Chance to rise to the top...

"Leading the first half of the season..." This is something that every team participating in J2 is interested in, and it would be a lie to say that they are not interested. Unlike J1, J2 does not have a big division like "1st Stage/2nd Stage" and there is no title like "First Half Champions!?" However, being in first place at the halfway point of 4 rounds and 36 games is still an "important step". So, how can Tokyo, who is currently in 2nd place with 34 points until the previous round (17th round), take the top spot at the end of this round (18th round)? It was to win against Tosu within 90 minutes (no extra time win). Before the match, it was reported that Oita, who was leading with 35 points until the previous round, lost in extra time to Sapporo. If Tokyo wins within 90 minutes on this day (adding 3 points), it will be confirmed that they will be in sole possession of first place with 37 points. Also, if the match goes into extra time, Kawasaki Frontale, who was closely following Tokyo with 33 points until the previous round, has already won this round (adding 3 points) and has 36 points. Therefore, even if Tokyo wins in extra time in this match (adding 2 points) and has 36 points, they will still be in 2nd place due to goal difference (losing to Kawasaki Frontale). On the other hand, if they lose, Kawasaki Frontale (36 points) will be in 1st place and Oita (35 points) will be in 2nd place, while Tokyo (34 points) will fall to 3rd place. In other words, this match has become the biggest challenge of the first half of the season where losing is not an option.

"Man" Furube's opening goal explodes!

In the midst of light rain, the game kicked off. The venue, Tosu Stadium, is one of the great stadiums in J2, along with Sendai Stadium, and is characterized by its bowl-shaped spectator seats, similar to European stadiums. The sound effects are excellent, and the support of the local supporters using drums and megaphones becomes a thunderous roar, supporting the Tosu players. About 20 strong supporters who rushed from Tokyo also desperately support the counterattack, but the Tosu supporters, who are familiar with the sound effects, are overwhelmed in terms of volume. Two minutes into the game, the Tosu supporters' cheers suddenly stopped. Yukihiro lifted the FK obtained on the left side to the front of the goal, and there, defender Furukawa ran in and headed it in! It was a clean goal with a header, following the Omiya game on May 2nd. (Furukawa, the "man" - who served as game captain for the first time on this day - has earned the title of "man" among some people due to his masculine appearance, gentlemanly atmosphere (he always appears in a suit at the game venue!), and mental toughness (he also served as captain at his previous club Fukuoka and led the team with strong leadership)). With this goal, Tokyo, who wants to build momentum, actively attacks with Yukihiro and Amaral at the center. However, due to the absence of right back Uemura (injury) and left back Fujiyama (accumulated warnings) on this day, the team's attacking pattern of involving both full-backs in the attack is hidden, and they struggle to create chances. In addition, the precision of ball control decreases on the slippery ground due to the rain, and there were many passing mistakes overall, so the rhythm of the attack did not improve.

Overcoming a tough battle with passionate defense, we have achieved our first 6 consecutive wins of the season and taken the top spot!

32 minutes into the first half, Yukihiko, the key player in the attack, left the field due to injury (lumbar sprain), and the momentum shifted to Tosu. With the strong support of their fans, Tosu showed an aggressive pressing defense from the front line, cutting off Tokyo's passes and launching counter attacks. They displayed a fast-paced passing game based on their abundant physicality, but their passes lacked accuracy and they were unable to create any decisive opportunities. Tokyo tried to break through by relying on their "ace" Amaral, but he was marked by two defenders and his brilliance was nullified. In the second half, the game was completely dominated by Tosu. While Tosu launched fierce attacks with early crosses from the sides, Tokyo fought back with a determined defense led by goalkeeper Suzuki. Their solid defense, which has kept four consecutive clean sheets so far, remained unbreakable even with changes in the lineup, showing that the team's tactics have been fully integrated among all players. In the end, Tokyo managed to survive the tough game, completely controlled by Tosu, thanks to the efforts of defenders Sandro, Furukawa, and others who put their bodies on the line. With their sixth consecutive victory (five of which were clean sheets), Tokyo returned to the top of the league for the first time since the 10th round. <Coach Okuma's comments> We made a lot of passing mistakes, and especially after Yukihiko left, it was a tough game completely dominated by Tosu. I think our lack of physicality was due to accumulated fatigue. I am satisfied with the efforts of our defenders who put their bodies on the line. It's certainly a joy to finish the first half of the season in first place, but it's only halfway through. For the second half of the season, I want us to grab something in the Nabisco Cup that will lead us to the league games.