Crucial Match

At the end of the 6th round of J2 League, Kofu, who has yet to win a single game and remains at the bottom with 0 points, cannot seem to break out. On the other hand, Tokyo, with 2 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws, is stuck in 6th place. In a crucial match where neither team can afford to lose, the game kicked off on a rainy day on the "green carpet" of the best pitch. Without their attacking core, "KING OF TOKYO" Amaral, who was injured, Tokyo relies on "midfield dynamo" Almir to collect the ball, carefully connect passes, and create a rhythm, trying to send the ball behind the opponent's defense. However, Kofu's defensive focus and deep defense leave no space, and although passes are connected, they cannot break through and create decisive opportunities. On the other hand, Kofu plays defensively as a whole and tries to launch a quick attack using the fullbacks after stealing the ball. They attempt to create chances by crossing early from the sides and having tall FW Watanabe finish, but the passes lack accuracy and they cannot create decisive opportunities. The back and forth battle continues, but gradually, Fujiyama's sharp dribbling begins to break through the Kofu defense line, taking control of the game.

Sandro, a powerful shot!

36 minutes into the first half, the game finally starts to move. Sandro powerfully heads in the ball kicked by Yukihiko from a right corner kick. With this, the momentum is completely on Tokyo's side. As Kofu starts to attack in a hurry, spaces open up behind the previously stable defensive line, and Kaburaki and Okamoto make runs to create chances. In defense, Sandro completely shuts down Kofu's tall forward Watanabe, and Komine consistently wins against the speedy forward Hori with his strong play. In the midfield, Niijou shows his physicality with tackles all over the field, effectively shutting down the source of the ball. In the second half, Tokyo dominates the game. On the left side, Fujiyama's dribble leads to chances with precise passes to Okamoto, while on the right side, accurate passes from Yukihiko and flexible dribbling from Kobayashi create decisive chances. In the 30th minute of the second half, a perfect pass from Yukihiko to Kobayashi on the right side leads to a direct cross. Almir, who was closing in on the ball, powerfully kicks it in with his right foot for the second goal. It was a perfect goal in every way.

Tokyo's "Secret Weapon" That Raises Expectations

22 minutes into the second half, Tokyo's "secret weapon" Wada returned to the pitch after a break of about 7 weeks. The man who suffered a left ankle fracture just before the start of the season and has been forced to endure a difficult rehabilitation life, made his J2 debut with great anticipation. Although he is not yet in perfect condition, his speed to break through the opponent's defense and his fearless diving into the goal area, which were not seen in Tokyo this season, have definitely increased the team's "threat in front of goal". In the 44th minute of the second half, he made a powerful diving header from a corner kick from the left, which unfortunately bounced off the goal post, showing his ability to live up to expectations. Another player who made his debut with great anticipation, Furukawa, also showed his strength and veteran-like stability in just 4 minutes of playing time, fully demonstrating his presence. The addition of these two reliable players to Tokyo's team is definitely a bright topic for the future. In the end, the game was decided in the 33rd minute of the second half when Yukihiro, who had moved to the left side, forcefully crossed the ball while being surrounded by the opponent, and Kobayashi made a spectacular diving header to secure the victory. The "must-win game" was won with the team's best 3 goals this season, giving a sense of confidence and making it a rewarding game.