Entering the Golden Week consecutive matches

　After a two-week interval, the J1 League resumes. This match will be held at home at Tokyo Stadium, where we will face JEF United Chiba, who are currently on a two-game winning streak. Chiba's forward, Lee Yong-soo, who joined the team this season, has recovered from injury, and the team's performance is improving along with his return. Last year, we had a good record against them, winning both matches, but this season, Chiba is showing a completely different team. They cannot be underestimated, but with the support of the fans in the stands, we want to secure a solid victory. This is an important match as we aim to build momentum for the consecutive matches in May. Amaral, who has recovered from injury, is back on the bench for the first time in four matches as we kick off.

Allowed an early goal, leading to a difficult situation

　Right from the start, the ball kicked by GK Doi hit Ichihara FW Oshima directly. The rebounded ball went wide of the goal, but just two minutes later, Ichihara's left winger Murai intercepted a pass from Miura to Naito. He surged forward towards the goal, and the match began with an ominous mood. In response to Tokyo's disjointed play, Ichihara applied aggressive pressure and took control of the ball. In the 4th minute, after quick passes in midfield, left MF Muichin dribbled into the center, and then delivered a through pass to FW Oshima, who had made a run into the box from the right side. Oshima threaded the ball between the retreating Sandro and the advancing Komine, ran into the open space, and shot. This resulted in a goal, catching the DF line off guard and conceding the opening goal. With Tokyo DF distracted by the ball and Oshima's brilliant judgment not missing the opportunity, Tokyo found themselves in a difficult situation, trailing by one goal once again.

　However, Tokyo also showed an attacking shape starting from Ropisu and Kelly, with Masuda shooting a ball from a side change connected from the right side in the 5th minute. In the 11th minute, Miura ran in on a loose ball in front of the goal and took a shot. In the 22nd minute, Ropisu was fouled, and after a quick restart, Fujiyama delivered a cross, but Kelly's header ended up being ineffective.

Tokyo, which cannot be decisively broken down, has longer periods of being pressed, and even when they regain possession, Ichihara's press is strict, making it difficult to pass forward from the backline. In the 29th minute, after cutting a shot from Choi, they launched a counterattack, connecting Ryo → Kelly, and finally, Toda delivered a cross, but the Ichihara defense cleared it. After that, from a free kick, Toda struck a header, but it went wide of the goal; they create chances but cannot equalize.

Conceding an additional goal at a dangerous time

　Ichihara has quick movements from the front line to defense, maintaining a compact line. Nevertheless, they do not allow any decisive shots, and Tokyo gradually begins to dominate the ball. However, wanting to pull one back before halftime, just as their rhythm improves, in the 42nd minute, a cleared ball by Tokyo's defense is picked up by Ichihara's midfielder Nakanishi, who makes a brilliant dribble from the right and cuts inside. Nakanishi evades the defense and passes. This ball is received by Hasebe, who followed Nakanishi, and with good judgment, he shoots. The ball arcs beautifully and is drawn into the goal, allowing Tokyo to concede an additional goal due to Hasebe's clean shot.

Two goals conceded in the most dangerous time periods in soccer, the first five minutes and the last five minutes, which are the times when you absolutely cannot concede a goal... Tokyo faced a significant deficit as they headed into the second half.

Amaral's introduction did not show the 'Tokyo-ness'...

　In the second half, Tokyo substituted Amaral for Toda and Kina for Masuda. Miura moved to the right midfield, and Kina entered the center, forming a formation aimed at supporting the top. However, just after the start of the second half, Ichihara's Murai broke through Tokyo's right side with a dribble. As Naito was outpaced by the incredible speed, Murai delivered a sharp cross in front of the goal! Although goalkeeper Doi initially deflected it, Oshima, who had run in for the loose ball, took a shot. The ball floated gently and seemed to be heading into the unguarded goal, but Fujiyama desperately attempted a sliding clearance, only to have it barely cross the goal line and go in. They conceded the third goal that decided the match.

　Still attempting to counterattack, Tokyo had a great chance in the 55th minute when Miura and Asari executed a one-two, allowing Asari to break free in front of the goal for a shot! It was a good play that showed awareness of the midfield push, and it was the most decisive chance of the day, but unfortunately, the shot missed the goal.

In the 65th minute, Sato was brought on for Naito. Sato was positioned as a right midfielder, and Miura was placed in a high position as a right side back, launching a fierce counterattack. In the 77th minute, Amaral delivered an exquisite cross after connecting with a free kick, but Sato's header did not find the goal. Although Amaral fought hard and became the starting point, they struggled to finish. Conversely, in the 79th minute, Choi took advantage of the gaps left by the attacking play and had a free shot in front of the goal, but it went wide, avoiding an additional goal. However, in the end, the match ended without any further changes. It was a bitter game with three goals conceded for the first time this season and no goals scored, failing to showcase the typical strengths of Tokyo.

　Coach Okuma stated regarding the next match, "Amaral came in and created a 'starting point', but we need to create more starting points around Rohi, who is remaining as a lone striker. I believe this will lead to attacking momentum and attacks from the sides. I want to reassess the attacking part with the two strikers at the center once again. Additionally, the overall speed of support and the mindset need to be improved to support the top players more quickly; this is a challenge we face." As he discussed the points for improvement, it is clear that we are in need of a breakthrough for scoring. Although the time is short, we want to regroup and prepare for the upcoming series of matches.

[VERDENIK Coach's Comment]

"Not only the score but also the content was good. We were able to play the football we have been aiming for since the second half of last year, with creative attacks and disciplined defense. Especially in terms of offense, the timing and judgment of movement towards the ball were challenges, but I think we were able to implement that today. If we can move the ball more accurately, create chances, and score, we will be able to showcase a higher level of football. It was a game that expressed the direction of the team."

[Coach Okuma's Comments]

"Despite maximizing efforts to prevent Ichihara's two forwards from creating opportunities and taking care of attacks from the sides, we allowed the opponent's attacking characteristics to come through sufficiently. That is very disappointing. In terms of starting speed, Ichihara was a step ahead in both defense and offense. I want to reassess our mindset and starting speed in terms of attacking after defending, and approach the next match with that in mind."