Match Review & Preview
Review of the Previous Match Against Yokohama F.Marinos
An away game where we want to take all three points to intensify the title race once again, using the frustration of losing to FC Machida Zelvia in a penalty shootout as motivation. The match, played under strong sunlight, saw the opponent adopt a style combining high pressing and long balls, resulting in a period early on where it was difficult to settle possession.
Nevertheless, Tokyo gradually gained control of the pace, and just before the end of the first half at the 45th minute, Marcelo RYAN made a solo dribble following a pass from Ryunosuke SATO, who intercepted the ball in midfield. Carrying the ball powerfully forward, he delivered the final pass, and Keiin Sato scored with his left foot after one touch, securing the opening goal at a good moment.
The blue and red pace did not change even after entering the second half. With Kim Seung-gyu's fine save and Ryunosuke Sato's daring final passes and shots drawing the momentum, the long-awaited additional goal for Tokyo came in the 19th minute of the second half.
Right side back Sei MUROYA delivered a slicing through pass from the center of the pitch to the left front. Lucas RIAN, who broke free on this pass, struck a powerful left-footed shot with one touch, successfully extending the lead to two goals.
In the 29th minute of the second half, although the team conceded a goal from a long-range shot after being somewhat on the defensive, they demonstrated the aggressiveness consistent with their “+1 GOAL” philosophy. Then, in the 33rd minute, from a direct free kick opportunity on the right side of the penalty area, Kento HASHIMOTO delivered a sharp left-footed ball, which caused the opponent to score an own goal, making it the third goal. Despite VAR support, the goal was confirmed, extending the lead to two again.
The match ended as it was. Securing a solid 3 points away from home, they caught up in points with the top-ranked Kashima Antlers despite having played two more matches.
This Week's Preview
Due to schedule changes associated with the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 Finals, FC Tokyo will face their first match since April 11. During this period, the Kashima Antlers have secured consecutive wins, widening the points gap at the top to six once again. Head coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI emphasized the importance of accumulating victories one match at a time, stating, "We are in a position where we are chasing them. Since there is a direct confrontation in the final round, it is absolutely essential not to miss the chance to challenge, and we must never let go of that determination. We have no choice but to fight through each match thoroughly." With this mindset, FC Tokyo is preparing for this week's match against Mito Hollyhock.
The team will start their five consecutive matches during Golden Week beginning with this match against Mito. To achieve a comeback championship, they must push forward on a winning streak like a tournament from here on, continuously applying pressure on Kashima. Center back Hayato Inamura stated, "Everyone understands that until we face Kashima in the final round, we must accumulate victories in 90-minute matches. Each game is truly a battle, and there are no excuses even during consecutive matches," showing his determination.
Also, Keisuke SATO, who scored the opening goal against Yokohama F.Marinos, said, "The five-match stretch is tough, and we can’t win with the same lineup. It will truly be an all-out battle, so it’s necessary for anyone who plays to be able to perform our style of football and for the whole team to fight together. The Mito match, which kicks off this series of consecutive games, will be the most important, so we absolutely want to win and build momentum." It is truly a continuous battle of 'doing all you can and leaving the rest to fate.'
The away game on March 14th, where we struggled against Mito, is still fresh in our memories. Although we were troubled by strong winds and a rough pitch, we continued to struggle against Mito’s relentless high press and their middle block that solidly defended the center to protect their goal. Ultimately, we managed a hard-fought victory after a penalty shootout. Drawing on that experience, Tokyo’s players have strengthened their awareness to adapt flexibly according to the opponent’s approach.
If Mito increases pressure upfront, we want to target the space behind them; if they solidify the center, we aim to connect passes, use the flanks, and employ direct play to get behind their defense. Kento HASHIMOTO, who balances offense and defense in midfield, explained, "Their pressing is extremely intense, so quicker decision-making is necessary. I also want to attack by slipping through their press and use the open spaces." Without being overly fixated on holding the ball, we will attempt well-targeted breakdowns and launch dynamic attacks in this game, aiming to secure 3 points at home.
There are no easy opponents to beat. Even so, we have no choice but to keep winning. As the decisive five-match stretch that will greatly influence the course of this season begins, the Blue-Red Army aims for victory in every single match with all their might.
Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI
Q. With an irregular schedule, there has been a two-week gap since the last match. How have you spent this time?
A. We were able to fully utilize this time from the introductory aspects to more practical parts in preparation for the match against Mito Hollyhock.
Q. We are about to enter the final stage all at once. How do you view this series of five consecutive matches?
A. Although it is a series of consecutive matches, I believe the situation will change moment by moment. First, by focusing on this one match, creating a good game, and securing a victory, the momentum and flow that are built could become even more important than the battles up to this point.
Q. You often talk about playing with the image that something will happen in the final match against the Kashima Antlers. In that sense, aren’t these truly important matches coming up?
A. We are still in a position of chasing them, and we absolutely do not want to lose the right to challenge. Since the final match will be a direct confrontation, the premise is that we approach it while still holding that right to challenge. I believe we must never let go of that determination.
Q. The point difference with Kashima is 6, but from here on, I think there will be matches where earning 3 points per game, like in a tournament, will be necessary.
A, that is the same for every team; of course, it’s tough for the chasing side, but it’s not easy for the team being chased either. Not only for us, but every team has its own battles, so it’s necessary to develop the strength to firmly win through those challenges.
Q. Looking back on the season so far, I think one of the biggest differences from last season is the atmosphere where winning feels like a habit, as if winning is the norm. How do you feel about that?
A. I believe the current results are due to various factors, but whether we have truly developed a winning habit, I’m not sure yet. It is true that the results so far suggest that, but I think we must always stay grounded and fight with our feet firmly on the ground. Even if we look for something to rely on or a factor to bring out, there is absolutely no guarantee that it will necessarily lead to the next 3 points. So, in the end, we have no choice but to fight hard in each and every match.
Q, In the previous match against Mito Hollyhock, we were left with the impression that we struggled against their high press and tight defense. What did you focus on in your preparations?
A, We anticipate that they will have possession of the ball, and we also expect situations where we can take the initiative in a good way. However, if we remain calm and firmly hold onto our objectives, and can exert our power there, I believe it is possible to control the flow of the game in our favor.
Q. What would you say are the key points that decide the outcome of the match?
A. There are various factors. Of course, scoring the first goal is important, but since anything can happen in 90 minutes, it is essential to keep believing in ourselves until the end and firmly envision that we will secure the three points. As I mentioned earlier, the factors that lead to a winning habit or victory depend on how well prepared we are and how much we are able to challenge ourselves. I believe the number of challenges we take ultimately becomes one of the factors that lead to a positive outcome. So, it’s not just about the results, but about how many times within the 90 minutes we can believe in ourselves and take on the challenges based on what we have practiced.
Q: In terms of believing in what you have been doing, including the fact that results are coming, do you feel that the players are moving forward with the same perspective?
AI truly believe that the players are all looking in the same direction. However, I also think that we must not rely even on that.
Q: In the previous match against Yokohama F.Marinos, you struggled with their high press, but because you scored on a long counterattack, I think it became harder for them to press. Please tell us about the advantage of having both build-up play and counterattacks.
A, the strength of being able to adapt to various situations is not just about either build-up or counterattacks; there are also times during the match when we need to settle the ball. Since there are moments when the opponent is composed, I believe applying pressure by responding to various flows is possible. Our strength lies in being able to launch a counterattack the moment we regain possession. This certainly poses a threat to the opponent and may also halve their attacking power as they become cautious. Some opponents might decisively press forward despite this, but such situations arise naturally within the flow of the match, so it is important to respond properly. At first glance, it may seem like we are struggling, but when one of our strengths emerges, it can drastically change the course of the game, so I think we need to maintain that strength in various situations.
Player Interview
Kento HASHIMOTO
Q: The season has entered the second half. Please review the developments so far.
AThere have been many good matches, and I feel very positive about actually being involved in the title race now. In terms of the progress we've made since last season, we have been able to play the style of football we aim for in many games, so I think it's really something very good. The same goes for the matches against FC Machida Zelvia and Tokyo Verdy, but there were games we couldn't finish off with a win, so while I do wish we could have won those matches, when I look at the first half of the season from a broader perspective, I take it very positively.
Q: You had to play unexpectedly in the previous match against Mito Hollyhock. I believe it was a difficult situation including the flow of the game, but please review the match.
A: Personally, due to Yuto NAGATOMO’s injury, I came on as a substitute early in the 20th minute of the first half. It was my first experience like that, and from the start of the match, the opponent was able to do what they wanted. We were under pressure from their front line and couldn’t advance the ball as well as we had in the previous few matches. However, even within that flow, I think it was good that I was able to fully enter the game and assist in the opening goal. That said, conceding a goal immediately afterward was an issue. Although we won in the penalty shootout, I felt that matches like that must be won within the 90 minutes if we want to become champions.
Q: Taking those things into account, how do you feel about the current progress the team has made?
A: Winning has given the entire team confidence, and having a shared understanding that "we are not wrong on this path" is a significant achievement. That confidence also leads to boldness in play and trust among teammates. However, I still feel we are only halfway there. In matches like the one against Yokohama F.Marinos, even though we were pressed hard and didn’t play in our ideal way, being able to secure 3 points was a major step forward. Right now, we are winning and playing with confidence, but if asked whether we can maintain that confidence even when we don’t win, I would say it’s still not enough.
Q. What do you think will be the key points of the match?
A Mito works hard against individuals, so I believe that if we can continuously win the battles against the opponents in front of us, we can control the pace of the game. Even if the ideal attack does not go well, as in the previous match, the team shares a common understanding that if we can dominate the opponent defensively, we can rely on counterattacks. First and foremost, we want to always be conscious of not losing to the opponent directly in front of us.
Q. In the previous match, you were also involved in scoring through your specialty kicks. How do you want to demonstrate your strengths in attack?
A. My strength lies in being able to assist and score through the quality of my crosses and kicks, so I want to continue delivering that. To put in more crosses and to play in dangerous areas closer to the goal, I want to increase my movements to overtake the players ahead and the number of times I get involved with the ball.
Q, This season, there has been no victory over the full 90 minutes at Ajinomoto Stadium.
A, I believe that if we cannot consistently win home games, we cannot become champions. Teams that win the championship tend to be strong at home, and even when playing against them, it feels difficult. We want to make the opponents not want to play at Ajinomoto Stadium. For that reason, we want to firmly secure wins at home.
Q. Lastly, please give a message to the fans and supporters.
AWe will win! Thank you for your support!
Player Kei Sato
Q. Personally, I have recorded 3 goals and 3 assists, showing results.
A, I want to play every match with the mindset of producing numbers, and I believe that will lead to winning the championship.
Q. Having played as a forward, you were also able to deliver results as a right midfielder, a position where you have had many opportunities this season. Do you feel you have gotten a good sense of it?
A. After the match against Tokyo Verdy, I spoke with Naohiro ISHIKAWA, the Community Generator (hereafter referred to as CG). I received various pieces of advice, and by keeping them in mind while playing, I was able to score.
Q. What specifically did you talk about?
A. Ishikawa CG told me, "Try to be aware of connecting with the players in the middle." The goal came from a counterattack, but I was able to connect with Marcelo RYAN. I was also connected with Ryunosuke SATO, who won the ball, and Keita ENDO, who ran in from the side. In terms of connection, it’s good to be able to provide the final pass and assist, but when it comes to scoring myself, I think the connection with the central players becomes important. I received advice that instead of making moves that end with just myself, I should be aware of the connections that allow me to get into a position to score and receive the ball, thinking two or three steps ahead in my movements.
Q. I think the upcoming five consecutive matches will be extremely important for the team. The first of these matches is the upcoming game against Mito Hollyhock.
A. The five-match stretch is definitely tough, and it’s not possible to win with the same members alone; it will truly be an all-out battle. Since we are aiming for the championship, we cannot afford to lose even one match, and everyone’s strength is needed to win them all. It is important during this series of matches that whoever plays can perform our style of soccer and that the team fights with everyone attacking and everyone defending. Participating in the AFC Champions League Elite will lead to a congested schedule. Our team is looking ahead that far, so we want to do what needs to be done every day for that. The first match is the most important among these five games, so we absolutely want to win and build momentum.
Q. With that in mind, what is your determination going into the match against Mito?
A. In the previous match against Mito, we played a game that disappointed our fans and supporters, so first, I want to erase that memory. Since this match will be at Ajinomoto Stadium, we really want to win. To aim for the championship, we cannot afford to stumble here, and in terms of putting pressure on Kashima Antlers even just a little, I believe this will be a match we absolutely cannot drop.
