The big match against the leaders, Antlers!

　Currently, Kashima Antlers are leading the 2nd stage solo. The starting members include FW Yanagisawa, who scored a historic goal in the recent match against Italy (on 11/7) and has now grown into Japan's ace, as well as GK Sogahata, who made his national team debut in that Italy match, and MF Nakata and FW Suzuki, who have firmly established themselves in the Japan national team. The player depth of Antlers is so rich that they can afford to have MF Motoyama and FW Hiraise on the bench, but today they have come with a perfect best lineup.

　FC Tokyo, although far from full fitness, saw MF Kelly, Kina, and DF Tetsuya ITO return from injury for the first time in three matches, joining the bench. Riding the momentum from their big win against C Osaka in the previous round, they steadily improved their team strength. In the first stage match (7/7), they secured a clean sheet victory with two goals from Kelly at a packed home Tokyo Stadium, showing no sense of fear or inferiority against the Antlers. With the possibility of rising to third place if they win this match, their motivation is extremely high. On the other hand, the Antlers are naturally highly motivated as a win would bring them significantly closer to the championship, making the match expected to be an intense and exciting game. From Tokyo, a record six buses carrying 270 passionate supporters rushed to Kashima Soccer Stadium, heating up the stands with their fervent cheering that rivaled the local Antlers fans. The 'big showdown' for both teams kicked off loudly at 2:03 PM in the cold rain at Kashima Soccer Stadium.

One minute in, Kobayashi's opening goal explodes!

　The match started with a chaotic atmosphere in the stadium. In the 1st minute, forward Amaral kept the ball on the left side and sent a looping pass to defender Fujiyama, who controlled the ball and made a through pass behind the Antlers' defense. Reacting to this, midfielder Miura broke free and crossed the ball back from the goal line, where midfielder Seigo KOBAYASHI powerfully kicked it in with his left foot to score the opening goal. Perhaps the high expectations turned into pressure, as Tokyo, contrasting with the somewhat stiff movements of the Antlers, displayed bold plays right from the start and scored the fastest goal of the season just one minute into the match, enveloping the stadium in a chaotic atmosphere filled with the sighs of Antlers supporters and the loud cheers of Tokyo supporters.

The Antlers' thick offense and Tokyo's sharp counterattack

　Awakened by a powerful early opening punch, the Antlers immediately launched a counterattack. In midfield, MF Nakata, Ogasawara, and Bismarck circulated the ball with outstanding ball retention and passing skills, trying to find rhythm by connecting with the Japan national team’s two forwards, Yanagisawa and Suzuki. However, their combination was poor in the early stages, and even against simple vertical passes, DF Yamao and Sandro cleared everything with tough charges. Gradually, as the two alternated roles between acting as a target man and making runs into space, the marking began to slip slightly, causing delayed responses and more frequent fouls, resulting in an increasing number of free kicks near Tokyo’s goal. Also, DF Augusto’s aggressive attacking involvement, a symbol of the Antlers’ rapid progress in the 2nd stage, was a threat. Not only did he rush up the left side to challenge, but by cutting inside and creating space on the left side, Ogasawara positioned himself in that space to become a focal point. Augusto’s involvement in the thick midfield attacks confused Tokyo’s defenders. At 13 minutes, Yamao received a yellow card for fouling Augusto near the penalty area after being caught behind. Tokyo’s defense maintained high concentration and physical play, preventing any decisive chances, but they continued to endure the Antlers’ overwhelming attacks.

　On the other hand, Tokyo, which often found itself on the defensive, created opportunities with sharp counterattacks. Tokyo's "solid defense and quick attack" was still evident that day, with Amaral applying intense pressure from the front line. After winning the ball through strict pressing led by Shimohira in midfield, Augusto advanced, and Yukiho and Toda alternated making runs into the open space on the right side, becoming the focal point. From there, they delivered accurate crosses into the center. Although they sent several last passes in front of the goal, Amaral was closely marked, and there were few players entering the box, preventing them from taking a shot.

Ace Yanagisawa equalizes with a skillful goal

　I knew we weren't a team that could be beaten by just one goal, but we were unexpectedly equalized by a strike from our ace. For Tokyo, it was a good flow, as it was a "planned development," but in the 29th minute of the first half, the Antlers' Bismarck held the ball in midfield and passed it to Suzuki at the top. Suzuki dropped the ball, and Nakata advanced with a speedy dribble, sending a through pass to Yanagisawa up front. Yanagisawa took an exquisite line, slipping between Tokyo's defender Yamao and Sandro at top speed, and shot just a moment before GK Doi could rush out, shaking the net of Tokyo's goal. Nakata's pass was also wonderful, but I could only take my hat off to Yanagisawa's "international level" play that brought it to a perfect finish.

　Tokyo, who were caught up with an equalizer, did not hesitate and continued to trouble the Antlers with aggressive play in both offense and defense. In the 33rd minute, Amaral's chasing forced the opponent into a back pass mistake, and when Amaral charged toward the Antlers' goal, goalkeeper Sogahata rushed out beyond the penalty area to clear. However, this clearance was weak and flew to Miura's feet, who had followed from behind Amaral. Miura took a direct shot at the unguarded goal, but the ball narrowly missed to the left of the goal. Then, in the 36th minute, Shimohira intercepted the ball on the right side, and Amaral, Shimohira, and Yukihiko connected with precise passes. Taking advantage of this, Miura made a through pass to break into the goal area. Miura was fouled while trying to break through inside the penalty area, but no foul was called. The Antlers' Suzuki also played aggressively, becoming a focal point up front, and in the 38th and 44th minutes, he unleashed powerful left-footed shots, but none resulted in a goal. Ultimately, neither team scored additional goals, and the match remained tied 1-1, with the outcome to be decided in the second half.

Kelly, with the introduction of Kinaka, took a gamble, but conceded 2 goals in the last 8 minutes, sealing their fate.

　As the second half began, Tokyo was the first to go on the offensive. In the 2nd minute, Yukihiko charged down the right side and delivered a sharp grounded cross between the GK and the defenders, causing GK Sogahata to fumble. However, the follow-up was weak and they couldn't capitalize. In the 9th minute, Kelly was brought on, returning to the pitch for the first time in three matches after injury. Kelly played through with his injured right elbow braced, but immediately made his presence felt on the field. In the 11th minute, receiving the ball outside the penalty area, he combined with Miura in a quick one-two to break through a tight space and took a shot with his left foot. The shot went straight to the GK and did not result in a goal, but in the 13th minute, he broke free on the right side from a through pass by Toda and crossed back with a shot-like ball from a tight angle, which was also caught by the GK. With Kelly's entry, another focal point was created in the attack besides Amaral, increasing the number of reliable passing options and significantly improving the team's overall attacking rhythm. Kelly quickly carried the ball forward whenever he received it, spreading it to both flanks and making runs into the box. In the 22nd minute, he leapt to head a cross from the right by Yukihiko but just missed. Meanwhile, the Antlers showed aggressive play with Augusto acting more like a midfielder or even a forward rather than a defender, pressing hard on Tokyo's goal. In the 23rd minute, Augusto curled a free kick with his favored left foot aimed at the goal but narrowly missed.

　In the midst of a fierce back-and-forth battle where offense and defense rapidly exchanged roles, it was Tokyo that made the first move. Coach Okuma had said before the match, "The turning point will be when the opponent brings in the substitute Motoyama," but Tokyo's timing to make a decisive move came with the introduction of Kinama, going on the offensive before the Antlers. Just two minutes after Kinama's introduction, the Antlers sent Motoyama onto the pitch.

　With Motoyama joining, the Antlers' attack became even stronger, and Motoyama used his sharp and incisive dribbling as a key point in front of Tokyo's goal. Determined to settle the match within 90 minutes, the Antlers launched a fierce all-out attack, with not only Augusto on the left but also Narahashi on the right side actively joining the offense. However, Tokyo responded with solid defense. In the 31st minute, from a scramble, the ball came out in front of Tokyo's goal, and Yanagisawa took a decisive one-on-one shot, but GK Doi made a superb save by flying out sharply to catch it. Then, in the 37th minute of the second half, Narahashi unleashed a powerful long-range shot from the right side, and when GK Doi barely punched it away, Motoyama, waiting right in front of the goal, connected with a right-foot volley. The ball bounced and was drawn into the right side of Tokyo's goal. Despite being pressed, Tokyo was looking for chances to score additional goals with high concentration and their characteristic style of play, so conceding at this time was painful. Even after being overturned, Tokyo aimed for the goal with "never give up football until the end," but in the 44th minute near the end, Augusto and Motoyama combined with a one-two on the left side to break through, and Motoyama delivered a perfectly aimed cross. Yanagisawa, free in front of the goal, scored the final blow, ending all hopes. Having taken the lead against the top-ranked Antlers on their home ground and demonstrating Tokyo's strengths with high concentration until the last 8 minutes, the last two conceded goals were a regrettable defeat. Conceding at this stage was also seen in the match against Jubilo, but it was an aggressive concession while going for the win, so it should be viewed positively. Creating a situation to go for the win against what are currently considered Japan's top two teams, and boldly going for the win, must have been a challenge that will definitely lead to the next step. The players' experience must have grown significantly. This match also had many bright spots, such as Kelly, Kina, and Tetsuya ITO making a quicker-than-expected return, and we want to reset our mindset heading into the remaining two matches.

[Coach Okuma's Comment] Today, we took a gamble but did not get the result we wanted. I communicated to the players before the match that the key moment for the opponent would be the introduction of Motoyama, and we prepared for it, but in the end, we were disrupted by him in the front line. We need to switch our mindset and aim to win in the remaining two matches.