＜Match Review＞
Tokyo, who has been away from victory in the last two matches, faced Júbilo Iwata at Yamaha Stadium. In the previous match against Sagan Tosu, both teams displayed a great game with tactics clashing against each other without giving an inch. However, despite hitting the post twice and failing to convert decisive chances, they conceded a direct free kick and missed out on points by a one-point difference.
While emphasizing the importance of winning in order to accelerate the team's growth, Coach Albert made some changes to the lineup from the previous match. Yuto Nagatomo returned to the left full-back position, and Hotaka Nakamura, who had played in the right full-back position for the past two matches, was chosen. The system was also changed from the previous anchor-based formation to a double pivot midfield with Takuya Aoki and Shuto Abe. Up front, Yojiro Takahagi made his first start in the league this season.
Tokyo created opportunities from the beginning and pushed the ball deep into the opponent's half. Players like Takahagi and Leandro showed up in the half-space between the center and the sides, receiving the ball in the gap between the opponent's players and shifting the mark to create chances. Although there were moments where they lost the ball due to mistakes in the build-up, they gradually gained composure and were able to maintain possession. In the 17th minute of the first half, they took advantage of a coordination mistake in the opponent's attack, with Takahagi sending the ball forward with his body on the line, but the final pass was off and they couldn't take a shot in a 2-on-1 numerical advantage situation. In the 27th minute of the first half, Diego Oliveira broke through the right side and entered deep into the Iwata's half, sending a pass in the negative direction, but it narrowly missed Takahagi, who had entered the goal area in a free position, and they couldn't take a shot again. The chances continued from the right side. In the 33rd minute of the first half, as they passed the ball and looked for openings in the opponent's defense, a cross ball was sent to Diego, who was in front of the goal. He tried to finish it with one touch while falling, but he couldn't make good contact. They controlled the game by maintaining possession, but in a momentary lapse in the 43rd minute of the first half after launching an attack, the defense line was not in sync, and the press from the midfield was late, allowing Ryoya Uehara to score in the bottom right corner and take the lead.
Tokyo, who wants to counterattack, substitutes player Takahagi with player Matsuki at the beginning of the second half. As the second half begins, Tokyo maintains possession of the ball and pushes Iwata back even more than in the first half. In the first half, attacks starting from the sides did not result in a finish, but in the second half, attacks from the center create chances. In the 11th minute of the second half, Tokyo launches an attack with a vertical pass from player Okazaki, and player Abe reacts to Diego's through pass and slips through the gap between defenders to the front of the goal. He faces the opposing goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation, but his shot is blocked by the goalkeeper who closed the distance. In the 15th minute of the second half, Tokyo is caught off guard and Okazaki is unable to chase after player Fabian Gonzalez due to an injury during a sprint, resulting in a one-on-one situation with player Jakub Slowik. Slowik is evaded, but the shot misses the target and Tokyo escapes unscathed.
Tokyo, who wants to add an accent to their attack, successively brings in players Kazuya Konno, Ryoma Watanabe, and Adailton. Then, in the 33rd minute of the second half, the substitution strategy paid off. Konno received the ball in an open position on the right side, dribbled and cut in along the penalty area. Attracting multiple opponents, Konno passed the ball to Adailton, who was free on the left side. Taking advantage of the delayed pressure from the opponents, Adailton controlled the ball and shot it into the top right corner of the goal, scoring the equalizer. In the 40th minute of the second half, Diego and Watanabe played a one-two pass in the vital area. Diego broke free into the space near the right side of the goal and took a shot, but it was saved by the opponent's goalkeeper. Tokyo intensified their attack in search of a comeback, but in the 43rd minute of the second half, they failed to repel an attack from the side and were pressed by Naoki Kanuma in the penalty area, conceding the winning goal.
We maintained our attacking posture until the end, including the 6 minutes of additional time, and pressed the opponent towards their goal, but we couldn't score. We had a long time in possession of the ball and controlled the game, but we couldn't capitalize on decisive chances. In order to change the momentum in the Levain Cup match against Avispa Fukuoka, which we will play in 3 days, and the match against Kashiwa Reysol on May 21st, we will once again prepare as a team.
[Interview with Coach Albert]
Q: please review the game.
First of all, I would like to congratulate Iwata's victory. In the professional world, goals are the most important. I think we had control of the game for a long time, but we were not able to manage the risk well when attacking and made mistakes. In the first half, two dangerous counter-attacks were created from there. And from one of them, the opponent's goal was born.
After that, I think we were able to push the opponent more and create multiple chances as time went on. However, there were parts where we lacked finishing ability. Also, there were several mistakes where we lost the ball that we shouldn't have lost.
As time went on with the score tied, we conceded a second goal due to a defensive mistake and dropped 1 point.
In today's match, I think we were able to create more decisive chances than our opponents. However, soccer is a sport where we compete for the number of goals, not the number of scoring opportunities. Each team fights with their own playing style, with Tokyo sticking to their own style and Iwagin.S aiming for victory by utilizing counterattacks.
I have no doubt that our playing style brings a lot of success to the club over a long period of time. Although we haven't won in the last three league matches, I believe that if we abandon our playing style and go for points with a more direct play aiming only for victory, our growth will not be possible. I believe in this playing style, so I am sticking to my conviction for that growth.
Today's loss is tough. Both the players and I feel angry. Our amazing fans and supporters continue to support us patiently, even when we lose. While other fans and supporters with different characteristics may criticize the team primarily based on the results, especially when we are not winning, our fans and supporters warmly watch over the team's growth and support us even when we lose. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude.
Recently, I think the fans and supporters have been suffering because we haven't been winning. In that sense, I feel sorry that we haven't been able to deliver victory to the fans and supporters. However, we are still competing at the top of the standings. We must not forget that. I believe Tokyo is a club that must always strive to compete at the top. I hope we can achieve that in the near future.
I would like to express my gratitude to Makoto OKAZAKI, who had been performing well despite suffering from knee pain. I hope that the center-back players who are currently injured can recover as soon as possible. There is no secret. Even after losing, I will reflect and prepare for the next game with a renewed mindset. That is the only way.
Q, we used different formations such as equilateral triangle, inverted triangle, and midfield shape. What was the intention behind this?
A, I think Iwata is a team that tends to give the ball to the opponent. And they have a tendency to lower the block and defend. We expected that our pushing time would be longer, so we hoped to use Yojiro TAKAHAGI to play in the gap of the opponent. And we had to be cautious about Iwata's response to long balls and the recovery of second balls, so we started with a double pivot to focus on the recovery of second balls.
On the other hand, if we were in a losing state, we had to take more risks and go on the offensive, so we returned to our usual position.
[Player Interview]
＜Adailton
Q, please look back on the goal scene.
A, I was able to imagine cutting in and shooting from the moment I received the ball, so I'm glad I was able to score a goal just as I had imagined.
Q, I'm sure you had various emotions after scoring a goal.
I have been playing for the team Júbilo Iwata for a long time, and during both good and bad times, when a goal was scored, various emotions welled up and many memories were recalled.
Q, what are your thoughts on playing at Júbilo Stadium?
A, I still feel like it's my own home, and today I came back as an opponent, but I was able to step onto the pitch with a feeling of being at home.
Q, it was the third consecutive loss for the team.
A, this three-game losing streak is not a desired result for the team, and it is not a positive thing, but I think there are times when things don't go well in the process of growth. I don't want to bow my head, and I want to prepare well for the next game so that we can end it with a victory and have a good match.
＜Yasuki KIMOTO player＞
Q: How was the game? I think it was a good game even if it ended with only 1 point.
I wanted to get at least 1 point away, and I think the players in the back had to finish the game with a 1-1 score. I thought we could go for another goal mentally, but we conceded a goal too easily, so I think it was a game with a lot of regrets.
Q: How do you feel about the difficult situation with injured center backs?
A, I think only we can change this result by playing ourselves, and the fans and supporters have given us a lot of positive support today. I really think we have no choice but to change this result ourselves, so we have the Levain Cup as well, and I want us to win at home to connect it to the league matches in order to grow together, not just for the sake of the match.
Q: How do you feel about the game looking back on it, despite the unfavorable flow in the first half?
A, while the opponent played defensively, we struggled to create attacking opportunities in the first half. However, we had some good moments in the second half. Nevertheless, I believe that we need to improve our finishing ability in order to win in the future, and personally, I want to improve the accuracy of my passes from the back.
Shuto ABE player
Q: please review the game.
A, I think we made it difficult for ourselves by conceding a goal on the counterattack in the first half.
Q, it feels like the scene of conceding the first goal was a little delayed in switching.
I felt that the transition after losing the ball was slow today. If we had switched faster and held the front line, we wouldn't have conceded counterattacks. I feel that part was not good today.
Q, I think we changed the system in the second half and created a good flow.
A, the system returned to its usual form, and it became a forward, forward development, and I also had a one-on-one chance. However, I couldn't take advantage of that opportunity and ended up allowing the winning goal.
I feel responsible for today's defeat, and I once again realized that if I don't make decisions in situations like that, this is the result.
Q, it was a frustrating second goal conceded.
A, the second goal was my responsibility, the ball was blocked by the opponent and I couldn't see it, so it went into my feet. They took advantage of that and we conceded a goal. If I'm in that position, there's no point in being there if I don't clear it, so I think it was a really unnecessary goal to concede.
