<Match Review>
Tokyo, who wants to recover from the current situation of being defeated in the Levain Cup quarterfinals, faced the "Tamagawa Clasico," which is a great opportunity to aim for a higher position in the remaining league matches. The system was changed back to a 4-back, and Captain Masato MORISHIGE returned to the starting lineup. Yuto NAGATOMO, who is expected to match up against Buffetin Bigomis, played as a left fullback, and Riki HARAKAWA and Koki TSUKAGAWA, who will face their former team, played in the midfield. Adailton played as the lone striker in place of Diego OLIVEIRA, who was absent, and Teruhito NAKAGAWA and Ryoma WATANABE filled the wings.
The Emperor's Cup and Levain Cup have ended, and now it's time to focus on the remaining league matches. The players all agreed on one thing: "Can we show our determination and pride?" The blue and red players achieved victory in the Tamagawa Clasico for the first time in five years during the first half of the season. They stepped onto the pitch at Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium, aiming for a season double.
1st HALF - Henrique created opportunities both in attack and defense
It was a start where Kawasaki Frontale's pressure and passing game pushed us back from the beginning. In the first minute of the first half, we were saved by the opponent's missed shot after a corner kick, but we couldn't find a way to stop Kawasaki's fluid build-up and ended up spending a long time defending.
Still, in the 6th minute of the first half, a scoring opportunity was created. Watanabe, who came in from the left side after receiving Tsukagawa's soft cross, controlled the ball in the penalty area and shook off the defender. However, his right-footed shot in front of the goal did not meet the ball properly and ended up in front of the opposing goalkeeper.
Tokyo created chances from the counterattack after this scene and gradually increased their time in possession. Haragawa and Tsukagawa successfully drew out the ball while moving towards the opponent's territory, and in the 32nd minute of the first half, Adailton unleashed a powerful mid-range shot from a finely connected play on the right side. Henrique TREVISAN, who picked up the loose ball, aimed a spectacular left-footed shot that hit the target, but it was blocked by the opponent's goalkeeper's excellent save.
Henrique showed tight marking even in defense and did not allow Gomes, who made his J-League debut, to create opportunities. Both teams created scenes that threatened the goal, and Tokyo thoroughly marked the opponent's key player, resulting in a 0-0 score at halftime.
2nd HALF - Although they created scoring opportunities, they were unable to score a goal.
The start of the second half saw an increase in intensity and pressure towards the goal, but we conceded a goal in the 9th minute of the second half.
From the flow of pushing forward to the opponent's goal, when pressed by Wakisaka, the ball is carried to near the half line and entrusted to Marcinho, who was open on the left side. Faced with the opponent who is approaching the goal in a straight line with acceleration through dribbling, Morishige, who confronted him, endured the shaking from left and right, and responded in a half-body posture so that he could react to the ball while retreating. However, when he was evaded with a change of pace just before the goal, in the end, the ball was passed into the left corner of the goal where Jakub Slowik could not reach.
In the 14th minute of the second half immediately after that, a big chance came to Tokyo. Keigo HIGASHI intercepted the opponent's pass and made a through pass to Adailton. Adailton, who had turned around, chose a final pass to the right after dribbling. Nakagawa received the ball, shook off the marker, and entered the penalty area, but his shot was blocked by the opposing goalkeeper who closed the distance.
Tokyo, which is far from scoring despite creating scoring opportunities. In the 64th minute of the second half, they made three substitutions at once. They sent in Jája Silva, Kosuke SHIRAI, and Kota TAWARATSUMIDA, who have the ability to drive forward vertically and create chances individually, in an attempt to change the flow of the game.
However, Kawasaki does not allow an easy counterattack. Although they create scenes of penetrating deep into both sides from the counter, they are tightly pressured in their cross balls and final passes, and are unable to supply accurate balls in front of the goal.
Entering the final stage, the team had been moving away from scoring opportunities, but they created a chance in the additional time of the second half. Player Shirai broke through the right side and delivered a pinpoint cross to player Perotti, who was substituted in the middle. However, his attempted volley shot, after controlling the ball with his chest, did not hit the sweet spot and went straight to the opponent's goalkeeper.
Tokyo was unable to recover from a one-point deficit until the end, resulting in the team moving further away from their 4-game winning streak in the league. Starting next week, they will play two consecutive matches at Ajinomoto Stadium, their home ground. In a match commemorating the 25th anniversary of the establishment, they aim to secure a victory that will change the team's momentum.
MATCH DETAILS
＜FC Tokyo＞
STARTING XI
GK Jakub SLOWIK
DF Kei KOIZUMI/Masato MORISHIGE/Henrique TREVISAN/Yuto NAGATOMO
MF Keigo HIGASHI (19th minute of the second half: Kosuke SHIRAI)/Riki HARAKAWA/Koki TSUKAGAWA (19th minute of the second half: Kota TAWARATSUMIDA)
FW Ryoma WATANABE (27th minute of the second half: PEROTTI)/Adailton (19th minute of the second half: Jája Silva)/Teruhito NAKAGAWA
SUBS
GK Tsuyoshi KODAMA
DF Yasuki KIMOTO/Kashif BANGNAGANDE
GOAL
―
Kawasaki Frontale
STARTING XI
GK Sung Ryong JUNG
DF Miki YAMANE/Daiya TONO/Shintaro KURUMAYA (42nd minute: Kazuya YAMAMURA)/Kyohei NOBORIZATO
MF Kento TACHIBANADA/Tatsuki SEKO (42nd minute: Takuma OMINAMI)/Yasuto WAKIZAKA
FW Akihiro IENAGA (42nd minute: Taisei MIYASHIRO)/MARCINHO (35th minute: Yusuke SEGAWA)/Bafetimbi GOMIS (17th minute: Leandro DAMIAO)
SUBS
GK Naoto KAMIFUKUMOTO
MF Joao SCHMIDT
GOAL
9 minutes into the second half: MARCINHO
[Peter CKLAMOVSKI Manager Press Conference Comments]
Q: please review the game.
A, I think it was a very close football match. Two good teams confronted each other and fought for victory. However, there weren't many opportunities. In order to break through in such a close match, individual skills are also necessary. Unfortunately, we were defeated by the opponent's individual skills and they scored a wonderful goal. We may have had chances to score as well, but we couldn't convert them and we return home with a feeling of frustration.
[Player Interview]
Henrique TREVISAN
Q: please review the game.
A, I think it was a good game, but it was about whether or not we scored among the chances we had. Of course, there were difficult parts playing away, and the opponent is also a strong team, so it is very disappointing that we couldn't win, but we want to move forward to the next game.
Q, while facing strong forwards such as Bafetimbi Gomis and Leandro Damiao for 90 minutes, what were you conscious of during the game?
A, of course, I think both players are good. However, I think we were able to mark them well and didn't give them many chances, so I think we had a good defense.
Q: There were instances where we saw plays that didn't allow for freedom, but what kind of defensive approach were you conscious of in order to neutralize the opponent's strengths?
In terms of how to defend against players like Gomis and Leandro, I believed it was necessary to not give them space. I think we were able to prevent them from creating decisive chances by marking them tightly.
Q: What defensive improvements did you focus on in preparation for this match, compared to the previous Avispa Fukuoka game?
There are also some changes in the system since the Fukuoka match. It is unfortunate that we lost today, but I believe we have no choice but to move forward to the next.
<Teruhito NAKAGAWA>
Q: What challenges can be identified in resolving the lack of scoring ability?
A, I think it is necessary to have a common understanding of the attack with everyone, and it is just a matter of organizing what the team should do again. The rest is to firmly seize the opportunities.
Q: How do you want to connect today's game to the next one?
I have to score when I have the chance as a forward. I think it would have been good if I could have scored in the second half, and I take responsibility for not being able to score. I think it will be important in the future to increase the number of attacking opportunities and to convert those chances into goals.
<Kei KOIZUMI>
Q: please review the game.
A, we lost in every aspect throughout the 90 minutes. I believe that in order to become a strong team that can compete, we need to improve the quality in every aspect, both as a team and as individuals.
Q, as time passes, I feel that the intensity of the attack is lacking. Where do you feel the factors lie?
A, I think there are parts that have ended halfway. I think it is necessary to take a bold approach, such as shooting from the middle or making bolder choices.
I think it became a game that made us feel the weakness as a team.
A, in the Levain Cup, we were eliminated, and I think that playing this kind of game while trying to show our determination in the league is simply a matter of our own lack of ability. We need to focus on various aspects from practice and if we pursue it further, there are also parts that need to be changed. Otherwise, I joined this season, but I don't think we can change the trend of finishing in the same position every season.
I want to win with this team. I think there are various elements that need to be changed in order to do so. If we don't push forward together and improve, I apologize to the fans and supporters who cheer for us. I also haven't been able to contribute to the team with today's performance, so I want to focus on myself and move forward.
