This is a game we want to win at all costs.
With the interruption period due to the International Match Week coming to an end, the 2024 Meiji Yasuda J1 League resumes. Tokyo faced off against Nagoya Grampus at the new Japan National Stadium, where they have never lost in the past.
The team has been away from victory since the match against Albirex Niigata in Sec. 23 held on July 13 (Saturday). In the away game against Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Sec. 29, affected by Typhoon No. 10, they managed to score two late goals to stop the streak of four consecutive matches without scoring, but they could not reach victory. They entered the break with feelings of frustration.
This match is held at the National Stadium, where we have a good track record. The players are fired up to deliver a victory to the fans and supporters who continue to cheer for them.
The starting lineup for Tokyo features goalkeeper Taishi Brandon NOZAWA, with the final line consisting of players from right to left: Keisuke KOIZUMI, Masato MORISHIGE, Henrique TREVISAN, and Tetsuhei OKA. The defensive midfielders are Keigo HIGASHI, making his first start of the season, alongside Takahiro KO. In the attacking midfield position, Ryotaro ARAKI is utilized. The front line includes Teruhito NAKAGAWA on the right wing, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA on the left wing, and Diego OLIVEIRA as the lone striker. Additionally, Keita YAMASHITA returns to the official match bench for the first time in about 1 year and 4 months. Leon NOZAWA, who also made the squad, hopes to shine again at the National Stadium after scoring his first J1 League goal in the 23rd round against Niigata.
1st HALF - Two goals ahead with Keigo and Diego
A louder version of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' resonates from behind the goal, tightening the atmosphere of the National Stadium. Additionally, special effect fireworks enhance the stadium just before the start. The players donned the limited edition black 3rd uniforms for this match, and the game kicked off at 19:03.
First shot is from Tokyo. In the 40th second, they connect the ball from the left side, and player Higashi aims for a mid-range shot.
Tokyo continued to possess the ball while looking for attacking opportunities. The play of both players, who had strong feelings for this match, changed the course of the game. It was in the 13th minute of the first half.
On the left side, player Araki, holding the ball, delivered a sharp pass resembling a cross-field change that sliced through the opponent's defense to the front line. Receiving this, player Nakagawa carried it powerfully into the center and aimed with his right foot, but the opponent's goalkeeper deflected it, and player Higashi was there to capitalize. The veteran duo, who were determined to respond with results, showcased their passionate play, successfully allowing Tokyo to take the lead. This is the first time the blue and red have taken the initiative since the last match against Niigata at National Stadium. The stadium resonated with chants of "Oh! Keigo HIGASHI!" to honor the number 10 who scored the crucial opening goal.
Tokyo continued to push into Nagoya's territory, mixing short and long passes. Player Nakagawa showed a concentrated effort on the defensive side with his pressing back, demonstrating a battle for control while managing risks against the opponent's counterattacks.
The determination for victory shown by the player wearing number 39. That feeling bears fruit once again. In the 29th minute of the first half, player Nakagawa ran forward to meet a long feed from player Morishige, quickly picking up the ball that the opposing defender failed to clear with his head and dribbling past. He then advanced into the goal area, where he was brought down from behind, earning a penalty kick. The kicker is Diego TABA. As usual, he took a few precise steps, deceiving the opposing goalkeeper and sending the ball to the left, making the score 2-0 in the 31st minute of the first half.
The awareness of second balls, which had been a challenge since the resumption, was high, and there were almost no scenes of losing possession due to aggressive plays leading to counters. By firmly tightening the center of the final line, they were able to respond to crosses with stability and clear them effectively.
At the end of 3 minutes of added time in the first half, Tokyo led by 2 points at the break.
2nd HALF - Continuing unbeaten at National with goals from Yang and Teru
Tokyo made no changes to their lineup, while Nagoya substituted two players at halftime. They approached the second half aiming to continue the momentum from the first half.
The opponent has intensified their attack from the sides, but Tokyo responds calmly. The players on the pitch keep the two-goal lead in mind, controlling the game without forcing a speed-up even when they regain possession of the ball. They firmly take the initiative and continue to advance the match.
In the 15th minute of the second half, three players were substituted. Kanta DOI, Yasuki KIMOTO, and Keita ENDO were sent onto the pitch to replace the opening goal scorer, Higashi, Henrique, and Tawaramizuki. DOI was utilized as a left defensive midfielder due to his technical skills.
Tokyo, not easing their offensive efforts, scored the long-awaited first goal in blue and red by the player wearing number 8 in the 20th minute of the second half. Near the penalty arc, Diego TABA and Araki kept possession and spread the play to the left side. Endo made a vertical run, and Takahashi rushed in from the far side to strike with his right foot. The sharp trajectory pierced the goal net, securing Tokyo's decisive third goal in the match. For Takahashi, who had scored a 'phantom middle shot' (ruled out for a foul in the preceding play) in the Sec. 6 match against Urawa Reds at the National Stadium, this was the long-awaited first goal in blue and red. After scoring, he sprinted towards the goal area, expressing his joy by making a strong fist pump with both hands while hitting the emblem on his chest with his right hand. The fans and supporters in the goal area shared the moment of joy with chants of 'Vamos! Yan.'
In the 31st minute of the second half, a powerful shot from the left side was taken by Kasper JUNKER, who scored a hat-trick in the previous match, but here, Taishi Nozawa made a fine save with just one hand. The defense firmly supports the attack's performance.
In the 33rd minute of the second half, Leon NOZAWA was brought in as a right winger in place of Araki. Nakagawa moved into the attacking midfielder position. This positional change led to further excitement at National. Having fought hard on both offense and defense since the first half, the moment of joy arrives for number 39, who has been leading the team with his back, contributing to two goals.
It was in the 35th minute of the second half. From a quick counterattack, player Endo carried the ball forward and made a through pass. Player Nakagawa, who broke free, struck a powerful left-footed shot from a dribble to score the fourth goal. He placed his hands over his ears as he headed towards the goal area, stopping there to fully absorb the cheers while listening to the chants. The man who said, 'I want to respond to the supporters with results no matter what,' left an overwhelming result, contributing to three goals, including his own, in front of a massive crowd of 55,896 people.
After conceding a goal in the 40th minute of the second half, Yamashita was brought onto the pitch in place of Nakagawa. This was his first official match appearance since returning to Tokyo, and he showed his presence by aggressively aiming for a shot.
The match ended 4-1 after 5 minutes of additional time. We showcased brilliant attacking football at "Our National Stadium," achieving a league victory for the first time in about two months with a total of 4 goals. The chant of "The City That Never Sleeps" echoed throughout the stadium, and the victory song "You'll Never Walk Alone" allowed the players and the entire Japan National Stadium to share in the joy. It was a night of excitement for the National and Tokyo.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Keisuke KOIZUMI / Masato MORISHIGE / Henrique TREVIZAN (15 min: Yasuki KIMOTO) / Tetsuhei OKA
MF Yuhiro TAKAHASHI / Keigo HIGASHI (15 min: Kanta DOI) / Ryotaro ARAKI (33 min: Leon NOZAWA)
FW Diego OLIVEIRA / Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (15 min: Keita ENDO) / Teruto NAKAGAWA (41 min: Keita YAMASHITA)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
DF Yuto NAGATOMO
GOAL
13th minute of the first half: Keigo HIGASHI / 31st minute of the first half: Diego OLIVEIRA / 20th minute of the second half: Takahiro KO / 36th minute of the second half: Teruhito NAKAGAWA
<Nagoya Grampus>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK LANGERAK
DF Akinari KAWAZURA/Kennedyegbus MIKUNI/Takuya UCHIDA (substituted in 0 minutes: Katsuhiro NAKAYAMA)
MF Ryosuke YAMANAKA (substituted in 21 minutes: Taichi KIKUCHI)/Keiya SHIIHASHI (substituted in 30 minutes: Ken HBAI)/Yoshiki INAGAKI/Tsukasa MORISHIMA (substituted in 0 minutes: Ryuji IIZUMI)/Yuki NOGAMI
FW Casper JUNKER/Kensuke NAGAI (substituted in 21 minutes: PATRIC)
SUBS
GK Yohei TAKEDA
DF Ha Chanrae
GOAL
40th minute of the second half: Sho INAGAKI
[Interview with Peter CKLAMOVSKI, Manager]
Q, please look back on today's game.
It was a match where we were able to showcase many important aspects of our commitments and good elements that lead to strong performances. There were many good points in the game, and among them, there were parts where our efforts were rewarded. However, there are still areas for improvement, and we want to continue without changing the process we have been following. We will thoroughly analyze our performance and further improve our way of fighting. The players fought very well. I believe they showed a wonderful mentality and spirit. They gave their all to secure three points for the fans and supporters. As a result, good goals were created that connected with our performance. However, I regret that we could not finish the match without conceding a goal. This is an area we must improve upon.
There were many good moments. We were able to move the ball well into the spaces we wanted to use, and the four goals came from our strong awareness to push forward. If we execute properly, we can create attacks that are difficult for the opponent to stop, and I believe that is something they dislike. I sincerely wanted to give the three points to our fans and supporters by giving it our all. I am proud of the players who accomplished that. Moreover, it is not just today's members, but the strength of all the players, all the staff, and everyone involved with the club. And tonight, I hope everyone enjoys these three points.
Q: I think this is your first time scoring 4 goals this season. Was there any particular trigger for this?
A, what we have consistently built up this season was able to be shown today. While demonstrating our discipline and dedication, we were able to break through and aim for the back. During that time, there were moments when we could control the ball and effectively exploit the gaps we were targeting. What I want to analyze is what we are doing on a daily basis. Today, what we have been doing every day paid off. I think it was really great for the players to score four good goals.
[Player Interview]
＜Player Tokyokeigo＞
Q: It was the first goal in two months, please review the scoring scene.
A, due to injuries, I had fewer opportunities to play for more than six months, but I am surprisingly the type to think, so I have been considering what the team could do better and how things could improve. When Teruhito NAKAGAWA had the ball, I ran ahead, but I felt that there were few runs to help teammates, like that kind of "decoy" movement, throughout the team. Looking at just that scene, Teruhito NAKAGAWA entered the box and took a shot, and I shot the rebound. That kind of movement is one of my strengths, and as a defensive midfielder, there aren't many scenes where I go forward, but in that moment, I happened to decide to enter the goal area. It was fortunate that the ball came to me there.
Q: I think the ball was moving smoothly during the build-up.
A, today there were many player substitutions, and I think the players' individuality was well expressed in various situations. We performed well today, but there will be times when things don't go as planned, so I believe we need to think about how to handle those situations. It's a small detail, but in terms of defense, when we need to go for the ball, it's important to maintain balance instead of forcing it, so judgment becomes crucial.
Q: It was impressive to hear you say, 'Let's have fun' before the match.
A, I believe that everyone starts playing soccer for fun. However, when you bear pressure and other burdens, it inevitably becomes constricting. Recently, everyone has been like that. Watching the matches, everyone seemed stiff, so I thought that if we could play with smiles and enjoy ourselves, it would naturally come together. To reiterate, soccer is fun, so if we tighten up where we need to and don't misunderstand how to enjoy it, the team can improve. I think everyone moved in a good direction today.
Q: Please share your enthusiasm for the next match.
A, we have only won once, so we cannot afford to be complacent, and we must continue to say that this ranking is not acceptable. The upcoming matches will become even more important than today. Starting tomorrow, we will prepare thoroughly and aim to achieve consecutive victories.
＜Teruhito NAKAGAWA player＞
Q: Compared to the recent matches, it seems that the awareness of victory and goals has been heightened throughout the team, starting with Nakagawa.
A, playing aggressively, I shed tears of frustration in the last match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, so I focused solely on expressing that frustration at the Japan National Stadium. That's why I believe we achieved such a wonderful result. Winning is the best.
Q, Keigo HIGASHI's opening goal was created from Nakagawa's middle shot.
Before the shot, there was an option to pass to player Higashi, but seeing the movements of the opposing defense, I took a somewhat forceful shot. Since the game had just started a little while ago, I also wanted to instill a shooting mentality in the entire team. I believe it was a goal scored at a good timing, with player Higashi closing in.
Q: It was a match where you could particularly feel the intention to target the space behind the opponent's defense.
While maintaining the approach of connecting where we need to connect, we were able to send the ball to areas that the opponent dislikes and effectively recover the second ball as a team. This strategy led to good opportunities for scoring and play.
Q: After the match, there was a scene where we sang "Yuruneva" with the fans and supporters for the first time in a while.
To all the fans and supporters, we always receive the best support. We can always feel your cheers and the amazing atmosphere on the pitch, and it was great to see everyone smiling and singing 'Yuruneva'.
<Takahiro KO>
Q: Please tell us the positive aspects of playing alongside Keigo HIGASHI as a defensive midfielder.
A, since we were up against Nagoya Grampus, I felt that we could relatively draw out and move the ball. While thoroughly managing risks, we were able to actively and fluidly move with player Higashi, so I think that went well.
Q: I think the game management was very good.
It was significant that we were able to take the lead with A. Higashi's goal, and we also scored an additional point. There were voices in the locker room at halftime suggesting we should aim for a third goal in the second half, so I’m glad we were able to decisively finish the game.
Q: Player Ko has finally scored his long-awaited first goal. How do you feel looking back on it?
A, it was good. I was delighted, but the previous cancellation crossed my mind, and I thought it might be a cancellation again (laughs). It was the type of cross that the coach demands from the team, and it was a wonderful cross from Keita ENDO, so I was glad I could get in there and score based on my instincts.
Q: How was the response from the fans and supporters behind the goal after the match ended?
A long period of not being able to win continued, and in the last match, there were fans and supporters who cheered for us despite the impact of the typhoon, so I approached the game with a strong desire to deliver a victory as soon as possible. I'm glad we could celebrate together.
