Match Review
Just one week after the Tokyo Verdy match last week, this time we will face FC Machida Zelvia at Ajinomoto Stadium. We cannot afford to lose at home against a team based in Tokyo, who we will face for the first time in an official match. On the 17th of the midweek, we will also play against Y.S.C.C. Yokohama in the 2nd round of the J.League YBC Levain Cup, where Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA and Jája Silva scored their first blue and red goals, resulting in a big victory with 4 goals and improving the team's atmosphere.
Keita ENDO, who has scored in the YS Yokohama match, has scored in two consecutive games since the Verdy match, and on March 30th, he was named as a starting member for the first time since the Sec. 5 Kawasaki Frontale match. The other 10 players are the same as the previous match. They are determined to achieve their first victory of the season at Ajinomoto Stadium and started the game with momentum from the kick-off.
1stHALF - One goal behind despite the frenetic development
It was an intense 45 minutes. Amidst the echoes of the fans and supporters of both teams, each player showed a high intensity play. The first chance was created by Tokyo in the 6th minute of the first half. Kota TAWARATSUMIDA cut in from the left side and sent a final pass to Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA, who then took the ball to the goal but hit it straight at the goalkeeper.
The game then moves at a dizzying pace. In the 13th minute of the first half, Sandaza quickly started a throw-in for Machida and brought it to a shot. Although it was blocked, Na SANGHO scored a direct volley from the corner kick right after, giving the opponent the lead. However, in the 19th minute of the first half, they managed to open up the goal and drew a handball from the opponent's defender, earning a penalty kick. Kindergarten player Sandro touched it to Tani and scored a goal, equalizing with the first home goal of number 11.
However, they couldn't take advantage of the momentum they caught up with. Just 4 minutes after the score returned to a tie in the first half at the 25-minute mark, they were caught on the left side by a long feed from the final line, and the ball was crossed by player Mochizuki to player Se Hun OH, who headed it in just before the goal line.
FC Tokyo, who quickly fell behind again, made chances starting from Kota TAWARATSUMIDA's dribble, but in the 39th minute of the first half, Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA's header from Kota TAWARATSUMIDA's cross was cleared by the defender. In the 42nd minute of the first half, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA cut in and took a shot with his right foot, but it missed the target, and they went into halftime trailing by one goal.
2nd HALF - Chance to hit the crossbar but 1 point is far away
First, Tokyo, who wants to catch up, will have a big chance right away. Endo, who received the ball on the right side, controls it well on the inside and makes a through pass. Nakagawa Teruhito takes advantage of this and breaks away, but his control is too big and he can't finish it.
Tokyo, who continued to attack consecutively, passed the ball intricately on the right side in the 15th minute of the second half. Kosuke SHIRAI took the shot, and in the 17th minute of the second half, Tawara Tsumeta player cut in from the left side and swung his right foot, but Yasushi ENDO changed the course of the shot in front of the goal, but the ball hit the crossbar directly. They couldn't push in the rebound either.
After that, Jája Silva and Ryunosuke SATO were sent to the front line, and Riki HARAKAWA, the game maker, was also brought in as a midfielder, but they were unable to break through Machida's block and time continued to pass. They tried to move the ball wide on the pitch, but they couldn't find a way to break through the center of the block with a vertical pass, and they couldn't create chances.
In the final stage, Yuto NAGATOMO was sent to the pitch, but no equalizing goal was born and the game ended with a score of 1-2.
MATCH DETAILS
＜FC Tokyo＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Go HATANO
DF Kosuke SHIRAI/Kanta DOI/Henrique TREVISAN/Kashif BANGNAGANDE (43rd minute: Yuto NAGATOMO)
MF Takahiro KO (28th minute: Riki HARAKAWA)/Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA (20th minute: Jája SILVA)/Kei KOIZUMI
FW Keita ENDO/Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (28th minute: Ryunosuke SATO)/Teruhito NAKAGAWA
SUBS
GK Tsuyoshi KODAMA
DF Masato MORISHIGE
MF Tsubasa TERAYAMA
GOAL
First Half 21st Minute: Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA
FC Machida Zelvia
STARTING XI
GK Kosei TANI
DF Henry Kai Mochizuki/Gen SHOJI/Doreshevich
MF Kazuki FUJIMOTO/Zento UNO/Keiya SENTO (26th minute of the second half: Takuya YASUI)/Kotaro HAYASHI/Daigo TAKAHASHI (0th minute of the second half: Vasquez BYRON)
FW Na SANGHO (16th minute of the second half: Shunta ARAKI)/Se Hun OH (26th minute of the second half: Mitchell DUKE)
SUBS
GK Koki FUKUI
DF Jurato IKEDA/Junya SUZUKI
GOAL
First Half 14th Minute: Na SANGHO / First Half 25th Minute: Se Hun OH
[Interview with Peter CKLAMOVSKI, Manager]
Q: please review the game.
A, I feel pain about the result. Looking back at the performance, there were many positive aspects, and I believe it was a match we could have won and seized victory in. It is also important to discuss the result without emotions. Analyzing the performance is key, and that is crucial as part of our process moving forward, aiming for the top. We were decisively finished off by the opponent in two situations. We must learn from those as harsh lessons. Machida was able to finish those chances well. That is something that can happen in football, and from here, we need to learn properly and become stronger.
In the midst of being behind, the players gave their all to catch up. It's unfortunate that we were scored on during the first corner kick, but we were disappointed with the situation. There was an offside in the previous play, so it shouldn't have been a corner kick. However, even in that situation, we had to respond well to the corner kick and not give the opponent the lead. The important thing is that after going down 0-1, the players were able to fight back without losing focus. And I think we gave the opponent the second goal too easily, and it's frustrating and disappointing to go into halftime with a score of 1-2. The players fought desperately to make up for it, and if we had scored a second goal, we might have been able to take it all the way to our own goal. However, we will accept this defeat and work harder to come back stronger.
Q, what do you think happened for the second goal? Did we make a mistake or was it something unexpected?
A, it was not that we were unprepared. We knew the opponent would play long balls, and although they finished well, I think we could have responded a little better. That was the difference between us and them. There were also moments in our attack where we could have taken one more touch in front of the goal. That was the difference today. If we hadn’t created chances, of course, we would need to improve other aspects. Today, despite creating chances, we couldn’t shake the net. Conversely, in that sense, there were parts where we needed to defend more solidly, and although I don’t know how many chances the opponent had, they made the most of the few opportunities they got.
[Player Interview]
＜Kei KOIZUMI＞
Q, please review the game.
A, today our start to the match was not good, and I also think the way we conceded from set pieces was poor. This was an important match where winning would move us up the standings, and losing would drop us down, so having a bad start in the first half is an issue of our mindset that we can change. I want to refocus and approach it again with determination.
Q, after the match, the players had a long discussion with each other.
A, I have been given the role of captain this season, so I feel that I need to take the initiative in creating more of a "winning atmosphere" or that kind of environment. Since I have been entrusted with this responsibility, I must carry out that role properly and focus on doing it for the team without hesitation.
<Takahiro KO>
Q, please review the game.
A, we created many chances, so we had to finish those opportunities. Clearly, we have been conceding too many goals, so to earn points, we need to tighten up as a team and ensure that each individual maintains constant focus. These aspects must be thoroughly reinforced starting from training.
Q, the second goal was easily conceded.
A, it was honestly tough to concede a goal from nothing just when we had pulled one back and felt like we were getting into the game. However, we have proven before that we have the strength to come back again from that situation. Not being able to secure the equalizer there shows we still lack strength, and we must work on reducing the number of goals conceded.
Q, How well were you able to prepare for FC Machida Zelvia?
A, I think we did not allow the opponent to create chances except for the goals conceded. Especially Se Hun OH up front is strong in duels, so I talked with Kanta DOI and we managed well by having me engage physically first during goal kicks before letting Kanta compete. We were also able to recover many second balls with Kei KOIZUMI, so in the second half we mostly pressed them into their half, and I think our countermeasures there were not bad. However, it is meaningless if we don’t win, so we want to thoroughly pursue that.
Q, what do you think was the necessary play to get closer to the goal?
A, I think more power is needed when delivering crosses. It’s not just about swinging your leg; there are countless things to improve, but I believe the only way is to work hard from training.
Q, Next match is against my former team Albirex Niigata. How do you want to elevate your game for the match?
A, I believe consecutive losses are absolutely unacceptable, and only 3 points are acceptable, so I want to make good preparations to win.
<Ryunosuke SATO>
Q, this was my first appearance in the league.
A, there was a completely different atmosphere and tension compared to the J.League YBC Levain Cup. Since different players are on the field than in the Levain Cup, there were aspects I couldn’t understand without actually playing, but today I was able to fully experience it.
Q: Please review the game, I think we were able to showcase our strengths.
A, although there were moments in my short playing time where I was able to showcase my strengths, such as pressing from the front, I couldn't make plays that threatened the goal or posed a real threat to the opponent, so I want to improve in that area. In terms of play, I wanted to receive the ball properly and set the tempo, but there were many situations where I couldn't connect passes, which left me feeling frustrated.
Q, there is currently Ryotaro ARAKI, who is playing in the AFC U23 Asian Cup, in the same position.
A, I have the desire to perform well and get playing time in that position, and I also want to be able to compete when Araki returns.
Q, What kind of play do you want to make for the next game?
A, Once I step onto the pitch, age doesn’t matter, and I believe that winning is everything. I don’t know at what timing I will be called to play, nor do I know who I will be playing alongside, so no matter when or with whom I play, I want to value the team’s shared understanding, actively coordinate during the match, and work hard to contribute to the team’s strength.
