Match Review
The Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League Regional League Ground EAST Group, aiming for the championship, has completed half of its schedule. FC Machida Zelvia's advancement to the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League Elite caused a schedule change, resulting in Sec. 11 being held ahead of time on this day during the International Match Week. As a result, Tokyo was without Japan national team player Ryunosuke SATO and South Korean national team player Kim Seung-gyu. Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI sent players onto the pitch with six changes to the starting lineup from the previous match against Tokyo Verdy.AFC Champions LeagueElite's quarterfinal advancement led to the schedule change, and Sec. 11 was held ahead of time on this day during the International Match Week. Therefore, Tokyo was without Japan national team player Ryunosuke SATO and South Korean national team player Kim Seung-gyu. Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI sent players onto the pitch with six changes to the starting lineup from the previous match against Tokyo Verdy.
At the back, Hayate TANAKA, who joined this season from Tokushima Vortis, made his J1 League debut on the pitch. The defensive line from right to left consisted of Sei MUROYA, Alexander Scholz, Hayato Inamura, and Kento HASHIMOTO. The double pivot was formed by Kouta TOKIWA and Kento HASHIMOTO, with Keita ENDO on the left side of midfield and Fuki YAMADA on the right. Up front, the team kicked off with a two-top of Keiya SATO and Teruhito NAKAGAWA2.
Also, on this day’s bench, Yuta SUGAWARA, who was promoted from FC Tokyo U-18 to the top team this season, was included on the bench for the first time.
1st HALF—Tanaka’s Great Save & Endo’s Brilliant Opening Goal
Tokyo was the first to seize the flow of the match. In the early stages, they carefully connected passes from the back and repeatedly created opportunities to advance by skillfully threading vertical passes into the half-lane.
12th minute of the first half, Kento HASHIMOTO delivers a lofted pass to Nakagawa's run behind the defense. Number 39 aimed for the goal with his left foot, but it was stopped by the opposing goalkeeper's excellent save.
Ahead of this match, player Kei Sato said, "We want to target behind the opponent's last line, but how many times we can do that is important." True to his words, the entire team had a strong awareness of attacking behind, continuously and alternately moving behind the opponent to accelerate the team's momentum.
29 minutes into the first half, a loose ball was picked up in our own half, leaving Machida's Fujio free inside the area. In this critical moment, Tanaka made a flying big save to block Fujio's shot and averted the danger.
Three minutes later, Endo received the ball in a wide position on the left side, cut inside toward the center, and struck with his right foot. The ball slid across the rain-soaked grass, slipping past Keigo Sato’s feet and brilliantly shaking the back of the net.
Without yielding an inch to the opponent in terms of intensity, they showcased their strengths to create chances while controlling the pace of the match. They went into the second half leading by 1 goal.
2ndHALF—Kane2 goalstopull away from the opponent and win with a clean sheet
In the second half, Machida made the first move. They brought in fresh players at halftime and shifted up a gear. As the time spent on the defensive gradually increased, Tokyo sent Marcelo RYAN onto the pitch in place of Nakagawa. This tactical move hit the mark perfectly.
16 minutes into the second half, Lucas RIAN tirelessly defended in the opponent's half, leading to an opponent's back pass that Keigo SATO did not miss and intercepted inside the area. Approaching the goal, he calmly struck the net with his left foot. As declared, this one shot extended the lead to two goals.
Kei SATO doesn’t stop. In the 33rd minute of the second half, he broke through the right side, won a penalty, and scored it himself to seal the victory. Immediately after that, the Tokyo bench substituted Endo, Yamada, and Muroya with Leon NOZAWA, Divine OTANI, and Kei KOIZUMI.
Then, in the 42nd minute of the second half, Sugawara came on to make his J1 League debut, replacing Sato Kei.On his first play, he showed his style by threading a through pass to his academy teammate Otani.
A great chorus from the city that never sleeps echoed through Machida GION Stadium, and in the two-match series against Machida, the Blue-Red team took the first victory with a3-0win. In the next match, they will face Machida again at Ajinomoto Stadium, competing for the “season double.”
Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI
Q,Please reflect on today's match.
A, I think they played a very wonderful game. However, we will soon face FC Machida Zelvia again, so I consider this as if only the first half has ended, and we want to prepare for the second half.
Q, From the first half, there was a strong awareness of attacking behind the defense,with players repeatedly making forward runs. Could you tell us the intention behind this and your evaluation?
A, Of course, it’s not that we don’t aim behind the defense; rather, the fundamental premise is how we play toward the goal. Then, how we perceive the opponent’s structure and target those areas—I think we were able to execute that well. However, the quality of the final distribution still has many issues to address.
Q. This season, Kei Sato, who has often been used on the right side, played as a forward today. How do you evaluate his performance?
A. Last season, he had many opportunities to play in the front two positions,and as he gained more match experience, he was able to firmly acquire a performance that added something extra to what he originally possessed. Now, wherever he plays up front, he reliably fulfills the tasks of that position well, and in addition, he can score goals consistently. His decisiveness and lack of hesitation in that regard are also among his strengths.
However, similarly, there are moments when he can firmly hold onto the ball and moments when he is challenging, but behind those moments, he sometimes loses possession. Therefore, he needs to improve the quality of his decision-making on whether to hold the ball or to challenge. If that improves, I believe his strengths will be even more effective.
Q. Following Divine OTANI, Yuta SUGAWARA made his professional debut today. What are your expectations for him?
A. First of all, I told him that defense really requires hard work. On top of that, I encouraged him to fully play to his strengths and show what he can do. Although there weren’t many such opportunities today, I’m glad he was able to step onto the pitch, and I hope this experience becomes a great source of motivation for him. I also hope he carefully reflects on how what he experienced today will help him going forward, continues to build up his training daily, and when given another chance to play, fully demonstrates his abilities. He is a very tricky player who excels at catching opponents off guard, so it would have been nice to see more of those moments, but I look forward to seeing that next time.
Q, Goalkeeper Hayate TANAKA played in the absence of Kim Seung-gyu, and he made some very good saves in the first half. Including his distribution on this rainy pitch, how do you evaluate his performance?
A, I think he truly played wonderfully. He fulfilled the major role of a goalkeeper firmly, and regarding his distribution as the first step of attack, from the moment he joined this club, including training and training matches, there have been many occasions where he has fully demonstrated his ability in that area. So, without any worries, I believe he was able to play with confidence. I could feel that from his very stance. His daily curiosity, pursuit, and hardworking attitude seem to have been reflected in today’s result.
Q, I felt that a key point today was the positive approach in both attack and defense. How did you feel about the players’ performance?
A, Not just this time, but in our preparations for the Machida match, I think our players had a strong awareness of switching on. The precision still needs improvement, but the fact that this was showing well is what generated the overall positive, forward-moving, and behind-the-defense targeting plays.
Q. This is the second match in a two-game series against Machida. Please share your thoughts and determination for the upcoming home game.
A. Of course, winning today has greatly boosted both teams' motivation for the next game. However, as I mentioned at the beginning, I feel like the match was only half over today. We are not in a position of leading 3-0; rather, we must approach the game as if it’s 0-0 from the start. We absolutely must not misjudge that stance. I expect it to be a tough game, and how we overcome that challenge will be a very important point in achieving our goals. We will also leverage the advantage of playing at home. Despite the rain during tonight’s game, many fans and supporters cheered us on, so next time at home, we hope for even greater support. We must strive to earn three points in the next match as well.
Player Interview
Player Kei Sato
Q: Please review your first goal.
A: When I was under pressure, I thought the opponent would play a back pass, so I targeted that. At first, I intended to cross the ball to the center, but since my teammate hadn’t moved in yet, there was no angle, so I took the shot myself. I’m glad it went on target.
Q, You scored a penalty kick to add another goal.
A, I kicked it with confidence. I’m glad I was able to score firmly.
Q, Your off-the-ball runs and coordinated attacks stood out. How do you feel about that?.
A,I think we were able to continue playing in a way that bothered the opponent today, and the build-up from the back was also very good, so it was easier to move as a forward. I believe we advanced well by effectively using the space behind and between the lines. Rather than focusing on the opponent, our own play was good, and when we play well, naturally the opponent struggles, so we want to keep that going.
Q, It seemed like you also outperformed in terms of physical battles and intensity.
A, I think the opponent was also affected by the consecutive matches, but regardless of that, we talked about first surpassing them in terms of intensity. We were able to win the second ball recoveries and one-on-one situations as well. Today, we defended by turning the opponent’s intentions against them. I think we were able to play while controlling the opponent well, and it was a match where our defensive intentions also clicked perfectly.
Q,We will face FC Machida Zelvia again on Sunday.
A,In the previous match (against Tokyo Verdy), we lost to an opponent we shouldn't have lost to, which was very frustrating for the team as well as the fans and supporters. That’s why this match was also one we couldn’t afford to lose, and I’m glad we were able to secure a solid win first. We want to switch our focus toward the next game. Last season, we also had two consecutive matches against Machida, winning the first but losing the second, so this season we want to tighten up and aim for two straight wins.
Q,Having finished the first half of the Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League near the top, how do you view the season so far?
A, Honestly, I wanted to be at the top of the table alone at the halfway point, so I think there is still a long way to go. Aiming for the championship,I want to approach the rest of the season with the mindset of winning all remaining matches.
Keita ENDO
Q: Please review today's game.
A: From the first half, I actively pushed forward and I think I was able to take on challenges myself. There were distinctive players on the opponent's side, but I thought it would be interesting if I could break through there, so I’m glad I was able to keep challenging.
Q: Please review the scene of the opening goal.
A: I had the option to shoot to the far post, but since the pitch was wet, I shot to the near post. It was a surprising move, or rather, I thought that just taking the shot was important, and I’m glad it led to a goal.
Q, How do you feel about the way the game proceeded afterward?.
A, There were several dangerous moments, but Hayate TANAKA, who was starting for the first time, responded firmly, and as a team, I think we didn’t give the opponent many big chances and made few mistakes. It was a very good game. However, I think the opponent will prepare countermeasures for the next match, so we must also stay focused and approach it seriously.
Q, Even in the rain, many fans and supporters came to cheer us on. Please share a message.
A, Even away in the rain,we could hear louder cheers than the opponents, and it truly gave us strength. Regardless of the result, there is no doubt that those cheers pushed us forward, and we are very grateful.
Hayate TANAKA
Q: please review the game.
A: It was a crucial moment facing FC Machida Zelvia head-on, so I absolutely wanted to secure 3 points, and I think the team showed many positive aspects both in results and performance. However, we will face Machida again soon in consecutive matches, and I believe it will be a different game, so we must stay focused and approach it seriously.
Q、前半の藤尾選手のシュートを止めたシーンを振り返ってください。
A、結果的に止められたことは良かったですが、1試合を通して危険なエリアに進入されたり、相手に攻撃の機会を与えてしまうことは、1年間を通して見ると数字に出てきてしまうと思います。しっかり分析をして、自分たちの攻撃の時間を長くできるようにやっていく必要があるかなと思います。
Q, It was the best result to finish with a clean sheet.
A, We ended up scoring three goals, so it might seem like a perfect result, but there were also some dangerous moments, so if we truly aim to win the championship, I think we need to refine our play even more.
Q, This was your first appearance and first win since joining Tokyo. Please share your honest thoughts.
A, Of course, I am happy. I came to this team with the determination to contribute to winning the championship, and I want to help improve the team even more from now on.
Kota Tokiwa
Q,how was the overall reflection on today’s match?
A, I think it was great to finish with a wonderful 3-0 result. During this week’s training, the coach instructed us to increase the number of passes again to move the opponent and create gaps, and everyone was involved from the first half moving the ball, which paid off in the second half as the opponents started to tire.This allowed us to strengthen our offensive pressure effectively. Also, we were told that defense would be crucial in this two-match series, and we managed to finish with zero goals conceded, creating very few dangerous situations. We were able to demonstrate what the coach expects both offensively and defensively. I think we managed the game well.
Q,you were turning your head in midfield to receive passes and quickly closing down opponents. How did you maintain the balance between offense and defense?
A,I have believed throughout this season that it is important to play connected with those around me in the midfield position. Especially in attack, if we increase one-touch or two-touch plays in coordination with teammates, the tempo improves. I did this while watching both the opponents’ positioning and my teammates. Defensively, I think I could have done a bit more. In this match, it took me a while to get going since there was a gap of one match, so it was somewhat difficult to get into the rhythm. That said, I am a player who builds rhythm from defense, so I was able to adjust and start with good defending, and from the end of the first half into the second half, I got fully going. I have the challenge of needing to focus better when entering the match, but overall, I improved steadily as the game progressed.
Q, With the match progressing at 1-0, I felt that the fact we managed to extend it to 3-0 was largely due to Tokiwa’s performance. Is there anything you will focus on to create a similar flow in the next match?
A, Today, if we can win the second balls, we can launch secondary and tertiary attacks, increasing our chances. Conversely, if the opponent wins them, we get pushed back and face powerful plays, so I feel confident in my ability to anticipate and win those second balls and duels. Based on today’s match, I don’t know how the opponent will come at us next time, but they might play even more powerfully, which would make winning second balls even more important. That is my greatest strength. Our team this season is offensive, but within that, we focus on aggressive defending that doesn’t allow the opponent to have defensive time.
Q,Despite the rain today, many Tokyo fans and supporters gathered in large numbers.
A,Even though we lost to Tokyo Verdy in such a way in the previous match, I felt grateful that so many fans and supporters came out on a rainy weekday night and cheered us on loudly throughout the 90 minutes. I believe that all the players’ attitude of having gratitude and fighting for them will turn into strength, so we want to fight together in the next match as well.
Yuta SUGAWARA
Q, this was your J1 League debut.How was your first match?
A, I was prepared to go all out whenever the chance came.In the opportunity I had, I really wanted to shoot, but I chose to pass. I would have been happy if it had resulted in an assist.
Q: Please review the chance scene.
A: I had the option to shoot myself until the very end, but since the opposing defender blocked the cut-in route, I chose to pass.
Q, How do you want to build on this first step going forward?.
A, I am not satisfied at all. I want to keep working hard in practice so that I can play in matches again and achieve results.
