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An away game marking a restart after conceding 3 goals in 11 minutes and ending a 3-game winning streak against Yokohama F.Marinos. The match against Shimizu S-Pulse, who are tied with 40 points, was played wearing the gray-colored Special Kit.
From the start, Tokyo aggressively applied pressure and created multiple big chances through a solid and layered attack. They connected passes to execute perfect breakdowns, then launched sharp counterattacks to assault the opponent’s goal.
However, as they continued to lack finishing precision and failed to convert chances, the momentum gradually shifted to Shimizu. Then, in the 34th minute of the first half, they left the opponent’s right side free, allowing a sharp left-footed cross to be met by Takahashi’s header, conceding a regrettable opening goal. Despite pressing forward, they couldn’t finish, and instead, the game took a bad turn as they conceded from a single chance.
In the second half, it was Tokyo’s substitution that changed the flow of the game. Kota TAWARATSUMIDA, who was brought on in the 16th minute of the second half, immediately created a great chance with a cut-in and through pass, increasing Tokyo’s opportunities. Then, in the 31st minute of the second half, the long-awaited equalizing goal for the blue and red came.
From Morishige’s long feed, Tawara Tsukida broke through the center and, with a skillful trap, passed to the right. Receiving this, Keito Sato feinted once, took the ball to the right, and unleashed a powerful shot with his right foot. The fierce shot struck the near side spectacularly, bringing FC Tokyo back to level terms in the match.
In the later stages, the game opened up with both teams creating chances in a back-and-forth battle. However, neither side was able to find the net before time ran out. The away match ended in a 1-1 draw, breaking the bad streak and leveling the score, but leaving the impression that they couldn’t secure the win.
Match Preview
The league is finally entering its final stages.
This season, only five official matches remain in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, along with the Emperor’s Cup, where we have advanced to the Semifinal Round. Following the International Match Week, this round will see us travel for an away game held on Friday night, as our opponent Sanfrecce Hiroshima will be competing in the AFC Champions League Elite in South Korea next Tuesday.
Tokyo welcomed back Yuto NAGATOMO from the SAMURAI BLUE (Japan national team) and Min Gyu JANG from the South Korean national team. The SAMURAI BLUE achieved a dramatic comeback victory over the “kingdom” Brazil in the Kirin Challenge Cup 2025 held on Tuesday, thrilling the crowd at Tokyo Stadium (Ajinomoto Stadium) and all of Japan. Although NAGATOMO did not get playing time, he passionately commented after the match, “I was incredibly inspired and felt I need to improve even more to become an overwhelming presence in the J.League. (For the Hiroshima match) we’ll carry this momentum forward.” Meanwhile, Min Gyu JANG played the full match against Paraguay, contributing to a 2-0 shutout victory and successfully making his case for a fourth consecutive World Cup appearance.
During this period, the team has been working hard on training to address the issues so far and prepare for the final stages of the season. While focusing on dealing with crosses, which had been a noticeable cause of conceding goals, they also concentrated on how to attack and break down the opposition, considering that many of the remaining opponents mainly play with three or five defenders. They conducted various checks with the idea that offense and defense are two sides of the same coin.
Naturally, the primary focus has been on countermeasures against Hiroshima, who we will face next. They currently stand 5th in the league with 17 wins, 7 draws, and 9 losses. With a 7-point gap to the top, this match is crucial for them to secure points and remain in the title race at all costs. Additionally, they are a team that consistently competes at the top with an aggressive style, having advanced to the Final Round of the J.League YBC Levain Cup and the Semifinal Round of the Emperor’s Cup.
Their standout feature is undoubtedly the three defenders with exceptional individual abilities and the Japan national team goalkeeper Keisuke OSAKO, who together form one of the league’s top defensive units. Conceding only 23 goals in 33 league matches is the lowest in the league. While leveraging the stability of their back line as a major strength, they boldly press from the front to take away the opponent’s freedom, then launch attacks down the flanks and sharp counterattacks.
Tokyo aims to win the many one-on-one battles that will likely arise on both offense and defense, applying pressure while shutting down any developments where the opponent’s wing-backs push forward. The key point is how to create gaps in Hiroshima’s solid defensive line. Rikizo MATSUHASHI, the head coach, also says this is the decisive moment.
“(The opponent) isn’t tight for the entire 90 minutes, so we want to look for those gaps and seize the right timing to push forward firmly. When their momentum breaks, that’s our chance. At that moment, it’s necessary to speed up the attack and deliver the ball close to the goal while penetrating the opponent’s defense. The opponent sets up a very solid block, so if we lose the ball, it could lead to a counterattack. But we must not retreat there; there should be opportunities to continue with second and third attacks. While firmly controlling the ball and creating chances, even if we lose it, we want to quickly switch between offense and defense to regain possession, then move the ball again to unsettle the opponent. We aim to bring the game into a flow where the opponent finds it difficult to show their strengths.”
Alexander SCHOLZ, who is also a defensive pillar, points to the “individual battles” as a key to the match.
“Hiroshima is one of the difficult opponents. This time it’s an away game, so it will be a tough match. Even if we look for tactical solutions as a team, Hiroshima constantly tries to create one-on-one situations with high intensity and neutralizes them individually. It will be a high-intensity match, and since individual quality is important, I think it will be a very big challenge both for the team and for individuals.”
The last match held at the Japan National Stadium ended in a 0-3 defeat. Also fresh in memory is last season’s away game, where due to a typhoon, the Shinkansen was stopped, forcing a difficult journey that saw the team arrive in Hiroshima only at noon on match day. However, in that game, despite falling behind by three goals, the team fought back with two goals in the second half, which became a turning point to build momentum heading into the final stages of the league.
In this upcoming match against Hiroshima as well, the team wants to thoroughly implement their strategy, win the individual battles, and show a passionate performance, aiming to bring back confidence and results heading into the final stages of the season, including the Emperor’s Cup.
After showing determination despite being tossed around by the typhoon and falling short in last season’s away game, Teruhito NAKAGAWA, moved to tears by the cheers from fans and supporters behind the goal, reflects on that time and shares his thoughts heading into this match.
“I think it will be a match like a clash of souls. I have memories from last season, and since we lost 0-3 in this season’s home game as well, we all want to channel our frustration together.”
Yes, it is a battle of souls.
From here, we must increase our intensity heading into the Emperor’s Cup and continue playing with fighting spirit. Surpass the opponent as a team, individually, and with determination. If you believe in yourself, victory will follow. This is the culmination of the 2025 season shown by the blue and red. We want to make this match against Hiroshima the first step.
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q. Based on the content and result of the match against Shimizu S-Pulse, what kind of training have you been focusing on during the break period?
A. First of all, for this upcoming match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, we fully utilized the two-week break period to spend time confirming both offense and defense. On the offensive side, we shared strategies focusing on the opponent’s weak points and the spaces that open up, discussing how to initiate attacks and breakthroughs to break them down. On the defensive side, we worked on countermeasures against their frequent crosses. Many of the teams we will face from here on use three-back or five-back formations. We have been mindful of building up through continuous training. I believe this period allowed us to conduct repetitive and consistent training.
Q. I think how to avoid Hiroshima’s pressing will be a key point directly linked to the outcome of the match.
A. It is about not missing the moment when the opponent’s momentum breaks down during build-up or one-on-one situations. I believe that moment presents an opportunity to advance. Considering that it is difficult to play tightly for the entire 90 minutes, we also need to keep in mind a game plan that does not miss those chances. I think there will be times when Hiroshima holds the ball, but during the break, the team was able to share training that anticipated various scenarios.
Q, I think how much we can outperform in one-on-one situations both offensively and defensively will be crucial.
A, Hiroshima applies pressure using a system focused on the front line, such as 3-4-3 or 3-2-5. They play almost man-to-man defense in the opponent’s territory and press forward to try to win the ball high up in their own half as well. If we lose easily in one-on-one situations, their style will become more apparent. I believe this is a point we must carefully manage.
[Player Interview]
Q. This week’s opponent is the in-form Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
A. They are in good form and a strong opponent, having recently secured a place in the Levain Cup Final Round. I have fully felt this through our matches in the first half of the league as well. However, I still believe there are gaps within the 90 minutes. To break out of our current situation, even though it is an away game, we must take all three points.
Q. Hiroshima traditionally uses a system centered around a three-back formation. How do you plan to effectively utilize the system gaps and the mismatches you mentioned earlier?
A. Hiroshima plays with three at the back, and when defending, they have five players in the defensive line. We want to carefully assess how we can launch our attacks. Due to the nature of their system, once their defensive formation is set, it may seem like there is no space, but by coordinating with teammates to target the opponent’s weak points and spaces, we want to distribute the ball effectively from the back line. By persistently targeting these areas, I believe there will come a moment when the opponent can no longer hold out. We aim to avoid falling into the defensive traps they set and instead actively exploit their weak points to break down their defensive block.
Q. How did the team work on the challenge of reducing goals conceded and finishing matches without conceding during the break period?
A. Regarding efforts to reduce goals conceded, we were able to thoroughly focus on improvements through training even during the break period. However, not everything improves immediately just because we trained, and by continuing these efforts, I feel that we have been able to align our awareness and improve the finer details. Our opponent this week also tends to launch attacks from crosses, so we want to show strong resilience in repelling those.
Q. Including last season’s away match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, I believe there are various feelings about tomorrow’s game.
A. Considering last season and the fact that we lost at home this season as well, the whole team wants to channel that frustration and take revenge.
Q. This will be a match against an opponent we haven’t beaten in the last six games. What do you think will be important to secure a victory?
A. Hiroshima basically marks man-to-man. Therefore, winning the one-on-one situations will be crucial. The outcome of the match is decided by the clash of spirits, and not losing in that battle is key. I want to place great importance on that mindset in tomorrow’s game.
Q. Even if we avoid the intense pressing from the opponent’s front line, we will face one of the league’s top three-back defenses and goalkeeper. How do you want to break through them?
A. Tokyo has many highly skilled players, so I will trust my teammates and approach the match with confidence. By capitalizing on the first clear chance, we can seize the momentum of the game, so I believe the opening goal will be a crucial factor in deciding the match.
Q. From the Hiroshima match onward, there will be several games using a similar system against highly intense opponents. I believe that by securing victories in these matches, we will gain new insights.
A. It is important to figure out how to break down a defensive opponent. Even with the same system, each team plays differently, so we want to find spaces, exploit the opponent’s weaknesses, and take control of the game. Personally, I also want to score goals and contribute to the victory.
AloJapan.com