二巡目の対戦、国立をホームに熊本を迎え撃つ

　リーグ第22節が開催。今季初の国立競技場をホームとし、ロアッソ熊本を迎え撃つ。前節岐阜戦は快勝。10戦連続負けなしで勝ち点を積み重ね、首位に立つことになった。だが、勝ち点2差の中に上位4チームがひしめく混戦状態。リーグ日程の変更により、今節から二巡目の対戦に突入することになったが、目前の戦いに集中し、さらに勝ち点を積み上げていくことだけを考えたい。

　対する熊本は、現在5位。ここ6戦は負けなしだが、直近の3試合はいずれも引き分けに終わり、勝ちきれていない。ただし、総得点は15と多くはないものの、FW長沢をターゲットとした攻撃は鋭い。6月12日のアウェイ戦で実感した彼らの思い切りのよさに対して、守備では、前線からのプレスでいかに勢いを抑えられるかがポイントになる。

　一方、熊本の総失点は11と東京に次いで少なく、その堅守を崩していくことに焦点があてられる。アウェイ戦では、ロベルト セザーの得点で辛勝したが、大熊監督は「チャンスはあったが、ボランチのMFエジミウソンとGK南の連係や、彼らの個の能力の高さで守りきられたという印象が強い」とも。ブロックをきっちりと形成してくる熊本のDFに対して中盤でのパス回しをさらに高め、左右や前後に揺さぶることでスペースをつくっていきたい。

　東京は、前節負傷した徳永も大事にいたらず、これまでと同様のメンバーで臨む。熊本は、長身のDFチョ ソンジンが5月14日以来のスタメンに。FW長沢、ファビオの2トップを含め、徹底的に高さを活かしてくる狙いだろう。涼しかったここ数日より、日中は蒸し暑さがぶり返したものの、夕方になり時折さわやかな風も吹く中、試合は18時34分に東京のキックオフでスタートした。

Tokyo Take On Kumamoto At The National Stadium 

F.C.Tokyo made their first visit to the National Stadium this year to face Roasso Kumamoto in the 22nd.game of the season. The comfortable 4-0 win over Gifu in the last outing saw Tokyo extend their unbeaten run to ten games and leap to the top of the standings. Four teams were jostling for position within two points of the leaders, however. Due to the rearranged schedule the fixture was the second meeting between the sides this season, a game Tokyo needed to win to retain their place at the top. 
Opponents Kumamoto lay in 5th.place at kick off. The side was unbeaten in six but had struggled to finish off opponents in drawing the last three games. Despite not being a high-scoring team with only 15 goals so far the attack, lead by lanky striker Nagasawa, was sharp and to what extent Tokyo could blunt their forward pressing would be key to victory. The visitors also possessed the second-best defensive record, behind Tokyo, having conceded only 11 goals and prising open that miserly defence would be the focal point of the match. 
Tokyo had ground out a narrow victory in the reverse fixture on June 12th. thanks to a Roberto Cesar goal, a game that prompted Tokyo manager Okuma to comment, "Although we had chances the connection between defensive midfielder Edmilson and goalkeeper Minami, together with the high level of individual ability left me with the strong impression that they had kept us out". In order to pull the tight Kumamoto defence out of position to create space Tokyo would need to further enhance the quality of their midfield passing. 
The leg injury Tokunaga suffered in the previous game had healed, allowing Tokyo to name an unchanged team. For Kumamoto, towering defender Cho made his first appearance since May 14th. while the selection of equally tall strikers Nagasawa and Fabio indicated the visitors' tactical intentions. 
Following several days of cool and refreshing weather, Sunday afternoon saw the return of sultry humidity but an occasional breeze was blowing through the stadium as Tokyo kicked off shortly after 6:30 pm. 

熊本守備陣の頑張りの前にチャンスを逃すも、前半終了間際に先制

　立ち上がりこそ、熊本が積極的な姿勢をみせ、厚みのある攻撃を仕掛けられる。しかし東京DFも慌てずにしのぐと、すぐさまボールを支配してリズムを掴むようになった。3分、田邉のミドルを皮切りに、7分には自陣からつなぎ、梶山→左前線のロベルト セザーがドリブルで中に回り込み、DFの間から強引にシュートを放つ。10分には羽生のパスに合わせてセザーがゴール前に抜け出し、決定的な形をつくったが、シュートは枠外に…。

　その後もテンポよくパスを回してチャンスを作る。20分にはカウンターを仕掛け、羽生がドリブルで持ち上がり、左エリアすぐ手前からコースを突いたシュート。37分には自陣から田邉が力強いドリブルで相手をかわし、セザー、羽生とともに前線へ。ダイナミックなカウンターを仕掛けて、左サイドを走ったセザーがエリアに持ち込み、豪快なシュートを放つ。だがいずれも熊本GK南の好セーブに阻まれ、なかなかネットを揺らせない時間が続いた。

　だが迎えた43分、カウンターを仕掛け、羽生が狙い澄ました右クロスをエリアに。先にエリアに走ったセザーはDFと交錯して打ち切れなかったが、後ろからフォローした谷澤にボールが渡ったところで、後ろからファールを受けて倒される。このプレーで熊本MF根占がレッドカードを受けて退場。東京はこれで得たPKをセザーがきっちり決めて、ようやく先制！　1点のリードで後半へと折り返した。

Kumamoto Frustrate Profligate Tokyo Until Game-changing Incident

Kumamoto came out fighting from the kick off, throwing men forward into attack. The Tokyo defence held firm and the side quickly slipped into a passing rhythm. In the 3rd.minute Tanabe let fly with a thumping volley, while in the 7th.minute Cesar barged inside from the left and cracked a low drive to the near post. In the 10th.minute Cesar raced down the inside-right channel, stroked the ball infield to Hanyu and burst through the Kumamoto defence to meet Hanyu's clipped return pass. With Minami sprinting out to narrow the angle Cesar shot low across the Kumamoto keeper but also wide of the far post. 
Tokyo maintained the high tempo passing and continued to create chances. Hanyu raced half the length of the field on a fast break in the 20th.minute and attempted to curl a looping shot beyond Minami while another lightning-fast counter attack in the 37th.minute ended with Cesar hammering a low drive on target; on both occasions the Kumamoto goalkeeper produced superb saves to deny Tokyo the opening goal. 
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 43rd.minute. Tokyo countered and from the right wing Hanyu took careful aim before crossing towards Cesar as the striker burst into the Kumamoto area. Cesar and a defender jockeyed for the ball which evaded them both, falling in front of Yazawa as the midfielder raced forward in support. Yazawa seemed certain to score until he was flattened from behind by a clumsy challenge; the perpetrator, Kumamoto midfielder Nejime, was sent off and Tokyo awarded a penalty. Cesar wrong-footed Minami from the spot and Tokyo took a 1-0 lead into half time. 

怒涛のゴールラッシュ！　ルーカスも初ゴールを決め、5得点で快勝

　数的不利になった熊本に対して、後半は東京が次々とチャンスを活かし、ゴールラッシュとなった。48分、オフサイドをかいくぐってプレーを続行し、田邉→セザーを経由し、右サイドを上がった今野が右クロス。これにゴール前の羽生が合わせて、左足でゴール！

　熊本は55分に2選手を交代。FW松橋と長沢の2トップ、原田とファビオのダブルボランチで、MFエジミウソンをDFに下げて、DF矢野と福王とともに3バックに近い布陣に。東京はリードを広げた後、あまり無理をせずに攻撃がペースダウンする場面もあったが、要所でスイッチを入れ、67分には攻める途中でスピードアップし、右サイドから仕掛け、エリア中央でパスを受けた谷澤が再びPKを得る。これを谷澤自身が決めて3点差に。

　72分には羽生に代わりルーカスがイン！　攻撃の手を緩めず、直後の73分、田邉からの横パスを受けた徳永がドリブルで持ち上がり、右エリア手前から放った強烈なシュートはゴール右上隅に突き刺さり、徳永は2試合連続弾をマークした。

　76分にはその徳永に代えて椋原を、また85分には中村に代えて、初出場となる柳楽を左サイドバックに投入。DFラインのメンバー変更をしたが、熊本の反撃はシャットアウト。そして87分には途中出場のルーカスが、相手DFの間を抜け出し、梶山からの浮き球のパスを受け、巧みなトラップから右足のアウトで冷静に流し込み、ゴール！ルーカスの復帰後初ゴールでダメ押し点を奪い、今季初の大量5得点で快勝した。

　【選手コメント】《谷澤》「チーム全体として前後のバランスが良く、狙いがはっきりしているので、みんな動きやすいと思う。自分はゴール前に入ることを意識していて、PKを得た場面もそれが活きた。集中して試合に入り、楽しんでプレーができている。PKは自分で『蹴らせてくれ』と言った。今後は流れの中でも決められるようにしたい。この勢いを大事にして勝ち続け、このまま首位を突っ走っていきたい」

　《ルーカス》「復帰2試合目でゴールを取ることができた。自分自身も得点したいと思っていたし、みなさんの声援や期待も感じていたので、早い段階で決められたことはすごくうれしい。ただ、復帰後の初得点はもう終わった。我々の目標はあくまでJ1に復帰すること。それに協力できるように頑張りたい。次はアウェイで難しい試合になるだろうし、首位に立つ難しさもある。けれどもいま取り組んでいる攻撃的なサッカーを続けて勝ち続けたい」

　【大熊監督の会見要旨】「前半から身体も動いていたし、攻撃の起点として、狙いとする高い位置でボールを奪うことが、90分間続けられた。ただもし前半0対0で終わっていたり、相手が10人になっていなければ分からない展開でもあった。誰が…ということではなく、チームとして決定力を高め、相手にとって危険なプレーをしなければいけない。ルーカスが良い見本を見せたが、ここぞというところの落ち着きなどを若い選手には学んでほしい。そして前半から点を取れる力を身につけたい。今日の勝利は国立に置いて、また一戦ずつ良い準備をしていく。

　(ここまでチームの仕上がりは思いどおりか？)FWの負傷が続き、代えが利かない中で、セザーが日本のサッカーに馴染んできた。守備をすることや、相手DFの粘り強さに対して、予想以上に学ぶ力があった。最近、右を切られたら左に抜くなどの工夫がでてきて、相手もドリブルを読みづらくなっている。また、メンバーが固定できてきたことも大きな要因。田邉は自信をつけたこともあり、伸びが加速的。ここまでかな…というところから、攻守に越えた部分もある。若い力の加速がチームの競争を生み、一方でベテランの羽生が頑張るなど、相乗効果になっている。今はうまく競争と結束が生まれている。さらに加速を上げるべくみんな努力をして欲しい。

　(ルーカスについて)試合を重ねるごとに、日本の速いスピード感に慣れ、試合感覚も戻ってくるだろう。まだ完全に慣れていない部分もあるが、あの場面でボールを止められる、決められるのはストロングポイント。それをチームに注入してかみ合わせられるようにしたい」

　【熊本・高木監督の会見要旨】「今季の一番難しいゲームになると考えていたが、予想をはるかに超えた。選手やサポーターの方々も一生懸命に頑張ってくれたが、11人でもやっと…という相手に対して、1人少ない状態では、思うようにゲームをコントロールできなかった。自分たちが狙う方向に持っていくことは不可能だった。前回の対戦時より、互いにチーム力は上がっていると思うが、クオリティの部分では我々はまだまだ足りない。質を上げるためにしっかりとトレーニングをしていきたい。

　レフリーに関しては、フェアな判定だったと思う。我々に対するなぐさめだと思うが、試合後に『非常にいいゲームをしてくれた』と言われた。最後まで選手たちはよく頑張って戦った。(具体的に高めていきたい質とは？)止める・蹴る。あるいは、相手がアプローチに来たときに、どれだけの距離であればプレッシャーとなるのか……など、言い尽くすことはできない」

Lucas' First Goal On Return Completes Second-half Rout 

The hosts exploited their numerical advantage ruthlessly as the second half unfolded. In the 48th.minute Tokyo moved the ball quickly via Tanabe and Cesar to Konno, overlapping down the right. Konno crossed and Hanyu darted between two defenders to slam the ball high past Minami and double the lead. 
In response the visitors made a double substitution in the 55th.minute and altered their formation; Matsuhashi and Nagasawa played as twin strikers, Harada and Fabio as defensive midfielders while Edmilson dropped back into a three-man defence. With a two-goal cushion and a man advantage Tokyo had no need to maintain the high tempo and slowed the pace down somewhat, suddenly speeding up when an opening presented itself. In the 67th.minute they quickened the tempo, moved the ball down the right and then played it infield to meet Yazawa's run into the Kumamoto area. Yazawa's pace took him away from a defender and a desperate late challenge earned Tokyo another penalty. Yazawa took the spot kick himself, blasting the ball high into the net beyond Minami to stretch the lead to three. 
Lucas replaced Hanyu in the 72nd.minute. Tokyo continued to push forward and were rewarded with a fourth goal in the 73rd.minute as Tanabe played a quick free kick sideways to Tokunaga who dribbled forward unchallenged to the edge of the Kumamoto area before unleashing a fierce drive that fizzed past Minami at his near post. Flush from scoring in two consecutive games Tokunaga was shortly replaced by Mukuhara, while Nagira made his first team debut in the 85th.minute as substitute for Nakamura at right back. Despite the changes the Tokyo defence dealt comfortably with the Kumamoto attack. In the 87th.minute Kajiyama spotted Lucas' forward run and chipped a delicate pass over the Kumamoto defence; Lucas took the ball down with a sublime first touch and then coolly flicked it past Minami with the outside of his right boot. Lucas' first goal since rejoining the club was the icing on the cake of a decisive 5-0 scoreline. 


Players' comments 
Yazawa 
"The team balance is good both front and back, we fully understand our roles and it's easy to move, I think. I was aiming to get into positions in front of goal and earning the penalty was a result of that. We were very focused from the start and enjoyed the game. I asked to be allowed to take the penalty and I want to be able to score from open play in the future. It's important we keep this momentum going and maintain our position at the top of the table". 

Lucas 
"I was able to score in my second game back at the club. I wanted to score for myself but I'm really happy that I could repay everyone's support and live up to their expectations by scoring so soon. However, scoring that first goal is done with now and our aim is to get back into J1. I want to do my best to achieve that. We're away in what looks like being a tough game next and then there's the difficulty of keeping hold of first place but we want to keep on winning with the kind of attacking football we're playing right now". 

F.C.Tokyo manager Kiyoshi Okuma 
"Our movement was good from the start and we managed to achieve our aim of winning the ball high up the field for the whole 90 minutes. However, if the first half had finished 0-0 and our opponents hadn't had a man sent off the outcome could have been very different. We have to improve the finishing of the team as a whole and carry more of threat to our opponents. Lucas sets a great example and I want the younger players to learn from his coolness at the decisive moments. We need to add the power to score goals in the first half of games as well. Now we have to put today's game aside and prepare as best as we can for the next match. 
Am I satisfied with the team's development so far? We've suffered injuries to our strikers but now Roberto Cesar has become used to Japanese football. In defence and in terms of the tenacity of opposing defences he's shown a much faster aptitude to learn than we expected. He's become able to shift his positioning from right to left and his dribbling has become harder for opponents to read. Also, having a settled team has been very important. Tanabe is growing in confidence and his development is really accelerating. The improvement of the younger players creates competition within the team and draws performances from the senior players like Hanyu. There's a kind of synergy at work that creates team unity from that competition. We want everyone to contribute to that acceleration. 
Regarding Lucas, as the games mount up he's getting used to the speed of Japanese football again and his sense of the game is coming back. He's not there completely yet but he showed his strengths today with the way he trapped the ball and then finished it off. We want to integrate that into the team". 

Roasso Kumamoto manager Takuya Takagi 
"We thought it would be the most difficult game of the season but it exceeded our expectations. The players and supporters did their best but even with eleven men against such opposition it was going to be tough, never mind playing with a man short. We controlled even less of the game than we had envisaged. It was impossible to do what we had wanted. I think both teams have improved since we last played each other but we're still lacking in quality in many areas. We want to work harder in training to improve our ability. I thought the referee today was very fair. Maybe it was meant to comfort us but after the match he said we had played a good game. The team fought very hard until the final whistle. 
In particular what do I think we need to improve? Stopping and kicking. Also, what kind of distance is needed to put pressure on an opponent when they approach. I can't really give a full explanation".