Showdown for the J1 top spot against champions Iwata!?

　The matchup for Round 5 is against last year's J-League champion = Júbilo Iwata. This season, they are challenging a new 3-5-2 system with the newly transferred defenders Ihara and Suzuki, and libero Fukunishi. Although they lost the opening match to Kashiwa, they have since won three games. They stood at the top of the league after the last match, creating a sense of being a step ahead. With a solid defense and an attack that can score from anywhere, they can be considered the toughest opponent in the J-League. Tokyo suffered a complete defeat of 0-3 in last year's Emperor's Cup, but it has been four months since then... Today's match is a battle for the top spot. We want to concede as few goals as possible against this champion and score as many as we can, and... and aim for victory!

The toughest battle of the season against a skilled opponent

It was a cautious start. Due to the slippery footing caused by the rain that continued until just before the match, both teams struggled to connect passes. However, seeing that passes were difficult to complete, Iwata's FW Takahara and MF Oku boldly took middle-range shots, and from around the 10th minute, they began to find their rhythm. Occasionally mixing in long balls from DF Ihara to the forward Nakayama, they gradually gained control of the midfield. At 14 minutes, Nishi on the right outside ran into the center, drawing Takahara free, who unleashed a powerful shot. Sandro barely managed to deflect it for a corner, but the game progressed in Tokyo's territory. The movements of FW Nakayama and Takahara, who often opened to the outside, and Oku and others who rushed in from the center, forced Tokyo's defensive line to defend deeply. With the team generally pulled back, they couldn't create attacking opportunities, and on the contrary, when the side backs tried to advance, they were dispossessed, leading to quick counterattacks and dangerous situations. Still, at 27 minutes, a quick restart saw Fujiyama send a through pass to TUTO, but Iwata's goalkeeper Ozaki caught it. At 34 minutes, Amaral, TUTO, and Kobayashi tried to aim for a goal with direct passes targeting a small gap, but Iwata players moved quickly, and no chance materialized. Starting with Ihara, even the defenders actively participated in the attack for Iwata. Then at 35 minutes, Kobayashi fouled Suzuki, who was advancing. MF Fujita took the free kick, and Ihara, skillfully evading his marker, headed the ball. Although the only goal conceded was from this set piece, Tokyo managed just two shots. The first half ended in a heavy atmosphere that made one wonder, "Is there no way to break through like this!?"

Never give up, Yukihiko's Tokyo spirit!

　In the second half, although KINA was brought in to replace KOIKE, the pace of Iwata did not change. Iwata, quick to approach loose balls and skilled in one-on-one techniques, forced Tokyo onto the defensive. Tokyo could not create their favored pattern of attack from the sides starting with Amaral. Although shots from Takahara and Oku missed the target, at the 50th minute, Nakayama headed down a free kick from Ihara, and Takahara, breaking behind the defense, took a free shot! This also missed the goal, narrowly avoiding a crisis. However, missing this big chance ultimately made coach HADZIEVSKI lament. At the 55th minute, when KINA, who had gradually fit into the team with substitute appearances every match, finally started holding the ball, Yukihiko intercepted a horizontal pass from Iwata's defense as if he had been waiting for it! Immediately reacting, TUTO dribbled forward, calmly placing the ball into the right corner of the goal, leaving the pursuing defenders behind! Even if only a slight chance existed, Yukihiko created the opportunity aiming for the goal, and TUTO firmly capitalized on it!! In a pressured situation, this was a valuable equalizing goal.

TUTO, Animau! A hot melted night at National

The match started to move from here. At the 61st minute, when the Iwata goalkeeper and defender collided, TUTO and Amaral immediately closed in on the ball. At the 65th minute, there were three consecutive corner kicks. Naito, who connected with Yukihiko's low and fast ball, took a shot that almost became a goal! However, this was cleared by Ihara's left foot alone. Tokyo created chances, but Iwata never panicked and connected passes to counterattack. Tokyo, eager to attack, was often pushed back instead, and at the 69th minute, Iwata's breakthrough near the goal was stopped by a foul. The free kick taken by Hattori with his left foot was absorbed into the top left corner of the goal, and Tokyo once again conceded the lead. However, the spirit of Tokyo's eleven never dropped. Encouraged by the voices of "TUTO, Animao! (Keep it up!)", TUTO bravely attacked with courage. Just two minutes after conceding, Fujiyama dribbled the ball received from Kobayashi and passed it. TUTO, who skillfully evaded the defender with a perfect trap, dribbled straight to the goal!!! Tokyo caught up once again! The Japan National Stadium became a whirlpool of excitement. Iwata replaced the slowing midfielder Nishi with the speedy forward Kawaguchi. Immediately after, they also replaced left-side Yamanishi with center back Tanaka and moved Fukunishi up to midfield. The battle over the single point continued, but Hattori, who had been active in both offense and defense at the base of midfield, moved to the left side, increasing Tokyo's possession rate. Then finally, at the 83rd minute, Oku, trying not to be beaten by TUTO who ran onto Asari's pass, accidentally handled the ball. Amaral powerfully and carefully converted the penalty kick earned from this, and Tokyo took the lead. With about 7 minutes remaining, Iwata naturally launched a fierce counterattack. But Tokyo defended with truly, truly committed defenders... And both the pitch and the stands united as they heard the final whistle. As shown in the first half, the difference with Iwata was clear. There are many things to reflect on, such as conceding from set plays. However, it was a night when the Japan National Stadium was passionately melted by a team with incredible tenacity that believes without doubt in winning at all times.

Director HADZIEVSKI's Comments

"I think Tokyo played a game worthy of victory in a 90-minute fight. Despite having more experienced players than Tokyo, Iwata made mistakes and gifted two goals. Until then, we had many chances and I believe our performance was definitely better. It was painful to miss the decisive opportunities in the second half, but at that time, we still had plenty of chances to win. However, after conceding the penalty, it became very difficult to catch up. We brought in Nakayama, Takahara, and Kawaguchi, and also pushed Fukunishi up into midfield, doing our best to change something, but with only 7-8 minutes left, there was simply too little time, and in the end, we became nervous. I hope the handball that led to the penalty was an accident and not intentional, but if mistakes happen at that moment, we won't be able to win. In any case, Tokyo was a very hardworking and good team."

Director Okuma's Comments

"In the first half, we were unable to play our football at all, and it was disappointing to concede a goal due to a lack of concentration during the restart. Additionally, it was unclear what we should or shouldn't do when we weren't in our rhythm, which led to a situation where conceding two goals in the first half was possible. At times like this, we need to reflect on what we should do as a team. However, the players probably had the confidence that they could somehow score one goal, and if it was 0-1, they thought they could manage, so we aimed to keep the first half to a minimum loss. In the second half, Kinama functioned well, creating a structure in midfield and holding up play in the front line, and I think we were able to play with a good rhythm."