"Win all remaining 4 matches!"

After a "four consecutive wins" from Sec. 25 (9/10, vs Kofu) to Sec. 28 (9/25, vs Oita), Tokyo faced a sudden turn with a "four consecutive losses" during the Nabisco Cup (9/29, 10/6). In the Nabisco Cup, they performed admirably against the J1 powerhouse, Kashima, gaining confidence, but the extremely tough schedule of "five matches in two weeks" accumulated both physical and mental fatigue. Furthermore, their key scorer Amaral was forced to withdraw from the lineup due to a left ankle sprain (10/6, vs Kashima). "At the peak of fatigue, the absence of the absolute ace..." Whether this had an impact, or if it was due to the pressure of aiming for J1 promotion (?), in any case, Tokyo hit a sudden brake here. However, the performance was not poor. In the match against Tosu (Sec. 30, 10/11) and the match against Sapporo (Sec. 31, 10/17), they dominated the game but suffered from a single mistake, and in the crucial match against the league leaders, Kawasaki Frontale (Sec. 32, 10/24), they delivered their best game. There was no reason to be pessimistic. Certainly, the goal of becoming the "first J2 champion (= championship)" has become somewhat difficult, but the situation for "J1 promotion (= top two)" is still within their control. They are closely trailing Oita in third place by just one point, but the key is to win all remaining four matches, including the match of the day. It doesn't matter if Oita wins four consecutive matches afterward; if we win four in a row, it will be decided. No looking back now, only four consecutive wins ahead!!

Amaral's return energizes the team!

On this day, ace Amaral returned to the field. He had just started running cautiously from the 22nd, but this week he showed remarkable recovery by participating in practice matches, making it in time for this day's game. Although he was not a starter, the revival of the reliable ace is undoubtedly a bright topic. In the locker room, he lifted spirits with his natural brightness and the rhythm of samba, and when it was time to set out, he tightened the team with an intimidating presence. Just having a 'fighting professional' like him gives the team confidence and puts pressure on the opposing team. The preparations are complete for a fourth consecutive victory.

On this day, the opponent welcomed to the home ground of Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium was the bottom-ranked Kofu. In the previous match, they had a close contest with Oita that went into extra time, and in the last match, they secured a 3-0 victory against Yamagata, so they were on a roll and could not afford to be careless. As the match began, Tokyo fiercely attacked Kofu. Right from the start, Yukihiko on the right side made a sharp breakthrough and delivered a cross. In the 2nd minute, Umeyama → Yukihiko → Kagami → Umeyama executed a beautiful series of direct passes to break through the right side, and when Umeyama made a breakthrough and delivered an exquisite cross, Okuhara dove in to connect with a header, but unfortunately it went just over the bar. After that, Tokyo's relentless assault continued, and in the 9th minute, Okuhara took a forceful shot from the right side, with Almir following up, but it just wouldn't go in. Continuing from the last match, Kagami became a target man up front, and with Okuhara and Kaburaki moving significantly, the passing lanes increased, and the long and short passes from Yukihiko on the right side were effective. The opening goal seemed just a matter of time.

On the other hand, Kofu has been playing compact football, keeping their defensive line shallow and applying intense pressure in midfield. Knowing that Tokyo, eager for victory, will push forward, they actively set up offside traps and aimed for sharp counterattacks once they regained possession. The ball was gathered by midfielder Dobashi, who distributed passes to forwards Yoshida and Horii. Yoshida entered into a post play, while Horii utilized his speed to target the backline. On this day, Sandro also occasionally joined the attack, but in that moment, Horii broke free from a vertical pass and had a dangerous one-on-one confrontation with Komine. Komine cannot be said to be completely stable either, causing a moment of anxiety.

Sandro's strike gives the lead!

In the 23rd minute, Tokyo finally scores the long-awaited opening goal. The scorer is Sandro, who just became a dad with the birth of his first daughter two days ago (10/28). Sandro, who was positioned for a corner kick, jumped in to meet a cross from Fujiyama on the left side, heading the ball right past the advancing Kofu goalkeeper! The ball was sucked into the goal. This single goal intensified the battle between both teams. After conceding the first goal, Kofu started to take the initiative, with their defensive midfielder becoming the starting point for attacks, moving up to the front line. They began to launch thick attacks not only with direct plays but also utilizing the sides. In the 37th minute, there was a dangerous moment when a free kick from the left was headed in unmarked, bringing back unpleasant memories of the last 3rd round where they conceded a quick turnaround after scoring first. Tokyo also created good attacking opportunities, such as Kagawa hitting the bar with a long left-footed shot from about 30 meters just before the end of the first half, but their defense from the front line was weak, allowing Kofu to attack several times, leading to a tense situation.

Yukihiko's spectacular goal pulls away from Kofu, who are holding on!

Tokyo, instructed to re-confirm their defense from the front line and to repeatedly launch side attacks during halftime, regained momentum in the second half. With intense chasing from the front line, Tokyo found it easier to narrow down passing lanes, increasing their opportunities to intercept and win the ball, while the involvement of both full-backs in attacks became more noticeable. Go KABURAKI, KAGAMI, OKUHARA, and YUKIHIKO freely changed positions, with YUKIHIKO unusually playing on the left side, breaking out to receive a pass from FUJIYAMA and delivering a cross. In the 17th minute of the second half, KABURAKI received the ball deep on the right side and initiated a challenge, breaking through with a sharp feint and sprinting towards the goal, delivering a perfect last pass to YUKIHIKO, who charged in fiercely. On this day, YUKIHIKO, who had been actively shooting from distance, powerfully kicked the ball into the goal, putting an end to Kofu's resistance. Tokyo continued to attack, creating chances from the sides, centered around KABURAKI and YUKIHIKO. However, perhaps feeling secure after scoring two goals, they often opted to pass instead of shooting, which diminished their attacking intensity. Despite creating good opportunities, they lacked the aggressiveness to score another goal. Ultimately, the match ended with Tokyo dominating but failing to secure an additional goal, finishing at 2-0. Considering the opponent was the bottom team, a larger scoreline was desired, but stopping the “muddy four-game losing streak” was significant. At a time when results are prioritized over content, securing three points allowed them to finally emerge from a long tunnel. In the next match (11/8, vs Omiya), Amaral's condition is expected to improve significantly. Awakened from slumber, Tokyo aims to win all three remaining matches!!

[Manager's Comment]

<Katsumata, Kofu Manager>

We have been improving our performance in the last two matches, and we were able to do what we aimed for today. However, Tokyo was desperate to stop their losing streak and came at us united. Their determination was incredible and surpassed our fighting spirit.

<Okuma, Tokyo Manager>

The midfield's creativity and ability to transition are still insufficient. (Due to Amaral not being present) There was no additional focal point in the forward line. However, the quality and quantity of the attacking contributions from both full-backs, as well as the covering in defense, have improved compared to before. Moreover, securing a win at this time, when results are more important than content, is significant. I want to work hard to achieve three more victories.