Win the last home game before the league suspension!

　This round, which will be held at the Japan National Stadium, will see a match between JEF United Chiba, currently in 10th place, and Tokyo, who are in 5th place with only a one point difference. Both teams have not been able to secure a win in their last two matches and will be looking to grab a victory to climb up the rankings.

　In addition, it's already time for the league to take an interval for the World Cup, and today's home game will be the last in the first 7 rounds before the break. Of course, we want to win at home National Stadium with a good feeling in order to remain in the championship race and prepare for the following away games.

Last Home Game Before World Cup

The opponents for the fifth game of the season, a home game at the National Stadium, were JEF United Ichihara. JEF, lying 10th in the table five places below F.C.TOKYO, but separated by only one point, had failed to win in their previous two games, like their hosts; both teams were keen to return to winning ways.
F.C.TOKYO were equally anxious to post a good result in the final home match before the World Cup break.

Unable to score despite creating chances, and instead conceded a goal just before the end of the first half.

　Tokyo, who have been taking possession in high positions since the start of the first half, turned to attack. In the 2nd minute, a pass from Hoshi to Amaral was offside. In the 6th minute, Seigo Kobayashi stole the ball from the opponent's backline and faced the GK in a one-on-one situation. Although he was unable to shoot due to being closed down by the DF, he did not overlook the opponent's unstable defense and showed a "forward" attitude.

　At 8 minutes, a powerful middle shot was taken by Ichihara MF Masuda, but Doi escaped with a punching to a CK. The heading shot from the CK by FW Choi went to the right of the goal. However, during this play, the key defender Jean got injured and was forced to be replaced by Osamu Komine in the 13th minute. However, Tokyo, who picked up the second ball well and played in the opponent's territory, sent a surprising through pass to the front of the goal at 18 minutes. Although the receiving star was offside, they also showed variations in their attacks from the center.

　Tokyo fought bravely, but they also committed many fouls to stop the opponent's play, resulting in giving away FKs. Using this set piece, Ichihara also started to attack. In the 27th minute, Choi had a header shot from a FK. In the following 28th minute, Choi took another shot from a counter, but both were saved by Doi. In the 35th minute, Tokyo had a chance when Miyazawa sent a FK from the right side of the penalty area to Kelly, who was free in the center, but the shot went just wide to the right. It was a decisive moment, but they missed the chance. On the other hand, in the 38th minute, Ichihara's MF Abe's FK from the front of the goal was saved by Doi with one hand. Doi also made a fine play by deflecting a powerful middle shot from MF Sakamoto in the 43rd minute. However, just before the end of the first half, in the 44th minute, Abe sent a perfect ball between Tokyo's DF line and GK from a FK on the left side of Ichihara. DF Chano, who had jumped out between Tokyo's defense, headed it in to take the lead. Tokyo went into the second half with a disadvantage at an unfavorable time.

F.C.TOKYO Create But JEF Finish

F.C.TOKYO took the game to JEF straight from the kick off, pushing up the field and harrying a rather shaky looking defence into some mistakes.
Masamitsu Kobayashi had the best early chance as he was clean through with only the keeper to beat, but a last ditch block prevented a certain goal. At the other end keeper Doi punched away a well struck effort from Masuda in the 8th. minute with Che Yon Su heading the resulting corner narrowly wide.
F.C.TOKYO suffered a blow in the 13th. minute when defensive lynch-pin Jean was forced to leave the field with a strained groin. JEF slowly worked their way back into the match, winning a series of free kicks and threatening on the break. Kelly nearly put F.C.TOKYO ahead from a well-worked free kick in the 35th. minute but his shot crept inches wide of the post. Doi kept TOKYO in the game with another stunning one handed save from Abe's well struck free kick in the 38th. minute and followed it up with an amazing double save from Sakamoto five minutes later. Despite Doi's heroics JEF finally breached the last line in the 44th. minute. Abe swung in a powerful, curling free kick and Chano appeared between Doi and the last defender to head JEF in front on the stroke of half time.

With Miyazawa's first J1 goal overflowing with guts, it's a tie!!

　In the second half, Ichihara took the initiative. A long ball was passed to Choi, and they launched a fast attack utilizing FW Hayashi's breakthrough. In the 48th minute, Hayashi broke through the DF line, but Doi came out a step faster and made a save. Choi's looping shot from the rebound also missed the goal, and they escaped unscathed.

　Tokyo quickly switched to attack from Ichihara's set play, and in the 51st and 53rd minutes, they launched a counterattack. Hoshi frequently crossed from the right side, and Kelly and Amaral threatened Ichihara's goal, but the opposing DFs were quick to close in and there were no shots. However, in the 60th minute, Amaral became the decoy in the center and earned a corner kick, which Miyazawa took and was cleared by the opposing DF, falling outside the penalty area on the right. Miyazawa ran in and took a shot from an impossible angle! The ball pierced through the goal net with tremendous force, equalizing the score!!

　Tokyo, where Miyazawa's first J1 goal as a tie goal, which was a good idea, was scored, continued to attack with momentum, and in the 64th minute, Amaral headed in a cross from the right, which the opponent's GK caught for a moment. However, Kelly followed up on the loose ball and pushed it into the goal. ...But unfortunately, this was ruled offside and the goal was disallowed. On the contrary, in the 72nd minute, there was a scene where Ichihara MF Muichin aimed directly at the bar with a free kick given just before the penalty area. Still, Tokyo continued to attack without losing heart, with Miyazawa and Hoshi actively aiming for the goal, and in the 76th minute, they tried to add a goal by replacing Seigo Kobayashi with FW Matsuda. However, at the end of the 90 minutes, the score remained 1-1 and they entered their third consecutive overtime.

Battling Miyazawa Ties It!

JEF began the second period as they finished the first, knocking long balls towards Che Yon Su and Hanyu; the latter got behind the TOKYO defence in the 48th. minute and Doi had to be off his line very sharply to save and then watch as Che lobbed the rebound fractionally over the bar. Hoshi made some headway for F.C.TOKYO down the right, firing in a couple of crosses but the JEF defence contained Amaral and Kelly. In the 60th. minute a typical burst through the middle by Amaral earned F.C.TOKYO a corner on the right; Miyazawa curled the ball in, only for a defender to head the ball straight back to him just outside the area. Instead of crossing, as the JEF defence expected, Miyazawa lashed the ball hard and low to the near post and it beat the keeper's late dive for a stunning equaliser.
Miyazawa's first goal in the J-League revitalised F.C.TOKYO and Amaral nearly put them ahead three minutes later but saw his powerful header athletically stopped by the JEF keeper. Kelly seemed certain to net the rebound but was given offside. F.C.TOKYO attacked positively but JEF proved a threat on the break-Muichin rattled the bar with a drive in the 72nd. minute. Young forward Matsuda replaced Masamitsu Kobayashi in the 76th. minute. Despite their best efforts neither side conjured a winner and for the third consecutive game F.C.TOKYO were playing extra time.

Although we were unable to score any additional points and ended in a draw, there were still some gains.

　As the game went into extra time, Tokyo brought in rookie Oyoku, making his J1 debut, on the left side in place of a star player. However, Ichihara also made a substitution, bringing in speedy forward Hayashi in place of Hanyu. Hayashi broke through Tokyo's left side, causing them to give up multiple corner kicks. But Oyoku was not backing down either. He fearlessly challenged the opposing defenders and created opportunities from the left side. However, in the 96th minute, Kelly was injured in a fierce battle and Tokyo was forced to use their fourth substitution. Once again, they brought in midfielder Maeda, making his first appearance in the J1 league. Maeda, who came on as a right midfielder, made a strong play in the 98th minute, cutting off the opponent's ball and then crossing it to Amaral, competing for a goal alongside Oyoku in the harsh conditions.

　Shortly after the start of the extended second half, Shimodaira picked up a loose ball in front of the goal and took a powerful middle shot. However, the opposing GK Kushino made a fine play and escaped with a CK. After that, there was a frantic back and forth between chances and opportunities, but both teams lacked finishing power. Then in the 118th minute, Ichihara's Choi flew out to the front line, dodged Komine, and took a decisive shot, but it was blocked by the post and time was up. The 120 minutes of both teams giving their all ended in a draw.

　Although we only have one point, we showed the ability to come back even when we were behind, and there were also some achievements such as rookies Oya and Maeda being able to compete on equal terms under tough conditions. However, whether this one point will lead to future success depends on our future battles. We have many injured players and it is a difficult team situation, but we must come together and fight for victory.

[Summary of Manager Hara's Press Conference] "Jean had an accident and the team was momentarily shaken, but I think Komiya did a good job filling in that gap. In the beginning, we were able to use the lessons from the S-Pulse game and had a good balance in the midfield, and were able to move the ball well. However, our finishing was lacking and I think if we had scored a goal in the first 30 minutes... On the other hand, we conceded a goal just before the end of the first half, but at halftime I told the team, 'It's not over yet, let's go again.' After we scored one goal back in the second half, we had a period of time where we had the rhythm and I wanted to score another goal there... Of course, we wanted to get all 3 points, but there were a few dangerous situations and times when we were saved by the post, and I think the players did their best until the end. With injuries and the absence of Jean and Kelly, the substitute players like Maeda and Oyoku did a good job holding their ground. Including Miyazawa, I think we earned this "1 point" with the help of our young players. In the next match against Gamba, Kelly will be suspended, but I want to use these young players to continue growing and approach the game with energetic players."

All Square

Extra time saw rookie Omata replace Hoshi as halfback; the speedy forward Hayashi replaced Hanyu for JEF and immediately set about his young opponent, winning a corner kick. Omata gave a good account of himself though, as did young midfielder Maeda who made his first appearance after Kelly was stretchered off following a goal mouth melee in the 96th minute. In the second half of extra time Shimotaira thundered in a 30 yard rocket producing a flying save from the JEF keeper-the resulting corner came to naught. Both sides produced some heart stopping chances but neither were able to finish them off: Che Yon Su surely must have thought he had won the game in the 118th minute as he turned Komine inside out, then beat Doi only to see his shot strike the foot of the post and trickle away.
The final whistle blew soon after and F.C.TOKYO had a solitary point to show for their efforts. Despite falling behind at a crucial time and losing key players to injury, F.C.TOKYO fought hard for two hours and the young players performed creditably in difficult circumstances. The team is struggling with injuries at the moment-the healthy players will have to step up and show their fighting spirit in the remaining games.

Manager Hara:
"Losing Jean early on was a blow but Komine did a very good job for us. I felt the midfield was well balanced and we played the ball around nicely in the first half but couldn't make the breakthrough we needed; we were lax at the free kick but I told the players at half time that the game wasn't over yet by any means. We found our rhythm and equalised-maybe we could have gone on to win the game. There were many close calls and the woodwork saved us but the players fought very well. The young players came on and did well: in effect they earned the point for us today. Kelly is suspended for the Gamba match so they will have another chance to develop their abilities next week".