Match Review
After playing the 3rd round of the Emperor's Cup on Wednesday, Tokyo will have to play 3 games in one week. In the league game, they ended with a fierce 0-0 draw against Urawa Reds in an away game. In the Emperor's Cup, they played against Verdy for 120 minutes in an intense match that went into a penalty shootout, eventually winning 9-8 after 9 rounds of close competition.
After Peter CKLAMOVSKI took over as coach, Tokyo has yet to lose with 3 wins and 1 draw, and is heading into the third game of a 3-game streak with momentum.
The starting lineup is based on the lineup for the Urawa game, and Henrique TREVISAN, who was substituted in the late stages of the Emperor's Cup, avoided this match, and Masato MORISHIGE, who had avoided the Urawa game and the Emperor's Cup, returned to center back.
1stHALF—Diego's goal puts us ahead, but we end up conceding the lead
Both teams started off by increasing the intensity of their challenges and colliding with each other. They maintained a compact formation and put strong pressure on the ball side. In the midst of that, it was Tokyo who managed to break through the high defensive line.
In the 9th minute of the first half, Yakubu SLOWIK sent a feed to the front line from his own zone. Kashima Antlers raised their defensive line, but Kuryu MATSUKI broke through and brought the ball to the left side of the penalty area. Turning towards the negative direction, Diego OLIVEIRA received the ball in the center of the goal and scored the first goal for Tokyo with a shot while turning.
The balance of the game remains unchanged even after the score changes. Both teams continue to play with high intensity and refuse to give in. Then, in the 23rd minute of the first half, when a corner kick is given to Kashima, the ball is headed by Suzuki and equalized from a position slightly further from the center of the goal.
Afterwards, Kashima gained momentum and the time for playing in Tokyo's territory increased. However, Tokyo did not allow any scenes where they could freely bring the ball to the goal without losing their intensity in the ball's vicinity.
However, in the 45th minute of the first half, just when it seemed like the game would go into halftime tied at 1-1, the game was once again shaken up. The ball was pushed into the goal area with a side attack, and Suzuki took a shot at the ball that couldn't be cleared. The ball flew towards the goal and was pushed in by Kaito, turning the score around and going into halftime.
2ndHALF—Behind, no comeback despite spreading
Both teams maintained their intensity in the second half, but Tokyo strengthened their attacking posture towards the goal.
However, in the 9th minute of the second half, the ball was carried deep on the right side and a cross ball was combined in front of the goal in the negative direction. This shot was reacted by player Slowik, but player Pituca was able to trap the ball with his chest outside the penalty area and score a powerful shot into the bottom right corner of the goal.
Tokyo, trailing by two points, attempted to break through by bringing in Shuhei TOKUMOTO and Koki TSUKAGAWA in the 17th minute of the second half, and Adailton in the 25th minute. In the 41st minute of the second half, Naoki KUMATA was also brought in to boost the attack.
In the second half, at the 45th minute, Kumada was fouled by Anzai while trying to break through, giving the team a chance for a free kick in front of the goal. Matsuki took a direct shot, but it hit the wall and changed direction, catching the goalkeeper off guard and narrowly missing the top of the goal.
Unable to break through Kashima's defensive stance as they tried to protect their lead in the final stages of the match, it was the first defeat under the CKLAMOVSKI regime.
MATCH DETAILS
＜FC Tokyo＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Jakub SLOWIK
DF Kei KOIZUMI/Yasuki KIMOTO/Masato MORISHIGE/Yuto NAGATOMO (Sub 17': Shuhei TOKUMOTO)
MF Kuryu MATSUKI/Shuto ABE/Keigo HIGASHI (Sub 17': Kota TAWARATSUMIDA)
FW Ryoma WATANABE (Sub 41': Naoki KUMATA)/Diego OLIVEIRA/Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (Sub 25': Adailton)
SUBS
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
MF Tsubasa TERAYAMA
FW Leon NOZAWA
GOAL
9 minutes into the first half: Diego OLIVEIRA
＜Kashima Antlers＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Tomoki Hayakawa
DF Rikuto Hirose/Naomichi Ueda/Ikuma Sekigawa/Koki Anzai
MF Kaishu Sano/Diego Pituca/Yuta Higuchi (25th minute of the second half: Yuta Matsumura)/Hayato Nakama (25th minute of the second half: Ryotaro Araki)
FW Yuki Kakita (30th minute of the second half: Shu Morooka) (45th minute + 4 minutes: Yu Funahashi)/Yuma Suzuki (45th minute + 4 minutes: Shoma Doi)
SUBS
GK Yuya OKI
DF Gen SHOJI
GOAL
First half 23 minutes: Yuma SUZUKI/First half 45 minutes: Yuki KAKITA/Second half 9 minutes: Diego PITUCA
[Comments from Head Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI's Press Conference]
Q: please review the game.
A: I think there were parts where our performance was lacking. We were unable to achieve the results we wanted. We must take the lessons from today's match and apply them moving forward. Kashima Antlers capitalized on their chances, and we couldn't break through their defense to score. I believe the players gave their all in the fight. It was a tough night, but they fought desperately without giving up, trying to turn the game around until the very end. It's disappointing that we couldn't get a positive result, and I am very saddened that we couldn't send off Shuto ABE with a victory. Even when he goes overseas, I want to continue supporting him.
Q: You mentioned that you learned a lesson from today's match. Can you please elaborate on which points specifically?
A: I think we were able to get off to a good start as we aimed for a perfect performance. From there, we managed to take a 1-0 lead in a good way. However, conceding a goal from a set piece was a disappointing part. Also, there are still areas we need to improve in every aspect, including our defense during the match and chances where we could have scored. To deliver a perfect performance in such situations, we must work on improving every aspect.
[Player Interview]
<Shuto ABE>
Q, it was a match with many fans and supporters holding up Shuto ABE's jersey. Please reflect on the match.
A, I could see many fans and supporters holding up my jersey even before the match, so I really wanted to win the final game and go to Belgium. It was good that we managed to take the lead in the first half, but conceding from a set piece changed the momentum. I wanted to lead the team more with mobility and intensity. I tried to play as usual, but the Kashima Antlers were very intense and aggressive, and I think the reason for our defeat was that we couldn’t surpass that.
Q: Today, the "Aveshu" call echoed.
A, I felt that they were cheering for me, and I was honestly happy. I thought I could have done more, and I wanted to respond to those cheers. I want to channel this frustrating feeling into my efforts in Belgium.
Q: Did you have a message prepared for the ceremony?
A, including the color of my hair, I wanted to make the fans and supporters happy at the end, so I prepared a script and other things from the day before. However, once I stood in that place, I was nervous, so I decided to greet them in my own words.
Q, what kind of presence do you want to deliver to fans and supporters in distant places in the future?
A: There is no guarantee that I will be able to play in Belgium, and I will start by competing for a position, so first I hope to make a good report by appearing in matches and producing results such as goals and assists. In Japan, I want to show my active presence as a member of the Japan national team. The hair color is one example, but I wanted to show that I have "Tokyo love," so although it was only symbolic, I will always hold that feeling.
<Diego OLIVEIRA player>
Q, please look back on the scoring scene.
A, Jakub SLOWIK's long feed broke through to the left side, and Kuryu MATSUKI made a good run forward. He delivered a good ball from a deep position, so I was able to control it and turn smoothly to take the shot. I think it was a goal born from a good flow.
Q: Please tell us the factors behind the good form of accumulating points.
A, last season I was unable to improve my condition due to the impact of injuries, but the pain from those injuries has now disappeared, and I have been able to train in good condition. I believe that this has translated into my performance in matches.
Q, please leave a message for Shuto ABE, who has made a significant contribution to the team.
A, I was able to play alongside Abe for three seasons. He made a significant contribution to the team with his play for Tokyo, and I myself was greatly helped by Abe’s performance. First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude by saying thank you. For Abe, I believe this will be a new start toward his dreams and goals, so we will be cheering for his success from Tokyo, hoping for great results.
<Masato MORISHIGE>
Q: please review the game.
A, we conceded a goal when we lost our rhythm. Overall, I felt that our stamina ran out earlier than expected. As a team, we also lacked the energy to stage a comeback.
Q, today's game will be the last for player Shuto ABE. Please give us a message.
A, he has the ability, so if he can bring out his mentality and his own strengths, I believe he can succeed in Belgium as well. I am used to sending many players off, but I think it will be tough for the team. I want to see Abe performing well and achieving results so that he doesn't come back immediately.
Q: How would you like to spend this time as an individual and as a team until the next game?
A, we have no choice but to level up, so we want to spend this break period well by doing tough training to enable each individual to move more and fight better.
