Match Review
In the previous match, we lost 0-2 against Gamba Osaka, marking five winless games in the 2025 Meiji Yasuda J1 League. This week, we will play the pending Sec. 15 match against Yokohama F. Marinos.
A match where both clubs, eager to seize a chance to rise, are desperate for 3 points. Tokyo, playing just two days after the previous match, changed 9 starting players. At the back was Taishi Brandon NOZAWA, with the defense line from the right consisting of Yuto NAGATOMO, Kanta DOI, Teppei OKA, and Sei MUROYA on the left. The central midfield duo was Takahiro KO and Kei KOIZUMI. On the midfield flanks, Megumu SATO was on the left and Leon NOZAWA on the right. Up front, Motoki NAGAKURA and Teruhito NAKAGAWA formed the two-striker attack for the away game.
1st HALF — Increased pressure, creating chances from the sides, but the opening goal was postponed to the second half
The team in blue and red took control early in the match. Using the two forwards as a starting point, they attacked inside the opponent's territory and consecutively earned corner kicks. On this day, Leon NOZAWA, who served as the kicker, sent the ball in front of the goal, threatening Yokohama FM's goal.
At the 10th minute of the first half, Nagatomo advanced the ball to the right side with a middle pass. Receiving it, Leon NOZAWA sent a straight ball, and Nagakura connected with a header. At the 14th minute, Nagakura also carried the ball from a cut-in and aimed for the goal from mid-range, continuously taking shots from the early stages of the match, accelerating his attacking intent.
Despite pressing close to the goal without shaking the net, in the 29th minute of the first half, a cross from the right side was headed by Anderson LOPES, but Taishi Nozawa cleared it with his left hand, fiercely defending the goal.
At the 37th minute of the first half, player Nagakura moved the ball to his right foot deep on the left side and sent a cross ball in front of the goal. Player Taka, who rushed to the far side, headed the ball but just missed the target. The score remained unchanged, and the match went into the second half.
2nd HALF—A decisive 3-goal victory away in Yokohama sparked by a goal from Leon NOZAWA
At the 6th minute of the second half, a moment of joy arrived. When Sato received the ball on the left side and made a move, Nagakura received it between the lines and faced forward. Sato, who overtook him, crossed the ball in front of the goal. From the scramble, Nagatomo swung his left foot, and Leon NOZAWA desperately stretched out his leg to push the loose ball into the goal in a gritty manner. Leon NOZAWA responded perfectly to his first-ever J1 League starting appearance and left the pitch at the 19th minute of the second half along with Takahashi. In their place, Kento HASHIMOTO and Kota TAWARATSUMIDA were sent out from the bench.
At the 22nd minute of the second half, player Muroya prevented a crisis in his own half, and one minute later, he sprinted down the left side in full form. From a deep position, he delivered a sharp cut-back cross, setting up player Sato's goal. This additional goal brought the team significantly closer to victory, extending the lead to a two-goal difference.
And the finishing touch was by Nagakura, who made his first league start after the transfer. In the 40th minute of the second half, he boldly faced forward in a tight area, carried the ball up, and entered the area with a one-two pass with Sato. Finally, with a skillful individual move, he sealed the match with a 3-0 goal by pushing the ball in with a right-foot toe kick.
On this day, the team maintained focus until the very end and completely shut out Yokohama FM's offense as a whole. They secured a crucial victory in a must-win match to advance in the standings, earning 3 points. The city that never sleeps echoed throughout Nissan Stadium.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING XI
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Naruki Muroya (33rd minute second half: Kashif BANGNAGANDE)/Yuto NAGATOMO/Teppei Oka/Kanta DOI
MF Yu Takao (19th minute second half: Kento HASHIMOTO)/Kei Koizumi (45+2 minute second half: Kyota Tokiwa)
FW Megumu Sato/Motoki NAGAKURA/Leon NOZAWA (19th minute second half: Kota TAWARATSUMIDA)/Teruhito NAKAGAWA (45+2 minute second half: Marcelo Hian)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
DF Masato MORISHIGE
FW Keita ENDO/Ewerton GAUDINO
MANAGER
Rikizo MATSUHASHI
GOAL
6th minute of the second half: Leon NOZAWA / 23rd minute of the second half: Keimasa SATO / 40th minute of the second half: Motoki NAGAKURA
＜Yokohama F. Marinos＞
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Hiroki IIKURA
DF Ren KATO / Ken MATSUBARA (2nd half 25 min: Kazuya YAMAMURA) / Thomas DEN / Taiki WATANABE (2nd half 25 min: Fuyuichi SUZUKI)
MF Takuya KIDA / Riku YAMANE (2nd half 25 min: Kota WATANABE) / Jun AMANO (2nd half 10 min: Daiya TONO)
FW Yan Matheus / Anderson Lopez / Elber (2nd half 35 min: Kosuke MATSUMURA)
SUBS
GK Ilgyu PARK
DF Sandy Walsh
FW Kenta INOUE/Daisho Asada
MANAGER
Hideo Oshima
GOAL
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[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q, please give us an overall review of today's match.
A, I am very pleased that the players delivered an aggressive and excellent performance both offensively and defensively, which was able to produce solid results. It had been a long period without being able to bring victories, but by steadily scoring goals, we are able to draw out more and more of what we have. Winning and scoring goals are such significant things, and this victory has made me keenly aware of that once again. Although it is a nearby place, today’s victory is thanks to the support of many people. I am very happy right now.
Q. There were players who played in consecutive matches even with just two days in between. Could you explain the intention behind that?
A. It was about how to suppress the opponent's powerful wide-wing players, and among the players we have now, Sei MUROYA has played consecutive matches in a short period. Although his main position is right side back, I conveyed my intention to him, and he understood it, so this time he played as left side back.
Q. It seemed that players Muroya, Keito Sato, and Motoki NAGAKURA were able to play in good harmony. Was that also part of the plan?
A. Rather than a relationship to that extent, I thought that if the ball was properly settled with Nagakura, a natural coordination in response to that would emerge. We only practiced once, so it was somewhat like going in cold, but I believe their high adaptability contributed to today's performance.
Q. I think Nagakura's turning forward in a tight area led to the goal. How does the coach view the way he directs his arrow toward the goal?
A. He is naturally good at that kind of play, and by securely controlling the ball just before that and creating a starting point in an advanced position, it leads to our speedy, aggressive, and substantial attack. I believe he is a player who can serve as that starting point. Not only that, he also possesses the ability to play in tight spaces, has speed, can skillfully use changes of pace, has excellent turns, and can use both feet, so I think he delivered a very good performance.
Q. Today, I got the impression that you were simply focused on the goal. What did the coach prepare during this short two-day period?
A. On the day we returned from traveling (the day after the Gamba Osaka match), I think the players were physically quite exhausted, but I also conducted training focused on the area in front of the goal while conveying various things to the players to the point of losing track of time. Unfortunately, none of that showed in the first half. In the second half, by scoring a goal and adjusting the balance of how we create our own time in the opponent’s territory, the players were able to naturally take positions that allowed for risk management against the strong forwards remaining up front. That’s why, when pressing forward, we took the time to move the ball simply, making the opponent move and exploiting the gaps created, while of course targeting key spaces. I think we were able to express that timing a little in the second half.
Q. It seemed that preventing the opponent from passing the ball by defending from the front line was a key to victory. What are your thoughts on that aspect?
A. We organized that aspect the day before, and naturally, we have been building on that. What we rehearsed was not pressing from the front line, but since the time we played with three at the back, we have been accumulating such efforts, and regarding pressing from the front line, there were parts we worked on a little earlier. Although there were some weak points in the first half, in the second half we conveyed that and became more aggressive. When the timing of covering in the continuous challenge and cover is one too many, the timing to push forward is delayed, so we corrected that at halftime.
Q. How will such a victory and multiple goals against a closely ranked opponent affect the team going forward?
A. Since the time until the next game is very short, there is a positive aspect in that we can approach the next match while still carrying the momentum and energy from this one. However, we must not become complacent, as our situation has not dramatically changed. We need to keep a clear perspective, and although the period is short, steadily build on what we can do now and what we are capable of, carrying this confidence into the next game.
[Player Interview]
<Leon NOZAWA>
Q, please review today's game.
A. For me personally, it was a day full of “firsts”: my first start in the J1 League, my first league start this season, and my first goal this season. I was also entrusted with taking set pieces, which brought some moments of hesitation, but since I had been causing trouble for my teammates up until now, although there were still issues and reflections to be made from today’s match, I am above all happy to have scored the opening goal that led to the victory. I want to use today’s match as a turning point for the team to rise. We all want to shift up a gear together.
Q. I think there was a clear distinction between the attacking moves and the build-up play.
A. We were instructed to move the ball and build up the attack, and it was a part I was especially conscious of in my play. As the playing time progressed, I was able to play and make decisions calmly. However, I continued to make easy mistakes, and there were situations where I couldn’t fully utilize my strengths. I want to thoroughly review these and connect them to the next game. I believe that while expressing what the team needs to do, it is also required to proceed with the game in a way that allows each player’s strengths to come alive.
Q. You also served as the set-piece kicker. I think the feeling was good as well.
A. It was my first time serving as a kicker in an official match, so honestly, I was nervous. However, I want to continue practicing from here and further improve my accuracy. I want to polish this as a new weapon for myself.
Q. It was a match where the opportunity that came around was turned into a result.
A. With each match, I feel more confident in my play. Additionally, with results like today’s game coming through, I want to raise my own standards and express that through my performance. However, this is still only my first goal in the league, and I want to continue building on our wins from here. To reach higher levels, I will focus on the small details and fight for the team.
<Player Kei Sato>
Q, It was our first victory in a while.
A. It was truly great. My top priority was to deliver a victory to the fans and supporters, so I feel really relieved about that. Even with the incredibly passionate and loud support today, winning without conceding a goal and being able to score myself was really good. I feel that my scoring touch is gradually coming back since I scored in the Emperor's Cup, and since we have another match after just two days of rest, I want to switch gears and focus on winning.
Q. What were you focusing on as you entered the match today?
A, I think I was able to play with a clear defensive focus. However, since I am a forward player, while keeping defense in mind, I placed more emphasis on the task of scoring goals in my play.
Q. Your expression during the match against Kyoto Sanga F.C. was impressive, showing a surge of strong emotions. Did you also have a strong desire to give back to the fans and supporters?
A. (In the match against Kyoto) we played a disappointing game, but I believe Tokyo is not like that at all. Although I joined the team this year, I feel that I have a stronger desire than anyone else to help Tokyo win. I think the fans and supporters feel the same way, and I had a strong wish to respond to everyone who has continuously shown that attitude.
Q, We have another match after two days of rest. This time, we definitely want to win at Ajinomoto.
A. I think it will be a tough match, but it is a game we absolutely must win. We were able to secure a good victory today, but today is today — we will firmly reset, bring out our strengths, and definitely aim to win the next match as well. We will recover well and take on the challenge together as a team.
<Motoki NAGAKURA>
Q. After joining the team, this was your first start in a league match. What were you focused on when you stepped onto the pitch?
A. On offense, I focused on how much I could receive the ball, and on defense, I was conscious of being the first to press and also pressing back as I entered the match. I always keep in mind to turn around and direct my vector toward the goal after receiving the ball, but this time I was able to exploit the space in the opponent’s defense. I saw that the opponent was leaving space open, so I played while thinking about carrying the ball forward myself.
Q. You were able to take a shot at the start of the first half. Did Motoki NAGAKURA himself get into the rhythm there?
A. Getting into the rhythm there was important, but I also think it would have been much easier if I had scored at that moment. I want to be able to finish those chances. In the scene where I cut in from the left and took a shot, the angle was too easy, so I thought it was inevitable that the goalkeeper could stop it. I want to be able to finish those as well.
Q: please review the scene of the third goal.
A. In a situation where we looked likely to be caught on the counterattack, the entire team was able to stop it. On the contrary, we were able to turn the tables on the opponent with a counterattack of our own and head towards their goal. After receiving a layoff from Keito SATO, I cut inside and took a toe kick with my right foot—that was a decision made on the spot.
Q. This was your second league match since joining. Did you feel any difference between the previous match against Gamba Osaka and today's game?
A. I felt that we did well in today's match in terms of the number of times we got shots off and not allowing the opponent to create chances. Although the opponent had the ball for long periods, we were able to stay composed and endure as a team when needed. Since we didn't let them have the ball in dangerous areas, mentally we were able to play with the feeling that we were 'allowing' them to have it.
Q, The next league match against Yokohama FC will be the home debut at Ajinomoto Stadium.
A, Consecutive wins are very important for the team, so we want to prepare to be able to win with that goal in mind.
<Sei MUROYA>
Q. The team achieved their first victory in six matches.
A. When a losing streak continues, the team loses confidence, which sometimes affects the matches, so today was a game where we absolutely needed to secure 3 points. In that context, the fact that the entire team united and earned those 3 points is truly a wonderful result.
Q, This is your third match since returning to Tokyo. You haven't been able to win the last two games, but is there anything you changed today to secure a victory?
A. Personally, I don't think there was much difference over the three matches. We created plenty of chances in the previous two games as well. Among those, the biggest difference might have been that we were able to stay fully focused on not conceding goals. Since I joined, I have been trying to express what we practice during matches, and I felt good about it. I personally thought we should continue that, and the whole team was talking about it too. I believe we were able to do that without wavering.
Q. To achieve victory, some kind of trigger was necessary. What was the trigger in today's match?
A. I think scoring the opening goal and being able to manage the game with concentration without conceding any goals were significant factors.
Q. I think Sei MUROYA's defensive contribution greatly led to the victory.
A, It has been several years, but I played as a left side back. The positioning and standing position were a bit difficult. I was mostly focused on myself, so I couldn't pay much attention to those around me. However, I concentrated on playing while doing what I could.
Q. Please look back on the scene of the second assist.
A. I received a good pass from Motoki NAGAKURA, and in a one-on-one situation, I was able to break through confidently and deliver a good pass. Since it was an unfamiliar scene of breaking through on the left side and crossing, I didn’t really have much room to think about anything, but I think it was significant that I boldly challenged and carried the ball forward with a good touch. After getting past the opponent and looking inside, I saw that Keito SATO was there, and since it was my unfamiliar left foot, I just focused on sending the ball into the space.
Q, After just two days, the next match is at home at Ajinomoto Stadium against Yokohama FC.
A, The next match is important to carry forward today's victory in a positive direction, and having secured the 3 points we wanted today, facing the next game immediately is really a great thing for us. We want to keep this momentum going into the next match.
