GAME RESULTGame Result

Sec. 4 2005/5/28 (Sat)
Audience 16,188 people 
Weather: Sunny, Temperature: 26.7°C, Humidity: 40% 
Referee: Tsutomu ANAZAWA Assistant Referees: Tadaomi AIBA / Satoshi KARAKAMI Fourth Official: Masatoshi SHIBATA

YNC Qualifying Group Sec. 4

Oita S

HOME

Oita Trinita

0-2

Match Finished

First Half0-0

Second half0-2

AWAY

FC Tokyo

Oita Trinita FC Tokyo
Scorer 46' Yusuke KONDO
55' Ryoichi KURISAWA
49' Takashi MIKI → Yuichi SHIBAKOYA
60' Yuichi NEMOTO → Yoshiro ABE
79' Ryosuke KIJIMA → Tsukasa UMESAKI
Player Substitution 79' Mitsuhiro TODA → Danilo
85' Yusuke KONDO → Fumitake MIURA
4 Shoot 16
1 CK 5
12 FK 12
29' Kawada Kazuhiro
Warning
Ejected
Oita Trinita Starting Lineup
GK 29 Koji Eguchi
DF 18 Kuramoto Takashi
DF 4 Tomoki Fukaya
DF 2 Takashi Miki
DF 23 Mitsufumi Arimura
MF 8 Tomomi Komorita
MF 24 Kazuhiro Kawada
MF 20 Shota Matsubashi
MF 17 Yuuichi NEMOTO
FW 11 Dodo
FW 33 Sakae KIJIMA
Oita Trinita substitute
GK 16 Takasaki Riki
DF 3 Shiba Koya Yuichi
MF 27 Tsukasa UMESAKI
MF 6 Umeda Takashi
FW 14 Yoshiro ABE
FC Tokyo Starting Lineup
GK 22 Hitoshi SHIOTA
DF 4 Taisei FUJITA
DF 3 Jean
DF 2 Teruyuki MONIWA
DF 17 Jo KANAZAWA
MF 6 Yasuyuki KONNO
MF 16 Masashi MIYAZAWA
MF 27 Ryoichi KURISAWA
MF 18 Naohiro ISHIKAWA
FW 13 Mitsuhiro TODA
FW 32 Yusuke KONDO
FC Tokyo Substitutes
GK 21 Taishi ENDO
DF 25 Shinya SAKOI
MF 10 Fumitake MIURA
MF 24 Masamitsu KOBAYASHI
FW 19 Danilo

【Player/Coach Comments】

A must-win match!


 The 4th round of the Nabisco Cup qualifying league is an away match against Oita Trinita. In the previous match against Chiba, we conceded a goal in the first half and allowed the opponent to take the lead. However, in the second half, we were able to steal the ball from the front line with intense pressing and created numerous chances with fast side attacks. Unfortunately, we couldn't score and ended up losing the match. As a result, we are currently at the bottom of Group C with 1 draw and 2 losses, and it has become a very difficult situation to advance to the next round. However, there is still a possibility. We will give our all in the remaining 3 matches and, of course, we must win the match against Oita this round.

 Oita has changed their members considerably, but they have already played twice this season and both teams know each other's strategies. Oita, currently in 3rd place with 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss, will definitely come to win and advance to the qualifiers. With 4 defenders and 4 midfielders forming a solid line, they first wait in their own half and then counterattack quickly when the opponent attacks. Especially in the 9th league match this season, they allowed FW Magnao Alves and Dodo to score twice from chances, which is still fresh in memory. FW Magnao Alves will also be absent in this match due to injury, so the attacking threat will decrease slightly. However, in the previous match against Kashiwa, they took control of the game, defended against Kashiwa's attacks, and FW Dodo scored from a set piece. They have been able to maintain a solid defense and make the most of their one goal.

 Tokyo, on the other hand, has made changes to the starting lineup. The defensive line remains the same, but Miyazawa returns to the midfield. His precise passing will be a weapon in creating attacking rhythm by delivering balls behind Oita's defensive line. In the forward line, Toda and Kondo Yu form a two-striker formation. We hope to see the same combination of Toda's energetic movement in the front line and Kondo Yu's ability to find space and receive the ball effectively, which we saw in the second half of the previous match against Chiba where Chiba switched to a defensive approach.

 And on the bench is the fighting general Miura. It will take a little more time for Miura to get back to his usual movement, as he just returned in the previous match, but by Miura entering the pitch, he can create a gap in the midfield that was not there before and change the tempo of the attack, which had been consistent. Moreover, Miura's solid presence at the bottom of the midfield gives the entire team a sense of calmness and reassurance. Danilo also has difficulty producing results, but he still has the decisive power when it matters. The feeling of an imminent explosion is coming...

 Tokyo is expected to take the lead to some extent, but the key will be whether they can break through Oita's defensive line. They want to create numerous chances by repeatedly widening the play and involving players like Konno in the attack from the midfield, and break through Oita's goal. We are well aware of the poor compatibility with Oita since last season, but we can't afford to say such things in this match. If we win, the team's situation will improve, but if we lose, our chances of advancing to the knockout stage will be almost eliminated. It is a match that we absolutely must win. Under the clear sky that reminds us of summer, the match started with Oita's kickoff at 3:00pm.


In the first half, we attacked well but couldn't score


 Contrary to expectations, Oita started the game aggressively and attacked from the beginning. In the 2nd minute, Tokyo's left side was broken and resulted in a free kick opportunity. In the 4th minute, MF Matsubashi dribbled past the right side and crossed the ball, but it couldn't be connected to FW Kijima who was positioned in front of the goal. However, Tokyo settled down after the 5th minute and started to control the ball, launching a counterattack.

 7 minutes, Miyazawa aims for goal with a free kick opportunity but goes over the bar. 9 minutes, Kurisawa -> Miyazawa -> Konno connect on the left side, Kondo Yū sends a through pass to Toda who has moved up to the front line from the post, but the opposing goalkeeper catches it a step ahead. 10 minutes, Kondo Yū aims for goal with a free kick opportunity but again goes over the top of the bar. 12 minutes, the ball is switched from Konno on the right side to Kurisawa, and Kanazawa, who had moved up for support, crosses. Toda tries to head it in while falling down but misses the mark. 15 minutes, the ball is broken through on the right side by Ishikawa and Toda, and it is passed to Kondo Yū for a shot, but it hits the opposing defender and results in a corner kick. From there, three consecutive corner kicks occur, and Kurisawa passes the ball to Kondo Yū who is in the left area after the last right corner kick, but he shoots wide of the left goal.

 Tokyo had complete control, but Oita received the ball in the space between Tokyo's defenders and midfielders, and from there, they either launched a side attack using the left and right midfielders, Moto and Matsubashi, or Dodô dribbled forward and combined with forward Kimijima for a central breakthrough. In the 19th minute, Moto took a shot from the left area after a quick restart, but it went wide. In the 21st minute, Matsubashi crossed from the right side on a counterattack. Kimijima picked up the loose ball and took a daring shot, but Shioda made a fine save and it resulted in a corner kick. In the end, Oita only had these two shots in the first half during this period of time.

 Tokyo's attack continues. In the 25th minute, Kanazawa passes to Toda, who has moved forward, and shoots without turning around. In the 32nd minute, Ishikawa on the right side dribbles through the center, and Oita cannot help but commit a foul. Miyazawa aims for the free kick but is blocked by the wall. After that, they continue to attack without compromising the defensive balance, but they are unable to create any decisive opportunities, and the first half ends with a score of 0-0.

Kondo and Kurisawa decide the game with their goals


 Tokyo scored the opening goal just after the start of the second half. Ishikawa kept the ball and passed it to Toda, who had drifted to the right side. Toda then delivered a direct, line-drive cross. Yusuke KONDO, who had made a run into the goal area, perfectly headed the ball into the net to take the lead.

 They continue to attack without letting up. In the 50th minute, Inomata dribbles into the middle after receiving a throw-in from the right side and passes it to Kondo Yu. He takes one touch and shoots towards the goal, but it goes straight to the goalkeeper. In the 51st minute, Toda receives a clearance ball from Jan and competes with the opponent's defender, earning a free kick near the center of the field, about 25 meters away from the goal. Miyazawa aims for the bottom left corner of the goal, but the goalkeeper saves it. With the lead, the players gain confidence and stability in their movements, and the team's rhythm improves significantly. Then, in the 55th minute, they score another goal. From Miyazawa's wide play, the ball is passed to Fujita on the right side, who immediately crosses it into the goal area. The opponent's defender clears it, but it falls to Kurizawa, who runs in and shoots directly, grazing the right post and scoring! They now have a two-goal lead.

 Oita also moves. In the 60th minute, Abe is brought in to increase the number of attacks in the front line. And they start a development where they gather the ball to midfielder Komorita and quickly put long balls to both sides from near the center circle to create the starting point of the attack. However, although they continued to be attacked by the opponent who became aggressive, they did not allow a shot until the final shot, and the Tokyo defense showed a calm response.

 Even after Tokyo took a 2-point lead, they created numerous chances. In the 70th minute, Kondo Yu forcefully dribbled into the area and took a shot. In the 71st minute, Ishikawa aimed for the top right corner of the goal with a free kick from about 30 meters away, but missed. In the 75th minute, Kurisawa picked up the clear ball from Ishikawa's cross and connected it, but Miyazawa's shot narrowly missed the top right corner of the goal. In the 79th minute, Danilo was substituted for Toda and brought the ball into the goal area from a counterattack, but did not take a shot. In the 85th minute, Miura was substituted for Kondo Yu and the formation was changed to move Miyazawa to the front line. The team held off Oita's final counterattack and kept a clean sheet until the end of the match. It was the first victory in 10 matches, and with no goals conceded, it was a promising result for future battles.

 【Player Comments】《Fujita》"In the first half, I focused on observing the opponent's movements and maintaining balance. In the second half, I knew we had to score to win, so I approached it with the mindset of betting everything on the 45th minute. I always try to win corner kicks and throw-ins in high positions and think about returning to my own half. I saw that Toda was free for the cross that led to Kurizawa's goal, so I boldly sent it in. It's my first time starting and winning, so I'm really happy. I want to contribute to the team and win again next time." 《Kurizawa》"In the second half, the opponent was getting tired, and spaces opened up in the middle, so I tried to exploit that and do things that would annoy them. I couldn't feel secure with just a 1-0 lead; I thought the second goal would decide the match. I aimed to keep the shot on target and not hit it too high. I was able to strike with less unnecessary force. I think we all played with a strong spirit. I'm glad we could respond to the supporters who came from far away with a victory, but it's important to win again next time." 《Shioda》"Before the match, I stumbled while saying, 'Let's unite and win in Oita and... (go back to Tokyo!)' and everyone started laughing. It was embarrassing, but it created an atmosphere similar to before last year's Nabisco Final. When you focus too much on winning, it can create tension, but that might have helped relieve some pressure. Even after taking the lead and scoring the second goal, Oita kept pushing forward, so I tried to be careful not to fall back into defense. At that moment, everyone naturally started saying, 'Let's go forward!' It wasn't just something we were told from the bench; we utilized our past lessons and thought for ourselves, showing an attacking mindset. (Was there a good save?) I was always told to 'prepare quickly' and was able to react well to where the shots were coming from. That might have lifted the team, but the victory was the result of everyone in defense, midfield, and forward working together. I feel like I received the best birthday present ever."

 [Summary of Coach Hara's Press Conference] "We lost to JEF last week in the Nabisco Cup, so we have no choice but to win. I talked with the players about giving our all in every match, betting on a slim chance. In the second half of the previous match against JEF, and in the league match before that, we lost, but the overall rhythm and balance were gradually returning. However, with results not coming, we have been close but unable to score, or the opponent has capitalized on their one chance. Today, we were attacked from Oita's right side and faced shots, which we had been conceding before. But today, Shiota saved us, and although the first half was a bit awkward, I think we fought well. I showed the players the match between Milan and Liverpool in the Champions League, explaining that Liverpool, who were losing 3-0 to Milan, changed when they scored one goal; it can change with just a small play. Scoring goals requires the mental strength of each individual, and as a team, we must fight with a strong spirit. The fact that so many supporters came all the way to Oita, or have been cheering for us at Ajinomoto, makes us feel we must respond to them. It was great to win after a long time and not concede any goals. Even if it was a bit clumsy, I am happy that they fought hard without giving up until the end. This will be the first step to start a new FC Tokyo from here. We cannot end it like this, so we will fight with all our might in the remaining two matches of the Nabisco Cup qualifiers and in the league. That will help us improve our strength. I want to make sure we do well in our daily training."

 [Summary of the press conference by Oita's Kwan HWANGBO] "Today's match was not about changing the members to create a new team, but we approached it with different members from the last match. However, we may have had too many things we wanted to do. The match itself, especially the first half, was not bad. The first goal in the second half was a result of being easily beaten by the opponent, which was the reason for our defeat. We need to maintain a solid balance in defense, and we were able to do that in the first half. In the second half, we were able to apply pressure on the ball, but we were easily beaten by the opponent, which is frustrating. However, climbing a mountain requires timing, and we also need to cross rivers. We have a clear purpose. There are still opportunities in the Nabisco, so we want to fight without giving up. The intention behind selecting young players is that we are competing with all members, both those who are playing and those who are not. We need to improve our overall level to be able to compete in July. It was a challenge. (We used young players today) but of course, results are important for the team, and we must also prepare for the next match. Both are important."