Defend against the whirlwind that is Kyoto

　The 13th round, which is also the end of the 1st stage, will be a match against Kyoto Purple Sanga, who are currently on a 7-game winning streak. However, Kyoto had a fierce battle with F. Marinos in the previous round on August 4th (Sun) and will face this match with only 2 days of rest. In addition, they will be missing key players such as FW Matsui, MF Nakabara, and DF Suzuki (Kazu) due to accumulated warnings, so they are not in the best condition.

　If we can stop Kyoto's momentum here and get a win, there is still a good chance of breaking into the top ranks. Tokyo wants to use any advantage they can get and aim for a 3-game winning streak. Shige Taira will be absent due to accumulated warnings, but Asari will return to the defensive midfield for the first time since the 7th round. As in the previous round, Mochida will also start as the right fullback, ready for kickoff.

Awaiting In Form Kyoto

The visitors for the 13th game of the first stage were Kyoto Purple Sanga, currently riding a seven game unbeaten run. However, a two hour battle with F Marinos the previous Sunday and the suspension of regulars Matsui, Nakaharai and Suzuki meant they were below full strength and an F.C.TOKYO win would see them leapfrog Kyoto in the league table. TOKYO, looking for a third consecutive win themselves, were without the suspended Shimotaira, but welcomed back Asari in the defensive half position for his first start since April. Moniwa continued at right side back; the game kicked off at 7:04 pm with the mercury showing 30C.

Fine play by Doi, Amaral's strength shines in the first half

　Both teams started with compact formations and struggled in the congested midfield, unable to create any clear chances. Kyoto's MF Nakamura had the first shot of the game in the 7th minute, picking up a clearance from Tokyo's DF and taking a shot. In the 8th minute, Ito intercepted a pass from Miyazawa to Ishikawa, preventing a breakthrough from center forward Kurobe. In the 18th minute, they were under pressure in front of their goal, but a good decision from Mochida allowed them to escape with a corner kick.

　But it was the 22nd minute. Fujiyama, who was competing against Kurobe, fouled him as he tried to enter the penalty area again from the counter. It wasn't an intense play, but Kurobe's speed caused a PK decision to be made against him. However, Kurobe's PK was saved by Tsuchi, who didn't miss the weakness in the course! He escaped from the decisive pinch with Tsuchi's fine play.

　However, Kyoto is an attacking 3-4-3 formation, but when defending, they thicken their DF with a 5-4-1, making it difficult for Tokyo to find openings. In the 25th, 27th, and 28th minutes, they repeatedly try to send passes behind the DF line, but the timing is off and they can't find a rhythm. In the 29th minute, Kelly attacks from the right side and Toda receives the ball in the penalty area, returning it to the left side. However, Kelly and Miyazawa, who had come up to support, collide from behind. There is a sense of disarray somewhere. In the 31st minute, Toda drops a cross from the right side and Amaral, who had escaped behind the DF, shoots freely. However, the ball hits the crossbar, eliciting a sigh from the stands.

　However, in the 39th minute, Amaral, who was trying to meet Ishikawa's cross, was brought down in the penalty area and Tokyo got a penalty kick. It was an unexpected chance for the first goal, but Amaral himself kicked it in and took the lead with one point in a difficult situation. The second half began.

A Tale Of Two Penalties

Both sides began the contest in compact form, squeezing play into the crowded midfield area. Kyoto midfielder Nakamura essayed the first shot of the match after 7 minutes but his attempt had no power and Doi held easily. Kurobe intercepted a loose pass from Miyazawa to Ishikawa a minute later and bore down on goal-Ito scrambled back to clear the danger. Moniwa was on hand in the 18th. minute to break up a threatening Kyoto move. A largely uneventful first half burst into life in the 22nd minute as Kyoto centre forward Kurobe, chasing a long ball with Fujiyama in attendance, collapsed in a flailing mass of arms and legs on the edge of the area. The referee pointed to the spot; justice was served though as Doi read the kick well and dived to his left for a great save.
TOKYO were making little headway at the other end of the field.
While Kyoto lined up in an attacking 3-4-3 formation, when they lost possession this quickly changed to a defensive 5-4-1, pulling players behind the ball and denying the home side space to work in. Boosted by the penalty save TOKYO ventured forward but the last pass was not forthcoming; on the one occasion a chink appeared in the Kyoto defensive armour Kelly and Miyazawa both went for the same ball with the result that neither made contact. In the 31st. minute Toda neatly headed a right wing cross into the path of Amaral who burst beyond two defenders and hammered a volley against the bar with the keeper rooted to the spot. The crowd gasped in disbelief.
The "King of Tokyo" soon redeemed himself however, going down in the area to win a penalty, then stepping up to send the Kyoto keeper the wrong way. The half ended 1-0 to TOKYO.

Equalized immediately after the start of the second half...

　Tokyo, who wants to ride the momentum with a goal just before the end of the first half. They replaced the injured Asari with Kina and entered the second half. However, it was Kyoto who turned their passion into a goal. In the 46th minute, just after the start of the second half, Kyoto connected the ball from the right side with a throw-in and midfielder Saito dribbled to the left. Then he passed to the space on the left side. There, midfielder Suzuki (Shin) ran in and his clean shot hit the net. In an instant, Tokyo was caught up to the same score.

　48 minutes into the game, Amaral takes a header shot from a free kick. Shortly after, Kina receives a return pass from Amaral and takes a middle shot. In the 56th minute, Ishikawa breaks through the right side and crosses the ball, but no one is able to connect on the far side. Tokyo continues to push for a comeback, but the goal seems far away. On the other hand, Kyoto is able to counterattack from Tokyo's pass cuts, putting them in a difficult situation multiple times.

　And in the 57th minute, Shigeki Mogi sent a cross after advancing, but the Kyoto DF cleared it away. Kurobe then competed for the ball with a header, and picked it up. He then passed it to FW Tomita, who kept it and passed it to FW Park, who had run up the left side. South Korean representative Park used his speed to dash towards the goal and slid in a shot, scoring a goal. The counterattack was beautifully executed, and Tokyo conceded their second goal.

Equaliser Spurs Kyoto

Kina replaced the injured Asari as TOKYO took the field for the second half. Expectations had been raised by Amaral's penalty strike but were soon to be cruelly dashed. Only a minute into the second period some neat short passing saw DF Saito surge forward and roll the ball into oceans of space on the left. Kyoto MF Suzuki met the ball at full speed and powered a shot past GK Doi into the roof of the net for a stunning equaliser.
TOKYO attempted to bounce back but their efforts were undercut by some loose passing and wayward crosses; in a matter of minutes momentum had passed to the visitors. Disaster struck for the home side in the 57th. minute as a cross from Moniwa, up supporting the attack, was cleared by the Kyoto defence to Kurobe who headed on to Tomita. Tomita held the ball up and passed into the path of Korean World Cup star FW Park Si Jung who outpaced the TOKYO defence to slot home for a classic counter attacking goal.

Despite putting all our efforts into a counterattack, it was in vain.

　In the second half, Kyoto Engels coach Gert Engels changed the positions of Park, who was on the right side, and Tomita, who was on the left, because he wanted to push Tomita out to the side. Park moved towards the center and used his speed and energy to link up with the side, launching sharp attacks.

　And in the 64th minute, when Kurobe and Tomita attacked near the right corner of the penalty area, Tokyo DF committed a foul. Park took the free kick and angled it towards the far side, where DF Tsunoda headed it to connect with Kurobe, who pushed it in for the third goal. This showed Kyoto's determination to turn chances into goals.

　In the 65th minute after Tokyo conceded a goal, Fukuda was substituted for Fujiyama. With a 3-5-2 formation, placing Ishikawa on the left and Toda on the right, they aimed to score at least one goal and make a comeback. Kyoto gradually stretched the front line and the defensive line, creating space, but they were unable to create any decisive scenes. In the 72nd minute, Amaral's header shot from a free kick, and in the 74th minute, Kelly's shot went over the goal.

　Before Kyoto, who tightly secured the final line, Jean also showed a bold attack and in the 84th minute, he substituted Ishikawa and brought in Hoshi. However, even the last-minute counterattack was poorly executed in front of Kyoto's defensive wall, and the game ended without being able to show Tokyo's strengths, resulting in a painful defeat.

[Summary of Manager Hara's Press Conference] "Today was a complete defeat. Our bodies felt heavy and we didn't have a good start in the first half. Doi saved a penalty for us and we were lucky to receive one as well. The opponent quickly returned and closed the space when we attacked. We had planned to move the ball and create opportunities with one-two passes against such opponents, but we couldn't find our rhythm and were caught on the counter. They were able to counterattack because all of their players were ready when they won the ball, and we couldn't respond to their attacks. In terms of competing with the opponent, everything seemed to go their way and the difference in momentum was evident. We conceded a goal right after the second half started because we didn't compete well from a throw-in and the ball ended up on their side. Our ball possession was poor and we couldn't maintain our rhythm. There were many areas for improvement and it's disappointing that we couldn't get into the game mentally. Asari's injury and Fujiyama's accumulated yellow cards have put us in a difficult situation, but we want to regroup and prepare for the Kobe match."

[Kyoto Engels Coach Press Conference Summary] Due to the extended game last Sunday, we wanted to start from the DF today and aim for a counterattack. We were able to do that, but the opponent also put pressure on us and we couldn't create a good rhythm, so we became a little passive. However, there were hardly any dangerous scenes until the PK that led to the goal. We were behind, but our positioning was generally good and our approach was not bad. So we thought that if we could be a little more energetic in the second half, we would definitely have a chance. The timing of equalizing in the second half was also very good, and we were able to get into our own pace and score an additional goal right away. After scoring three goals, we were tired and went into defense, but we held on until the end and won. It was a tough situation where we conceded the first goal in a long time and missed a PK, and we were also tired from the F. Marinos game, but I think the players showed a lot of heart in that situation. That was the key point for today."

Third Goal Stymies TOKYO

The speedy Tomita and Park had switched positions as instructed by Kyoto manager Engels and the result was two goals in 12 minutes, both from counter attacks. A third soon followed as Tokyo conceded a free kick on the right. Park curled a long ball beyond the far post, Kakuda headed it back into the danger area where Kurobe was on hand to nod past Doi.
Fukuda replaced Fujiyama and TOKYO shifted to a 3-5-2 formation with Toda on the right and Ishikawa on the left, but still the Kyoto defense remained impregnable. Amaral headed a free kick wide after 72 minutes and Kelly fired over two minutes later. Hoshi replaced Ishikawa in the 84th minute and Jean lent his formidable presence to the attack but TOKYO were firing blanks and the game petered out to a depressing 1-3 loss.

TOKYO manager Hara :
"A complete defeat. We looked heavy and never really got going at all in the first half. Doi made a great save from the penalty and we converted ours but were unable to create much on the counter attack as they got men behind the ball very quickly. We didn't have the spark needed to open up a defence in those conditions. Kyoto were first to the ball throughout and had more desire than we did. We didn't compete at the throw in which led to their first goal but most disappointing was the way we gave away possession. There was a lack of fighting spirit, which was also disappointing. Despite the injury to Asari and Shimotaira's suspension we'll just have to regroup and come out fighting in the Vissel Kobe game".

Kyoto manager Engels:
"Well, after playing extra time on Sunday night I felt a defensive approach would be favored today, with the emphasis on counter attacking. They pressured us in the first half and we played rather negatively. Apart from the penalty we conceded, we weren't really under much defensive pressure and I felt that the team's basic positioning was good. With a more positive approach in the second half, we could turn the game around. The timing of the equalizer was perfect; we found our rhythm and timing, scored two more, and then defended well. We missed a penalty, fell behind, and were still feeling the effects of the F Marinos game, but the players showed their heart today."