Match Review
J1 League, Levain Cup Prime Stage Quarterfinals followed by a 3-game series against Avispa Fukuoka. In the J1 League Sec. 26 match held 3 days ago, we were forced to chase after being scored 2 points early in the first half, and although we managed to score 1 point towards the end, we lost 1-2.
The remaining two matches will determine the winner in a home and away game as the tournament changes. The first match will be held at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo, the home of the team. With only two days in between, it will be a crucial match to redeem themselves from the disappointment of the league game.
1stHALF - Don't miss a moment's opportunity and take the lead with Adagol
The beginning of the game saw Fukuoka dominating and playing in their own half, but they were able to build up from the center back and use the space to launch quick counterattacks against the opponent's formation.
Tokyo moves the game before the flow of the game leans to either side. In the 16th minute of the first half, Adailton reacted to the ball that was played behind Fukuoka and matched up with Douglas. Douglas reached the ball first and headed it back, but the goalkeeper missed the ball. Adailton, who was following the ball with momentum, tucked in the loose ball in front of the goal and scored.
Tokyo, who firmly holds onto their ball and neutralizes the opponent's momentum. In the 23rd minute of the first half, player Erik Harakawa received the ball from the left side of the penalty area and took a look. As soon as he saw that the opponent was not closing in, he swung his right foot and scored a sharp middle shot in the upper left corner of the goal. Although the opponent's goalkeeper made a great save, Tokyo created a chance by not missing the opponent's gap in the flow of the game.
As the first half comes to an end, Fukuoka is pushed back and their defense is tested. However, they continue to challenge and deflect the ball without lowering their defensive formation too much. In the 45+1 minute, there was a scene where a powerful shot was taken, but SLOWIK reacted sharply to the ball flying towards the left corner of the goal and deflected it out of the frame.
2nd HALF - Advance to the 2nd match with a win
Fukuoka, who made three substitution cards from the start of the second half, comes forward with momentum, but Tokyo maintains a compact formation and does not allow them to create space for a finish.
After taking the ball, we use the front line simply and launch a counterattack, utilizing the space inside the Fukuoka team's center of gravity that is leaning forward. In the 15th minute of the second half, Adailton, who received the ball from Yuto NAGATOMO, ran up the left side and entered the penalty area with momentum, but his shot was blocked by the opponent's goalkeeper who closed the distance.
In the second half, after passing the midfield, they try to take control by making substitution cards. In the 30th minute of the second half, they send in Teruhito NAKAGAWA for Adailton, Ryoma WATANABE for Higashi, and Tsubasa TERAYAMA for Tsukagawa. In the 35th minute of the second half, they substituted Kashif BANGNAGANDE for Shirai.
As the game enters the final stage, there are more and more situations where we are pushed back. Instead of defending, we will continue to fight by firmly connecting our ball to the front line, carrying it, and attacking for an additional goal. Even in additional time, Tokyo continued to maintain an aggressive attitude. They kept their one-point lead, won the first game, and kept their hopes alive for advancing to the semifinal round in the second game.
MATCH DETAILS
＜FC Tokyo＞
STARTING XI
GK Jakub SLOWIK
DF Kei KOIZUMI/Masato MORISHIGE/Henrique TREVISAN/Yuto NAGATOMO
MF Koki TSUKAGAWA (substituted by Tsubasa TERAYAMA at 30 minutes of the second half)/Keigo HIGASHI (substituted by Ryoma WATANABE at 30 minutes of the second half)/Riki HARAKAWA
FW Kosuke SHIRAI (substituted by Kashif BANGNAGANDE at 35 minutes of the second half)/Naoki KUMATA (substituted by Kanta DOI at 45+2 minutes of the second half)/Adailton (substituted by Teruhito NAKAGAWA at 30 minutes of the second half)
SUBS
GK Tsuyoshi KODAMA
FW PEROTTI
GOAL
16' Adailton
＜Avispa Fukuoka＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Takumi NAGAISHI
DF Masato YUZAWA/Douglas GROLLI (46': Tatsuki NARA)/Masaya TASHIRO/Daiki MIYA/Masashi KAMEKAWA (80': Yota MAEJIMA)
MF Tatsuya TANAKA (46': Ryoga SATO)/Yuto HIRATSUKA/Kimiya MORIYAMA (46': Yosuke IDEGUCHI)
FW Reiju TSURUNO (65': Wellington)/Takeshi KANAMORI
SUBS
GK Masaaki MURAKAMI
MF Kazuya KONNO
GOAL
―
[Comments from Head Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI's Press Conference]
Q: please review the game.
A: I think the overall performance was good. Within that, I believe the players showed something wonderful and firmly secured the victory. I think we were able to show very good aspects in the first half, and we played solidly in the second half as well. The players demonstrated dedication and clearly brought out their strengths, and I believe it was a performance worthy of victory.
Q: Today, we adopted a 3-back formation. What was the intention behind that decision?
A: I think we were able to play in a way that suited our current situation and adapted to the circumstances. The players thoroughly executed each task and gave their all. As I mentioned earlier, we showed something wonderful in the first half. Within that, there are still areas that need further refinement. The important thing now is to properly recover from here. And since it is still halftime, we want to go and seize victory away from home.
Q, this was the second game of the three-game series against Avispa Fukuoka. Did you find it difficult to play against them?
A, it is a unique situation, but it is important to properly prepare for the next match without looking too far ahead. Certainly, there are difficult aspects, but the performance the players showed today was of very high quality. They also clearly demonstrated their passion and character for this club. The players themselves deserve praise, and I believe they were worthy of the victory.
Q, as the third consecutive match, please tell us your enthusiasm for the second leg of the Levain Cup quarterfinals.
A, no matter who the opponent is, it is important for us to play firmly. Since this is a three-game series, both sides understand each other's tactics, so we just focus on ourselves and prepare to deliver a good performance. It is still halftime. I think it will be a tough away match, but we will go there to seize victory.
[Player Interview]
Henrique TREVISAN
Q, it was a victory without conceding a goal.
A, I thought it would be a tough match today. I am very happy that we were able to finish the game without conceding a goal, prepared for the opponent's playing style.
Q, the defense line was in a different formation with three players. Please tell us the points you were conscious of in terms of defense.
A, I think it was good that our attitude toward the match was very different compared to the previous game. By changing the system, we were able to defend well. We still have an away match against Avispa Fukuoka remaining, so we want to win properly and advance to the next stage.
Q, in the league match on Sunday, we lost in a tough situation, but we faced today's game with a short preparation period. What were the major improvements compared to the previous match?
A, I believe that being fully focused and engaged in the match right from the start led to today's victory.
Q, Wellington and Ryoga SATO were brought on in the second half, and I think the defensive time increased. What kind of communication did the defensive players have with each other?
A, I can communicate with Yuto NAGATOMO in Spanish, and I have played many matches together with Masato MORISHIGE. By communicating well, we were able to maintain a good distance and keep a high level of intensity.
<Riki HARAKAWA>
Q, please reflect on the 90 minutes in which you made a significant contribution to the victory as a starter after your transfer.
A, since it was a cup match, we talked as a team about playing it safe first, and because we had conceded an early goal in the league match on the 3rd, I think we were able to organize that point and approach the game accordingly. I spoke with Adailton and Naoki KUMATA about decisively playing long balls during the initial period, so having a shared understanding and reading the intention led to Adailton’s goal. I believe the team also gained a great sense of confidence.
Q, we saw defensive care and a play that balanced offense and defense at a low midfield position. If there was anything you were conscious of, please let us know.
A, the opponent was not very aggressive in trying to take the ball when I had possession, so there were many scenes where I received the ball freely. I think I was able to play while observing the opponent’s formation and pressing style during the first half. Throughout the entire match, rather than actively engaging in the attack, I played to maintain overall balance, read the flow, and act as a link between the forwards and the defense. I was especially conscious of positioning myself to send the ball from a deep position to the players up front.
Q: After scoring, I think there was a long time spent on defense. What challenges does the team have in order to score additional points?
A, after scoring, plays that focused more on defense tended to stand out. Of course, defensive play is important to avoid conceding goals, but I think the key point for the team is to increase the emphasis on the awareness of scoring a second goal a little more.
Q: Previously, you mentioned that you wanted to increase the amount of time you spend touching the ball. How is that going?
A, the number of times I receive and touch the ball has gradually increased, and over time, I feel that my play style is being understood. If we can balance playing with more courage during the lead and decisively focusing on defense, I believe the team will become even better.
Q, the second match of the quarterfinals is coming up in 3 days. Please share your enthusiasm for the away match of Avispa Fukuoka, who has a poor winning rate.
A: I have heard that Tokyo has a poor winning rate in away matches against Fukuoka, but in a good way, I am not aware of that. On the contrary, personally, I have many positive impressions of BEST DENKI STADIUM. With today's 1-0 victory, Fukuoka will likely come into the match with even more momentum, so I want to approach the game considering the position in the second leg and the fact that it is a cup match.
<Kosuke SHIRAI>
Q, it was your first start in a while. Please reflect on the game.
A, in the J1 League Sec. 24 match against Yokohama F. Marinos, I conceded a goal due to my own mistake and we lost. I believe I was in a situation where I had to regain trust from scratch, and I think I was able to demonstrate through my play that I would defend with my body and run through the game. From here, I want to regain trust step by step.
Q, the starting position was on the left side. Please tell me what you were conscious of, considering that you have played on the right side more often until now.
A, in the match against Avispa Fukuoka on the 3rd, there were few instances of playing behind the opponent, and confrontational situations stood out. In those moments, we lost possession and faced many scenes of the opponent's attacks. I consciously focused on actively getting behind the defense today, making good use of my speed, which is my strength. It seemed the opponent's defense was also uncomfortable with this.
Q, there were scenes where you were able to position yourself well on the left side and suppress the opponent's play both in attack and defense.
A, I was able to play while maintaining good communication and a strong relationship with Keigo HIGASHI and Yuto NAGATOMO. HIGASHI skillfully appeared in the space created between NAGATOMO and me, allowing me to play with his support.
Q: Please tell us the major factor that was able to be corrected from the Fukuoka match on the 3rd.
A, I think it was that, as a team, we were able to play in a way that the opponent disliked right from the start. In the previous match, there were many scenes where we lost the ball in one-on-one situations. I believe that winning in each of those moments was the factor that brought the momentum to us.
<Kashif BANGNAGANDE>
Q, this was my first appearance since the Cerezo Osaka match on May 24th.
A: It was my first official match appearance in about four months, so I felt very refreshed. Until I arrived at Ajinomoto Stadium, everything was as usual, but when I stepped onto the pitch for warm-up, I truly felt that I had come back.
Q: It was a long rehabilitation period, but what kind of preparations did you make?
A: It started with a knee injury while with the Japan national team, and then I also injured my ankle, so I worked on training to review how my body moves to prevent injuries. With the support of many people, I was able to overcome four months and stand on the pitch. I had been looking forward to this day for four months, so today I poured all those feelings out. I believe this is truly a fresh start from here.
Q: After getting injured, the coach changed, and there were often many differences in tactics between before and after the injury and when I returned. What kind of things did you focus on during practice matches?
A, there was a coaching change while I was injured, so I observed from the outside how the team was playing. Today, I played in a different position than before, but I focused on not losing the battles on the flank and preventing crosses from being delivered. I was conscious of fully carrying out the coach's instructions.
Q: You came on as a substitute, what were you conscious of when you entered the game?
A: We were playing with good momentum, so I wanted to maintain that flow and also bring even more energy. Since I entered the game in the last 10 minutes while we were leading, I especially focused on solidifying the defense first.
Q, depending on the results of the next match, it may lead to advancing to the semifinals. Please share your enthusiasm for the second match.
A: I believe the Levain Cup prime stage is essentially one match played over 180 minutes. Since only the first half is over, if we don't achieve a good result in the second match, today's victory will become meaningless. We have lost away games in the league this season, so although the time is short, we will prepare thoroughly to win the next match and are determined to secure the victory.
