<Match Review>
The final league match of the 2025 season at Ajinomoto Stadium, facing Albirex Niigata. This match is designated as "Big Thank You Day," a game in which the club and team express their gratitude to everyone involved over the past year. It is a match where the passion and determination held deep in their hearts must be shown on the pitch, and they must respond firmly with a victory.
Also, on December 4, ahead of this match, the contract extension of head coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI was announced. This match required the team to firmly showcase the culmination of the efforts built up since the training camp, while also carrying forward hopes for the 2026 season's Meiji Yasuda J1 Century Vision League.
The starting members in red and blue standing on the pitch for the final match of the season included goalkeeper Go HATANO. The back line, from right to left, featured Yuto NAGATOMO, Alexander Scholz, Masato Morishige, and Naruki Muroya, who lined up together for the sixth consecutive official match. The central midfield duo was Takahiro KO and Kei KOIZUMI, pairing up for the fifth consecutive match. On the right wing was Soma ANZAI, and on the left wing was Keita ENDO. The two forwards were Keiya SATO and Marcelo. Additionally, Motoki NAGAKURA, who had been sidelined due to injury since September, was on the bench. It was very encouraging that the man who supported the second half comeback returned to the pitch in this match, which was meant to showcase the culmination of the season.
1st HALF—Conceded the first goal but equalized with Endo's goal just before halftime
As the coach had warned before the match, Niigata started aggressively and took control of the game early on. However, Tokyo, boasting a solid defense that allowed only two goals in the last five league matches, held firm with focused defending to suppress the opponent's attacks in this match as well.
In the 9th minute of the first half, as the blue and red gradually gained momentum and began creating chances with a fast-paced attack, an unexpected gap was exploited, and Mateus MORAES scored a spectacular long-range shot from outside the penalty area, conceding an unexpected opening goal.
Tokyo, eager to equalize early, combined well with Nagatomo, Takahiro, and Sato to penetrate deep into the right side in the 13th minute of the first half. Takahiro played the ball forward with his right foot. Anzai, receiving it, calmly tried to slot it in with his right foot, but the well-aimed shot was deflected off the left post, narrowly missing the equalizer.
Niigata continued to hold the initiative. Tokyo responded with Go Hatano's excellent saves and Masato Morishige's skillful ball recoveries, but they were unable to connect the balls they won effectively, and endured a period of difficulty as Niigata launched successive players forward to mount a substantial attack.
At the 33rd minute of the first half, after quickly switching between offense and defense and regaining possession of the ball in an advanced position, Takashi was fouled while making a dash forward from behind following Sato's pass. However, this was just outside the penalty area. Although they earned a direct free kick opportunity in a good position, they could not create a clear chance and again failed to shake the net.
In the 44th minute of the first half, Scholz, who had joined the attack, delivered a cross. Endo at the far side headed the ball back, and Lucas RIAN, positioned in front of the goal, went for it, but the close-range shot went over the bar.
During the 3 minutes of first-half added time, with the team pressing deep in the opponent’s half, Koizumi played a vertical pass through the center. Receiving this pass, Endo skillfully adjusted his posture, faced forward, and took a left-footed shot. The ball deflected off a blocking defender, changed course, went over the goalkeeper’s head, and was absorbed into the goal, leveling the score. Tokyo managed to bring the match back to even at a good moment just before halftime, heading into the break with a 1-1 tie.
2nd HALF—Continuing the Attack, but Victory Eluded
Determined to end the season with a win, Tokyo approached the goal aggressively right from the start of the second half. At 20 seconds into the half, Sato broke free on a vertical pass from Hian and drove powerfully toward the goal, shooting with his left foot. Although the shot did not hit the target, number 16, who had been leading the team with passionate play, received enthusiastic cheers from the Blue-Red family before the start, at halftime, and after the goal, and this breakthrough showed a glimpse of his fighting spirit to respond to that support.
In the 5th minute of the second half, after repelling Niigata's corner kick in their own half, Tokyo launched a rapid counterattack. Endo sharply advanced and played a through pass forward, and RIAN, running alongside, took a perfectly timed one-touch shot with his right foot. It seemed like a perfectly broken-down chance, but the ball just missed to the right of the goal, and they couldn't convert the golden opportunity.
As the back-and-forth battle continued, it was FC Tokyo who made the first move. Replacing Marcelo RIAN and Soma ANZAI, Teruhito NAKAGAWA was brought in up front, and Leon NOZAWA was deployed as the right attacker. They chose an offensive approach aiming to enhance coordination and team organization to target the goal.
The inclusion of Nakagawa, who can act as the team's lubricant, increased the fluidity of the attack. In the 30th minute of the second half, Koizumi's vertical pass acted as a switch, and Sato broke through on a ball connected from Nakagawa and took a shot. Although he couldn't make solid contact and the opposing goalkeeper caught it, it was an attack that showed a high level of offensive awareness.
In the 36th minute of the second half, just as a counterattack was about to be launched following a midfield turnover, Scholz demonstrated outstanding crisis awareness and sharply intercepted the ball. From there, the play was connected through Nakagawa and Nozawa, aiming for a shot inside the penalty area, but this good opportunity was also thwarted by an excellent save from the opposing goalkeeper.
In the late stage of the match at the 44th minute of the second half, three players were brought onto the pitch in the final substitution of the season. Marcos GUILHERME, Kosuke SHIRAI, and Mikiki NAGAKURA, who was making his comeback after about two months, were sent out in place of Sato, Yasushi ENDO, and Nagatomo.
Three minutes of additional time were indicated in the second half. Towards securing a victory in the final match of the season, chants from behind the goal grew louder in volume, and in response, the players showed aggressive vertical passes and fierce battles for the ball. However, those efforts did not come to fruition, and the final whistle blew with the score tied at 1-1. The 2025 Meiji Yasuda J1 League season concluded with the team finishing undefeated in the last six matches, ending in 11th place with 13 wins, 11 draws, and 14 losses.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC TOKYO>
STARTING XI
GK Go HATANO
DF Naruki MUROYA/Masato MORISHIGE/Yuto NAGATOMO (44th minute 2nd half: Kosuke SHIRAI)/Alexander SCHOLZ
MF Soma ANZAI (27th minute 2nd half: Leon NOZAWA)/Ko UTAKA/Keita ENDO (44th minute 2nd half: Marcos GUILHERME)/Kei KOIZUMI
FW Megumu SATO (44th minute 2nd half: Motoki NAGAKURA)/Marcelo HIAN (27th minute 2nd half: Teruhito NAKAGAWA)
SUBS
GK Masataka KOBAYASHI
DF Teppei OKA/Kanta DOI
MF Kyota TOKIWA
MANAGER
Rikizo MATSUHASHI
GOAL
45+2 minutes in the first half: Keita ENDO
<Albirex Niigata>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Kazuki FUJITA
DF Soya FUJIWARA/Michael James FITZGERALD (40th minute of second half: Kazuhiko CHIBA)/Fumiya HAYAKAWA/Yuto HORIGOME
MF Eiji SHIRAI/Motoki HASEGAWA/Keisuke KASAI (27th minute of second half: Taiki ARAI)/Motoki OHARA
FW Mateus MORAES (27th minute of second half: Jin OKUMURA)/Buda
SUBS
GK Ryuga TASHIRO
DF Shosei OKAMOTO/Kento HASHIMOTO
MF Yoshiaki TAKAGI/Yuushin OHTAKE
MF Hiroto UEMURA
MANAGER
Toru IRIE
GOAL
9th minute of the first half: Mateus MORAES
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q, please give us an overview of today's match.
A, Since it was the final match, we truly had many people come to Ajinomoto Stadium, but I am filled with deep regret that we could not deliver a victory. Regarding the game, in the early part of the first half, we allowed the opponent to take control of the pace and conceded the opening goal. I think it was good that we were able to make adjustments within the first half, and catching up there also gave us momentum for the second half. In the second half, we couldn’t control the pace at the start, and although we were able to apply pressure toward the end, we couldn’t break through to score until the very end. The quality of each play, as well as our plans and rehearsed formations, were things we were fully aware of, but we still need to raise the quality further. I think that was the nature of this game.
Q, what were the reasons for not being able to finish decisively?
A, the attack after regaining possession was something we were very conscious of, but we sped up a bit too much there, which led to technical mistakes and errors in judgment. Also, in the second half, when trying to unsettle the opponent, we tended to focus only on the central relationships rather than deeper positions of the opponent. There were crosses from the sides as well, but they rarely reached the goal. However, we were able to apply pressure at that crucial final step, so I believe it ultimately comes down to the quality aspect.
Q, please tell us the intention behind today's player substitutions.
A, it is true that there was some hesitation, and even looking back myself, I think the timing of the final substitution was indeed late. The timing of the substitutions was decided in consultation with the coaching staff, but the time to further raise the gear and bring in fresh players to apply new pressure ended up being shortened. I believe I need to firmly acquire the ability to make bolder decisions at the right timing.
Q. How close do you feel the soccer style you envisioned before taking the managerial position has come by the end of the season?
A. It's difficult to express that in numbers, but we are still far from it. There were times when we were able to express it well, but when asked if we maintained that throughout the entire year, I still think we have a long way to go. In the early part of the second half of the season, there were parts where we were very conscious and able to do it, but regarding how the opponents responded and the flexibility and methods involved, as we implemented many things, there was some sense of progress, but overall, I still feel we have a long way to go. We need to establish a better baseline form and further refine how to attack with flexibility and fluidity.
Q, As this season’s final match, please say a few words to the fans and supporters who have supported us throughout the year.
A, I truly apologize for not being able to bring a winning result in the final home game. I fully accept the passionate boos and cheers at the end today, and I believe that is only natural. I want to use this as energy for the next step myself, and I hope everyone will continue to direct this passionate feeling toward Tokyo.
[Player Interview]
<Kei KOIZUMI>
Q. It was the final match of the 2025 season. How do you look back on the game?
A. In the end, of course, I wanted to finish with a win at home, but I think this result simply reflects a lack of strength, and that’s why we ended up in this position. We couldn’t win any cup titles, and if I go into details, there are many areas where we fell short. Every player who wears the Tokyo emblem must once again firmly hold the awareness and responsibility of wearing it. I believe it was a frustrating season for everyone, so I want to use that as motivation to connect to next season.
Q, At the start, we were somewhat pushed back by the opponent's pressure, but gradually we pushed back, and I think there was time in the second half when we could control the tempo in Tokyo's favor.
A, The start of the match was bad, but I felt that if we stayed calm, we could score, and Keita ENDO scored at the end of the first half. There were chances in the second half as well, but it wasn’t about who did what; as a team, we couldn’t get an additional goal or secure the win, which I think reflects this season. We needed to do more things that would bother the opponent. Personally, I also felt that I needed to play in ways that would trouble the opponent much more.
Q, Your good condition was evident in the match. Didn’t you feel confident about your performance?
A, There were mistakes, but I played with the awareness of pushing forward rather than passing sideways. Maybe I was too focused on that, and there were moments when I could have shifted the opponent sideways a bit more. I think the reason the team couldn’t win was also due to individual shortcomings. However, I don’t think it was just me; since it was the last match of the season, I played with the intention of giving my all without holding back, so I have no regrets there.
I believe that in this world, results are everything, so of course there are more things to reflect on, but this season, both as an individual and as a captain, as well as a player, I felt that I was lacking in ability. I think I need to seriously think about this during the off-season in preparation for the 2026 season.
<Yuto NAGATOMO>
Q. In the final match of the season, the start was a difficult period. The opponent had already been relegated and had nothing to lose, so wasn’t it a tough situation?
A. The start of the match was quite bad. I don’t mean this in terms of tactics or technique, but rather in terms of motivation and passion. There may have been difficult circumstances, but that was lacking. As professionals fighting with the Tokyo emblem on our chest, excuses about the situation are not acceptable. Including myself, we have to face this seriously. It’s not that the opponent outmatched us in passion or motivation; it’s simply our own problem.
Q. In the second half, the team made a comeback. What was the reason for that?
A. It was that we were able to fully demonstrate the parts we had prepared as a team. We had prepared well for things like what system the opponent would use, what to do when it didn’t work, and how the opponent would react when the defensive midfielders dropped back. I think that is the accumulation as a team. At first, the opponent’s system was working, but when it stopped working, it caused confusion for them. I feel very positive about being able to create that situation while making adjustments.
Q, So that ability to adapt is the result of what you have built up, right?
A, It is also a part where I felt the team’s growth. At the beginning of the season, I think we would have just kept going without making changes. We have now become able to make those changes. I think we were able to show that, including the number of variations.
Q. From the end of the first half into the second half, during the phase when the momentum shifted, there were more scenes of Yuto NAGATOMO breaking into space on the right side.
A. There was a tendency across the team where passes were only made to feet, or we weren’t targeting the areas that the opponent feared most. Using space is what makes passes to feet effective, and it also creates more space. I have that kind of characteristic, and I played with the awareness of taking the initiative to bring a good flow to the team.
Q. If the mental aspect is established from the start, does that mean you feel the team will improve even more next season in terms of tactics and technique?
A. The team has been able to build a solid foundation, so if we can build on that further next season and move forward together while clearly sharing the team’s direction, I believe we can achieve even better results.
<Keita ENDO player>
Q. How do you look back on your goal scene?
A. I received the ball in the center, turned, and just swung my foot. I was confident that swinging my foot would lead to a goal, so I really only focused on swinging my foot. Even when I received the ball in a favorable position on the side, I felt like I wasn’t creating many chances, but I was confident in my shot, so I cut inside, broke through, and when I swung my foot, it went in.
Q, There were also scenes where multiple players combined well to break through, but how do you feel about the coordination between players?
A, Sei MUROYA also seemed to have difficulty on the side, and I myself played on the left side for the first time in a while, so there were many moments when I couldn’t quite make eye contact with the forwards or find passing lanes. I don’t think the team gradually comes together toward the end of the season, or the attacking shape develops, or the organization forms over time—that should be something finished during the training camp. So next season, to avoid that, I want us to be able to build a good organization both defensively and offensively starting from the camp.
Q. What do you think you need to work on for the next season?
A. I believe Tokyo's strength lies in immediately pushing forward after winning the ball, so I think we can change our mindset there. After losing points, we changed our awareness in dealing with crosses and reduced the number of goals conceded, but I think that was too late. If each player approaches with a high level of awareness, I believe we can aim higher. Since joining Tokyo, in the past two seasons, we haven't achieved any titles or results, so I feel my own lack of ability. For the 2026 season, I want to put everything on the line to win a title.
