ACL第4戦、ホームで勝ち点3をつかんで首位キープを

　AFCチャンピオンズリーグ2012 グループステージ第4戦が開催。ホーム東京スタジアムにて中国・北京国安と対戦する。敵地で行われた4/4第3戦では完全なアウェイ状態のもと、開始早々にPKで失点。激しい試合の中で長谷川が同点弾を決めるも引き分けに終わった。ただしグループ首位はキープしており、アウェイ戦の悔しさをはらすとともに、今後の戦いを有利に進めるためにもホームの利を活かして勝ち点3がほしい試合となる。

　今節は高橋がACLでの警告累積により出場停止。GK権田が負傷のため、GKは塩田、ボランチは米本とリーグ鹿島戦では出場停止だった長谷川が組む形に。また鹿島戦から中2日で迎えることもあり、攻撃陣はフレッシュなメンバーを起用し、渡邉をトップに、両サイドに田邉と石川、そして今季初先発の大竹がトップ下の布陣で臨むことになった。

　北京国安の激しさをかわして、自分たちのサッカーで勝利をめざす一戦。夕方に降っていた雨はようやくあがった飛田給・東京スタジアム、試合は19時30分に東京のキックオフでスタートした。

Tokyo Aim To Retain Group Lead With Home Win 

　Beijing Guoan of China were the visitors to Tokyo Stadium for the 4th.game of the 2012 AFC Champions League group stage. In the reverse fixture on April 4th, played in a hostile environment in Beijing's Workers Stadium, Tokyo had conceded an early penalty yet emerged with a draw from the bruising encounter thanks to Hasegawa's first half goal. A home win would assuage some of the frustration remaining from the first encounter and give Tokyo some breathing space at the top of the group. 

　Takahashi was suspended, Shiota continued in goal for the injured Gonda and Yonemoto was partnered in central midfield by Hasegawa. With the fixture coming only two days after the Kashima match Tokyo introduced some fresh legs in attack with Watanabe appearing as lone striker, Tanabe and Ishikawa on the flanks and Otake, making his first start of the season in the withdrawn forward's role. 

　Tokyo were aiming to negate Beijing's physical approach, impose their style on the game and take the three points. The heavy afternoon rain had abated by the time Tokyo kicked off at 7:30pm. 

セットプレーから渡邉が先制！　前半ロスタイムには大竹が初ゴール!!

　落ち着いて試合に入り、立ち上がりから北京を押し込んだ。6分には相手陣内に攻め込んだチャン ヒョンスがファールを受けて、中盤でFKを得る。続く7分、この距離のあるFKを石川が前線に送り、渡邉が打点の高いヘディングを放つ。シュートはポストに当たって内側に跳ね返ってイン！　早い時間にセットプレーのチャンスを確実に活かして先制した。

　先制の直後には、反撃に出ようとする北京がボールを保持する場面が増え出したが、コンパクトな布陣で対応し流れをつかませず。北京の前線からのプレスを、大竹や長谷川、田邉、渡邉らが球離れの早いスタイルでかわしてボールを回し、リズムを作った。

　24分には前線へのボールを相手DFがクリアしようとするが、競った大竹が巧みにマイボールにして前に抜け出し、左エリアの渡邉にスルーパス。渡邉は角度のないところからシュート性のクロスを送り、ファーに石川が滑り込んだが、ぎりぎりで枠を捉えることができなかった。

　37分には右サイドで細かくつないで相手を引き寄せ、田邉が中央に上がった長谷川に。長谷川は左のスペースへサイドチェンジ。ここに太田が長い距離を走ってクロス。中央の渡邉がダイビングヘッド…と、大きな展開で迫力のある攻撃を仕掛けたが、ヘディングは枠外に…。

　チャンスを活かしきれない時間が続いたが、前半ロスタイムにはDFラインから自陣右サイドの石川→前の長谷川が相手のDFの裏のスペースへ長いパスを送る。これに合わせて飛び出した渡邉が右エリアまで持ち込み、相手を切り返してゴール前にラストパス。相手DFがクリアしようとして浮いたボールを、走り込んでいた大竹がヘディングで押し込んでゴール！　大竹が今季初先発で初ゴールを決め、2点をリードして前半を終了した。

First Half Goals From Watanabe And Otake Put Tokyo In Control 

Tokyo set about attacking Beijing in a composed manner from the kick off. In the 6th.minute Jang pushed forward into the visitors' half and was fouled, earning a free kick some distance from the goal. Ishikawa stroked the ball into the penalty area, Watanabe outjumped the Beijing defence and powered a textbook header on target from around the penalty spot. The ball beat Hou Sen, the Beijing keeper, struck the inside of the post and bounced along the goal line before nestling inside the net on the opposite side. Tokyo had taken the lead from a set play with only 7 minutes on the clock. 

　Beijing looked to fight back from conceding the early goal and enjoyed more possession but Tokyo's compact formation prevented them from taking control of the match. In response to Beijing pressing hard from the front Otake, Tanabe, Hasegawa and Watanabe all moved the ball around quickly, nullifying the visitors efforts and establishing a rhythm. 

　In the 24th.minute Otake won the ball with a neat piece of skill and held off a defender before sliding a diagonal pass through the Beijing defence to Watanabe on the left of the penalty area. Watanabe drove a shot-cum-cross towards the far post where Ishikawa slid in and made contact but directed the ball narrowly the wrong side of the post. 

　In the 37th.minute Tokyo moved the ball down the right with some intricate passwork. Tanabe drew the Beijing defence towards him before moving the ball in field to Hasegawa; Hasegawa quickly stroked the ball out into acres of open space on the left and Ota, running almost the full length of the field, drove a sumptuous first-time cross into the penalty area. It was a dynamic, expansive move. Watanabe flung himself at the ball and made contact with a firm header but the ball flew narrowly wide of the post. 

　Tokyo were unable to put away any of the further chances they created and the game had moved into added time when Ishikawa played the ball to Hasegawa and the Tokyo midfielder launched a pass behind the Beijing defence to meet Watanabe's perfectly-timed dart through the back line. Watanabe raced into the area on the right and held up the ball as he waited for support to arrive in the middle, then cut inside a defender and clipped the ball towards Otake at the far post. The ball flicked off a defender, looped up and Otake followed its course with admirable composure before planting a header between the keeper and the post. Otake had marked his first start of the year with his first goal of the season, one that had doubled Tokyo's lead on the stroke of half time. 

米本が負傷交代も、谷澤の3点目で突き放して快勝

　流れを失わずに臨みたい後半だったが、48分に米本が浮き球のボールに対して相手と競り合う中で肩を痛め、ピッチをアウト。交代を余儀なくされ、51分に谷澤を投入。田邉がボランチにまわる布陣で臨むことになった。53分には北京の左サイドからつながれ、37FWレイナルドの落としから、39MFピアオにオフサイドラインぎりぎりに抜け出されてシュートを打たれたが、塩田がセーブ。

　このピンチをしのぐと、56分には相手FKを森重がヘディングでクリア。そこから中盤左サイドの石川がタイミングを計って左前線のスペースにパスを送る。ここに谷澤が飛び出し、ドリブルで中央へ。一度はタッチが大きくなりすぎたが、ゴール前で相手DFがクリアし切れなかったボールを確実にネットに突き刺して3点目をゲット！

　60分には切り替えの早い攻撃を仕掛け、大竹が右前線に。石川が走り、上げた右クロスは、ゴール前でどフリーで待ち構えた谷澤のもとにピタリと渡ったが……ヘディングは枠を外れ……4点目のビッグチャンスは逃してしまった。

　その後、北京はFWカルジェロビッチを投入し、一矢報いようと反撃に臨んできた。ボールを支配される時間が続き、東京はなかなかパスつなぐことができなくなったが、しかし守備では慌てずに対応。北京にチャンスらしいチャンスは作らせず、失点をゼロに抑えて、3対0で快勝した。

Yonemoto Injured; Substitute Yazawa Grabs A Third 

　Tokyo began the second half keen to retain the momentum but were dealt a blow as Yonemoto suffered a shoulder injury as he battled an opponent for a high ball in the 48th.minute and was forced to leave the field. Substitute Yazawa took up a position on the left of midfield with Tanabe dropping back into a defensive holding role. In the 53rd.minute Beijing moved the ball down the left, forward Reinaldo knocked it down and midfielder Piao, narrowly onside, ran on to it and shot low and hard, drawing a good save from Shiota. 

　In the 56th.minute Morishige produced a towering header to clear a Beijing free kick out of the Tokyo area. Ishikawa collected the ball on the left of midfield, then played it forward with immaculate timing for Yazawa to run on to; Yazawa cut inside, leaving tiring defenders floundering in his wake but seemed to have lost control of the ball as he raced across the Beijing area in front of the on-rushing keeper. Yazawa regained control of the ball as a defender muffed his clearance and produced a deft touch to clip it over Hou Sen and into the net. Tokyo had extended their lead to three. 

　Another sweeping move in the 60th.minute saw Otake set up Ishikawa for a run and cross from the left wing. Yazawa met the ball with a powerful header but failed to hit the target from a promising position. 

　Beijing introduced forward Kaluderovic and worked hard to fashion a comeback. Tokyo struggled to connect their passes, allowing the visitors to enjoy more possession. However, some solid defending prevented Beijing turning that possession into chances and the clock slowly ran down with no further addition to the score. The final whistle blew on a comprehensive 3-0 win for Tokyo. 

【選手コメント】《大竹》「トップ下というポジションだったが、チームとしての戦い方は理解できているし、自分がやるべきことも変わらなかった。ただ、特にゴール前まで入っていくことは意識していた。(自身の)得点も、右サイドで上手く崩してくれて、思い切って上がっていったことが結果につながったと思う。ヘディングでのゴールは初めて。しかし3点を取った後は、少しセーフティな戦いになってしまった。もっとチームとしてミスを恐れず、相手の嫌がるプレーができれば、さらに得点が取れたはず。そこは課題として次に活かしていきたい」

　《渡邊》「ずっとチームのために自分の力を活かしたいと思っていた。ここのところ、チームとして足元のパスが多くなって、裏のスペースを使うことが少ないと思っていた。それだと怖さがないし、今日は自分の持ち味を活かしたいと思っていた。そこで長谷川、大竹たちが上手く使ってくれたと思う。セットプレーで早い時間に先制点を奪えたことはよかったが、もっとチャンスも作りたかった。もう少し前で回せればよかったのだが…。リーグ戦では出場機会が少ないが、与えられた時間でしっかり結果を残していくことが大事だと思う」

　【ポポヴィッチ監督の会見要旨】「今日の我々はしっかりとサッカーをした。それができたのも、早い段階でレフェリーがカードを出してゲームをコントロールしてくれたことにもよる。私たちの選手はピッチ上での振る舞いやプレーで、何が正しいかを示した。私はこれまでジャッジにこだわってきたが、正当なジャッジが下されることで試合は一層引き締まる。今日はまさにそのようなゲームになり、ジャッジにこだわる意味も分かっていただけたのではないだろうか。

　北京は強いチームなので、このような試合ができたことに満足している。今日は権田・加賀・高橋・梶山・羽生・谷澤・ルーカスを欠く中、田邉・渡邉・大竹が出場したが、誰が出ても同じサッカーができるというプレーをみせてくれた。これは日本にはまだポテンシャルを秘めた選手がたくさんいるということでもある。このポテンシャルを眠らせているだけではいけないし、同時に一試合だけよいプレーをしたからといって満足をしているようでもダメ。大事なことは継続して成長させること。それが私の仕事の１つでもあると思う。

　今日は、結果・内容ともに大きな1勝。日本サッカー界にとっても、よいプロパガンダができたのではないか。そしてアウェイ中国で戦ったときに、現地の記者の方から『よいサッカーとはどのようなサッカーか？　結果以外にあるのか？』と問われたが、その答えを見せられたと思う。よいサッカーとはこのようなサッカーだと。ただしこれで満足して足を止める訳にはいかない。もっともっと上を目指して、目標と志を高く持って臨んでいきたい」

Players' comments 
Otake 
"Although I was playing in a position just behind the striker I understand the team's style and what I had to do hasn't changed. Also, I was aware that I had to get into the area in front of goal. For the goal, when we broke them open on the right so well I didn't think about it and just tried to get forward and that led to scoring. That's the first goal I ever scored with my head. After we scored the third goal we seemed to take a safety-first approach; if we'd been less concerned about the possibility of making mistakes then maybe we could have kept the opposition under pressure and perhaps scored more. That's something we have to think about as we go into the next game". 

Watanabe 
"I want to continue to give everything I have for the team. Recently we've been playing a passing game with the ball played in to feet and not really exploiting the space behind the opposition defence. That doesn't really carry a great threat and so today I was determined to make the best use of my own particular talent. Hasegawa and Otake brought me into the game very well, I thought. Taking the lead early from a set play was a great start but we really wanted to create more chances over the course of the match. Maybe it would have been better if we could have moved the ball around more across the front line. I haven't been able to get on the field much during the league games so I feel I have to take advantage of whatever playing time I get and make a mark". 


F.C.Tokyo manager Popovic 
"We played a very steady game today. The referee got his card out early as well, which helped to control the game. Our players showed what was correct in their behaviour on the field and in their play. We've been fussy about the refereeing but what the referee judges to be acceptable obviously has an influence on the game. I think the way the game went today shows that we were right. 
Beijing are a strong team so I'm satisfied with the way we played. We started without Gonda, Kaga, Takahashi, Kajiyama, Hanyu, Yazawa and Lucas and instead had Tanabe, Otake and Watanabe but we showed that whoever is on the field we can play the same style of football. I think that shows there are many players with hidden potential here in Japan. While we can't allow that potential to remain dormant we also can't be satisfied with just one good performance. The most important thing is to keep playing well and to keep developing. That's one aspect of my job, I feel. 
I also think today was a very good advertisement for Japanese football. When we were in Beijing a local reporter asked what I thought was the best kind of football and was there anything more to it than the result. I think we answered that question; the best kind of football is what we played here tonight. Even so, we can't afford to be self-satisfied and take our foot off the pedal. We have to raise our sights and keep working to achieve them". 

【北京国安・ジャイメ パチェコ監督の会見要旨】「今日の試合はとてもフェアプレーで、結果にも納得している。FC東京のプレーがよかった一方、私たちはグランドにも適応できず、パスミスが多かった。そしてコンディションもあまり良くなかった。ACLに参加するチームとして、今日はあってはいけないミスが多く、積極性を失ってしまった。前半はプラン通りにいかず、後半に改善しようとしたが、やはりうまくいかなかった。ただしMFピアオ チョンがチャンスでゴールを決めていれば、違う結果になった可能性もあったと思う。個人的に負けることは好きではないが、今日のFC東京の強さを考えれば結果には納得している。前半の45分間を無駄に使ってしまった。とても残念な試合だった」

Beijing Guoan manager Jaime Pacheco 
"Today's game was played fairly and we can have no complaints about the result. F.C.Tokyo played very well but we failed to adapt to the pitch conditions and misplaced too many passes. We weren't in a particularly good physical condition, either. For a team playing in the ACL we made far too many mistakes and also lost our assertiveness. The first half didn't go according to plan and although we aimed to improve in the second that didn't come about either. If Piao Cheng had put that chance away then maybe the final result would have been different. Personally I don't like losing but considering how strong Tokyo were today we have to accept the result. We wasted the first half. It was a very disappointing game".