<Match Review>
Just one week after the Tokyo Verdy match last week, this time we will face FC Machida Zelvia at Ajinomoto Stadium. We cannot afford to lose at home against a team based in Tokyo, who we will face for the first time in an official match. On the 17th of the midweek, we will also play against Y.S.C.C. Yokohama in the 2nd round of the J.League YBC Levain Cup, where Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA and Jája Silva scored their first blue and red goals, resulting in a big victory with 4 goals and improving the team's atmosphere.
Keita ENDO, who has scored in the YS Yokohama match, has scored in two consecutive games since the Verdy match, and on March 30th, he was named as a starting member for the first time since the Sec. 5 Kawasaki Frontale match. The other 10 players are the same as the previous match. They are determined to achieve their first victory of the season at Ajinomoto Stadium and started the game with momentum from the kick-off.
1stHALF - One goal behind despite the frenetic development
It was an intense 45 minutes. Amidst the echoes of the fans and supporters of both teams, each player showed a high intensity play. The first chance was created by Tokyo in the 6th minute of the first half. Kota TAWARATSUMIDA cut in from the left side and sent a final pass to Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA, who then took the ball to the goal but hit it straight at the goalkeeper.
The game then moves at a dizzying pace. In the 13th minute of the first half, Sandaza quickly started a throw-in for Machida and brought it to a shot. Although it was blocked, Na SANGHO scored a direct volley from the corner kick right after, giving the opponent the lead. However, in the 19th minute of the first half, they managed to open up the goal and drew a handball from the opponent's defender, earning a penalty kick. Kindergarten player Sandro touched it to Tani and scored a goal, equalizing with the first home goal of number 11.
However, they couldn't take advantage of the momentum they caught up with. Just 4 minutes after the score returned to a tie in the first half at the 25-minute mark, they were caught on the left side by a long feed from the final line, and the ball was crossed by player Mochizuki to player Se Hun OH, who headed it in just before the goal line.
FC Tokyo, who quickly fell behind again, made chances starting from Kota TAWARATSUMIDA's dribble, but in the 39th minute of the first half, Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA's header from Kota TAWARATSUMIDA's cross was cleared by the defender. In the 42nd minute of the first half, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA cut in and took a shot with his right foot, but it missed the target, and they went into halftime trailing by one goal.
2nd HALF - Chance to hit the crossbar but 1 point is far away
First, Tokyo, who wants to catch up, will have a big chance right away. Endo, who received the ball on the right side, controls it well on the inside and makes a through pass. Nakagawa Teruhito takes advantage of this and breaks away, but his control is too big and he can't finish it.
Tokyo, who continued to attack consecutively, passed the ball intricately on the right side in the 15th minute of the second half. Kosuke SHIRAI took the shot, and in the 17th minute of the second half, Tawara Tsumeta player cut in from the left side and swung his right foot, but Yasushi ENDO changed the course of the shot in front of the goal, but the ball hit the crossbar directly. They couldn't push in the rebound either.
After that, Jája Silva and Ryunosuke SATO were sent to the front line, and Riki HARAKAWA, the game maker, was also brought in as a midfielder, but they were unable to break through Machida's block and time continued to pass. They tried to move the ball wide on the pitch, but they couldn't find a way to break through the center of the block with a vertical pass, and they couldn't create chances.
In the final stage, Yuto NAGATOMO was sent to the pitch, but no equalizing goal was born and the game ended with a score of 1-2.
MATCH DETAILS
＜FC Tokyo＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Go HATANO
DF Kosuke SHIRAI/Kanta DOI/Henrique TREVISAN/Kashif BANGNAGANDE (43rd minute: Yuto NAGATOMO)
MF Takahiro KO (28th minute: Riki HARAKAWA)/Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA (20th minute: Jája SILVA)/Kei KOIZUMI
FW Keita ENDO/Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (28th minute: Ryunosuke SATO)/Teruhito NAKAGAWA
SUBS
GK Tsuyoshi KODAMA
DF Masato MORISHIGE
MF Tsubasa TERAYAMA
GOAL
First Half 21st Minute: Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA
FC Machida Zelvia
STARTING XI
GK Kosei TANI
DF Henry Kai Mochizuki/Gen SHOJI/Doreshevich
MF Kazuki FUJIMOTO/Zento UNO/Keiya SENTO (26th minute of the second half: Takuya YASUI)/Kotaro HAYASHI/Daigo TAKAHASHI (0th minute of the second half: Vasquez BYRON)
FW Na SANGHO (16th minute of the second half: Shunta ARAKI)/Se Hun OH (26th minute of the second half: Mitchell DUKE)
SUBS
GK Koki FUKUI
DF Jurato IKEDA/Junya SUZUKI
GOAL
First Half 14th Minute: Na SANGHO / First Half 25th Minute: Se Hun OH
[Interview with Peter CKLAMOVSKI, Manager]
Q: please review the game.
A, I feel pain towards the result. Looking back at the performance, there were many positive things, and I think it was a game that we could win, and we could grasp the victory. It is important to talk about the result without emotions. Analyzing the performance is the key, and it is important as a process for us to progress and aim for the top. We were decided by the opponent in two situations. We must learn from this as a tough lesson. Machida has also firmly decided. It is something that can happen in football, and we need to learn from it and become stronger from here.
In the midst of being behind, the players gave their all to catch up. It's unfortunate that we were scored on during the first corner kick, but we were disappointed with the situation. There was an offside in the previous play, so it shouldn't have been a corner kick. However, even in that situation, we had to respond well to the corner kick and not give the opponent the lead. The important thing is that after going down 0-1, the players were able to fight back without losing focus. And I think we gave the opponent the second goal too easily, and it's frustrating and disappointing to go into halftime with a score of 1-2. The players fought desperately to make up for it, and if we had scored a second goal, we might have been able to take it all the way to our own goal. However, we will accept this defeat and work harder to come back stronger.
Q, what do you think happened for the second goal? Did we make a mistake or was it something unexpected?
A, it's not that we didn't expect it. We knew that the opponent would kick long balls and they were able to score, but I think we could have responded better. That was the difference between us and the opponent, and there were also moments in our attack where we could have made one more touch in front of goal. That was the difference today. If we can't create chances, of course we need to improve other things. Today, we were able to create chances but we couldn't find the back of the net. On the other hand, in terms of defense, we also need to defend more tightly. I don't know how many chances the opponent had, but they were able to score in the few chances they had.
[Player Interview]
＜Kei KOIZUMI＞
Q, please review the game.
A, I think the way we entered the game today was not good, and the way we conceded from set pieces was also not good. This is an important game where if we win, we can move up, but if we lose, our ranking will drop. I think the problem with our first half performance was due to our own mindset, so it's something we can change. We want to tighten our focus and give it our all once again.
Q, after the match, the players had a long discussion with each other.
A, I am currently serving as captain this season, so I feel that I have to take the lead in creating a "winning atmosphere" or such an atmosphere. If I am entrusted with this role, I must do my job properly and be willing to do it for the team.
<Takahiro KO>
Q, please review the game.
A, We had many chances, so we had to finish them. Obviously, we have conceded a lot of goals, so we need to tighten up as a team to pick up points, or each individual needs to constantly maintain their concentration without losing focus, so we need to thoroughly train for that again.
Q, the second goal was easily conceded.
A, At the point where we returned one point and said, "This is where we start," it was honestly tough to be done in one shot from a place where there was nothing. However, we have already proven our ability to catch up again there. The reason we couldn't do it is still due to our lack of strength, and we need to reduce the number of goals we concede.
Q, How well were you able to prepare for FC Machida Zelvia?
A, I think we didn't give the opponent many chances except for the goals we conceded. Especially, Se Hun OH on the front line is strong in challenges, so while talking to Kanta DOI, we were able to do well by having me first make contact during goal kicks and then have DOI compete. We were also able to recover many second balls with Kei KOIZUMI, so in the second half we were able to push them back and it wasn't a bad strategy, but if we don't win, it doesn't mean anything so we want to focus on that.
Q, what do you think was the necessary play to get closer to the goal?
A, I think we need more power when entering the cross. It's not just about swinging your legs, there are countless things to do, but I think we have to do it properly from training.
Q, Next match is against my former team Albirex Niigata. How do you want to elevate your game for the match?
I think that losing streaks are absolutely unacceptable, and I believe that only 3 points are allowed, so I want to make good preparations to win.
<Ryunosuke SATO>
Q, this was my first appearance in the league.
There was a completely different atmosphere and tension compared to the J.League YBC Levain Cup. Since different players were playing compared to the Levain Cup, there were some things that I couldn't understand until I actually played, but I was able to feel it firmly today.
Q: Please review the game, I think we were able to showcase our strengths.
A, there were scenes where I was able to demonstrate my strengths such as pressing from the front in a short playing time, but I was not able to make plays that threatened the goal or posed a threat to the opponent, so I want to improve on that. On the field, I wanted to firmly receive the ball and create a tempo, but there were many scenes where I couldn't connect passes, and I was left with frustration.
Q, there is currently Ryotaro ARAKI, who is playing in the AFC U23 Asian Cup, in the same position.
A, I also have a desire to play and perform well in that position, and I want to compete with Araki when he returns.
Q, What kind of play do you want to make for the next game?
A, age doesn't matter when you step onto the pitch, and I believe that winning is everything. I don't know when I will play, and I don't know who will play with me, so I want to focus on the team's common understanding and work together to make adjustments during the game, and strive to contribute to the team's strength.
