The team that suffered a 0-3 defeat on Kyoto's ground was not met with boos. What echoed from the stands was a powerful cheer saying, "No matter what anyone says, don't worry about others; if you believe in yourself, victory will follow."
After the match, the players finished their greetings and were about to leave, but Teruhito NAKAGAWA called out to the captain Kei KOIZUMI, saying "Kei, let's listen," and the players received passionate cheers from fans and supporters at the pitch side.
Masato MORISHIGE said, "Even in a situation where boos were not unexpected, that support gave me courage. I must stand up and fight for them," reaffirming his determination.
The reality of the 90 minutes where they couldn't surpass in content lies behind it.
In the first half, Tokyo actively utilized long balls against Kyoto SANGA F.C.'s high line. They positioned Keito Sato as the lone striker, with Kota TAWARATSUMIDA and Soma ANZAI as shadows, choosing a strategy to exploit the space behind the defense.
The first 15 minutes of the match saw a back-and-forth battle, with both teams building attacks starting from long balls. However, after the 20th minute of the first half, Kyoto began to gain the upper hand in chasing second balls and launched attacks mainly from the flanks towards the Tokyo goal.
At the 32nd minute of the first half, the balance breaks. From a throw-in on the right side, Fukuda sends a cross ball in front of the goal, and Kawasaki pushes it in with his right foot from the scramble in front of the goal, giving Kyoto the lead. Kyoto, known for their strong side attacks, takes the initiative.
As a result, Tokyo had zero shots on target in the first half. The intention was clear, but it was ineffective.
In the second half, Tokyo also tries to reorganize. At the 3rd minute of the second half, Koizumi takes a mid-range shot from outside the right side of the penalty area, but it goes straight to the opposing goalkeeper. Then, at the 13th minute of the second half, there was a scene where Keita ENDO pushed in the rebound from Koizumi's shot amid a scramble in front of the goal, but the VAR support judged it offside. Just one step away from the goal.
Then, at 25 minutes into the second half, the left side of their own half was broken down, and when a cross ball was delivered, Nagasawa laid it off, and finally Takeda, who was brought on as a substitute, calmly finished with a left-footed volley to make it 0-2. Then, at 30 minutes, Okugawa made a run behind the line from a long ball and drove a sharp right-footed shot into the lower left corner of the goal for the third goal. Kyoto, who maintained the advantage through substitutions and play intensity, sealed the victory.
The match ended 0-3. The expressions of the players from both teams reflected the contrast between the content and the result.
The cheers sent from the stands were not just consolation. They were the determination of the fans and supporters. How the players, who received those voices and that passion, will show change in this matchweek is a battle that will test their true worth.
Respond to that passion
The time has come to overcome the frustration experienced in the last match of the first half of the league. The "passion" felt in the land of Kyoto――.
The day we suffered a complete defeat, this match holds a special meaning to respond to the cheers sent by fans and supporters.
Kyoto defeated Verdy 1-0 at home in the previous match, temporarily rising to the top of the standings with 48 points. The core of their attack is Rafael Elias, ranked 3rd in the scoring chart with 10 goals. In addition to his sharp finishing, he stands out with his runs behind the defense and hold-up play, possessing a variety of scoring patterns.
The full-backs on both sides require particular attention. On the right, Fukuda, and on the left, Sugai, boast strength in both offense and defense, pressing opponents with tough duels and sprints. Fukuda scored a career-high 4 goals, delivering results in crucial moments late in matches. His long throw, a key weapon, is a major source of goals for Kyoto, with the number of goals from throw-ins also topping the league, reflecting the statistics. On the left, Sugai, who joined from Kashima Antlers last summer, repeatedly contributes to chance creation with his natural stamina, carrying the ball from deep positions and making overlapping runs high up the pitch.
The data also supports Kyoto's offensive power. They boast the highest shot success rate in the league and have a very high success rate for crosses. In particular, the accuracy of crosses from within the penalty area is among the best in the league, making it the biggest point of caution for Tokyo, who conceded many goals from side attacks in the first half of the league.
Meanwhile, Tokyo has not been able to gain momentum after the break, with 1 draw and 1 loss. In the match against Kashima, despite creating many chances, they failed to score and conceded a goal late in the game. In the match against Shonan Bellmare, although they scored the opening and an additional goal as planned, they suffered a painful draw after being caught up late in the game.
However, the 4-4-2 formation adopted from the second half of the league has brought stability to the team in both offense and defense. In attack, the number of multiple-goal games has increased, and integration with new players who joined during the break is progressing. In the first half of the league matches, although long balls were frequently used, the team could not find a way to the goal, but now that the playing style has been organized, they should be able to show a different perspective.
The challenge lies in defensive intensity in the final stages and how to close out the match. There is no room to drop points against an opponent competing for the top spot; rather, it is necessary to be determined to use this match as a breakthrough to regain momentum.
With vengeance and pride in our hearts, Tokyo takes on the challenge. To defeat Kyoto and seize the victory that answers "that passion"――.
The Man Who Leads Tokyo to Passion
The key player in Tokyo is, after all, Yuto NAGATOMO.
Despite being the team's oldest member, his overflowing energy and intensity of play show no signs of decline; rather, he continues to demonstrate the driving force that leads the team to "passion".
Although he was not given many opportunities to play in the early part of the season, he became a regular starter after the break in June. In addition to his strength in one-on-one play, his accurate crosses from both feet have become a major weapon, creating numerous scoring chances including two assists in the match against Urawa Reds.
After the match against Urawa, he said, "Winning the E-1 Championship gave me confidence. I definitely want to lift the cup in Tokyo as well," and that strong determination is the foundation of his play.
If Tokyo can break through Kyoto's high line with relentless up-and-down movements, the path to victory will open for Tokyo. Since Kyoto's fullbacks are also very strong, the battles on the sides will be a key point that greatly influences the match.
The man who makes the tropical nights of August even hotter, Yuto NAGATOMO.
When his passion spreads to the team, the fans and supporters, and the entire venue, a moment of "ecstasy" arrives at Ajinomoto Stadium.
(Honorifics omitted in the text)
