<Match Review>
A restart match aiming to rebuild after the winning streak was stopped. The red and blue squad took on an away match against Shimizu S-Pulse just before the International Match Week.
In the previous match against Yokohama F.Marinos, they conceded 3 goals in just 11 minutes and lost. Unable to execute the planned attack from the start, the balance was lost and goals were conceded repeatedly. Although they scored 2 goals late in the game to rally, it was not enough. Learning from that lesson, they want to enter the break period with a positive momentum by staying calm during difficult times, showing a bold attitude, and playing flexible soccer to secure a victory.
FC Tokyo made four changes to the starting eleven from the previous match. The goalkeeper was KIM Seung-gyu, who was selected for the South Korean national team for the October series. The center backs were Masato MORISHIGE and Kanta DOI, forming a partnership in the back four for the first time since the away match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima in August last season. The full-backs were Yuto NAGATOMO, who joined the SAMURAI BLUE, on the right, and Sei MUROYA on the left, aiming to shut down Shimizu’s favored wing attacks. In midfield, Takahiro KO and Kei KOIZUMI lined up together, while the attackers were Keita ENDO on the right and Marcos GUILHERME on the left. Marcelo Hian and Keiin SATO formed the two-forward setup. Additionally, Kosuke SHIRAI, who had been substituted due to injury in the Emperor’s Cup Round of 16, was back on the bench for the first time in about two months. During the pre-match player introductions, applause came from the blue and red supporters behind the goal.
For this match, the team wore a gray-colored Special Kit. This was the first of a special series of three away games starting in October where the kit would be worn. Facing Shimizu, who are level on 40 points, the team aims to secure a solid result and get off to a good start.
1st HALF—Pressing the opponent’s goal from the start but lacking finishing power
From the kickoff, Tokyo showed an aggressive start. Playing positively in both offense and defense, they won the ball high up the pitch in the 3rd minute and moved it to the right side through Sato and Marcos. Endo’s cut-back was stopped by the opposing goalkeeper, but multiple players crowded the goal area, demonstrating an active start.
Tokyo's offensive pressure continued. In the 8th minute of the first half, Lukian took a shot while turning around following a vertical pass from Sato. Then, in the 9th minute, Nagatomo broke free at full speed from a sharp through pass by Endo, carefully reading the movements inside the area and delivered a grounded cross in the negative direction. Lukian, running in from behind, aimed with his right foot, but the goalkeeper blocked it from close range, and the perfect setup could not be converted into a goal.
At the 15th minute of the first half, Hian, who pressed from the front line, won the ball high up and carried it forward, but his pass to Sato, who was running alongside, went slightly off, and they couldn’t bring it to a finish. With several close chances continuing but no goal scored, they are eager to shake the net and take the lead as soon as possible.
When they couldn’t score from their build-up play, Endo aimed for a mid-range shot. His first attempt was blocked by the opponent, but in the 20th minute of the first half, he unleashed a powerful strike with his right foot. Then, in the 23rd minute, from RIAN to Marcos, they broke down the left side, and Takahashi took a direct shot from the cross. However, the number 8’s right-footed shot, perfectly timed, went just wide to the left of the goal.
Unable to score as planned and disrupted in build-up play under the opponent's pressing, FC Tokyo gradually lost control to Shimizu. In the 34th minute of the first half, they allowed the opponent's right side to be free, and Yoshida's sharp left-footed cross was headed in by Takahashi at the far post, conceding a goal. The side attack they had been wary of resulted in a single chance being converted, and the negative momentum directly translated into the scoreline.
Tokyo first wants to equalize. In the 44th minute of the first half, following a high press, Lukian dashed forward with the ball and passed it to Endo, who came in from the right side. Endo sent it one-touch into the penalty area, but just before reaching Marcos, the goalkeeper caught it, and it did not result in a goal.
The first half ended without any change in the score during the one minute of additional time. Despite controlling the majority of the game from the start, Tokyo lacked finishing power and conceded a lead by a momentary lapse, leading to a frustrating halftime.
2nd HALF—Enduring the opponent's pressure and converting limited chances into goals
In the second half, starting again with focused intensity, FC Tokyo aimed to regain momentum and bring the match back to even terms. Tokyo held possession and pressed forward, looking for opportunities to break down the opposition.
However, unable to create the attacking shapes they wanted, Tokyo made substitutions in the 16th minute of the second half, bringing on Kota TAWARATSUMIDA and Leon NOZAWA in place of Marcos and Endo. This tactical change aimed to invigorate the attack by switching the side attackers.
This substitution immediately created a chance for Tokyo. In the 18th minute of the second half, Tawara Tsukida cut inside from the left side with a dribble and played a through pass vertically. Takahashi broke free, collided with the goalkeeper, and Sato took a shot on the loose ball. Nagatomo picked up the rebound and unleashed a bullet-like shot with his right foot, but the powerful strike narrowly missed to the left of the goal.
After that, there were periods when Shimizu held possession, but in the 28th minute of the second half, a quick combination created a big chance. Sato controlled a long ground vertical pass from Nagatomo, and Takahashi, receiving it facing forward, played a through pass into the space behind. Lucas RIAN sharply broke through, but his ball touch was too long, and he couldn't get a shot off.
Then, in the 31st minute of the second half, FC Tokyo, which had been creating good chances, finally scored the long-awaited equalizer. After a long feed from Morishige, Lins broke through the center to control the ball, and Sato, receiving this pass, took a powerful right-footed shot with a one-touch feint, striking through the near side. The number 16, who had been hungry for a goal, marked his first league goal in about three months, successfully bringing the match back to square one.
In the 42nd minute of the second half, Teppei OKA, returning to play after about a month and a half, was brought on as center back replacing Morishige, and Keita YAMASHITA was sent onto the pitch replacing Sato, who had contributed not only with the equalizing goal but also with hard defense from the front line and participation in build-up play.
Tokyo, aiming to take the lead without easing up their attack, pressed into the opponent's territory with defense that chased from the front and sharp counterattacks. During the 6 minutes of added time displayed, they consecutively won corner kicks and tried to decide the match. However, they still couldn't shake the net. At 90+4 minutes, Matsuzaki's shot hit the right post, and at 90+5 minutes, from the flow of a corner kick, Sumiyoshi's header grazed the right post, with back-and-forth battles continuing until the very end.
In the end, the match ended with the final whistle as it was. After missing a clear chance in the first half and conceding the opening goal, the team managed to equalize with a revitalized flow following substitutions, but the away game finished with an unresolved 1-1 result.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC TOKYO>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Kim Seung-gyu
DF Naruki Muroya/Masato MORISHIGE (42nd minute second half: Teppei OKA)/Yuto NAGATOMO/Kanta DOI
MF Takahiro KO/Keita ENDO (16th minute second half: Leon NOZAWA)/Kei Koizumi/Marcos Guilherme (16th minute second half: Kota TAWARATSUMIDA)
FW Keito SATO (42nd minute second half: Keita YAMASHITA)/Marcelo Jian
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
DF Henrique Trevisan/Kosuke SHIRAI
MF Keigo HIGASHI
FW Teruhito NAKAGAWA
MANAGER
Rikizo MATSUHASHI
GOAL
31st minute of the second half: Masayoshi SATO
<Shimizu S-Pulse>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Togo UMEDA
DF Jelani Reshaun SUMIYOSHI/Kim Minte/Sodai HASUKAWA
MF Yutaka YOSHIDA (38th minute of the second half: Ken TAKAKI)/Masaki YUMIBA (22nd minute of the second half: Zento UNO)/Mateus BUENO/Reon YAMAHARA
FW Kazuki KOZUKA (22nd minute of the second half: Kai MATSUSAKI)/Toshiki TAKAHASHI (28th minute of the second half: Koya KITAGAWA)/Takashi INUI (38th minute of the second half: Shinya YAJIMA)
SUBS
GK Yuya OKI
DF Kento HANEDA
MF CAPIXABA
FW Alfredo Stefans
MANAGER
Tadahiro AKIBA
GOAL
34th minute of the first half: Toshiki TAKAHASHI
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q. Please give us your overall summary of the match.
A. I believe we were able to decide the outcome in the first half. There was a possibility to determine the result in the first half, and the missed chances significantly changed the flow afterward. Although we aimed to make a comeback in the second half, the game proceeded at the opponent’s pace. Ultimately, including moments when we were saved by the post, the players managed to withstand several dangerous situations and were able to connect those to scoring opportunities and subsequent chances. I think the players gave their best. We want to build on this valuable 1 point moving forward.
Q. How do you evaluate Keito Sato's decisive shot for the equalizing goal and his contribution to the team?
A. The moment he took the shot, from the angle I was watching, I thought it was going in. I believe it’s important to shoot without hesitation. I think his determination transferred to the ball and shook the net. He is truly a dedicated player and has the spirit to play in many positions. However, where he can be most effective is something we always have to consider by watching the opponent and his performance, and then make decisions on tactics and deployment accordingly.
Q. In the play just before the goal, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA took the opponent’s back instead of receiving the ball at his feet, which led to the goal.
A. I had told him to make use of his strengths and actively target the space behind the opponent. He is a speedy player and found an excellent space. His ability to take on opponents after receiving the ball at his feet is a major weapon, and I believe not only we but all the opponents are aware of this. In that situation, he was able to take the opposite approach. I think being able to judge which of his strengths or the alternative option would be more effective led to that play. Although it was during the tiring final moments, I am glad that his precise play contributed to the goal.
Q, dealing with crosses has been an issue, and this match also resulted in conceding a goal from that.
A, I believe both the response after a cross is delivered and the fact that we allowed the cross to be made are problems, and we have no choice but to keep working on them. We must continue, and I think we can fully overcome these challenges with the current players. It is true that conceding from a cross caused this game to end in a draw, but there were also moments where the players demonstrated their abilities well in other plays. We just have to accept this firmly and keep moving forward.
[Player Interview]
<Player Kei Sato>
Q, please look back on the scoring scene.
A. In my mind, since the opponent was directly facing me after the pass from player Tawara Tsukida, I was thinking of shifting and aiming for the far side. However, since the opponent was following my movement, I changed my aim to shoot boldly near the near post. I'm glad it went in firmly.
Q, it seemed like you scored while being very calm and able to see many things.
A, in a good way, I was relaxed and able to shoot in a calm state. I was able to finish it as advised by Nao-san (Naohiro ISHIKAWA Community Generator).
Q, what kind of advice did you receive from Ishikawa CG specifically?
A, I often missed the target when I took shots, so I was told, "You have the momentum moving forward, so if you swing your foot without applying force with that momentum, you can naturally hit powerful shots." The feeling has been good in recent practice, so I want to work on increasing my goals from here.
Q. How did you feel the moment you scored the goal?
A. Until now, I hadn’t been able to finish decisively. Even so, I feel I was able to give back at least a little to the fans and supporters who have continued to cheer for me.However, the match ended in a draw, and I am not satisfied with that.In the next game as well, I want to firmly show my presence by scoring goals and contribute to the team’s victory, which we want most right now.
Q. It seemed that Sato showed his strengths not only in scoring but in various other aspects as well.
A. My role hasn’t changed, and I intend to fulfill it no matter what.Even if it’s defense, I consciously support my partner Marcelo RYAN so he can play comfortably, and I think that contributed to today’s goal, so I’m glad about that.
Q. How do you want to build up during the upcoming break period?
A. It’s very frustrating that we couldn’t win despite playing that kind of soccer in the first half, but we have to take the positive from managing to secure a draw. With both the good points and the issues that have come up, we just need to face them properly during the break and approach the next match with a strong sense of unity.For the last five league matches, we want to work together as a team to climb as high in the standings as possible.
<Yuto NAGATOMO>
Q. It was a match against Shimizu S-Pulse, who are tied with us at 40 points.
A. The team performed very well in the first half and created solid chances. The reason for this result is that we couldn't finish those chances. Despite the good flow in the first half, we were caught off guard by a single cross from the opponent. We have practiced defending against crosses, but I painfully realized that one week is not enough to fully tighten up on that weakness.
Q, I think there were some difficult aspects with Alexander SCHOLZ absent. What are your thoughts?
A, I believe Kanta DOI also responded well. Regarding the goal conceded from the cross ball, it’s not just him; I myself have areas I need to cover more thoroughly.
Q, there was also a close shot in the second half, wasn't there?
A, if it had gone in, it would have been a complete golazo. It happened in the first half as well, but when I'm in good condition, I can aim to intercept like in that moment, and from there I can join the attack with more decisiveness. It doesn't mean anything if it doesn't go in, but even today, in the first half, there were moments where I connected with Marcelo RYAN, and when I can push forward, I was able to participate in the attack in good form, so I want to increase those opportunities a bit more.
Q, Since the Japan national team’s expedition to the United States, hasn’t your performance improved again?
A, I need to raise it even more. If I can’t deliver a performance that dominates in the J.League, I won’t be able to become a regular in the Japan national team. I want to be strict with myself without being satisfied.
<Kei KOIZUMI>
Q. Please reflect on the match in which you played the full 90 minutes as captain.
A. The fact that we couldn't win is everything. Of course, it is the minimum acceptable result, but personally, it was my first full match in a while, and although I am not frequently in the starting lineup, we managed to get 1 point. Still, I think it was a frustrating game.
Q. I believe you trained hard to address the issues from the previous match and approached today's game with that in mind.
A. Since we conceded many goals from crosses, this week the team worked on dealing with crosses and defense, and we held meetings. However, I don't think everything can be improved so easily within just one week of practice. As Coach Matsuhashi also said, it’s not about the location, space, or positioning; in the end, it comes down to the individuals. I believe it’s about sticking closer to opponents and preventing them from delivering crosses. Ultimately, it’s these fundamental aspects. It’s not about who does what, but the team needs to thoroughly reinforce this once again.
In terms of the content of today's soccer, I think we need to learn from Shimizu S-Pulse's clear contrasts—being bold when they need to be bold, and holding the ball when they want to hold it up front. I believe we can definitely create those kinds of moments ourselves as well.
Q. There will be a short break, but how will you prepare for the matches in the final stages of the season?
A. Since there will be some time before the next match, I will take this opportunity to properly rest both my body and mind. There are only five league matches and at most two Emperor's Cup matches left, so there are fewer than 10 matches remaining this season. I believe each of us started this season with various commitments, and I want to recall those feelings once again. Not only the players but also the staff, the coach, and the fans and supporters—we want to fight together to fully complete this year.
