The long-awaited first victory in the league. The blue and red army that invaded the away Fukuoka, took 3 goals and defeated Avispa Fukuoka.
"A gathering of actors." The center of it all were the men who were called up to the Japan national team.
The first to start the goal rush was Yuto NAGATOMO, who made his return to the Japan national team for the first time since the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
28 minutes into the first half, Kashif BANGNAGANDE, who broke away from Keita ENDO's keep, crossed from the left side. Yuto NAGATOMO received the ball from this U-23 Japan national team and sharply swung his right foot from the trap to beautifully shake the goal net in the center of the penalty area. The first goal in J-League in 5054 days. With this strike celebrating his return to the national team, Tokyo took the lead.
In the 32nd minute of the first half, Ryotaro ARAKI, who was called up to the U-23 Japan national team for his performance in Tokyo, scored an additional goal with outstanding finishing skills. Kuryu MATSUKI, who was also selected for the U-23 Japan national team, fed the ball to Endo on the front line. Ryotaro ARAKI, who had run up from the right, received the pass and skillfully placed it into the opposite side of the net with his right foot from a difficult angle.
With this, player Araki has scored 4 goals in 4 league matches. Additionally, for both players Nagatomo and Araki, who graduated from Toho Fukuoka High School, this was also a place of memories from their youth where they shone with their results.
And in the 12th minute of the second half, the blue and red Hinomaru warriors produced a result. At the right side, Nagatomo's overlapping cross flowed to the opposite side, where Kashiwagi ran in from behind and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot. The well-controlled strike pierced into the goal.
The game took a turn with a goal and a reversal on both sides. The lead was extended to 3 points with a goal from the side back's performance.
Despite conceding one goal towards the end, the team won 3-1. It was a big achievement for Takahiro KO, who made his first start and played a crucial role in the team's attack. With the impressive performance of the national team players, Tokyo secured their first 3 points of the season in a fantastic match.
After getting their first win of the season against Avispa Fukuoka in an away match, Tokyo's league record is now 1 win, 2 draws, and 1 loss. The upcoming international match week will provide a break, but in order to aim for a top spot, they must secure consecutive wins in this match.
Each age group of the Japan national team returns to the team with high motivation. After each game, the players who wore the Japanese flag on their chest all said, "I want to achieve results and grow with my team." In addition, coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI also said, "The energy of representing the country will be the players' strength. They have returned in good condition," showing that everyone will be able to wear the blue and red uniform with both their mind and body in a fulfilling state.
In addition, Diego OLIVEIRA, who was absent in the previous match, has joined the team. The team is united with a strong player lineup to face an important game.
The away team, Kawasaki, will enter the big match that will determine the future. Yes, it's the Tama River Clasico.
Kawasaki Frontale, on the other hand, is currently in a difficult situation with three consecutive losses in the league. Furthermore, Marcinho, who has been involved in scoring opportunities from the left side, will be suspended for this match. However, it is not hard to imagine that the club, which has won numerous titles in recent years, and the team aiming for their first home victory, will come into the game with even higher motivation than usual.
What to watch out for in Kawasaki is the new addition this season, Erik Ellison. With the nickname "Bullfighter", he is a striker with the power of a heavy tank and a strong left foot kick. He has already shown his presence as the ace by scoring in four consecutive official matches since the FUJIFILM SUPER CUP 2024 before the start of the season. Although he missed the last two matches before the break, he is expected to return for the Tama River Clasico. Tokyo will need to be vigilant in front of the goal against him.
The rivalry match across the Tama River is a crucial game for both teams. It will surely be a fierce battle. We must win the battle for the ball, which will be even more intense than usual, and show our strong determination to win. For Tokyo, this is the first game of a three-game series following the two games at National Stadium next week. It is an important game where we must secure a victory to gain momentum for the future.
[Player Interview]
<Teruhito NAKAGAWA x Yasuto WAKIZAKA Special Conversation>
──Two people with many similarities are preparing to face each other as rivals in the Tama River Clasico on March 30th (Sat).
Teruhito NAKAGAWA As expected, it will be exciting. The 30th is an away game for us, but we hope that Uvance and Doroki Stadium by Fujitsu will be packed. The atmosphere and ground conditions at the venue are also great, so we want to deliver an interesting game to everyone. It's going to be fun.
Yasuto WAKIZAKA There have been many games in the past that have shown fans and supporters of both clubs and J-League fans what the "Tamagawa Clasico" is all about. We need to show the best game possible and not lose to previous games. As this is our home, we want to take action and not just defend.
──Please tell us about your impressions of each team.
Wakizaka Speaking of timely stories, Yuto Nagatomo has been selected for the Japan national team and four players have been selected for the U-23 Japan national team's activities. There are also many young players with momentum, and the impression is that there are high-quality players who can focus on each individual. Ryotaro Araki has joined on loan from Kashima Antlers this season and has produced solid results, so I think it's a club that can attract attention from various places.
Nakagawa Kawasaki Frontale has the strength as a team even when key players leave due to transfers. Despite many cases of key players transferring overseas each season, the team has a strong base and high level of ability.
Wakasaka is currently experiencing a difficult time with 3 consecutive losses in the league.
Nakagawa We also haven't won in the last three games since the opening, but we finally won in the fourth round against Avispa Fukuoka.
Wakisaka Both teams are still struggling to get on track, so I think there is a strong desire to use the Tama River Clasico as an opportunity. In that sense, this match is very important.
──There was also a comment from player Wakisaka, but I think this will be an important match for both clubs to predict the future of this season.
Nakagawa In the previous match against Fukuoka, we were able to grab a victory in Fukuoka for the first time in 24 seasons as a club. It was a victory in a long period of time when we were struggling to win against Fukuoka.
Wakizaka Speaking of which, we lost to Kashima Antlers for the first time in 9 seasons. We have a longer preparation period than usual for the Tama River Clasico, so I think this time is very important for us.
Nakagawa We wanted to play the game without a one-week break, but that's our true feelings.
Wakizaka I think these two weeks are important, and considering the upcoming consecutive games in April, it will be a very important match. The next match can also be considered as one of the matches in this season's league, but it is also important in terms of giving momentum to the team in the future.
Nakagawa We want to continue the momentum of winning against Fukuoka. The game was also satisfying, and although there is a one-week break, it is important to show our own style of soccer and whether we can fight in this kind of match, which is also related to our goal of winning the "J1 League Championship". It is not an exaggeration to say that it is an important match. There are many elements packed into the Tama River Clasico.
──Please tell us the points of the game based on the current situation of both teams.
Nakagawa Both teams, I think the base of soccer we aim for is possession. However, it is difficult to beat Kawasaki just with possession. As our style, how we can have fast vertical attacks while keeping the ball. And, since we haven't had a clean sheet this season, I think the key is how we can reduce the risk of conceding and score goals. It is the most important and the challenge we need to overcome for us to win.
Wakisaka We also have challenges in the area in front of the goal in both offense and defense. However, it's not that our defense is bad, but rather the positioning and risk management during attacks. Offense and defense are always linked, so it's important to be able to complete attacks and be resilient in defense. We want to use this break period to work on these areas.
──It is no exaggeration to say that the Tama River Clasico is a battle of pride for both teams. How do you feel about the passion and determination of both players towards the game?
Wakizaka This is a traditional match. It will be important in many ways, and I can feel the passion of the fans and supporters as well as the history so far.
Nakagawa I am in my second season with Tokyo, but I can already feel the excitement of the Tama River Clasico and the passion of both clubs. I want to involve everyone and make it a great game.
Wakisaka Last season's event at the Japan National Stadium was also amazing. There were fireworks and other performances.
Nakagawa had a really amazing performance, and I could feel that he was putting in a lot of effort. I want it to be a match that not only the players from both clubs fight in, but also one that gets everyone involved with the clubs fired up. Personally, that's the image I have.
Wakizaka Recently, there has been a "Tama River Clasico" before the game. When we were kids, we didn't have it, but we players are aware of it. We want to make it a game where the name "Tama River Clasico" doesn't overshadow everything else. Also, as an academy graduate, I want to make sure that Nakagawa, the only player from the academy, doesn't score. We haven't achieved the desired results yet, but we want to make it a game where everyone can say "We improved after the Tama River Clasico" when the season ends.
Nakagawa As I mentioned earlier, we were able to grab a victory against Fukuoka in the league match, and I think we are starting to see some good signs. In terms of how much we can express that against Kawasaki, I really want to play the game soon.
[Interview with Peter Cklamovski]
Q, this round is the Tama River Clasico against Kawasaki Frontale.
A Special Match: We want to show our football and make our fans and supporters excited. We want to have a fight that we can be proud of as a club in Tokyo. We want to actively target the opponent's weaknesses. Although we haven't had an official match in about two weeks, we have been preparing well and both the team and players have been able to continue to grow.
Q, How do you see Kawasaki this season?
A, I have also come to Japan and played against various teams, but I think Kawasaki is one of the teams that has achieved success. They are a team that has grown their football every season and won the top spot. This is a testament to their belief in their football and their unwavering efforts. We want to face such a team and develop our own football while challenging ourselves firmly.
Q, please tell me the key points that determine victory or defeat.
A. First, we need to show our play. In attack, we want to take advantage of the opponent's weaknesses by firmly expressing how we move the ball, and moving the ball. By playing our own game, we can make the opponent afraid and score if we can bravely express our football. In defense, it is important to wholeheartedly follow the rules.
Q, this will be a series of consecutive games. How will you approach them?
A, preparation is important and it is important to watch each game. All players are ready to play. We want to be able to express our football regardless of who plays, and the competition within the team is fierce, and we can feel the energy of each player. First of all, I want to focus on the Kawasaki game.
