Victory is the only option!

Three consecutive matches without scoring... Even looking at the previous match against Nagoya, the performance was not bad at all. The players have not completely lost their confidence and have been fighting, believing in victory. However, if they were to suffer a fourth consecutive loss in this early stage of the season, it would become difficult for the players to maintain their motivation, leading to discord within the team and facing a tough situation. Therefore, this match had to be a "must-win!" and there was no room for losing.

Also, on this day, it was the "first match" against Urawa Reds, the team that TUTO, who became the "savior" of Tokyo last year, transferred to. There is nothing more sad and frustrating than losing to a player who has transferred. The location is Urawa Komaba Stadium, the Reds' home ground where you can experience the most away atmosphere in Japan. The conditions are certainly not good, but we had to win at all costs. On this day, Miura, aiming for his 200th J-League appearance, Ryohei, who was selected as a candidate for the Japan national team and is highly motivated, and Komine, who was given the significant role of "TUTO killer" in his first appearance of the season, all headed to the pitch with a burning passion in their hearts.

Another Hot Battle

The atmosphere at Komaba Stadium was beyond the rumors. The stands were perfectly filled with the color "red," except for the approximately 600 seats designated for away fans behind the goal. In addition to the grand chorus, the number of banners and big flags was extraordinary. The atmosphere, as if the stands were a living creature, was overwhelming, and it relentlessly attacked the away team. Normally, the away team would be overwhelmed by this atmosphere, but the Tokyo supporters behind the goal were not going to sit idly by. As expected, the Tokyo supporters, like a "remote island," began their "counterattack" with their sense and wit. The players must have felt reassured by their courageous presence, undeterred by the numerical disadvantage. The "intense battle" was already heating up not only on the pitch but also in the stands.

TUTO vs Komine

When the match started, it was the Reds who took the initiative. After their victory over Marinos in the previous match, the Reds, buoyed by their confidence, applied intense pressure from the front, centered around TUTO, and quickly moved towards the goal after regaining possession of the ball. The Reds' attacking pattern involved starting from Donizetti, passing through Ono and Adriano, and distributing to the top player, TUTO. The attack, with the powerful Brazilian trio and Ono added, was speedy and precise, and in the early stages of the first half, the Reds dominated possession of the ball.

However, as time passed, it became apparent that the Reds' attack lacked another level of intensity. The reason was that Komine had perfectly contained TUTO, who had now become the Reds' superstar ace. The theme for Coach Okuma on this day was 'TUTO countermeasures.' The secret strategy taken by the coach, who knows his fearsome presence best, was 'TUTO vs. Komine.' The man who had sprained his left ankle in a practice match against Kashiwa Reysol before the season and had been away from the field for a long time was brought back for this crucial match, marking his 'season debut.' However, for Coach Okuma, this was not a 'gamble' but a strategy based on data. In the J2 era of 1999, he had marked TUTO, who was then with Kawasaki Frontale, with Komine, achieving the record of not conceding a single goal in all four matches. Despite being his first appearance of the season, Komine played confidently and executed his 'mission order' almost perfectly.

Once again, a difficult situation allowing the opening goal

The match was characterized by intense play, with multiple yellow cards issued as the atmosphere in the stands heated up. Both teams applied strong midfield pressure, making it difficult to create attacking opportunities. However, Ono intercepted a pass and shot in the 24th minute, and in the 35th minute, he threatened Tokyo's goal with a volley, leading to a match that unfolded at Urawa's pace. Tokyo's Kelly broke through in the 33rd and 41st minutes, closing in on the goal but falling just short. The lack of energy from forwards like Ryohei and Toru KABURAGI contributed to the challenging situation, as they struggled to establish a focal point in the frontline.

In the 44th minute of the first half, TUTO, who had the ball at the corner of the penalty area in front of Tokyo's goal, made a sharp dribble to the right side, flowing horizontally in his "specialty" in front of the goal. He took a shot, and the ball grazed GK Doi's hand, hit the left goal post, and was pushed in by Adriano, allowing the opening goal. For a moment, the transfer of marking from Komine to Naito was delayed, allowing TUTO, who was the most closely guarded, to create a scoring opportunity.

However, immediately after this, unbelievably, Adriano, who scored the goal, was so overjoyed that he jumped over the advertising board and received his second yellow card of the day, resulting in his expulsion. This kept the hope alive for the second half.

Second half explosion! Kelly's first goal in Japan, and Toda's first goal in J for a comeback victory!

At halftime, Coach Okuma instructed Rohi and Toru KABURAGI to "put their bodies on the line and become a focal point in the front line," which seemed to have an impact as Tokyo started to move in the second half. In the 2nd minute of the second half, Kelly sent a superb lob pass into the space behind the Reds' defense, and Rohi reacted to it, scoring a direct volley with his right foot from a tight angle on the right side to equalize. Five minutes later, in the 7th minute of the second half, Kelly dribbled in from the right side, evaded one defender, and unleashed a powerful shot with his left foot. The goalkeeper initially deflected the ball, but Kelly calmly scored again, successfully turning the game around. After being denied twice by the goalpost in the previous match against Nagoya, Kelly finally scored his first goal in Japan and erupted with joy.

After that, Tokyo, maintaining a numerical advantage, toyed with the Reds through sharp one-twos initiated by Kelly from the center and aggressive side attacks from Fujiyama and Naito. Kelly's exceptional ball retention when moving to the side and his versatile passes from the center shone even brighter with his own goal. In the 40th minute of the second half, Kelly made a high-speed dribble through the center and sent a superb through pass to the goal area, but Rohi responded and broke free, only to be unfortunately caught offside. Although it didn't result in a goal, it was a very high-level attack. The Reds, down a player, created chances with Ono's spirited play leading to sharp counterattacks, but their reliance on TUTO continued to falter against Komine's powerful defense, and they couldn't create any decisive opportunities.

The finale came in the 42nd minute of the second half. From the left side, Kelly kept the ball and passed it to Yoshina. Yoshina quickly sent a pinpoint cross in front of the goal, and substitute Toda jumped in to head it into the right corner of the goal, securing a third goal. This was Toda's first goal in J-League, and the match ended with a score of 3-1. Tokyo achieved a long-awaited victory, breaking their losing streak since the opening match on March 10.

And just as joyful as the victory is Kelly and Toda's "first goal." Both have already proven their high abilities, but there was something missing, and that was a goal. Scoring that goal became the catalyst for them to become indispensable players for the team... With that goal, the presence of the two will become unshakeable, and the team will take another step up.

[Coach Okuma's Comments]

Until now, we had created good content and good form, but we couldn't win the matches, so today, no matter what, I wanted to win in any way possible. The players were also on the verge of losing confidence, so I am happy that we could win like this today, and I believe it has given the players confidence.

Also, since young players like Toda and Toru KABURAGI, who have been given opportunities, have not performed well until now, I was happy with Toda's goal today. I want to build momentum with this victory and work hard for the next match.