Constantly showing growth and surpassing Shonan in both offense and defense

The league match resumes, and in Sec. 32, we will play against Shonan Bellmare at home. We achieved a resounding victory as a team in the Emperor's Cup. Based on the confidence we gained there, we will further enhance our unity and our own style of soccer, and continue to grow until the end of the season. National team members Morishige, Takahashi, Gonda, and Hyun Soo JANG will also join the team from Dec 21 (Thu). Taking into account each player's condition, we have been preparing immediately for the league match.

Shonan, on the other hand, is currently in 16th place with 25 points. In the middle of the season, GK Alex Santana and MF Otake (on loan from Tokyo / currently out due to injury) joined the team in an attempt to improve their position, but they have remained in 16th place since the 19th round. In addition, in the previous round, the point difference with 15th place Kofu widened to 9 points, so if they cannot win this round, they will be relegated to J2.

However, we cannot underestimate the pressing, movement, and powerful attacks from the front line. Especially in the away game in May, we were conceded the first goal and suffered a painful defeat due to our own mistakes. Shonan has the power to exploit any gaps, so it is important to concentrate and fight from the beginning to the end.

Even if Shonan's weapons, such as "never giving up" and "perseverance," are displayed, Tokyo wants to respond calmly without panicking, fully demonstrate their boldness and their own style of soccer, and lead to victory. Tokyo's lineup consists of GK Kantada, center-backs Morishige and Hyun Soo JANG, and in the midfield, Mita starts following the Emperor's Cup. Lucas takes on the role of attacking midfielder. As the sun sets and the temperature drops, the match started at 17:03 with Tokyo's kickoff at Ajinomoto Stadium.

They continued to dominate the ball and take the initiative, but were unable to break down Shonan's defense.

Dominating the ball from the start. Entered the game firmly and proceeded advantageously. In the 1st minute, starting from the left side, Ota and Higashi exchanged passes, and Watanabe in the center took a shot. In the 7th minute, from Mita's development, Lucas on the left front → Watanabe near took a shot. In the 10th minute, from the right side by Tokunaga, to Yonemoto who ran up the right side again from Mita. Yonemoto crossed, and Lucas in front of the goal headed the ball in a low position.

However, they couldn't take advantage of the early chances and gradually struggled against Shonan's strong defensive awareness and solid block. In the 16th minute, Mita tenaciously stole the opponent's ball on the front line, and East followed from the left and aimed for the goal, but was blocked by Shonan's defense. In the 25th minute, Ota himself closed in on the loose ball from his cross, but the shot floated as he competed with Shonan's defense.

Not only connecting short passes, but also aiming for goals from crosses and long feeds, in the 37th minute, Morishige → Higashi made a through pass to the front line. Nakawaki jumped out there, but the goalkeeper caught it a step ahead. In the 40th minute, Hyun Soo JANG carried the ball up and expanded it to the left to Higashi. Mita tried to head the cross from there, but was held back by the Shonan DF and couldn't finish it. Tokyo showed various attacking patterns by utilizing their coordination, but Shonan's defense returned quickly and they couldn't break through the thick block, and the score remained 0-0 as they entered the second half.

Despite conceding the first goal, Hyeongchan and Vucicevic's valuable goals lead to a comeback!

In the opening of the second half, Shonan created a big chance. In the 46th minute, Shonan FW Take Tomi created a post-play, and FW Kikuchi dribbled from the right to the center. Tokyo DF was continuously bypassed, and in the end, MF Takayama, who had moved up to the left area, took a shot. In the 48th minute, Shonan MF Takayama crossed from the left and MF Furubayashi jumped in from the far side. Tokyo managed to avoid the pinch as both lacked the final accuracy, but Shonan gained momentum.

And in the 66th minute, Shonan connected the ball to Tokyo's goal with DF Kamada and MF Kikuchi, and then to MF Hanggyong in the area from DF Kamada again. Tokyo's DF stopped their feet, and MF Hanggyong brought the ball forward with a trap and took a shot from a close distance. Although Kanda made a save, the ball spilled into the center of the area and was kicked by Shonan's MF Takayama... resulting in a goal. They allowed the first goal.

In the 67th minute, Takahashi was substituted for Mita. In the immediate 68th minute, Ota received a free kick from the left side and kicked it forward, but it was cleared. However, Tokunaga on the right side was again in front of the goal. As he tried to carry it forward after being cleared by Shonan, Chang Hyun Soo intercepted the ball. He sent a vertical pass to Hasegawa inside the penalty area, received a one-two return, broke through to the left side of the area, and aimed a shot with his left foot that grazed the opponent's defender and went in! With the determined goal by Hyun Soo JANG, they equalized the score!

After that, both teams continued to attack each other, but Shonan, who needed a victory, made two offensive substitutions in the 79th minute. In response, Tokyo tried to counter by changing to a three-back formation. However, Shonan, who couldn't afford to lose in order to avoid relegation, continued to be attacked. In the 88th minute, Tokyo brought in Nemanja VUCICEVIC, which proved to be successful.

In stoppage time, Hirayama connects with Tokunaga's right throw-in with a header, and Hasegawa sends it forward despite losing his balance. Vucicevic, who moved forward in response, dribbles into the right area. He evades the opposing defender with a feint and shoots perfectly into the far corner, scoring a goal. In the final moments, Vucicevic scores a valuable goal in a dramatic fashion, securing a come-from-behind victory.


[Player Comments]
"Hyun Soo JANG"
"Although I couldn't score, I think the first half was very good. In the second half, I tried to enter the game with the same good flow, but we conceded a goal and I got a little impatient. I feel that scoring from the flow of the game is a challenge, but it was good that we were able to quickly recover. In the scoring situation, when I intercepted and carried the ball forward, I saw Takumi HASEGAWA and passed it to him, and I also saw that the front was open."

I went up into the area with a basic play called "pass and go". A good pass came there, so all I had to do was shoot. Whether it's the Korean national team or Tokyo, my attitude towards the game hasn't changed. I just thought, "Let's play properly as a national team player." I think I was able to show that attitude.

"Nemanja VUCICEVIC"
"The goal came from Hasegawa, it was a wonderful ball. The most important thing is that the team was able to win. We are approaching the end of the season, but we will do our best in each game to win. I truly believe that Tokyo is a really good team."


[Coach Popovich's Press Conference Summary]
"There was nothing to complain about in the first half. Even if it's a student team, it's difficult to keep attacking without letting the opponent do anything. Especially against a J-League team, I am satisfied that we were able to control the game. I expected to take the initiative, move the ball, and fight, but Shonan also has a high-precision counterattack, so we took enough care and entered the game. In the first half, we also took care of the counterattack and didn't allow any chances to be created from the flow. The things that the team should do were clear."

However, in the beginning of the second half, there were consecutive careless mistakes, which allowed the momentum to shift. The problem was that the opponent put pressure on us from the front, and we panicked. There were also parts where we dropped the defensive line more than necessary. We conceded a goal during a difficult period, but afterwards, the entire team showed the determination to go and score. We caught up and turned the game around. I feel the growth of the team, and I think it is the result of everyone fighting with a strong determination to always take 3 points. In the end, it became a result worthy of that play.

Even the players who came on as substitutes fulfilled their respective roles. I always tell the players that what they did when they came on is more important than how many minutes they played. The players who came on as substitutes today truly showed that with their performance. The atmosphere that all of you created was also fantastic. I am satisfied that we were able to achieve good results with good football. I believe that this kind of attacking style, this attractive football that captivates people, is necessary for Japanese football, and I want to continue with it in the future."

[Shonan - Coach CHO Kwi Jae's Press Conference Summary]
"Today is the 32nd league match, but I haven't changed what I've been saying since before the season. 'If the results are good, it doesn't mean everything is good. Even if the results are bad, it doesn't mean everything is bad.' I've been saying that. There is the heavy reality of relegation, but I think the answer is shown by the supporters' cheers after the match. I sometimes think, 'If that cross... could have been scored there...' but in my mind, it's not 'now' but 'at the moment'. I intended to value the feelings of that moment. I want to say 'well done' to everyone, including the decisions made in that moment, the judgments and the players who played and those who couldn't play."

We have climbed from J2 to J1 on our own, and now we are facing the reality of relegation. But we did not stop and accept relegation. We always move forward and try to overcome that wall, but we fell short by one step. In fact, I feel that one step was not a small one, but a big difference. Also, when we face teams like Tokyo in the future, I want us to become a team that is said, "Shonan has become stronger because of today's match, because of this season."

There are various elements such as technique, tactics, mental, physical, etc., and there is reflection on today's game. However, there is no regret, and I told the players, "Leave the stadium with your heads held high and be proud of being the coach of this team." I have no intention of blaming them, as the players fought well enough. There is no point in hiding what is lacking, and that is all on me. I want to work hard to become what is needed.