＜Match Review＞
This match, which was postponed due to the influence of a typhoon, is a battle against Cerezo Osaka in the 25th round, which will be played in a series of matches with only 3 days in between. In the previous round, Tokyo faced Shonan Bellmare with a good momentum of 2 consecutive victories, but they failed to convert the chances they had in the early stages and ended up conceding a goal in the final stages of the match, resulting in a defeat.
This season's last 3 matches. Tokyo, who is in 7th place with a 4-point difference from C Osaka in 4th place. The battle for the top is close in points, and there is a possibility that the final ranking will change significantly with the result of one match. Tokyo aims for a higher position, and in order to show the growth of this season's efforts for transformation to the fans and supporters, the match requires both results and performance.
1st HALF - Created scoring opportunities but hit the post twice
Both teams created scenes of carrying the ball into the penalty area at the beginning. The first team to create a scoring opportunity was C Osaka. As Tokyo's defense dropped back to respond, a through pass was played between the defenders, exploiting the space behind the left side. While the defense closed in on the escaping player, a cross ball was played to the far side, but Suda's shot missed the target and deflected over the goal.
In the 18th minute of the first half, Tokyo launched a counterattack. Kashif BANGNAGANDE reacted to a looping pass in the middle range and carried the ball to the deep left side. He then crossed the ball with a floating ball towards the goal line, but Diego OLIVEIRA attempted a bicycle kick shot and missed the connection.
Gradually, Tokyo increased their ball possession time and created opportunities to break through the opponent's defense. In the 27th minute of the first half, a diagonal pass from Kuryu Matsuki, who was on the left side, entered the central area. Although Diego couldn't control the ball, Ryoma Watanabe, who had come out from behind, took a one-touch shot from just outside the penalty area and hit the left post. As the loose ball fell in front of the goal, Adailton, who was positioned in front of the trajectory, also took a powerful one-touch shot, but the ground shot was once again deflected by the left post.
In the 34th minute of the first half, Matsuki received a pass near the penalty area and turned towards the goal. He attempted a powerful mid-range shot, taking advantage of the delayed approach of the defender, but the ball, which had gained speed, narrowly missed the top of the goal.
Tokyo continues to press. The defense aggressively and sternly retrieves the ball with a sharp press against the opponent's counterattack, quickly extinguishing any chance of a comeback. Even when pushing forward, they use space to advance the ball and threaten the opponent's goal. In the 40th minute of the first half, Kashif BANGNAGANDE delivered a low and sharp cross from the left side, and Adailton made a diving header near the near post. It was a shot aimed at the far side of the goal, but it narrowly missed to the right of the frame.
2nd HALF - Watanabe's hat-trick & Phellipe's first home goal
Tokyo had created many scoring opportunities in the first half but failed to convert them. However, they quickly changed the game at the start of the second half.
In the 3rd minute of the second half, Adailton created space and sent Kashif BANGNAGANDE running down the left side. BANGNAGANDE crossed the ball into the box, and as the ball drifted to the far side, Watanabe skillfully trapped it with one touch, taking advantage of the delayed approach of the defender, and then shot with his left foot. The ball was sucked into the top left corner of the goal, and Tokyo took the lead.
Tokyo maintained possession of the ball even after taking the lead. The players kept the perfect distance, moving the ball while making the opponent run. If the opponent came forward, they used the space behind them, and if they didn't, they gradually pushed forward while connecting short passes.
Tokyo seals the game in the final stages. In the 31st minute of the second half, Hotaka Nakamura breaks through on the right side and delivers a cross, which Ryo Watanabe, waiting on the far side, volleys with his right foot to score an additional goal. Tokyo doesn't stop there. In the immediate aftermath, in the 32nd minute of the second half, Koki Tsukagawa sends a cross into the goal area from the right corner, and Watanabe heads it in to score, completing a hat-trick with his left foot, right foot, and head.
Even with a widened lead, Tokyo's momentum doesn't stop. In the 38th minute of the second half, player Kazuya Konno passes a through ball on the right side. Player Shuto Abe, who had entered the space on the right side of the penalty area, crosses the ball near the goal line. Player Luiz Phellype changes the trajectory with one touch and slots it into the goal, scoring the team's fourth goal and his first home goal.
Tokyo raised its ranking to 5th by attacking like a defense, hardly allowing any attacking attacks to C Osaka. In the next match, they will play against Nagoya Grampus away, and in the final match, they will play the Tama River Clasico against Kawasaki Frontale at Ajinomoto Stadium.
MATCH DETAILS
＜FC Tokyo＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Jakub SLOWIK
DF Hotaka NAKAMURA/Yasuki KIMOTO/Masato MORISHIGE/Kashif BANGNAGANDE
MF Koki TSUKAGAWA (substituted in the 36th minute: Shuto ABE)/Keigo HIGASHI (substituted in the 40th minute: Seiji KIMURA)/Kusei MATSUKI
FW Ryoma WATANABE (substituted in the 36th minute: Leandro)/Diego OLIVEIRA (substituted in the 30th minute: Luiz PHELLYPE)/Adailton (substituted in the 30th minute: Kazuya KONNO)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
DF Yuto NAGATOMO
GOAL
After 3 minutes of the second half: Watanabe/After 31 minutes of the second half: Watanabe/After 32 minutes of the second half: Watanabe/After 38 minutes of the second half: Luiz Phellipe
Cerezo Osaka
STARTING XI
GK Jin Hyeon KIM
DF Riku MATSUDA (31st minute of the second half: Bruno MENDES)/Ryosuke YAMANAKA (24th minute of the first half: Ryosuke SHINDO)/Matej JONJIC/Ryuya NISHIO
MF Hiroshi KIYOTAKE/Seiya MAIKUMA/Tokuma SUZUKI (0th minute of the second half: Nelson ISHIWATARI)/Hirotaka TAMEDA (11th minute of the second half: Jean PATRIC)
FW Satoki UEJO/Adam TAGGART (11th minute of the second half: Sota KITANO)
SUBS
GK Keisuke SHIMIZU
MF Hikaru NAKAHARA
GOAL
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[Interview with Coach Albert]
Q: please review the game.
One of the purposes we asked of the players was to attack aggressively, and I think that was the key. We have gained confidence in ball possession. We were able to connect that well to our attacks. I think we have entered a phase where we increase opportunities to play towards the goal while maintaining ball possession, as we expressed in the first half of the Kashima game.
The team fought for victory from the start of the game. They maintained a high intensity and play tempo. I am satisfied today because we were able to maintain a high level of intensity throughout the game. We were able to express our ability to control the game by holding onto the ball, which we have been working on, and to fight more aggressively towards the goal as we asked the players to do today. Of course, the first half of the Kashima Antlers game was good, and I think it was a great performance even in this season. However, what I am satisfied with in this game is that we continued to express a high level in all aspects, including both offense and defense.
The stage of growth this season is as expected. Of course, it is natural that we need to grow more. In terms of results, first of all, we avoided relegation. And compared to last season, we exceeded the average points per game. This club was in a position where the ranking was dropping, but we were able to recover and move up. The team composition hasn't changed much from last season. However, we have dramatically changed our style over the past year. Our goals for the future are clear, and I think the next two games will be great matches. Of course, they will be challenging games. It is a home game for Nagoya, and Kawasaki has the possibility of winning the championship. I think it is a wonderful challenge to confront such teams.
I want to say "Congratulations on the hat-trick" to (Ryoma) WATANABE. And I am satisfied that we didn't let (Yuto) NAGATOMO, the best full-back in Japan, play (in the game).
Q, today, we continued to play calmly by passing the ball in our own half and enticing the opponent, inserting vertical passes through the center. Why do you think we were able to maintain a sense of mental composure?
A, of course, there are times when you can play with ease like in the Kashima game, and there are times when you become a little nervous like in the Shonan game. It is true that there are still irregularities in each game. However, it takes time to turn those irregularities into regularities and to always perform at the same level.
Now, we have been playing as a team for 7 months. I think it's a good thing that young players like Kuryu Matsuki, Kashif BANGNAGANDE, and Ryoma WATANABE can become the main characters of the game.
[Player Interview]
＜Ryoma WATANABE player＞
Q, please look back on today's game.
There were scenes that seemed like we could score from the first half, but we couldn't finish them. However, I felt like we could score today. There were more mistakes than usual in the game, but we were able to score, so I want to take that as a positive.
Q, please look back from the first goal, all of which were great.
I collided with player A, Tsukagawa, but I was able to communicate well, so I was thinking of shooting when I entered the landing point. Tsukagawa's body was right in front of me, so I controlled it with my first touch and placed it nicely, so I calmly flowed it into the far side.
Q, the second and third points were both calm.
When player Nakamura was trying to cross, he was prepared, so I think that's why it went in a good direction and a good course.
The third goal, I thought it would come with one touch, so I entered forward while being careful of offside, and I think it was good that I was able to score with a good ball at the timing.
Q, Wasn't it a very compact and good game in terms of content?
I think games that we can go forward from the beginning become good games, and the Shonan game didn't go well and we were trailing, so we reflected on that and worked towards today. If we can keep going forward and score, I think we can shape the game in our favor, so while being conscious of the next two games, I want to keep doing that.
Q, how will you approach the remaining two matches of this season?
We have set the goal of participating in the ACL, but first and foremost, each match against Nagoya and Kawasaki is not an easy opponent, so we want to fight each match one by one.
Q, When was the last hat-trick?
A, since elementary school (lol).
Q, did you receive the ball?
A, I received it.
Q, please share your thoughts on scoring your first home goal.
A, I am happy to be able to achieve results even though I haven't been able to score points recently, including the first home goal here.
Q: I think there is a difficulty in achieving results within limited playing time. What are you conscious of?
A, I always have about 15-20 minutes of time, so I do my best to do what I can during that time and enter the field. I was only thinking that I lacked goals, so I am happy that I was able to achieve results in the visible form of goals.
Q, is this goal likely to be a good opportunity?
A, I always aim for the goal, so I hope to score in the next match as well. However, soccer is difficult, so there are times when I can score and times when I can't. I will prepare to be able to score.
Q: How do you feel about the process leading up to the goal?
A, I believed that the ball would come in and went into the goal area, and as a result, the ball arrived perfectly, so all that was left was to score.
Q, do you think that there were also significant parts where cooperation was achieved?
A, today, not only the scene where I scored a goal, but also recently, I often entered the game in difficult situations where the ball couldn't be brought to the center forward or when we were losing. In such circumstances, the ball came to me properly, and I was able to produce results, so I think it was good.
Q, how are you preparing for the remaining two matches this season?
I want to go all out and win in the last two matches. Regardless of whether we have a chance to win the title or not, I think it is most important to fight in the upcoming match, so we will prepare thoroughly to finish with a victory in the remaining two matches.
＜Kashif BANGNAGANDE player＞
Q, please reflect on the scene where you assisted.
I was able to kick the ball as I imagined. It was good that Watanabe player cut back nicely and scored.
Q: There were many improvements seen from the Shonan game. What were you conscious of?
Compared to the Shonan game, there was a higher level of aggressiveness towards the opponent's backline, and we were able to dominate the game throughout. I believe that it was because of this aggressiveness that we were able to have a good game like today.
Q, Nakamura player, Kashiho player's side back performance stood out in the game.
A, it was mentioned in the pre-match scouting that the opponent's full-back is the starting point of their attack. I talked to Nakamura before the game that if we can win the battle between the full-backs, we can control the pace of the game. It was good that we were able to surpass the opponent's full-back and maintain control throughout the match.
Q, I get the impression that there are more early crosses in the matches.
A, I have been told to actively encourage the players who enter from practice, and gradually I feel that I am getting along with the players inside. It was good to be able to demonstrate that in the game.
Q, do you feel that the variety of plays has been increasing?
A, every time I play in a match, my favorite play is being watched out for, but I feel that actively attacking from the left has led to good plays.
Q, how do you feel about winning big while also having vocal support at home games?
It was the first time we won a game with vocal support at home, so I'm really happy.
Q, did you communicate anything about positioning?
A, in the first half, Adailton opened up on the outside, creating space. I think there was a common understanding within the team about the combination between Morishige and Adailton, as they had discussed it before the game, such as who would open up and who would make runs behind the defense.
Q: Unlike the previous match, you were able to maintain possession of the ball for most of the time. As a side back, what kind of plays did you focus on and how did they affect the changes?
I thought that even if we kept possession of the ball, it would turn into a game like the Shonan match, so I thought that as a correction, even as a side back, it was necessary to actively break through to the back. In the Shonan match, there was not enough aggressiveness towards the front, so it became that kind of game. I think that the fact that there were many plays of jumping out to the front, in order to make use of that reflection, resulted in an increase in ball possession rate and allowed us to play our own soccer.
＜Player Hotaka NAKAMURA＞
Q, please look back on the match.
A, We lost the previous match that we had to win, so for today's match, we talked about fighting together with our hearts rather than focusing on the content. We couldn't score in the first half, but I think we were able to show our determination in the game.
Q: I think it was a very passionate match. How did you approach it?
A: It's the same for every match, but I wanted to protect the aspects of my game that involve winning the ball and the parts of build-up play and attacking involvement that the coach expects from me, while also being able to do them well.
Q, Did you see Watanabe player when you scored from Nakamura player's cross?
A, Of course, in terms of the number and quality of crosses I need to do more, but it's not like I wasn't looking at Watanabe player in the scoring situation. I was hoping someone would connect while crossing, so I raised the cross. The goal was thanks to Watanabe player's finish rather than my cross, so I don't think the quality was that high. However, I'm glad it led to a goal. I want to improve the quality and number of crosses from here.
Q, I think the defense was quite good, and I think we were able to build up our attack well. Where do you think we improved?
A, various formations and defensive approaches are different for each team, and in the last match against Shonan, we had to respond within the excellent defense. This time, we carefully watched the opponent's footage and were able to confirm positions and circulate the ball well within the team, so I think we were able to improve from the last match against Shonan. In a team with intense pressure, it is important to figure out how to overcome it. We must not panic as a team, so I think we need to be able to calmly carry the ball like in the Shonan match.
＜Player Kuryu MATSUKI＞
Q: The game was completely different from the Shonan match the other day. What preparations did you make in these three days?
Regarding the Shonan match, we discussed improving the parts where we couldn't press from the beginning. We knew from the analysis that if we didn't go to crush the opponent's anchor in today's Cerezo match, they would develop from there, so we made sure to go there.
Q, how did you feel on the pitch, where it seemed like you were able to maintain compactness for 90 minutes and react quickly to the movement of the ball?
A, it was a very tough game, but even before the goal, and after it, everyone was moving fluidly, and I think the team as a whole became more solid when I was pressing from the front and Thales covered well.
Q, Wasn't it the best game of the season?
A, it was a victory with a certain point difference in the end, so I want to take that as a positive.
Q, I think the remaining games will change in various ways with today's victory.
A, as there will be a short break period, I would like to use this time to prepare thoroughly for the next Nagoya match and do my best to break into the top in the remaining two matches.
Q, I think the cooperation on the left side was smooth today.
When Adailton came on, I think he was able to use the space well, and Kashiho player is a player whose characteristics stand out more from the front, so I think I was able to handle the ball well while balancing there. I think we were able to play very smoothly today, and there were also many breakthrough moments, so I think this is a way of playing that will be effective in future matches.
Q: Do you feel that the team becomes more active when there is a high level of physical activity from the inside half, like today?
A, yes. I think if we can create the game from the back and also remember to jump into the goal area, we can become a better team.
＜Player Keigo HIGASHI＞
Q, what were you careful about during the game?
In the part where we are committed to winning, last week's game was disappointing, and since we can only make up for it in the game, today we made corrections together and organized ourselves properly, and I think that led to this result.
Q, I think we were able to pass the ball quite well without fearing the opponent's press, but why do you think we were able to do it in today's match?
A, there are various elements, but first we organized the defense. In the previous match against Shonan, we couldn't get into a good rhythm and ended up dropping back. So this time, we were able to push forward positively, which improved our attacking rhythm. Tokyo is really good when we can play like that, and I think we were able to bring out that aspect well.
Q: Did the team have any discussions regarding today's match?
During the season, I think each player was able to play while thinking. It was good that we were able to improve on the points we reflected on from the Shonan match today. Even though we are winning, there are still areas for improvement, so I hope we can discuss it more as a team and continue to get better.
Q, what are the improvement points?
A, although we pressed in the first half, we couldn't penetrate into the goal area, so we talked about aiming for that more. It's good to cross simply from the side, but I think we should increase the offensive arrangements, such as penetrating into another dangerous area.
Q: How do you feel about the effectiveness of Player T's defense?
A, I read the course, read the opponent's aim, and coached the inside half well, so there were many players who could run well, so I processed it by using that while I was able to handle it well. I think I was able to do that well today.
Q, I think we were able to do it smoothly compared to the Shonan match, including coordination with the front line.
A, of course, there are times when the opponent is the focus, so there are matches like today where things don't go well, and the match against Shonan was not good in terms of both content and result. However, even in such situations, I think there are several matches like that throughout the season. In those situations, I think it is important to somehow earn points and it becomes important even within the season. I still think that is a challenge. When things are going well, we play good matches like this and score goals, but in matches where things don't go well, it is still a challenge to figure out how to build up and look up.
