前半戦の借りを返し、味スタにてさらなる連勝をめざす

　延期されていた第5節が開催。ホーム味スタにてギラヴァンツ北九州を迎え撃つ。前節は羽生が2得点を挙げて、3対0で快勝した。チームとしても、ここ3戦で計14得点をマークするとともに、安定感のある試合運びをみせている。だが、先制後の追加点までに時間を要しているため、勝利をつかみ切るポイントとしては、いかに2対0の状況にするかが重要になってくるだろう。走る意識を保ち、攻守に隙をみせない戦いから先制、そして追加点につなげていきたい。

　対する北九州は、現在勝ち点37で8位につける。ここ7戦は、4分け3敗と勝ち切れていないが、大熊監督は「自分たちのやり方を貫いている。しっかりとパスをつないでくるし、アタッキグサードでは思い切りがよく、脅威がある」と警戒。

　特に前半戦の対戦では、北九州の前線からのプレスに苦しみ、ダイレクトプレーから隙を突かれて失点。その後、引かれた守備を崩せずに敗戦を喫した。権田が「北九州は相手のことをしっかりと分析し、嫌がるプレーを仕掛けてくる。何より結束力やチームのまとまりという点でリーグでも屈指」というように、今節はその北九州の戦い方に粘り強く対応しつつ、局面ごとに上回れるかが重要になる。

　状況に応じた修正力が問われることにもなりそうだが、ホームでさらに攻撃的な姿勢を打ち出し、前半戦のリベンジを果たしたい一戦だ。夜になり涼しさを増した味スタ。試合は19時4分に東京のキックオフでスタートした。

Tokyo Aim To Extend Winning Streak At Home 

Giravanz Kitakyushu were the visitors to Ajinomoto Stadium for a fixture that should have been the fifth of the season. In the previous outing a Hanyu double had earned Tokyo a 3-0 victory, raising the goals scored total to 14 in three games, and showing further proof of the stable approach the side had developed. However, the time taken between scoring the first and second goals confirmed that a two-goal cushion was vital as quickly as possible to ensure the win. The team needed to maintain its awareness of running, allow no gaps for the opposition to exploit, score the first goal and then double the lead. 
Kitakyushu lay in 8th.place with 37 points at kick off. Despite the side being winless in seven games, having drawn four and lost three, Tokyo manage Kiyoshi Okuma issued a warning, saying, "They're sticking with their playing style. They pass the ball around neatly, are explosive in the final third and carry a real threat". In the reverse fixture earlier in the season Tokyo struggled in the face of the hosts' heavy pressing from the front, then conceded from a fast, direct break in the second half and failed to break down the deep-lying defence in a 1-0 loss. Gonda commented, "We've thoroughly analysed the Kitakyushu team and know what to do to cause them trouble. More than anything it's their strength as a team and their consistency that makes them one of the best in the league". Tokyo would need to surpass Kitakyushu in every department to gain revenge for that earlier defeat; an aggressive, attacking display with the capability to respond to changing circumstances within the game was vital. 
Tokyo kicked off shortly after 7pm on a cool autumn evening. 

北九州の戦いに手こずり、チャンスを活かせず

　序盤は狙うサッカーから打開を図ろうとするが、互いにプレスを掛け合い、相手を自由にさせなかった。4分には森重のフィードが高橋に当たってしまい、北九州の逆襲をくらう。FW池元→FW大島に右エリアからシュートを打たれたが、権田がCKに逃れる。ピンチを免れると、徐々に東京が主導権を握ることに。

　だが、北九州のボール奪取や狙いのある守備の前に苦しみ、決定的と言えるチャンスはなかなか作れなかった。19分には、森重が右前線に送ったグラウンダーが相手DFのスライディングを抜けて徳永に渡る。徳永が前進して上げたクロスに、ルーカスがヘッドで合わせたが、バーの上に。28分には田邉のパスから谷澤がエリア内に進入するが、DFに競られ、打ち切れず。

　35分には北九州の左CKをルーカスがクリア。梶山→羽生がダイナミックなカウンターに持ち込み、梶山→右エリアの谷澤に。だが角度がなくシュートは打てず、中央にラストパス。しかし中央の梶山、椋原に渡る寸前にクリアされた…。押し気味に進めるも、北九州の集中した守備の前に決定機には至らず。スコアレスで後半へと折り返した。

Kitakyushu Ask Questions As Tokyo Fire Blanks 

The opening exchanges were tight, with neither side able to break the deadlock. In the 4th.minute Morishige's through ball bounced off Takahashi, allowing Kitakyushu to counter attack. Ikemoto played in fellow striker Oshima on the right of the Tokyo penalty area and Gonda produced a fine save to divert a low drive narrowly wide of the far post. Following that close escape Tokyo slowly began to assert themselves. 
However, the home side struggled to create clear-cut chances in the face of the visitors’ pressure on the ball and well-organized defence. In the 19th.minute Morishige pushed forward and stroked a pass out to the right wing where a defender mis-timed his attempted sliding interception, gifting Tokunaga a chance to run in behind the Kitakyushu defence. Tokunaga crossed towards the penalty spot where Lucas made a solid connection but directed his header over the bar. Yazawa ran on to Tanabe's through ball inside the Kitakyushu area in the 28th.minute but tight marking prevented him getting a shot on goal. 
In the 35th.minute Lucas cleared a Kitakyushu corner from the left, allowing Tokyo to counter attack. Yazawa received the ball from Kajiyama and set off down the right wing but was forced wide and into no position to shoot. Yazawa cut the ball back into the middle where once again the Kitakyushu defence reached it before the onrushing Kajiyama and Mukuhara. Despite Tokyo's forward momentum and endeavour the first half finished scoreless. 

椋原＆ルーカス弾で粘る北九州を突き離し、4連勝！

　後半立ち上がりの47分、梶山が右エリア・ゴールライン際で強さを発揮。キープの後に出したマイナスのパスは一度は相手に奪われるが、こぼれを右エリアの谷澤が拾い、中央に長いグラウンダーのパスを送る。これはエリア手前・正面のルーカスには合わず、後ろに抜けてしまったが、フォローに走った椋原が右足を振り抜く。ボールはDFをかすめて左下隅に決まりゴール!!　椋原の思い切りのよいミドルで先制を果たした。

　その後、北九州は選手交代を使い、攻撃陣を次々に投入。迫力のある攻撃を仕掛けるとともに、守備の激しさも増し、東京は流れを断ち切られる場面も。だがこれに対して冷静さを失わず、東京も69分には田邉に代えて石川を投入し、追加点を狙った。

　迎えた75分、パスをつなぎながら全体を押し上げ、森重が右前線に。石川が内側の羽生とワンツーをかわして右エリアにドリブルで進入し、中央エリア前の谷澤へつなぐ。谷澤は意表をついて足の裏でゴール正面のルーカスに絶妙なスルーパス。ルーカスが狙い澄ましたシュートは、GKの脇をすり抜けて決まり、2点目をゲット！流れるようなダイレクトプレーで北九州を突き放し、その後の反撃もシャットアウト。苦しい試合となったが、3試合連続の無失点でしのぎ、4連勝を果たした。

　【選手コメント】《椋原》「(ゴールについて）抑えたシュートを打とうとした。ラッキーなゴールだったかもしれないが、前半は苦しかったので、チームの力になれたのではないか。ただ、得点以外は満足をしていない。攻撃面ではまだまだ。特に前半は相手が1トップで、中盤に人数をかけてきてスペースが消されて苦しんだ。でも今は失点ゼロで抑えることができれば、攻撃陣が点を取ってくれるという気持ちで戦えている」

　《谷澤》「前半は無得点に終わったが、焦りはなかった。90分が終わったときに勝てればいい。そう考えていたし、ハーフタイムにもみんなで『落ち着いて戦おう』という声が出ていた。2点目に関して、自分がボールを受けるまでにルーコンの動きと位置を確認していた。オフサイドにならないように気を付けてパスを出した」

　【大熊監督の会見要旨】「北九州は、4-5-1というより4-1-4-1に近い形でスペースを消して、タイトに積極的な守備をしてくるという印象があった。今日の前半はそこを崩しきれなかった。シュートの思い切りや、もう1歩ドリブルで入っていく果敢さや勇気、気持ちの部分が希薄だった。勝負については、後半の立ち上がりに椋原の思い切ったシュートが入ったことが非常に大きい。ただし前半も、相手のカウンターを耐えながらきっちりと全員で守り、よい守備はできていた。その守備を続けながら、もう少し前半から積極性を出せるように一試合ずつ戦っていきたい。

　(後半に向けた修正は？）ルーカスが完璧に狙われていて、羽生はスペースには出ていたが、プレッシャーがかかって裏に出ることができなかった。そこで行きっぱなしではなく、オフサイドラインからもう一度入ってきて、前線の起点を2つにすることを伝えた。そこで羽生が忠実にプレーしてくれ、スペースができてプレッシャーが無くなり、パスの出し手がフリーになった。それによりサイドも突けるようになった」

　【北九州・三浦監督の会見要旨】「目を覆いたくなるようなミスやミスパスのシーンもあれば、非常に大きなハートというか心を持ったプレーもあった。しっかりとした戦力やスタジアム・選手・練習場など、全てがJ1と同格であるFC東京に対して、いま我々がやれることをやったと思う。後半の立ち上がりに失点したことで非常に難しい試合になった。ただその中でも同点に追い付くチャンスを見い出した。失点をするまでと比べて、下を向かずに、FC東京が持つであろう心理をうまく突きながら攻撃の時間を多く作ることができたのは、成長したことの一つ。

　残り15分間でも、出場してくる選手は日本代表級の石川であったり、東京には最後のところの精度やラストパスのアイディアがあった。前線やバイタルエリアの使い方、または最終ラインの背後を突く崩し方など、そのあたりは、我々も後々できるようになっていかなければいけない。よい戦いをしながらも、FC東京の精度の高さを認めなければいけない。ここ3試合、結果は付いてきていないが、短期で考えなければいけない目前の試合と、長期でチームを育てていく将来を同時に考えていく中で、昇格圏にいるチームとしっかりとファイトできたことは、今後に繋がると思う。選手個々の精度は、まだプロとして恥ずかしいプレーが多いが、今後も恥をかきながら一歩一歩成長していかなければいけない。今日は悪いところには目をつぶり、彼らの良いところをしっかり見て、今後に繋げていきたい」

Mukuhara And Lucas' Goals Kill Off Kitakyushu 

The game burst into life in the 47th.minute. Kajiyama showed his strength by dribbling to the Kitakyushu byline on the right, then attempted to cut the ball back into the middle. It struck a defender and fell to Yazawa, who made the same pass, aiming for Lucas on the edge of the penalty box. A defender's close attentions prevented Lucas from making contact and the ball rolled through towards Mukuhara, some 25 yards from goal. Mukuhara struck a low, first-time drive that Sato, in the visitors' goal, seemed to have covered until it clipped a defender's leg and beat the wrong-footed keeper on his right side. Mukuhara's alertness and sharp reactions had given Tokyo a precious lead. 
Kitakyushu responded by making attacking substitutions and tightening their defence, preventing Tokyo from utilising the momentum gained by taking the lead. The side retained its composure though, then replaced Tanabe with Ishikawa in the 69th.minute to inject some pace into the search for a second goal. 
In the 75th.minute Tokyo pressed forward with Morishige playing the ball down the right flank to Ishikawa. Ishikawa cut inside, played a neat one-two with Hanyu that took out a defender, then slid the ball across the face of the penalty area to Yazawa. Yazawa produced a delicate through ball with the sole of his right boot that was as deft as it was unexpected and bypassed the entire Kitakyushu defence line at a stroke, leaving Lucas with the ball at his feet and only Sato to beat. Lucas passed the ball into the corner of the goal with Sato stranded and a sublime team goal had given Tokyo the two-goal cushion they sought. The home side failed to add to their tally in the time that remained, the final whistle blowing on a hard-fought and well-earned 2-0 win, the fourth in a row and the third consecutive clean sheet. 


Players' comments 
Mukuhara 
"I tried to keep the shot down. Perhaps it was a bit of a lucky goal but the first half was hard work so maybe it was a reward for the team. Apart from the goal I wasn't satisfied with my performance. I've still got some way to go in my attacking play. Particularly in the first half the opposition played with a single striker, packed the midfield and we struggled to find space. With the way we're playing right now though, if we can keep a clean sheet then the attack can find ways to score". 

Yazawa 
"Even though the first half ended 0-0, we weren't getting impatient. If we've won after 90 minutes then that's fine. That's how we see it and at half time the general comment was to keep calm. For our second goal, I was keeping an eye on Lucas' position and movement before the ball was played to me. I played the pass trying to keep him onside". 


F.C.Tokyo manager Kiyoshi Okuma 
"I had the impression that Kitakyushu play a system closer to 4-1-4-1 than 4-5-1, close down space and are proactive in defence. We couldn't open them up in the first half today. We seemed to be lacking a little courage to take on shooting opportunities or take an extra step forward in a dribble. In terms of the result, Mukuhara's shot going in at the start of the second half was very important. However, we defended very well today and I hope we can continue with that, then be a little more assertive going forward. 
What did we change for the second half? They were firmly targeting Lucas and although Hanyu found some space their pressing was heavy and we couldn't get behind the defence. We told them to stop trying only that and to step back behind the offside line. Hanyu worked diligently, we found some space which relieved the pressure and allowed the player in possession time to make his pass. We had more joy with that than trying to work the wings". 

Giravanz Kitakyushu manager Miura 
"We made some mistakes that were so bad I could hardly bear to look but at the same time we played with a lot of heart. Everything about F.C.Tokyo is J1 level: the team, the players, the stadium, the training facilities and against that I felt we did what we are capable of doing at the moment. Conceding so early in the second half made the game very difficult for us. Even so, we did create the chances to have earned an equaliser. If you compare the teams until the time we conceded then we have no reason to be downhearted as we created chances against a team with such a strong mentality as Tokyo, and that's sign of the development of the team. 
In the final 15 minutes Tokyo were able to bring on a player of National Team quality in Ishikawa and were able to produce accuracy and ideas in the final pass. Their forwards and the way they play in the vital areas, the ability to open up a defence: these are the things we should be aiming for ourselves. Even though we played a good game, we have to recognize the quality of F.C.Tokyo. We haven't got the results in the last three games and have to look at the next fixture with a short-term view, while at the same time taking a long-term view of the team's growth. In those circumstances I think we can take a lot of positives for the future from the way we played against one of the sides challenging for promotion. We have to take the individual improvement and the elimination of embarrassing mistakes step by step. We can gloss over the worst parts today and focus on the good ones for the sake of the future".