Clash of the Titans!

With only 5 games left, the intense dead heat continues in the J2 league, with the championship and promotion to J1 at stake. At this point, 1st place Kawasaki F has 63 points, 2nd place Tokyo has 58 points, and 3rd place Oita has 54 points. The long-awaited promotion to J1 (1st and 2nd place automatically promoted) is now narrowed down to these 3 teams. Tokyo, with their goal for this season being "J2 champion (winning) & promotion to J1", faced off against 1st place Kawasaki F in a crucial match. In order for Tokyo to keep their hopes of winning alive, they must win this match at all costs (3 points + 58 points = 61 points), and reduce the point difference with 1st place Kawasaki F (63 points) to "2". In the next match, Kawasaki F will face strong team Sapporo away, while Tokyo will face bottom-ranked Kofu at home. If Tokyo wins this match, they will have a great advantage in the next match and could potentially jump to 1st place. On the other hand, if Tokyo loses this match and 3rd place Oita wins (3 points + 54 points = 57 points), the point difference with Oita will be reduced to "1", making it difficult for Tokyo to even secure 2nd place and promotion to J1. Tokyo, who have been struggling with fatigue from playing both the Nabisco Cup and league matches, as well as the absence of their ace Amaral due to injury or the pressure of promotion, are currently in a "slump" with 3 consecutive losses. They must win this crucial match at all costs and ride the upward momentum. In any case, there is no doubt that this match is the "climbing mountain" that will determine the fate of this season, and all they can do is aim for victory.

Impressive performance!

The expression of the players who entered the enemy territory, Todoroki, which is the venue for the final battle, was different from usual. There was no sign of "anxiety" or "tension" on their faces, only "determination" and "passion" were visible. The loud support from the fans, who always warmly support them, also motivated the players. On this day, the cheers from the "goal end" section, which took their usual position, were the most passionate and powerful. The approximately 13,000 Kawasaki F fans who filled the venue turned against the enemy, and the approximately 150 "goal end" section was fiercely raging. The continuous chorus that started before the game and never stopped surpassed that of the home team, taking over Todoroki. With the best ground condition and a clear blue sky, the stage was set for the final battle, and the "death match" began with intense cheers in the background.

First to attack was Tokyo. On this day, Kaga and Okuhara, who started as "secret weapons," showed off their skills. Kaga, who was expected to be the center of the attack from the beginning of the season but failed to perform, had a great performance with 2 goals and 1 assist in the 2nd round of the Nabisco Cup (vs. Ichihara, 6/19), but since then his form has dropped and he has only played in 13 games since the game against Niigata on August 1st. On the other hand, Okuhara, who wears the ace number 10, injured his back before the start of the season and focused solely on rehabilitation in the first half, and made his official debut just one month ago on September 25th, playing only 3 games this season. The two of them, who were chosen for this decisive battle, fully lived up to the high expectations. Tokyo, with its strong determination, attacked fiercely from the beginning. In the last two games, without Amaral, they were unable to create a base in the front line and lacked depth and rhythm in their attacks, but Kaga did a great job as his substitute. Kaga used his long reach to demonstrate stable post play in the front line. By creating a base in the high position of the front line, Yukihiro on the right side and Okuhara on the left side were able to use their speed to the fullest and jump into the spaces on both sides. In the 2nd minute, Yukihiro received the ball on the right side and Okuhara made a fierce dash into the space in the front line in perfect coordination. When Yukihiro's pinpoint 50m pass reached him, Okuhara kicked the ball with a direct volley with his right foot and scored the first goal. The two of them were a perfect match from the very beginning.

A great game worthy of being called a "clash of titans"!

Tokyo continued to attack with the "goal end" in turmoil behind them, backed by an early opening goal. With Kaga's post-play and Okuhara's sharp runs, the passing lanes in the front line increased and Almir showed his brilliance in the midfield. On the other hand, Kawasaki F, who seemed to have lost their rhythm due to an early goal, was truly a top team. They did not get swept away by Tokyo's momentum and played their own soccer firmly. The current J2 number one strike duo, TUTO and TERRY, were the focal point of the front line, with the game maker Katsura and the "quirky" players on both sides, Nagahashi and Hisano, creating a variety of attacks. In particular, Nagahashi on the right side has excellent speed and technique, and there have been many patterns where they were broken down from this point, but in the 7th minute, a perfect cross from Nagahashi went up and TUTO was free to head it in the center. However, the shot hit the bar and was saved. Kawasaki F gradually increased their pace. In the 14th minute, once again, Nagahashi broke through the right side and crossed to the center, where TUTO and TERRY connected and TERRY took a shot. Sandro desperately stuck out his foot and the ball bounced up, but Katsura headed it in to equalize. The game was back to square one, but Tokyo, who had to win, continued to launch fierce attacks with the combination of Fujiyama, Almir, and Okuhara on the left side, and Umayama, Yukihiro, and Kaburagi on the right side. On the other hand, Kawasaki F also responded with sharp runs from Nagahashi and Hisano on both sides, and precise passing from Katsura, TUTO, and TERRY in the center. The game was a fierce battle of attack and defense, with quick transitions. The balance was broken in the 36th minute. When TERRY persistently dribbled through the left side, the Tokyo DF couldn't take it anymore and committed a foul. The kicker was Hisano, who had a powerful shot as his weapon, and the free kick was about 30 meters from the goal with no angle. Hisano took a sharp, curved shot that went over the head of GK Suzuki, who didn't expect a direct shot, and pierced the goal net. It was a very unpleasant development for Tokyo, who had to win at all costs. However, Tokyo did not panic on this day. In the 43rd minute, Yukihiro on the right side held on and crossed to the center, where Kaga made a one-fake and shot while turning around! It went into the bottom left corner of the goal, equalizing the score. Tokyo caught up at a very good time and it seemed like the first half would end like this... but just after that, Kawasaki F's TERRY took advantage of a gap and broke through one-on-one with the GK. However, the shot hit the left post and did not go into the goal. It was a great game that was worthy of being called a "clash of titans" where you couldn't let your guard down for a moment.

Kawasaki Frontale succumbed to the determination of their opponents, unable to escape the "quagmire"...

Tokyo, who caught up just before the end of the first half and kept their hopes alive in the second half, dashed fiercely as soon as the second half began. Yukihiko not only created chances with aggressive breakthroughs on the right side, but also took more shots than ever before, and Almir also flew out to the front line and created decisive chances with his flexible technique. However, they just couldn't score a third goal. On the contrary, in the 15th minute of the second half, Kawasaki F took advantage of a few chances and scored an additional goal. In the second half, Nagahashi, who didn't come up much on the right side, took advantage of a momentary gap in Tokyo's midfield defense and cut into the center, sending a sharp ball to TINGA in front of the goal. TINGA passed through a tight space with TUTO and a sharp one-two, and took a left-footed shot! GK Suzuki, who couldn't see the course in the chaos, couldn't move at all and gave up an additional goal. Kawasaki F, riding on their momentum, turned to a fierce attack to stop Tokyo's breath, and Tokyo, who couldn't afford to lose, also attacked desperately. In the 28th minute of the second half, Okamoto received a cross from Umayama, and in the following 30th minute, Yukihiko had a scoring opportunity from Fujiyama's dribble, but both were blocked by the opponent's GK. In the 31st minute, Kaga looked like he scored with a free header from a right corner kick, but it was cleared by the opponent's DF at the last minute. From the remaining 10 minutes, Sandro was brought up to the front line and Yamao was substituted as a FW for the DF, hoping for a desperate power play, but in the end they couldn't break through Kawasaki F's wall that never lost concentration. Tokyo (then Tokyo Gas FC), who had their dream of J-League promotion crushed two years ago and had their championship stolen at the last minute last year, faced Kawasaki F, who had tasted the bitter cup twice, and raised the banner of "Defeat Tokyo!" This season, they finally didn't give Tokyo a single win. The pressure of promotion twice and the number of tears shed have made them stronger and their spirit and mental strength have come alive here.

Is Tokyo, who suffered their first four consecutive losses this season, feeling the pressure for the first time? Just below them, 3rd place Oita is closing in with a difference of only "1" win. There's no turning back now. With only 4 games left, they have to change their mindset and face the next game. And they have no choice but to win all of them.

【FC Tokyo Player Warning】

56 minutes... Kagami (1→2)

64 minutes...Yoshida Yuki (0→1)

*Warning for Player '2' <Sec. 32 at the end of the match>

Uemura, Sandro, Kagami