Only victory at home, taking revenge

　Two days after the quarterfinals of the Nabisco Cup, the 2nd stage Sec. 2 will once again face off against Gamba Osaka. For Gamba, this is a match immediately after a complete victory, and not only did they have a big win in the 1st stage, but they also have a good record of 4 wins and 1 loss in past J1 league matches, giving them an advantage.

　However, there is a feeling among everyone in Tokyo that "we cannot lose to the same team twice in one week" and "we cannot lose all three games this season against the same team, including the big loss in the 1st stage. We absolutely cannot afford to lose." We want to show our determination and get revenge, as well as break the bad trend of losing at home that has continued since the end of the 1st stage.

　After the Nabisco Cup, Gamba Nishino coach said, "Since it's Coach Hara, he will definitely do something. We will think about how to fight for the next two days and face it." However, the starting members remained unchanged for both teams. However, Tokyo changed the left and right side half positions in the Nabisco Cup, with Ishikawa on the right and Toda on the left, and welcomed the kickoff as usual.

Revenge!

Following their meeting in the Nabisco Cup quarter final on Wednesday, the opponents for the second game of the second stage were once 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 clash in an attacking football style.

　Tokyo connects the kickoff ball, Amaral attempts to break through the center, showing their determination to challenge today's game. However, Gamba also comes aiming for the goal without hesitation from the start. In the 2nd minute, FW Maguron drops the ball and FW Yoshihara slips through the DF and takes a decisive shot. In the 4th minute, MF Morioka jumps in from the right to a cross from the left side and suddenly Tokyo is in a pinch.

　But when he escaped the difficulty with a missed shot, in the 8th minute, Toda received a long throw from Kaji on the right side and made a sharp header, but the GK saved it. In the 9th minute, Shigehira intercepted on the left side, but Shimodaira was waiting for support and the ball was taken back, and Gamba Morioka took a shot. However, in the 14th minute, Ishikawa received the ball with his back to the penalty area on the right corner, turned around, and quickly dodged the DF and rushed towards the goal, but his powerful shot was blocked by the opponent's GK. The game continues with both teams creating big chances and either team could score.

　At 24 minutes, when the feed from the DF line was cut off, Maguron attacked the right goal area and his shot hit the post. The rebound was then swung to the left side and Yoshihara took a shot. Tokyo, who had been helped by missed shots, was causing their own trouble with occasional passing mistakes. However, they did not become passive and at 28 minutes, Ishikawa cut inside and received a return pass from Toda at the post, taking a shot from the front of the goal. Unfortunately, it hit the front of the GK.

　At 33 minutes, Jean took a shot from a combination play between Gamba Yoshihara, Morioka, and MF Nikawa. At 42 minutes, Maguron headed in a free kick from behind. At 43 minutes, Ishikawa dribbled through the opponent's defense and was fouled, resulting in a free kick that Jean aimed for the goal. In stoppage time, Jean also took a header shot from a left corner kick.

　Both teams fought bravely and Gamba had more decisive scenes. However, they were unable to convert their chances and the first half ended in a 0-0 draw.

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 42nd 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, showing his true abilities at crucial moments!

　In the second half, both teams cautiously started to explore each other's hands and prioritized playing without taking risks with safety. Gamba was the first to move. In the 53rd minute, Daiki Mori was replaced by Daisuke Otsuka, who was deployed as a front line in a 3-top formation. In the 56th minute, Maglone headed a shot from a right corner kick, but it went over the goal. In the 59th minute, Futagawa broke through Tokyo's left side and sent a decisive pass to the center, but Kaji cleared it. In the 60th minute, Aribata ran through the midfield and connected with Maglone in the center, who then made a last pass to the right space. Yoshihara ran in and took a shot from just outside the goal area, but Tsuchi made a fine save and it went out for a corner kick.

　Gamba created a chance, an unfavorable time. But today, Tokyo was focused and not in a hurry. In the 66th minute, just as they were trying to put Fukuda in and make a move, Amaral dribbled past the midfield press and passed to the left. The ball initially hit the opposing DF, but Miyazawa picked up the loose ball and sent an accurate cross to the front of the goal. Amaral, who was left free in the center of the penalty area, headed the ball and it bounced in front of the GK and went in! Taking advantage of Gamba's attack, Tokyo scored the first goal.

　Before the match, we took the lead, but Manager Hara said, "Just because we scored one goal, I didn't want to sit back and defend. I wanted to show that we were going to attack by having Fukuda chase from the front," and in the 67th minute, as planned, Fukuda was substituted for Shimodaira. As planned, in the 68th minute, Kelly drew the opposing defender to the center of the penalty area and passed to the left side. Toda sent a cross to the far post, and Fukuda headed it with a high impact. It was a decisive moment, but it went just to the right of the goal. We were unable to score an additional goal due to the offside trap.

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 goal ward. 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.

Tsuchihi's superb save, complete shutout victory with all members focused on defense

　At 72 minutes, Gamba replaced Yoshihara with FW Matsunami, and Tokyo also substituted Fujiyama for Toda. Fujiyama took up a slightly withdrawn position on the left side of midfield. Both teams showed their determination to win through their bench work, and the game heated up. Tokyo defended against Gamba's attacks near their goal with physicality and countered. In the 79th minute, Kelly received a throw-in on the right side, dribbled past two DFs, and sent a cross from the end line. Ishikawa picked up the clearance and took a shot, but it went over the goal.

　In the midst of a tense battle, Gamba showed their determination to attack with DF Miyamoto pushing forward towards the goal. In the 82nd minute, Okubo dribbled past two DFs in the midfield and took a shot. In the 83rd minute, Maguron aimed for a direct goal from a free kick just outside the penalty area, but Tsuchi caught it firmly. Then in the 88th minute, MF Endo ran up the left side and crossed the ball, which was cleared to the goal area where Miyamoto ran in and took a shot. However, Tsuchi escaped the decisive pinch with a fierce super play, and in stoppage time, Gamba's fierce attack was concentrated by all players.

Time's up for the final showdown.

　It was a tough game with intense passion colliding, but we shut down Gamba's strong attack. We also repaid a big debt and achieved a happy victory at home at Tokyo Stadium for the first time since July 14th, securing our second consecutive win in the 2nd stage.

[Summary of Manager Hara's Press Conference] "We couldn't afford to lose to the same team, especially at home, just three days after our previous loss. I think we played with a strong determination. It was difficult to make any major changes in our practice since we only had two days, but it was frustrating to hear Coach Nishino say again, 'I understand what Hara is thinking.' So I tried not to overthink and just approached the game (bitter laugh). However, I expected Gamba to switch to a 3-top formation if things didn't go well, so I told Ishikawa to play on the right and Toda on the left, and also encouraged Kaji and Shigetaka to push forward from the first half. If we can control the source of the ball and prevent them from sending good balls into the box, we won't have to be afraid. After Amaral scored a great goal, there were some dangerous moments, but we fought until the end. Gamba is definitely a strong team, but we must continue to fight with the same determination as today."

[Gamba Osaka Manager Nishino's Press Conference Summary] "From the start, the movement and development of the ball was better than in the Nabisco Cup. However, we couldn't bring it into a good shape in the final box. We were under a lot of pressure, so in the second half we tried to put the ball in from the side, and I think we were able to do it on the right side. However, Tokyo didn't create a 1-on-1 situation like last time, and they defended with organization through support and coaching. We weren't completely focused for the full 90 minutes, so I think there were plenty of chances to break through, but we couldn't take advantage of the time when there was a gap, and that's why we lost. When we get scored on, it's in this kind of situation, and we also create situations where we can easily get countered. I still think we haven't been able to fully attack."

Doi Preserves Win With Miracle Save

Gamba replaced Yoshihara with FW Matsunami in the 72nd minute and in reply Toda made way for MF Fujiyama on the left of the TOKYO midfield. The game began to heat up but GK 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 DF Miyamoto pushed forward as his team searched for an equaliser. In the 82nd minute FW Oguro beat two defenders and shot from distance; a minute later MF Magrao fired a free kick around the TOKYO wall but GK Doi held the ball cleanly. The best chance fell to DF 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 GK 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."