TOKYOism

In the previous home game aimed at victory, the match against Sagan Tosu showcased a good game with a high intensity and a tactically refined opponent, engaging in a battle for dominance. However, despite hitting the post twice during decisive chances, we fell just short of scoring. Conversely, there were hardly any moments where the opponent invaded our penalty area, but in the final stages, we conceded a direct free kick. We were unable to recover from that single goal, resulting in a frustrating outcome.

After a week of preparation following consecutive matches, this round will see us travel to Yamaha Stadium to face Júbilo Iwata. This season, we have already played two matches in the Levain Cup, resulting in one draw and one loss. The team has been changing its lineup between the league and the Levain Cup, actively utilizing younger players in the latter. Therefore, it is not possible to definitively conclude that we have a poor compatibility with Iwata based solely on the results.

In the match we lost, we created decisive chances that surpassed our opponent, and it was a game where we felt we had a good performance. Young players like Yuki KAJIURA scored their first professional goals, while experienced players like Yojiro TAKAHAGI took charge of game-making, leading to Tokyo having the majority of the possession throughout the match. However, in the end, we were unable to capitalize on our chances and were reversed in the final moments.

In the recent Levain Cup match against Iwata, as well as in the last two matches, the common issue has been the accuracy of finishing. While it is a different problem if we are unable to break down a solid defensive block while maintaining possession and pushing the opponent, we are certainly creating opportunities to threaten the opponent's goal by mixing in counterattacks. There is a strong impression that we are missing out on great chances due to a step lacking in accuracy and coordination.

This is a challenging time for the team that has been accumulating victories while working to establish a new style. To accelerate growth, we will stick to the new style and bring home 3 points.