<Review of the Previous Match vs. Kashima Antlers>
From the start, Tokyo created consecutive big chances, using Marcelo RYAN's speed and power to press toward the opponent's goal. Although they couldn't score here, they continued to control the game with help from Kim Seung-gyu's fine saves, increasing the time spent playing in the opponent's half.
Yuto NAGATOMO, who played as right side back, also actively participated in the attack to create chances. In the 25th minute of the first half, he delivered a pinpoint cross from an overlapping run, setting up a scoring opportunity for Motoki NAGAKURA.
Showing quick reactions in both offense and defense and outpacing the opponent with a good start, they were unable to shake the goal net in the first half. The outcome was left to be decided in the second half.
However, early in the second half, left side back Sei MUROYA was forced to leave the field due to injury. With the departure of the number 2, who had been leading the team with aggressive play, the momentum was somewhat lost. Then, in the 36th minute of the second half, the left side was broken down from a throw-in, and a low cross ball was precisely met, resulting in a conceded goal. The team found themselves trailing by one goal.
In the end, despite a fierce attack in the final stages, they lost 0-1. It was a game approached with the lesson learned from the lack of finishing ability in the away game about five months ago, but once again they fell into a pattern of failing to convert chances, resulting in losing the crucial 3 points at the decisive moment.
Match Preview
We must not make the same mistake again.
In the match against Kashima Antlers, we created chances but lacked finishing ability, resulting in a defeat similar to the away game. The frustration of the disconnect between performance and results should have been firmly engraved in our hearts, yet we still couldn’t change the outcome. To truly become a strong team, we must all overcome this barrier together.
Looking back about five months ago. The week after losing away to Kashima, we faced Shonan Bellmare at Ajinomoto Stadium but failed to break the bad streak from the Kashima match, missed chances, and ended in a scoreless draw. We also lost to Shonan in the 3rd Round of the J.League YBC Levain Cup 1st Round in May after failing to convert chances. In that sense, the content and result of this match are highly anticipated.
Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI felt a sense of progress in the content of the previous match against Kashima, while also firmly facing the reality of the result. "This season, there have been several games where we have dropped points in such situations. I think the content was very good, but the results have not come through. We must clearly surpass the opponent in places where we can earn 3 points," he warned.
The critical point of the match, both offensively and defensively, is indeed right in front of the goal. The coach continues.
"It's exactly in front of the goal. What can we really do there? In attack, can we shake the net, can we pose a real threat to the opponent? I want the players to really swing their legs with conviction, and to strike the ball more cleanly and solidly. Defensively, it’s about how much we can prevent shots, how closely we can close down, and how tenaciously we can defend. It’s not exactly ‘putting your soul into it,’ but I do think those aspects are very important."
Fear and fighting spirit—surpassing the opponent there and drawing victory closer. The fact that there is no mistake in the direction the team is heading is becoming evident in the content. If so, the only option is to once again prove that correctness through results.
The opponent Shonan is currently in 17th place. They have endured a tough stretch with no wins in nine league matches. During the summer transfer window, three players—Fukuda, Hata, and Jun Suzuki—transferred overseas, while Matsumoto from Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Nita from Urawa Reds, and Ota from Albirex Niigata were brought in. Additionally, following goalkeeper Kamifukumoto’s injury and long-term absence, William POPP was acquired from Yokohama F.Marinos, making the situation significantly different from the two matches earlier this season. Tokyo aims to carefully identify the critical moments to score goals and secure victory.
However, although Tokyo's performance has improved, they are currently 15th in the league standings. This is by no means a position to be complacent about. Motoki NAGAKURA said, "Tomorrow will be a '6-point game,' so we must secure a solid victory. To break down an opponent that will fortify the center, we want to show coordinated team attacks."
Kento HASHIMOTO, who will celebrate his 32nd birthday on the day of the Shonan match, also emphasizes the importance of this game. Right after the defeat to Kashima, he looked forward saying, "If we can't score, we have to create more chances," but after a week of training, he said, "I was able to train with the awareness to firmly finish in decisive moments. I believe we can definitely show that. Our quality and team strength have improved since the last time we faced them, so we should be able to show the difference. I want to fight for the full 90 minutes without giving the opponent even a moment's gap, and on the contrary, launch attacks that exploit their weaknesses. I think it's important to seize chances firmly without being fixated on form, and I also want to score soon," expressing the key points of the match and showing his eagerness for a birthday goal of his own.
As a team and as individuals, it is important to demonstrate our strengths, make decisive plays at critical moments, and defend effectively. And above all, the determination to secure victory. These are fundamental aspects of soccer, but the more we pursue results, the more we return to these principles. We want this match to be an opportunity to turn the frustrations we have experienced so far into results, to seize a spirited victory without carrying over any negative momentum, and to transform the confidence we have built into conviction.
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q. In the previous match against the Kashima Antlers, Motoki NAGAKURA and Marcelo RYAN started together as a two-forward formation for the first time.
A. I think both players showed their strengths very well. If I were to be picky, I believe that if we could have properly utilized the moments when RYAN made runs behind the defense at the right timing, we would have created more chances. By doing so, NAGAKURA would become even more effective. Once that becomes clearer, it will be even harder for the opponent to defend.
Q. This season, we have played two matches against Shonan Bellmare, but we have yet to secure a victory. Could you share your impression of Shonan once again?
A. They have a very solid style, and my impression of Shonan has not changed significantly. Although there have been player transfers, I believe they have maintained a good level of precision. We have also played two matches against Shonan and I think we played very well in terms of content, but the results have not come through. We want to clearly outperform them in situations where we can earn 3 points and finish decisively.
Q, what aspects have you been focusing on building up in preparation for the Shonan match?
A, of course, we have been working on countermeasures against the opponent, but there have been more than ten games so far where we dropped points in match developments similar to the Kashima game. This week, we focused on building up the parts related to moving toward the goal and creating chances. We concentrated on the points where we felt "the three points might be lost here" and worked on improving those areas in training.
Q, where exactly is that drop of the 3 points happening?
A, it’s "in front of the goal." What can we really do there? Can we shake the net? Can we become a threat to the opponent? I think that’s the starting point. I want players to really swing their legs with full force and connect with the ball more solidly. There are many moments where the ball isn’t fully met or struck properly, which is very unfortunate. Having watched many games, I believe bold play is an important factor in creating goals. This is the essence of winning those 3 points, but when it comes to those critical moments, we need to think more carefully about how we use our power. The most important thing in front of the goal isn’t technique. If you rely too much on technique, scoring becomes difficult. In the end, even if you have to force it, as long as the ball crosses the line even a little, it’s a goal, and the spirit for that is very important.
Even if the style of soccer is technical and logical, if the final moments also become like that, it often puts you on the back foot. Ideally, it would be great if that could be done until the very end, constantly creating 2-on-1 situations against the goalkeeper. I don’t think a 1-on-1 is a clear scoring chance. Since it’s not easy to create that 2-on-1 situation every time, I believe it is important to shoot forcefully.
[Player Interview]
<Teruhito NAKAGAWA>
Q. This season, we have faced Shonan Bellmare twice, but both matches ended without a win.
A. Away games against Shonan Bellmare always develop into difficult matches, so I think the most important thing is to avoid conceding goals first.It was the same in the previous match against Kashima Antlers; if you miss chances in moments when you must score, you end up with results like that. That was true in Sec. 4 against Kashima as well, and in Sec. 5 against Shonan, where many clear chances were missed. First, it’s about whether we can firmly finish off that one goal and how focused we are in doing so. I believe it’s about the “mindset.” We want to value every single chance in front of goal and fight with passion.
Q. Coach Matsuhashi also mentioned that "being forceful in front of the goal is important," but is it crucial to finish decisively in front of the goal?
A. Nothing happens if you don't take a shot. By swinging your foot, the ball might deflect off an opponent and come back to you, or the trajectory might change and be drawn into the goal. Above all, I want to stay focused so as not to miss any chances. In recent matches, many players have been able to enter the opponent's box during attacks, but it feels like there have been few shots from outside the penalty area. We want to raise everyone's desire to score. The number of chances is increasing. Even if we miss a clear opportunity, I think it's important never to hang our heads but to switch our mindset and finish it off on the next chance.
Q, on the other hand, I think that desire also applies to defense, such as shot blocking and the speed of closing down on the ball side.
A, in the Kashima match, we were unable to surpass the opponent in terms of "quality." From the perspectives of "quality" and "timing," I want to be particular about our attack. On the defensive side, I believe that the speed of closing down to prevent the opponent from easily delivering crosses, as well as the sense of speed in positioning and anticipating the opponent's play in front of the goal, are important.
<Player Kim Seung-gyu>
Q. You have been conceding goals consecutively; what kind of improvements have you been working on?
A. As always, I approach each match by thoroughly analyzing the opponent's strong points. I communicate with the defenders and share areas for improvement as we prepare for every game. We carefully reviewed the footage of the goal conceded in the previous match against Kashima Antlers. The goal came from a space exploited between the goalkeeper and the defensive line. That goal was conceded around the 35th minute of the second half. It was a physically demanding period, and I believe our concentration dropped slightly. One cause of the goal was a brief lapse in focus the moment the ball went out of play. As a goalkeeper, I want to keep calling out so that my teammates can get into position faster than the opponents.
Q. The long and short passes from player Kim Seung-gyu have brought a good flow to the team's attack. What do you focus on when playing?
A. I pay particular attention to the direction of the opponent's pressing arrows and the timing of their approach. Whether the opposing player comes at the goalkeeper alone or with two players. I carefully review footage before the match to prepare for these details. During the game, if there are substitutions, the number and direction of pressing players can change, so I closely observe the opponents to make judgments. All the players I fight alongside have great technique and can keep possession even when I make slightly risky passes. Thanks to my teammates, I am able to play with confidence.
Q. I think winning the match against Shonan Bellmare without conceding a goal will further boost our momentum. Please share your enthusiasm for the upcoming game.
A. I believe we must win every match without conceding a goal. We cannot change the results so far. First, I want to secure a clean sheet victory in the match ahead. To achieve that, as we have done before, the entire team will maintain strong communication and focus on neutralizing the opponent's strengths.
