負けられないヴェルディとの東京決戦

　J2リーグ第10節東京ヴェルディ戦が開催、味スタでのアウェイゲームとして迎える。前節はスコアレスドローで、ここ2試合は無得点に終わっている。決してチャンスが作れていないわけではない。また主導権を握る時間も長いが、大熊監督は「時間をかけすぎ、スペースを潰してしまっている。判断の質を上げないと確実性は増していかない」と省みる。

　そのため練習では細かい修正を施し、サイドに羽生を起用。平山、米本に続きホベルトが離脱し、チーム事情は苦しいといえるが、徳永をワンボランチ気味に、梶山がトップ下を務めるダイヤモンドに近い中盤の形でもトライを重ねていた。前節に続き、ロベルト セザーが先発に。高松と2トップを組み、右サイドに鈴木、左に羽生の布陣で臨む。

　対するヴェルディは、昨季のJ2で5位。同じ東京を本拠地に、もちろん昇格を争うライバルだが、今季は3連敗といまひとつ調子が上がっていないようだ。ただし、FW河野らのアグレッシブさを活かしたスピード感のある攻撃は迫力がある。そして今節は、飛び出しの鋭いFW平繁が先発に。また、ボランチの佐伯、MF小林、菊岡らはテクニックが高く、落ち着いてつなぐこともできる。

　これに対してできるだけ中盤でプレスをかけ、ヴェルディの前線にボールを運ばせないように努めたいところだ。そして切り替えの早さを保ち、ゴールへの意識を高めてヴェルディDFの隙を突き、勝利をもぎ取りたい。日向では汗ばむほどの陽気の味スタ、負けられない一戦は15時4分にヴェルディのキックオフでスタートした。

Tokyo Take On Verdy In Capital Clash 

F.C.Tokyo were back at Ajinomoto Stadium for the 10th.game of the season but this time as the away team as they faced up to Tokyo Verdy. Tokyo had failed to find the net in their previous two outings despite dominating the games for lengthy spells and creating a reasonable number of chances. Manager Kiyoshi Okuma commented, "We take too long in the build-up and that denies us space. If we can't improve the quality of our decision-making we won't increase the number of clear-cut chances we create". Tokyo worked on fine-tuning the team in training, employing Hanyu on the wing. With Hirayama, Yonemoto and Roberto all injured Tokyo practiced with a diamond midfield featuring Tokunaga as midfield anchor and Kajiyama behind the two strikers. Roberto Cesar made his second consecutive start alongside Takamatsu in attack with Suzuki on the right and Hanyu on the left of midfield. 
Opponents Verdy had finished 5th. in J2 last season. The side, also based in the capital city, were expected to be promotion rivals but had made a disastrous start to the year, losing all three games so far. However, the aggression of forward Kawano and darting runs of his strike partner Hirashige carried some threat in a pacy attack. Coupled with the ball-playing ability of midfielders Saeki, Kobayashi and Kikuoka, it meant that Tokyo would need to press hard in midfield to deny the front pair any service. Swiftly turning defence into attack would be the key to exploiting space left by Verdy defenders who frequently pushed forward. 
A bumper Bank Holiday crowd of nearly 29,000 created a carnival atmosphere as they basked in the sunshine on a warm afternoon. Tokyo Verdy kicked off the "unloseable" game shortly after 3pm. 

序盤のチャンスを逃し、徐々にヴェルディに支配される

　立ち上がりはともに闘志を前面に押し出し、激しい奪い合いが続いた。その中でも切り替えの早い攻撃を仕掛け、3分には相手ゴール前で梶山、羽生が早いパスをつなぎ、DFのクリアのこぼれに対して梶山がエリアに飛び出す。GKと1対1に近い形になったが、相手GKの好プレーもあり、CKを得るにとどまった。

　6分には今野→阿部が上がりクロス。中央に高松が飛び込み、素早い展開から形をつくるが、ダイビングヘッドは打ち切れず、枠外に。15分には右サイドで起点を作り、中央へのパスのこぼれに羽生が詰めてミドルを狙う。だがここで取りきることはできず、徐々にリズムはヴェルディに。スピーディにパスをつながれ、FW平繁に東京DFの裏を徹底して狙われた。

　しかし森重を中心に東京DFも強さを発揮。17分にはこぼれからFW河野にミドルを打たれるが、権田が正面でセーブ。28分にはFW平繁がピッチを下がり、FW平本がイン。直後には東京が攻める途中で失い、ヴェルディがカウンター。FW平本にドリブルでエリアに突進されるが、カバーに入った森重がしっかりと抑えきる。

　ヴェルディのスピーディな攻撃に対しては、集中して守っていたが、奪ってから前に運ぶ段階でミスが出て、再びカウンターをくらう展開に。ロベルト セザーへのパスを狙われ奪われるシーンも目立ち、押し込まれることに。ラインが下がり始め、なかなかチャンスにつなげられず、前半を終了した。

Tokyo Miss Early Chances Before Verdy Slowly Dominate 

The opening exchanges were as fierce and frenetic as expected, with possession frequently changing hands. In the 3rd.minute Hanyu and Kajiyama exchanged rapid-fire passes on the edge of the Verdy area before a loose clearance fell to Kajiyama who bore down on Doi in the Verdy goal. Kajiyama shot but Doi produced a fine save to turn the ball around the post for a corner. 
In the 6th.minute Konno found Abe and the young Tokyo side back back curled an early cross into the Verdy area that narrowly evaded Takamatsu's diving lunge. In the 15th.minute Tokyo crafted a move down the right and when an infield pass was deflected into his path Hanyu let fly from middle range. With Tokyo unable to make their early chances count, Verdy slowly began to find their rhythm through some brisk pass-work while Hirashige attempted to run in behind the visitors' defence. 
However, with Morishige leading the line the Tokyo defence showed its strength. In the 17th.minute Gonda comfortably held Kawano's blast from outside the area. In the 28th.minute Verdy replaced Hirashige with forward Hiramoto. Moments later Verdy stole the ball as Tokyo pushed forward and launched a counter attack, Hiramoto dribbling into the Tokyo area. Morishige was on hand to provide defensive cover and clear the danger. 
The Tokyo defence was coping well with Verdy's pacy attack but possession was soon lost again in midfield, allowing the home side to counter attack. Verdy were clearly focused on preventing the ball from reaching Roberto Cesar and intercepted several passes to the striker, increasing the pressure as the first half drew to a close. The Tokyo line began to sink deeper, unable to create much in attack. The first period finished 0-0. 

ロベルト セザーが退場、10人でもリズムを掴み、勝利をめざしたが…

　落ち着いて立て直しを図りたい後半だったが、54分、東京がカウンターを仕掛け、ロベルト セザーがドリブル。ヴェルディDFを中にかわそうとして倒れ、これが反則に。2枚目の警告を受け、退場することになった…。10人での戦いを余儀なくされ、59分には高松に代えて谷澤をサイドに投入。鈴木がトップを務める布陣でチャンスを狙った。だが数的不利となるものの、前からのプレスがかかり始め、リズムは東京に。

　68分には羽生に代えてペドロ ジュニオールを最前線に投入。71分には梶山→ペドロ ジュニオールが巧みなキープから、後方の鈴木がミドル。72分には右サイドからのアーリークロスを、左エリアから中に周りこんだ谷澤が受け、シュートがネットを揺らすが、トラップの段階でハンドの反則があり、ノーゴールに。

　スタンドの追い上げムードに乗って猛攻を仕掛けたが、78分に椋原のクロスからペドロ ジュニオールが放ったヘディングは枠外に。81分にはDFラインからパスをつないで、鈴木→阿部がエリア内に浮き球。ペドロ ジュニオールが巧みにコントロールしてシュートに持ち込もうとするが、寸前にクリアされ、左CKに。この左CKから、右エリアの今野がシュートしたが、GKにセーブされた…。90分には森重のクロスに梶山がヘディングをヒットさせたが、ゴール前での反則を取られる。

　4分のロスタイムには、ヴェルディGK土肥が負傷。交代枠を使い切っていたため、FW平本がGKを務めることに。しかしこの直後のCKのチャンスを活かすことができなかった。数的ビハインドを背負いながらも、諦めず、勝利に対する強い姿勢を見せたが、またしても無得点に終わり、2戦連続のドローに。痛み分けで勝ち点1を得るにとどまった。

　【選手コメント】《羽生》「前半はヴェルディにボールを持たれたが、それほどやられている感じはしなかった。特に序盤はこちらにもチャンスがあり、自分を含めてそこで決められていれば、また違う展開になったと思う。自分たちがやるべきことを考えてプレーしたが、チームとしてアタッキングサードに運ぶことや、フィニッシュに持ち込むことが上手くできなかった。　10人になってからは気持ちが切り替わったし、パスを回せて自分たちの時間も多かった。そこはプラスに考えていい。もちろん結果については反省しなければいけないが、10人になっても勝ちにいく姿勢が出せたこと、前節より気持ちを出せたことはプラスではないか」

　《阿部》「前半は流れを掴まれたが、試合の中で相手の時間になることは絶対ある。いつもよりそれが長かったが、それでも無失点に抑えることはできた。次はいかに短い時間で、流れを取り戻せるか。そこに向けてやっていかなければいけない。セザーが退場して、僕自身も2人分走ればいいと考えていたし、みんなの運動量も上がったと思う」

　【大熊監督の会見要旨】「前半は相手にボールを持たれてリズムが出なかったが、我慢の時間帯でチームとしてよく我慢をした。ただし攻撃では2トップにボールが入らず、羽生を起点にしてトップに当てること、裏へ出すことを狙ったが、なかなか高松にも入らなかった。高い位置に起点ができなかった。

　梶山が急ぎ過ぎたこともある。繋ぎながら高松や羽生を使うというのを意識すべきだった。後半、退場者が出たことにより、ゲームプランとしての選手交代ができない状況になったが、その中でもゴールに向かう気持ちは出せた。ただしボールを回すことも含め、もう少し前半から、後半のような『前へ』という気持ちを出すことが必要。

　(梶山について）春先から頑張っていたが、一度ふくらはぎのケガをした後、ベストではないと感じる。実際に前半はシンプルさが足りないこと、また米本の怪我によって徳永とのボールの行き来の信頼度やポジショニングがスムーズではなかった。それでも間延びした中で、後半はあれだけのプレーができるのはポテンシャルの証明。梶山一人ではなく、他との関わりを含めて検証しなければならない。

　(セザーについて）意識的にセザーを視野に入れろと言っているが、パスを出せる状況で彼が動いているかどうかも検証しなければいけない。これも彼一人だけではなく、近くの人の配置なども含めて今後考えていかなければならない」

　【ヴェルディ・川勝監督の会見要旨】「ここ2試合、ポゼッションはあるが、裏を突くことや突破に関して意識が薄かった。東京の最終ラインは割れやすいと見ていたので、今日は中盤から早くボールを入れようとした。前半はよく飛び出していたし、相手の左サイドが狙い目。カバーも薄かったのでそこを突きたかった。それはできたが、前半に点を取っておきたかった。

　(左サイドの狙い目を具体的に？）東京は最終ライン4人の関係があまりうまくいっていないように見えた。今野が左サイドを気にはしているが森重と今野の間が空く。左にボールを入れると真ん中が空く。FW平繁がよくそこを突いたし、普段であればFW平本にももう少しワイドに出るよう指示を出すのだが。サイドでMF井上が張って空中戦も勝てる。そこに入れることで今野がつり出される。ボランチの後ろに対する意識も今日あまりないように見えたので、サイドを見せながらセンターを使いたかった。前半はそれができた。後半も継続し、ペースダウンはもう少し先にしたかったが、丁寧にやり過ぎて中央に入り過ぎ、相手に退場者が出て逆に動きが小さくなってしまった。

　FW河野が何回かフリーになったし、そこからスタートしたかったが、中央も薄く、単純に縦にいってしまい相手の少ない人数を突けなかった。もう少しチームに余裕があれば、もっと外を使いながら相手を引き出したり、攻撃の人数を足しながらバリエーションを効かすことができるが、一人多いメリットは使えなかった。後半は、自分たちが相手を助けてしまったという感じ。チームは勝ち点がない状況で余裕がない。ただスピードアップや単純にゴールに向かうことなど、少しずつ思い出していければ…というゲームだった」

Ten-man Tokyo Find Rhythm

Tokyo needed to calmly regroup as the second half opened but were soon reduced to ten men as Roberto Cesar was shown a second yellow card for fouling a Verdy defender as Tokyo broke forward on a counter attack in the 54th.minute. Yazawa replaced Takamatsu in the 59th.minute and played on the flank, with Suzuki pushed forward into attack. Despite being at a numerical disadvantage Tokyo began to press hard from the front and soon found a rhythm. 
In the 68th.minute Pedro Junior replaced Hanyu and moved into the front line. In the 71st.minute Kajiyama picked out Pedro Junior, who held the ball up skillfully, before laying it off to Suzuki who shot from middle distance. Tokyo managed to put the ball in the net in the 72nd.minute as Yazawa fired an early cross past Doi but the goal was disallowed for handball. 
Roared forward by the crowd Tokyo attacked in waves, Pedro Junior heading Mukuhara's cross narrowly wide in the 78th.minute. In the 81st.minute Tokyo passed the ball across the backline before Suzuki found Abe, who floated a pass forward to the edge of the Verdy area where Pedro Junior neatly controlled the ball and shaped to shoot. Before he could pull the trigger though a Verdy defender whipped the ball off his toe and out for a corner. From the resulting corner Konno cracked a shot on target from the right side of the area but Doi made the save. Kajiyama made contact with Morishige's cross in the 90th.minute but again a foul was called. 
Verdy keeper Doi suffered an injury in additional time and was forced to leave the field. Having used all three substitutes forward Hiramoto went in goal for the final couple of minutes. Tokyo won a corner after the change but were unable to put the substitute keeper under pressure and the match finished in a 0-0 draw. Tokyo had shown admirable tenacity to play with ten men for 40 minutes and still come close to snatching a win, yet the result was a second consecutive scoreless game and a single point earned. 


Players' comments 
Hanyu 
"We allowed Verdy to have a lot of the ball in the first half but I didn't feel that they really put us under much pressure. Particularly in the early stages we made a few chances and if we could have put one away then the game might have been very different. We were thinking hard about what we should be doing but couldn't really bring the ball forward well or end moves with an attempt on goal. Going down to ten men forced us to change our approach completely and after that we were able to move ball around and enjoy a lot of possession. We have to think of that as a plus to take from the game. Of course we have to look at the result but even after we were a man down we showed a positive commitment to win the game and greater desire than in the last match, which is another bonus for the team". 

Abe 
"We took control in the first half but in all games there's going to be some time where the opposition are on top. Even though that was longer than usual today we were still able to keep a clean sheet. There isn't much time before the next game now so it's question of us recovering quickly. After Cesar was sent off I felt that I had to run twice as hard and the team raised its workrate to cope with his absence". 

F.C.Tokyo manager Kiyoshi Okuma 
"Although we allowed them to have a lot of the ball in the first half and couldn't find a rhythm we stood firm when we needed to. We couldn't get the ball up to our strikers and when we used Hanyu to try to play Takamatsu in behind their defence we couldn't get the ball through to him. We couldn't start from a position high up the field. One cause of that was Kajiyama being in too much of a hurry. He should have been aware that we were trying to move the ball around and bring Hanyu and Takamatsu into play. With the sending off our game plan and substitute planning went out of the window but we showed great desire in the way we went for a goal. I think we needed to have shown more of that desire in the first half. 
What about Kajiyama? He's been working very hard since the beginning of spring to shake off a calf injury and still isn't at his best yet. In the first half perhaps he needed to keep it simpler and the injury to Yonemoto means that his new partnership with Tokunaga isn't as smooth as it could be yet, in terms of reliability in movement and positioning. Even so, his performance in the second half was proof of his potential. 
As for the sending off Cesar is saying that the defender deliberately put himself in his field of vision but I'll have to look at it again to see if he was moving when the pass was hit. Again, it's not only him but the other players around whose positioning we will have to look at". 

Tokyo Verdy manager Kawakatsu 
"In our last two games we've enjoyed a lot of possession but we've had trouble getting through and behind the opposition defence. Tokyo's defensive line seemed brittle so we decided to try and move the ball forward quickly from midfield today. We managed to get forward in the first half, particularly along their left side where the cover was thin. We really wanted to score in the first half. 
Why did we target their left side? It seemed that their back four weren't working together smoothly. Konno was being drawn over to the left and that was leaving some space between him and Morishige that we felt we could exploit. Hirashige was able to make some use of it and Hiramoto was also playing wider than usual. Midfielder Inoue was pushed out wide and was winning the aerial battle. The idea was to lure Konno out to the left. It looked as though we weren't focusing on the space behind the defensive midfielder today and instead were concentrating on the left flank but in fact we wanted to come through the middle. We were able to achieve that in the first half. We continued in the second half but were a little too cautious, slowed the pace too early and came inside too much. Then they had a man sent off and our movement slowed right down. 
Forward Kawano found himself in space a few times and we wanted to build from there but the support in the middle was lacking so we ended up hitting the ball straight which played into Tokyo's hands, making it easier for them to defend. If we'd had a little more composure we could have drawn them out by using the wings, added more bodies to the attack and shown some variation in our approach. As it was, we didn't make the best use of the man advantage. I felt we let them off the hook in the second half. We haven't won yet and have no room for manoeuvre. We have to remember how to speed up the play and attack with simplicity".