In the race for the Emperor's Cup quarter-finals

The Emperor's Cup 4th Round will be held. Shimizu S-Pulse will face off at Ajinomoto.
In the league matches, we drew with Urawa and Kashima, remaining unbeaten in the last 10 official matches. While building up as a team, we are gradually developing our competitiveness as well.
However, this Emperor's Cup is a knockout tournament, so it is essential to win decisively.
Coach Massimo also said, "The attitude we aim for hasn't changed at all, but only one team will survive in a single elimination."
"It is important to minimize mistakes as much as possible and to fight with focus in order to become one of them," he stated about the goal.

However, the team is in a difficult situation. Currently, Morishige and Muto, who have been selected for the Japan national team, are absent. Nakajima is also unable to participate due to registration issues.
Ota has developed a fever since yesterday and is forced to miss the match. Therefore, Canini will make his first start as center-back.
Also, Mukuahara was used as the left side back, and Mita was used as a starter in the midfield. Hiraoka made his first appearance on the bench, and two players, GK Shiota and Kamei, are also on standby, making this a true all-out battle.

Shimizu faced Biwako Seikei Sport College and Sapporo (J2) in the Emperor's Cup, winning both and advancing to the 4th Round.
However, Shimizu is also missing FW Novakovich, DF Yakovitch, as well as DF Miura and MF Kaneko, who have been selected for their respective national teams and age groups.
FW Senoha, who has returned from Tochigi, was unable to participate, and it can be said that the situation is difficult.

However, by strengthening the defense with a 3-5-2 formation, there is momentum in the counterattacks that utilize the speed and synergy of FW Omae and Toshiyuki TAKAGI.
In contrast, Tokyo maintains its aggressiveness and focus, aiming for a place in the top 8.

Under the autumn-like climate, the match started at 19:04 with Shimizu's kickoff.

Although they maintained possession of the ball, they struggled against Shimizu's counterattack.

From the beginning, there was a fierce exchange, and the match continued with back-and-forth developments. In the 12th minute, Tokyo's Edu received a pass from Mita, carried the ball into the center while holding off a defender in the right area, and turned to shoot.
However, Shimizu's GK saved it, resulting in a corner kick. From here, they earned two corner kicks, but were countered after being cleared.
In the 14th minute, a feed from Shimizu's own half was matched by FW Toshiyuki TAKAGI, who broke into the area and created a decisive moment, but Gonda made a great save to avert the crisis.

Tokyo maintains possession of the ball as time passes, but Shimizu also sets up a solid block and is fierce in challenges. Unable to break through that defensive network, they instead find themselves on the receiving end of a counterattack.
In the 27th minute, both teams launched quick counterattacks, creating scenes where they advanced to each other's goal. Shimizu's Rikuhei, registered as an MF but playing in defense, carried the ball forward with a dribble and advanced into Tokyo's goal area.
They held on tenaciously, but made a mistake during the connecting phase and were attacked again. Even so, they counterattacked, and Watanabe broke forward, but was evaded by Shimizu DF BUENO with a throw-in.

In the 37th minute, Tokyo regained possession in their own half and launched a speedy counterattack. Watanabe carried the ball through the center, with Edu on the right and Kono advancing on the left.
Watanabe draws in the Shimizu defender he faces and passes to Kono on the left. Just as Kono attempts to charge into the area, he gets caught by the Shimizu defender...
However, it did not result in a penalty kick, and they only earned a free kick just in front of the left area.

There were moments when Shimizu created opportunities on the side with quick passing, but they covered for each other in defense, maintained their concentration, and ended the first half scoreless.

Kono marks the equalizer! However, shortly after, they allowed a go-ahead goal, and the all-out attack did not bear fruit.

In the second half, trying to find a breakthrough, in the 47th minute, Mita passed to Tokunaga, who advanced and entered the right area. From there, Takahashi took a shot from the middle, but it went over the bar.
In the 54th minute, Watanabe attempted to break through the defense with a floated pass from Mita, controlled it with a trap, and aimed for the goal but was blocked.
After that, Kono created a starting point with sharp movements, but the lack of precision in the front line led to losing possession, and the time continued without being able to finish.

In the 66th minute, Hanyu came on for Mita. While trying to balance and aim for a goal, in the 69th minute, Mukuhara and Hanyu created a play on the left side, and Takahashi, who moved up front, attempted to connect with Hanyu using a heel pass, but it was intercepted by Shimizu, leading to a counterattack. The play was switched to the other side, and a pass was made to forward Omae.
Yoshimoto faced this, but was turned around and a sharp shot was taken... It went through Yoshimoto's legs and was brilliantly placed in the bottom left... conceding the first goal.

In the 73rd minute, Kajiyama was brought in to replace Yoshimoto. Takahashi moved to center back in an attempt to counterattack.
Kajiyama, who is making his appearance in Tokyo for the first time in two seasons, takes this opportunity to start the ball rolling. In the 75th minute, Watanabe on the right side passes to Kajiyama in the center, who sends a vertical pass to Kono just in front of the right area.
Kono evaded Edu with a one-two in the area, maneuvered inside to slip between the opposing defenders, and struck a shot into the bottom right! Kono's passionate equalizer heightened the momentum for a comeback.

However, the joy was short-lived. Just after that, in the 76th minute, the ball was taken away in the opponent's half and spread to the right side of Tokyo. From a pass by Shimizu DF Ikeda, FW Toshiyuki TAKAGI entered the area.
Canini was facing off, but a last pass was sent in front of the goal. He tried to intercept it, but the spilled ball was pushed in by Shimizu DF Ikje... allowing the opponent to take the lead.

Still, in the 85th minute, Matsuda came in for Mukuahara. Tokunaga, Canini, and Takahashi formed a three-back, with Matsuda on the right wide and Hanyu on the left.
With Yonemoto and Kajiyama as a double pivot, they launched a powerful attack. In stoppage time, Edu dropped Kajiyama's vertical pass, and Kajiyama in midfield sent a long pass to the front line again.
This was sent perfectly to Watanabe's feet, but the opponent's DF managed to suppress the trap as it was falling...
After that, Canini was moved up front to initiate a power play, and in the final corner kick situation, Gonda also moved up to aim for a chance.
Then, Watanabe dropped the corner kick from Yonemoto, and Gonda rushed in, but... the opponent managed to hold on until the time was up.

Despite not giving up until the end and launching a full-scale attack, it was in vain. They suffered their first defeat in an official match after the break, and their journey in this season's Emperor's Cup ended in the Round of 16.

[Player Comments]

《Canini》
"It was my first match after joining Tokyo, and it had been a while since my last game, so I focused on entering the game carefully."
I think I was able to coordinate better with those around me. However, the results did not follow, which is very disappointing.
However, it was reassuring to have the supporters cheering until the very end. I want to do my best to respond with my performance and results.

Kajiyama
"Right after we equalized, the team had a 'Let's go!' atmosphere, but I think it was a shame that we conceded a goal immediately after that."
In preparation for the match, I was thinking about moving the ball well to create the game. The coach also instructed me to 'fight aggressively and create the game.'
I had envisioned playing as an anchor, and I think the coordination with those around me was not bad. I had also played in practice and scrimmages, and there were parts of that I was able to bring into the actual game.
Therefore, I am very frustrated that we could not achieve results. Only the league matches remain, but I want everyone to move forward step by step.

【Summary of Massimo FICCADENTI's Press Conference】
"It is unfortunate to compete in two tournaments, the Nabisco Cup and the Emperor's Cup, with so many players missing."
This is because I see the Emperor's Cup as a very important tournament. If we win, we can advance to the ACL, so it is a very important tournament.

However, similar to the Nabisco Cup, the absence of key players had a significant impact. The match itself was balanced.
Shimizu set up in a 5-2-3 formation and effectively closed down the space at the back during defense. It was a match where the dynamics could change with a single goal, but that did not happen.

What was disappointing was that we quickly fell behind 1 to 2 right after equalizing. Considering the timing, we didn't have the strength left.
After that, Edu's header created a couple of chances, but Gonda made a wonderful save once, although he conceded 2 goals.

Out of the three clear chances, we converted two. Also, we were unable to have our forwards enter the penalty area during our opportunities.
The first goal was one we could have prevented, and the second goal was scored due to a clearance mistake. As someone involved in sports, it is necessary to accept the results.

However, it is very disappointing that it has come to this result.

[Summary of the press conference by Shimizu's Katsumi OENOKI]
"With many injuries and the selection of representatives, I struggled until the end on how to utilize the players, and ultimately adopted a three-back formation.
Depending on the situation, there may be times when we switch to a five-back formation, but we aimed to have as many players in midfield as possible to apply pressure on the opponent's full-backs.

With FW Novakovich absent, having only one FW is tough, so we opted for a two-top formation to utilize mobility.
In the first half, there were moments when we were pushed back, but it was significant that we managed to keep the score at zero. I really think the players fought well.
In the first half, there were several counterattacks, but how the two forwards could utilize the space on Tokyo's side was the key.
Using that, wide defenders Ikegai and Yoshida created a chance. I had informed the players that switching sides would be effective, but the accuracy of the final play and crosses was poor, and they were unable to score.

In the second half, the decisive power of forward Omae was significant, and even after being equalized, we were able to score another goal and take the lead.
In the match against Tosu, we were equalized from a 2-1 lead, and that moment crossed my mind today, but the players stayed focused and fought well until the end.
I think winning by holding on is significant for the team. I believe that DF BUENO, making his first start, was able to showcase his strength against opponents.
However, there is a tendency to rely too much on people, so I placed MF Rokuhira in DF to make it three. I was able to repay the debt to the opponent we lost to 0-4 in the league match, and there is nothing more joyful than this.

I think we have been able to work hard compared to a month ago. I want to make sure that the good parts continue and that we become a team that can work hard in the next match as well, so that it doesn't end with today's game.