In the previous match, Tokyo achieved a brilliant come-from-behind victory over Urawa Reds with their overwhelming running ability and hard work, leveraging their youth with an average age of 22.73. This brings their record at the “new” National Stadium to 5 wins and 1 draw, further extending their undefeated record at “Our National Stadium.”
It will be three days since the match against Urawa, and it will be Kashima Antlers who will face them again at the National Stadium. This season, Ryotaro Araki was unable to play in the match with the club he was loaned to due to his contract, so Teruto Nakagawa was appointed as the top pick. Kosuke Shirai was placed at right back in place of Hodaka Nakamura, who was substituted with an injury in the previous match.
The victory against Urawa brought Tokyo’s record this season back to 2 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses. They would like to win against Kashima at the Nationals, where they have a good match, and get a win ahead of them, and use this as a stepping stone to advance to the top. In a game that we hope will be a turning point in the future, the team kicked off this season with a young starting eleven with an average age of 23.82 years old.
1stHALF—A back-and-forth battle to bring the game back
In the early stages, Kashima created chances by attacking the left and right pockets, but he held firm in the center and did not let them score.
Gradually gaining the pace, Tokyo created a chance in the 8th minute of the first half with Tawarazumida Kota’s dribbling on the left side. Then, in the 9th minute of the first half, Matsuki Kuo dribbled across the pitch from the right side and moved to the left side. Tawara Tsukuda, who received this, swung his right foot from the cut-in, but unfortunately it was blocked by the opposing defender.
In the 15th minute of the first half, they created another good opportunity from the left side. When Tawara Tsukuda broke vertically along the line, Bangunagunde Kashifu, who received the drop, turned back in the negative direction. Nakagawa aimed for this, but was again blocked by his opponent.
In the 25th minute of the first half, Tawara Tsukuda continued to actively attack on the left side. On the counter, he dodged his opponent’s sliding and dribbled his way out, then cut in and shot with his right foot. Unfortunately, he hit the goalkeeper in front of him, but he launched a sharp attack centered on the left side.
The match ended in a scoreless game with neither side creating any chances, and the first half ended in a scoreless game.
2ndHALF—Teru & Riki’s first consecutive wins of the season!
In the second half, there were more and more scenes in which Tokyo, which had the upper hand in momentum, started to push in little by little. In the 8th minute of the second half, Tawara Tsukuda picked up a loose ball inside the penalty area, lifted it vertically slightly to the right of center and returned it. He sent an exquisite ball, but no one in the middle could connect with it.
Then, 10 minutes into the second half, the game finally took a turn.
Matsuki, who will be participating in the AFC U23 Asian Cup as part of the U-23 Japan National Team after this match, delivered a cross from the left rear. The one who slipped out was No. 39, who was used as the top pick. While riding at top speed, he jumped first, changed the trajectory of the ball with a slight back-head, and skillfully sent it into the goal, allowing Tokyo to take the long-awaited first goal. It was Nakagawa’s long-awaited first goal of the season.
In the 22nd minute of the second half, Matsuki tenaciously picked up the ball and moved to the left. At this point, Keita Endo, who had been brought in as a left-handed attacker just before, made a sharp turn back, and it was Nakagawa again who ran into the center. He pushed it in at the right moment, but unfortunately it hit the bar and did not result in an additional point.
In the 37th minute of the second half, Matsuki broke free from a counterattack, dribbled up and made the final pass to Jaja Silva, who was running parallel to him. No. 70, who was pitched in at the top of the line, took aim and poured it in with his right foot, but it just missed the left side of the goal.
Towards the end of the game, Tokumoto Yuhei, who plays fullback as his main job, was brought in to the right wing in the 43rd minute of the second half in place of Anzai Souma, who was struggling on the right side. He will try to escape by increasing the strength of his defense from the front.
During the six minutes of stoppage time, they showed their desire to win against the opponents as they fought back, controlling the pitch with their intensity and counterattacks.
The grand finale was waiting just before the end.
When they attacked from the left side, Matsuki kept the ball and sent a soft pass to the side. Riki Harakawa ran in and took control of the shot, then immediately fired a flash with his left foot. The ball flew into the top left corner of the goal, scoring the extra point that decided the game.
It truly is “the ultimate football theater.” The Blue-Red Army defeated Kashima in the second act, recording their first consecutive wins of the season and their first shutout game, captivating the 52,772-strong crowd that packed the National Stadium.
MATCH DETAILS
GK Taishi Nozawa Brandon
DF Kosuke Shirai/Kita Doi/Enrique Trevisan/Yoshifu Bangunagunde
MF Matsuki Yusei/Gao Yuyang (second half 30 minutes: Harakawa Riki)/Koizumi Kei
FW Kota Tawara Tsukuda (18 minutes in the second half: Keita Endo) / Soma Anzai (43 minutes in the second half: Yuhei Tokumoto) / Teruto Nakagawa (30 minutes in the second half: Jaja Silva)
SUBS
GK Hatano Go
DF Masato Morishige
MF Tsubasa Terayama
GOAL
10 minutes of the second half: Teruto Nakagawa / 45 + 7 minutes of the second half: Riki Harakawa
GK Yuki Hayakawa
DF Kimito Nono/Naomichi Ueda/Ikuma Sekigawa/Yuki Anzai
MF Kei Chinen (35 minutes of the second half: Seima Doi) / Kaishu Sano (40 minutes of the second half: Guilherme Paresi) / Yuta Higuchi (35 minutes of the second half: Yuta Matsumura) / Hayato Nakama (16 minutes of the second half: Tomoya Fujii)
FW Cavulic (35 minutes in the second half: Milosavljevic)/Yuma Suzuki
SUBS
GK Daiki Yamada
DF Hidehiro Sugai
GOAL
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[ピーター クラモフスキー監督インタビュー]
Q: Please look back on the match.
A: I think it was a tough match against a good opponent. From a football perspective, we played a good game. I think our players worked hard and achieved a deserved victory. In the first half, we lacked some sharpness. Performance-wise, it was OK, but there were some parts where I thought it could have been a little better. We lacked the ability to pose a threat to the opponents in front of the goal. I think we carefully reviewed the details at halftime, and the players showed great expression in the second half. I’m glad we ended the match without conceding a goal, and it wasn’t surprising that we could have scored a few more points. The important thing is to fight hard, celebrate the victory, recover tomorrow, and move on to the next victory.
Q: Are there any changes between the match against Kawasaki Frontale the day before last, the match against Urawa Reds the previous match, and the match against Kashima Antlers this match?
A: First of all, I think it’s a continuation of our belief in football. When you create a team or something, you have to move forward in a straight line. As we built our football, our players continued to work with dedication and belief in our football and their teammates.
Q: What do you think were the factors that allowed you to win against Kashima?
A: We put up a very strong performance as a team against a strong opponent called Kashima. We respect our opponent, and it was a really tough match, but today we put in a performance worthy of a clean sheet and a performance worthy of victory. This was also the result of dedicated efforts on the field, working on defensive routines. I believe that we reduced the chances our opponent had because we were able to practice our defensive style and our routines well. The players fought physically and with dedication for 96 minutes.
Q: Next week we will play against Verdy. What do you think of the director himself, and what kind of preparation do you want to make?
A: The match against Verdy is one of the special matches. I think this is a special match for the players, the club, and the fans and supporters. I think it evokes a lot of emotions and creates a special atmosphere. I think anything can happen in the derby, so I will prepare for it. The good thing about us now is that we have been able to build a foundation for our football. We will prepare by following our own process while maintaining discipline.
[選手インタビュー]
Q: You participated in a different position than usual. Please look back on the match.
A: No matter what position you play in the game, I believe that being a soccer player embodies what the team wants to do and what it needs to do. Also, I was conscious of getting out to the back so that I could bring out my strengths.
Q: There were many defensive scenes that turned on the entire team.
A: I was always playing the position that Ryotaro Araki plays, and I was looking at past matches to find out how to defend with dedication, how to chase, and how to make it easier for my teammates. There were times when we were able to apply pressure well and guide the players by not letting them pass freely, and times when we weren’t. From the first half, I talked with Matsuki Kuo and shared where we should aim and made improvements.
Q: I think the team has been playing with momentum in the last two games.
A: After we lost against Kawasaki Frontale, we held a meeting with just the players. I think this is having a positive effect, and by having a common understanding of continuing this style of soccer, we are seeing results step by step, so I think it is important to continue doing this. Masu. However, just because we won doesn’t mean everything is good; there are many issues to be solved during the match, so we want to improve while winning.
Q: Please look back at the scoring scene.
A. Matsuki and Bangunagunde Kashifu carried the ball well, and Matsuki was watching me, so I believed the pass would come out. I was conscious of touching the ball first when a pass was made. All I had to do was match Matsuki’s ball, so I’d like to thank him. I’m surprisingly good at heading the ball, so I think that showed in my results.
Q: Please share your enthusiasm for the next round.
A: By continuing to win, we will be able to put pressure on the teams in the top positions so that we don’t lose momentum, and I think the match against Verdy will be a battle that we absolutely cannot afford to lose. We will review the points we made in today’s match and prepare for a win.
Q: What did you keep in mind when you entered the pitch as a substitute in the second half?
A: The game was a little open, so I went in with my focus on defense first. Even when we were pushed, we were able to balance things out and do well, and I think it’s good that we’ve been able to unify our actions over the past few games.
Q: That was a nice shot. How about looking back on that scene?
A: It’s been a while since I made a pass near the penalty area and the ball was returned to me, so I think that’s where I can show my quality if I get it, and Kuo Matsuki did a good job of dropping it. I was unsure whether to aim for the opponent’s crotch or near, but due to the positioning of the ball, the opponent’s legs were not wide enough, so I was able to aim for the near and hit it successfully.
Q: The next match will be a match against Verdy. Please give me a few words for the match.
A: I don’t think the current flow has anything to do with it, and the players will have to enter the game with a different mindset than usual. We want to win the next match and move on to the next match. All of our fans and supporters also think of Tokyo as FC Tokyo, so we want to prepare well as a team so that we can show that with results.
Q: Please look back on the match.
A: I think I was able to make two assists thanks to my teammates, including the player who scored the goal. Ryotaro Araki was unable to participate today, but as a team we were able to lead to victory no matter who participated, and I think we are growing into a competitive and high-quality team. I think that being able to improve each other as a team is what led to our victory.
Q. In the two consecutive games at the National Stadium, you achieved one goal and two assists.
A: I’m trying to be more conscious of numbers this season. I have been playing in the forward position more often than last season, and the two consecutive games held at the National Stadium reaffirmed that if I can be the starting point of an attack from the front, it can lead to points. . I will continue to greedily aim for points and assists. In today’s match, I was aiming for a goal, but I was conscious of playing with the team’s victory as my top priority. I am glad that I was able to contribute to the team with two assists.
Q: This is also where you will start your activities as a U-23 member of Japan’s national team. Please share your enthusiasm for qualifying for the Paris Olympics.
A: I was able to show this through numbers in the most recent league matches, and I would like to continue contributing to the team with goals and assists in my national team activities. I would like to actively take on a leadership role as well.
Q: Please look back on the match.
A. In the first half, there was a lot of patience, and the game lacked aggressiveness. At halftime, the coach talked to us and the players talked to each other, and I think we were able to share the same mindset of trying to be more aggressive on offense and defense, which led to the second half.
Q: You were able to finish the game with your first clean sheet this season. What preparations have you made?
A: The defenders were pretty concentrated, so I didn’t have much work to do today. Particularly, I was conscious of how to maintain my concentration during times when the ball wasn’t coming. I’m glad it led to results.
Q: More than 50,000 fans and supporters gathered at the National Stadium. How was the match at the National Stadium?
A: It was great to be able to win two consecutive games at the National Stadium, both in terms of adding momentum to the league match and in allowing everyone to enjoy the atmosphere at the National Stadium.
Q: Was there anything about the atmosphere at the national team that made you feel excited as a player?
A: When a goal was scored, the cheers were so loud that I got goosebumps even on the pitch.
Q: The important Asian Cup is about to begin in preparation for the U-23 Japan National Team’s Paris Olympics. How would you like to contribute?
A: I’m determined, and I’m also proud to have been selected from Tokyo. I want to express through my play that I am worthy of being a representative player.