富山と初対戦、ゴールデンウィーク連戦の最後に得点と勝利を！

　5月8日(日)、ゴールデンウィーク連戦を締めくくる第11節が開催。初対戦となるカターレ富山を、ホームにて迎え撃つ。ここ3試合は無得点に終わっているが、前節は後半早い時間に数的不利になったものの、そこから運動量も増え、ゴールに向かい続けた。チャンスを活かしきることはできなかったが、その戦いから得た手応えもあるはずだ。

　反省も踏まえ、大熊監督は「できるだけ前を向いてプレーできるように、まず中盤を落ち着かせたい」と修正点を話す。同時に「梶山のパワーを前で使いたい」という意図と、ロベルト セザーが出場停止ということもあり、今節は高松を最前線に、梶山がトップに近い位置に配置。ボランチは徳永と、初出場となる上里が組み、右サイドは鈴木、左に中村という4-4-2に近い布陣で臨むことになった。

　対する富山は、昨季のJ2で最下位にあたる18位に。シーズン途中より安間貴義監督が指揮を執るも、立て直しは図れなかったと言えるだろう。ただし徐々に「安間サッカー」が浸透。今季は栃木に敗れたものの、現在、2勝1分1敗で9位。独特の3-3-3-1の布陣で、前線からのプレスと、FW苔口のスピード、トップ下の黒部を中心にした素早い攻撃が特長だ。今節は、中盤の中央で攻守のつなぎ役を担うMF平出が、期限付き移籍元の東京との契約で出場することはできないが、センターのMFには江添を起用。昨季東京に在籍していたソ ヨンドクが左MFで先発に。

　大熊監督が「試合は90分。これまでは早い時間帯に急ぎすぎ、焦ってミスから自滅している。ミスを少なくしてポゼッション率を上げていくべきだし、それがあってこそ攻撃も流動的になる」というように、富山のカウンターに注意しながら、慌てずに自分たちのサッカーでゴールと勝利をもぎ取りたい。ゴールデンウィーク最終日、今年最高の気温で夏を思わせる気候のもと、試合は16時4分に富山のキックオフでスタートした。

Tokyo Face Toyama Aiming To End Golden Week With Win 

The final game of the Golden Week holiday period saw Kataller Toyama visit Ajinomoto Stadium for the first ever meeting between the sides. The main talking point was whether Tokyo would fail to score in the three-game stretch or would the improved second-half performance in Wednesday's match, after being reduced to ten men, be a pointer to a brighter future. Tokyo had failed to find the net against Verdy but the increased forward momentum and positive approach shown surely boded well. 
Tokyo manager Kiyoshi Okuma commented, "We have to attempt to get forward as much as possible but first we want to be settled in midfield. We also want to use Kajiyama's power up front". Kajiyama started in a withdrawn position slightly behind striker Takamatsu, while Uesato made his debut partnering Tokunaga in central midfield. Suzuki started on the right and Nakamura on the left in a 4-4-2 formation. 
Opponents Toyama had finished 18th. and last in J2 in 2010. However, incoming manager Takayoshi Amma's fresh approach was slowly permeating the side and, despite a loss to Tochigi, the team lay in 9th.place at kick off with a W2 D1 L1 record. The team lined up in an unusual 3-3-3-1 formation, pressed hard from the front and was noted for the speed of its attacking play. Pacy forward Kokeguchi was the principal threat, ably supported by Kurobe playing off the main striker. Tokyo midfielder Hiraide was on loan at Toyama and had played a key role in linking defence and attack for the team but the terms of his contract prevented him from playing against his parent club and Ezoe took his place. Former Tokyo player Seo Yong Duk appeared in midfield. 
Kiyoshi Okuma cautioned before kick off, "The game is 90 minutes. Recently we've been in too much of a hurry early on and mistakes have cost us. We have to reduce the number of mistakes, increase our time in possession and attack fluidly". He also urged his team to beware of the pace the visitors showed on the counter attack and to maintain their composure. 
The final Sunday of Golden Week brought the warmest weather of the year so far to Tokyo. Toyama kicked off shortly after 4pm. on a hot and slightly humid afternoon. 

リズムを掴み始めるも、富山の素早い戻りの前に…

　立ち上がりの富山に勢いを掴まれた。前線からの厳しいプレスと、攻守の切り替えの早さに苦しめられることに。5分には富山・MF江添が約35mの位置からロングシュート。8分にはスピーディに前につながれ、左エリア外からMF黒部に強烈なシュートを放たれたが、権田がパンチングで逃れる。

　だが耐えるべきところを耐えると、徐々に東京がプレスをかわしてサイド攻撃につなげた。12分、中村がドリブルで左から中央に切り込みシュート。15分には椋原のスローインのこぼれに梶山が素早く反応し、エリアすぐ外から左足のボレー。18分には梶山がドリブルでエリアに進入。すぐ左の高松にパスを出すが、DFに囲まれて打ち切れず。19分には森重のフィードを梶山が落とし、椋原がシュートを放つ。

　だが富山DFの戻りも素早く、この時間帯に決めきれず、その後はなかなか決定的といえる場面は作れなかった。ここまでのシュート数は、富山5本に対して東京は3本。だが前半終盤に勢いを取り戻し、38分には森重が果敢にミドルを狙う。GKセーブのこぼれからつなぎ、上里もロングシュートを放ったが、バーの上に。

　40分には中村が、前線に攻め上がっていた森重とワンツーでかわして、左エリア手前の梶山につなぎ、梶山はエリアに進入。相手DFを切り返して決定的なシュートを放ったが、GKの好セーブに阻まれ…。スコアレスのまま、後半へ折り返すことになった。

Tokyo Find Rhythm As Toyama Defend In Depth 

Toyama began brightly, pressing hard from the front and swiftly changing from defence to attack. In the 5th.minute midfielder Ezoe tried his luck with a drive from 35m and three minutes later Gonda punched away another powerful long-range effort from Kurobe, following some rapid passing interplay by the visitors. 
Tokyo withstood the early pressure and slowly began to take control, linking play along the flanks. Nakamura dribbled down the left, cut inside and shot in the 12th.minute, while Kajiyama deftly spun past a defender and volleyed narrowly wide from the edge of the Toyama area in the 15th. Kajiyama burst into the visitors' box in the 18th.minute and only a timely interception prevented his pass reaching Takamatsu. Kajiyama was involved again moments later, knocking down Morishige's long ball to Mukuhara whose shot flew wide. 
The Toyama defence regrouped quickly and after that burst of activity Tokyo found it difficult to create shooting opportunities. In fact, the visitors had outshot Tokyo by 5 to 3. However, as half time approached Tokyo picked up the pace. Morishige unleashed a fierce drive in the 38th.minute that drew a scrambling save from Naito, in the Toyama goal. The ball rebounded out to Uesato who smashed it back, but narrowly over the bar. 
Tokyo produced the best move of the half in the 40th.minute. Nakamura played a neat one-two with Morishige and cut the ball back to Kajiyama on the edge of the Toyama area. Kajiyama neatly side-stepped a defender and drove a low shot towards the bottom corner that drew a full-length, fingertip save from Naito. The first period ended 0-0.

「羽生らしさ」を活かしたゴールで勝利をもぎ取る！

　富山は前半の早い時間に2選手が負傷し、交代を余儀なくされるアクシデントが。後半に入り、56分には東京が中村に代えて谷澤を投入。その直後には富山DF池端も負傷交代し、交代枠を使いきることになった。その影響もあるのか後半はラインが間延び。東京がよくボールを動かし、押し込むことになった。66分には梶山のパスを高松が落とし、谷澤→右エリアに走った高松が狙うがGK正面を突く。

　68分に上里に代えて羽生をそのままボランチに投入。69分には今野、森重が自陣でスピーディにつなぎ、梶山が左前のスペースに長いサイドチェンジ。鈴木がフリーで持ち出し、左エリア角付近からシュート態勢に入ったが、DFがブロック。72分には谷澤→鈴木→梶山とつなぎ、椋原がゴールと並行にクロス。ファーポストギリギリに阿部が滑り込んだが、合わなかった。

　7迎えた81分、相手陣内で左スローインを得て、梶山のスローを左エリア手前の谷澤がゴールに背を向けながら前に落とす。外側の羽生がタイミングよく谷澤のそばでボールを受け、相手DFの間を割ってエリアに進入。右足で放ったシュートは相手GKの手をはじいて突き刺し、ゴール！　リスタートのシンプルな形から、『羽生らしい』動きが活き、ようやく先制点をゲット。開幕戦の得点から380分ぶりにネットを揺らした。

　これを機に動きの落ちた富山を圧倒、ゴール前で波状攻撃を仕掛けた。83分には梶山が左前線からスルスルと中に入り込み、ファーでフリーの鈴木へ。しかし鈴木のシュートは力が入りすぎ…。85分、羽生→椋原のクロスから高松が高い打点のヘッド。89分には自陣の羽生が激しい守備で奪い、梶山がカウンター。並走した鈴木がエリアに入ったところでシュートするがDFのブロックに阻まれる。追加点を決めることはできなかったが、その直後には鈴木に代えて高橋がイン。きっちりと試合を閉めてタイムアップを迎え、1対0で開幕戦以来となる勝利を果たした。

　【選手コメント】《羽生》「(ゴールシーンについて)きれいにゴール前まで抜けた。シュートの瞬間は集中していた。最初は右を狙おうとしたが、枠内に飛ばすために厳しいところを狙うのではなく、少しコースを変えた。GKに触られたが、気持ちで押し込んだような得点だった思う。

　(出場にあたって)ゴール前での変化を求められていた。だから3人目の動きや、スイッチが入ったとき、またくさびにボールが入りそうなときの動き出しが必要だと思っていた。これまでは一定のリズムで、一人ひとりが頑張って勝負を挑み続けていた感じ。そこから点を取るためには、周りが助けることが大切だということを、なんとか自分が表現したかった。30歳になっても、チームのまとめ役に留まるつもりはない。東京の22番はここにいるということを見せたかった」

　《上里》「前半はイージーなミスもあって、攻撃のアクセントになりきれなかった。その中でもミドルを意識して、相手の守備を引き出したいと考えていた。枠に飛ばせばチャンスもできると思っていたが。そういう反省点をまた次に活かしたい」

　【大熊監督の会見要旨】「これまで引いた相手をなかなか崩せない部分もあったが、今日は自分たちがボールを回しながら相手を疲れさせ、前に出ていくという狙いがある程度できていた。ただしもう少しエリアの周りで確実なアイデアを出せたり、数的優位を使える場面があった。そこをうまく使えればもっと決定的な場面を作れたと思う。羽生のゴールは、オフザボールの動きが活きたもの。他の選手はオンザボールではないあの動きを参考にしてほしいし、今後そういうものが必要になる」

　【富山・安間監督の会見要旨】「まずこの連休中、アウェイ連戦に来場して一緒に戦ってくれたサポーターに感謝したい。試合は、我々としては良く戦った。見栄を張るつもりはないし、これがいま現在の僕たちの力だと思う。連戦の3戦目で、控え室で倒れるほど最後まで走りきり、出し切ることはできている。それは続けていきたい。技術的に足りないところはみんな自覚してトレーニングをしているので、次にFC東京と対戦するときには一泡吹かせられるようにしたい」

Hanyu Shows His Class To Grab Vital Winner 

Toyama had been forced into making two substitutions in the first half due to injury and had little leeway left for changes as the second period unfolded. Tokyo replaced Nakamura with Yazawa in the 56th.minute, shortly before Toyama's Ikehata picked up a knock and had to leave the field. The changes contributed to the side losing its shape, allowing Tokyo to reassert their control of the game. In the 66th.minute Takamatsu knocked down Kajiyama's long ball to Yazawa and continued his run, receiving the ball back and shooting from the edge of the area. The effort flew straight at Naito who held onto the ball. 
In the 68th.minute Hanyu replaced Uesato, taking his place in central midfield. In the 69th.minute Konno and Morishige upped the passing tempo in their own half before Kajiyama hoisted a long diagonal ball for Suzuki to chase down the left channel. Suzuki latched onto the pass and cracked a fierce drive from the corner of the penalty area that struck a defender and bounded to safety. In the 72nd.minute Yazawa, Suzuki and Kajiyama combined smoothly to create a crossing opportunity for Mukuhara. The onrushing Abe flung himself at the ball but failed to make contact at the far post. 
Tokyo won a throw in inside the Toyama half in the 81st.minute and Kajiyama found Yazawa with his back to goal just outside the penalty area. Hanyu began a run on the outside of Yazawa, timed perfectly to collect a delicate heel-kick layoff, then accelerated between two defenders before smashing the ball right-footed across the keeper. Naito got a hand to it but was unable to prevent the ball nestling inside the far post. Although a simple move from a quick restart, Hanyu showed the quality of his movement and a fine finish to earn Tokyo their first league goal in 380 minutes since the opening game of the year. 
The goal deflated Toyama and lifted Tokyo, who poured forward in waves. Kajiyama drifted inside from the left in the 83rd.minute and picked out Suzuki, unmarked on the right, but Suzuki overhit his shot. Hanyu found Mukuhara in the 85th.minute, Takamatsu looping a header over the bar from the resulting cross. Hanyu was in the thick of the action again in the 89th.minute, battling feverishly to win the ball in midfield before launching a counter attack that ended with a Toyama defender blocking Suzuki's shot from inside the penalty area. Takahashi replaced Suzuki in the closing minutes as Tokyo comfortably ran down the clock to earn a 1-0 win, their first since the opening game of the season. 

Players' comments 
Hanyu 
"For the goal I managed to get myself cleanly through on goal. I was concentrating fully as I hit the ball. At first I thought about going to the right, the more difficult option, but I changed course slightly and hit it across the keeper. He got a glove to the ball but I put a lot of emotion into it and he couldn't keep it out. When I went on I felt we needed some variation in front of goal, some extra movement when the ball was played in low to feet. We were playing with a constant rhythm and everyone was working hard to win the game. I was able to go on and show how important it is to help each other in that kind of situation. 
Even though I'm 30 now I still have a role to play for the team. I wanted to show that Tokyo's Number 22 is still here". 


Uesato 
"I made a couple of simple mistakes in the first half and couldn't really contribute much in attack. However, I was looking for a chance to get forward and shoot or pull the opposition defenders out of position. I knew that if I could keep the ball on target I would have a chance. These are aspects of my game I want to look at and improve on in the future". 


F.C.Tokyo manager Kiyoshi Okuma 
"We've had some trouble breaking down opponents who defend deeply so today our plan was to move the ball around, tire them out and get forward and I think we succeeded to some extent. We showed more invention around the penalty area and dominated in numbers at times. If we can use those elements better then we should be able to create more clear-cut chances. Hanyu's goal came from his movement off the ball. I want the other players to pay close attention because we need more of that kind of movement". 


Kataller Toyama manager Takayoshi Amma 
"First of all I'd like to show my appreciation of our supporters who followed the team on our two away games during Golden Week. As for the match, I thought we played very well today. I don't want to overstate the case but I thought we showed the current level of our team. This was the third game in week and the players ran themselves into the ground, fighting to the very end. I want them to continue to play like this. We're aware of our technical limitations and are working on them in training, in the hope that we can give F.C.Tokyo a really big shock the next time we meet".