<Match Review>
Unbeaten in 5 league matches. Continuing to deliver results based on the Tokyo style of 'good defense leads to good offense,' the blue-red squad has returned to Ajinomoto Stadium after about a month. They are showcasing the strength to attack and the tenacity to defend, aiming to achieve results with soccer that resonates in the hearts of the viewers. This match is at home Ajinomoto Stadium, where they have only secured 2 wins so far this season. With fewer matches remaining, they want to present a satisfying victory to the home fans and supporters.
This week's opponent is Shonan Bellmare. They have achieved results with a hard-working style of soccer and are currently on a three-match winning streak in the league while incorporating a ball-passing style. In the previous match, they secured a dramatic comeback victory against the league leaders, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and are in a situation where they are trying to escape the relegation battle.
The stands, adorned with blue and red choreography during the player entrance, also heighten the excitement of the match. The Tokyo starting eleven featured Taishi Brandon NOZAWA as the goalkeeper, with Hotaka NAKAMURA, Masato MORISHIGE, Teppei OKA, and Yuto NAGATOMO forming the back line from right to left. The double pivot consisted of Keigo HIGASHI and Takahiro KO, who have partnered for six consecutive matches, while the attacking players were Ewerton Gaudino on the right, Ryotaro ARAKI in the attacking midfield, Keita ENDO on the left side, and Diego Oliveira at the forefront.
1st HALF—Painful goal conceded just before the end of the first half
First shot goes to Tokyo. In the 6th minute of the first half, Ewerton aims for a mid-range shot from a long throw-in by Araki. In the following 10th minute of the first half, Araki shows an aggressive attitude by targeting the space behind with a superb lob pass as he turns around. However, in the early stages, the passes after winning the ball do not connect as desired, and they are often pushed back by Shonan, who skillfully alternates between short passes and simple long kicks.
Player Higashi, who saved a critical situation with a sliding tackle back in his own half, gestures with both hands to energize the crowd behind the goal, attempting to change the atmosphere. While the defense does not allow any decisive threats, they are unable to create any clear chances in attack. A back-and-forth battle continues in midfield with both sides displaying high-intensity play.
In the 28th minute of the first half, Ewerton picked up an opponent's pass mistake in a high position and tried to initiate an attack, but was quickly surrounded and lost his freedom, failing to create a big chance.
If Tokyo defends the goal with a physical play, Shonan will respond with quick transitions between offense and defense and a high defensive awareness, continuing a period of patience even after 30 minutes into the first half.
Tokyo wants to continue targeting opportunities without impatience, aiming to connect "good defense to good offense." They are gradually starting to push forward, creating a series of set-piece chances on the right side. In the 36th minute of the first half, Araki's right-footed free kick found Morishige at the far side for a header. Although he couldn't make solid contact and missed the target, the team continues to try with collective effort in search of a winning chance.
In the 38th minute of the first half, Nakamura made a long throw from the right side. From this, they earned a right corner kick, and Ewerton took a left-footed kick that was flicked with a header by Endo at the near side, while Oka aimed with a header at the far side, but unfortunately, it went just over the bar.
However, just before the end of the first half, in the 43rd minute, we were broken down on the right side during a counterattack, and Akito SUZUKI scored a brilliant long-range shot from the center, taking the lead. We gradually created chances from set pieces and started to push a little, but we suffered a painful goal at that moment.
Tokyo launched a counterattack during the 3 minutes of first-half injury time. Ewerton broke free from a through pass by Araki and shot from a tight angle after evading the opposing goalkeeper, but unfortunately, it was ruled offside. Additionally, just before the end, Diego TABA headed back from a left corner kick by Araki at the far side, but they could not push it in from the center. They went into halftime trailing by one goal.
2nd HALF - Unable to catch up despite Taishi's fine save
The second half, aiming for a comeback, kicked off with the chant from behind the goal, "No matter what color comes, it doesn't matter! We will win!" Tokyo wanted to strengthen their offensive without any changes to the lineup, but it was Shonan who shook the net at the start.
In the 4th minute of the second half, right after the start, player Hata, who had the ball in a position slightly to the left of the penalty area, cut in and brought it to the center, scoring a goal with his right foot into the far side. This resulted in the score being 0-2, thwarting the beginning of a counterattack.
Tokyo wants to score their first goal. Centered around Ewerton's attack, they are closing in on the Shonan goal. In the 6th minute of the second half, they initiated a dribble from the right side leading to a shot by Diego TABA, and in the following 8th minute, they aimed with a sharp left-foot kick from a direct free kick opportunity.
While increasing pressure forward, we must prevent any further goals. In the 14th minute of the second half, despite allowing an entry into the penalty area, our guardian, Daishi Nozawa, made a sharp save against Shonan's decisive shot. First, we need to solidify our defense and rebuild the game. Tokyo continues to connect passes and attack, but they are blocked by Shonan's wall, which has solidified the center with a strong defense, preventing us from creating scoring opportunities.
The commander who wants to change the game has made a move. Replacing Nagatomo, Ewerton, and Azuma, he has brought in three players: Kosuke SHIRAI, Leon NOZAWA, and Kei KOIZUMI all at once. He is taking measures to activate the pitch. However, while probing for cracks in the Shonan defense, which is solidly set up in a 5-4-1 block in front of the goal, he struggles to find a breakthrough. Although Morishige attempts to take long-range shots, they do not lead to any clear chances.
In the 37th minute of the second half, Ryunosuke SATO and Keita YAMASHITA were both used simultaneously. Koizumi was moved to right back, and an attacking player was placed in the center line to seek a breakthrough.
In the final stages, Daishi NOZAWA made two fine saves to protect the goal, while the attacking line launched powerful attacks. Leon NOZAWA boldly attempted to break through, and Sato provided a sharp right cross with a touch that showcased his quickness. Koizumi also added depth to the attack with an aggressive overlap from the right side.
In the second half of added time, after 5 minutes were displayed, Endo's left cross found Araki in the center, who made a one-touch attempt, but the shot was blocked by the right post. Takahashi's follow-up shot to push in the loose ball also failed to find the goal, resulting in a missed golden opportunity as time expired. Despite fighting tenaciously, the team could not break through the opponent's defense with either organizational strength or individual skill, suffering a frustrating defeat at home at Ajinomoto Stadium. This resulted in their first loss in 6 league matches.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Hotaka NAKAMURA (substituted at 37 minutes: Ryunosuke SATO)/Masato MORISHIGE/Teppei OKA/ Yuto NAGATOMO (substituted at 20 minutes: Kosuke SHIRAI)
MF Yu HIGHTO/Kegoro HIGASHI (substituted at 20 minutes: Kei KOIZUMI)/Ryotaro ARAKI
FW Diego Oliveira (substituted at 37 minutes: Keita YAMASHITA)/Keita ENDO/Ewerton Gaudino (substituted at 20 minutes: Leon NOZAWA)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
DF Yasuki KIMOTO
GOAL
―
<Shonan Bellmare>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Naoto KAMIFUKUMOTO
DF Kazuki OIWA/Min Tae KIM/Hirata Taiga
MF Yuto SUZUKI/Kosuke ONOSE (substituted in 34th minute: Hiroyuki ABE)/Satoshi TANAKA/Taiyo HIRAOKA/(substituted in 24th minute: Kohei OKUNO) Junnosuke SUZUKI (substituted in 45+3rd minute: Takuya OKAMOTO)
FW Sho FUKUDA (substituted in 45+3rd minute: Akimi BARADA)/Akito SUZUKI (substituted in 24th minute: Ryo NEMOTO)
SUBS
GK Bumkeun SONG
FW Luiz PHELLYPE
GOAL
43rd minute of the first half: Akito SUZUKI / 4th minute of the second half: Taiga HATA
[Interview with Peter CKLAMOVSKI, Manager]
Q: Please provide an overall review of the match.
A, it may be difficult to clearly express what I am feeling right now in words. I wish we could have returned with 3 points for the fans and supporters as a team, staff, and club, but I feel very regretful and pained. I think it was a slight difference that we couldn't capitalize on the two decisive moments we had. I feel that we could have sharpened our fighting style and performance a bit more. We lacked the ability to create chances and decisive opportunities from our good scenes and connect them to goals, which is very disappointing. From tomorrow's practice, I want to focus on the issues we lacked today and work on recovery and training.
Q: The matches at Japan National Stadium and Ajinomoto Stadium may seem like different teams, but is there a difference in the atmosphere in the locker room or within the team?
A, it would be good to ask the players how they feel, but I think it's an obvious opinion that everyone can see. Still, I want to think differently. I want to give my all and show what the fans and supporters love. I think that was lacking today. I feel sorry about that and am very frustrated. There is one more match at Ajinomoto Stadium, so I want to give everything for that and aim to take all three points here.
[Player Interview]
＜Ewerton Gaudino＞
Q: It was your first appearance at Ajinomoto Stadium. Please review the game.
I don't think it was bad, but the accuracy of the final pass was low, and we couldn't connect to the goal. As a team, losing at home is very frustrating.
Q: It seemed that you were well-coordinated with those around you and had a high level of contribution to the defense.
A, this week we had good practice, and I think we were able to work well together as a starting lineup. As I mentioned earlier, the overall precision was lacking, such as the accuracy of the final pass and not being able to execute plays that lead to goals in the attacking part, which is why I believe we couldn't win.
Q: What do you feel is the biggest challenge as you head into the next match?
A, I want to clarify the personal challenges I feel regarding how to approach the matches as we continue to play. The next match is against FC Machida Zelvia, and I want to express my strengths on the pitch and contribute to a victory this time.
<Ryunosuke SATO>
Q: It has been a while since your last appearance. What were you conscious of?
When I participated, it was a situation where I had no choice but to give it my all, so I thought it was an opportunity to stand out, and I was able to participate without feeling nervous. In that moment, I was thinking about what was necessary to showcase my strengths and to help the team win. Since we couldn't achieve victory today, I want to focus on plays that will lead to a win next time.
Q: What instructions did you receive from the coach when participating?
First, I was instructed to focus on scoring one point. It was said that if we could score one point, the momentum would change, so I was playing with the primary focus on making plays that would lead to scoring.
Q: What efforts will you make to increase your playing opportunities?
Today, after a long time, I played in a match and my desire to play more has grown stronger. To showcase my strengths, it is important to first receive the ball properly. After receiving the ball, I can do anything from making sharp vertical passes that lead to goals to carrying the ball. Since I couldn't connect to a result today, I want to eagerly express my strengths by making runs into the box and winning the ball back in defense.
Q: Please share your enthusiasm for the upcoming match against FC Machida Zelvia.
A, every opponent is one that we absolutely cannot lose to, but my desire not to lose to Machida is even stronger. For me, they are the opponent I faced in April and lost to, which is a frustrating memory, so I personally want to win, and I believe that the club "Tokyo" must not lose to Machida. I want to showcase our strengths at the Japan National Stadium. I feel frustrated because I have only been able to watch the matches from above at the Japan National Stadium. I only have the desire to stand on the pitch and play, so if I get the opportunity to participate, I want to make an impact.
