Match Review
After a 3-week interval, the previous match against Yokohama FC aimed for the first 3 consecutive wins of the season, but ended in a tough loss against the last place team. After the match, the players all had serious expressions and coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI pointed out the challenges in the attacking aspect. This match, back at home, will be a test of rebound mentality.
How will we find the thread of attack and approach the goal against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, who also plays a 3-4-2-1 system? Teruhito NAKAGAWA, who promises to "reach the supporters with an aggressive and attacking play" after his suspension is lifted, faced the final match of the 25th anniversary game to grab 3 points and change the flow at home.
1stHALF—Yoshifu's shot hits the crossbar
Taking advantage of the reflection on the lack of attacking power in the previous match, this game showed a positive attitude from the start. The return of Teruhito NAKAGAWA had a big impact, creating opportunities on the right side and increasing the time of attack. On the other hand, there were also scenes where the aggressive attitude left the back line vulnerable, resulting in quick counterattacks from Hiroshima.
Among them, the first team to create a scoring opportunity was Hiroshima. In the 26th minute of the first half, Kawamura made a quick restart on the right side and moved the ball to the left side. Kato was able to connect with a diving header from East's early cross, but it was saved by Taishi Brandon NOZAWA's superb save.
In the 37th minute of the first half, they launched a counterattack. Kei Koizumi, Ryoma Watanabe, and Diego Oliveira worked together to break through the right side, and it was left back Kashif BANGNAGANDE who jumped on Diego's cross ball in the opposite direction. His right-footed shot hit the crossbar, but their attack, which utilized the width of the pitch, threatened the goal.
However, neither team was able to score the first goal, and the first half ended in a 0-0 tie.
2ndHALF - Although they equalized once,
In the second half, which became a development with a big value for the first point, the valuable goal was allowed to the opponent. In the third minute of the second half, the ball that was roughly put in front of the goal was bounced back, but Nakano picked it up and sent a looping pass to the front line, and Kato shook the goal net.
Tokyo, who cannot afford to lose at home, equalizes early on. In the 17th minute of the second half, Riki HARAKAWA carries the ball and makes a through pass. Adailton, who had gotten behind the opponent's defense, runs up the left side and crosses, causing an own goal by the opponent's defender.
After the score returned to a tie, space began to open up on the pitch and both teams created chances to score a second goal. However, missed shots and good defense from the opponent prevented the next goal from being scored for a period of time.
In the midst of a stalemate, the score changed again in the 30th minute of the second half. After picking up the ball in their own half, Harakawa attempted to connect with a pass but was intercepted by the opponent, leading to a counterattack. They were unable to catch Manda, who entered the area with a one-two with Douglas VIEIRA, and ended up conceding the winning goal.
After that, players Naoki Kumata and Keigo Higashi were put in to aim for an equalizing goal, but Hiroshima also maintained their defensive focus and were unable to create the desired chances. In additional time, player Nakagawa was sent off, but the flow of the game could not be changed and the final whistle was blown.
MATCH DETAILS
＜FC Tokyo＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Kei KOIZUMI/Masato MORISHIGE/Henrique TREVISAN/Kashif BANGNAGANDE (43rd minute: Shuhei TOKUMOTO)
MF Kuryu MATSUKI/Riki HARAKAWA (34th minute: Keigo HIGASHI)/Ryoma WATANABE
FW Teruhito NAKAGAWA/Diego OLIVEIRA (34th minute: Naoki KUMATA)/Adailton (27th minute: Kota TAWARATSUMIDA)
SUBS
GK Jakub SLOWIK
DF Yasuki KIMOTO
MF Tsubasa TERAYAMA
GOAL
17 minutes into the second half: Own goal
<Sanfrecce Hiroshima>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Keisuke OSAKO
DF Tsukasa SHIOTANI/Hayato ARAKI/Sho SASAKI
MF Shuto NAKANO/Makoto MITSUTA/Takumu KAWAMURA/Shunki HIGASHI/Ezequiel (43rd minute of the second half: Takaaki SHICHI)
FW Mutsuki KATO/Douglas VIEIRA (43rd minute of the second half: Nassim BEN KHALIFA)
SUBS
GK Goro KAWANAMI
DF Taichi YAMASAKI
MF Taishi MATSUMOTO/Yotaro NAKAJIMA/Gakuto NOTSUDA
GOAL
3 minutes into the second half: Mutsuki KATO / 30 minutes into the second half: Makoto MITSUTA
[Comments from Head Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI's Press Conference]
Q: please review the game.
A: It was an exciting football match. Aside from the result, I think there were many even moments. Regarding our performance, we were able to play the good football we wanted to. However, I believe we lacked sharpness and edge in front of goal and in the attacking third. We need to further refine our ability to convert chances into goals and to create opportunities from good situations. We played bravely moving forward while effectively using the spaces we wanted to utilize, and we showed aggressive football. We created chances based on the patterns we have practiced, and I believe the players gave their all to deliver 3 points for the fans and supporters.
Q, An aggressive attitude was seen for 90 minutes, but it felt like the final accuracy was lacking. What kind of training do you think is necessary in the future?
A, I believe we need to refine what we have been doing so far, rather than trying something new. Scoring goals is the most important thing. What is important and positive for us is that we were able to demonstrate the development of the football we are trying to create. Within that, we were able to play positively and fight aggressively. Today, we fell just a little short in terms of scoring. We were able to utilize the spaces we wanted to use, and I think we maintained a good tempo. On a different day, in a different game, we might have scored a few more goals. I think it’s just a small difference. Hiroshima was a very good opponent, and it was a good match where both teams gave their all.
Q, Is the quality in the attacking third still incomplete due to the stage of team building, or was it lacking in this game?
A, If we cannot create such situations, we need to take a different approach, but I think we were able to create good opportunities. I mentioned that we need to refine the final part, but we have to polish various elements. Of course, if we had scored two or three goals in today’s match, no one might say such things. We created scenes where it wouldn’t be strange to be rewarded for the football we tried to play and the plays we made. The players gave their all this week, showing the good plays and what we have been building. We should continue doing what we are doing without overthinking or complicating things. I believe that if we do so, the rewards will come back to us.
If it were a different day, we might have been able to score a few points in this kind of game. The players gave us something we deserved. However, football always teaches us a lesson. Everyone is disappointed and the players are also disappointed that they couldn't win for the fans and supporters. The players will continue to work on improving their play. We hope to develop into the team we want to be.
[Player Interview]
<Riki HARAKAWA>
Q, the content of the game changed in the first and second half. How did it look from Riki HARAKAWA's position?
A, Sanfrecce Hiroshima applied more aggressive pressing from the front in the second half compared to the first half. On the other hand, Tokyo as a whole lost the awareness to receive the ball more than in the first half, had no passing options, and ended up kicking long balls repeatedly during that period.
Q, the opponent's pressing position became higher in the second half.
A, they started pressing players more than in the first half. It would have been better if we could have played while observing their movements, but we were unable to do so.
Q, the goal was connected from Harakawa's pass. What were you conscious of?
A, after winning the ball, Henrique TREVISAN immediately passed it. This week, we practiced attacks where the wide players break behind the defense. I was free and knew that Adailton was positioned on the side, so I faced forward and made the pass. That scene showed the results of this week's training.
Q, with only one home game remaining, we are approaching the end of the season. How will you approach the remaining games?
A, we were able to bring the ball into the opponent's side box more than in the Yokohama FC match, so I think it is important to continue that. However, Albirex Niigata, our next opponent, is a team with a different style, so we want to prepare different ways to break them down through training.
<Kashif BANGNAGANDE>
Q: Sanfrecce Hiroshima's way of fighting was different in the first and second half, and I think there was also difficulty in doing it. How was the game when you look back on it?
A, in the first half, we successfully bypassed the opponent in the build-up from the back and had periods where our good flow continued, but we were unable to finish the chances. If we had scored then, I think the flow in the second half could have been different. It is very frustrating.
Q, In the time immediately after the start of the second half, the positioning of the opponent's wing backs was high, and there were many opportunities to receive attacks from the side. How did you respond on the pitch?
A, since it was also the opponent's weak point, we expected them to press high in the second half. However, we were unable to respond well early on and ended up conceding a goal.
Q, there were some close shots in the first half. I felt like we were more aggressive in attacking compared to the previous match against Yokohama FC. How did you approach the game in terms of involvement in the attack?
A, Hiroshima also assumed the same formation as Yokohama FC, so I studied the footage from the previous match against Yokohama FC. In the scene where my shot hit the bar, I already knew that space would open up, so all that was left was to score. If I had been able to score there, it could have completely changed the flow afterward, so not scoring is a major point of reflection. Although I was able to increase the number of times I was involved in the attack, it did not lead to results, so I want to correct this as an issue.
Q, there were many scenes where Yoshifumi Kato was involved in breaking down the defense, how did you feel about the attack?
A, from the first half, I believed we could perform well in attack. Although it was an own goal, it was good that we were able to break down the defense with the play we had envisioned. However, we conceded a goal while trying to score one more, so we want to improve on that moving forward.
<Taishi Brandon NOZAWA>
Q, there was also a big save to save the team in the first half. Please review the 90 minutes.
A, I understand that this is an important period for me personally, and I am very frustrated that we couldn’t pull the victory closer. Since we were able to fight well as a team in the first half, the goal conceded in the second half is regrettable. The team is also trying to change, and to walk together as one of the players toward that change, I believe there are still many things lacking in the kind of play we showed today. In order for myself to grow going forward, I will reflect on how to make changes and work on improving for the next match.
Q, following the Yokohama FC match in the previous round, what progress did you feel in terms of how to play against opponents using a 3-back system from the back line?
A, We reviewed and organized as a team to make the Yokohama FC match a valuable lesson and approached the Hiroshima match accordingly. In the first half, it seemed they were not able to respond well to our ball circulation. If we had been able to create our pace during that period and generate a flow leading to a goal, it would have been a perfect scenario. However, in the second half, it seemed that there were more instances where we fell behind defensively.
Q, it seemed like Hiroshima had made adjustments to their fighting style since the start of the second half.
A, personally, the opponent committed five players when launching their attacks. For us, there were increasingly more situations in the second half where we had to defend with only four defenders, which caused mismatches in certain phases. We, of course, understood this misalignment as a team and fought accordingly. Although we conceded a goal early in the second half, we were able to defend without collapsing significantly. As the last line of defense, I am frustrated that I couldn’t perform my duties well.
Q, As you continue to play in games, many people are feeling the growth of player Nozawa. With only 3 league games remaining, how will you finish this season?
A, I don’t want to lose the spirit of challenge. Thinking of the team that trusts and uses players like me, the fans and supporters who always deliver strong encouragement, and those close to me who support me, I believe that playing with responsibility is the most important thing. No matter the form, I want to grow so that I can express my daily gratitude through my play in as many matches as possible. I want to grow even more, and to become a player with depth, I want to express this not just within this season, but throughout my entire playing career.
