<Previous Match Review: Urawa Reds>
A match aiming for the first 3 consecutive wins of the season. Tokyo, who traveled away, made a move early in the game, at the 7th minute of the first half.
When Kota TAWARATSUMIDA cut inside in the opponent's half and passed vertically, Keita ENDO, who broke through there, was fouled and earned a penalty kick. Marcelo RYAN confidently converted it with his right foot, scoring the opening goal early in the game. The number 19, who has been demonstrating his scoring ability, has now scored in three consecutive matches.
Although they were equalized at the 32nd minute of the first half, "Rikizo Tokyo" actively launched attacks using build-up play from the back line involving the goalkeeper, as well as utilizing the speed of the forwards.
In the 4th minute of the second half after halftime, Hian fiercely aimed a shot with his right foot from a cross by Keito Sato, who broke through the right side, but it was saved at close range and did not result in a go-ahead goal. Tokyo also saw Go HATANO protect the goal with a good reaction, and the back-and-forth period continued.
Then, in the 23rd minute of the second half, Soma ANZAI, who had just come on as a substitute, crossed from the left side, and Keita ENDO connected in the center to successfully take the lead. The blue and red took a step forward.
However, the opponent pushed the ball in front of the goal from a cross, and although VAR support was involved, the goal was allowed, bringing the match back to square one. Then, in the additional time of the second half, a painful go-ahead goal was conceded, resulting in a come-from-behind loss. Suffering a frustrating defeat away from home, the team was unable to secure their first three consecutive wins of the season.
＜This Week'sPreview＞
The Reds' winning streak was halted by a defeat to Urawa Reds, and in the midweek 2025 J.League YBC Levain Cup, they were eliminated from the tournament after losing to Shonan Bellmare. In the match against Urawa, they suffered a frustrating late comeback loss, and in the game against Shonan, despite creating many good attacking opportunities, they fell short by one goal and were defeated.
The matches we should have won together, the matches we had to win, ended in losses, but Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI accepts the current situation, saying, "There is no mysterious loss. We must thoroughly pursue the details."
Comments from the players also increasingly pointed inward at themselves.
Takahiro KO said harshly, "I am weak under pressure. (In the Shonan match) it was a game where I could do what I wanted and was trying to do, and I felt confident. We had to win. It’s about the final quality and whether we can defend when we fail to finish. Those points ultimately become the results that fall on us. Since the content is not leading to results, it means we are still lacking." Meanwhile, Keigo HIGASHI sounded the alarm, "This is reality. We come not to play good matches, but to win. Our current situation is that we can’t win with this. Whether we can finish or defend is a crucial point in football, and I think our results and rankings reflect this reality."
The content is definitely improving. The unique strengths of each player are being combined, and the qualities of each unit are starting to emerge. From building up play from the back line to sharp attacks utilizing the speed of the front line, of course, in the match against Shonan, everyone fought with quick transitions in both offense and defense.
However, the reality is that we still couldn't win. Whether we can break through this depends on ourselves. The match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Japan National Stadium comes after just three days since the frustrating defeat. This game will test the team's strong desire to win and their rebound mentality.
This week, good news arrived for the team. Kota TAWARATSUMIDA, who just turned 21, was selected for the SAMURAI BLUE (Japan national team) for the first time. Alongside Yuto NAGATOMO, the young warrior who will carry the national flag said, "I want to showcase my signature dribbling skills as my weapon, and I aim to focus on numbers like goals and assists in my play." As he faces the league matches for the first time as a Japan national team player, Coach Matsuhashi expressed his hopes, saying, "I want this to be a good step forward, and I hope he keeps moving without stopping. I think it's okay if those around him don't overreact."
Even so, expectations and attention will increase significantly. The way others see you and the marking from opponents will also change. We want to focus on what kind of play can be shown in that situation.
Hiroshima, on the other hand, is currently on a 4-game winning streak following 4 consecutive losses. Despite injuries to key players, they hold 5th place. Their total goals scored so far is 16, one less than Tokyo, but their 12 goals conceded is tied for the fewest in the league. They have been recovering form using organized soccer and strong one-on-one play as their strengths.
Tokyo wants to gauge the opponent's approach while determining their own tactics and targets. Of course, since the approach changes depending on the opponent, the good performance against Shonan does not guarantee anything for this match. However, they want to connect the progress made so far to results at "our National" stadium, and by showing commitment and intensity in finishing, take the first step toward a major comeback.
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q. After a short period following the Shonan Bellmare match, you will face Sanfrecce Hiroshima. What did you communicate to the players during this time?
A. There is no such thing as a mysterious loss. I believe there are things we can thoroughly examine from that match, and it comes down to the thoroughness of each and every small play. I told the players that it’s not about individual ability, but about refining the accuracy and intensity of the tasks mixed within tactical actions. We are also focusing on what can be done from the physical, mental, and tactical perspectives.
Q. How do you, the coach, view Hiroshima this season?
A. Their strong play against opponents and their coordinated focus are impressive. Conversely, I believe that by overturning those aspects, opportunities will arise for us as well. I expect it to be a highly intense "battle."
Q. There was also the announcement of Sei MUROYA joining the team. What kind of play do you expect from him?
A. He has spread his wings from Tokyo to the world, gaining a wealth of experience, and has now returned to us. We hope he will demonstrate through his play the experiences he has gained, including things we cannot encounter solely within the J.League. We also expect his experience to serve as an inspiration to the younger players. We look forward to seeing him play in a way that fully showcases his strengths.
Q: Kota TAWARATSUMIDA was selected for the Japan national team for the first time.
A. I want him to keep moving forward without stopping. Some players will use this momentum as a positive to sharply accelerate their growth curve, while others may stall. How what they feel and gain as members of the Japan national team will manifest varies from player to player, but personally, when I watched Tawaratsumida as an opposing team’s coach, I felt he was one of the players who would eventually join the national team. From that perspective, it is no surprise at all. I hope he takes this as a great opportunity.
[Player Interview]
<Takahiro KO>
Q: If you play in the match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, it will be your 100th J1 League appearance.
A: Many things have happened up to this point, and I also remember my very first match. I am grateful that I have been able to come this far thanks to the support of many people.
Q. If you were to choose a memorable match, which match would it be?
A, after all, it was my debut match. I remember it very well. Due to team circumstances, I played as a right side back in the away match against Iwate Grulla Morioka with Gamba Osaka U-23. After the match, during the team's off period, when I returned to my family home in Kawasaki, I was informed that the coach would be changed and was asked to come back to Osaka. I joined the practice the next day, found out I was in the starting lineup, and played in the match, but I remember it being quite hectic.
Q. You have spent two seasons in Tokyo and played many matches. Which match left the strongest impression on you?
A, it was the away match against Avispa Fukuoka last season. I was determined to the point that if I failed in that match, it would be over for me. Normally, I don't get nervous, but I was very nervous for the Fukuoka match. It was a game where I was able to prove myself, so it left a strong impression on me.
Q: The opponent for the 100th match will be Hiroshima.
A, they are a high-intensity team and have consistently been competing at the top for the past few seasons. Each player is of high quality, and they are truly a wonderful team. We were also defeated by them away last season, so I think it will be a difficult game, but we cannot afford consecutive losses. This is a match we must win, so we want to perform properly.
Q. I think how to evade the opponent's high press will also be a key point as a defensive midfielder.
A. The opponent is a team where each player applies high intensity and aggressively challenges their opponents. If we can somehow create a gap, and within that gap, skillfully break free with quality, I believe we can get close to their goal. They have good players in every position, and their three-back lineup is fixed, building a solid defense. I think the key is how well we can exploit that.
Q, In this memorable match, we are also expecting a memorable goal.
A, at the Japan National Stadium, including goals that were disallowed, he shook the net three times (laughs). It was the same in the recent Shonan Bellmare match, but I think a player won't be evaluated unless they can finish shooting scenes decisively. This time, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA was also included in the SAMURAIBLUE members. There is no doubt about his ability, and it was a good stimulus. I was happy that he was selected, but I also felt frustrated. I will make this match one where I firmly express those feelings.
<Kanta DOI>
Q: It was a frustrating result, but please review the game against Urawa Reds.
A, there were many good aspects in the attack, but there were issues remaining in defense both individually and as a team. We have been training on those areas, and I have also practiced dealing with crosses personally, so I want to make use of that in the next match.
Q: You mentioned that you have been practicing defending crosses, but in the last few matches, there have been goals conceded from the sides. What kind of improvements are necessary?
A: Preventing crosses from being delivered is the most important, but if they do get crossed in, it is crucial to mark tightly. For that, the positioning of players entering the near post area and how they mark their opponents—each player's pre-match positioning—is essential. In the previous match, we conceded twice in my area. We have been training to improve that, so I want to properly demonstrate it in the game.
Q. Sanfrecce Hiroshima is a team with momentum, currently on a 4-game winning streak.
A. Hiroshima has many tall players and many individually strong players in set pieces, so caution is necessary. However, I believe that if we can do what we have worked on this week, we can win, and it will also connect to the future, so I think it will be an important match. Also, tomorrow will likely be a mirror game, but in that case, Hiroshima has many powerful attackers, so if the marking handover is not clear, it will cause mismatches and free players will appear. Such situations lead to conceding goals, so it is important not to let those situations occur, and if they do, to correct them during the match.
Q. We absolutely must avoid consecutive losses.
A: If we had won the match against Urawa, we would have moved up one position in the standings. Everyone on the team understands that, and if we don’t start winning consecutive matches from here, we will fall into the relegation zone. That is something that must never happen, so we absolutely want to win. We want to string together wins and climb into the upper ranks.
