<Last Match・Gamba Osaka Review>
A home game held at Japan National Stadium with an audience of 44,519. Aiming for their first victory in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League since Sec. 3, the players on the pitch showed passionate play.
Creating numerous chances from the start, the team advanced the match by pressing aggressively and quickly switching between offense and defense to push into the opponent's territory. In the first half, there was a VAR-supported decision that disallowed a goal by Gamba Osaka, but each player demonstrated their unique strengths and actively moved with clear intent toward the goal. The atmosphere in the stadium created by the blue and red fans and supporters also boosted the team.
Throughout both halves, the team dominated the match and created chances, but the goal net remained untouched. Finally, in the 41st minute of the second half, the game took a turn.
Kota TAWARATSUMIDA received the ball in his own half and drove forward, quickly accelerating. Wearing number 33, he said, "There was space, so the moment I faced forward, I decided to go alone." He sprinted down the left side, breaking through two defenders who desperately tried to catch up, cut inside toward the center, and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot—a superb goal. Despite being involved in many chances so far without visible results, the 20-year-old attacker, who had been struggling and "feeling responsible," brought joy to the team by driving in a right-footed strike after a dribble of about 70 meters.
Tokyo gained momentum with this. Then, at the 45th minute, a ground pass connected from the right side was struck directly with the right foot by Takahiro KO in the center, hitting the upper right corner of the goal with a controlled shot. Furthermore, in the additional time of the second half, a shot by player Tawara Tsumida induced an own goal by the opponent, securing three goals in a short period and deciding the match.
Smiles burst forth all over Japan National Stadium as the team secured their first league win in 9 matches. The blue and red finally emerged from a long tunnel, achieving a splendid shutout victory.
Match Preview
The long-awaited victory secured in the previous match carries a feeling that it will blow away the difficult streak so far.
In the previous match against Gamba Osaka, they neutralized the opponent's strengths while showcasing their own, winning the battles for the ball without yielding to the opponent in front of them. From solid defense to effective offense. The blue and red eleven came alive on the pitch as if recalling what is necessary for victory.
This season, there were many matches where chances were created but the team failed to finish and dropped points. However, in similar situations, the team showed growth by firmly holding on without conceding goals and securing victories.
Teppei OKA, who played in the center of the three-back, said, "I defended with spirit and determination," while Keigo HIGASHI, the defensive midfielder, thought, "It’s important to be patient especially when we can’t score. If we do that, chances will come," and kept encouraging those around him. They actively pressed from the front line to take away the opponent’s freedom, forced them to kick long balls, won the duels for the ball, and recovered the second balls. Everyone ran for the team, supported each other, and confidently pointed forward, which should lead to greater confidence in winning.
Also, the attacking line, which had gradually started to link their strengths over the past few matches, scored three goals all at once, which can be said to be a major positive factor. Especially, the smile of Kota TAWARATSUMIDA, who had been wearing a troubled expression until now, instantly changed the atmosphere of the team. His teammates, who know his struggles, as well as the large crowd of blue and red supporters, burst with joy as if it were their own, and the team unleashed what had been pent up in a goal rush. Goals were created by combining each player's weapons, such as the defensive midfielder joining the attack and utilizing the speed of the front line, and including the breakthrough ability of Marcelo RYAN, it is certain that the team has started to show a sense of 'fear'.
Of course, challenges remain, and the way the game was managed cannot yet be called solid. As Keita ENDO said after the match, "Winning is important, but if you ask whether this is the style of football Tokyo is aiming for now, it is not. There are many things we need to do," and it is desirable to demonstrate the skillful game management that advances time while maintaining possession of the ball as much as possible.
And Yuto NAGATOMO said, "(The journey to victory) was long. Too long. But if we let our guard down here, a tough and difficult period might come again. We managed to fight hard and tenaciously for the ball, but we've only won one match so far. We need to score earlier and finish off the game more efficiently. Since we have a match soon, we have to switch our focus immediately." Without letting his guard down, he turned his attention to the next match.
This week, returning to Ajinomoto Stadium for a home game is Shimizu S-Pulse, who have been promoted back to J1 this season. In the league, they currently stand 7th with 5 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses. In their recent matches, they scored 3 goals each against Yokohama F.Marinos and Avispa Fukuoka, securing consecutive wins. Midfielders Inui and Nakahara are making a difference in the center, and in the last match against Fukuoka, Matsuzaki scored 2 goals, showing the attacking line is in good form.
As Tokyo, we must not let our guard down with just one victory, and we want to continue returning to basics by connecting good defense to good offense. By playing football that values possession while continuously showing fearlessness in attack, victory should come closer. We must firmly put into practice the "way to win" clearly remembered in the G Osaka match in this round's Shimizu match as well.
After going winless in the first 8 league matches, the team has now switched to an unbeaten streak of 4 official games following last match's victory. While complacency is forbidden, the short three-day interval between matches should help keep spirits high and bodies light. With the congested schedule continuing, this game will be another all-out effort to secure consecutive wins and turn the confidence gradually built up into certainty.
The blue and red counterattack, having emerged from a long tunnel, truly begins here.
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q, We secured our first victory in a while against Gamba Osaka.
A, it was our first victory in a while. I think it is important to build on this. There were scenes supported by VAR, but also moments where if we had properly connected on set plays, things could have been different. Considering that if those had been decided earlier, the flow of the game would have changed, it is crucial to capitalize on our first chances. Although the timing might have affected the outcome and we can't be sure if the result would have been the same this time, if Marcelo RYAN had converted the first chance, we would have had a higher possibility of controlling and leading the match more steadily. We need to continue striving for that.
Q: The match against G Osaka was quite up-tempo. Wouldn't you normally want to maintain possession of the ball a bit more?
A, well. However, we need to think about how to win. It's not that we completely lost sight of that, and looking at the goals, not all of them were like that. At the start of the game, we all shared the idea of trying to take territory and aligned our focus as we approached the match. In the first half, it seemed like there were several balls played behind the defense, but we also used the space created by targeting behind. For us, connecting passes is not the objective, so when thinking about how to advance towards the goal, if we can simply take the space behind, I believe that should be the first play choice. If the targeted area is not shared, it causes isolation. In that sense, we entered the match having communicated that we would approach the initial period with that mindset.
Q. How are you preparing to approach the match against Shimizu S-Pulse?
A, this team seems to reflect the energy of Coach Akiba and is very technical and tactical. Within this combination, there is also a player like Inui who can surprise the opponent, making it a very well-balanced and good team. Based on trends, we expect it to be a mirror game, but with information about injuries, we don't know what kind of system will be used. We are prepared for any system. Within that, we are aligned on how to create advantages in front of the goal, and I hope that will translate into a performance that leads to results.
[Player Interview]
<Kota TAWARATSUMIDA>
Q: Scored the first goal of the season.
A, for now, I feel relieved. Since the goal was scored thanks to everyone, I can only be grateful to my teammates. When I come on as a substitute, the game tends to open up in the second half, so I intended to play in a way that would lead the team. The goal was important, but the best thing was that the team won without conceding any goals.
Q, I think the third goal was a scene where the shape we had always wanted to create finally appeared.
A, being able to score in that way was a new success experience for me. Especially when playing inside, my dribbling is often difficult to utilize, so I hope to keep challenging myself like that, creating chances and continuing to score goals.
Q: The match against Shimizu S-Pulse could become a mirror game. I think winning one-on-one battles will increase our chances.
A, It would be good to win the challenge on our side and create opportunities.
Q. We want to make the victory against Gamba Osaka more meaningful by aiming for consecutive wins.
A, I think we shouldn't get carried away just because we won the last match. If the whole team can properly align our direction and fight together, we can achieve consecutive wins, so we want to win.
<Kanta DOI>
Q. We finally secured a victory in the last match against Gamba Osaka. How is the team's atmosphere?
A, of course it's better than when we haven't been winning, but the atmosphere is still "we have a long way to go." Our ranking is not where we aim to be, and since we only won one match, the performance was not perfect, so I think we need to thoroughly review it.
Q. By winning the match against Shimizu S-Pulse, do you think the significance of winning against G Osaka will become greater?
A, since I am a defensive player, I want to firmly keep the number of goals conceded at zero. There were some dangerous situations during set plays, so I want to make sure to correct those. We didn't concede any goals last time, but if similar situations arise in the next match, it doesn't guarantee we won't concede, so I want to make adjustments to prevent any dangerous moments from occurring.
Q. We finished the match without conceding a goal for the first time in a while. What kind of communication did you have with Soma ANZAI and Teppei OKA?
There were many scenes where things didn’t go well with A and line control. We were coordinating with each other during the match. Although it’s not perfect, it is gradually improving. I think it will get better by playing while calling out to each other and building a challenge & cover relationship with a shared awareness when stopping opposing players. Soma ANZAI is playing in an unfamiliar position, but if there is anything concerning, I communicate it, and we all work together to improve, aiming to keep a clean sheet in every match. There are players from the academy lined up, but I believe that just participating is meaningless. After all, we want to focus on the result of victory.
Q. Please tell us your impression of Shimizu S-Pulse.
They were promoted from the J2 League, but they are a team that can fully compete in the J1 League. This applies to any opponent; they are not a team to be underestimated. I think they are a very good team with both skill and strength, so we want to approach the match with the momentum to overcome that. Rather than dropping our line because the opponent comes at us with momentum, we want to raise our line and push them back.
