<Last Match Review: Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo>
2024 Meiji Yasuda J1 League Sec. 20. Tokyo won 1-0 against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo in a match that marked the start of the second half of the league season, achieving their second victory of the season at Ajinomoto Stadium, where they had only one win in the first half. The key player was Soma ANZAI, who scored the decisive goal, marking his second consecutive goal at Ajinomoto since his first professional goal.
Tokyo started the match cautiously, observing the opponent's tight defense. There was a long period where they couldn't take a shot, but from the 30th minute of the first half, they took control of the pace, pushing the opponent back and getting close to the goal. However, as the time continued without shaking the net, a tense atmosphere began to fill the stadium. In the 39th minute of the second half, player Anzai, who had moved from the right wing to the left wing, scored a brilliant opening goal.
When connecting the ball on the right side, Riki HARAKAWA supplies a perfect cross that goes over the heads of the opposing defense with one touch. Number 38, who escaped from behind the opposing defender, stretched out his left foot at the drop point of the ball. The attacker's shot, which he only focused on meeting, hit the crossbar and was sucked into the goal.
"When Harakawa entered the kick motion, I thought I would go into the most dangerous area of the opponent. I knew the opponent was marking me, so it was good that I moved first and was able to take a position behind the opponent where they couldn't respond. In the end, I was competing with the opponent until the last moment, and (after the shot) I couldn't see the moment it went into the goal, but I realized it had scored from the cheers of the stadium. I really think it was a goal pushed in with determination."
Attacker who dashes to the goal end. Despite the tough result of only one win at Ajinomoto in the first half, he was driven by the desire to share the joy with the fans and supporters who continued to cheer him on. His first professional goal in the 18th round against Iwata was an equalizer, so he couldn't fully enjoy the joy of scoring due to the overwhelming desire to win, making the taste of the goal he scored in a difficult situation even more satisfying.
"He has always said, 'I want to win with the team,' but he also had another feeling hidden in his heart. The red card he received in the away game against Verdy Tokyo. That memory is still vivid in his mind. Despite being at a numerical disadvantage, the team managed to come back from 0-2 and bring the game to a draw in the final stages."
"After the Verdy match, I felt even stronger about wanting to fight for the team and make sure we win. Not in a negative way, but truly feeling like it's my turn to help the team. It took some time to see visible results, but it's a big accomplishment for myself. As a forward, my numbers are still not enough, so I want to give back even more. Not just for myself, but as a team, I will continue to work hard to achieve better results."
After a good start at home, the second half began. In a post-match flash interview, he spoke powerfully towards the stands.
"FC Tokyo is not like this."
We will repay the home crowd with results from now on.
We can do more. We can go higher──。
It must have been because he believed in it. Number 38, who has gained a sense of scoring and confidence in addition to his dedicated playing style, will lead the team with his passionate play from the front.
Match Preview
In the previous match, we won 1-0 against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, achieving our second consecutive clean sheet victory. In the 39th minute of the second half, with the score at 0-0, Riki HARAKAWA delivered a cross from the right side, which Soma ANZAI dove in to meet with his left foot, scoring the winning goal. Soma ANZAI, who scored his second goal of the season, said, "I think I can play freely now," while discussing the factors behind his good form and vowing to continue his strong performance. "As a forward, my numbers are still not enough. I want to work harder to achieve better results for myself and the team."
In addition, Teppei OKA, who contributed to two consecutive games without conceding, said, "In the previous Shonan Bellmare game, we were caught off guard, so we were conscious of preparing faster than the opponent. I think we were able to challenge and cover as a center back and had good coordination."
In this match, we will welcome Avispa Fukuoka to Ajinomoto Stadium after a three-day break. For Tokyo, Fukuoka has been a difficult opponent, remaining winless in eight league matches since the 2016 season, but in the last encounter, we won 3-1 away. The match was also one of the best games of the season, dispelling our negative mindset. If we can maintain our momentum and continue our winning streak here, we can push into the upper ranks. Tokyo's 'hot' summer is finally beginning.
This week's matchday program is here
[Interview with Peter CKLAMOVSKI]
Q, the team is currently on a 2-game winning streak. How do you plan to continue this momentum and secure more victories?
A, It is important to continue to promote growth in what we have built up so far, and to approach the game with a high mentality. The match against Avispa Fukuoka is expected to be a tough one, but we will prepare well and give our all.
Q, I think we were able to pull off the victory by fighting tough until the end in the previous match against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.
A, it was an important point in advancing the match. In the early stages of the game, there may not have been many threats posed to the opponent. However, by progressing the match without impatience, a rhythm was created. Gradually gaining pace towards the end of the first half led to an increase in plays directed towards the goal, resulting in scoring in the latter part of the match. It is important to continue expressing what the team has built up, and in the match against Sapporo, this became a trigger for capturing a good flow. Just like in the first half, there are times when there are moments of patience. In the second half, including the substitutes, we were able to control the match. The role of the players who entered the pitch as substitutes at the timing when the opponent was getting tired is extremely important. I believe the hard work of everyone on the pitch was rewarded with the late-game goals. It was a very significant victory for the team.
Q, we won consecutive games, but both matches required "patience" from us.
A, the development and content may vary depending on the match. I believe that the solutions to various challenges that may occur on the pitch are within what we have built up so far. The Shonan Bellmare and Sapporo matches had a lot of patience, but it was important for us to be able to connect to victory. The Fukuoka match will also be a difficult one, but we will aim for victory.
[Player Interview]
＜Teppei OKA＞
Q, I made a big contribution to the victory in the 2 games I started. How do you feel about it?
A, keeping the number of goals conceded to zero is always a goal for defensive players, and in the games I played, I approached it from practice with the premise of keeping a clean sheet and winning. In this season, there were many games where the team conceded multiple goals, so being able to contribute as a starter in the few clean sheet games where we won by keeping the number of goals conceded to zero was really meaningful for both the team and myself.
Q, How do you feel about your personal response in that?
A, the Shonan Bellmare match had a bit of tension and a cautious approach, including how the opponent played, and I wasn't able to defend the way I wanted to. The impression was that we spent a long time defending against Shonan's momentum and pressure from the sides, and we weren't able to express ourselves in defense or attack. In comparison, for the Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo match, we were able to organize the issues and areas for improvement from the Shonan match and enter the game, and I think it was good that we were able to fight tenaciously and toughly. I am currently learning and absorbing various things from the matches I have played. I think the speed of growth is also demanded, and I am approaching each match by organizing what I can do.
Q, What kind of person do you envision yourself becoming as you grow?
A, I want to become a player who can excite Tokyo. Personally, Masato MORISHIGE has been an admired figure since my time in the Tokyo academy. Just like I was, I want to grow into a defender that the academy players look up to.
<Riki HARAKAWA>
Q, I started in the starting lineup in the position of a defensive midfielder in the previous match.
It was a good element to be able to create a rhythm of play from the beginning of the game with my first starting appearance in a while. In the recent league games, I had many opportunities to come on as a substitute, and there were also difficulties in playing while understanding the flow of the game and the situation of my teammates. Both Takahiro KO and Kei KOIZUMI have their own strengths as defensive midfielders, and I hope to show a relationship and combination that will increase the team's options without canceling out each other's strengths.
Q, last match was a double volanche with Takase and a long time.
A, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo has always communicated with each other to prevent an open game against their unique defense. This round, we will be facing Avispa Fukuoka, and our approach will naturally change as our opponent changes. I believe the game content and flow will have a different atmosphere, so we cannot rely on the same approach as we did against Sapporo. Therefore, I would like to approach the game with that in mind.
Q, what are the characteristics and strong points of Fukuoka?
A, I think there are many parts that you won't understand until the game starts, but Fukuoka's strong defense that makes it difficult to eliminate the opponent's characteristics is impressive. Especially in the first 10-15 minutes of the game, if you can understand Fukuoka's intentions as a team, I think you can progress the game in a good way.
