A match we cannot lose

Recently, Tokyo has been far from victory, suffering a humiliating V-goal defeat just three days ago, while Kobe has not won a single match since the season began and finally achieved their first victory just four days ago. Winning today's match is undoubtedly very important for both teams, even though their circumstances are different. Before the match, the familiar call of "Tokyo! Tokyo!" echoed from the back stand. The "Blue-Red Army" in the goal area arrived with more than 30 members for this weekday night game against Kobe. With such strong "companions" supporting them, they cannot afford to lose. Tokyo changed their formation, moving Almir defensively back, placing Yukihiko SATO in the center, and Kobayashi on the right side to revitalize the midfield. On the other hand, Kobe started their ace, Korean national team player Hwang Seok-ju, who was rested in the previous match, aiming to take control of the midfield. A fierce battle for midfield dominance was anticipated.

Woken up by Kobe's opening goal

After the start of the first half, Tokyo is still sluggish. It seems that the negative image from the last few matches hasn't faded. On the other hand, Kobe is riding high after their victory four days ago and is attacking fiercely and boldly. In the 4th minute of the first half, a free kick from the left is easily returned, and Kobe's midfielder Nube scores the opening goal. It was a swift occurrence. However, this wakes up Tokyo. Kobe, attacking without defense, often leaves space in the midfield after the ball is cut, which Yukihiko SATO and Almir exploit with quick ball movement and effective dribbling. Yukihiko SATO in this match is outstanding, moving freely in the center like a 'fish in water,' actively getting involved with the ball, creating chances with his signature direct passes and speedy dribbling. Almir also dazzles the opponent with his elegant technique and precise passing. On the other side, Kobe counters with the combination of their ace Kawa, Hasebe, and Nagashima, who came on as a substitute. As initially predicted, a fierce battle unfolds in the high-level midfield.

Dramatic Finale!

As the second half began, Tokyo's attack gained momentum. Amaral, who has been maintaining good form since the opening, was stable on this day and became a key point in the front line. Kobayashi, who played as a right midfielder, repeatedly bewildered Kobe's defense with his natural flexible dribbling, while Fujiyama, the left side back, sliced through the Kobe defense with one-twos with Almir and high-speed dribbling. In the second half, Tokyo had 11 shots compared to Kobe's mere 2, overwhelmingly dominating the numbers, and the match was completely at Tokyo's pace.

However, they fell just short of scoring, and time passed by in vain. Then, in the 43rd minute of the second half, Amaral won a header from a left corner kick, and in the ensuing scramble, Sandro pushed it in for a crucial equalizing goal. The match ended without a decision in 90 minutes and went into extra time. Even in extra time, Tokyo's pace remained unchanged, attacking the Kobe goal. Then, in the 12th minute of the first half of extra time, substitute Kaburaki delivered an exquisite cross from the left. Amaral then scored with a diving header, bringing an end to the heated battle that lasted 102 minutes.

The confidence gained from performing on par or better against a J1 team and achieving a dramatic victory is significant. In the post-match press conference, Coach Okuma stated, "We outperformed the opponent in terms of physicality and spirit," indicating that he felt a sense of momentum moving forward. Tokyo, having advanced to the 2nd Round of the Nabisco Cup, will face JEF United Ichihara at Nishigaoka on Saturday, June 12.