Probably everyone except the person who kicked it was stunned.

MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE Round 17 match against FC Tokyo, held on May 16th, ended scoreless after 90 minutes, leading to a penalty shootout.

Even after all 11 players from each team had taken their kicks, the match remained undecided, and it was Yusuke Matsuo 's turn to take the first kick for Urawa Reds.

His first shot, aimed to the left of the goal, was saved. Unlike the first shot, when he stared intently at Kim Seung-gyu before taking the ball, he didn't look straight ahead. It seemed he was at a mental disadvantage.

However, the ball kicked by Matsuo seemed to mock the South Korean goalkeeper, who had leaped forcefully to the right, as it slowly found its way into the center of the goal.

Since goalkeepers generally dive to one side or the other, kicking a penalty kick towards the center is said to have a high success rate. However, if the goalkeeper reacts after seeing the ball, they can definitely save it, so kicking it towards the center requires courage. This is especially true if it's a chip kick with little speed or force.

A chip kick in a penalty kick is called a "Panenka," but who would have thought that someone would attempt a "Panenka" on their second attempt, so soon after missing the first one?

I asked him about it in the post-Trial interview area with surprise, but Matsuo answered calmly.

"On the contrary, the second shot was easier to take. Anyone would think I was nervous, and in a situation like that, I thought if I kicked it down the middle, it would go in. It was precisely because I missed the first one that I was able to take that shot for the second one."

It's a well-reasoned explanation. It's very easy to understand. However, it's difficult because even though you understand it, you can't actually do it.

Even when I pressed on, saying that normally you wouldn't kick, Matsuo replied without changing his expression at all.

"I think you should kick it precisely because everyone thinks you shouldn't."

Both the decision he made and the answer he gave were unconventional. That, in itself, felt very much like Matsuo.

Matsuo's characteristic style wasn't limited to just the penalty kick and his post Trial comments in FC Tokyo match.

"Today, we had Komori (Hiyan) in the shadow position, so I think the balance was good because I was able to create opportunities on the wing and he was there as a finisher."

As Matsuo himself said, playing as a leading chance creator, he displayed his characteristic style of play throughout, including speedy dribbling, runs behind opponents, and pressing to reduce the opponent's options while applying pressure.

In his fifth Trial since being sidelined for nearly two months, the quality and frequency of each of his plays have improved. Matsuo's efforts seemed to have strengthened the team's overall focus on playing with a positive attitude.

Alexander Scholz, a former teammate, also seemed reluctant to compete against Matsuo.

When asked about Komori after Trial, Scholz specifically mentioned Matsuo, saying, "Urawa's forwards, Komori and Matsuo, are of high quality." This suggests that he is aware of Matsuo's abilities, but also that he struggled to deal with him in this Trial.

"I'm feeling much better."

Matsuo himself is aware of his improved form. That's why he "wanted to score at least one goal," and even though his second penalty kick was praised, he regrets that "as the first penalty taker, I shouldn't have missed the first one."

However, I also feel that I can improve my condition even further after the match against FC Tokyo.

"Playing against top-ranked opponents in intense games offers a different kind of experience, and I think playing these kinds of games will help me regain Trial fitness. We lost in the penalty shootout, but I think it was a very good game for me."

The next match will be the final round of MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE on Friday, May 22nd. The opponent is FC Machida Zelvia, and the venue is the National Stadium, MUFG Stadium. This opponent and venue bring to mind a match from last season, on April 13th, 2025.

Matsuo started Trial that his team won 2-0, and displayed high-quality play both offensively and defensively until he was substituted in the 90th minute. In the 38th minute, with the score at 1-0, he scored a spectacular goal, slicing through the center from a long counter-attack.

"That brings back memories."

Matsuo grinned as he recalled what happened about a year ago, and then spoke about his enthusiasm for the upcoming match against Machida.

"To end the season on a good note, I want to win every game we can."

I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of performance he'll deliver in the match against Machida. Yusuke Matsuo is strong when it comes to big games.

(Interview and text by Masanori Kikuchi)