国立をホームに、3連戦のよいスタートを切りたい

　リーグ第29節が開催。国立競技場をホームとし、横浜FCを迎え撃つ。ここ2戦は大量得点で連勝。特にセットプレーを含めて多様なパターンで得点を挙げ、相手に的を絞らせない戦い方ができているといえるだろう。横浜FCとの対戦は今季初だが、今節からの3連戦に向けてもこの勢いを途切れさせたくはない。

　今節は、愛媛戦で左足首を痛めた塩田が大事を取って欠場。権田は21日に五輪予選を戦ったためチームに合流した時間は短かったが、心身ともに切り替え、6月12日以来16試合ぶりの先発に。フィールドプレーヤーは3戦連続、同様のメンバーで臨むことになった。

　対する横浜FCは、現在勝ち点30で15位につける。前節ヴェルディ戦では大量失点を喫して敗れたが、大熊監督は「良い選手が多く、特に攻撃陣には警戒が必要」と話す。FW西田が負傷のためチームを離脱したが、今節はFW三浦、MF藤田祥がスタメンに。ベンチにはFWフランサも控える。これに対してカウンターをケアし、簡単に前線まで運ばせないようにしたい。

　攻撃ではサイド攻撃に加えて深みも意識し、2列目の飛び出しなどから、さらに多彩さを増していきたい。今日からの3連戦のよいスタートを切るためにも、先制点を奪って主導権を握り、確実に勝点3を積み上げたい一戦だ。さわやかに晴れた天候のもと、試合は15時4分に東京のキックオフでスタートした。

Tokyo Looking For Good Start To Busy Week

Yokohama FC were the visitors to the National Stadium in Tokyo for the 29th.game of the season. Tokyo were on a roll, earning high-scoring wins in two consecutive games with the goals coming from a variety of patterns including set plays, as the side also became increasingly difficult for the opposition to pin down. The visit of Yokohama was the first game in a stretch of three fixtures in a week and the team was keen to maintain the momentum with another win. 
Shiota had suffered an ankle injury in the victory over Ehime and was rested, giving Gonda, fresh from his exertions with the Japan Olympic Team, his first start in 16 games. The side was otherwise unchanged for the third consecutive game. 
Opponents Yokohama FC sat in 15th.place with 30 points at kick off. Although the team had recently suffered a crushing 7-2 defeat by Tokyo Verdy, Tokyo manager Okuma issued a warning, "They have a lot of good players we will need to be on our guard against, particularly in attack". Striker Nishida was injured, his place taken by the evergreen Miura, with midfielder Yoshihito Fujita also starting, while forward Franca was on the bench. Tokyo would need to be aware of the visitors' threat on the counter attack and prevent them from moving the ball forward into dangerous areas. 
Going forward, Tokyo would need to make use of the flanks and runs from midfield as they attempted to further increase the variety in attack. A bright start and dominant performance was called for, with the opening goal of great importance, as the side aimed to begin a challenging week in the best possible way by taking all three points. 
The home side got the ball rolling shortly after 3pm on a sunny and fresh autumn afternoon. 

セットプレーのチャンスを活かし、梶山が先制！

　互いに慎重な立ち上がりを見せ、序盤は拮抗した展開に。だが7分にはルーカスが左サイドで起点になり、田邉→オーバーラップした椋原が中に持ち込み、グラウンダーのクロス。ゴール前のニアに羽生が飛び込み、CKを得る。この左CKの流れから今野がサイドを変え、右エリアでの梶山のシュートから、再びCKを得る。8分、谷澤が蹴った右CKに、ニアの梶山が力強いヘッドで合わせてゴール！　早い時間に先制点を奪った。

　先制したのちは、反撃に出る横浜FCに対して、隙を突くように切り替えの早い攻撃を仕掛けた。25分には横浜FC・両サイドバックの攻め上がりを許し、左サイドバック宮崎のクロスをファーのFWカイオに折り返され、ゴール前で混戦になったが、集中して守り切ると、26分には谷澤を起点にカウンターを仕掛け、羽生のスルーパスに田邉が走り込み、絶好のチャンスになるが、相手GKの飛出しがわずかに早く、抑えられた。

　28分、徳永がロングレンジから狙ったシュートは、バーをヒット。30分には羽生のスルーパスからルーカスがチャンスを作る。34分にはカウンターから谷澤がシュートを放つ。36分には右の徳永→梶山→下がって受けた田邉が中央のルーカスに縦パス。左に流れていた高橋が落としを受け、そのままゴールを狙ったが、勢いがなくGKキャッチ。いずれも決定機に決めることができず。1点差のままで後半へと折り返した。

Set Play Goal Gives Tokyo Early Lead 

Both sides made a cautious start, battling hard to gain the ascendancy. In the 7th.minute Lucas engineered a move down the left with Tanabe playing the ball forward to the overlapping Mukuhara, who crossed low into the Yokohama penalty area. Hanyu flung himself at the ball at the near post, earning a corner. Konno moved the ball across the field to Kajiyama on the right and his resulting shot earned another corner, this time on the right. Yazawa stroked the ball in and Kajiyama rose to power a header past Yokohama goalkeeper Seki at the near post. Tokyo had a vital early lead. 
With the visitors behind and forced to push forward, Tokyo looked to pick them of with fast-paced breaks. Yokohama attacked in the 25th.minute, sideback Miyazaki playing a deep cross beyond the far post that striker Kaio knocked back into the danger area. The ball bobbled around prompting a melee, but the Tokyo defence remained calm and cleared the danger, instigating a counter attack. Hanyu played a through ball for Tanabe to run on to and for an instant the young midfielder was away, until Seki sprinted off his line to clear the danger. 
In the 28th.minute Tokunaga pushed forward and unleashed a thunderous drive that left Seki clawing at thin air. The ball smacked the underside of the bar, struck the goalkeeper in the back and dribbled wide of the post. Another through ball from Hanyu allowed Lucas to create a chance in the 30th.minute while Yazawa finished off a counter attack in the 34th.minute with a shot on goal. In the 36th.minute Tokunaga and Kajiyama combined down the right and Tanabe, dropping deeper to collect the ball, played a vertical pass up to Lucas. Lucas knocked the ball down and Takahashi shot but the effort lacked enough power to trouble Seki. Despite their attacking intent and the number of chances created, Tokyo led by a single goal at half time.

羽生の真骨頂！　賢く走るプレーで2ゴールを挙げ、横浜FCを突き放す

　後半に入り51分、左前線に上がった梶山のマイナスに、谷澤がダイレクトで合わせるが、シュートはここでも左上に外れ絶好の追加点のチャンスを逃すと、流れは一進一退に。横浜FCは59分に2選手を交代。FWフランサの出場により、リズムを引き寄せようとする。東京も61分には田邉に代えて石川を投入。これで試合に動きが出た。

　64分には横浜FC・FWカイオのスルーパスから、途中出場のMF野崎に走り込まれ、決定的なシュートを放たれたが、ポストをかすめて権田がセーブし、CKに逃れる。このピンチを逃れた直後の66分、梶山から右前線に走る石川へパス。石川は中に持ち込み、タイミングを計りながら中央へパス。これを受けた羽生は、落ち着いたトラップから相手DFを一歩外にかわして右足を振り抜く。狙い澄ましたシュートは、ゴール左に吸い込まれ、2点目をゲット！

　続く68分には、自陣で横浜FC・FWフランサのボールを梶山が奪ってカウンターを仕掛ける。ここから羽生が梶山に預けて前線へダッシュ。梶山の浮き球のパスを、ルーカスがワンタッチで落とし、右側を駆け上がった羽生がスピードに乗ってシュートを突き刺す！　キレのあるパスワークから、羽生の真骨頂ともいえるようなゴールで立て続けに2点を奪い、リードを広げた。

　74分にはこの羽生に代わって坂田が、80分には谷澤に代わり上里をボランチに投入。梶山が一列前に上がる布陣でさらに追加点をめざした。スピーディな展開になる中、4点目を奪うことはできず。また終盤には粘り強い横浜FCに決定機を作られた場面もあったが、ミスにも助けられ、反撃をシャットアウト。ホーム国立で3対0で勝利し、順位も再び1位が確定した。

　【選手コメント】《羽生》「(自身の2点目について)うまくいきすぎた感じはあるが、でも狙いどおりのシュートが打てた。快心です。3点目は、3人目の動きでゴール前に走って取れたもの。ただ、それまでにルーカスやナオがつないでくれた結果。ていねいに崩してくれて、僕までつないでくれたことに感謝したい。今日は先制をしたのち、横浜FCにある程度ボールを持たせてもいいと割り切った。チームとして、プレスが前からはまらなかったときの判断もよかったのではないか。何より相手のリズムになったときに、ピッチの中でそういうことを話し合って意思統一できたことがよかったと思う」

　《梶山》「CKからは初めての得点だが、チームが勝利できたことがうれしい。内容としては、序盤はお互いに慎重だった。横浜FCは、FWカイオや藤田祥選手に蹴ってきたが、それに対して僕たちも多少長いボールを使ってセカンドを拾おうとし、その“やり合い”になった。ハーフタイムには『奪ったらボールをもう少し早く前に運ぶ』ことを指示され、後半はそこを意識した。石川選手が入って、その狙いはさらにはっきりしたと思う。横浜FC・FWフランサ選手の出場時には、1点だけのリードだったので少し嫌な感じはあったが、守備でやられないことを第一に考えていた。近くでつかんでいれば大丈夫だと思い、しっかりとケアしようとした。実際にそこからカウンターで点が取れたことはよかった」

　【大熊監督の会見要旨】「前半から横浜FCの集中力が高かったが、我々のクロスやセットプレーの質が上がってきており、そこから得点できた。その後も相手の集中力はなかなか切れなかったが、そこできっちり耐えたことが後半に繋がった。その意味では、ずっと我々のコンセプトとしている全員が攻守に関わり、ボールを回して数的優位を作ることや相手の隙を突いていくこと。それらをしっかりと表し、残りの試合を戦っていくことが非常に重要だと感じた試合。後先を考えずに一試合ごと、一歩ずつ、次も集中して戦いたい。(谷澤選手の交代は？)足が攣ったため。怪我の問題ではない」

　【横浜FC・岸野監督の会見要旨】「先制点が大きな意味をもつと考え、今日のゲームをスタートした。だが開始8分で失点を喫した。FC東京に先制されると、余裕を持たれてしまう。そのようになってしまった。前半はなんとか0対1で終えることができたが、どこかで勝負をかけなければいけなかった。そのときに二つ、同じような形で相手を捕まえきれず、最後に防がなければいけない部分で防げなかった。警戒していた形だったが。力の差はあったと思うが、全く太刀打ちできない試合ではなかったと思う。もっと自信や勇気を持って、早いテンポでボールを動かすことが欠けていたのではないか。もっとテンポよくボールを動かす、ボールに向かうことを高めたい。前節は7失点、今日は3失点をし、2試合で10点を取られた。サポーターのみなさんには申し訳なく思うが、前節とは違う形を見せようと選手たちは頑張った。中2日で次の試合があるので、また奮い立たせてしっかり準備をして勝利し、サポーターの方たちと一緒に喜びたい」

Sparkling Hanyu Double Seals The Win 

In the 51st.minute Kajiyama sprinted down the left and cut the ball back to Yazawa whose first time shot sailed over the bar. Tokyo had failed to take a golden opportunity to double the lead and the game then ebbed and flowed. Yokohama made a double substitution in the 59th.minute, with veteran forward Franca attempting to alter the rhythm of their attacking play. Tokyo responded by replacing Tanabe with Ishikawa and the substitution proved to be an inspired one. 
The home side enjoyed a lucky escape in the 64th.minute as substitute Nozaki ran onto a through ball from Kaio and hit the post with his shot, Gonda scrambling back to force the loose ball over the goal line for a corner. Tokyo took full advantage of that piece of good fortune in the 66th.minute. Kajiyama moved the ball forward to Ishikawa on the right and the substitute cut inside, timing his pass across the face of the Yokohama area to perfection. Hanyu took a touch, sidestepped a defender and produced a superb, arcing right-footed shot that cleared Seki's despairing dive and nestled inside the left side netting. 
Two minutes later Kajiyama dispossessed Franca inside the Tokyo half and launched a counter attack. Hanyu returned the ball to Kajiyama and sprinted forward as the latter chipped a pass up to Lucas; Lucas played a delicate cushioned lay off into Hanyu's path as he raced into the penalty area and smashed the ball low across Seki into the far corner. A sublime passing move had allowed Hanyu to show his true value to the team with two stunning goals in only two minutes. 
Hanyu left the field to thunderous applause in the 74th.minute, replaced by striker Sakata. In the 80th.minute Uesato replaced Yazawa and moved into a defensive midfield position. Kajiyama played further forward as Tokyo went in search of a fourth goal with some high-speed attacking play. Yokohama fought fiercely to the bitter end and fashioned a few openings but poor finishing denied them a consolation goal. The final whistle blew on a 3-0 win that propelled Tokyo back to the top of the table. 

Players' comments 

Hanyu 
"For our second goal I felt that I'd gone too far but the shot went in just as I'd visualised and I was very pleased. I was the third person in the move that led to the third goal and my running got me into the area to meet the ball but it was Lucas' and Nao's interplay that created it. They opened up our opponents' defence beautifully and I'm very grateful. After we took the lead we decided it was fine to let Yokohama have the ball to some extent which was a good decision as it prevented us from being drawn into pressing from the front. Being able to discuss things on the pitch during games when our opponents have found a rhythm united our purpose, I think". 


Kajiyama 
"That's the first goal I've ever scored from a corner so I'm really pleased that we won. As for the performance, both teams started fairly cautiously. They were hoisting the ball up to Kaio and Yoshi Fujita and we responded by playing long balls and hoping to pick up the second balls. At half time we were told to move the ball forward a little faster. That was in our minds in the second half and after Ishikawa came on we were able to achieve it, I felt. When Yokohama's Franca went on there was still only a goal in it and the atmosphere was a little uncomfortable so I felt that defence was the most important thing and stuck close to him. That led to the counter attack from which we scored our second goal which was very pleasing". 


F.C.Tokyo manager Kiyoshi Okuma 
"Yokohama started off concentrating well and it was thanks to the improvement in the quality of our crosses and set plays that we were able to take the lead. After that we couldn't really break their resolve so we had to be patient and that paved the way for the second half. Our concept is that all players are engaged in defence and attack, that we move the ball around until we have a numerical superiority and then find a chink in our opponents defence. We displayed that very clearly today. It's important now that we continue to fight in the games that remain, not getting ahead of ourselves but taking each game on its own merits as it comes. 
What was behind Yazawa's substitution? He had cramp. It wasn't an injury". 

Yokohama FC manager Kishino 
"We thought about how important the first goal would be in today's game as we started. Unfortunately we conceded after just 8 minutes. The goal gave Tokyo breathing space and so it proved. We somehow kept the score to 1-0 at half time which meant we had to go for it at some point in the second half. When we did they caught us out twice with similar moves as we failed to protect ourselves where we should have. They were moves we were on our guard against. There was a difference in ability but it wasn't a game in which we failed to cross swords with the opposition, I felt. With a bit more confidence and bravery, and moving the ball at a higher tempo we could have made something more of the game. We let in seven in the last game and three again today for a total of ten goals in two matches. I feel sympathy for our supporters, although the players did do their best to avoid another display like the last one. We now have only two days to prepare for the next game where we aim to give the fans something to cheer about".