<Match Review>
The J1 League resumed after a two-week break, with Tokyo facing an away game against Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Both teams have welcomed new managers this season and are only separated by three points in the standings. The match was a showdown between Hiroshima's aggressive press and Tokyo's ability to maintain possession and build attacks.
In Tokyo, Go HATANO made his first appearance in the league, while Hirotaka MITA, who has been mainly used as an inside half, was selected as a starter in the wing position. New signings Luiz PHELLYPE, Koki TSUKAGAWA, and Seiji KIMURA were all included in the match squad.
1st HALF - Tokyo creates many chances but concedes first goal
First chance goes to Tokyo. In the 5th minute of the first half, Mita receives the ball in a vital area and is brought down, earning a free kick. Mita takes the free kick directly, but the ball narrowly misses the top right corner of the goal. In the early stages, Hiroshima presses from the front, but Tokyo moves the ball with precise positioning and distance, breaking through the press and entering Hiroshima's half. The wingers also join in the build-up, preventing the opponent's press in the midfield area.
Although we were unable to create many opportunities to finish, we broke through the opponent in the 21st minute of the first half. Kuryu MATSUKI player broke through the space in front of the penalty area and became the starting point, and Mita player entered the area in front of the left goal of the penalty area with a one-two touch with Kashif BANGNAGANDE player who took a high position. Mita player, who pulled the opponent's goalkeeper, chose a cross and sent a pass across the goal, but Shuto ABE player, who had jumped into the far side, could not meet and the shot missed above the goal.
In the 34th minute of the first half, they faced a pinch due to a build-up mistake. After losing the ball and receiving a short counter, they were pressed in front of the goal, but Go HATANO saved Nassim BEN KHALIFA's close-range shot. The opponent's player rushed to the loose ball, but Go HATANO also protected the goal by touching the ball with his body.
In the 39th minute of the first half, Masato MORISHIGE received a corner kick from Mita and passed it back, but Diego OLIVEIRA was unable to score as the goalkeeper blocked his shot.
Tokyo has been controlling the rhythm of the game, but they were caught off guard for a moment. In the 40th minute of the first half, they lost the ball while trying to build up from their own half, and Mori Island player was left free in the midfield. They tried to close in on Mori Island player who was facing towards the goal, but he scored a spectacular goal from the middle range, placing the ball in the bottom right corner of the goal.
Tokyo had many chances while holding the ball, but Hiroshima took advantage of one chance.
2nd HALF - Tokyo grabs consecutive wins with 2 goals in the second half to reverse the game
Tokyo wants to make a comeback, but in the 3rd minute of the second half, they couldn't clear Hiroshima's corner kick and allowed Kawamura to score a header in front of the goal. However, it narrowly missed the goal. In the 7th minute of the second half, there was another defensive situation from a corner kick on the same side, and a header from the near side flew towards the left corner of the goal, but this time Go HATANO made a fine save with a sharp reaction.
Tokyo, who wants to change the flow, made a move in the 15th minute of the second half. They substituted Mita for debutant J-League player Luiz Phellype, and Konno Kazuya for Adailton.
Tokyo, who struggled to create shooting opportunities, finally gets a chance. In the 22nd minute of the second half, Diego TABA steals the opponent's pass in their own half and sends Adailton running into the space in the front line. Adailton gains momentum and enters Hiroshima's penalty area. His shot is blocked by a defender, but Matsuki picks up the loose ball and passes it back in the opposite direction. Diego TABA receives the ball outside the penalty area and strikes a controlled shot with his left foot into the bottom left corner of the goal, equalizing for Tokyo with a spectacular goal.
Adailton's performance brings chances to Tokyo even after that. In the 28th minute of the second half, he took the ball on the left side and dribbled it to the penalty area, evading the defender and taking a shot. It narrowly missed to the right of the goal, but the substitute's performance revitalized Tokyo's attack.
After that, Tokyo aimed to break the deadlock by bringing in new signings Tsukagawa and Kimura. Tsukagawa made simple passes and created a rhythm by winning the ball. Then, the game went into additional time. In the 45+2 minute of the second half, Tsukagawa stopped Santos' breakthrough with a brave tackle and passed the ball to Adailton, who was waiting on the left side. Adailton made a vertical run and crossed the ball towards the goal area, but it turned into a looping shot and went directly into the bottom right corner of the goal, leading to Tokyo's successful comeback in the final minutes.
Tokyo, who seized the momentum with great plays from the substitute players, achieved back-to-back wins following their previous match against Júbilo Iwata. They will have two consecutive home games starting from the next match. They will continue to evolve their style of playing while maintaining possession of the ball, and aim to grab joy at home with this momentum.
MATCH DETAILS
＜F.C.Tokyo＞
STARTING XI
GK Go HATANO
DF Yuto NAGATOMO/Yasuki KIMOTO/Masato MORISHIGE/Kashif BANGNAGANDE
MF Kuryu MATSUKI/Keigo HIGASHI (42nd minute: Seiji KIMURA)/Shuto ABE (27th minute: Takaki TSUKAGAWA)
FW Keiki MITA (15th minute: Luiz PHELLYPE)/Diego OLIVEIRA (27th minute: Keita YAMASHITA)/Kazuya KONNO (15th minute: Adailton)
SUBS
GK Tsuyoshi KODAMA
DF Junya SUZUKI
GOAL
22' Second half: Diego OLIVEIRA/45+2' Second half: Adailton
＜Sanfrecce Hiroshima＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Keisuke OSAKO
DF Tsukasa SHIOTANI/Sho ARAKI/Wataru SASAKI
MF Tomoya FUJII/Taishi MATSUMOTO/Takumu KAWAMURA (Sub 40': Yuta IMAZU)/Shunki HIGASHI (Sub 40': Yusuke CHAJIMA)/Tsukasa MORISHIMA (Sub 32': Kosei SHIBASAKI)/Makoto MITSUTA (Sub 32': Ezequiel)
FW Nassim BEN KHALIFA (Sub 23': Junior Santos)
SUBS
GK Goro KAWANAMI
MF Yuya ASANO
GOAL
First half 40 minutes: Morishima
[Albert PUIG ORTONEDA Interview]
Q: please review the game.
First of all, regarding the first half, it has been proven that we, as a team, are growing and moving in a positive direction. I think our desire to possess the ball was clearly conveyed. Hiroshima, in particular, is a good team that applies intense pressure. It is never easy to maintain possession against them.
And in the first half, there were two clear-cut chances. However, we struggled in defense when we didn't have the ball. It was a difficult first half in terms of our defensive shape, and we conceded the opening goal from a fantastic long-range shot by the opponent.
And the start of the second half was a difficult period. I think we were struggling when we lost the ball. However, there were several players on the bench who could change the flow of the game. I think the flow of the game changed significantly when we brought them in as substitutes. From there, the comeback started.
Not only did the team express the ability to hold the ball, but also the ability to score goals. This became a factor that intimidated the opposing players. When Tsukagawa and Keita YAMASHITA were brought in, they also brought a good flow to the team. They were able to create multiple decisive chances. On the other hand, it remains a challenge that we allowed the opponents to create several decisive chances as well.
Football is not a sport that competes in the number of decisive chances. It is a sport that competes in goals, and today, we were fortunate enough to score more goals than our opponents. Above the result of today's match, what remains in my heart is that the players always had the intention to connect from the back and move forward throughout the 90 minutes. It is not like Guardiola's (Manchester City manager) team, where they can immediately produce amazing plays. We still have a process of growth ahead of us. However, I am proud that the players always played with the intention of keeping possession of the ball and moving forward with the ball.
Today, I would like to praise the three new players who made their debut. It was only 5 days since they joined the team, but they adapted well. Despite the absence of important players due to the impact of the new coronavirus infection, they provided us with something wonderful. I also want to praise Go HATANO. The team must continue to grow, but having a tailwind of victory makes it easier to progress in the process of growth. Finally, I would like to praise today's opponent, Hiroshima. They are playing well with a good style under the new coach. It was an honor to compete against them.
Q, please tell me specifically about the parts of Hatano's positive evaluation that you can make.
A, if you are media who have been following Tokyo for the past few years, you should be able to understand it well. I think there were some unstable parts in the previous goalkeeper. There were times when he made great plays in a single game, and there were times when he made unstable plays. I think it is important for a goalkeeper to give the team stability. I have been emphasizing this to him since the beginning of the season. And today, he continued to make great plays with concentration, and his play at his feet was also great. What I expect from a goalkeeper is contribution in attacking with his feet and stopping what should be stopped. I am happy when he makes great saves, but what I value is stopping what should be stopped. I think the goalkeeper is moving on to the next phase of growth.
[Player Interview]
＜Adailton
Q: please review the game.
A. It was a very difficult match, but I think it was good that we were able to come from behind and win in the end.
Q: How did you feel about the team's play before participating?
I thought it wasn't bad to watch from the outside, and we had a good rhythm with the ball. However, we conceded a goal, so honestly it looked bad. I was conscious of continuing to play while holding the ball and scoring.
Q, was the scene of the goal as you imagined it?
When I looked inside, there were three players, so I kicked the ball with the intention of crossing, but honestly, it happened to go towards the goal.
Q, I think I was able to make a lot of plays that changed the flow of the team after coming on as a substitute.
A, not only myself, but each player who participated in the game played with the desire to contribute to victory by showcasing their own strengths. In that regard, it was more about the team as a whole being aware of it, rather than just me joining.
<Go HATANO>
Q, it was my first appearance in the league match.
A few days ago, I felt that this opportunity would come and I prepared myself thoroughly. I had strong feelings for this match, so even though we conceded a goal, I'm glad we won.
Q: What kind of thoughts did you have as you prepared for this?
A, since I am still young, I have always practiced while waiting for a chance to play, without getting lazy, and I have been working on it while referring to the play of Jakub SLOWIK. Recently, Lin has also returned from injury, and I have been working with him since my first year as a professional, so I have learned various aspects from him. I think I was able to play such a game.
Q: I think we were able to show stable play today. What aspects have you improved?
In the 2021 season, I was focused on my own play and had the mindset that I had to do something, as I was allowed to play in the matches. However, this year, I was determined to take on the role of brightening the atmosphere in a positive way. As a result, I was able to approach today's match in a relaxed manner without becoming too rigid, and I want to continue working towards being able to make good plays if there are opportunities, regardless of the position I am in next.
<Koki TSUKAGAWA>
Q, please reflect on your first appearance in Tokyo.
A, I am grateful to my teammates. They made it the best first game, so I want to work harder from here to repay the team.
Q, I think there was a high awareness of actively receiving the ball.
A, as expected, the play that the coach is looking for is to have the player who came in from the middle of the tough time show their face and receive the ball to help the team. I played with that awareness. I think there are other things to do, such as getting more involved in the attack, so I want to pursue it further.
Q: What are the parts that went well in terms of team coordination?
A, personally, there are still many parts that need to be adjusted, and there were also scenes where I wanted more at this timing. I think there are parts where I need to demand it myself, and I also think that everyone wants to demand more, so I hope we can coordinate with each other.
Q, the next game will be at home at Ajinomoto Stadium.
A, I don't think I have gained your trust yet, so I want to produce more results and contribute to the team. I am looking forward to fighting together at Ajinomoto Stadium.
<Masato MORISHIGE>
Q: How do you value the victory in a tough game?
A, in the end, it's about individual abilities, but I think you can catch a glimpse of the desired form as a team. If we can continue that and connect it to goals, I think it will be even better.
Q, I think we were struggling at the start of the second half, what was the intention to defend?
A, the ideal is to always have the ball, but when you can't do that, if you can endure without conceding a goal, your time will come again. Fighting patiently in difficult times led to today's result.
Q: How was the growth of player Go HATANO when you played with him today after a long time?
A, he was good at handling the ball and was able to create time without rushing at the Australian side, and he was able to make the opponent bite. I think that brought out his strengths.
Q, I think it is ideal for the team to continue growing while winning. Please tell us about your determination to win and carry it over to the next home game.
We want to continue winning games that could go either way. I still don't fully understand what the difference is, but I think we have no choice but to continue focusing on what we should do, accepting what we can't change.
<Kuryu MATSUKI>
Q, how do you feel looking back on the victory in a difficult match?
A, we were able to have a very good game by winning 3 points in such a difficult match, and in a difficult away game environment.
Q, I think we were able to execute our planned plays well from the start of the first half, but it was difficult to handle the situation of conceding a goal.
There were parts where we were dominated by the opponent from the start, so that's a point that needs to be fixed. Also, regarding the goal conceded, it was difficult for the center back to come out at that moment, so I think if I had been able to slide, I could have prevented the goal.
Q, when the second half started, it felt like a different team had emerged and we were pushed back in the beginning.
A, it is important that substitute players perform well and we were able to win in that situation.
Q, isn't it a big deal to win the first game after the league resumes?
It is significant to win the first match after the break, and we want to continue in this way as we have the home advantage next and further build momentum.
Q: Have you had a good impression of Taku SHIMIZU, who won in the first half?
A, it doesn't matter which team we play against. First and foremost, I want to contribute to the team's victory by not letting our pace waver.
