<Match Review>
This week marks Sec. 36 of the 2025 Meiji Yasuda J1 League, followed by a consecutive match against FC Machida Zelvia in the Emperor's Cup Semifinal Round next weekend. Although Tokyo has suffered defeats in all three previous encounters against this opponent, the coach and players are focusing on the match at hand. They aim to secure a victory in this league match to change the momentum and connect it to the future.
Tokyo lined up with goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, and a back line of four players from right to left: Yuto Nagatomo, Alexander Scholz, Masato Morishige, and Sei Muroya. The double pivot in midfield consisted of Takahiro KO and Kei KOIZUMI, while the attackers were Marcos Guilherme on the right and Kota TAWARATSUMIDA on the left. Up front, the two strikers were Keiin SATO, who had an outstanding performance with 2 goals and 1 assist in the previous match against Fagiano Okayama, and Teruhito NAKAGAWA, facing his former club.
Also, the right wing-back for Machida was Nakamura, who was with Tokyo until last season. He missed the previous match at Ajinomoto Stadium, so this was his first encounter against Tokyo.
This round was an away game held at the Japan National Stadium, and the last match of a special project where the team wore the Special Kit. With a determination to win at all costs, they faced the match together with the blue-red family who filled the away stands at “Our National.”
1st HALF—A patient start. Searching for a breakthrough as we head into the second half
From the start of the match, there was sustained pressure from Machida’s long balls. Losing the second balls led to more play in our own half, and we struggled to connect the ball effectively, making it difficult to launch attacks. At the 10-minute mark, we lost possession in midfield under Machida’s high press. They broke down the center to the left side, creating a dangerous situation in front of goal, but goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu made a fine save from a close-range shot. We endured these risky moments while looking for attacking opportunities.
After that, Machida continued to try to nullify Tokyo’s strengths with man-to-man defense. Tokyo wanted to create attacking patterns by effectively using the central space that opens up in the 4-4-2 system, as seen in the previous match against Okayama, but Machida closed down the space and time, preventing Tokyo from adjusting their positioning and making it impossible to build the attack as intended.
Still, in the 25th minute of the first half, Takashi played a sharp vertical pass on the left side, connecting with Tawara-Tsukida and Marcos. The ball deflected off an opponent, and Sato aimed with his left foot, but unfortunately, he missed and the shot went wide to the right of the goal.
Tokyo gradually began creating chances through drawn-back counters. They continued to seek breakthroughs with sharp quick attacks, but due to the opponent's solid defense, they were unable to fully break through. On the contrary, there were many moments where they struggled to face forward under high pressing, and the first half saw extended periods where they could not leave their own half.
The score remained unchanged even during the 2 minutes of additional time in the first half. The team faced challenges in how to break the opponent's press and where to create gaps, heading into halftime with these issues unresolved.
2nd HALF—Endured and seized victory. Anzai’s strike secures the first win against Machida.
There were no substitutions for either side during halftime. The second half kicked off with the same lineup as the first half.
Even after entering the second half, the flow of the game did not change much. Against Machida, who aimed to nullify Tokyo’s strengths with man-to-man defense and high pressing, Tokyo tried to find opportunities through deep-lying long counters.
Tokyo has been highly aware of winning second balls since the first half and has been able to defend in a way that prevents the opponent from creating clear chances until the very end. However, because they have been focusing on reacting after the ball is kicked, they have not been able to apply pressure from the front, allowing Machida to hold onto the ball too much. How to address this will likely be the key point in the second half.
The first big chance of the second half came for Machida. In the 22nd minute of the second half, Shōji timed a header perfectly to meet a cross from the left side, but it just missed to the right of the goal. It was a nerve-wracking moment for Tokyo.
Here, the Tokyo bench makes a move. In the 24th minute of the second half, Nakagawa and Marcos are substituted out for Leon NOZAWA and Soma ANZAI. NOZAWA takes a spot in the two-forward formation, while ANZAI assumes the position of right attacker.
In the 32nd minute of the second half, as Machida’s passing begins to falter under pressure, NOZAWA, who had won the ball high up the pitch, eyes the advancing opposing goalkeeper and carefully aims a right-footed lob into the wide-open goal. However, the softly arcing shot, drawing the crowd’s gaze, is deflected off the left post, and a golden scoring opportunity slips away.
In the 37th minute of the second half, Machida broke through and created a huge danger, but Sholtz slid in to block the shot inside the penalty area. Then, when the rebound was targeted, Koizumi threw his body to block the shot, and the entire team worked hard to protect the goal.
This fighting spirit spread to the attacking line. It was late in the match, the 42nd minute of the second half. Launching a counterattack from their own half, they pushed up the left side, and Takao in the center played a direct pass to Sato ahead. Anzai struck the grounded pass on the far side, and Tokyo snatched the opening goal at the last moment. A powerful shot that knocked the goalkeeper aside. Defending the goal with fierce determination and driving the ball into the net with a gutsy strike from the planned counterattack, Tokyo finally took the lead.
The match ended with Tokyo winning 1-0. Despite struggling to fully demonstrate their attacking strengths, they showed strong determination and, on their 'fourth time lucky,' secured their first victory against Machida. This win gave them momentum heading into the Emperor's Cup Semifinal Round scheduled for the following weekend.
Immediately after the final whistle blew, loud cheers of "Take the cup!" from the fans and supporters behind the goal continued to resonate throughout the National Stadium.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC TOKYO>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Kim Seung-gyu
DF Sei MUROYA/Masato MORISHIGE/Yuto NAGATOMO/Alexander Scholz
MF Takahiro KO/Kota TAWARATSUMIDA (40th minute 2nd half: Keita YAMASHITA)/Kei KOIZUMI/Marcos GUILHERME (24th minute 2nd half: Soma ANZAI)
FW Megumu SATO (45+5th minute 2nd half: Taiyo YAMAGUCHI)/Teruhito NAKAGAWA (24th minute 2nd half: Leon NOZAWA)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
DF Kanta DOI/Henrique Trevisan/Kosuke SHIRAI
MF Keigo HIGASHI
MANAGER
Rikizo MATSUHASHI
GOAL
42nd minute of the second half: Soma ANZAI
<FC Machida Zelvia>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Kosei TANI
DF Dreshevich/Gen SHOJI/Yuta NAKAYAMA
MF Henry Mochizuki/Hiroyuki MAE (38th minute of the second half: Hokuto SHIMODA)/Keiya SENTO (18th minute of the second half: Na SANGHO)/Hotaka NAKAMURA
FW Asahi MASUYAMA (45+2 minutes of the second half: Shota FUJIO)/Yuki SOMA/Se Hun OH (38th minute of the second half: Kanji KUWAYAMA)
SUBS
GK Yoshiaki ARAI
DF Kotaro HAYASHI
MF Ryohei SHIRASAKI/Neta Ravi
FW Takaya NUMATA
MANAGER
Go KURODA
GOAL
―
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q, please give us an overview of the match.
A, I truly think it was a very difficult game for both sides throughout the full 90 minutes. I am very pleased that we were able to seize the final opportunity and secure the win.
Q, the opponent applied a lot of pressure during the match, but I think the two center backs did well to repel it. What is your evaluation of that aspect, coach?
A, in previous games, we had repeatedly conceded goals from that situation, but under Coach Yu TOKISAKI’s leadership, we have conducted numerous defensive sessions repeatedly during this period. There is no doubt that the solid results of those efforts contributed to the victory in this game. How well we can continue that going forward will be a key point in future matches.
Q, Soma ANZAI scored the final goal, but what is your evaluation and expectation regarding the timing of his deployment and his performance?
A, he is originally a player who has been mainly deployed as a right side back, but he also has very high attacking ability and defensive skills from the front line. Considering the possibility that pressing the opponent might not go well and the team could be drawn back into their own half, deploying him one position forward plays a very significant role in stabilizing the defense. Additionally, as I mentioned earlier, in terms of attack, he has a truly bold forward run as well as composure, so I am very pleased and believe it is significant that his abilities were fully demonstrated even in this short period of time. Regarding the timing of the substitution, we discussed it extensively with the coaches and hesitated, so it ended up being somewhat late, but it was also influenced by observing the opponent’s approach.
Q. I imagine it must be challenging to have the next Emperor's Cup match scheduled with the same teams at the same venue. Could you tell us how you view this match and how you want to build on this result going forward?
A, This has been known for quite some time, so I feel completely neutral about it. If you think normally, winning might make things difficult, or losing might give you another chance to challenge again, but we are firmly focused on today’s issues and will prepare for the next match. Considering each other’s strengths, the opponent’s movements today, and probably their countermeasures against our analysis, we will prepare just as we do for any regular game. However, there is truly a great opportunity right in front of us, and by winning the next game, we believe we will see a new perspective. That is why we will approach the next match neutrally and proceed with preparations just as usual.
[Player Interview]
<Soma ANZAI>
Q: please review the goal scene first.
A, The moment player Keito Sato broke through, I saw the space open up in front of me, and moving into that space was something I had been doing continuously since last season and it was my role. I’m glad I was able to contribute to the team’s victory with my goal.
Q, Before that, there was a chance after the defense line stacked blocks. How did you feel when the ball came to you from there?
A, It was not an easy shot, but it was a goal that carried not only my own feelings but also the feelings from when everyone defended against the previous danger together.
Q, You ran straight toward the goal behind the net, didn’t you?
A, My body moved instinctively toward behind the goal. While having various emotions, it was the best moment.
Q, The opposing coach Kuroda was your mentor in high school, so weren’t you able to show him how much you’ve grown?
A, We had suffered three consecutive losses against FC Machida Zelvia, and I felt more frustrated than anyone else, so I was able to get one back today. However, I truly believe this is not the place to settle the score. I think an even tougher match awaits us next week, and my mind is already focused on that. I want to prepare over the next week so that we can see a scene like today’s once again.
Q, Recently, you have often participated in practice matches. Would you say this was a good opportunity to showcase yourself?
A, I believe I have been consistently delivering results not only in league matches but also in practice games. If I get the opportunity to step onto the pitch again, I want to do my best to contribute to the team's victory within the time given to me, just like today.
Q. How do you think today's win will affect the next match?
A, Yuto NAGATOMO said in the locker room that this win will likely make Machida tighten their focus, so we all have already switched our mindset in the locker room, knowing that we need to bring even more power than that. I think it will become more difficult, but we want to prepare ourselves to handle various situations.
<Player Kei Sato>
Q. How was the match overall?
A. Recently, Tokyo's unique style has started to emerge, and personally, I felt that this was a match where we could sense that throughout the full 90 minutes. Everyone defended with their bodies throughout the entire match, and in attack, we kept overtaking one after another. Although I am still in my first year and not in a position to casually say it represents Tokyo's style, I felt that spirit. It was something that stirred my soul.
Q, I believe it was precisely your own play and attitude that embodied and led that spirit.
A. I made sure to play in a way that would energize the team even a little, and the pressing was the same. I always aimed to play for the benefit of the team, and if that connects to what it means to be Tokyo, I’m happy. Also, the defensive players really blocked many times, and seeing all the players diligently track back and put their bodies on the line to defend fired me up as well. I felt that each individual was involving those around them, and I truly felt that Tokyo is a great team.
Q. I felt a strong determination in the basic aspect of football, that is, never losing to the opponent directly in front of you. How did you feel about that yourself?
A. Today, especially since the opponent played almost an all-court man-to-man, the one-on-one battles were easy to understand, and we knew on the pitch that if we didn’t lose those one-on-ones, we could win the match. Throughout the 90 minutes, we kept calling out to each other without letting up until the end, and I believe that ultimately led to the late goal. That was a victory born from sheer determination and the fighting spirit we fully showed.
Regarding how to create and utilize space against an opponent playing all-court man-to-man, we weren’t able to execute well what we had practiced over the past week during the first half. However, by discussing on the pitch what would be better to do and making improvements, I believe that became the key to breaking through their high press. There were moments when we were somewhat forceful, but that was also one of the methods. We were able to simply get behind the opponent who came at us one-on-one and pick up the second ball, and I think being flexible in the match like that was a positive aspect.
Q: Please review the goal scene of Soma ANZAI’s brilliant assist.
A. At halftime, Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI told us to show more commitment to everyone going after second balls and loose balls from long balls, so I kept that in mind going into the second half. Against an opponent who plays a lot of long balls, whether we can pick up the second balls is key, so while staying conscious of that, the opponent made more errors and started to get flustered, which I think we were able to exploit well. We won the ball back with speed in transition, and I thought Soma ANZAI would already be there. I couldn’t see him, but I thought he would be there, and since he had also told me in the first half that Kota TAWARATSUMIDA was coming in, I believe it was the trust within the team that he would come in from the opposite side that led to the goal. I’m glad I was able to deliver a good ball.
Q, next is the same opponent, the same venue, and a match we absolutely want to win. How will you approach it?
A, we won today, and I think the opponent will come at us with even stronger determination next time, so we want to pursue what we need to do together with the mindset of challengers without being passive. There are also issues that came up today, and the opponent might change their approach from today, so as a team, without changing the basics, we want to build on that, raise our standards one more level during this week, and absolutely aim to win.
<Masato MORISHIGE>
Q, please review the game.
A, In a tightly contested match, there was an atmosphere where the team that scored first would likely win. I think in today’s game, we were able to firmly convert that opportunity into a goal.
Q, From the first half, the opponent applied pressure with man-to-man defense. How did you feel on the pitch?
A, the opponent launched good defense, and if we focused only on connecting passes within that, we anticipated that it might not lead to good results as before. I think the team has been able to express a game management approach in recent matches that is calculated backward from winning the match and making clear decisions. Today’s match was also a scenario where we had to be patient and seize one chance, but being able to tenaciously secure the victory will lead to the next step.
Q, Was it somewhat within your expectations that the opponent would use long balls and that we would have to endure for extended periods?
A, It was unexpected that we would have to endure for such a long time, but no matter how the match unfolds, I believe the team has grown to be able to observe the opponent's approach and choose how to play accordingly. In today's match as well, from the perspective of "the opponent is coming at us this way, so how do we fight back?", I think we were able to adapt and respond flexibly.
Q, In one week, we will face the same opponent in the Emperor's Cup Semifinal Round.
A, Everyone understands that the next match is also important. I believe another challenging game awaits, so we want to recover well and prepare thoroughly.
