Now, it's time for revenge!

　The memory is still fresh of the humiliating defeat in the 1st stage... In the first match against JEF held on April 29, we suffered a humiliating defeat at home, losing 0-3. JEF completely gained momentum in this match and continued their impressive run, finishing the 1st stage in the club's highest-ever position of 2nd place. On the other hand, Tokyo completely lost confidence in this match and suffered another heavy defeat by the same score against Hiroshima, resulting in the club's first-ever drop to the bottom of the standings. (Ultimately, this two-game losing streak became the catalyst for Tokyo's recovery...)

　Indeed, this season Jeff is strong, showing a performance that is like a different team compared to the "regular members of the J2 relegation battle". The reason for this is that the tactics of the second-year wise coach, VERDENIK, have permeated the team, gathering players who may not be flashy but can realize those tactics. In particular, the addition of South Korean national striker Choi Yong-soo has been significant, successfully providing a focal point and scoring ability in the front line. In the second stage, they are maintaining good form, proving that the first stage's success was not just a fluke, and they are currently in fifth place.

　Tokyo has been on a roll in the 2nd stage, winning consecutive matches against G Osaka and Hiroshima, which they have struggled against in the past. This is a perfect opportunity to avenge the 1st stage. Fukuda, who transferred from Nagoya, has already scored a goal and is fitting in well with the team, and Yuki Hiko, who was also selected as a candidate for the Japan national team alongside Fukuda, is in great form. The match between these two strong teams kicked off in the harsh cold of the "Norikura Oroshi" wind, with the beautiful scenery of the Alps as a backdrop in the brand new stadium.

Difficult Development of Jeff Pace

　In the early stages, it was Jeff who took control of the pace first. Jeff distributed long and short passes from a low position in midfield through Abe, and the ball dropped to the forward Choi, where the game-maker MF Muichin and the active FW Ohsiba got involved, stirring up the midfield and drawing enough attention before the wing-backs sharply joined the attack into the open spaces on both sides. As it had been since the 1st stage, the 3-5-2 system proved to be a very effective tactic, allowing Jeff to take the lead in the game. Choi's hold-up play had been well-prepared in the pre-match meeting, but they were unable to shut down the passing options (Abe, Muichin, etc.) before that, causing Tokyo to fall behind in various situations.

　On the other hand, Tokyo's attack struggled to win the ball up front and was pressured, attempting to counterattack after regaining possession deep in their own territory. In contrast to Jeff, there were many instances where Amaral at the top was isolated, and due to Amaral's poor form leading to frequent loss of possession, they faced a difficult period without being able to establish a base in the front line.

　In the 22nd minute, a free kick taken by Jeff's Abe went just over the goal, narrowly escaping danger. Just two minutes later, in the 24th minute, Abe's long pass found Choi, who broke free and took a shot from close range, but it was barely caught by goalkeeper Doi. Young hope Abe, at just twenty years old, is currently a candidate for the Japan national team, and as the pre-match hype suggested, he dazzled Tokyo with his precise passing and technique, surpassing Inamoto. In the 27th minute, Abe sent a pinpoint ball from near the center circle to the front line, and Ooshiba, reacting sharply, touched the ball just a moment before the advancing goalkeeper Doi and shot. The ball cruelly went into the empty goal. Just like in the first stage match, Jeff allowed the first goal again.

　Tokyo, wanting to turn the tide, saw Kelly break through the situation with his wonderful technique, but due to being under constant pressure and having their line pushed back, they lacked the numbers for a counterattack, resulting in a lack of intensity. Occasionally, Fukuda would cut in from the left side to take a shot, but Jeff's tall defender, Milinovic, stood in front of the goal like a Nio statue, stopping every attempt. Still, in the dying moments of the first half during stoppage time, Yukiho delivered a free kick from the right that Amaral tried to head in front of the goal, but it went just left of the goal. The only real chance was this shot from Amaral, making for a very disappointing first half, ending with Jeff leading by one goal.

The introduction of Kina changed the flow.. Amaral's equalizer counterattacks!

　Once Kinama took the pitch at the start of the second half, the flow changed completely. In the first half, Tokyo's support for Amaral and Kelly was slow, leading to the two being isolated and lacking depth in their attack. In response, Kinama, who has strong ball retention skills, was brought in to replace the defensive midfielder Asari. Utilizing his high ball retention ability, Kinama became a focal point in midfield, transitioning from a counter-attack focused strategy to a more composed buildup, creating a more robust attack through overall advancement.

　Three minutes into the second half, Kinama, who kept the ball in midfield, made a big switch to Fujiyama, who had moved up from the left side. Fujiyama dribbled in and delivered a cross to Fukuda, who shot with a jumping volley. The JEF goalkeeper barely deflected it, but Amaral, who was following up on the rebound, neatly kicked it in to equalize! With Kinama's addition, Tokyo, gaining momentum from the equalizer, further pressed on in the 10th minute of the second half. Fukuda took a strong shot from the center, which hit the opposing defender and flowed behind. Kelly broke free and found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his shot went high over the bar. Failing to convert this crucial chance would have significant repercussions later on.

If taken, take it back! Tokyo, a determined equalizer!

　Tokyo, having equalized, gained further momentum and overwhelmed Jeff. In the 11th minute, a ball played behind by Kelly on the right side was crossed by Yukihiko, but unfortunately, it was caught by the opposing goalkeeper. In the following 15th minute, Fujiyama intercepted the ball in his own half, dribbled forward, and sent a through pass into the space on the right side, allowing Yukihiko to break free and deliver a cross, but it was deflected by the opposing defender for a corner kick. Tokyo, riding the momentum, wanted to press hard here, but the well-performing Jeff was not so easily overcome.

　In the 18th minute, a single pass from the left was received by Choi, who was free to trap it and take a shot, but Doi made a fine save to prevent it. Even though JEF was under pressure, they demonstrated the ability to turn the game around quickly with Abe's precise long passes and Choi's finishing power, leading to a back-and-forth battle once again.

　Tokyo, wanting an additional goal, made a substitution at the 26th minute, replacing the fatigued Fukuda with KAGAMI, who had scored consecutive winning goals in the last two matches and was riding a wave of momentum. At the 31st minute, Kelly broke through the left side with superb technique and immediately passed to the center. Amaral let it go through, and KAGAMI, running in from behind, took a shot from the center, but it narrowly missed to the left of the goal. Conversely, at the 33rd minute, from a central free kick, Jeff Muichin took a powerful shot, but GK Doi made a fine save to prevent it. Tokyo created chances as Yukihiko attempted to break through the right side, and Jeff, along with Oshiba and substitute Hayashi, showed sharp movements up front. The match remained evenly contested, and just when it seemed like it would go into extra time, at the 40th minute of the second half, Jeff’s Abe scored with a header from a corner kick, putting Tokyo one goal behind again. Tokyo’s eleven momentarily dropped their shoulders after conceding a painful goal at the toughest moment. However, as they had shown in the last two matches, Tokyo, never giving up until the end, quickly refocused. Tokyo tried to attack with full force, but Jeff defended firmly with all players. As time ticked away, Tokyo earned a corner kick, and the Tokyo supporters behind the goal moved to the front row of the stands, shouting loudly as if it was their last chance. With less than a minute remaining, Yukihiko’s kicked ball was easily cleared by Jeff’s defenders and returned all the way back to Komine at the back. Just when everyone thought “all is lost...”, Komine’s direct kick dropped behind the Jeff defenders who had pushed up the line, and the ball bounced once before Tetsuya ITO, who had come up for the corner kick, volleyed it in with a jumping strike to equalize! Tokyo showed their fighting spirit just before the end and brought the match back to even at the last moment.

Valuable draw in a tough match

　Tokyo, exhilarated after equalizing at the last moment, wanted to settle the match quickly, but once it went into extra time, it was JEF who took control. Even in extra time, JEF’s forwards, Oshiba and Hayashi, served as key players with their abundant energy, especially excelling at penetrating the penalty area. Accurate through passes from Abe created several dangerous moments that could have led to a V-goal. On the other hand, Tokyo, perhaps driven by their "will to win," showed a strong attacking mindset overall, often breaking their defensive balance and leaving themselves vulnerable to counterattacks. For a moment, it recalled the 2nd stage match against Shimizu (extra time V loss), but this time, with Doi at the center of the back line, Komine, Sandro, and Tetsuya ITO maintained their concentration until the end, and the match ultimately ended in a draw. Both sides engaged in a fierce battle of wills, and although Tokyo could not achieve revenge, securing "1 point" in a situation that could have worsened due to Amaral’s poor form was significant. Even in bad times, Tokyo showed resilience with "never giving up football until the end," managing to bring the game to a draw, which is commendable. Tokyo, now able to produce results not only when in good form but also in tough times, will face their archrival Urawa at home in the next round at Tokyo Stadium.

[Coach Okuma's Comments]

"It was unfortunate that today's goals conceded were due to coordination errors and set plays. However, I can appreciate that we were able to draw the match with our characteristic 'never give up football.' There were issues when we couldn't establish a base in the front line during the first half, or when we couldn't circulate the ball in the midfield, but I can also commend the fact that we maintained balance and minimized the goals conceded. Therefore, I want to reassess the balance between offense and defense and shift our mindset for the next game."