A crucial match to advance to the round of 16

ACL Group Stage Match 5 is held. We will play against Brisbane Roar from Australia at our home ground, National Stadium. The first match of this card was held on March 6th, before the league started. It was also our first time participating in the ACL as a club, but we showed dynamic soccer away from home and achieved a resounding victory with goals from Tanizawa and Takumi HASEGAWA.

　However, in this match, the team is currently on a 3-game losing streak and is not in good form. In addition, Tanabe, Otake, and Hirayama are injured and will be absent from the team. Although we will face a difficult situation, according to the regulations for determining the ranking in the ACL, if we lose by a margin of one goal or less in this match, we will secure a position of 2nd place or higher in the group. This is a crucial match that will determine our advancement to the Round of 16.

　Brisbane, on the other hand, recently won the A-League playoffs and just finished their season. They will come into this ACL match with high motivation, aiming for a victory of more than two goals. In response, we will challenge with a strong determination to win, maintain our position as the group leader, show Tokyo-style football, and make this match a turning point for the team's improvement.

　Tokyo started with Mukuhara as the left fullback, Watanabe as the top, and Hayabusa and Yuzawa on the sides. In addition, Shigematsu made his first appearance on the bench this season. Brisbane also made some changes to their lineup from the first match, with FW Henrique absent. They approached the game with a formation close to a 4-2-1-3, with FW Besart Berisha leading the front line. It was a weekday night game during the Golden Week period. Unfortunately, the game started at 19:30 with Tokyo's kickoff in heavy rain once again.

Tokyo Aim For Round Of 16 In Vital Game

  FC Tokyo welcomed Brisbane Roar of Australia to the Tokyo National Stadium for the 5th game of the ACL group stage. The reverse fixture, the opening match of the group stage, was played on March 3rd, before the J.League season had begun and saw a thrilling performance by Tokyo earn a 2-0 away win thanks to goals from Yazawa and Hasegawa. 

However, Tokyo were currently far from peak form having lost three straight league games and were without the injured Otake, Tanabe and Hirayama. The side was in a difficult position but even so, a defeat by a single goal would mean a definite top-two finish in the group. It was therefore an important game in deciding Tokyo's progress to the last 16.

Opponents Brisbane had recently won the A-League Playoff and had been crowned champions. Although their domestic season was at an end they still had faint hopes of advancing in the ACL, needing to win by a two-goal margin to retain any possibility. The visitors would be highly motivated and Tokyo would have to call on their strength of character to retain top-spot in the group and put in a performance to revive their recent fortunes.

Mukuhara started at right back for Tokyo, with Watanabe as lone striker, supported by Hanyu and Yazawa on the flanks. Striker Shigematsu made his first appearance of the season on the bench. Brisbane were without forward Enrique and showed several changes from the side that started the first meeting between the teams. Striker Berisha was the most advanced player in an attacking 4-2-1-3 formation. The game was an evening kick off during the Golden Week holiday season. Disappointingly, the weather was again appalling, with torrential rain and a strong wind lashing the stadium on an unseasonably cool evening.

Although conceding the first goal, immediately equalized with Takahashi's shot, and added points with Mukuhara and Watanabe.

The match started off lively. In the 4th minute, Brisbane was awarded a free kick from the right side, and FW Broich sent the ball inside, where FW Berisha headed it. The ball hit the right post and bounced back, but FW Berisha was able to follow up and score... conceding a goal from a set piece so early in the game. We gave away an unwanted opening goal and our momentum was disrupted.

　However, Tokyo immediately counterattacked without panicking. In the following 5 minutes, Watanabe broke through the right side and crossed the ball. Although initially blocked by the opponent's defender, Kajiyama, who followed up in the center, took a shot. It was blocked again, but Takahashi, who rushed in for the loose ball, unleashed a powerful shot. It grazed the post and was sucked into the inside of the goal, quickly equalizing the score!

　Tokyo, who had grasped their own rhythm, pressed Brisbane from the front and took the ball away, attacking from quick passing. In the 20th minute, Hasegawa advanced by removing the opponent's mark in their own territory. When the ball was passed to Watanabe, who had escaped to the right front line at the perfect timing, he brought it forward and crossed from the right area. The ball passed through the melee in front of the goal and reached Mukuhara, who had been running to the left area. Mukuhara calmly shot the ball, shaking the net and GOAL!! They successfully took the lead.

　However, Brisbane did not give up here and in the 33rd minute, FW Broich, who broke through on the right side, was passed a through ball. FW Broich brought the ball into the middle and got into a shooting position. Although Morishige blocked it once, the rebound was stabbed into the left corner of the net... and the score was equalized.

　After that, in the midst of attacking each other, in the 43rd minute, Watanabe, who was trying to enter the area from a pass by Tokunaga, was fouled and awarded a penalty kick. In the 44th minute, Watanabe himself calmly scored this penalty kick. With a total of 5 goals scored by both teams, they succeeded in taking the lead just before the end of the first half and turned to the second half.

Tokyo Overturn Early Deficit

The game burst into life in the 4th minute. Brisbane won a free kick out on the right, forward Broich hoisted the ball into the penalty area and Berisha smacked a header against the right-hand post. The ball rebounded back to Berisha and he stroked it past Gonda to open the scoring. It was the worst possible start for Tokyo, surrendering the lead with the game barely begun.

However, the hosts remained composed and looked to fight back immediately. Moments after the restart Watanabe raced down the right and hoisted a cross into the Brisbane penalty area; the ball was partially cleared but only as far as Kajiyama in a central position. Kajiyama shot but his effort was blocked; Takahashi sprinted forward from midfield to meet the bounding ball and hammer a low drive that beat keeper Theoklitos, hit the inside of the left post and then the back of the net. Tokyo had reclaimed parity less than a minute after falling behind.

The goal lifted the hosts who quickly found their rhythm and pressed hard from the front to regain possession from Brisbane before launching attacks of their own. In the 20th minute, Hasegawa slipped his marker in midfield and pushed forward, then rolled the ball down the right flank to meet Watanabe's perfectly-timed run through the Brisbane defence line. Watanabe took the ball on then drove a low cross into the penalty area which evaded the scrum of players in the goalmouth but was met with a composed, first-time finish by Mukuhara on the left. Theoklitos stood no chance as Mukuhara swept the ball low inside the post to give Tokyo the lead.

Brisbane weren't intending to go down without a fight and clawed their way back into the game in the 33rd.minute. Forward Broich ducked through the Tokyo defence on the right, ran onto a through ball and let fly. Morishige managed to block the shot but the ball ran loose and Broich made no mistake with his second attempt, firing past Gonda to tie the score at 2-2.

The game continued to ebb and flow until the 43rd minute when Watanabe received a pass from Tokunaga and burst into the Brisbane area on the right. He went down under a challenge and the referee pointed to the spot. Watanabe picked himself up and dispatched the penalty with minimum fuss, hard and low into the corner of the goal. Tokyo had their noses in front again, a lead they held until half time.

Defeating the competition and securing a place within the top two in the group stage without a loss

In the second half, both teams continued to play their own style of football. Tokyo struggled to find the right timing and passes in the final moments, allowing Brisbane to defend for a long period of time. However, they quickly passed the ball and continued to challenge with vertical passes. This paid off in the 60th minute. Takahashi and Hasegawa connected and moved the ball forward, and from Tanizawa's final pass, Watanabe in the left area calmly aimed and scored a precise shot! They extended their lead to two goals.

　Still, Brisbane did not give up and made three substitutions by the 67th minute to launch a counterattack. In response, Tokyo, perhaps affected by the rain and showing signs of fatigue, gradually lost speed and accuracy, allowing Brisbane to dominate. As a result, in the 73rd minute, Lucas was substituted for Watanabe, and in the 78th minute, Yonezumi was substituted for Hanyu on the side. In the 85th minute, Ishikawa replaced Kajiyama. They tried to counter using player substitutions.

　In the second half injury time, Brisbane had a shot that hit the bar, but we held firm and didn't allow any additional goals, and after a fierce battle for points, the final whistle blew. With this, we have accumulated 11 points from 5 undefeated matches in the group stage, securing a place within the top 2 of the group. In our first ever challenge in the ACL, we have advanced to the Round of 16.

Tokyo Extend Lead, Guaranteed At Least Second In Group

The second half proceeded as a battle of contrasting styles. Tokyo were unable to find either the correct timing or accuracy for the final ball and were pushed back by Brisbane but continued to move the ball around quickly and pass it straight up the field. The tactic bore fruit in the 60th.minute as Takahashi and Hasegawa combined to move the ball up the field to Yazawa, who played a delightful through ball out to Watanabe on the left. Watanabe finished with considerable aplomb past Theoklitos and Tokyo had a two-goal cushion.

To their credit Brisbane refused to throw in the towel and used their quota of substitutions by the 67th minute, the fresh legs bolstering an attempted comeback. Tokyo began to show signs of fatigue, perhaps influenced by the relentless rain, and both their speed and accuracy dropped, allowing the visitors to dominate possession. In response Tokyo replaced Watanabe with Lucas in the 73rd minute, Hanyu with Yonemoto in the 78th, and Kajiyama with Ishikawa in the 85th.

Brisbane struck the bar in added time at the end of the half but that was as close as they came to narrowing the deficit and the final whistle blew on a hard-fought 4-2 win. After 5 games Tokyo were unbeaten and had amassed 11 points, a total that guaranteed the side at least a second-place finish in the group. FC Tokyo had qualified for the Round Of 16 in their first appearance in the ACL.

[Player Comment]《Watanabe》"I have confidence in my ability to break through and my speed, and the coach also told me to 'take advantage of the opponent's back'. When I take advantage of the back, everyone becomes more positive. Especially for the first and second goals, it was exactly as planned. (Were you involved in all the goals?) I haven't had many assist roles so far, and maybe I have a strong image in the center, but I'm not bad at drifting to the side either. I think my range of play expands in terms of chances from crosses. I am not satisfied with this. I also have a desire to play in every game from now on, and when I do play, I have a strong desire to contribute to the team by scoring goals. I want to do my best to make the most of the opportunities."

　"Mukuhara" "(Regarding the goal) Hasegawa player attracted the opponent in the center, so I thought the ball might flow to the far side. The ball came just as I expected, but I had time, so I was thinking of calmly aiming for the near side. Personally, I wanted to leave something in the game where I got a chance, and above all, the team had to win! ... That's what I thought. In the midst of that, I wanted to show that I also contributed to the result. However, we are conceding goals and there are still challenges in the coordination of the defense."

　[Summary of Coach Popovic's Press Conference] "Both teams played a fantastic game. I believe the spectators who came to watch enjoyed the attractive and attacking style of football. Despite the bad weather, many fans and supporters came to the stadium, and I think we were able to repay them with the result and performance. In football, things don't always go as planned, and there are difficult situations and challenges. However, even in such times, I believe it is important to believe in what we are doing and our abilities, and to persevere. I think today's game was a reflection of what we have believed in and worked towards, and it was a great match. Representing Japan on the Asian stage and advancing to the Round of 16, and achieving results through playing this kind of football, I think it was a great display as someone who fights for Japanese football, and I want to continue playing good games as a member of the Japan national team in the future."

　(Will the evaluation as a coach also increase?) Rather than improving my personal image, I want the club to come together and promote Tokyo football on the Asian stage. What I have been saying from the beginning is that I want to create the brand of Tokyo. However, it takes time to do that. Of course, the result is important, and everyone wants to achieve results, even in a tight schedule. However, in a long season, there may be times when the results don't come, but the important thing is to believe and fight. I believe in my team and players, and I must not hesitate. What I need to do is to quickly mature the team and raise the level. And I think it's important to continue producing results by playing games like at the beginning of the season."

Players' comments
Watanabe
"I have confidence in my pace and ability to get behind the opposition and the manager told me to do just that. If I could get in behind their defense then the rest of the team could play facing forward. Our first and second goals came from positions just like that.
Wasn't I involved in all the goals? Until now I haven't really had a role as an assister and maybe my image is of being stronger through the middle, but I don't see playing on the flanks as a weak point of my game. If I'm creating chances by putting in crosses then it means that
I'm adding further strings to my bow. But I can't be satisfied yet. I want to play in all the games I can and when I do play I want to make a contribution to the team winning by scoring goals. I want to do my best to be able to take the chances when they come".

Mukuhara
"For the goal, I saw that Hasegawa had pulled a defender out of position in the middle and that if the cross came through it might reach the far post. That's exactly the way it happened. I had a little time and was able to put the ball away inside the near post. When a chance comes like that I want to take it and make an impact but the most important thing is that the team wins. I want to get the result and also put in a good performance myself. However, we're still conceding goals and issues remain regarding our defensive interplay".


FC Tokyo manager Popovic
"Both sides made it a terrific game tonight. It was full of attractive, attacking football and I'm sure that everyone who came thoroughly enjoyed it. I think we repaid our fans and supporters who braved the terrible weather tonight with our performance and the result. Football doesn't always go the way you want it to and sometimes you face difficult and demanding situations. However, I firmly believe that it's important to have confidence in yourselves and what you are doing in such times. In tonight's game too, I felt we were able to express ourselves on the pitch and it made for a fantastic game. We've taken on the responsibility of representing Japan on the Asian stage, earned a place in the Round of 16 by playing such football and this is a great thing for the further development of football in Japan. 
Has this also increased my reputation as a coach? Far more than improving my own image I want the club to be united and for F.C.Tokyo to express itself on the stage of Asia. However, it takes time to achieve that. The results are the important thing and everybody wants to get the results, yet we have to get the results within a very crowded schedule. Sometimes in a long season the results don't come so the important thing is to believe in what you're doing. I believe in the team and the players and can't waver at all. What I have to do is make the team mature and improve the level. We have to play the way we were at the start of the season and to continue to get the results". 

[Summary of Brisbane Roarad Vidic's press conference] "I really enjoyed the game. The biggest difference between Tokyo and us was the finishing and goal-scoring ability. We played well until we scored the first goal, but it was disappointing to concede a goal just 30 seconds later. However, I want to express my gratitude to the fantastic Tokyo supporters and club staff. The supporters showed great loyalty and support to the club, and I felt it deeply. (Regarding the next season's ACL) The A-League is still a young league, only 7 years old. Compared to China, Japan, and Korea, which have a long history and experience, this was a very good experience for us. Australian football is known for its physicality and long ball style, but in today's game, you could see that we are changing. We are building up play and playing more passing football. I hope that by making such changes, we can continue to grow and achieve success."

Brisbane Roar manager Radovic
"It was a very enjoyable game. I felt the biggest difference between the teams was Tokyo's finishing ability. We played well up until we scored the first goal so to concede just 30 seconds later was very disappointing. However, I want to say "Thank you" to FC Tokyo's fantastic supporters and the staff at the club. The supporters are truly loyal and I strongly felt the way they support the club.
What about next season in the ACL? The A-League is young still, it's only seven years old. Compared to that China, Japan and Korea all have much greater experience and for us this has been a good experience. Australia has a physical, long ball style but today in our game I felt that something is changing. We built the play steadily and started to play a passing game. Variations such as these will hopefully lead to further development and bear fruit in the future".