Match Review
After winning the first two home matches of the season in penalty shootouts, FC Tokyo traveled to face Kawasaki Frontale away, aiming for a third consecutive victory in the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League. The team has so far controlled both offense and defense, showing strength in one-on-one battles and demonstrating aggressive and adaptable soccer. This week, they want to firmly defeat the second-place opponent with 5 points within 90 minutes and accelerate their strong start by winning the Tama River Clasico.
Tokyo’s starting eleven, aiming to build further momentum from their strong start in the special tournament, placed Kim Seung-gyu in goal, with the back line arranged from right to left as Sei MUROYA, Alexander SCHOLZ, Hayato INAMURA, and Yuto NAGATOMO. In midfield, Kouta TOKIWA, starting for the third consecutive match, lined up alongside Kento HASHIMOTO, who made his first start of the season. The attackers featured Keisuke SATO on the right and Keita ENDO on the left, with the two forwards being Marcelo RYAN and Motoki NAGAKURA forming the partnership.
Also, Divine OTANI, who was promoted to the top team this season, was on the bench. While still with FC Tokyo U-18, he made his official match debut in the second leg of the playoff round of the 2024 J.League YBC Levain Cup and attracted attention for scoring a goal at the young age of 17, marking his “professional debut.” Tokyo’s field players wore the lilac-colored away uniform, while goalkeeper Sungyu wore the blue and red third uniform as they kicked off.
1st HALF—Lukian's Opening Goal & Muroya's Go-Ahead Goal Secure the Lead
Tokyo immediately created a big chance. From the kickoff, Scholz played a long feed. Lukian contested it with a header, and Nagakura connected with a layoff that Lukian struck directly with his right foot. Although the opposing goalkeeper saved it, Tokyo showed aggressive attacking intent right from the start.
In the 8th minute of the first half, Muroya broke free on the right side off a pass from Kei Sato to create a chance. Then, in the 12th minute, Lukian launched a counterattack with a long dribble, and in the 14th minute, Nagakura received a pass from Kento HASHIMOTO’s forward run and took a mid-range shot after a one-two with Lukian, showcasing a flexible and adaptable style.
And in the 18th minute of the first half,the diverse attacks shown from the start bore fruit. Endo received the ball on the left side and delivered a long ball to the center. Nagakurawon the aerial challenge and the loose ball was picked up by RIAN, who carried it to the right and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot! The shot hit the net precisely, and Tokyo succeeded in scoring the opening goal away from home.
Tokyo continued to maintain control of the game. Then, in the 23rd minute of the first half, Hian, who had sprinted down the right side, crossed the ball, and Endo, who ran in as if using Nagakura and Kento HASHIMOTO's runs as decoys, took a direct shot with his right foot. Although it flew straight to the opposing goalkeeper, it created a clear scoring opportunity with a flowing attack.
Continuing to show focused play in both offense and defense, they deprived the opponent of freedom and advanced the game by mixing quick attacks and possession. At 29 minutes into the first half, Kei Sato unleashed a powerful long-range shot. Although it went over the bar, as Rikizo MATSUHASHI, the coach, commented ahead of the Kawasaki match, "It is important to make solid contact," they demonstrated a kick with punch that instills fear.
Tokyo had been controlling the match, but at 31 minutes into the first half, they conceded a goal due to a brief lapse. Kawasaki's right-back Yamahara made a one-two pass with Wakisaka and cut inside, and Tokyo failed to keep up with the mark, allowing a cut-in and conceding a brilliant left-footed shot that leveled the score. A slight flaw led directly to the goal conceded.
Although Tokyo was brought back to square one, they immediately took a step forward with brilliant passing. In the 38th minute of the first half, when Tokiwa played the ball vertically from the back line, RIAN spread it to the right.Sato Kei broke free, advanced, and created space, then passed at full speed underlapping from behind to Muroya. Here, number 2 powerfully swung his right foot from a tight angle, scoring a fine goal that broke through the near side! Showing a Tokyo-style attack that rapidly accelerated from the build-up, the captain embodied the fierce shot demanded by the coach, bringing joy to the Aoaka family.
The first half ended with 2 minutes of additional time, finishing at 2-1. Tokyo showcased their strengths in both offense and defense as they headed into the second half.
2nd HALF—Outperforming the opponent in both offense and defenseContinuously creating scoring opportunities3 Points
There were no substitutions for either team at halftime. Both sides started the second half with the same lineup as the first half.
Tokyo went on the offensive from the start of the second half. Immediately after kickoff, Endo’s shot earned a corner kick, and after picking up the rebound, they pushed forward, finishing with Muroya’s powerful mid-range shot. They relentlessly attacked Kawasaki’s goal, aiming for an additional score.
In the second half as well, Tokyo continued to show their strengths in both offense and defense. By pressing from the front line, they forced the opponent to play long balls, which they then recovered, connecting passes finely to display a well-rounded attack. When Keigo Sato showed a pressing effort to help prevent counters after a teammate’s loss of possession, at the 8th minute of the second half, he intercepted a pass from a high pressing position, then advanced with a dribble and took a left-footed shot. Although this was blocked by the opponent, Tokyo demonstrated seamless soccer in both attack and defense, overwhelming their rivals.
Kawasaki, wanting to change the momentum, made three substitutions in the 12th minute of the second half.Tokyo chose to continue attacking while maintaining their current good flow.The right side, which had shown good coordination since the first half, continued to function effectively. In the 16th minute of the second half, Scholz, who joined the attack, delivered an accurate cross, and Nagakura in the center skillfully controlled the ball with his chest and took a right-footed shot. Although they created a perfect play, the finish went straight to the opposing goalkeeper, and they could not add another goal.
The blue-red bench made a move in the 20th minute of the second half.Ryunosuke SATO was brought onto the pitch as a left attacker, replacing Endo. Then, in the 24th minute of the second half, Lucas RIAN was switched out for Fuki YAMADA. Kei SATO was pushed up to the front line, and YAMADA was deployed as a right-side attacker. The promising young star, who had expressed a desire to "deliver overwhelming results," and the left-footed player who scored the equalizer against Urawa were entrusted with adding another goal.
As the back-and-forth battle continued, Tokyo substituted out Kei Sato and Tokiwa, bringing on Otani as forward and Kei KOIZUMI as defensive midfielder. Otani, who had shown great performance at Kodaira Ground, made his professional debut on the pitch.
The next big chance belonged to Tokyo. Ryunosuke Sato connected passes with teammates on the right side and entered the penalty area, skillfully evading one defender with deft movement and ball control before delivering a final pass to the center. Nagakura took a one-touch shot with his left foot, but it narrowly missed to the right of the goal.
Aiming for their first full 90-minute victory of the season and seeking an additional goal, Tokyo also wanted to firmly close out the match. In the 45th minute of the second half, Yamada received a diagonal pass which Nagakura trapped, then was fouled after nutmegging an opponent, earning a direct free kick opportunity. However, Yamada's left-footed shot hit the wall and went over the goal.
While firmly establishing a defensive block and maintaining relentless pressing from the front line, they showed courageous defense. In the final stages, despite receiving multiple yellow cards due to intense defending, they successfully withstood the opponent's fierce attacks until time was up. In a game where solid performance was matched by the result, they achieved their first full 90-minute victory of the season.The victory anthem echoed through the 'City That Never Sleeps' on away ground,and they splendidly recorded their third consecutive win at the Tamagawa Clasico to start the season.
Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI
Q: please review the game.
A: Although we have accumulated points in the first two matches,we had not settled the outcome within 90 minutes.This time, as a team, we talked about definitely deciding the result within 90 minutes, and I am proud that all the players fully embodied that attitude. We must continue this going forward.
Q,We earned our first 3 points of the season. The league regulations also include penalty shootouts, but as a coach, has your perspective on the value of points changed?
A,Within these regulations, I believe there will be situations where we need to consider various ways to accumulate points. Considering it’s only been three matches so far, we have been able to secure the maximum points possible in each game. However, as we approach the end of the season, there may be occasions where even in matches where we perform poorly and the opponent holds the initiative, whether we earn 2 points, 1 point, or none will become crucial. That difference in point accumulation could become very important. That said, our club’s philosophy is to always aim for one more goal, to push for that extra point. While maintaining that stance, there may be moments when we need to adopt a strict approach to how we accumulate points in order to achieve our goals.
Q,Compared to last season, it seems the coach’s intention to calmly carry the ball has become apparent. Looking back on these three matches, how do you feel about the progress?
A,Regarding this season, although the preparation period was short, from the start of the camp we have been constantly refining tactical aspects while also getting the players into good condition. Through this tactical approach, the performance and expression so far have been excellent. We are also beginning to see a chemical reaction developing within the team.
Q,It seemed that offense and defense were progressing smoothly with well-organized spacing among the players. What kind of encouragement do you give to the players?
A,Regarding the sense of distance, it depends on the opponent’s positioning, so it’s not about being too wide or too deep. There is a key point about how to create a “plus one” when moving the ball, starting from the goalkeeper, and how to advance forward and build play closer to the opponent’s territory. We share and work on this during training. When taking positions, deciding who fills the space and which of our players covers for the opponent’s movements might seem like a general principle. However, our goal is not just that; we want to elevate it to the level of our own style. While having perfect balance is good, shapes that the opponent cannot respond to are gradually emerging, and the players are fully understanding and organizing themselves accordingly.
Q,Please give your evaluation of Kento HASHIMOTO, who made his first start of the season.
A,There is nothing to say about Kento HASHIMOTO. He truly delivered an outstanding performance.
Q,Please tell us the reason for selecting Divine OTANI for the squad and what instructions you gave him when sending him onto the field.
A,As you can see, his height fits well with the players coming on later, and considering the expected game development like today, height was going to be a key factor. We also expected him to firmly control and hold the ball, so it was a choice made with various scenarios in mind. Originally, we had considered bringing him on a little earlier than that time. Also, if there were set pieces toward the end, we anticipated he could be a threat then. Regarding instructions, since it was his first league appearance and he had just been promoted to the top team, I didn’t give him detailed directions and simply told him, "Go out there and enjoy yourself." However, from the bench, we kept shouting "Get back!" (laughs). I think I should have told him that too.
Player Interview
Sei MUROYA
Q: Please look back on the scoring scene of your first goal since returning.
A: Before the match, we knew that Kawasaki Frontale has many wingers with distinctive qualities who often stay back during counterattacks. So, I focused on having Keito Sato open up wide while I received the ball inside. I’m glad we were able to put into practice what we had discussed before the game. However, in that scene, Sato cut inside and we overlapped a bit, but he gave me a good pass with a chip kick. If you watch that scene on video, you’ll see I wasn’t looking at the goal at all and the ball was floating, so I just focused on striking it with full force and took the shot.
Q, Not only did you score 2 goals, but the whole team showed an attitude of going for a third goal.
A, We were able to carry the ball up to the opponent’s goal even on short counters. It would have been best if we could have scored the third goal, but even though there were periods when we couldn’t, I’m glad we managed the game well and secured the victory.
Q, It wasn’t just a team that simply passed the ball around; the entire team worked hard and fought.
A, Marcelo RYAN also defends from the front line. We have to become that kind of team, otherwise we won’t be able to accumulate points. Everyone must have that level of defensive awareness and become a team that can play like this every match.
Q. You have been winning continuously since the season opener. How do you want to build on this going forward?
A. From our perspective, it finally feels like we were able to secure a win over the full 90 minutes. Although we had been winning in penalty shootouts, we made adjustments while winning and approached today’s match with that in mind. Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI also said he really wanted the full 3 points today, and the players were focused on winning within 90 minutes, so I’m glad we were able to achieve that. While playing matches like this, we want to correct the areas that need improvement and steadily accumulate points to become a better team.
Q. What do you think is necessary to continue accumulating victories from here on?
A. There were many things to correct, such as not being able to score the third goal and conceding during good periods. Even in the matches against Kashima Antlers and Urawa Reds, there were many areas we needed to fix, but I feel we are gradually improving. As a team, we are getting better while winning, so I want to take it to an even higher level.
Marcelo RYAN
Q: Please review the goal scene.
A: In midfield, Motoki NAGAKURA contested for the ball, and I was able to pick up the loose ball and score. Since the goal was right in front of me, I was only thinking about putting the ball into the net. In the previoustwo matchesI hadn’t been able to score, sofinally scoring in the third match has brought me some calmness. I want to continue scoring and contribute to the team.
Q,It was my first goal wearing the number 9 jersey.
A,With the change of my number, I’m happy to have scored as FC Tokyo’s number 9. I want to score more for the team.
Q,It seems that this season you have been contributing to the team not only in attack but also in defense.
A,Since the training camp, the team has been working on coordinating how to apply pressure. We have now reached a point where we can do that effectively. The forwards press the opponents, and sometimes we can win the ball there, while other times other players manage to recover it.
Q,We saw Marcelo RYAN taking a leadership role in defense as well, giving instructions to encourage pressing from the surrounding players.
A,When I go, I want everyone to go all at once, and I can especially hear the voice of the defensive midfielder clearly, so I react to the "Go!" call from there and initiate the press.
Q,The team has achieved three consecutive wins.
A,I think we have momentum withthree straight winsin good form, so I want to keep this momentum going and continue forward.
Q,There were many plays where you held the ball up front and created space for your teammates to advance.
A,I think there were several such moments today. When I can keep possession of the ball, the team becomes very calm, and I feel that by holding the ball well, I was able to help the team.
