<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 think it was a very tough game for both sides throughout the full 90 minutes. I am very pleased that we were able to seize the opportunity at the end 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 used as a right side back, but he also has very strong attacking abilities and defensive skills from the front line. Considering the possibility that if our pressing against the opponent doesn’t work well and we get drawn back into our own half, deploying him one position forward helps stabilize the defense, making him a player who plays a very significant role. Additionally, as I mentioned earlier, in terms of attack, he has a truly bold forward run and also maintains composure, so I am very pleased and think it is significant that his abilities were fully demonstrated even in this short amount of time. Regarding the timing of the substitution, we deliberated quite a bit with the coaches and although it ended up being a bit late, it was also influenced by watching how the opponent was playing.
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. That has been known for quite some time, so we are feeling quite neutral about it. Normally, one might think it’s difficult because we won, or that losing would mean another chance to challenge again, but we are focused on clearly identifying today’s issues and preparing for the next match. Considering both teams’ strengths, the opponent’s movements today, and likely 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 winning the next game will open up a new perspective. That’s why we will approach the next match neutrally and prepare 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 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 wasn't an easy shot, but it was a goal that carried not only my 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 toward the goal behind the net on its own. With many feelings running through me, 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 that 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 again.
Q, Recently, you have often participated in practice matches. Would you say this was a good opportunity to showcase yourself?
A, Personally, I believe I have been consistently delivering results not only in league matches but also in practice matches. If I get the chance 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 I did today.
Q. How do you think today's win will affect the next match?
A. Yuto NAGATOMO said in the locker room that this victory will 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. 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 for the entire 90 minutes, and in attack, we kept overtaking one another. Although I’m still in my first year and don’t feel I can lightly speak of what Tokyo’s style truly is, I did feel it. 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 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 properly tracking back and putting their bodies on the line to defend fired me up as well. I felt that each individual was involving those around them, and it made me realize once again 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 like a full-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. We kept encouraging each other throughout the 90 minutes without letting it drop, and I believe that ultimately led to the late goal. I think this victory came from sheer determination and fully showing our fighting spirit.
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 long balls, so I kept that in mind going into the second half. Against an opponent who plays many long balls, whether we can pick up the second balls is key, so as we stayed focused on that, the opponent made more errors and started to get flustered, which we were able to take advantage of. We won the ball back with quick transitions, and I thought, “Soma ANZAI must be there.” I couldn’t see him, but I felt he would be there, and since Kota TAWARATSUMIDA had also told me in the first half that he was making runs, the trust within the team that he would come in from the opposite side 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 face it not passively but with the mindset of challengers, and everyone will thoroughly pursue what we need to do. There are also issues that came up today, and the opponent might change their approach from today’s, so as a team, we want to keep the basics unchanged while building on them, raising our standards one more level during this week, and we absolutely want 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 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 defensive efforts, and if we only focused 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 approach in recent matches that is calculated backward from the goal of winning the match by being decisive. Today’s match also required patience and seizing a single chance, but I believe that managing to win stubbornly 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 regardless of 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 like this, 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 think another challenging game awaits, so we want to recover well and prepare thoroughly.
