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
―
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q, please give us an overall review of today's match.
A, I am very pleased that the players' wonderful aggressive performance in both offense and defense was able to produce solid results. It had been a long time since we were able to deliver a win, but by continuing to score goals, we are able to bring out more and more of what we have. Winning and scoring goals are such significant things, and this victory has made me realize 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, how to suppress the opponent's strong wide wing player, and among the current players, Sei MUROYA, who has had consecutive appearances in a short period, is originally a right side back player, but I conveyed my intention to him, and understanding that, this time he played as a 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 the relationship up to that point, if the ball properly settles with player Nagakura, the coordination in response to that would naturally arise. We only practiced once, so it was somewhat like going in cold, but I think 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 firmly controlling the ball just before that and creating a starting point in an advanced position, it leads to our speedy, aggressive, and solid attack. I believe he is a player who can become that starting point. Not only that, he also has 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 it was 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, (the day we returned from traveling after the Gamba Osaka match), I think the players were physically quite exhausted, but I also conducted training focused on situations in front of the goal while conveying various things to the players to the point of losing track of time. However, unfortunately, none of that showed in the first half at all. In the second half, by scoring a goal, we were able to balance how to create our own time in the opponent's territory, which naturally allowed us to take positions that manage the risk posed by the opponent's strong forwards remaining upfront. That is why, when pressing forward, we focused on taking multiple touches, moving the ball simply to make the opponent move and exploit 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 the day before, and naturally, we have been building on that organization. What we rehearsed was not pressing at the front line, but since the time we used a three-back formation, we have been building on that approach. Regarding pressing from the front line, we had practiced that a little earlier. Although the first half was somewhat lacking in that aspect, in the second half, while communicating that, we became more aggressive. Since the challenge and cover sequence inevitably involves one extra cover timing, the timing to push forward is delayed, so we corrected that during 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 feeling the momentum and heat from the previous one. However, we must not be complacent, as our situation has not dramatically changed. We need to carefully assess our position and, despite the short time, steadily build on what we can do now. We want to carry the confidence from this game into the next one.
[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 to now, although this match still left some challenges and reflections, I am most happy to have scored the opening goal that led to our victory. I want to use today's match as a turning point for the team to rise. We want to raise our gear together as a team.
Q. I think there was a clear distinction between the attacking moves and the build-up play.
A, I was told to move the ball and build up the attack, and it was a part of my play that I was particularly conscious of. As the playing time progressed, I was able to play and make decisions calmly. However, easy mistakes continued, and there were situations where I couldn't fully utilize my strengths. I want to thoroughly review and connect it to the next game. I believe that while expressing what the team should do, it is necessary to proceed with the game in a way that allows the players' strengths to shine within that framework.
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, but from here I want to continue practicing and further improve my accuracy. I want to refine this as a new weapon for myself.
Q. It was a match where the opportunity that came around was turned into a result.
A, I feel more confident playing with each match. Additionally, with results like today's game coming through, I want to raise my own standards and express that in my play. However, this is still my first goal in the league, and I want to build on our wins from here. To reach higher, 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, I’m really glad. The most important thing was that we wanted to deliver a victory to our fans and supporters, so I truly feel relieved. Even today, with such passionate and loud support, being able to win without conceding any goals, and for me to score and help secure the win, was really great. Scoring in the Emperor's Cup has helped me gradually regain my scoring touch, and since we have another match in just two days, I want to switch gears and focus on winning again.
Q. What were you focusing on as you entered the match today?
A, I think we were able to play defense with a clear objective. However, since I am a forward player, while considering defense, I focused more on the task of scoring goals.
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, (The match against Kyoto) was a disappointing game, but I believe Tokyo is not like this at all. Although I am a player who joined this year, I have a stronger desire than anyone else to see Tokyo win. I think the fans and supporters feel the same way, and I had a strong feeling 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 difficult match, but it is a game we absolutely must win. We were able to secure a good victory today, but today is today, and we will firmly reset ourselves to bring out our strengths and definitely want to win the next match as well. We will recover well and take on the challenge with everyone.
<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, in attack, I focused on how much I could receive the ball, and in defense, I was conscious of being the first to press and pressing back as I entered the match. I always keep in mind turning around after receiving the ball and directing my vector towards the goal, but this time I was able to exploit the opponent's defensive spaces. I saw that the opponent was leaving spaces 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, I was able to get into the rhythm because of that, but I think it would have been easier if I had scored there. I want to be able to finish those chances. In the scene where I cut in from the left and took a shot, the shot was too easy to save, so I thought it was inevitable that it would be stopped. I want to be able to finish those chances.
Q: please review the scene of the third goal.
A, in situations where we were likely to face a counterattack, the entire team was able to stop it. Conversely, we managed to turn the tables on the opponent with a counterattack and move towards their goal. Receiving a layoff from player Megumi Sato, I cut inside and took a toe kick with my right foot, which 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 to shoot and not allowing the opponent to create chances. Although the opponent had the ball for a long time, we were able to endure as a whole team without getting impatient. We didn't let them have the ball in dangerous areas, so 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, Winning consecutive games is important for the team, so we want to prepare 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 3 points. In that context, I truly think it is a wonderful result that the team united and was able to secure 3 points.
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 is much difference over the three matches. In the previous two matches, we also created many chances. Among them, the biggest difference might be that we were 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. Personally, I thought I should continue that, and the whole team was talking about it as well. I believe we were able to do that consistently.
Q. To achieve victory, some kind of trigger was necessary. What was the trigger in today's match?
A, I think it was significant that we were able to score the opening goal and manage the game with concentration without conceding any goals.
Q. I think Sei MUROYA's defensive contribution greatly led to the victory.
A, it's been several years, but I played as a left side back. The positioning and standing position were a bit difficult. I had to focus on myself a lot, so I couldn't pay much attention to those around me. However, I was able to concentrate and play with the mindset of doing what I could.
Q. Please look back on the scene of the second assist.
A good pass came from Motoki NAGAKURA, and in a one-on-one situation, I was able to break through with confidence and deliver a good pass. It was an unusual scene for me to break through on the left side and cross, so I didn't really have much time to think about anything, but I think it was important 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 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 since we were able to secure the 3 points we wanted today, having another match so soon is really a good thing for us. We want to keep this momentum going into the next game.
