In the worst conditions...

It was heavy rain in Oita on this day. The pitch at Oita City Athletic Stadium was in poor condition due to the continuous downpour, making the ground conditions the worst. Additionally, the players had fought two extra-time matches in the past week and played two consecutive away games, so their physical and mental fatigue had reached its peak. Oita was in second place at the end of the previous round and was currently the hottest team, having also advanced to the second round of the Nabisco Cup. Oita aimed to win this match and take the top spot. On the other hand, Tokyo faced the risk of falling far behind in the title race if they lost this match, so they were determined to win and gain momentum. A fierce game was expected, with both sides clashing with pride and determination. Before the match, the local Oita supporters began their powerful cheering. In response, the familiar chant "Tokyo! Tokyo!" was heard. The "Blue-Red Army" behind the goal, though small in number, had traveled from Tokyo—about 1 hour and 30 minutes by plane and another hour by bus—to this venue. Their number was about five. While five people were not enough to turn an away game into a home advantage, their unwavering support without umbrellas in the pouring rain undoubtedly gave courage to the players.

Scored the opening goal with a furious attack!

In the first half, Tokyo created rhythm with quick passing by Almir, Yukihiko, and Amaral, gaining pace through flexible dribbling on the right by Kobayashi. From the left, fullback Fujiyama launched sharp dribbles, adding depth to Tokyo's attack. Despite poor field conditions, Tokyo overwhelmingly controlled the ball with superior technique, showing no signs of fatigue at its peak. At the 27th minute, Almir delivered a sharp pass from deep to Amaral up front, and Yukihiko made an exquisite through pass directly between the opponent's shallow defensive line. Almir then broke through and calmly secured the ball. Tokyo continued to attack, completely dominating possession and shots, but their finishing was lacking, and they could not score an additional goal. Meanwhile, Oita, led by former South Korean international Choi organizing the game, created chances with forward Will's post play, Shiokawa's dribbling, and Kamino's speed. This combination of four players was destructive, especially Choi's precise kicks and technique, which repeatedly threatened Tokyo's goal. However, at this point, Tokyo's concentration and stamina surpassed their opponents, allowing very few decisive chances.

Withstanding Oita's fierce attack

In the second half, the momentum shifted significantly to Oita. Tokyo, whose fatigue had peaked, saw a sharp decline in their activity level, and their passing in midfield began to falter slightly. Additionally, the marking on Oita’s ace Choi became lax, allowing Oita to take control of the midfield. At the 3rd minute, the ball was passed to the opposing forward Will, who drifted to the left, broke through, and delivered a cross. In front of the goal, the opposing forward and Tokyo’s defender tangled, and the ball ultimately deflected off Sandro’s foot for an own goal. Oita quickly equalized early in the second half and rode the momentum, relentlessly attacking Tokyo’s goal centered around Choi and Will. Nevertheless, Tokyo’s Almir played a crucial role in both offense and defense with remarkable effort, stealing the ball himself and distributing excellent passes to the front line. Also, judging that the overall activity level had dropped and passes were not connecting, Fujiyama charged forward with fierce, determined dribbling, creating multiple chances. Despite being somewhat on the defensive, Tokyo did not concede any additional goals and pushed the game into extra time. As extra time began, fatigue started to show in Oita as well, and a back-and-forth battle continued. This tense, hard-fought match, where willpower and determination clashed, saw both sides create numerous decisive opportunities but no goals, ending in a draw. Although there remains frustration over turning a winnable game into a draw, considering the tough schedule and playing away, the draw can be seen as a commendable effort and is by no means entirely negative.