No more three consecutive losses, facing Sapporo!

　The 11th match of the 1st stage will be held at the home Japan National Stadium against Sapporo. Sapporo, currently in last place, put up a good fight in the previous match against F.Marinos. They cannot be underestimated, but it is an important match where they must show "Tokyo's soccer" and aim for victory. Jean will be absent due to accumulated warnings, but Moino will be included as CB, and the rest of the starting members will remain the same as the previous match.

　Sapporo, on the other hand, has faced Tokyo with the same formation, placing FW Ogura as the lone striker, as Tokyo's 4-2-3-1 system, by dropping left MF Kazunami from their previous 3-back formation (Coach Ivancevic).

Beat Consadole! Stop The Slump!

The 11th game of the J-League first stage saw F.C.TOKYO take on Consadole Sapporo at the National Stadium. Despite their lowly position, Consadole played well in a narrow 2-3 loss to League leading F Marinos last week; manager Ivanovich switched from his regular three back formation to 4-2-3-1, the same as TOKYO, with Ogura as the lone striker. Moniwa replaced the suspended Jean, but otherwise TOKYO remained unchanged from the previous game.

Kelly scores the opening goal with a perfectly executed shot!

　Early in the game, Toda receives a ball from behind and runs behind the DF from the left side, creating a chance. Shortly after, Sapporo also attempts a goal with a middle shot from Ogura. Both teams maintain a compact formation and press each other, resulting in a continuous battle for possession of the ball.

　However, Tokyo gradually gains control. In the 5th minute, a pass from Shimodaira to Toda, who had slipped behind the DF, but the opposing GK came out and caught it. After that, they repeatedly try to exploit the space between the DF line and the GK, but they are unable to create any decisive chances. In the 10th minute, Toda receives a pass from Shimodaira and gets into a shooting position, but the GK who came out blocks it.

　However, this strategy paid off later. In the 11th minute, Amaral made a run behind the DF and aimed for the goal, earning a corner kick. The first attempt was cleared by the DF, but the second attempt followed. Miyazawa's shot was initially blocked by the GK, but he picked it up again and sent it towards the goal. Shigetaka was waiting and headed the ball down, and Toda jumped out as if he had aimed for it. Toda's consecutive two shots were stopped by GK Sato's fine play, but Kelly was there to head in the rebound and score! The set piece shook up the Sapporo DF and created the opening goal.

Kelly Strikes

Straight from the kick off Toda latched on to a long ball down the left and infiltrated behind the Consadole backline; the chance came to naught and Consadole countered immediately through Ogura. With both teams employing the same system the game began as a tight, compact midfield battle. Slowly, however, TOKYO began to gain the upper hand. In the 5th. minute a through
ball from Shimotaira saw the keeper race out to foil Toda; five minutes later the same combination were again foiled by the keeper. TOKYO were aiming for the space between the Consadole backline and the keeper but couldn't find the decisive ball until the 11th. minute when Amaral won a corner on the left. Miyazawa swung it in only for the ball to come back to him from a defender; he tried again and the keeper punched the ball straight to Moniwa who headed back into the danger area. The ball fell to Toda unmarked in front of goal. He shot and the keeper saved it. He shot again and again the keeper saved it. As Toda contemplated a third attempt Kelly burst into the six yard area and imperiously headed the ball into the back of the net to give TOKYO the lead.

Ishikawa and Toda's happy goal taking advantage of the chance

　Sapporo made a challenge in the 19th minute, as MF Yamase took on a 1-on-1 battle with his U-21 Japan national team teammate, Mogiwa, from the left side and attempted a shot with a dribble, but it went outside the left post of the goal.

　Just 21 minutes later, Kelly boldly took a shot from outside the penalty area. After connecting with the loose ball, Ishikawa passed it to Kaji who had moved up to the right side. Kaji received the ball and passed it back to Ishikawa who took a no-step shot with his right foot from outside the penalty area, the ball floated over the goalkeeper's hands and into the goal!! Although it was not a free kick, the trajectory of this shot was just like the super shot shown by Brazil's Ronaldinho in the quarter-finals of the World Cup against England. This was Ishikawa's first goal since his transfer and Tokyo scored an additional point thanks to his excellent control.

　After that, Tokyo pushed Sapporo by using the width of the field with fast passing and side attacks, as well as making runs from the position of the defensive midfielder to the front line. In the 29th minute, Sapporo FW Jadielson's powerful free kick was saved by GK Tsuchi in a fine save and turned into a corner kick. In the 33rd minute, Kelly made a long pass to the front line by connecting passes from a quick restart. With perfect timing, Toda made a run and faced the GK in a one-on-one situation, calmly taking a shot. This goal was scored, and Tokyo already got their third goal! Ishikawa, Toda, and other players who have been creating chances throughout the game have finally converted them into goals, overwhelming Sapporo.

　Tokyo is also focused on defense, and they end Sapporo's attacks with tough pressing. Sapporo FW Bayyack frequently shows movements of breaking through behind Tokyo DF, but they raise their line and put everything offside. In the 44th minute, Ogura breaks free in front of the left goal area from Yamae's through pass, but Doi catches the ball with a brave jump. They maintain a 3-point lead and end the first half.

Ishikawa, Toda Extend The Lead

Consadole produced their best chance in the 19th. minute as midfielder Yamase took on his Japan Under 21 colleague Minowa and fired in a shot that flew narrowly wide. Two minutes later a long range blast from Kelly was deflected to Ishikawa on the edge of the area. He rolled the ball to Kaji out on the right; finding his path to goal blocked Kaji passed back inside to Ishikawa who struck a stunning first time shot that curled over the keeper in an identical fashion to Ronaldinho's free kick for Brazil in the World Cup quarter final against England. The crowd erupted as Ishikawa joyfully celebrated his first goal for the club.
Doi made a fine save from Jadilson's free kick in the 29th. minute but F.C.TOKYO were dominating the game and it was no surprise to see them extend the lead in the 33rd. minute. A quickly taken free kick reached Kelly who looked up and launched a glorious long ball over the defence and into the path of Toda who deftly deceived the keeper and finished in style.
The TOKYO defence line dealt comfortably with the Consadole attack, repeatedly pushing up and catching Baljak offside. Doi dived bravely at the feet of Ogura in the 44th. minute and the first half finished 3-0.

Holding on to 1 point, we managed to secure 3 points.

　In the second half, Sapporo made a substitution, bringing in right MF Sakai for Watanabe and switching to a 3-back formation to launch a counterattack. At the start, Sakai picked up a clearance from the DF and took a powerful shot.

　In the 49th minute, Kaji, who had advanced forward, crossed the ball and the GK punched it away. Miyazawa picked up the ball and took a middle shot, but the GK caught it. In the 54th minute, Amaral took a header shot from a free kick, but it went over the bar.

　It was right after that. Sapporo gets a corner kick as Tokyo DF cuts off Sakai's cross. Bayak passes the right corner kick to Sakai at the short corner, and he runs into the right corner of the penalty area to receive the return pass and takes a shot. The clean shot goes into the top left corner of the goal, and Tokyo concedes a goal unexpectedly.

　After that, Sapporo.D took control of the ball with intense checks and started to find their rhythm. They were able to surpass Tokyo in the midfield and launch counter attacks. In the 59th minute, Jadielson headed the ball from Bayack's corner kick, but it narrowly missed the goal. In the 60th minute, Bayack broke through the defense on the left side and passed to Sakai who was free on the right side. However, Bayack was caught offside and Tokyo escaped danger.

　At 70 minutes, Tokyo substituted Hoshi for Ishikawa, who was injured by a fierce foul. However, Sapporo relentlessly launched a wave attack from the counter. In the 72nd minute, Sakai, Yamase, and Ogura threatened the Tokyo goal one after another, but the Tokyo DF responded firmly on the final line and launched a quick counterattack.

　In the 77th minute, Fukuda was substituted for Toda, and in the 88th minute, Kina was substituted for Miyazawa. Tokyo wants to keep the ball and create chances, but there are also mistakes and intense battles for possession. However, in stoppage time, Kohara's header from Saka's cross was saved by Doi just barely to the bottom right corner of the goal. They managed to hold off Sapporo's counterattack and the game ended. They protected their first half lead and earned 3 points.

[Summary of the press conference by former coach] "The Verdy game in the previous round was the same, but the first half and the second half became a completely different team. In the first half, we were able to move the ball as planned and aim well behind the opponent. I think we had more chances than just scoring three goals. However, in the second half, Sapporo changed to a three-back and came out aggressively, but we didn't have to panic that much. However, we made mistakes and were caught on the counter, and it was a bit chaotic. To be honest, we were lucky to only concede one goal. When the opponent's tactics and players change, we suddenly panic. I think we can attack by connecting the ball more and attacking the opponent who comes to attack us - for example, against Sakai today. Instead, we were pulled by Sakai and made mistakes when trying to counter. That's disappointing. It's good to win one game after a losing streak, but there is a difference between good and bad times, so the biggest challenge now is to always raise the level to a certain extent."

【Sapporo - Manager Ivancevic's Press Conference Summary】"It was like two completely different games. The first half was very poor. I think we played good football in the second half, but we couldn't change the result of the game. In the first half, our movement was bad, we couldn't play as a team, our passes didn't connect, and we didn't see any aggressive play. We conceded a goal from a corner and were mentally under pressure. We tried to make adjustments at halftime, but at that point we were already three goals behind. We tried our best to improve our performance, but I want to congratulate FC Tokyo."

TOKYO Weather Fightback For Valuable Win

Consadole replaced Wanami with Sakai at half time and reverted to their customary three back formation. Sakai looked lively and tested Doi with a powerful effort soon after the restart. TOKYO were not content to sit on their lead: Miyazawa forced a fine save from the Consadole keeper in the 49th. minute and five minutes later Amaral powered a trademark header just over the bar. The game changed unexpectedly in the 54th. minute as Sakai picked up a short corner from Baljak on the right, advanced to the corner of the area and curled a shot over Doi and into the far corner, to make the score 3-1.
Suddenly Consadole found their rhythm and TOKYO were backpedalling as the visitors upped the tempo in midfield. Jadilson headed a corner from Baljak over the bar when it seemed easier to score and an offside decision against Sakai saved a certain goal. Hoshi replaced Ishikawa, the recipient of a heavy tackle, after 70 minutes but the addition of a defender failed to stem the tide as Consadole continued to pour forward. The TOKYO backline held firm though and Doi was rarely troubled. Fukuda replaced Toda after 77 minutes as TOKYO looked to hold the ball up in advanced positions; Kina came on for Miyazawa in the 88th. minute to add some energy to the TOKYO midfield. Ogura must have thought he had scored as the game entered injury time but Doi produced a superb full length finger tip save to steer his header around the post. TOKYO hung on and thanks to a stirring first half performance earned a valuable 3 points.

TOKYO manager Hara :
"As in the Verdy game we played like a completely different team in the second half. The first half went entirely according to plan: we scored three and created a lot of chances. Consadole changed to an attacking three back formation at half time and Sakai caused us a lot of problems-frankly we were lucky to concede only one in the second half. Even so, we had opportunities to counter attack but couldn't string the passes together which was disappointing. We are pleased with the win, of course, but our biggest problem at the moment is consistency".

Consadole manager Ivancevic:
"A game of two halves. We were terrible in the first half and the first goal had a significant psychological impact on the team. We fell apart, but regrouped at half time and played very well in the second half. Unfortunately, the three goals we conceded in the first half were too much to overcome. I want to congratulate FC Tokyo on a good win."