Achieve revenge, and victory is the only option at home

　Two days after the Nabisco Cup Quarterfinals, in Sec. 2 of the 2nd Stage, we will face Gamba Osaka again. For Gamba, this match comes right after a complete victory, and not only from the overwhelming win in the 1st Stage, but also showing a good record of 4 wins and 1 loss in past J1 League encounters, giving Gamba the advantage.

　However, everyone in Tokyo feels that "we cannot lose to the same team twice in one week," and "including the heavy defeat in the 1st stage, we cannot lose all three matches against the same team this season. We absolutely cannot lose." We want to show our determination to achieve revenge and also put an end to the bad trend of consecutive home defeats that has continued since the end of the 1st stage.

　Gamba's coach Nishino said after the Nabisco Cup, "Since Coach Hara is involved, he will probably come up with some strategy. We will think about how to fight for two days before the match," but the starting members remained unchanged for both teams. However, Tokyo returned the side halves, who had switched sides during the Nabisco Cup, to their usual positions with Ishikawa on the right and Toda on the left, and kicked off.

Revenge!

Following their meeting in the Nabisco Cup quarter final on Wednesday the opponents for the second game of the second stage were again Gamba Osaka.
The advantage surely lay with the visitors: a comprehensive victory three days earlier, a big win in the corresponding fixture in the first stage and a record of four wins and only one loss to TOKYO in the J-League pointed to only one result.
However, losing at home twice in a week to the same team was out of the question for TOKYO; to restore their pride and halt a recent run of disappointing home losses a win was crucial.
Gamba manager Nishino commented after the Nabisco Cup game "If I know (F.C.TOKYO manager) Hiromi Hara he'll be planning to strike back. We have two days to work on our tactics". As it was, both teams fielded the same starting elevens, but Toda and Ishikawa exchanged sides for F.C.TOKYO.

Both teams engage in attacking football

　Tokyo connects the kickoff ball, and Amaral attempts a central breakthrough, showing determination for today's match. However, Gamba also aims for the goal without hesitation from the start. In the 2nd minute, FW Maguron drops the ball, and FW Yoshihara sneaks between the defenders for a decisive shot. In the 4th minute, MF Morioka jumps in from the right to shoot from a cross on the left side, and Tokyo suddenly faces a crisis.

　However, after escaping a shooting miss, in the 8th minute, Kaji received a long throw from the right side, and Toda took a well-aimed header, but the GK made a save. In the 9th minute, while Shigeno intercepted on the left side, he was dispossessed while waiting for Shimohira to follow up, and Gamba's Morioka took a shot. However, in the 14th minute, Ishikawa received the ball backward at the right corner of the penalty area, turned around, and in an instant evaded the DF to charge towards the goal, unleashing a powerful shot, but was thwarted by a great save from the opposing GK. The game progressed with big chances created, and it was a situation where either side could score.

　In the 24th minute, after a feed from the DF line was cut off, Maguron attacked the right goal area, and his shot hit the post. The rebound was directed to the left side, where Yoshihara took a shot. Once again, they were saved by a missed shot, but Tokyo, with noticeable passing errors here and there, found themselves in trouble. However, they never became passive; in the 28th minute, Ishikawa cut inside, received a return from Toda off the post, and shot from directly in front of the goal. Unfortunately, it went straight to the goalkeeper.

　In the 33rd minute, Yoshihara from Gamba passed to Morioka, leading to a combination play with MF Nikawa, resulting in a shot by Yoshihara. In the 42nd minute, Magron connected with a header from a free kick taken from the back. In the 43rd minute, Ishikawa dribbled through the opponent's territory and was fouled, earning a free kick, which Jean aimed for the goal. In stoppage time, Jean took a header shot from a left corner kick.

　Both teams fought bravely, but Gamba had more decisive scenes. However, they created chances but could not convert them, ending the first half at 0-0.

Attacking Start

TOKYO looked highly motivated from the kick off but Gamba had the best of the early chances. In the 2nd. minute forward Yoshihara collected Magrao's knockdown, beat a defender and should have scored; in the fourth minute Morioka connected with a left wing cross but failed to beat Doi in the TOKYO goal. The home side were under pressure, but Toda drew a save from the Gamba keeper with a header in the 8th. minute. A minute later a midfield mix-up presented Morioka with another chance. TOKYO came closest to taking the lead in the 14th. minute as Ishikawa received the ball with his back to goal on the right of the area, spun past a defender and fired a low, hard shot to the near post. The Gamba keeper made a sharp one-handed save but a breakthrough for either team seemed inevitable given the number of chances being created. 
Magrao rattled the TOKYO post in the 24th. minute and Yoshihara missed the rebound as some loose play gifted possession to the visitors. Ishikawa nearly put TOKYO ahead in the 28th. minute from Toda's neat return but fired straight at the keeper. Both sides upped the tempo as half time approached: Magrao headed a free kick wide in the 42.nd minute, Ishikawa then ran at the Osaka defence until fouled but Jean hit the free kick into the wall and the same player headed an injury time corner over the bar. 
Gamba just shaded an entertaining first half, which finished 0-0.

King Amaral, showcasing his true abilities when it matters most!

　In the second half, both teams cautiously started as if probing each other's strategies, prioritizing safe plays that avoided risks. The first to make a move was Gamba. In the 53rd minute, Daigoku was brought in for Morioka, establishing a three-top formation. In the 56th minute, Maguron attempted a header from a right corner kick, but it went over the goal. In the 59th minute, Niikawa broke through Tokyo's left side and sent a decisive pass to the center, but Kaji cleared it. In the 60th minute, Araiba made a solo run through the midfield, connecting with Maguron in the center, who delivered a final pass into the right space. Yoshihara made a run and took a shot just before the goal area, but Doihy made a fine save, resulting in a corner kick.

　Gamba created a chance, and it was a tense moment. However, Tokyo remained focused and calm today. Just as they were about to make a decisive move by bringing in Fukuda, in the 66th minute, Amaral slipped through the midfield press and advanced with a dribble, passing to the left. The ball initially hit an opposing defender, but Miyazawa picked up the loose ball and sent an accurate cross in front of the goal. Amaral, who was free in the center of the penalty area, headed it down, and it bounced in front of the goalkeeper and into the goal! Taking advantage of Gamba's opening, Tokyo scored the opening goal.

　Although they took the lead before the decisive moment, Coach Hara said, "I didn't want to retreat and be forced to defend just because we scored one goal, so I wanted Fukuda to press from the front and show that we could attack as well." In the 67th minute, as planned, Fukuda was brought on to replace Shimohira. Just as intended, in the 68th minute, Kelly drew the opposing defender in the center of the penalty area and passed to the left side. Toda sent a cross to the far side of the goal, and Fukuda, free, made a high header shot. It was a crucial moment, but it went just slightly to the right of the goal. They were unable to secure an additional goal despite the pressure.

The Inestimable Amaral Strikes

Both sides began the second half cautiously and little occurred until the 53rd minute when Gamba replaced midfielder Morioka with striker Oguro and switched to a 4-3-3 formation. The move nearly bore fruit immediately as Magrao headed a corner just over the bar and soon after an inviting cross from Futagawa required a vital clearance by Kaji. In the 60th minute Araiba ran at the TOKYO defence and slipped the ball to Magrao who rolled it into space on the right for the overlapping Yoshihara to crack a powerful shot goalward. Doi produced a superb save to turn the ball away for a corner.
Gamba were enjoying their best spell of the game and a goal seemed inevitable. It came, but at the other end. TOKYO were preparing to bring on Fukuda when Amaral won the ball in midfield and loped forward; he knocked the ball out to the left and continued his run into the area. Miyazawa held off a defender and curled a perfect cross toward the penalty spot where
Amaral rose majestically to power a header down and, via the keeper's fingertips and the underside of the bar, into the goal.
TOKYO had taken the lead just as they were about to reshuffle the formation but manager Hara still brought on forward Fukuda for Shimotaira. "I didn't want to just defend after we had taken the lead," he commented, "I still wanted to attack." This attitude nearly brought another goal two minutes later as Fukuda headed a Toda cross fractionally wide at the far post.

Dohi's super save, a shutout victory with everyone's focused defense

　In the 72nd minute, Gamba replaced Yoshihara with FW Matsunami, and Tokyo brought in Fujiyama for Toda. Fujiyama took a position slightly deeper in the left midfield. Both benches showed enthusiasm for the competition, and the match heated up. Tokyo defended against Gamba's attacks in front of the goal with solid defense and launched counterattacks. In the 79th minute, Kelly, who received a throw-in on the right side, broke through between two DFs and delivered a low cross from near the end line. Ishikawa picked up the cleared ball from the DF and took a shot. However, it went over the goal.

　In a tense back-and-forth, Gamba's defender Miyamoto also pushed forward, showing his determination to score. In the 82nd minute, Okuro evaded two defenders in midfield and took a mid-range shot. In the 83rd minute, from a free kick just before the penalty arc, Maguron aimed directly at the goal with a powerful shot, but Doi made a solid catch. Then in the 88th minute, Miyamoto, who had run into the goal area to clear a cross from midfielder Endo, took a shot. However, Doi's incredible super play saved them from a critical danger, and Gamba's fierce attack in stoppage time saw everyone focused.

Time's up for the finishing cut.

　It was a tough game where determination clashed with determination, but we completely shut out Gamba, who boasts strong offensive power. We not only repaid a significant debt but also achieved a delightful victory at home at Tokyo Stadium since July 14, marking our second consecutive win in the second stage.

[Summary of Manager Hara's Press Conference] "We lost three days ago, and immediately after, we couldn't afford to lose twice in a row to the same team, especially at home. I think this match really showed that determination. With only two days between games, it was difficult to make any major changes in practice, but losing consecutively and having Manager Nishino say again, 'I understand what Hara is thinking,' was frustrating. So maybe it was good that I didn't overthink it (laughs). However, I expected Gamba to switch to a three-forward formation if things didn't go well, and since last time they were too defensive and got beaten, we reverted to the basic setup with Ishikawa on the right and Toda on the left, and I told Kaji and Moniwa to push forward aggressively from the first half. If we control where the ball comes from and prevent good balls from being played inside, there's nothing to fear. After Amaral scored in a good position, there were some dangerous moments, but we fought well until the end. I do think Gamba is strong, but with the strong spirit we showed today, we have to keep fighting going forward."

[Gamba Osaka Coach Nishino's Press Conference Summary] "From the start, I think the movement and development of the ball were better than during the Nabisco Cup. However, we couldn't create good opportunities in the final box. We were marked quite tightly, so in the second half, we tried to bring the ball in more from the sides, and I believe we were able to do that on the right side. However, Tokyo played a more organized defense this time, focusing on support and coaching, and did not create one-on-one situations like before. I think there were many chances to break through, but the reason for our defeat was that we couldn't take advantage of the moments when there were openings, and we couldn't break through. When we get scored on, it often happens in this way, creating situations where we are vulnerable to counterattacks, and I still feel we haven't fully committed to our attacks."

Doi Preserves Win With Miracle Save

Gamba replaced Yoshihara with forward Matsunami in the 72nd minute and in reply Toda made way for Fujiyama on the left of the TOKYO midfield. The game began to heat up but Kelly kept a cool head in the 79th minute, collecting a throw on the right before bursting between two defenders and racing to the goal line. His pull back was cleared only as far as Ishikawa who curled a left footed shot inches over the bar.
Gamba defender Miyamoto pushed forward as his team searched for an equalizer. In the 82nd minute Oguro beat two defenders and shot from distance; a minute later Magrao fired a free kick around the TOKYO wall but Doi held the ball cleanly. The best chance fell to Miyamoto in the 88th minute as an Endo cross was cleared to him on the edge of the area. He shot low and hard but Doi flung himself to his left to fingertip the ball around the post. TOKYO held their concentration through injury time to repel the best efforts of Gamba and record their second successive win and the first at home since July 14th.


F.C. TOKYO manager Hara:
" The players were highly motivated today and that clearly showed. They were determined not to lose twice at home in three days to the same team. I expected Gamba to use 3 forwards so I made Toda and Ishikawa change sides and told Kaji and Moniwa to get forward more. After Amaral scored there were many close shaves but the team battled to the end. I want the team to show the same determination and commitment in the following games ".

Gamba manager Nishino:
" In the first half I thought we actually played better than in the Nabisco Cup game but just couldn't finish. The marking was very tight tonight and the TOKYO players supported each other very well. We had many chances but conceded a goal just as we looked like scoring and that, rather than tiredness, was the main reason we lost. We left ourselves open to the counter attack ".