The battle to aim for a new title fueled by frustration begins. Just two days after being eliminated in the J.League YBC Levain Cup playoffs, Tokyo, who will enter the 104th Emperor's Cup from the 2nd round, faced off against Veertien Mie, the representative of Mie Prefecture, at Ajinomoto Stadium.
The members have changed six players since the Hiroshima game three days ago. Tsuyoshi KODAMA, who started in the Levain Cup 2nd round, is guarding the goal from the back. The final line is lined up with Soma ANZAI, Masato MORISHIGE, Teppei OKA, and Shuhei TOKUMOTO from right to left, with Kei KOIZUMI and Riki HARAKAWA in the defensive midfield and Keigo HIGASHI, who started for the first time in the official game this season, in the attacking midfield. On the right wing, Leon NOZAWA, who also started for the first time this season, is placed, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA on the left wing, and Ryunosuke SATO, who was called back from the U-19 Japan national team's trip to France, is placed in the front line. On the bench, Divine OTANI, who made his professional debut and scored his first professional goal in the Levain Cup Hiroshima game three days ago, is listed.
In addition, before the match, Yuto NAGATOMO, who had just returned from the previous night's Japan national team game, visited the players warming up and could be seen actively encouraging them from the sidelines.
1stHALF—3 points ahead with experienced players' goals
Tokyo continued to push the ball and dominate the game against Mie, who adopted a 5-4-1 system. In the 11th minute of the first half, a cross was made from Tawaradzuma player on the left side to Higashi player. Nogisawa player in the center tried to head it in, but it was cleared by the opponent defender. Tokyo created some close chances.
14 minutes into the first half, a sharp dribble break allows Mie to enter the penalty area, but player Anzai returns diligently and cuts it off with a sliding tackle. They do not allow any decisive opportunities.
Tokyo, who had been struggling to attack the center, finally scored the long-awaited opening goal in the 21st minute of the first half.
Tsubo Taketa, who received the ball on the left touchline, broke through vertically. When the cross ball hit the opponent's player and flowed to the far side, Nozawa, who was dropping back, headed it back and Higashi, who was waiting in the center, took a direct volley. He powerfully struck the goal, breaking the balance with his first goal of the season. For Nozawa, this was his second consecutive assist in official matches following the Hiroshima match.
Tokyo continues to play the game in the opponent's territory. Player East shows up in many situations with his versatile positioning, becoming the starting point for both offense and defense.
The next big chance came in the 29th minute of the first half. East player, who received the ball from their own half, made a sharp through pass in the center of the pitch. Here, Sato player made a sharp run just in time to avoid offside, kept the ball in front of the opponent goalkeeper who came out, turned and made a looping shot towards the unguarded goal. However, the opponent goalkeeper who desperately returned, pushed it out and Nogizawa player who was closing in on the goal was unable to push it in.
Tokyo continues to attack. The one who moved the game here was veteran Terry. In the 37th minute of the first half, Mori Shige player won the right corner kick of Harakawa player on the far side. The floating header trajectory went over the goalkeeper's head and was sucked into the goal, widening the lead to two points.
In the 42nd minute of the first half, Haragawa scored a stunning direct free kick from about 30 meters in front of the goal, making it 3-0.
Tokyo took a big lead in the first half thanks to the experienced players' performance.
2ndHALF - Two U-18 players make their Ajinomoto debut
In the second half, Mie, who is chasing, aggressively attacks from the start, but they don't allow any chances by responding firmly to crosses. They shut down attacks from the sides and cut off passes from the center with a defense that is like a net. In the 7th minute of the second half, player Nozawa presses aggressively from the front line and cuts off the opponent's pass with a sliding tackle. Although this went over the goal line, the passionate play excited the stadium and they continue to show focused play while expanding their lead.
Manager Peter CKLAMOVSKI made a move in the 12th minute of the second half. He made four changes at once, sending out Hotaka NAKAMURA, Takahiro KO, Shuto NAGANO, and Takuya OTANI onto the pitch. With this, the final line has NAKAMURA, NAGANO, OKA, TOKUMOTO from right to left, with HARAKAWA and KO as the defensive midfielders, and OTANI, SATO, and NOZAWA on the front line. NAGANO made his debut for the first team, and OTANI made his debut at Ajinomoto Stadium.
In the second half, Diego OLIVEIRA was substituted for Higashi. Sato was moved down one row and they will aim for additional points in a vertical relationship. Throughout the first half, there have been numerous "Ryunosuke!" calls echoing throughout the stadium, so Sato is eager for some results.
38 minutes into the second half, player Nozawa, who is also looking for a goal, launches a high-speed dribble from the left side on a counter attack. He cuts in near the penalty area and swings his right foot from the center, but unfortunately it goes just left of the goal.
In the final stages, a scene that makes the whole stadium hold its breath is born. Tokumoto makes a long ground pass from the left side. Oya, who started running at full speed from behind, overtakes the opponent's DF and dribbles towards the goal. And from near the penalty arc, he powerfully swings his right foot! The powerful trajectory hits the crossbar, and the dry sound and the roar of the crowd echo throughout the stadium. Although it was not the first goal at Ajinomoto Stadium, the 17-year-old U-18 player leaves a strong impression with his brilliant play.
The match ended after 4 minutes of additional time. With the strong performance of veteran players and the debut of academy players at their home Ajinomoto Stadium, it was a fruitful victory that secured their spot in the 3rd round.
MATCH DETAILS
＜FC Tokyo＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Tsuyoshi KODAMA
DF Soma ANZAI (12th minute of the second half: Hotaka NAKAMURA)/Masato MORISHIGE (12th minute of the second half: Shuto NAGANO)/Teppei OKA/Shuhei TOKUMOTO
MF Keigo HIGASHI (30th minute of the second half: Diego OLIVEIRA)/Kei KOIZUMI (12th minute of the second half: Takahiro KO)/Riki HARAKAWA
FW Ryunosuke SATO/Leon NOZAWA/Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (12th minute of the second half: Divine OTANI)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
DF Henrique TREVISAN
GOAL
First Half 21st Minute: Keigo HIGASHI/First Half 37th Minute: Masato MORISHIGE/First Half 42nd Minute: Riki HARAKAWA
Veertien Mie
STARTING XI
GK Kentaro Mori
DF Keitaro IYORI/ Shun Nogaito/ Mizuki AIBA/ Tsubasa KUSUMOTO (12 minutes into the second half: Tatsuhiko NOGUCHI)
MF Naohiro IKEDA/ Jun Kanenari/ Taku INAFUKU (0 minutes into the second half: Reiji MORI)/ Junki SEO (12 minutes into the second half: Kenta KAWANAKA)
FW Hiromi KAKURA (0 minutes into the second half: Hyun-Joo YANG)/ Shogo OTAKE (30 minutes into the second half: Kotaro KIDO)
SUBS
GK Ryotaro Matsumoto
DF Kenshiro Tanioku
GOAL
―
[Interview with Peter CKLAMOVSKI, Manager]
Q, please give us your thoughts on today's match.
A, I think we were able to give a really good performance overall, and I am proud of the players' efforts. The football they showed today is what we wanted to do. Some people may see the game against the team in the lower category as an easy game, but we don't see it that way. I think it was a game where we had to grab our football against a tough opponent. We were able to work hard and get the result. We were able to score multiple goals, and the fans and supporters were also happy, and I am also happy. I am also happy that we were able to keep a clean sheet. Even when players who haven't had many opportunities to play so far, we were able to play really good football without any gaps in connection. We were able to catch the flow in a good rhythm, and I think there were scenes where we could have scored a few more goals. And the important thing is to recover from here and prepare for the next game.
Q, With only two days in between the Levain Cup, what approach did you take with the players in terms of preparation?
A, there is nothing new. It's about creating the team's character. By continuing to do so, it will lead to our football and what we want to do. I think we were able to do that today, and with this victory, we want to prepare for the next one.
Q, there were 2 goals from set plays. Please tell us your evaluation of kicker Riki HARAKAWA and the set plays themselves.
First of all, I think today's game showed how important it is to restart. Masato MORISHIGE's goal also came from a restart. Harakawa also scored a great free kick, but that's something he's good at in practice. We always talk about doing what we do in our daily training, and I think he did that well today. He gave us a really strong performance. The midfielders also played well, and that helped us gain momentum. Today, everyone gave a good performance. Teppei OKA did as well, and of course Soma ANZAI, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA, and Leon NOZAWA, Ryunosuke SATO also gave exciting plays. And Shuto NAGANO, Divine OTANI also gave good performances. Go HATANO, who didn't play, also prepared for the team. I am proud that so many players who have grown up in the academy have given such a good performance. In today's performance, no matter who played, I think we were able to play our football and continue to create it. I think it's because the players and staff are doing a good job.
[Player Interview]
＜Player Tokyokeigo＞
Q, I think there is a difficulty in playing against teams from different categories.
A, speaking of the unique atmosphere of the Emperor's Cup, we have experienced various matches in the past and have had unpleasant experiences many times. Even looking at the results of other matches today, there were clubs with difficult game content and results. That's how difficult I think this tournament is. If we become loose in the transition between offense and defense or in the ball-winning situations, we will be easily taken advantage of. We were conscious of not letting that happen. We were able to score 3 goals on the attacking side, but I think it is important to share and polish our ideas a little more. We also had information that Veertien Mie would defend with a 5-man block, so I think it would have been even better if we could have expressed more ideas through our play.
Q, please tell us what you were conscious of while the opponent was forming a solid defense.
A, I thought it would be good if the team could create space by me moving around and taking up the central position well, pulling back and dropping back, and occasionally breaking through. In addition, I asked the defensive players to play the ball vertically. In terms of combination, I think we could have created even better attacks if we could have coordinated more with Ryunosuke SATO.
Q, please tell us about the feeling of combination with player Sato.
A, I think it would have been good if players could differentiate between controlling the ball firmly and taking on challenges boldly. I believe that quality will deepen through game experience and collaboration on the pitch, and it is an area that we need to study. I also want to communicate with such players from practice so that I can play with them more.
Riki HARAKAWA player
Q, what preparations did you make for the game in a difficult situation of only two days after losing in the Levain Cup?
A, I have prepared as usual. There are some tough aspects in terms of physical strength, but playing consecutive games allows me to establish a rhythm, so even when I am tired, I can keep my mind clear. I don't think it's as hard as I thought it would be. It's mentally tough when there is a gap in between games, but having another game right away allows me to focus on the next one, so I think it's just right.
Q, it was a cup match different from the league match. I think there is difficulty in playing against opponents in different categories.
A, I thought the timing of the first goal would be important, so I'm glad that Keigo HIGASHI scored it and it made the game easier to play. Veertien Mie played with a 5-back formation and seemed to be waiting for Tokyo's vertical attacks, so we were able to focus on using the width and shaking things up more than usual. However, I think we need to share that more as a team.
Q, please look back on the scoring scene.
A, Tokyo has many dribblers and when set plays are successful, the opponent cannot commit fouls, so I think a good cycle will be created. If we can score free kicks like that, I think it will give the dribblers more life.
Q, There is a Júbilo Iwata match in 3 days.
A, although my body is tired, as long as my mind is clear, it's not too much of a problem, so I don't think it's too difficult.
<Shuto NAGANO>
Q, I contributed to the victory with no goals conceded despite coming on as a substitute.
A, it was my first appearance in the top team, and I was a little nervous when I played. However, I was able to quickly adapt and play my own game thanks to the advice I received from my senior teammates.
Q, Was there anything in particular that you were conscious of?
During the build-up, I was told to pass the ball to the center player instead of easily passing it outside. We were thinking of plays that could connect the team well during the build-up.
I think I was able to play calmly in the right position.
A, We have been working on not losing in one-on-one situations in our daily training, so I think we were able to demonstrate what we have been building up in the top team as well.
Q, In the future, there will be more matches in the top team, and the Prince Takamado Trophy JFA U-18 Football Premier League will also resume.
First of all, I think that if I don't show the difference between myself and the other players at FC Tokyo U-18, I won't be called up to the top team again. So, I want to show my play at FC Tokyo U-18 and work hard to get the opportunity to play in the top team.
