Is this Brazil?

On this day, the Nishigaoka Soccer Stadium, where the match against Omiya was held, was showing an unusual excitement even before the game. Unlike the usual "goal area," the lively rhythm of samba was resonating... Yes, this day marked the third annual event of the year, "Brazil Day." The supporters, known as "Barbaros," are the most famous samba team in Japan, having achieved a historic seven consecutive victories at the "Asakusa Samba Carnival." The authentic sound they produced had a power that made listeners want to dance, providing a different kind of enjoyment compared to regular matches. Despite the strong winds caused by the typhoon, which made it difficult to hear the stadium announcements, their music was powerful and enveloped the venue with its Latin rhythm.

Worst Condition

In the morning of this day, we were hit by strong winds that made walking difficult due to the effects of the typhoon, along with occasional heavy rain like a downpour. Fortunately, by the time the gates opened, the rain had completely stopped, and it turned into clear weather. While this was a positive factor for the event, the rapidly rising temperatures turned the field into a sauna-like environment, making it extremely harsh for the players. Additionally, the persistent strong winds showed no signs of weakening and, on the contrary, intensified. Under these worst conditions, the game started. In the first half, Omiya took the initiative first. They closed the gaps between forwards and defenders, applied strong pressure in that narrow area to win the ball, and quickly spread it to the sides. There, the highly aggressive right back Ujiie and left back Okamoto actively joined the attack, trying to break through from the sides with combination plays with the midfielders. Alternatively, they easily passed from the midfield to the front line, with the tall forward Isoyama, who is 185cm, and midfielder Mark entering the box like a two-top formation, connecting with short passes in the center to finish! They created chances with such simple attacks. Particularly, Isoyama's play was stable, utilizing his height for headers and chest drops, and his deep ball control troubled the Tokyo defense.

On the other hand, Tokyo struggled against Omiya's compact and strong pressing defense, failing to create a base in the midfield and forward. Additionally, standing downwind, the monotonous long passes from the defense lacked momentum and were mostly cleared away. With many Brazilians (Brazilians enter for free!) watching, Amaral and Almir, desperate for a goal, tried to break through the narrow spaces with intricate wall passes, backed by enthusiastic samba cheers. Occasionally, the ball connected beautifully, but it did not lead to any decisive chances. In the end, both teams had almost no clear opportunities, and the first half, which turned out to be rather bland, ended with both teams scoreless.

Tokyo is pushing forward to the rhythm of samba...

In the second half, Tokyo, with the wind at their backs, began to breathe life into the game. The instruction given by Coach Okuma at halftime to "exploit the space on the right side!" proved to be spot on. After Omiya's left back (Tokyo's right side) Okamoto actively joined the attack, a gaping space opened up on the right side, but they had not effectively exploited it in the first half. In the second half, however, Yukihiko, Amaral, and Almir consciously moved into that space, causing the Omiya defense to start to crumble. In the 54th minute, Yukihiko, with the ball on the right side, dribbled inward and passed to Amaral in the center. Amaral turned with a one-touch and shot! Unfortunately, it went just wide to the right. As Omiya began to lose their balance, Tokyo relentlessly pressed forward. When Amaral, who was being marked less tightly up front, was able to keep the ball with ease, the exquisite passing play with Almir began to shine. At this point, Tokyo was in full attack mode! Yukihiko created chances from the right side, while Kaburaki did the same from the left. In the 61st minute, Amaral headed a corner kick from the left! It seemed like it was going in, but the opposing goalkeeper managed to deflect it. Then, in the 63rd minute, Almir was fouled on the right side, leading to a quick restart to Yukihiko in the center. Yukihiko, who found himself free at just the right moment, scored a valuable opening goal with a shot while falling after a one-touch. Tokyo continued to dominate, overwhelming Omiya. In the 70th minute, Almir showcased his skills again on the right side. Dribbling at speed, Almir made a perfect heel pass to DF Umeyama, who centered the ball into the middle, where a waiting Amaral executed a spectacular diving header that made you think, "This is the KING OF TOKYO!" However, the ball struck the left goalpost and did not result in an additional goal. With ten minutes remaining, Omiya brought in a tall forward to challenge with height, but Komine and Sandro kept them at bay. Near the end of the match, there was a surprising incident where Omiya's coach Pim was sent off, but in the end, Yukihiko's goal became the winning goal, resulting in a 1-0 shutout victory and a valuable three points gained.

On this day, due to Kawasaki F losing to Tosu, Tokyo reclaimed the top position with a one-point lead.

<Pim Coach Comments>

Today's game had worse conditions for Omiya compared to Tokyo (Tokyo played five days ago, while Omiya played two days ago, resulting in a shorter interval), but there were no issues until we conceded a goal. After taking the lead in that manner, it is difficult to score against a strong defensive team like Tokyo.

Director Okuma's Comments

I want to reflect on the fact that we couldn't create a focal point in the front line against a solid and stable defensive line like Omiya's. In that situation, there were no players who could actively pass the ball or receive it. I think the remaining ten matches will continue to be tough, so moving forward, I want to utilize players who can demonstrate a desire to win both offensively and defensively, meaning not just skill but also mental strength, and I want to strengthen that aspect.