<Previous Match Review: Shonan Bellmare>
The hero of the game, from the moment he stepped onto the pitch at Lemon Gas Stadium Hiratsuka during the warm-up before the match, was reminded of the scene he saw in the final match of last season's league.
"Last season, after Kei KOIZUMI scored a goal, he ran towards the goal end. If I score, I'll try to run there too."
The 19th round of the 2024 Meiji Yasuda J1 League, which was played away. The game, which came at the timing of the halfway point of the league season, was dominated by a large number of shots from the beginning, and we were forced to a overwhelming disadvantage. We couldn't finish off the occasional counter-attack chances, but the team came together to defend the goal, including fine saves from "guardian" Taishi Brandon NOZAWA.
And as the game approached the end, in the 34th minute of the second half, a savior appeared for the team that had been holding on by a thread.
Shuhei TOKUMOTO, who was sent in as a left winger, carefully observed the movements of his teammates attacking from the right side in his first play after being subbed in.
Hotaka NAKAMURA, who conquered the near zone with Soma ANZAI, sends a ground pass to the opposite side. Yuto NAGATOMO then makes a run towards the center.
It was truly a split-second decision.
"I was actually thinking of going to the far side, but when I saw Yuto-san coming in, I decided to stop. I think that split-second decision brought in the goal."
A ground pass supplied from the right side rolls in front of me. With the ball, goal, and positions of both opponents and teammates in my field of vision, I adjust my steps and swing my proud left foot compactly.
An accurate strike that doesn't seem like a first touch. The shot, which was taken with a low trajectory, passed through the legs of the sliding defender and pierced the bottom right corner of the goal. It was a goal that looked like it was in slow motion.
"From the moment the ball came from Hogao, I had confidence. I was able to hit it firmly and immediately knew it was going in. The coach had been telling me to aim for the corner with a middle shot by placing a mini goal next to the post during practice, so I was happy to see that it paid off. Watching Taishi's save really motivated me and I had the desire to help the team when I got to play. The result of scoring a goal was a result of all the things I had been holding back and the luck that had been building up finally came to me. It was also great to see the fans and supporters happy because of it."
Suddenly, the heroic player rushed towards the goal stand at a speed that seemed like fast-forward.
I remembered the scene I saw six months ago during warm-up and reproduced it with my own goal. Then, at the end of the ecstatic dash towards the stands, I received rough and affectionate congratulations from my teammates.
"Even though we couldn't win at home, the fans and supporters kept pushing us on and I jumped in with gratitude. (The circle of joy) is like love from everyone, and it's the joy of being a soccer player to experience that."
Number 43, who scored a priceless goal, spoke with a smile about his feelings after the game, saying, "I feel rewarded at the halfway point of the league and I want to fight for Tokyo by taking it to the next level." This season, the man who experienced a frustrating time of not even being able to make it to the bench, saved the team with a brilliant goal and vowed for further evolution. The away game at the halfway point resulted in a hard-earned 3 points, achieved by the entire team. And at the center of it all was number 43.
In the 18th round of the 2024 Meiji Yasuda J1 League, the match against Júbilo Iwata ended in a 1-1 draw at home, followed by a 1-0 away victory against Shonan Bellmare. Goalkeeper Taishi Brandon NOZAWA, who kept a clean sheet in the Shonan match, proudly stated, "It was important to fight tough even when we were pushed back. We were able to express the mentality of not missing any opportunities when the opponent showed a weakness." In the final minutes of the match, he made a series of big saves that seemed to stick to his hands. With the goalkeeper at the center, the team held on tenaciously and secured the victory.
Tokyo finished the first half of the season in 6th place and will enter the second half of the season starting with the match against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo. Manager Peter CKLAMOVSKI said, "I am a person in the world of competition, so I aim for 1st place. We may have been able to earn more points in the first half, but we are in a position to reach the top of the mountain as a journey of this club," while giving a certain evaluation to the performance in the first half and burning with fighting spirit towards the title. "Improvement is necessary to achieve our dream. We want to fight with hunger while following the rules."
The previous match in May ended in a 2-1 come-from-behind victory, but Sapporo was by no means an easy opponent. However, at Ajinomoto Stadium, only victory is expected. We want to gain momentum in the second half of the season with two consecutive wins.
This week's matchday program is here
[Interview with Peter Cklamovski]
Q, In the Shonan Bellmare match, we overcame a difficult time and won without conceding any goals.
A, we want to continue to score more points. We also want to promote overall growth in the attacking part, as well as strengthen the defense, make sharp responses, and aim to finish the game without conceding any goals.
Q, How do you view the scoring power compared to the beginning of the season?
A, I feel that the number of chances we are able to create by observing the opponent's movements has been increasing. It is important to continue improving and growing from practice in order to convert those chances into goals. In this season, we have reached the halfway point and upon reflection, we have scored many goals from open play. By refining our play and approach in attack, I believe that goals will naturally increase. Although the first half of the season has ended, we want to showcase our developed style of football and continue to grow in the second half of the season.
Q, the first match of the second half of the league will be against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.
A, a tough team. They will not be satisfied with their league position. I think they will come at us with all their might to grab 3 points. Coach Zoran Petrovic is a great coach who has built a great team. We must prove our challenge against such a team and show what kind of fight we can put up. I think it will be an exciting game, but we want to show a lot of goals at home.
[Player Interview]
Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
Q, Shonan Bellmare contributed greatly to the shutout victory despite being under constant attack during the match.
A, It was a difficult game, but I want to take a positive view of being able to win. Of course, it is important to reflect on the tactical aspects and to build a defensive organization as a defensive player who does not allow the opponent to invade deep into our own territory, but even in a game like the Shonan match where the opponent took the lead, I think it was good to be able to win.
Q, Compared to the Júbilo Iwata match, I think there was improvement in the defense in the previous match against Shonan.
A, I think that by playing more games, we will continue to move in a good direction, and I also think that our defensive coordination will improve even more from here. Personally, I think that my performance will also improve by continuing to play in games, and I feel that good defense leads to stable and good attacks. On the other hand, I think that good attacks also lead to positive defense, so I believe that the growth and improvement of both offense and defense will make the entire team better.
Q, Is it difficult to balance club activities with the activities of the U-23 Japan national team during this season?
I always have the desire to contribute to Tokyo, so there is also a sense of loneliness when I am away from the team. However, being selected for the U-23 Japan national team is something to be proud of both as a team and as an individual, so I was conscious of preparing my mind to give my all in the position I was given at that moment.
Q, The second half of the season will start from the Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo match this week. What do you think Tokyo needs to do to compete for the title?
A, I think it's inevitable to make mistakes when expressing our own soccer. Even if we make mistakes, it's important to have the mentality to keep moving forward and fight. Everyone feels that we can go higher than our current ranking, so we want to continue to push each other higher in our daily practices.
＜Kosuke SHIRAI player＞
Q, please review the previous round where you made a comeback after a long absence.
A, As for the game development, it was difficult to come on from the middle while winning 1-0, but I played with the top priority of not giving the opponent a goal. I was aware of the counterattack that would effectively exploit the space behind the opponent who was coming forward, but first I focused on defense.
Q, it was a situation where I was being pushed in and I was playing on the right wing. What were you conscious of?
I have experienced playing in the wing position, such as in the Shonan Bellmare match, or switching to the previous or opposite side during the game, this season. When playing in the wing position, I believe one of my strengths is understanding what kind of plays the fullback is looking for and what movements can be helpful.
Q, the second half of the league begins from this round. Please tell us your enthusiasm from here.
A, I was very disappointed when I got injured at a time when I was eager to contribute more to the team. I want to express my driving force, which is my own weapon, on the pitch again, and the coach also expects the players to have a high intensity. The game where the whole team was able to play with high intensity was a good performance and led to a victory. I want to contribute to increasing the winning rate with my own sprints, driving force, and hard work.
Diego Oliveira player
Q, it seemed like the attacking flow was created after Diego OLIVEIRA joined the game against Shonan Bellmare.
A, Shonan is a team with strong organization in defense, hard work, and physical strength, making it a very difficult game for us. In the midst of that, the players who took the field were able to express their respective roles, and I think it was the fact that everyone was able to fight with the same vector that led to victory. It's not just me who did something, but I think it's the result of the hard work of the entire team.
Q, on your 34th birthday, there were many congratulations from your teammates and fans/supporters at the Shonan game venue.
A, There were also many congratulatory messages as the match day coincided with my birthday. In addition, my teammates celebrated with me at the hotel the day before the match. I am grateful to be able to play soccer in such an environment and to the fans, supporters, and teammates. I hope we can end this season with good results and celebrate together in a different way next time.
