The 2024 Meiji Yasuda J1 League restarted after the International Match Week. During this period, Tokyo faced Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the J.League YBC Levain Cup playoff round, losing with a total score of 2 games, and then went on to defeat Veertien Mie in the 104th Emperor's Cup All Japan Soccer Championship 2nd Round, before resuming the league matches after a tight schedule.
In this round, which welcomed Júbilo Iwata, Taishi Brandon NOZAWA, who returned from the U-23 Japan national team's trip to America, started the game. The final line-up included Hotaka NAKAMURA at right back, Masato MORISHIGE and Henrique TREVISAN at center back, and Yuto NAGATOMO, who had been selected for the Japan national team, at left back. Takahiro KO and Kei KOIZUMI were paired as defensive midfielders. Teruhito NAKAGAWA was placed as an attacking midfielder, with Soma ANZAI on the right, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA on the left, and Diego OLIVEIRA in the center, as they kicked off the game. On the bench were Kuryu MATSUKI and Ryotaro ARAKI, both from the U-23 Japan national team.
1stHALF - Heading into the second half with a one-point deficit despite taking control
Tokyo, who desperately wants to continue their winning streak against Tosu in order to chase the top, aggressively attacks from the beginning. They connect passes and build up while avoiding the opponent's press, and quickly retrieve the ball from high positions even when they lose it in the opponent's half. They continue to dominate and push forward.
In the 9th minute of the first half, Anzai scored a goal with his right foot from a free kick on the right side, and Nakagawa took a shot with his left foot from the loose ball in front of the goal. Although it missed to the left of the goal, they continued to create chances while dominating the game.
However, in the 21st minute of the first half, they were scored a goal from a set piece. From Iwata's right corner kick, Ricardo GRACA, who was raised in the Blue and Red Academy, allowed a perfect header from the right foot kick by Hirakawa, who ran in from behind. Iwata was able to score one chance and take the lead by one point.
Iwata, who took the lead, will have to shift their team's focus to the back. Tokyo will be forced to find a way to break down their defensively transitioning opponent.
In the 33rd minute of the first half, Tokyo, who were looking for attacking opportunities by passing the ball from the back, saw player Tawara Tsumita dribble on the left side and make a sharp cut-in with his right foot. However, player Yasuzaki's right foot shot from the far side missed the goal and the ball narrowly went outside the right post.
Tokyo struggled to attack while holding onto the ball. In the 41st minute of the first half, Lori player took a reverse shot from inside the penalty area after the opponent's right throw-in. This was saved by Grot player with a sharp reaction, and Nakamura player cleared it desperately to narrowly escape danger.
How will we break through Iwata's defensive wall, built to protect and defend? After two minutes of additional time, the challenge will carry over into the second half.
2ndHALF - First professional goal by Yasuzaki player, but frustrating draw
2 minutes into the second half, they create another chance from the left side. Player Insoo YU receives the ball along the touchline and moves it vertically, diagonally, and then towards the center before taking a right-footed shot. Unfortunately, it misses just to the right of the goal.
In the 10th minute of the second half, Diego TABA, who broke through on a through pass from Koizumi, dribbled past the opposing defender and took a controlled shot with his right foot, but it hit the right post and did not result in a goal.
Here, U-23 Japan national team players Matsuki and Araki were brought in. The two players were entrusted with creating a vertical relationship on the front line and breaking the situation.
After 26 minutes of struggling to find an attacking opportunity, a chance is created from the left side. Tawara Taketa, who received a vertical pass from Matsuki, dribbles past the defenders and sends a ground cross. The perfectly placed ball aims for the far side, where Araki makes a run, but is cleared by the opponent just before he can reach it.
After receiving the right corner kick, substitute player Riki HARAKAWA kicks it with his right foot. On the far side, Nakamura heads it back and Matsuki jumps to volley it. The shot is not controlled and the ball goes over the bar, but Tokyo continues to attack into the Iwata defense, chasing after a goal.
In the 33rd minute of the second half, Shuhei TOKUMOTO was substituted in as left back and Jája Silva as left wing. In order to further strengthen the attack, the substitution of players was made to revitalize the team, and TOKUMOTO made a great play.
36 minutes into the second half, a skillful cutback and cross from the left side. The ball was punched away by the opposing goalkeeper, but Takase managed to hit it directly and aim for the goal, only to narrowly miss to the right and unable to shake the net.
Tokyo, which has gradually given a sense of scoring, finally moves the game in the 38th minute of the second half.
When he got a chance for a free kick on the left side, the kicker was Tokumoto, who had created a chance just before. He put in a sharp ball with his strong left foot, and it was Anzai who jumped in here. He smashed a spirited header and returned the game to Tokyo with his first professional goal wearing the number 38.
Tokyo, who started attacking all at once, gained momentum after player Yasuzaki scored the equalizer in the 43rd minute of the second half with a powerful dribble up the right side. The opposing defender couldn't handle it and committed a foul. Although it wasn't a penalty kick just outside the penalty area, the stadium was energized and Tokyo continued to launch powerful attacks in pursuit of a comeback victory.
Tokyo's attack doesn't stop even during the additional 8 minutes of the second half, as shown. Jaja, who broke through the defense from Araki's through pass, takes a shot. Furthermore, Jael, who was supplied with a sharp left cross from Tokumoto during a corner kick, aims with his head.
After that, Tokyo continued to launch thick side attacks with Tokumoto's super long throw. In the end, they had a chance for a free kick on the left side, but Tokumoto's left kick was cleared by the opponent and the game ended. The early goal they conceded affected their attacking play and they struggled for a long time, eventually ending in a 1-1 draw after Anzai's goal equalized the score.
MATCH DETAILS
＜FC Tokyo＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Hotaka NAKAMURA/Masato MORISHIGE/Henrique TREVISAN/Yuto NAGATOMO (33rd minute of the second half: Shuhei TOKUMOTO)
MF Takahiro KO (22nd minute of the second half: Riki HARAKAWA)/Teruhito NAKAGAWA (11th minute of the second half: Ryotaro ARAKI)
FW Diego OLIVEIRA (11th minute of the second half: Kuryu MATSUKI)/Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (33rd minute of the second half: Jája Silva)/Soma ANZAI
SUBS
GK Tsuyoshi KODAMA
DF Teppei OKA
GOAL
39' Second Half: Soma ANZAI
Júbilo Iwata
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Eiji Kawashima
DF Ko Matsubara/Kaito Suzuki/Ricardo Graca
MF Rikiya Uehara (45+3' Shun Nakamura)/Hiroki Yamada (15' Ryo Germain)/Masaya Matsumoto (15' Shota Kaneko)/Leo Gomez/Rei Hirakawa (45+3' Bruno Jose)/Hiroto Uemura (45+10' Shunsuke Nishikubo)
FW Matheus Peixoto
SUBS
GK Yuya TSUBOI
DF Riku MORIOKA
GOAL
21st minute of the first half: Ricardo GRACA
[Interview with Peter CKLAMOVSKI, Manager]
Q, please give us an overall review of today's match.
I am disappointed that we couldn't win. I think the first half was not our best. We didn't have enough tempo in moving the ball, dynamic movements going forward, and attacking movements. In the midst of that, we gave the opponent a lead and the game became a pressure for us at 0-1. We talked about it at halftime and in the second half, we were able to play our game from start to finish and become more aggressive. We were also able to create good opportunities and chances that could lead to victory. Júbilo Iwata played with a compact and strong defense that was difficult to break down, but even in that situation, we were able to produce something worthy of a win and I think we lost 2 points in this game.
Q, What was the intention behind the timing of the substitution?
We sent out the players who we believed could turn this game around in the second half. We were also thinking of making further switches with our substitutes, and they fulfilled their roles. I think we were able to fight while grasping our own momentum from the start of the second half. There was a close post shot from Kota TAWARATSUMIDA at the start of the second half, and Diego OLIVEIRA made a magical play that hit the post. We were able to create momentum and chances, and we were able to keep pressuring the opponent's goal until the end of the game.
However, I think we need to fight more tenaciously so that we don't give the lead. It was a difficult game for the players because we were behind. The players fought hard and managed to equalize 1-1, but we had chances to score one more goal than the opponent today. Once again, it's a shame that we couldn't win, but I feel like it was a game where we could have taken 3 points.
Q, I think Hotaka NAKAMURA's ability to withstand the pinch at the end of the first half contributed to today's victory.
A, they did well in the places where they had to desperately respond. We also created chances and had scenes where we were close to scoring, but Iwata also created several such scenes. We will become a better team and we have to respond to it while playing our own football. I think today's game was a game we could have won. We are disappointed that we couldn't win because we created more chances ourselves.
[Player Interview]
Soma ANZAI
Q: please review the game.
A, in the first half, we focused on keeping possession of the ball, but I think it would have been better if we had been more daring as a team. Including defending set pieces, I think we made the game difficult for ourselves by allowing the score to become 0-1 there. So, as a team, we need to pay more attention to how we start the first half.
Q, please look back on the scoring scene.
A, I have been playing in matches since the opening game of the season, although there have been times when I couldn't play in the middle. Recently, I have been playing consistently, but I have been thinking about not being able to score as a forward. Although it was a set piece, I was able to score a goal, so it's not something I'm completely satisfied with, but it's a relief and a weight off my shoulders. I want to leave a goal that will lead to a win next time.
Q, What are the areas for improvement in today's match?
A, in terms of the pace of attack, right now we are in a state of continuously moving slowly and then making our move, so as a team we need to create opportunities to switch between moving slowly and attacking. I think players like Kota TAWARATSUMIDA and myself can be the switch, so if we can work together as a team to create more opportunities to switch, it would be great.
＜Player Shuhei TOKUMOTO＞
Q, it was a 30-minute appearance including additional time.
A, I was thinking about doing what I could to catch up at least. It was good that we were able to score as a team.
Q, I think you were asked to bring an accent to the attack. How were you trying to overcome the opponent who was pulling back?
A, Jája Silva was trying to play comfortably. I think I was seen as a player who doesn't take initiative, so I consciously tried to take initiative.
Q, How did you see the attack from the bench during the first half, which seemed to be stagnant?
A, we were able to pass the ball without rushing, so while watching, I thought we just needed one or two more ideas in front of the goal. I believed that set pieces would be our chance, and in the end, they led to a goal, which was great.
Q, having the number of assists attached, I think it will lead to the next step. Please tell us your enthusiasm for the future.
A, I think that this has increased the trust and credibility from the team, so I want to kick set pieces aggressively. The Shonan Bellmare match will be the last game of the first half of the season, so I think that finishing it in a good shape will lead to the second half of the season. Therefore, first of all, since we had a series of games, we will take a good rest together and then practice firmly at the Kodaira ground.
＜Player Kuryu MATSUKI＞
Q, please review the game.
I came on as a substitute while we were losing, so I was conscious of making a play that would lead to a tie or a comeback. I was also aiming for a goal personally, so I'm disappointed that I couldn't score. Soma ANZAI's goal tied the game and gave us momentum towards the end. However, as a team, we couldn't capitalize on the chances we had to score the winning goal. That is something we need to work on for the next game.
Q, immediately after joining the team activities from the U-23 Japan national team's trip to America, I played in the match.
A, there were no problems with the condition. I couldn't participate in the international friendly match (second game) with America, so I was thinking of giving everything in the J1 league matches, including today's match. I want to become a player who can contribute to the team and achieve results in the league matches from now on.
Q, the next match will be an away game against Shonan Bellmare.
A, In today's game, I think it is absolutely necessary for the team to not play like they did in the first half if they want to aim for the top. I want to show a game where we focus on scoring through fluid plays like in the second half, where everyone takes action. Personally, I want to focus on aggressive plays and also pay attention to my goal and assist numbers.
