Match Review
A week after the victory against Nagoya Grampus at the sacred Japan National Stadium, the team aimed for their first consecutive win in three months as they headed to the Saitama Stadium 2002, dyed in bright red.
There is only one change in the starting lineup since the Nagoya match. Taishi Brandon NOZAWA will guard the goal, and the center backs will be Masato MORISHIGE and Yasuki KIMOTO, who returns to the starting lineup after seven matches. The two full-backs will be Kei KOIZUMI and Teppei OKA, while the holding midfielders will continue with the combination of Takahiro KO and Keigo HIGASHI. Up front, Diego Oliveira will be at the top, with Kota TAWARATSUMIDA on the left and Teruhito NAKAGAWA on the right.
Accelerating the momentum from the last match where he scored a season-high of 4 goals, can he achieve victory at this cursed ground for the first time in 4 seasons? A crucial match for the comeback in the latter part of the season kicked off with loud cheers from the packed blue-red supporters in the visitor area.
1st HALF - Controlled the match and took a 2-point lead
The first half showcased a performance close to perfect. The first chance was created by Urawa Reds, but Watanabe's shot in the area went wide. Shortly after, in the 8th minute of the first half, Tokyo approached the goal. Tawaramizuki made a move down the left side and delivered a cross, where Diego TABA was blocked at the near side, and Nakagawa took a shot at the far side. This shot went straight to the goalkeeper, but it created a chance from the intended play.
Then, in the 9th minute of the first half, they took the lead. Player Tawara Tsukita received a cross from Player Higashi, chose to cut in, and delivered an inswinging cross with his right foot. This induced a clearance mistake from the opposing defender, resulting in an own goal that went straight into the net. Furthermore, in the 17th minute of the first half, Player Araki calmly converted a penalty kick awarded due to a handball by the opponent during a corner kick sequence, giving them a 2-goal lead.
Looking at the overall game flow, there was a good contrast between scenes where the ball was moved slowly and scenes where they quickly launched a counterattack. They created several opportunities to score the third goal, while in the 5 minutes of added time, they were pushed back by Urawa, but they managed to maintain a clean sheet by forming a solid block together.
2nd HALF - Recovered the second ball, dominated the match, and achieved a shutout victory
Tokyo, with a 2-point lead, proceeds with the game without rushing. They maintain possession of the ball without forcing an aggressive attack. At the final line, player Taishi Nozawa actively participates in the build-up, creating a numerical advantage to overcome Urawa's pressure, and when they see an opportunity, they show their intent to go for the third goal.
However, with Urawa unable to lose at home, they pushed forward more than in the first half, which inevitably created some periods of pressure. On this day, Tokyo remained calm in their response. There were not many scenes leading to shots, and in the 16th minute of the second half, a rare crisis was averted when player Oka made a tremendous shot block to keep the goal safe. From that point on, players known for their hard work, such as Yuto NAGATOMO and Soma ANZAI, were brought in to close out the game.
In the 4 minutes of added time, player Taishi Nozawa fought hard. He made a careful save of a powerful shot that was on target, and without fear, he approached the ball in the chaotic situation inside the area. Tokyo, having endured strongly as a team, celebrated their first clean sheet victory in 8 matches, accumulating their points to 44.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Keisuke KOIZUMI / Masato MORISHIGE / Yasuki KIMOTO / Tetsuhei OKA
MF Hiroshi TAKAU / Keigo HIGASHI (21 minutes into the second half: Yuto NAGATOMO) / Ryotaro ARAKI (31 minutes into the second half: Keita YAMASHITA)
FW Diego OLIVEIRA (31 minutes into the second half: Soma ANZAI) / Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (21 minutes into the second half: Keita ENDO) / Teruhito NAKAGAWA (45+4 minutes into the second half: Leon NOZAWA)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
DF Hotaka NAKAMURA
GOAL
9th minute of the first half: Own goal / 17th minute of the first half: Ryotaro ARAKI
<Urawa Reds>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Shusaku NISHIKAWA
DF Hirokazu ISHIHARA (substituted at 0 minutes: Yusuke MATSUNO) / Rikito INOUE / Marius HOIBRAATEN / Ayumu OHATA
MF Samuel GUSTAFSON (substituted at 16 minutes: Genki HARAGUCHI) / Kaito YASUI / Tomoaki OKUBO (substituted at 16 minutes: Yoichi NAGANUMA) / Ryoma WATANABE / Takahiro SEKINE (substituted at 36 minutes: Kaho KOIZUMI)
FW Brian LINDSEN (substituted at 27 minutes: Thiago SANTANA)
SUBS
GK Ayumi NIEKAWA
DF Yota SATO
GOAL
―
[Interview with Peter CKLAMOVSKI, Manager]
Q, please give us an overview of the match.
A, we were able to deliver a strong overall performance, and I believe it was worthy of victory. There were periods when we controlled the game well and exploited the opponent’s gaps in attack. During that time, I think there was also a moment when we scored the third goal and pulled away from the opponent. What’s important is to thoroughly execute our own rules and connect that to our performance. Every player fought with strong energy and dedication. Another positive point was our solid defense; by defending strongly and in coordination, we were able to keep a clean sheet. All the players contributed greatly to today’s victory, and I am proud of them. I also want to express my gratitude to the fans and supporters who came here. Their energy and passion kept pushing us forward throughout the entire 95 minutes.
Q: Please evaluate Yasuki KIMOTO, who made his starting lineup appearance after a long time.
A, he delivered a very good and strong performance. I believe this is because he has been thoroughly preparing in daily training and has worked through even the finer details. There may be times when a player loses rhythm during periods without match appearances, but he was able to firmly show what he always does in today's game. I think he fought strongly in every aspect and was able to control the match well.
Q: What points did you pay attention to when the opposing team's coach was replaced?
A, the Urawa Reds are a very good team, and we respect them. I also think their coach is very excellent, and as a club, they play very good football. However, what is important for us is that, while respecting the opponent, we fight without fear. Defensively, we were able to respond well to their attacks and firmly closed down the center. Even when the ball was played out to the sides, we had our own rules and were able to respond properly. Throughout the match, the players fought with dedication to deliver a very good performance. In attack, we were able to create good opportunities and effectively use the spaces we wanted to exploit. However, I think it would have been better if we had been able to finish off the game by converting one or two more chances.
While continuing the process we aim for, we want to thoroughly analyze our performance. We will build on the areas where we did well, and we also want to address the improvement points that still need refinement. We aim to recover well and prepare for the next match.
[Player Interview]
＜Ryotaro ARAKI＞
Q: please review the game.
In both matches, we were able to play our style of football. I feel that we are winning while dominating the game.It's not just about fast attacks, but also about possessing the ball and advancing while observing the opponent, which is our current style.
Q: You took the lead early on, and there was a scene with a penalty kick for the second goal. In Tokyo, there is an image of Diego OLIVEIRA taking the kick. Can you tell us the background of why Ryotaro ARAKI took the kick?
A, there is no specific player designated to take the kick, but I was just talking with Diego TABA before the match, and since he let me take it last time, he said it would be fine if I took the next opportunity, so I took it.
Q: You were taking your time before kicking. Is there a reason for that?
A, I was organizing in my head how to calm myself down, how to start my run-up, and how to kick.As I was simulating that, it ended up being a bit of a pause.
Q: It seems that you kicked the ball while closely watching the opponent's goalkeeper.
A, I try to kick while watching the opposing goalkeeper. I always do a lot of simulation in my head, thinking about what to do if it’s the first shot, where the second shot might go, and in the end, I watched the goalkeeper until the last step of my run-up and kicked it to the center. It also helped that the goalkeeper was slightly leaning to the left. I felt like I successfully kicked it the opposite way.
Q: After scoring a goal for the first time since May, you also showed a fist pump afterwards.
A, yes. I was really happy to score again after such a long time.
Q: What instructions did the coach give at halftime after leading 2-0?
In the first half, we were able to fight well both offensively and defensively,so there was a directive to increase the tempo of our build-up in the second half.
Q: Please share your enthusiasm for the next match.
A: We don’t intend to stop at two consecutive wins; we plan to win all the remaining matches, and first, we will do our best to achieve a third consecutive win in the upcoming game.
<Kota TAWARATSUMIDA>
Q: please review the game.
A: First of all, I am happy that the team was able to achieve consecutive wins, and I believe we were able to prove our strength, so I want to ride this momentum moving forward.
Q: It seemed that you were successfully breaking through vertically and engaging in tactics with your opponents.
A: There were moments when the opponent's defense came with two players to block the cut-in route, but as a result, the vertical route was open. Also, there were players like Diego OLIVEIRA who could connect inside, so I attempted to break through vertically with the idea of finishing with a cross.
Q: What did you think of the scene that led to the opponent's own goal?
A: I tried to deliver a cross, but the opposing player put out his foot and closed off the route. Even so, there were players inside, so I thought I would get the ball in there no matter what, even if it hit the opponent. In the end, it went in due to the opponent's mistake, so I think we were lucky.
Q: It seemed that there was a strong awareness of the goal, and the players' sense of distance was also good.
A: I think it is important to maintain this sense of distance, and I myself want to keep a strong awareness of the goal and aim to win the next match as well.
<Tetsuhiro OKA>
Q: Please reflect on this match where you significantly contributed to the consecutive wins as a left back.
A: As a defensive player, what I must do is to finish the match without conceding any goals. I was especially conscious of putting my body on the line to prevent conceding. When facing an opponent near the sideline, if I could force them into my zone, I believe I could have prevented them from delivering crosses from cut-ins, and I think I was able to bring out my strength in one-on-one situations. There was also a scene where I was caught behind at the very end, and Taishi Brandon NOZAWA saved us. There were many points that needed correction, so I want to continue growing without becoming complacent.
Q: During the first half, there were many movements where Kota TAWARATSUMIDA took the outside and Teppei OKA took the inside during the attack.
A: I focused on running inside to get involved with the ball and the attack, so that the marking on Tawaratsumida would be spread out. I also discussed this with Tawaratsumida before the match, and I think we were able to activate the play to some extent as planned.
Q: We were able to manage the game compactly throughout both halves.
A: Masato MORISHIGE and Yasuki KIMOTO mainly controlled the raising and lowering of the defensive line. By keeping the back line high, the central area naturally became compact, and I believe Takahiro KO and Keigo HIGASHI had a very high recovery rate of second balls. The movements of each player created this compactness.
Q: I believe Teppei OKA's originality is reflected in his play. Please share your enthusiasm as you aim for a third consecutive victory.
A: I want to become the kind of player who can differentiate myself from the other fullbacks on the team through plays, aerial ability, and the fear I create when entering the penalty area that only I can provide. Also, I aim to further enhance my play intensity and fundamentals, such as sliding and running, from here on.
