Match Review
The league resumes after a two-week break. The frustration experienced in the previous match against Kyoto Sanga F.C., and the passionate messages from fans and supporters that the players received wholeheartedly after the defeat. Carrying these feelings in their hearts through the break, the Blue-Red Army prepares to face Cerezo Osaka at Ajinomoto Stadium with a determination to win every match.
Heading into a must-win game, head coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI has taken on a new challenge. He put an end to the three-back formation that had been used since the season opener and introduced a four-back system during this period. This match features Go HATANO at the back, with the center-back pairing of Masato MORISHIGE, who achieved the remarkable milestone of 500 J1 League appearances this match, and Yasuki KIMOTO. Sei MUROYA, returning to Tokyo for the first time, is positioned as right side back, and Kosuke SHIRAI is placed as left side back to form the defensive line.
In the defensive midfield positions, Kento HASHIMOTO and Takahiro KO lined up, with Keita ENDO as the left midfielder, Soma ANZAI as the right midfielder, and Marcelo RYAN returning to the starting lineup at the front line, forming a two-forward partnership with Keigo HIGASHI.
Motoya, who was announced to join just before the special registration period in June, was listed as a starting member. Motoki NAGAKURA, who also became part of the blue and red team, is expected to be eligible to play from the next league match after participating in the midweek Emperor's Cup. Additionally, former South Korean national team goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu and former Danish national team defender Alexander SCHOLZ also joined the blue and red team, pledging to make a comeback in the second half with a strengthened lineup.
This round marks the start, and with a new formation, it is a game where we absolutely want to secure a victory to gain momentum for the June counterattack. An important match for the future kicked off at home at Ajinomoto Stadium for the first time in about a month.
1st HALF—Lightning-fast opening goal caught up, heading into the second half
Despite the rain, the blue and red warriors shine on the pitch from the very start to meet the expectations of fans and supporters who cheer loudly before the match.
With coordinated pressing, they cornered the left side and, from a pincer movement, player Takao stole the ball. He then sent a final pass toward the goal, where player Hian, running in from behind, controlled it precisely and slotted it in with his right foot, giving Tokyo an early lead. Ajinomoto Stadium erupted in excitement at the passionate goal show just 3 minutes into the match.
Tokyo continued to leverage the advantages of their four-back formation. In the 9th minute of the first half, Morishige played a vertical pass with angle, and from the right side, Anzai moved inward to receive it. He quickly faced forward and played a through pass into the space ahead. Here, RIAN sharply broke through and advanced, skillfully executing a lob shot with his right foot while watching the opposing goalkeeper's position. Although the shot unfortunately hit the crossbar and did not result in an additional goal, they created continuous scoring opportunities from the start.
From just past the 10th minute of the first half, C Osaka maintained possession and continued to press forward. Tokyo formed two lines of four players each in defense and midfield, firmly repelling attacks in front of the goal and showing a defense that prevented clear scoring opportunities.
Tokyo demonstrated the power of sharp counters utilizing RIAN's speed after drawing in the opponent. In the 24th minute of the first half, RIAN aimed a long loop shot, and in the 26th minute, Anzai, receiving a final pass from RIAN's breakaway, took a shot. They aimed for additional goals with timely attacks that could quickly turn the game around.
Timely movements also create effectiveness in defense. Higashi, who played as one of the two forwards, ran back from midfield to the last line of defense, working hard to defend and creating a numerical advantage in their own half to help regain possession. He supports the team with veteran-like assistance.
The day before the match, as player Taka said he wanted to "focus once again on the switching part," everyone showed strength in ball contests and quick anticipation, displaying concentrated play in both offense and defense. However, in the 42nd minute of the first half, after being on the attack, they suffered a long counterattack, and Rafael Hatton, who broke free from a long feed by player Kagawa who picked up the loose ball, scored to equalize just before the end of the first half.
Tokyo wants to take the lead in the first half. At the 45th minute, Muroya broke through the right side and delivered a well-twisted cross, connecting with RIAN in the center. Although it narrowly missed to the left, this attack hinted at a new weapon for Tokyo, who had few chances from crosses in the first half of the league.
The first half ended with the score tied at 1-1. The outcome of the match was left to the second half.
2nd HALF—Hian scores his second goal of the day, but the points remain at 1
In the second half, the team attacks toward the stands behind the goal, where fans continue to cheer passionately despite the heavy rain. Determined to dedicate a goal and victory at all costs, the team boldly presses forward from the start. First, Lucas RIAN powerfully advances and takes a right-footed shot inside the penalty area. Although he was pressured by the opponent and couldn't strike strongly, the play immediately showed a strong desire to score.
Tokyo's quick transitions remain unchanged in the second half. At the 10th minute of the second half, C Osaka tried to break down the left side and created a scoring chance in the center, but Endo fiercely pressed back and cleared the ball. His spirited defense prevented a dangerous situation.
At the 15th minute of the second half, Keisuke Sato and Kota TAWARATSUMIDA, who returned from national team duty, were brought on to replace Higashi and Anzai, who had been working hard up front. With these substitutions aimed at intensifying the attack towards the opponent's goal, the team pushed to score the next goal.
Player Tawara Tsukida, who took the left midfielder position, received the ball in an open position on the side at the 19th minute of the second half and accelerated rapidly. He shook off the opposing player marking him, entered the penalty area, and immediately created a highlight by cutting back in the negative direction.
However, the next goal was scored by C Osaka. In the 26th minute of the second half, a through pass was played to player Tanaka, who had run a long distance, and the goal was conceded in a moment of lapse. They allowed the go-ahead goal.
In response, the Tokyo bench immediately took action. Leon NOZAWA was brought on as the right midfielder, replacing Endo. The energetic number 28 was entrusted with revitalizing the pitch.
At the 32nd minute of the second half, player Tawara Tsukida made a vertical attack on the left side and took a shot aiming near post with his left foot. Unfortunately, the shot was deflected by the left post.
And in the 36th minute of the second half, once again Lukian's speed and scoring ability saved the team. Nozawa, who became the starting point on the right side, made a soft pass into the space behind. Lukian, who ran in from behind, broke free and scored a skillful goal by slipping the ball past the opposing goalkeeper's feet to equalize. Although VAR support was called due to a possible offside, the goal was confirmed, successfully bringing the match back to square one.
Then, at the 39th minute, Ewerton GAUDINO, making his first appearance since Sec. 8, was brought on to replace the two-goal scorer Hian, and Teppei OKA was substituted in for center-back Kimoto.
The coach expected Ewerton, who has a powerful shot, to score the go-ahead goal. Then, in the 43rd minute of the second half, the player wearing number 98 created a highlight. Flowing from the center to the left, he swung his left foot, and a powerful trajectory attacked the goal. Although it was stopped by the opposing goalkeeper, the stadium buzzed with excitement at the stunning strike.
Tokyo's fierce attack continues even during the 5 minutes of second-half additional time. Nozawa breaks free on the right side from a pass from the back and crosses the ball, and Takashi in the center takes a shot. Ewerton tries to push in the rebound from the blocked shot but fails to connect, and the ball goes wide to the left.
Tokyo, carrying the hopes of the Blue-Red family, showed a fierce battle, but could not score the winning goal before time ran out. Although the match, which they absolutely wanted to win, ended in a draw, it was a game that showcased a new 4-back formation, quick transitions between offense and defense, and a relentless attacking mindset towards the goal.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING XI
GK Go HATANO
DF Naruki MUROYA/Masato MORISHIGE/Yasuki KIMOTO (39' 2nd half: Teppei OKA)/Kosuke SHIRAI
MF Soma ANZAI (15' 2nd half: Kota TAWARATSUMIDA)/Hiroshi TAKAU/U Keigo AZUMA (15' 2nd half: Yoshimasa SATO)/Kento HASHIMOTO/Keita ENDO (30' 2nd half: Reon NOZAWA)
FW Marcelo Hian (39' 2nd half: Ewerton GAUDINO)
SUBS
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Kanta DOI/Yuto NAGATOMO
MF Kei KOIZUMI
MANAGER
Rikizo MATSUHASHI
GOAL
3rd minute of the first half: Marcelo RYAN / 36th minute of the second half: Marcelo RYAN
<Cerezo Osaka>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Koki FUKUI
DF Kyohei NOBORIZATO (HT 0: Jinko TAKAHASHI)/Hayato OKUDA/Ryuya NISHIO/Shinnosuke HATANAKA
MF Akira KIDA/Shinji KAGAWA (HT 21: Shunta TANAKA)/Vitor Bueno (HT 11: Motohiko NAKAJIMA)
FW Rafael Hutton (HT 40: Masaya SHIBAYAMA)/Thiago Andrade (HT 21: Shion HONMA)/Lucas FERNANDEZ
SUBS
GK Kim Jin-hyeon
DF Kakeru FUNAKI / Ryosuke SHINDO
MF Kyohei YOSHINO
MANAGER
Arthur PAPAS
GOAL
42nd minute of the first half: Rafael Hatton / 26th minute of the second half: Shunta TANAKA
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q, Please give us a review of today's match.
A, I am grateful that the players fought to earn 3 points without giving up until the very end. Also, I appreciate the fans and supporters who continued to send passionate cheers without abandoning us, even though we have not been able to show a good performance for a long time. In terms of content, we failed to capitalize on multiple scoring opportunities early on despite a good start, and conceded a regrettable goal. In the second half, although the opponent gained some momentum, we still had time, and I think it is positive that we did not give up and ended with a draw.
Q. The player positions have changed; please tell us the intention behind the changes and your evaluation of them.
A, we had a series of games where it was difficult to secure wins and earn points, so changing the formation was always on our mind as to how to proceed. However, even though the results were not coming, there were parts we were building up and aspects we could see, so switching formations was challenging because the buildup during training was insufficient. The timing to make a change was difficult. Over the past two weeks, we organized these issues and decided to try it today. The player arrangement also reflects experience from many matches in this style, so we changed the formation with the intention of further enhancing the players' strengths in a positive direction.
As for the evaluation, it’s not that everything we prepared in rehearsal came out smoothly, but it wasn’t the case that nothing came out at all. The defense in the early stages showed great quality, and we were able to take the lead there. We also came close to scoring additional goals, reaching the point of a second and third goal, but ultimately couldn’t finish the scoring. After the tone dropped midway, there was almost no time holding the ball in this game, so I think we couldn’t express the aspects we originally aimed for. However, the strengths we have—such as quickly launching attacks after winning the ball—were clearly demonstrated in some parts, so we will properly evaluate that and prepare to build on it without losing it, aiming for a more robust attack.
Q. In the scene of the first conceded goal, Tokyo was on the attack but then the situation reversed. How do you think about risk management in that regard?
A, of course, we had anticipated that situation to some extent. However, if we look only at that phase, there were questions about the choices and decisions regarding defensive play. The pressing worked well in some parts. We also always need to be prepared on the opposite side, and balance is important. There are moments where we need to firmly win the ball back. On the attack side, although we aimed to use the flanks as a starting point, we struggled to execute that well, which I think led to that kind of counterattack. I would like to review it again while watching the footage.
Q. After the late-game substitutions, what kind of attack were you expecting to execute?
A, rather than just expectations, each player was able to fully demonstrate their strengths. Regarding Ewerton, although he has mainly played on the wings, he is left-footed and possesses very high technical skills. He has a strong shot, so by cutting inside from the center and taking shots, he becomes a real threat to the opponent. He can perform plays with a high potential to score even from the center, which was the intention behind his deployment there. As for Leon NOZAWA, his speed and timing to get behind the defense, along with his calm decision-making in those situations, are his strengths. These qualities were evident even during training, so rather than him doing exactly what I expected, I think they were able to fully showcase their abilities. It would have been better if we could have translated that into more attacks that inflicted greater damage on the opponent, but I believe they gave their best.
[Player Interview]
<Marcelo RYAN>
Q: You scored an equalizing goal that saved the team in your first start in a while. Please share your thoughts and reflections on both the first and second halves.
A, in the first half, we were able to control the entire game from the start. We scored early at 3 minutes, and had more chances afterward. I personally couldn't finish well, so we couldn't quickly extend the lead with a second or third goal. As a result, it is regrettable that we were caught up near the end of the first half. Regarding the second half, I think it was evenly matched. Although we conceded a go-ahead goal and faced a tough situation, I played with the strong desire to save the team, and I believe that spirit led to the equalizing goal. Toward the end of the match, the team was able to take the initiative, but it is very frustrating that we couldn't turn the game around.
Q. It seemed that scoring early on gave the team confidence for the rest of the game.
I believe that the early goal gave momentum and courage not only to me but to the entire team. We were also able to secure the second balls well and had chances, but it is unfortunate that we conceded a goal during a good flow. We definitely want to seize victory in the next match.
Q. In today's system, Keigo HIGASHI and Yoshimasa SATO were always playing in close positions. Was there any positive effect on the attack because of this?
A, indeed today the formation was close to a two-top setup, with changes in arrangement and positioning, but from here we want to further deepen the combination plays and develop a better form.
Q. Although there were some difficult times early in the season, it seems you have been steadily building up. From here, how do you want to further improve?
A, I want to achieve results that lead to victory. Of course, I am not only focused on my own goals, but I want the team to score multiple goals. And I want to improve our ranking step by step.
<Sei MUROYA>
Q. You stood on the pitch of Ajinomoto Stadium for the first time in a while. How was it?
A, I was very happy and deeply moved that you called my name and sang chants even before the match. Thank you very much.
Q: It has been about two weeks since joining the team, and today was the first match. Please review the game.
A, over the past two weeks, everyone has been fully committed to the internal team battles during practice, and from the start of the match, we were able to play with that mindset. Although conceding two goals was a bit disappointing, throughout the 90 minutes we maintained high intensity and played football that surpassed our opponents. I believe that if we can have more periods where we control the ball, we will improve even further. Considering the current situation, I think this match was one where we were able to do what we could.
Q. Although we scored first, we were caught up. What do you think was the reason we couldn't secure the win?
A, the first goal conceded was due to an excellent pass from the opponent. After it became 1-1, I think the second goal conceded today was a bit unlucky. When we haven't been winning, somehow we tend to concede goals in situations like this, so I think that's the issue. However, if we continue playing matches like this, the points will naturally increase.
Q. From here, matches will continue with Zweigen Kanazawa in the Emperor's Cup and Gamba Osaka in the league. How will you prepare for these games?
A, we have consecutive matches including the Emperor's Cup, but we must base our games on the intensity we showed today. First, we need to secure a victory in the next Emperor's Cup match, advance to the next stage, and prepare to earn 3 points in the away match against Gamba Osaka.
