; we have to pick ourselves up and prepare thoroughly for the next game".

Masushima
"I was already warming up before the substitution so I was ready when the call came but the first half was very tough. I wasn't beaten but I was really stretching. I got used to the pace in the second half and tried to put in a few early crosses and support the attack. They scored while I was up the field. If you don't take a risk you can't score, though".

Kanazawa
"The attacking balance was uneven today and there wasn't much to praise in that performance. When an opponent comes on so aggressively we have to turn it against them to win but...I felt they really packed the midfield today. We have to improve our defending from set plays".


F.C.TOKYO manager Hara
"We haven't had much success against Grampus away and were really up for the game today but they didn't play the ball around at the back at all and got it forward much faster than we had expected. They left a lot of players up the field and it became a battle for the loose ball and a fairly aggressive one at that. They had a lot of yellow cards. We failed to dominate the midfield and that allowed Grampus to find their rhythm. Still, we started well and got the early penalty. Lucas had a knock but said he was capable of taking it. If it had gone in I think it would have been a different story. The team is suffering a little at the moment; last game it was Kaji that was injured and today Fujiyama. At half time we talked about maintaining the midfield balance but lost it on a few occasions in the second half. Miyazawa looked tired so I sent on Kajiyama who has been in good form recently. We thought we would be comfortable on the ball but a slight mistake led to the goal. Masushima has practiced at sideback but is essentially a centre back and was a little slow at backtracking there. I don't think we played badly today though, and Grampus were very fired up, of course. Naturally we wanted to win but then Moniwa was injured at the end of the game. There's another game coming up on Saturday and we'll do our best to prepare for that with some fresh players".

Grampus manager Nelsinho
"That was a fast, tense game. In the first half our passing was poor, we failed to keep possession and put ourselves under pressure with some loose balls. At half time we stressed the importance of passing accurately and having a clear picture of what we were trying to do when we were attacking. A shot, a pass or a cross; the first half was too vague. TOKYO were counterattacking so we decided to take that approach too. We aimed to maintain the close marking and attack clinically. We created a good chance from a counterattack and Marques got the goal. It's an important win for the team. We sent on Akita to counteract the expected long balls from TOKYO and also because Masukawa was looking nervous. Narazaki played well; in fact both goalkeepers had good games today".