Match Review
In the previous round, we scored a goal for the first time in five league matches and drew against Tokyo Verdy, but we remain five matches away from a victory.
Tokyo headed to Okayama for their first victory in six matches. As their attacks began to take shape and the number of chances increased, they want to firmly assess the opponent's response in this match and seize control with precise positioning and movement.
Not only must we focus on the details in our attack, but we also need to enhance our concentration in defense, having conceded 5 goals in 2 matches, as we enter the game.
Fagiano Okayama, despite being in their first season after promotion to J1 League, is fighting hard with a focus on hard work, solid defense, and sharp counterattacks with few touches. So far, they have 3 wins, 2 draws, and 3 losses, placing them in 9th position. Ryunosuke SATO, who is on a developmental loan from Tokyo, cannot participate due to contract issues, but the team plays aggressively with a strong presence in duels and quick transitions between offense and defense.
Tokyo made two changes to the starting lineup from the previous match. Kanta DOI was placed as the right stopper in a three-back formation, and Teruhito NAKAGAWA was utilized as the right inside half.
Kicking off under a clear sky typical of Okayama Prefecture, known by the nickname 'Land of Sunshine', with a slightly strong wind blowing.
1st HALF - Early on, there was a fierce attack approaching the goal, but no goals were scored.
From the start of the match, the powerful blue-red attack shines brightly.
In the 5th minute of the first half, with a sharp cross from Megumi SATO, they approached the opponent's goal, and in the 6th minute, Kosuke SHIRAI broke through on the right side with a through pass from Dohi, followed by consecutive shots from SATO. Furthermore, in the 7th minute, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA attempted a dribble inside the penalty area, and when he cut back deep, SATO aimed for the goal but was thwarted by the opponent's quick recovery.
In the 8th minute, from a right corner kick, player Sato made a perfectly timed header with a high point of impact. Although it went straight to the opposing goalkeeper, Tokyo consistently aimed for the goal, with forward Sato getting involved in chances multiple times, continuing a period of pressure in the half court.
Having experienced many times the difficulty of a match due to missing chances, we want to turn this into a goal during a good period of play. However, after the 20th minute of the first half, our attack has somewhat toned down against an opponent who has allocated players to the defense line and midfield to set up a block.
In the 27th minute of the first half, a sharp vertical pass from player Esaka pushed into the penalty area, creating a series of near-miss situations. The defense managed to avoid danger by concentrating on their play and blocking the shooting lanes, but scenes of being pressed by the opponent, who quickly switched between offense and defense, began to become more noticeable.
Tokyo, wanting to regain the momentum, in the 34th minute of the first half, had Takahashi aiming for consecutive mid-range shots from a left corner kick, while the team also looked for opportunities by spreading the pitch and circulating the ball.
In the end, despite creating numerous scoring opportunities early in the first half, they were unfortunately unable to change the course of the match. After two minutes of added time, they reached halftime.
2nd HALF - Substitutions made in the final stages but unable to change the situation
In the second half, which started without any player substitutions, they immediately faced a crisis. In the 2nd minute of the second half, they were broken down on the left side with a one-touch pass, entered the penalty area, and the net was shaken, but with VAR support, it was ruled offside and no goal was awarded.
In the 14th minute of the second half, Tokyo, struggling to create chances, brought Marcelo RYAN onto the front line in place of Tawaratsukida. They dropped the lone striker Sato to the left inside half to add depth to their attack.
However, just after that, in the 16th minute of the second half, we were pressed by the opponent, and a difficult clearance was picked up, allowing Ryo TABEI to score a powerful volley, giving up the opening goal.
Tokyo, wanting to regain the flow once again, sends Keigo HIGASHI to the pitch as a defensive midfielder in place of Hashimoto and Nakagawa, and Maki KITAHARA as the left inside half.
In the 27th minute of the second half, player Kitahara made a feint and initiated an attack from the left, taking a shot. The loose ball was reacted to by player Takashi, who ran in from behind and aimed for a right-footed shot from mid-range, but unfortunately, the ball went just over the goal.
Tokyo struggled with the opponent's quick transitions between offense and defense, unable to break through their solid central defense. In pursuit of a goal, Coach Matsuhashi wanted to implement clear changes and switches, so in the 35th minute of the second half, he brought in Keita YAMASHITA to play in a two-striker formation and also substituted Teppei OKA into the left side back position to change the formation.
Tokyo wanted to fight back somehow, but even with player substitutions and system changes, the situation did not improve. In the 6 minutes of second-half stoppage time, Lukian took a decisive shot but was thwarted by a great save from the opponent. They showed an attacking play by pushing Taishi Brandon NOZAWA up high, but they could not shake the net until the end.
Unable to convert the numerous big chances created in the early stages into goals, the team repeated matches where they could not link their performance to results, making it six winless matches in the league.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Kanta DOI/Enrique Trevisan/Seiji KIMURA/Kosuke SHIRAI
MF Soma ANZAI (substituted in 36th minute: Teppei OKA)/Takuto UHIRO/Kento HASHIMOTO (substituted in 18th minute: Keigo HIGASHI)/Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (substituted in 14th minute: Marcelo RYAN)
FW Megumi SATO (substituted in 36th minute: Keita YAMASHITA)/Teruto NAKAGAWA (substituted in 18th minute: Maki KITAHARA)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
DF Yasuki KIMOTO
MF Tohru TOKIWAKI
FW Leon NOZAWA
MANAGER
Rikizo MATSUHASHI
GOAL
―
<Fagiano Okayama>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Svend Brodersen
DF Abe Kaito (40th minute: Yanagi Ikutaka)/Tagami Daichi/Kudo Kota
MF Matsumoto Masaya/Fujita Ibuki/Fujii Kaiwa (0th minute: Tabei Ryo)/Kato Sei
FW Kimura Takaya (40th minute: Iwabuchi Hiroto)/Ichimi Kazunari (14th minute: Lukao)/Esaka Makoto (33rd minute: Kamiya Yuta)
SUBS
GK Junki KANAYAMA
MF Riku SAGA/Ryo TAKEUCHI
FW Brown Noah KENSHIN
MANAGER
Takashi KIYAMA
GOAL
16 minutes into the second half: Ryo TABEI
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q: please review the game.
A: It was a very disappointing result, and I am filled with nothing but feelings of apology. In the early part of the first half, we continued with very good attacks but were unable to convert them into goals, and I feel that "if only we had scored then." Gradually, it felt like the opponent took control of the flow of the game. Regarding the second half as well, we couldn’t start well in the beginning, and the opponent scored a bold and wonderful shot. Including that, it felt like the game’s tone dropped.
Q: What were the factors that led to not being able to push forward in the first half when standing upwind, and gradually falling into the opponent's pace, perhaps due to misreading the flow?
A: I’m not sure if we misread the situation, but there is always the feeling that if only we had scored just one goal. We had very good attacks and there were moments where we pressed hard. The fact that we couldn’t finish at the crucial moment is because scoring goals is never easy, but there is that feeling of "if only one had gone in..." I think we had energy, but the difference came down to the final quality.
Q: What kind of encouragement do you give to the team during a streak of losses?
A: We live in a world where we experience highs and lows with each match, celebrating wins and feeling frustrated with losses. When losses continue, I believe some doubt inevitably arises about what we are doing, but we must communicate to dispel those doubts. I myself have no intention of wavering, and as we build the team, we need to share the feeling that we are playing our football with the desire to win.
As a method to win, the players are making a solid effort to utilize their strengths and our ideas. While our identity is starting to emerge, I feel we are standing at a frustrating point where things are not rolling in a positive direction. I need to convey a clear message, and I want to continue having close dialogues with the players. We need to ensure that our perspectives align, and with a strong determination to do better in the next match, I want to prepare for the upcoming game.
Q: Even though we are making wonderful movements, when we can't score, we tend to lose momentum, and during those times when we want to regain the flow, we need to have a second and third option. How does the coach think about that?
A: This is what I talked about during halftime. The opponent sets up a solid block, so it’s not easy to break them down. Within that, we have to attack and maintain possession while also being patient. I mentioned that we shouldn’t rush and play carelessly here, nor should we keep moving the ball in the same area despite having time to build relationships. Instead, we need to shake the opponent more from side to side, widen them out, and patiently wait for the space to open up.
From the viewer's perspective, it may just look like we are moving the ball around, and they might think we should shoot more. However, we are patiently moving the ball while enduring the time it takes to create that moment, and we switch on as soon as a gap appears. We have been able to build a relationship where we share that vision, so I emphasized that we should not engage in shallow plays or choose the easier, more careless options.
It is important to always seek certainty while moving the ball. However, since opportunities can arise unexpectedly, I do not deny the importance of seizing those chances and challenging ourselves. I also think it is important to align our perspectives.
[Player Interview]
Takahiro KO
Q: The start of the match was very good. What was the reason for that?
A: We decided to press from the front, and we were actually able to create scoring opportunities. The opponent was also pressing from the front at the start, so we aimed to take advantage of that and turn the game around. However, if we fail to score in such situations, the match tends to unfold like that again.
Q: Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI has mentioned in the press conference that he has toned down. What do you think are the factors that lead to this?
A: We lost momentum in the second half, and there was a certain atmosphere on the pitch, but we also conceded goals during those periods. We struggled to regain control of the flow, and although I believe I kept encouraging everyone, I think it is necessary to clearly decide whether to overturn the opponent pressing from the front at that moment. While maintaining consistency in moving the ball, it is important not just to kick but to apply pressure on the opponent with intention. That was working well in the first half. I believe it is also necessary to create the game and unify the team’s intentions to continue applying pressure on the opponent in the second half.
Q: It seemed that the options for passing routes and movements were decreasing rapidly.
A: We also lost the ability to win second balls. I have been telling the forwards all along to always stay focused and not let the ball slip away. The same goes for support play. I myself need to find passing lanes. We must continue to do this without dropping our level.
Q: Coach Matsuhashi mentioned that "it is when we are attacking that we must endure," but has that idea not fully permeated the team yet?
A: There is definitely a feeling of impatience. We need to make vertical passes or penetrate at some point, but I feel we lack the sense of moving the ball enough to bother the opponent. That is something we want to develop more. If we calmly keep passing the ball back and forth, the opponent will naturally break down, so as a team, we need to be able to do that.
Q, the next home game is at Japan National Stadium.
A: We have to win no matter the circumstances. At the end, I spoke directly to the fans and supporters as well, and there isn’t a single player who doesn’t want to win. We believe we just have to keep going. We want to face forward once again and continue moving ahead.
<Kosuke SHIRAI>
Q: Since you are in the position where the flow of the game is most likely to emerge, how did you feel about today's match?
A, it was a match we had to win, and we had two or three chances in the first half. If we don't score in the scenes where we must finish, the game can be overturned by a single shot; it was truly a typical match.
Q: From Kosuke SHIRAI's perspective, what are the factors that prevent scoring in crucial opportunities?
A, of course, whether a goal is scored or not is really a very fine line, and it's difficult to pinpoint exactly what it is, but honestly, I don't know what to say. We are able to get to the scene just before the crucial moment, and I think increasing that quantity is important. By increasing the number of chances, the probability of scoring goes up. In the end, we just have to stay focused and keep pushing the ball into the goal.
Q, you started the match very well, but what do you think caused the drop in tone and the discrepancies in the second half?
After conceding a goal,Marcelo RYAN also entered the pitch, increasing the focus on moving forward. However, it became too intense, causing some disarray. Even in a situation where we have to chase a goal, we need to continue playing on the pitch without rushing. I think that was the part we couldn't organize.
Q, while Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI has mentioned that there is no choice but to continue with the methodology to win, he also expressed his apologies for the current situation where they are not winning.
A, it is us who have brought those words out, and we are filled with a sense of regret towards the fans, supporters, and Coach Matsuhashi. Still, there was also the word to move forward without wavering, and if the team or players easily waver here, it would mean the end for the team. Of course, we are in a situation where we are not winning, but we are able to create a good shape within that. Together with the coach, we will continue to move forward without wavering.
