<Match Review>
In the past two weeks, Tokyo Verdy, FC Machida Zelvia, and other teams based in Tokyo have been unable to secure a victory, resulting in a record of 3 wins, 3 draws, and 3 losses, placing them in 10th position as they enter the 10th round. With Albirex Niigata, who has the same number of points, as their opponent, this match holds great significance considering the current situation. In order to climb up the rankings, they are determined to secure 3 points in this crucial match.
The starting members have changed two players from the previous match. Soma ANZAI, who has returned from suspension, has returned to the right wing, and Tsubasa TERAYAMA, who started for the first time in the league this season, has been appointed as the top player. Diego OLIVEIRA has returned from injury and has been included in the substitute members, and Leon NOZAWA has also made his first appearance in the league. Takahiro KO and Kei KOIZUMI, who will face their former team, have been placed as the axis in the defensive midfield, and the team has gathered all their strength for this kickoff.
1stHALF - Tergol from the lightning-fast counter
For a while after the start, we were constantly defending. Facing Niigata, who boasts one of the highest possession rates in the league, we tried to press but couldn't find a way to steal the ball. Even if we managed to steal the ball, the distance between players was too far and we couldn't increase our time with the ball.
In addition, an accident occurred in the 19th minute of the first half. Terayama, who was injured in a contact play, returned to the pitch once but was unable to continue playing, and was forced to be substituted early in the game.
Diego TABA, who came on as a substitute, restarts the game with a formation where Teruhito NAKAGAWA drops back one position and joins the front line. As the game progresses, Tokyo is able to gradually settle the ball. The double pivot starts to look forward and increases the number of times they enter the opponent's half, holding onto the ball.
And in the 39th minute of the first half, they take the lead with a brilliant short counter attack.
After Henrique TREVISAN received a cut from Eleke, he made a vertical pass and Diego TABA attracted the opponent's defense with a post-play, then passed it to Kosuke SHIRAI with one touch. Kosuke SHIRAI quickly accelerated and sprinted through the space on the right side.
After stopping the opponent's attack, Shiroi player passed an early cross between the opponent's goalkeeper and defender, and Nakagawa player jumped in without hesitation and scored with one touch.
After a difficult start and some accidents, we were able to turn the game around with our strength in the ball contest and take the lead. It was an ideal situation to go into halftime.
2ndHALF - Dynamo Shiroi's goal and Diego's comeback lead to a great victory
Maintaining the flow of the first half in the best way possible, we will continue to dominate the game in the second half. We will effectively block Niigata's build-up and aggressively press against the vertical balls that come in, and once we have successfully recovered the ball, we will smoothly transition into attacking using the sides.
Successfully scored an important additional point in the 4th minute of the second half.
When pushed in on the left side of the opponent's field, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA's lateral pass was passed through by Takashi TAKA. The ball reached Kazuma NAKAGAWA, who was in the penalty area, and he attracted the opponent with a shooting motion. After stopping the shooting feint, Kazuma NAKAGAWA dropped the ball in the minus direction, and Shiroi SHIROI, who was running in, slid a direct shot with his right foot to the lower right corner of the goal.
Tokyo, who completely took the lead with this goal, did not let up and scored their third goal in the 17th minute of the second half. After recovering the second ball in the opponent's territory, Takashi Takashi passed to the right side pocket (the space on both sides of the penalty area). As the third player moved in unison, Koizumi player broke through to the pocket, calmly checked the position of his teammates, and put a looping cross ball in front of the goal, which Diego TABA won in the air and headed into the goal.
After expanding the lead to 3 points, we will tighten the game while using the substitution frame. In the 23rd minute of the second half, Ryunosuke SATO, who made his J1 league debut in the previous round, and the team's oldest player Yuto NAGATOMO were sent in. Furthermore, in the 36th minute of the second half, Riki HARAKAWA and Leon NOZAWA, who made their first appearance in the league this season, were sent out to control the game and advance the clock.
In the final stage, although it was a challenge to have a goal scored against us by Hayakawa player with a header from a cross from the left side in the second half of the 45 minutes, we were able to secure the victory with 3 goals, which is the second time this season, by firmly defending the 4 minutes of additional time. We were able to prevent a losing streak and accumulate 3 points for the first time in 3 games in the league.
The next match will be back at home at Ajinomoto Stadium, where we will face Kyoto Sanga F.C. With the momentum of our previous win and our tenacity to control the flow of the game, we will go for our first victory of the season at Ajinomoto Stadium.
MATCH DETAILS
＜FC Tokyo＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Go HATANO
DF Kosuke SHIRAI/Kanta DOI/Henrique TREVISAN/Kashif BANGNAGANDE (Substituted in 36th minute: Leon NOZAWA)
MF Takahiro KO (Substituted in 36th minute: Riki HARAKAWA)/Tsubasa TERAYAMA (Substituted in 19th minute: Diego OLIVEIRA)/Kei KOIZUMI
FW Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (Substituted in 23rd minute: Yuto NAGATOMO)/Soma ANZAI/Teruhito NAKAGAWA (Substituted in 23rd minute: Ryunosuke SATO)
SUBS
GK Tsuyoshi KODAMA
DF Masato MORISHIGE
GOAL
First half 39 minutes: Teruhito NAKAGAWA / Second half 4 minutes: Kosuke SHIRAI / Second half 17 minutes: Diego OLIVEIRA
＜Albirex Niigata＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Ryosuke KOJIMA
DF Soya FUJIWARA/Michael James FITZGERALD/Kazuhiko CHIBA (19th minute of the second half: Shusuke OTA)/Fumiya HAYAKAWA
MF Eitaro MATSUDA (28th minute of the second half: Motoki HASEGAWA)/Hiroki AKIYAMA/Eiji MIYAMOTO/Yota KOMI (19th minute of the second half: Hayato INAMURA)
FW Kaito TANIGUCHI (19th minute of the second half: Yuji ONO)/Yoshiaki TAKAGI (28th minute of the second half: Takumi HASEGAWA)
SUBS
GK Koto ABE
MF Yuzuru SHIMADA
GOAL
45' Second Half: Fumiya HAYAKAWA
[Interview with Peter CKLAMOVSKI, Manager]
Q: please review the game.
A, We are very happy with our overall efforts and performance. We were able to put on a great performance and have a worthy battle for victory. In the first half, we were able to move the ball well in attack. Our defense was also solid. In the second half, we continued to play our football and were able to put on a similar performance as the first half. We were able to use the space we wanted while moving the ball well. In the midst of that, we were able to score a good goal. I am proud of the players who were able to do what they needed to do.
During the preparation as a team, Tsubasa TERAYAMA player got injured in the first half and had to be substituted, but Diego OLIVEIRA player who came on as an emergency also showed a fantastic performance. I am proud that all players gave their all and fought until the end. However, the last goal was unnecessary and we should have closed the game with a 3-0 score.
The important thing is to thoroughly analyze our performance and prepare for recovery from here. I would like to express my gratitude to the fans and supporters who came to support us all the way to Niigata. They pushed the players forward and they are the best fans and supporters in Japan.
Q, Please evaluate Kosuke SHIRAI's performance involving multiple goals.
A, he gave us the best performance. Kosuke SHIRAI played in three positions today. That represents the mentality that this team has. He understood what he needed to do in any position and was able to perform as a team. The 11 players who played in the game played their own football. I hope we can continue to grow and improve. SHIRAI's goal was truly amazing. It was an important goal for us in the beginning of the second half. He also contributed to the team performance and gave us the best individual performance.
[Player Interview]
＜Kosuke SHIRAI＞
Q, please look back on today's game.
I am happy to have achieved a result of 1 goal and 1 assist. It was a difficult away game, but I am most happy to have contributed to the victory.
Q, After the result of the previous match against FC Machida Zelvia, what points did you organize for today's game?
There is a sense that both as a team and as an individual, we have been improving since last season. Although there is regret that we were not able to show our strengths in the Machida match, my teammates understand my strengths. I feel that our cooperation and understanding of each other's play is bearing fruit as a result. I think we are moving in a good direction.
Q: Please review the assist for the first point.
Player Soma ANZAI brought the ball inside instead of on the side, and thanks to Takahiro KO and Diego OLIVEIRA building up in the central area, they were able to keep the opponent's defense on their toes. As the right side vertical lane was completely in their zone, they sprinted and focused on breaking through vertically. They were able to send a cross exactly where they aimed, between the opponent's goalkeeper and defense line, and Teruhito NAKAGAWA also jumped in with the same mindset, resulting in a great goal. It was a series of plays that reflected the team's common understanding and what they have built up until now.
Q, May 1st is my 30th birthday, and the match right after my birthday is against my former team, Kyoto Sanga F.C. The perfect conditions have come together.
A, I was raised in Kyoto, but I am a player from Tokyo and I want to contribute to Tokyo by scoring and assisting. Thinking about the Kyoto match, today's victory and goal have become something truly special. I want to work hard to show my strong performance to many people.
<Diego OLIVEIRA player>
Q: This was a comeback game. Please review the game.
It was a long-awaited game, and although I didn't expect it, Tsubasa TERAYAMA player entered the game in a troubled form due to an injury. Thanks to the hard work in our usual practices, we were able to enter the game smoothly. The loud support from many fans and supporters pushed us forward, and the medical team did everything they could to help him recover, so I want to thank them. We were also able to score a goal, thanks to the support of many people.
Q, Goal Scene, and Tell Me the Factors That Led to the Goal.
A, For us forwards, the goal is a very important thing. Kei KOIZUMI gave me a good cross ball from the right side, and all I had to do was score. I am happy to have scored a goal, but what makes me even happier is that the team was able to win.
Q, I felt a hunger and passion for victory as it was our first game in a while.
A, since I haven't been playing in the games for a while, I could only support from the outside. The players who have been playing so far have all been working hard. I finally played in the game after a long time, but above all, experienced and great players like Yuto NAGATOMO and Masato MORISHIGE, even though they are not in the starting lineup, have been making a big contribution to the team, including today's game. We are learning from them and the whole team is fighting together with that as our foundation, and I am truly grateful to them.
Q, I think we need to continue the consecutive battles from here and overcome them with all our might.
A, the schedule will be very tight from now on, so it is important for everyone to prepare to fight and for the players who enter the game to run for the team. In order to achieve victory, I want to fight together with the strength of all team members.
<Teruhito NAKAGAWA>
Q: Please review today's score.
It was a goal that connected what the team has been doing, so it was a shape we were aiming for. The two goals by players Diego OLIVEIRA and Kosuke SHIRAI were also as planned.
Q, we were able to accumulate 3 points without losing consecutive games.
A, I am glad to have achieved a victory away from home because I have made good preparations. In May, there will be many games and back-to-back matches, but I want to fight with the full strength of the team.
Q, we want to continue scoring multiple points from here and improve our ranking.
A, It is a good trend for a team to be able to score multiple goals. However, since we have conceded a goal at the end, I think it is important for the team to not give such opportunities in order to improve our ranking.
Q, it seemed that Tsubasa TERAYAMA was also focusing on defense after being substituted.
Player Diego TABA also did his best, and although there were scenes where he had the ball, I think it was the team's overall defense that led to the victory.
Q, this season we are in a different situation from last season, where we were unable to win away and at Ajinomoto Stadium.
A, I also think that myself, and I want to be more conscious of winning firmly at Ajinomoto Stadium. I think we can become a team that can win by keeping this good flow going and keeping a clean sheet, so I want to avoid giving any openings.
