Match Review
This is a game that we absolutely want to win.
With the interruption period due to the International Match Week coming to an end, the 2024 Meiji Yasuda J1 League resumes. Tokyo faced off against Nagoya Grampus at the new National Stadium, where they have never lost in the past.
Since the last victory on July 13 (Saturday) in the 23rd round against Albirex Niigata, the team has been struggling to secure a win. In the away game against Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the 29th round before the break, they managed to score two goals in the end despite the impact of Typhoon No. 10, stopping a streak of four consecutive goalless matches, but did not reach victory. They entered the break with frustrations piling up.
This match was held at the National Stadium, where they have had good results. The players are fired up to deliver a victory to the fans and supporters who continue to cheer for them.
The starting lineup for Tokyo featured goalkeeper Brandon Nozawa, with the backline composed of Keisuke Koizumi, Makoto Morishige, Henrique Trevisan, and Tetsuhei Oka from right to left. The midfield included Keigo Higashi, who made his first league start of the season alongside Yuya Takau. Ryotaro Araki was positioned as the attacking midfielder. The forwards included Teruhito Nakagawa on the right wing, Kota Tawara on the left, with Diego Oliveira as the lone striker. Additionally, Keita Yamashita made his first bench appearance in about 1 year and 4 months. Reon Nozawa, who also made the roster, hoped to shine again at the National Stadium, where he scored his first J1 league goal in the 23rd round against Niigata.
1st HALF – Keigo’s Goal & Diego’s Goal for a Two-Goal Lead
The loud version of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ echoed from behind the goal, tightening the atmosphere at the National Stadium. Special fireworks further heightened the excitement just before kickoff. The players donned their limited-edition black third uniforms, and the match kicked off at 19:03.
The first shot came from Tokyo. Within 40 seconds, they built up play on the left side, with Higashi attempting a middle-range shot.
Tokyo continued to possess the ball and seek opening opportunities. The players who were particularly passionate about this match began to make an impact. It happened in the 13th minute of the first half.
On the left side, Araki delivered a sharp pass reminiscent of a cross, slicing through the opponent’s defensive line. Nakagawa received it, dribbled powerfully towards the center, and shot with his right foot, but the opposing goalkeeper deflected it, allowing Higashi to follow up. The veteran duo, eager to produce results, showcased a determined play, successfully putting Tokyo ahead. This was the first time since the previous match at the National Stadium against Niigata that Tokyo took an early lead. The stadium resonated with chants of “Oh! Keigo Higashi!” to celebrate the heroic opening goal.
Tokyo kept pressing into Nagoya’s half with a mix of short and long passes. Showing focused defensive efforts, including Nakagawa’s pressing, they managed to control the game while managing risks against the opponent’s counters.
With a strong determination for victory, the player wearing number 39 also came through again. In the 29th minute, Nakagawa matched a long feed from Morishige and sprinted forward, quickly picking up a ball that the defender failed to clear properly and dribbled past. He entered the penalty area and was fouled from behind, winning a penalty kick. Diego stepped up as the kicker, utilizing his usual meticulous steps to trick the goalkeeper and slotted the ball to the left, extending Tokyo’s score to 2-0 in the 31st minute.
Awareness of second balls, which had been a challenge since the break, was high, and they avoided losing possession through aggressive plays that could lead to being countered. The backline was stable, successfully dealing with crosses.< /p>
At the end of the first half, after three minutes of added time, Tokyo led by two goals.
2nd HALF – Yang’s Goal & Teru’s Goal Maintain Undefeated Streak at National Stadium
For the second half, Nagoya made two substitutions, while Tokyo changed no personnel, aiming to maintain the momentum from the first half.
While the opposition increased their aggressiveness from the sides, Tokyo remained calm. The players on the pitch kept the two-goal lead in mind, controlling the game without forcing speed even when they regained possession.
In the 15th minute of the second half, three players were substituted. Higashi, Henrique, and Tawara were replaced by Kanta dohi, Kyosei Kimoto, and Keita Endo. Dohi was utilized as a left defensive midfielder due to his technical abilities.
Tokyo, relentless in their attack, scored their long-awaited third goal in the 20th minute when the player wearing number 8 netted his long-anticipated first goal. Near the penalty arc, Diego and Araki maintained possession before spreading the ball to the left side. Endo made a vertical run and delivered a cross that Takau met at the far post, firing a right-footed shot into the net. The sharp delivery pierced the goal’s net, sealing the game with a decisive third goal for Tokyo. For Takau, who had previously scored what was deemed a “phantom middle shot” in the sixth match against Urawa Reds (disallowed due to a foul in the preceding play), this was his eagerly awaited debut goal. After scoring, he dashed towards the supporters, showing a strong fist pump while tapping the crest on his chest, expressing joy. The fans and supporters celebrated this joyous moment with chants of “Vamos! Yan.”
In the 31st minute of the second half, they were hit by a powerful shot from Kasper Junker from the left side, who had scored a hat-trick in their previous encounter. However, goalkeeper Nozawa made a brilliant save, deflecting it with one hand. The attacking players were well supported by the defense.
In the 33rd minute of the second half, Reon Nozawa was brought on for Araki on the right wing, with Nakagawa moving to the attacking midfielder position. This position change further heated up the National Stadium. Number 39, who had been active in both offense and defense throughout the match and was involved in the two goals, found his moment of glory.
In the 35th minute, during a quick counterattack, Endo carried the ball forward and delivered a through pass. Nakagawa, having made a run, struck a powerful left-foot shot into the net for the fourth goal. Cup your ears and turned towards the supporters, pausing to soak up the loud cheers and listen to the chants. “I want to deliver results to those supporting us,” he said, leaving an overwhelming score tally of three goals, including his own, in front of a crowd of 55,896.
After conceding a goal in the 40th minute of the second half, Yamashita replaced Nakagawa on the field. It marked his first official match appearance after returning to Tokyo, but he showed his presence by boldly trying for a shot.
The match wrapped up with a 4-1 victory after five minutes of added time. Showcasing vibrant attacking football at “Our National Stadium,” they secured a league victory for the first time in about two months with four goals. The stadium filled with the chant “The city that never sleeps,” and the victory of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” allowed the players and everyone at the National Stadium to share in the joy. It was a night of fervor for the National Stadium and Tokyo.
MATCH DETAILS
FC Tokyo
STARTING XI
GK Brandon Nozawa
DF Keisuke Koizumi/Makoto Morishige/Henrique Trevisan (15′ Kimoto Kyosei)/Tetsuhei Oka
MF Yuya Takau/Keigo Higashi (15′ Kanta Dohi)/Ryotaro Araki (33′ Reon Nozawa)
FW Diego Oliveira/Kota Tawara (15′ Keita Endo)/Teruhito Nakagawa (41′ Keita Yamashita)
SUBS
GK Goh Hatano
DF Yuto Nagatomo
GOAL
13′ Keigo Higashi / 31′ Diego Oliveira / 20′ Yuya Takau / 36′ Teruhito Nakagawa
Nagoya Grampus
STARTING XI
GK Rangnarek
DF Kawanome Onseki/Kenedy Ebeus/Masaya Uchida (0′ Katsuki Nakayama)
MF Ryo Hideyuki (21′ Taichi Kikuchi)/Keiya Shibashi (30′ Ken Bakai)/Yoshiharu Inagaki/Masaya Morishige (0′ Ryuji Izumi)/Yuki Nogami
FW Kasper Junker/Kensuke Nagai (21′ Patrick)
SUBS
GK Yohei Takeda
DF Ha Changrae
GOAL
40′ Yoshiharu Inagaki
[Interview with coach Peter Cramofsky]
Q: Please reflect on today’s match.
A: It was a match where we were able to display many good elements that contribute to our important rules and strong performances. There were many positives throughout the game, and there were parts where what we did was rewarded. However, there are still areas for improvement, and I want to continue without changing the process we have been working on. We will thoroughly analyze our performance and further improve our fighting style. The players fought excellently today. I think they showed remarkable mentality and spirit. They gave their all to secure three points for the fans and supporters, and this ultimately led to great goals. However, I regret that we could not end the match without conceding a goal. This area is something we must improve.
There were many good moments. We were able to efficiently move the ball into the spaces we wanted to use, and the four goals came as a result of fighting with a strong awareness of going forward. If we do our part well, we can create attacks that are difficult for the opponent to stop, which I think the opponent dislikes. I sincerely hoped to deliver three points to the fans and supporters by giving our all. I am proud of the players who executed that. Also, this is not just about today’s members; it is about the efforts of all players, all staff, and everyone involved with the club. I hope everyone enjoys the three points from tonight.
Q: I believe it’s the first time you’ve scored four goals this season. Was there a trigger for this?
A: The consistent accumulation we’ve built this season was able to come through today. While showing our discipline and commitment, we managed to breakthrough and target the spaces behind. We had moments where we controlled the ball well while moving it around, and at those times, we effectively pricked the opponent and aligned with our intended approach. I want to analyze what we do daily. What we did every day was rewarded today. I think it was very good for the players to achieve four good goals.
[Player Interview]
Keigo Higashi
Q: It was your first opening goal in two months. Please reflect on that scoring scene.
A: Due to injuries, I had less playing time for over six months, but I’m surprisingly the type to think a lot. I’ve been considering what the team should do to improve and what we could do better. When Nakagawa had the ball, I made a run forward—that kind of “decoy” run and assisting runs, I thought were rather few among the whole team. If you look solely at that scene, Nakagawa took the ball into the box for a final shot, and I finished it when it spilled out. That kind of movement is also my strength, and as a defensive midfielder, I don’t have many chances to move forward, but in that situation, I just happened to decide to go into the penalty area. It was lucky the ball spilled to me there.
Q: It seems that the ball was moving smoothly during build-up.
A: There were many player substitutions today, and I think the individuality of the players came out well in each situation. While we did well today, there are times when it doesn’t go well, so we need to think about what to do during those times. It’s a subtle point, but in defense, when it’s crucial to go for the ball, we shouldn’t overdo it but balance our approach, which I believe is important.
Q: I found it noteworthy that you mentioned before the match, “Let’s have fun.”
A: I believe everyone starts playing football because it’s enjoyable. However, when we carry the weight of pressure, we end up feeling constricted. Recently, everyone started feeling that way. Watching the matches, I noticed that everyone looked tense, so I thought if we could make it enjoyable and smile, things would naturally flow. It’s essential to remember that football is fun; if we can maintain focus while enjoying it, the team can improve. I think today everyone did well towards that direction.
Q: Please share your determination for the next match.
A: We’ve only just won once, so we must remain vigilant. We have to keep stating that this position is not acceptable. Upcoming matches will be even more crucial than today. I want to prepare thoroughly from tomorrow and aim for consecutive wins.
Teruhito Nakagawa
Q: Compared to the recent match, it seemed like there was a high awareness of victory and goals among the team, including yourself.
A: Playing aggressively, I reflected on the previous match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima where I shed tears of frustration, and I focused solely on channeling that frustration into our performance at the National Stadium. That’s why I think we ended up with such an outstanding result. Winning is the best feeling.
Q: Higashi’s opening goal resulted from your long-range shot.
A: There was also the option to pass to Higashi before shooting, but I observed the movement of the opposing defense and a bit impulsively took the shot. Since it was just a short time after the start, I also wanted to instill that awareness to shoot in the whole team. It was a good timing for Higashi to follow up and score.
Q: The match felt particularly focused on targeting behind the opponent’s defense.
A: While we maintained our connections, we also aimed to deliver the ball to areas that make the opponent uncomfortable, and we were collectively focused on recovering second balls. Those intentions translated well into scoring and play.
Q: After the match, there was a moment when you sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone” with the fans and supporters, which was a nice sight.
A: The fans and supporters always provide us with the best support. We continuously feel their cheers and excellent atmosphere on the pitch, so it was wonderful that everyone could sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” with smiles again.
Yuya Takau
Q: Please tell us the good points about partnering with Higashi in the defensive midfield.
A: Since we were up against Nagoya Grampus, I felt we could relatively draw and move the ball well. While firmly practicing risk management, we were able to find where to press, and both Higashi and I were able to move fluidly and proactively, so I think that went well.
Q: It seems the game was conducted very well.
A: Scoring first with Higashi’s goal was significant, and we also managed to gain an additional goal. In the locker room at halftime, there was talk of aiming for a third goal in the second half, so I’m glad we could decisively wrap up the game.
Q: Takau finally scored his long-awaited first goal. What was that like to look back on?
A: It felt great. I was thrilled, but thoughts of the previous disallowed goal crossed my mind, making me wonder if it would be taken away again (laughs). It was a cross form that the coach had demanded from the team, and Endo’s cross was fantastic, allowing me to finish from instinct, which thankfully went in.
Q: After the match, how was the atmosphere in the stands with the supporters behind the goal?
A: Winning has been long-awaited, and with the previous match affected by the typhoon, I faced the game with the desire to deliver a win to the fans and supporters who kept cheering us on until the end. I’m glad that we could celebrate together.
