GAME RESULTGame Result

Semifinal Round 2020/10/07(Wed)
Attendance: 6,635 people 
Weather: Rain, low temperature 19.4 degrees, humidity 74% 
Referee: Yuichi NISHIMURA Assistant Referee: Isao NISHIHASHI / Yukitaka KUMAGAI Fourth Official: Masuya UEDA

YLC Prime Stage Semifinal

Todoroki

HOME

Kawasaki Frontale

0-2

Match Finished

First Half0-1

Second half0-1

AWAY

FC Tokyo

Kawasaki Frontale FC Tokyo
Scorer 14' Leandro
62' Leandro
46' Yasuto WAKIZAKA → Ryota OSHIMA
46' Manabu SAITO → Kaoru MITOMA
65' Aoi TANAKA → Reo HATAKE
65' Leandro DAMIAO → Yu KOBAYASHI
77' Miki YAMANE → Taisei MIYASHIRO
Player Substitution 55' Takumi NAKAMURA → Hotaka NAKAMURA
74' Kensuke NAGAI → Adailton
74' Hirotaka MITA → Takuya UCHIDA
90'+1 Leandro → Yojiro TAKAHAGI
11 Shoot 5
9 CK 2
11 FK 16
23' Yasuto WAKIZAKA
Warning 90'+1 Leandro
Ejected
Kawasaki Frontale Starting Lineup
GK 1 Sung Ryong JUNG
DF 13 Miki YAMANE
DF 4 Jesiel
DF 5 Taniguchi Shogo
DF 2 Kyohei NOBORIZATO
MF 6 Hidemasa Morita
MF 25 Aoi TANAKA
MF 8 Yasuto WAKIZAKA
FW 41 Akihiro IENAGA
FW 19 Saito Gaku
FW 9 Leandro DAMIAO
Kawasaki Frontale substitute
GK 27 Kenta TANNO
DF 7 Shintaro Kurumaya
MF 10 Ryota OSHIMA
MF 18 Kaoru Misima
FW 20 Taisei MIYASHIRO
FW 30 Hatake Reo
FW 11 Yu KOBAYASHI
FC Tokyo Starting Lineup
GK 33 Akihiro HAYASHI
DF 22 Takumi NAKAMURA
DF 4 Tsuyoshi WATANABE
DF 3 Masato MORISHIGE
DF 6 Ryoya OGAWA
MF 7 Hirotaka MITA
MF 45 Arthur SILVA
MF 31 Shuto ABE
FW 11 Kensuke NAGAI
FW 9 Diego OLIVEIRA
FW 20 Leandro
FC Tokyo Substitutes
GK 13 Go HATANO
DF 32 Joan OUMARI
DF 37 Hotaka NAKAMURA
MF 8 Yojiro Takahagi
MF 28 Takuya UCHIDA
FW 15 Adailton
FW 23 Kiichi YAJIMA

[Highlight Video]

【Player/Coach Comments】

Leandro player
(Did you see the movement of the GK for the first goal?)
"When I saw the GK, the near side was a little open, so I aimed directly at it."

(The second goal was a long-distance run and goal)
I thought Nagai was very fast and would definitely win the race.
Believing in it, he ran into the goal. He was happy when the goal was scored, and I think Nagai was also happy."

(Today, the DFs were running well)
"We were talking about giving our best even before the game started."
"We were able to accomplish it because we had decided to run together."

(The team's atmosphere after securing a spot in the final round)
"I'm happy that we won today, but we haven't achieved anything yet."
Of course, it's great, but it doesn't mean anything if we don't win the next game.
"We want to win the next one and celebrate together."

(Eagerness towards the Final Round)
"There are many J-League matches leading up to the final. I want to focus on each match individually. When the final gets closer, I will think about it again. First, we have the G Osaka match at home. When it gets closer, I want to think carefully about the final."

Tsuyoshi WATANABE
"We knew that if we could keep Kawasaki's attacking line at zero, we would have a chance to win."
Today, there was no stress regarding defense, and we were able to start with a solid defense as a team and connect it to the attack, so we were mentally well-prepared in that aspect."

(Including foreign players, the efforts of the forward players were shining)
"Players like Diego OLIVEIRA and Leandro, who have attacking power, showed their determination in defense. Seeing that, we, the defensive line, also felt strongly that we had to work hard, and we understood that if we both played like that, we could achieve victory. I think it is the accumulation of what we have been fighting for so far."

(A victory with all my heart and soul. Feelings towards the final round)
"I have experienced bitter defeats against Kawasaki in the past. My pride was hurt, so I'm glad we won today."
I haven't achieved anything yet. I want to switch and move on to the next.

(There is also a final round, but for the upcoming matches)
"As a team, we have been preparing for the match against Kawasaki, and I am very happy that we were able to win that match."
Although there are challenges with consecutive matches and a difficult schedule, I think the current Tokyo team can continue to win even with changes in the lineup.

(Thoughts towards the New National Stadium)
"If the Olympics were held this year, I might have stood on the pitch that was being used there."
I'm glad to be able to play in the final round as I wanted to play here.
"I want to appeal from the league match as an individual and be able to compete in the final round."

Kensuke NAGAI
(Looking back on the match)
"The game went exactly as planned"

(Looking back at the scene of the second goal)
"Hikaru Mita player gave me a good pass into space."
I thought I could move the ball well after receiving it and if I passed it to Leandro in the center, it would lead to a goal.
I think it became the goal as I imagined it.

(What I was conscious of during the match was)
"The key was how to neutralize the opponent's midfield strength."
I was conscious of not allowing vertical passes from the defensive midfielder and trying to release the ball to the sides.
We were in a deep position, but we were able to attack with momentum from there, and I think it turned out to be a good performance."

(Eager for the title acquisition)
I think that many fans and supporters from Tokyo will come to see us next.
This is the chance to win the title for the first time after transferring to Tokyo.
"I also want to make good preparations and approach the final round."

"Tokyo - Summary of Coach Kenta HASEGAWA's Press Conference"
"A victory that came as a result of everyone putting their feelings forward and working hard."
I am proud of the players and I think they did well.

(Reasons for starting members and substitution strategies)
"We selected the best team based on the condition of the game after winning the quarterfinals. We sent out many of the members who won against C Osaka and Urawa. It's inevitable that Kawasaki will have the ball."
I thought that the after-stealing was the game. I always get done by the drinking time, so I thought that if we can carry the game until then, we also have a chance. The substitution was Mitsumata, a player with special abilities. We countered with Hotaka NAKAMURA, who also has special abilities. The introduction of Adailton and Uchida is because just defending is not enough, so we brought them in."

(A game that conveys emotions. Kensuke NAGAI, who is a key player, also performed well)
"Kensuke was involved in the first goal foul and assist. Kensuke and Leandro played well today, and I think Diego OLIVEIRA also fought well."

(As a player and as a coach, this will be my 8th League Cup Final)
"I have only won it twice out of the previous 7 times (laughs), so I want to do my best to win it for the third time."

"Kawasaki - Toru ONIKI Coach Press Conference Summary"
"I feel sorry and very disappointed to have lost in the semifinal round at home."
The players really had a strong passion for this game, and it was their own lack of ability that prevented them from turning that passion into victory.
Even though we conceded a goal first, we have been able to equalize and turn the game around so far. However, we needed to attack more aggressively in that aspect. We were unable to surpass the opponent's thoroughness.

(Impression of fighting on the opponent's turf after conceding a goal. What kind of difficulties were there?)
"We couldn't really pick up the pace, and once we conceded and the opponent took the lead, the team's concentration level increased in every game, so in that sense, it was difficult at the point of the opening goal. Even though I knew that, I think there were more things I should have done, so I'm thinking that's why it turned out like this."

(It seemed like the passes and traps were off from the first half)
"I think there was pressure from the opponent. In a situation where we have to compete in terms of quality, we were firmly taken away by them, coming to steal the ball, sliding, and sticking with us. I think that's where we gradually went off track."
"That's also our strength, so I think the fact that we couldn't peel it off and couldn't do it properly made it this kind of game."

(I think there was a situation where we couldn't break through and couldn't take a shot while the opponent was defending deep overall. As for that, I'm thinking about what we should have done)
"I think there are various contradictions, but one is to break through on the side or even if we can't break through, to boldly play with just one cross ball. Another is, on the contrary, the need to carefully and meticulously break through until the end in the part of using the differentiation of breaking through until the end."
There were places where the intensity was high and places where it wasn't. Also, the opponent was putting pressure on us from the outside, including the side half, so I think it was a difficult situation where we needed to improve the quality in the middle. I think it's necessary for us to grow in the future.