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 being in top form, has steadily improved its team strength with the return of MF Kelly and DF Tetsuya ITO from injury after three matches, along with Kima on the bench, riding the momentum from their big win against C Osaka in the previous match. In their encounter in the 1st stage (7/7), they secured a clean victory with two goals from Kelly at the packed home Tokyo Stadium, and they have no sense of inferiority or fear against the Antlers. With the possibility of rising to 3rd place if they win this match, their motivation is extremely high. On the other hand, the Antlers are also highly motivated as a win in this match would significantly advance them towards the championship, and the match was expected to be an exciting contest. From Tokyo, a record six buses and 270 enthusiastic supporters rushed to Kashima Soccer Stadium, creating a heated atmosphere in the stands that rivaled the local Antlers supporters. The 'big match' for both teams kicked off at 2:03 PM with the sound of the whistle echoing 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

　Woken up by a powerful opening punch right after the start, the Antlers quickly shifted to counterattack. The Antlers circulated the ball with exceptional ball control and passing from midfielders Nakata, Ogasawara, and Bismarck, trying to find rhythm by feeding the ball to the Japan national team duo of forwards Yanagisawa and Suzuki. However, in the early stages, the combination between the two was poor, and even simple vertical passes were cleared by DF Yamao and Sandro with tough charges. Gradually, as the two began to alternate roles as a target man and making runs into space, the marking started to slightly shift, leading to noticeable scenes where fouls were committed due to delayed responses, resulting in more free kicks being awarded near Tokyo's goal. Additionally, the aggressive attacking participation of DF Augusto, which symbolizes the Antlers' impressive run in the second stage, was also a threat. Not only did he charge up the left side to challenge, but he also cut inside to create space on the left side, where Ogasawara positioned himself as a pivot, making the attacks involving Augusto in the thick midfield diverse and confusing for the Tokyo defense. In the 13th minute, Yamao was caught out by Augusto and brought him down near the penalty area, receiving a yellow card. Although Tokyo's defense maintained high concentration and committed play to prevent any decisive moments, they continued to endure the Antlers' thick 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 had been equalized, did not hesitate and continued to play aggressively on both offense and defense, putting pressure on the Antlers. In the 33rd minute, Amaral's chasing induced a back pass mistake from the opponent, and as Amaral charged towards the Antlers' goal, goalkeeper Sogahata rushed out to clear the ball outside the penalty area. However, the clearance was weak and flew to Miura, who followed from behind Amaral, and Miura shot directly towards the unguarded goal. Unfortunately, the ball narrowly missed to the left of the goal. Furthermore, in the 36th minute, a ball intercepted by Shimohira on the right side was passed intricately between Amaral, Shimohira, and Yukihiko, leading to a through pass to Miura, who had made a run into the goal area. Miura was brought down while trying to break through inside the penalty area, but it was deemed no foul. The Antlers also had Suzuki playing aggressively as a pivot in the front line, and in the 38th and 44th minutes, he took powerful shots with his left foot, but there were no goals. In the end, neither team was able to score additional points, and the match remained 1-1, carrying the contest into 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, it was Tokyo that first took the offensive. In the 2nd minute, Yukihiko surged down the right side and delivered a sharp ground cross between the GK and DF, but GK Sogahata fumbled it. However, they couldn't capitalize on the opportunity. In the 9th minute, Kelly was brought on, returning to the pitch for the first time in three matches after recovering from injury. Despite forcing his way back onto the field with a sore right elbow, Kelly quickly made his presence felt. In the 11th minute, he received the ball outside the penalty area and broke through a tight space with a quick one-two with Miura, shooting with his left foot. The shot went straight to the GK and did not result in a goal, but in the following 13th minute, he broke free on the right side from a through pass by Toda and sent a shot-like ball back across the goal, which was also caught by the GK. With Kelly's entry, another focal point was created in the front line, which had been concentrated on Amaral, allowing for more secure passing options and significantly improving the overall rhythm of the team's attack. Kelly received the ball and quickly advanced it forward, spreading it to both sides and making runs into the goal area. In the 22nd minute, he leaped to head a cross from Yukihiko on the right but just missed it. On the other hand, the Antlers also showed aggressive play from Augusto, who appeared more like a midfielder or FW than a defender, attacking the Tokyo goal. In the 23rd minute, he took a free kick in front of the goal, curling it with his favored left foot, but it just went wide.

　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 the addition of Motoyama, the Antlers' attack became more robust, and Motoyama became a focal point in front of Tokyo's goal with his sharp dribbling skills. The Antlers, eager to settle the match within 90 minutes, showed a furious total attack, not only with Augusto on the left but also with Narahashi actively joining the attack on the right side. However, Tokyo responded with solid defense. In the 31st minute, from a scramble, the ball reached in front of Tokyo's goal where Yanagisawa shot in a one-on-one decisive moment, but GK Doi made a super save with a sharp dive. However, in the 37th minute of the second half, Narahashi unleashed a powerful mid-range shot from the right side, and as GK Doi barely punched it away, Motoyama, waiting in front of the goal, volleyed it with his right foot, and the ball bounced into the right side of Tokyo's goal. Despite being pushed back, the high concentration and characteristic Tokyo-style football created additional scoring opportunities, making the conceded goal at this time painful. Even after falling behind, Tokyo aimed for the goal with their 'never give up football', but in the 44th minute, they were broken through on the left side by a one-two between Augusto and Motoyama, and Motoyama's well-placed return pass was converted into a decisive goal by Yanagisawa, who was free in front of the goal, sealing the match. Having taken the lead against the top-ranked Antlers in enemy territory and showcasing their strengths with high concentration until the last 8 minutes, the last two conceded goals turned into a regrettable defeat. The conceded goals at this time were also seen in the Jubilo match, but they were proactive goals conceded while trying to win, and I want to think positively about that. Creating situations to win against both teams, which are currently considered the top two in Japan, and boldly going for the win must have been a challenge that will surely lead to the next step. The players' experiences must have been significant as well. In this match, there were many bright aspects, such as Kelly, Kina, and Tetsuya ITO making a surprisingly quick return, and I want to shift my mindset towards 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.