In the previous home game aiming for victory, the match against Sagan Tosu was a great game where we battled for dominance against a strong and tactically refined opponent. However, despite hitting the post twice with decisive chances, we were unable to reach the goal. On the other hand, the opponent rarely entered our penalty area, but they were able to score a direct free kick towards the end. We were unable to defend our one point and it was a disappointing result.
After a week of rest from consecutive games, this round will see us take on Júbilo Iwata at Yamaha Stadium. We have already played two games against them in the Levain Cup this season, with one draw and one loss. As a team, we have changed our lineup for both league and cup matches, actively using young players in the latter. Therefore, it is not fair to conclude that we have a bad compatibility with Iwata based on the results.
In the defeated match, we created decisive chances that surpassed the opponent and it was a game with a sense of accomplishment in terms of content. Young players such as Yuki KAJIURA scored their first professional goal and experienced players like Yojiro TAKAHAGI took charge of game-making, and for the most part, Tokyo had control of the game throughout. However, in the end, we were unable to capitalize on our chances and were reversed in the final moments.
The recent two matches, including this Levain Cup match against Iwata, have a common issue with the accuracy of finishing. If we can keep possession and push the opponent, it would be a different problem if we can't break through their solid defensive block. However, we have been able to create chances to threaten the opponent's goal while also mixing in counterattacks. It seems that we are missing out on great opportunities due to just a little more accuracy and coordination.
For the team that has been working on establishing a new style, it is now a time of trial. In order to accelerate growth, we will stick to our new style and bring back 3 points.
