Revenge Match

The opponent in the second round of the Nabisco Cup is J1's Ichihara. In the first match held on June 12 (Saturday), Tokyo overwhelmed Ichihara with 24 shots compared to their 11, dominating the game throughout. Yukiho scored in the 38th minute of the first half, giving Tokyo a one-goal lead as they entered the second half, but they couldn't secure a second goal and were unfortunately defeated after conceding an equalizer and a turnaround goal. To advance to the next Semifinal Round, they needed to win the second match (away) by a margin of at least two goals, but given the feeling from the first match, it seemed quite possible. At the Ichihara Coastal Stadium, the cheers of about 150 enthusiastic supporters who rushed from Tokyo echoed with chants of 'Tokyo! Tokyo!' before kickoff. In the pouring rain, the players were undoubtedly moved by the sight of fans continuing to cheer passionately without even using umbrellas.

One-sided Game

The match became one-sided for Tokyo right from the start. Tokyo focused the ball on Kagawa, who started as an attacking midfielder that day, and dominated the midfield with quick passing between right midfielder Yukihiko and forward Amaral. They created rhythm with precise direct passes that stole the show from J1, and at the right moment, Tokyo's proud full-backs surged forward, adding depth to the attack. In the 2nd minute, a sharp dribble from Kagawa led to a last pass to Okamoto, but the shot went over the bar. In the 6th minute, Yukihiko broke through deep on the right side and delivered an exquisite cross, but Amaral's header went straight to the goalkeeper. During this period, it was a completely one-sided game for Tokyo, and scoring seemed just a matter of time. In the 7th minute, Kagawa, who kept the ball on the left side, delivered a superb cross aimed between the opposing defender and goalkeeper, and Amaral dove in to score the long-awaited opening goal with a powerful diving header. Ichihara's defense was thrown off balance as their key defender, Nakanishi, who is part of the Japan national team, was unable to play due to injury. The checks on Amaral and the marking in midfield were weak, allowing Tokyo's elegant passing game to slice through the defensive line. Even when they attacked, there was no follow-up after forward Takeda received the ball, and with only three passes connecting, they couldn't find their attacking rhythm. Tokyo's fierce assault continued, with Amaral taking a decisive shot in the 19th minute and Okamoto in the 22nd minute. The highlight came in the 31st minute when Fujiyama intercepted a pass and passed to Yukihiko on the left side. Yukihiko executed a one-two with Amaral in the center and broke free, dribbling in to score. It was a perfect combination play, textbook quality at a high level.

Complete victory! A season-high of 4 goals!

Right after the start of the second half, we were caught off guard and conceded a goal. A long pass from the Ichihara defense found forward Takeda on the left side, who headed it to the center. Henrique rushed in and easily slotted it past the advancing goalkeeper Horiike. Having lost the first match after dominating the first half but conceding in the second, a moment of anxiety crossed my mind. However, that anxiety quickly dissipated upon seeing the players move without any signs of disturbance. In the 52nd minute, Amaral delivered a cross from deep on the left side. Yukiho received it in the center, tried to evade a defender, and was brought down for a penalty. Yukiho took the kick, but it was thwarted by a fine save from the goalkeeper. In the 54th minute, Amaral made a powerful header from a corner kick taken from the left. It hit the Ichihara defense and rolled to Yukiho, who crossed it again. This time, Kagami headed it powerfully into the Ichihara goal. On the other hand, Ichihara focused on the current J1 top scorer Baron, who was brought on in the second half, but Sandro responded with tight marking. Henrique, the starting point of the attack, was effectively contained by the double pivot of Asari and Koike, who did not allow him any freedom. The match continued at Tokyo's pace, but in the 86th minute, Yukiho broke free with a beautiful direct combination play with Amaral and Yukiho again on the left side, evading the advancing goalkeeper and delivering a cross. Kagami, waiting there, calmly slotted it in with the inside of his right foot, sealing the match. Just before the end of the match, a penalty was awarded due to a foul by Umeyama, but goalkeeper Horiike made a brilliant save to prevent it, and the match ended. Tokyo, who maintained the upper hand throughout the match, defeated Ichihara with a total score of 5-3 (1-2 in the first match, 4-1 in the second) and advanced to the quarter-finals. Next up is the much-anticipated match against the 'Star Army,' Yokohama F.Marinos! (Coach Okuma's comment) In the first half, we were able to overwhelm them with our work rate, but in the second half, as our intensity dropped, we lost possession more often. However, I was satisfied with the increased participation of both full-backs in the attack. Kagami performed well, and I believe his consistent performance with the B team contributed to today's success. I hope he can maintain this in the upcoming league matches.