Heading into the last 4 matches with a full victory!

　Since winning against Urawa Reds on September 29, FC Tokyo has not secured a victory for over a month. On this day, they welcomed Cerezo Osaka, who are facing relegation, to their home ground, Tokyo Stadium. It was anticipated that Cerezo Osaka would launch a desperate all-out attack from the start, as they needed to win by a V-goal or more to avoid relegation to J2. However, FC Tokyo also had their reliable veterans, Amaral, who was suspended in the previous match, and Miura, who returned from injury, back on the pitch, raising expectations for an exciting match.

　Although FC Tokyo has lost the goal of winning the championship, it is important to secure a solid victory in this match in order to achieve better results than last year and to aim for the first title in the Emperor's Cup. The stage is set to showcase Tokyo's true strength. It's time to march forward towards "Winning all of the last four matches!"

"Solid Defense, Quick Counterattack" Explodes! Scored 2 Goals in Quick Succession!

　At 4:04 PM, a whistle sounded loudly at Tokyo Stadium, announcing the start of FC Tokyo's challenge to win all of their last four matches, as rain fell intermittently.

　From the very beginning of the match, C Osaka launched an all-out attack without holding back, while FC Tokyo seized the ball with solid defense and created big chances from sharp counterattacks. The first decisive chance created by FC Tokyo came in the 9th minute when Yukihiko, who had returned to his own half to cut off C Osaka's attack, received the ball and passed it to Seigo KOBAYASHI, who was positioned on the left side, and then made a sprint forward. Seigo KOBAYASHI delivered a perfectly timed through ball behind C Osaka's shallow defensive line, allowing Yukihiko to break free and go one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Although Yukihiko managed to dribble past the advancing goalkeeper, he couldn't take a shot and instead passed it back to Amaral, who had made a late run into the center, but it was just out of reach and cleared by the defender. Although it didn't lead to a goal, it was a big chance created from Yukihiko's excellent situational judgment. Unlike the previous match where they struggled to build up attacks due to the inability to create a focal point in the front line and lack of buildup in midfield, on this day, FC Tokyo saw their defensive midfielder Miura create space in midfield, connecting with forwards Amaral and Toda, and spreading the play to the sides to establish the rhythm of their attack. Up front, Amaral served as a stable focal point with his post play, and Toda, making his first start of the second stage, stirred up C Osaka's defense with his abundant movement and aggressive actions, while Yukihiko on the right side created chances with sharp runs into space.

　In the 15th minute, Komine stole the ball on the right side and quickly fed it forward, allowing Yukihiko to time his run perfectly. He crossed the ball from deep on the right side to Miura, who charged in and powerfully kicked it in with his right foot to score the opening goal. Riding the momentum, Tokyo struck again in the 19th minute, as Yukihiko broke through the right side once more, bringing the ball close to the goal before passing it to Amaral in the center with a ground pass. Amaral lifted the ball with a single touch and then smashed a volley into the net with his right foot for the second goal. C Osaka, needing to win at all costs, became too aggressive and lost balance in defense, allowing FC Tokyo to exploit the space behind their shallow three-man backline, with Yukihiko leading the charge to quickly secure two goals early on.

Decisive Own Goal

　C Osaka, having lost two goals early on, made a move shortly after. In the 21st minute of the first half, they brought in the Korean genius playmaker, Yoon, and C Osaka's attack transformed from a monotonous rush forward to a more layered attack utilizing the ball retention skills and intricate passing of Yoon and Morishima. However, Tokyo's defense line was exceptionally focused that day, with Sandro tightly marking target man FW Okayama, while Komine and Fujiyama effectively shut down FW Ooshiba, who was exploiting the space on the sides with their speed, preventing any decisive chances. In the 30th minute, Yoon exploited the right side, and from there, a cross to the far side saw FW Okayama dive in with a header, but Sandro managed to clear it just in time. In the 38th minute, Yoon unleashed a powerful shot from the center, but Doih caught it right in front of him. Furthermore, in the dying moments of stoppage time, a crucial last pass was intricately connected within the penalty area, but Yamao, who covered just in time, slid in to clear it narrowly. The middle shot taken immediately after was also deflected by Doih's punch, but the first half ended with C Osaka maintaining their pace.

　One minute into the second half, C Osaka's Yun, who kept the ball on the left side, made a penetrating pass to the top, but FC Tokyo's defender cut it off. However, the clearance was weak, and Yun picked up the ball again and took a shot from the center, which hit the defender's foot (changing direction) and went into the goal. "The next goal is crucial," Coach Okuma had said at halftime, making this conceded goal regrettable. But the sadness was short-lived. Recently, Tokyo has been gaining confidence that they can recover even after conceding, and they remained completely unfazed by the goal, calmly playing their own style of football. Four minutes later, Yukihiko dribbled in from the right side and, at just the right moment, Miura broke through behind the defense, receiving a superb through pass from Yukihiko. Miura returned the ball to the center from just inside the goal line, but it hit the chest of a C Osaka defender and resulted in an own goal. This completely relieved Tokyo, but for C Osaka, who thought, "Alright, let's counterattack!" right after the own goal, it must have been an immeasurable shock.

King is alive! Amaral achieves his first hat-trick of the season! Extending the 'undefeated myth'

　C Osaka, who had once again fallen behind by two goals in a shocking time and manner, still had their fighting spirit (soul) intact. After conceding a goal, they replaced the defensive midfielder Marcelo with the 19-year-old attacking midfielder Yu OKUBO, who is becoming a key player in his first professional year. C Osaka, shifting to a more aggressive approach, launched a powerful total attack with the combination of Yun, Morishima, and Okubo. In the 7th and 9th minutes, they took long-range shots, both of which were barely punched away by Dohi, while FC Tokyo's defenders cleared the ball just a moment before the opponents could close in, creating dangerous situations. Furthermore, in the 11th minute, a free kick taken by Yun from directly in front of the goal hit the post. In the 13th minute, Yun's cross from the left was met by Okayama attempting a jumping volley, but it went wide of the target. C Osaka's desperate attacks were only gaining in power, but the focused Tokyo calmly waited for their 'opportunity to strike.'

　The long-awaited opportunity came in the 14th minute. C Osaka, who had been showing a fierce attack until then, had completely committed forward, including their defenders. In the 14th minute, Fujiyama intercepted the ball, and with a wall pass with Amaral and Seigo KOBAYASHI, FC Tokyo found themselves in a numerically advantageous situation within the C Osaka territory. Seigo KOBAYASHI sent a long pass to Miura, who had burst into space on the right side, and Miura passed directly to Amaral, who was running into the center. As Miura drifted to the side, pulling the defender out, Amaral found himself one-on-one with a C Osaka defender in the center. Taking a gamble, Amaral made a big feint to the left and shot with his left foot. The sharp ground shot slipped through the narrow space on the same side and shook the goal net. At this point, Amaral was unstoppable. In the 18th minute, Yuki Hiko delivered a cross from the right side, and with a powerful header that soared above the opponent in front of the goal, he achieved his first hat-trick of the season, extending the score to 5-1 and pulling away significantly from C Osaka.

　The decisive goal by Amaral determined the match, but C Osaka continued to fight back until the end, responding to the passionate support of their fans. Yu OKUBO created rhythm with his fresh movements, while Tokyo's defense, including Shimozono, maintained high concentration to fend off the threats. The intense back-and-forth continued, and in the 41st minute, a floated ball from In was dropped by Morishima off the post, allowing Oshima to score. C Osaka showed their determination until the final whistle, but ultimately, the match ended as it was, confirming C Osaka's relegation to J2.

　FC Tokyo savored victory for the first time in about a month, taking a steady step towards "winning all of the last four matches." Although they conceded an unnecessary goal at the end, overall, with Amaral and Miura returning, the team has tightened up significantly compared to the previous match. Additionally, players like Toru KABURAGI, who joined the squad from the last match, have definitely raised their level through real match experience. While they are still far from their best lineup, someone reliable is expected to return to the pitch in the next match. Amaral's record of not losing when he scores has now extended to 9 wins and 2 draws this season (counting from last year's second stage, it totals 15 wins and 2 draws). With Amaral in excellent form, this record is certainly reassuring. The next match will be a "big game" for both us and our opponent, Kashima. To achieve "winning all of the last three matches," we will defeat the champions, Kashima, on their home ground!

[Coach Okuma's Comment] Given that Kelly is absent and the current situation of C Osaka, we knew that the opponent would come at us aggressively from the start. Today, with Toda coming in, the movement in the front line increased, and his runs into areas that the opponent dislikes and his breakthroughs were effective, allowing us to score at a good time, making it an easier game for us after a long time. If Toda can perform like this in matches against other teams, he will be a significant asset. I have high expectations and hope he aims even higher and works harder.

[Joao CARLOS Coach's Comment] The situation has been tough since before the match, and with this defeat, it has been decided that we will be relegated to J2. In terms of the match content, we built the game properly and scored points. However, FC Tokyo also played well and demonstrated football worthy of winning. I think it was a good game. (Since I took office) the record of 2 wins and 8 losses indicates that I could not change the team. The front office has supported us to the fullest, and the players have done well. We have faced challenges with injuries, but I do not want to use that as an excuse. The team has many excellent players. It is just that I could not make the changes needed. I am a professional and I have responsibilities. I will not run away from this result. I will take responsibility for the team not being able to stay up, but as long as I have a contract, I want to fight. The current situation and what the players are facing is tough. I myself am facing the biggest wall in my career. I understand that the players are suffering the most. However, for the supporters who cheer for us, and for our families and friends, we must do our best.