Switching gears for a fresh start

　In the previous match, Tokyo faced Júbilo Iwata, the reigning champions, in a crucial battle for survival in the championship race. Despite a fierce contest that remained even until the last 10 minutes, Tokyo ultimately succumbed to a heavy defeat, conceding five goals. Therefore, the match against Fukuoka on this day is a vital one that will determine their future. While the chances of winning the championship have become realistically difficult, they are not zero. It is essential for the team to not 'break' here in order to grow, and it was important to approach this match with a mindset of starting anew. Only three days have passed since the grueling battle against Iwata, and the physical and mental fatigue of the players is immeasurable. However, it is necessary to switch their mindset and fight, ensuring they do not crumble here. To secure a better ranking than last year and for the future of Tokyo, they must find a way to overcome this challenging situation.

　On the other hand, for Fukuoka, this match was also a very important battle. In the previous match, Fukuoka drew against Urawa, who are also facing the threat of relegation, and their annual ranking dropped to 14th place, putting them in a critical situation just above the relegation line. The point difference with 15th place Verdy below them is 7, and winning this match would significantly advance their chances of "staying up," but conversely, losing would bring the threat of "relegation" closer. It is clear that Fukuoka will come at them with everything they have. Furthermore, the venue for this match is their home ground in Hakata. Given that they are a team known for their intense play, it is easy to imagine that they will approach this fierce battle with a "do whatever it takes" attitude.

　An important match that will greatly influence the future for both sides kicked off at 3 PM in the refreshing autumn weather at Hakata no Mori Stadium.

Overwhelmed by Fukuoka's momentum, we conceded the first goal just 2 minutes into the match.

　Fukuoka's start was fierce, driven by a "desperate" determination. As the unique rhythm of Hakata no Mori enveloped the stadium, supported by the overly passionate cheers of the supporters, the Fukuoka eleven aggressively invaded Tokyo's territory right from the beginning. As Coach Okuma pointed out in the pre-match meeting, Fukuoka came out completely on the attack from the start, aiming to score the first goal, applying pressure from the front line and quickly sending passes forward, not giving Tokyo any room to breathe.

　Tokyo was bewildered by the unique rhythm that enveloped the stadium, which immediately began with "Yoisho! Tottto, Yoisho! Tottto..." as Fukuoka launched an attack. Just two minutes in, a right corner kick led to a shot that was deflected, and the ball was powerfully kicked in by MF Hirashima from a tight angle, allowing an early goal. While one could say they were overwhelmed by the away atmosphere, the failure to implement strategies such as "kicking long to stop the opponent's momentum right after the start" despite knowing Fukuoka would come out aggressively led to the conceded goal. It is true that Fukuoka's start was sharp, but it is also true that Tokyo's start was slow.

Kelly injured and Tokyo falters

　It was a momentary nightmare, but with this, Tokyo quickly turned to counterattack. Now, as a side attacker, Yukihiko, who boasts one of the best breakthrough abilities in J-League, began to show his speed and dribbling on the right side, stopping Fukuoka's aggressive momentum. Conversely, Tokyo started to launch attacks with Miura's calm ball handling and distribution from deep in the midfield. With Kelly and Amaral providing stable holds, they became the focal point in the front line, and the flow of the game quickly tilted towards Tokyo.

　At the 9th minute, Fujiyama, who joined the attack, sent a cross from the left side. Amaral, contesting just outside the penalty area, headed the ball forward, and Kelly reacted sharply, breaking free to take a left-footed shot, but it narrowly went to the right of the goal. In the 2nd stage, Tokyo, confident in always equalizing even if conceding first, gradually took control of the midfield and pressed toward Fukuoka's goal. However, at the 14th minute, just as Tokyo was gaining momentum, Kelly tried to break through the midfield but was challenged by Fukuoka MF Nakahara, who, like a forbidden judo move, grabbed Kelly's right arm and both fell to the ground. In the next moment, Kelly screamed, clutching his right arm in pain. The play was stopped, and Kelly received treatment off the pitch, but Tokyo players showed visible anger and protested fiercely against such a dangerously reckless play that could have ended Kelly's career. Ultimately, this series of events triggered a major disruption in the match, resulting in a game that lacked excitement and left a bitter aftertaste.

　Tokyo has truly lost its core, Kelly, just as it was about to take off, and although Amaral is fighting alone on the front line, there is no development to the sides, leading to a complete tone down. A few minutes later, when Kelly returned to the pitch with his right arm wrapped in tape, the rhythm was somewhat regained, but Kelly's play, with his right arm immobile, lacked speed and was not enough to completely break down Fukuoka. Still, in the 23rd minute, with a brilliant wall pass from the center, Kelly → Amaral → Kelly, they broke through the Fukuoka defense, and finally, a superb pass from Kelly found Fukuda in the center, who unleashed a powerful volley with his left foot, but it went straight to the goalkeeper. In the end, Kelly gave up playing and was substituted for Kagami in the 31st minute.

Game break due to rough play...

　After losing Kelly, Tokyo set up a two-top system with Fukuda and Amaral for the first time here. With Kagami on the left and Yukihiko on the right, they aimed for the Fukuoka goal with renewed determination. However, what awaited them was yet another "dirty foul." At the 32nd minute, the ball kicked by the opposing goalkeeper flowed to Tokyo's left side, and when Komine held the ball with his body, Fukuoka FW Yamashita kicked his leg from behind and knocked him down. Yamashita then crossed the ball, and Nakaharai, waiting in the center, volleyed the shot. The ball bounced high and went over Doihi's head but hit the bar and did not result in a goal. Immediately after, when Sandro tried to clear the ball with his left foot after it was played behind Tokyo's defensive line, Yamashita again kicked Sandro's right foot, causing Sandro's clearance to be weak and allowing a shot to be taken. Although it did not result in a goal, Tokyo's players completely lost their composure due to this series of foul-like plays. At the 34th minute, Tetsuya ITO, known for rarely committing fouls, received a yellow card for fouling Fukuoka FW Yamashita after intense chasing. Then at the 36th minute, Sandro was hit hard in the face with an elbow during an aerial battle with Fukuoka FW Hattori, causing bleeding. Sandro protested fiercely. He had never shown such furious anger before, but ultimately had to endure the cost of receiving five stitches above his lip. Immediately after, at the 37th minute, Amaral and Fukuoka MF LORI got into an argument, and both were shown yellow cards for mutual misconduct.

　The game took a turbulent turn, but both teams remained focused on their goal of winning the match and continued to play with concentration. Amid fierce battles for the ball in midfield and rapid changes between offense and defense, Tokyo concentrated their attack in the 42nd minute when Kagami received the ball on the left side and played a through pass behind Fukuoka's high defensive line. Fukuda rushed in and executed a sliding shot! The unexpected shot had a good trajectory but was unfortunately saved by the goalkeeper, resulting in a corner kick. Both teams, playing fast-paced soccer with quick transitions, began creating chances, but the match was interrupted again due to unnecessary rough play. In stoppage time near the end, when Fukuoka midfielder Nakahara and Tetsuya ITO were contesting the ball, both fell after Kelly was targeted with the same move (wrapping the arm). Like Kelly, Tetsuya ITO writhed in severe pain on the pitch; although the left elbow involved suffered only a minor sprain, he also sustained a bruised right shoulder and worsened the fracture in his left hand. It was clearly a dangerously reckless act, and the match grew increasingly chaotic.

A cost greater than defeat...

At halftime, Coach Okuma instructed the players to "focus on the match," and the players vowed to give their all on the pitch to achieve victory with the current squad.

　Right from the start, Kagami sent a cross from the left side, and Fukuda jumped in the center but was just a step short. Immediately after that, Miura broke through deep on the right side and returned a low pass to the center, but it was cleared by a marker just in front of Amaral. Tokyo's in-form Kagami showed significant movement from the left to the right side, gradually creating rhythm. In the 4th minute, Miura headed a cross from Yukihiko on the right, but it went over the bar. In the 8th minute, after a cross from Tetsuya ITO was deflected by the opposing defender, Kagami unleashed a powerful volley, but this also went over the bar. In the 16th minute, with the introduction of Kina, they took a gamble, significantly increasing ball possession in midfield and creating more chances.

　On the other hand, Fukuoka is playing defensively, having a one-goal lead, focusing on counterattacks. They regain possession and pass the ball to Bader, who then distributes it to Yamashita and Nakahara up front. They further break down the sides and deliver crosses, with the strong header of Hattori waiting in front of the goal. There is no room for complacency. Tokyo, understanding the risks involved, is pushing forward to score a goal, which leaves their defense thin during counterattacks, leading to many dangerous situations. In the 21st and 24th minutes, Yamashita took shots from close range, both narrowly missing the goal. The intricate passing exchanges between Yamashita and Nakahara in front of the goal are a threat, and Tokyo's defense, led by Komine, maintained high concentration to defend.

　At the 29th minute, FW Toda was brought on to replace the injured Tetsuya ITO. They pressed towards the goal with an ultra-attacking three-forward formation. At the 31st minute, Fukuda headed Kina's cross, but unfortunately it went straight to the GK. Conversely, immediately at the 32nd minute, after being broken through on the left side on a counterattack and a cross was delivered, the ball crossed in front of the goal, and Hattori took a shot from close range on the opposite side, but it went well over the bar. Then at the 34th minute, after being broken through on the right side on a counterattack and a cross was delivered, Hattori, waiting right in front of the goal, headed it perfectly, but Doi made a fine save to block it, and although Yamashita tried to follow up on the rebound, Doi caught the ball. Although Tokyo reduced the number of defenders and increased attacking players, they could not create a base for attacks other than Amaral up front against Fukuoka, who defended firmly by sitting back, and since their attacks from the sides did not break through behind the opponent’s defense, they failed to create decisive chances. Occasionally, Kina and Miura sent loop passes to the front in coordination with Fukuda’s runs, but these were too simple and were either caught by the GK or cleared by the defenders. In stoppage time just before the end of the match, Yukihiko unleashed a powerful volley shot from the opposite side on a cross raised by Kagami from the left, but the GK made a fine save to block it, ending all hopes. In the end, the match finished 0-1. It is certain that Kelly’s absence in that manner had a major impact, but it is also true that Tokyo did not play soccer that could break down the opponent. Tokyo completely lost their composure that day. In the final stages, they rushed their attacks, and against Fukuoka’s time-wasting from early on, Tokyo strangled themselves with unnecessary fouls. Ultimately, they fell into Fukuoka’s “trap” from the start. However, this cannot simply be dismissed as “lack of experience.” The malicious rough play against Kelly, Tetsuya ITO, and Sandro was absolutely unacceptable, and it is unreasonable to expect composure in response to such acts. Usually, at the end of a match, there is a beautiful scene where players from both teams commend each other’s efforts, but this day showed a completely different development. Both teams became entangled in what looked like a brawl, and staff had to intervene to stop it... Can this be called a sport? The J.League was founded on wonderful principles, but we must not forget that it is a healthy sport before it is soccer.

　On this day, Tokyo paid a greater price than just a defeat. Although not mentioned in the text, Miura also fell during the game due to a malicious tackle and sprained his right knee. Players are the team's, and the fans' precious treasures. In that sense, it can only be said that it was a disappointing match. In the next match against Marinos, we want to have a wonderful good game.

[Coach Okuma's Comment] Soccer is a sport, and establishing it as a sport is a fundamental premise. In that sense, it was disappointing today as we were not able to act as "partners to do it together." Before the outcome of the match, it is necessary to understand such things together. Everyone should confirm that the players are treasures. Regarding the content of the match, a point of reflection is that after Kelly left, we did not establish a focal point in the front line. When the opponent pulled back, there were no runs behind. Moving forward, I want to think about creating a focal point when Kelly is not present. Next, I want to switch our mindset and fight. *As the official site, there were parts that were written a bit too emotionally, so I have made some corrections today. (2001.10.22)