＜Match Review＞
It will be a game that tests the seriousness towards winning the league. In the previous match against Kashiwa Reysol, they conceded the first goal away but quickly equalized and managed to secure 1 point despite having a player sent off. However, the words that came out from the players were more about frustration.
"If you aim for the championship, you have to win regardless of whether it's at home or away."
The next match, one week later, was an away game at SANGA STADIUM by KYOCERA. With many injured and suspended players, it was not easy to manage the lineup, but in this match, Captain Masato Morishige and the team's oldest player, Yuto Nagatomo, started in the lineup and the team fought together as one.
1st HALF - With good defense by player SLOWIK, we return without conceding a goal
It was a long 45 minutes of patience. In the early stages of the first half, the ball was quickly taken from the left side and carried all the way to the goal, shaking the net. With the support of VAR, it was determined that player Yamada had fouled player Kashif BANGNAGANDE and the goal was disallowed. However, Kyoto immediately put pressure on and dominated the start of the match.
After that, Tokyo gradually gained momentum and created opportunities to threaten the goal. In the 15th minute of the first half, they pushed from the left side, and Kei Koizumi, the inside half, infiltrated the pocket. From that second attack, Diego Oliveira took the ball to the shot, but it was saved by the goalkeeper in front of the goal.
The first half did not continue this good flow. We couldn't connect the ball and move forward against Kyoto's quick transitions and pressure. Even when Morishige, who is our supply source, had the ball, he couldn't find a recipient and had to pass it back to Jakub Slowik many times. From there, we lost the second ball and the defensive time became longer.
The decisive shot by Patrick in the 23rd minute of the first half was saved by goalkeeper SLOWIK. In other scenes as well, although the ball was brought to the goal, they were unable to make a decisive play and managed to hold on without conceding a goal despite being at a disadvantage.
2nd HALF - Unable to capitalize on opportunities and conceding goals repeatedly, the team suffers their first loss of the season
In the second half, Tokyo created the first chance. In the 2nd minute of the second half, Adailton player met the cross from Kashif Bangnagande player, who broke through the left side, but the right-footed shot floated and missed the target.
In the 17th minute of the second half, substitute player Kota TAWARATSUMIDA made a move on the right side. Adailton, who was waiting on the outside, tried to connect with a ground cross, but he couldn't make good contact with his left foot this time.
In the 24th minute of the second half, Perotti was substituted in and the formation was changed to a two-top with Diego. They added depth to the front line and went for the opening goal.
However, in the 30th minute of the second half, they conceded the first goal. From the second attack of a set play, in the end, it was hammered into the net by player Kawazaki with a header shot.
After conceding a goal, Tokyo brought in Tsubasa Terayama, who made his first league appearance after signing a professional contract, and Yuta Arai, who made his first league appearance. They played an attacking card in order to equalize.
However, we were unable to create the chances we wanted and instead conceded a penalty kick in the 44th minute of the second half, resulting in the second goal scored by player Patrick. We came close to scoring a goal until the end, but the game ended without any further goals, and we suffered our first loss of the season in the away game. In the next match, we will face Yokohama FC in our first home game since the opening match.
MATCH DETAILS
＜FC Tokyo＞
STARTING XI
GK Jakub SLOWIK
DF Yuto NAGATOMO (33rd minute: Tsubasa TERAYAMA)/Kyosuke KIMOTO/Masato MORISHIGE/Kashif BANGNAGANDE
MF Kei KOIZUMI/Keigo HIGASHI/Takaki TSUKAGAWA (33rd minute: Yuta ARAI)
FW Teruhito NAKAGAWA (12th minute: Kota TAWARATSUMIDA)/Diego OLIVEIRA/Adailton (24th minute: Perotti)
SUBS
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Shuhei TOKUMOTO/Henrique TREVISAN
GOAL
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Kyoto Sanga F.C.
STARTING XI
GK Tomoya WAKAHARA
DF Shogo ASADA/Rikito INOUE/Kosuke SHIRAI
MF Sota KAWASAKI/Shimpei FUKUOKA (37th minute: Osamu Henry IYOHA)/Shohei TAKEDA (19th minute: Daiki KANEKO)/Fuki YAMADA (19th minute: Teppei YACHIDA)/Hibiki SATO
FW Patrick/Kosuke KINOSHITA (45+2nd minute: Ryogo YAMASAKI)
SUBS
GK Warner HAHN
MF Daigo ARAKI
FW Yudai KIMURA
GOAL
Second half 30th minute: Sota KAWASAKI/Second half 45+1 minute: PATRIC
[Coach Albert's Press Conference Comments]
Q: please review the game.
A, I expected the game to be intense from the beginning and have many fighting scenes. That's why the game plan was to control the game calmly after the initial chaos. It was difficult to control the game for about 20-25 minutes in the first half, but after that, we were able to settle down well. However, we struggled against Kyoto's aggressive and intense defense, and although there were times when we were able to control the game, we couldn't sustain it. I think neither us nor Kyoto had a long time to control the game. In that case, the team that scored the first goal would take 3 points. Adailton had a chance to score the first goal, but Kyoto took advantage of that chance and earned 3 points. In any case, it was a situation where we demanded more control of the game.
I couldn't play well in the center and couldn't play as usual between the lines. I think I was able to create chances when I was able to play like that, but it was not something that I could do continuously. I think the team that scored the first goal won, and it was an unstable game.
Q: The goals we conceded came from set pieces and penalty kicks, and they were not related to tactics. How will you address and fix this for the future?
The big difference between the first two matches and today's match is that in the first two matches, we had a lot of control over the game and created many chances, but that was not the case today. We were not able to create many chances in the way we expected. The match against Urawa Reds was characterized by both teams trying to play. I think Kashiwa and Kyoto have a strong emphasis on aggressive defense. In the match against Kashiwa, we were able to play calmly and create multiple chances, but today that remains a challenge.
The current team has multiple players who are skilled at playing in the center or between the lines and are absent. In addition, Matsuki, who is representing the U-20 Japan national team, is also absent. There are overlapping absences in specific positions, but we have to cover for them and play as a team. We expected today's game to be difficult. Therefore, we aimed to use attacking tactics that utilize wingers with speed and width. As we expected, it is difficult to play in the center against Kyoto, who come with aggressive defense, so we intended to use wingers to create width. When we were able to possess the ball by successfully overcoming their aggressive defense, we wanted to play calmly and continue attacking in the opponent's territory. However, the game did not unfold as planned. It is inevitable that it becomes difficult to execute a specific style when multiple players suitable for it are absent. Among them, we hoped to see plays that utilize the speed of both wingers, but we were unable to develop them as expected. The game did not have a calm flow, and I think the opening goal had a significant impact on the course of the game.
I don't think that conceding goals from set pieces is a major problem for the team in terms of answering questions. I think it is very commendable that multiple young players who made their debut as professionals played boldly.
[Player Interview]
＜Teruhito NAKAGAWA player＞
Q: please review the game.
A, we were pushed back by the opponent's momentum from the first half and lost to Kyoto in the recovery of second balls. I think it is an area that needs improvement because we couldn't take the initiative. It is an area that can be improved, and I think it will lead to a better development if we can pick up on that.
Q, I had the impression that I haven't been able to receive the ball in the desired position or timing yet.
A, in the first half, there was an impression that we couldn't hold the ball in the opponent's territory. We couldn't develop the attack while moving the ball, so I think we need to increase the thickness of our attack. It's good to attack quickly vertically, but I want to carry the ball more carefully and rotate it in the opponent's territory. In terms of the players' sense of distance, we lacked compactness, which led to not being able to win the second ball or rotate the ball. I think it's important how well we can attack while rotating the ball in the opponent's territory when we have the ball.
Q, what do you think is important to be able to pass the ball and attack against strong opponents?
A, I think it is necessary to connect from the back without fear. Otherwise, I don't think the team or the players can grow. Today, I feel that there was a gap in consciousness between whether to connect from the back or attack with long balls within the team, so I think we need to deepen our common understanding and improve in that aspect. Everyone has high technical skills, so if we improve in that area, I think our actions will become more defined. If we align our consciousness and make the best choices at that time, I think it will lead to a more solid attack and increase our possession rate. I think these things are important against strong opponents like this.
＜Tsubasa TERAYAMA player＞
Q, what were you conscious of when you participated?
A, I wanted to hold the ball in the middle and calm down the game. We had conceded a goal before entering, so I entered the game with the intention of not only calming the ball but also scoring a goal.
Q, what did you focus on in order to score while keeping the ball calm?
A, looking back at today's game, when I was watching from the bench, I thought that we couldn't establish our rhythm because there were many long balls and the second balls were being picked up by the opponents. I believed that it was important to progress the game to a higher position while holding the ball and getting closer to the goal. Therefore, I thought that plays such as penetrating behind the opponent's full-back while holding the ball and taking advantage of the space behind them were necessary. As a result, I thought that the team's distance control would improve and we would be able to win the second balls.
Q, I think it was expected of you to bring energy and momentum to the team by playing alongside Yuta ARAI. How do you look back on your performance?
A, it is unfortunate that we lost as a result. I am frustrated because I haven't been able to score since I joined. Even in that situation, I think I needed to show my worth, so I realized that I need to be more involved with the ball and show an attitude towards the goal.
Q, how did you feel after conceding a goal from a penalty kick and then encouraging your team?
I thought that if I gave up there, the game would end. Recently, there have been many cases where additional time has been extended due to VAR, so I believed that we could definitely recover. I think the fans and supporters wanted to see us facing forward and fighting, rather than looking down. I don't think the fans and supporters come to see us feeling down, so I thought it was important to fight until the end and I encouraged the whole team.
Q: Araki, Tawaratsumida, and I often have opportunities to play together in matches. What are our future challenges?
Without players like Kuryu MATSUKI and Naoki KUMATA, who are part of the U-20 Japan national team, and with injured players, we young players need to play aggressively and surpass the veteran players' determination. Otherwise, we won't be able to do anything in situations like today's. We also have the Levain Cup, so we want to show our presence.
Q, there is a next game soon.
Since the Levain Cup is also an important tournament, I would like to win the game on the 8th and continue in the league.
Q, please tell us about the emotions you felt at the end of the game, as you seemed to be the most disappointed.
It was a game that we had to win, so I was frustrated that we couldn't win. During moments like corner kicks and chances, the fans and supporters were cheering loudly, but I felt disappointed that we lost.
Yuta ARAI
Q, it was your league debut match. How was it?
I entered the pitch with the feeling of scoring a goal within the given time.
Q: What instructions did the coach give?
A, I was called at a time when the coach was communicating with the coaching staff, so there were no specific instructions from the coach. It was a sudden appearance, but I had prepared well, so I wanted to play my own game from the beginning.
Q, were you able to showcase your play?
A, I still couldn't play to my satisfaction. I want to become a player who can produce results in the given time.
Q, how did you feel watching the game from the bench?
A, I felt that I couldn't bring it to our own rhythm and couldn't play as usual. In the second half, the team's flow improved and I wanted to change the flow because I played, but I lost, so I want to achieve results in the given time.
Q, there were also some close scenes.
A, I swung firmly and thought that it might hit the opponent and become a chance, so I swung.
Q, how did you feel sitting on the bench since the previous match?
A, I was thinking, "Please let me play in the game soon."
Q, I think you are eager to extend the number of matches and playing time from here, but what kind of preparations will you make?
If you don't produce results, I don't think you can even make it to the bench in the next game. There are many amazing players and the team's depth is strong, so I want to learn and grow from other players even in practice, and I want to score more goals in the matches.
Q, on the 8th, there will also be the Levain Cup, which I think will be a platform for showcasing.
A, the team wants to win the game on the 8th and head into the next league match with a good momentum because they haven't won any of the previous 2 matches.
