Aim to break the losing streak at home!

　After 3 games away, Tokyo returns home aiming to break their losing streak. In the 7th round, they will face Kashiwa Reysol. However, Tokyo will have a tough situation as Miyazawa is suspended and Ito is absent due to poor health. Kina will make his first start of the season as a defensive midfielder. In addition, Komine will start as a center back for the second time this season, since the Nabisco Cup on May 12th. In times like this, the team must all work together towards the goal and strive for victory.

　On the other hand, Kashiwa has become a different team from the 1st stage. With new coach Marco AURELIO, they are aiming for three consecutive victories by injecting fresh strength centered around the Brazilian player trio of MF Sampai, Ricardinho, and FW Edilson.

　Tokyo is expected to rely on Sato's side attacks, while Kashima has changed their DF line from the traditional 3-back to 4-back. Previously, both wing backs, Watanabe (Hikaru) and Hirayama, were positioned high up, but now they have been pulled back to the DF line. Additionally, Kelly will be marked man-to-man by Sampaiio, and Amaral will be closely marked by DF Nebariki.

　Tokyo has started the highly anticipated match, how will they break through Kashiwa's defense?

Losing the Losing Streak

Following two consecutive away defeats F.C.TOKYO returned to Tokyo Stadium for the seventh game of the second stage against Kashiwa Reysol. TOKYO, without the services of the suspended Miyazawa, the injured Ito and Japan Under 21 team members Ishikawa and Moniwa, fielded an unfamiliar formation.
Kina made his first start of the season as a defensive midfielder while Komine appeared at centre back for his second start of the year.
Reysol are a team reborn after a disastrous first stage. Under new coach Aurelio, with the Brazilian trio of Sampaio, Ricardinho and Edilson at the heart of the team, they had won three straight games and were slowly dragging themselves away from the relegation zone.
To counter the threat of Sato down the flanks Reysol switched from their customary three back system to a back four with Mitsuteru Watanabe and Hirayama in more withdrawn positions; they also elected to man mark Kelly and Amaral. How TOKYO would deal with this approach was the main question as the game kicked off on a glorious autumn afternoon.

Despite creating chances in the latter half of the first half, Toda's header did not result in a goal.

　From the start of the first half, both teams continued to battle in a tightly contested midfield. In the midst of this, in the 4th minute, Kina, who had drifted to the left side, and in the 7th minute, Sato, who had crossed from the right side, were caught by the opposing goalkeeper. In the 8th minute, Kashiwa kept possession from a series of short passes in front of the goal, and sent a final pass to the free forward Unozawa in the left penalty area, but Komiya showed quick cover and escaped with a corner kick. In the 12th minute, Kelly and Sato connected on a counter attack, and Toda broke through with the final pass, but unfortunately it was offside.

　However, Amaral and Kelly were unable to dominate the ball and control the game against Kashiwa, who excels in ball retention, and gradually the game began to progress in Tokyo's half.

　In the 16th minute, Kashiwa earned a CK from a through pass from MF Ohno to FW Unozawa on the right side. In the 17th minute, Edison received a foul in the right midfield and earned a FK. They also won CKs in the 24th and 26th minutes. In the 30th minute, Unozawa attempted to break through into the penalty area from a big development, but Tokyo's defense was quick to react and they were unable to take a shot.

　Tokyo tries to find a way through the side using Saisan Kaji's long throw as a weapon, but they are having a hard time creating opportunities in the front line. In the 33rd minute, Kelly passed from the right side and Amaral headed it down in the left penalty area, and Kina took a middle shot. It went over the bar, but it was the first shot for both teams today. In the 36th minute, Kelly ran into the front line with a through pass from Kina, but their combination didn't work. In the 37th minute, they successfully brought the ball into the counterattack using the space on the left side, but it was taken away by Kashiwa in front of the goal. Edilson and Ricardinho quickly attacked and DF Hirayama ran in from behind and took a shot. The ball was cut by the DF and escaped to a corner kick.

　In defense, Tokyo shows good points such as Kominato's tenacity and Fujiyama's interceptions, but in attack, they are hindered by their lack of decisiveness and struggle to find a way through. However, in the 40th minute, Amaral heads in a cross from Kaji. Then, Kelly sends a through pass to Toda who breaks through the front line, but the Kashiwa defenders cut it off. From the resulting corner kick, Jean takes a sharp header shot, but unfortunately it goes straight to the GK. In the 43rd minute, Sato receives a pass from the left side and breaks through to the right side of the goal area, but the GK makes a save. Tokyo shows their momentum.

　And at 44 minutes, after a throw-in from the right side, Kaji sends a cross and Toda takes a header shot. The ball shakes the net, and it seemed like the first goal. However, Toda's play was judged as a foul against the GK, and the goal was not allowed. A close chance was missed.

　In the first half, both teams showed a lackluster performance, but towards the end Tokyo created opportunities and headed into the second half with high expectations.

TOKYO Create Chances

TOKYO started positively, breaking free of the midfield morass to launch crosses into the danger area in the 4th. and 7th. minutes. The latter led to a quick counter attack from Reysol but a well-timed block by Komine on Edilson averted the danger. In the 12th. minute neat interplay between Kelly and Sato saw Toda breach the Reysol defence only to be given offside in a very marginal decision. TOKYO were dominating possession but the blanket defence and man-marking tactics of the visitors denied any clear-cut chances.
Reysol threatened mainly at set pieces and won a string of corners midway through the half which the home defence dealt with comfortably. In the 30th. minute a cross-field ball reached Unozawa inside the TOKYO penalty area but the brief danger was soon smothered. Such was the efficacy of both defences that the game had to wait until the 33rd. minute, when Kina volleyed Amaral's knockdown over the bar, for the first shot. A fast break from Reysol in the 37th. minute saw Ricardinho set up Hirayama but a lunging defender turned his shot around the post.
TOKYO turned up the pressure as the first half drew to a close. Amaral connected with an early cross to send a header wide, Kelly's through ball to Toda was scrambled away for a corner which Jean headed straight at the goalkeeper and in the 44th. minute TOKYO thought they had the lead. A throw in on the right reached Kaji who delivered a pin point cross for Toda to nod past the keeper. Unfortunately the goal was disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper. The half finished 0-0, neither side having been able to dominate.

A sense of goal, but Komine is sent off... A battle with 10 players for the third consecutive game.

　Tokyo, who switched gears after Toda's no-goal, entered the second half. In the 46th minute, Sato intercepted and sent a cross to Amaral in front of the goal with speed, but the opponent's DF Watanabe (Hikari) made a desperate clearance. In the 48th minute, Kashiwa also had a chance when Unozawa jumped in with a header from Edilson's pass, but the shot missed to the left. In the 52nd minute, Kaji's long throw went over Amaral's head and Toda, who picked it up on the left side, turned and shot. In the 54th minute, Fujiyama ran up the left side, cut inside and took a shot. The ball floated just slightly above the top right corner, but it was a good shot that hinted at a goal. In the 57th minute, Fujiyama sent a cross from the left penalty area after a quick restart, but Sato's jump from the right just missed and the opponent's DF cut it off. In the 61st minute, Sato headed Fujiyama's cross from the center of the goal, but it went over. Tokyo continued to create attacks from the left side and pushed Kashiwa back.

　Kashiwa made a substitution, bringing in FW Masaru KATO for Ohno. It happened in the 62nd minute. Komiya received a pass from Ricardinho near the penalty area and fouled Unozawa. Komiya had already received a warning in the 35th minute and was given a second warning for "repeated offenses" on this play, resulting in a red card. Tokyo now faces their third consecutive game playing with 10 players.

Early Bath For Komine

Spurred by the disallowed "goal" TOKYO began the second half at a furious pace and soon had Reysol on the ropes. Sato made a smart interception and set off down the wing before curling an inviting center towards Amaral; a desperate clearance foiled the "King of Tokyo". In the 52nd minute Amaral flicked a Kaji long throw into Toda's path but his shot was blocked. Soon after Fujiyama cut in from the left and fired a rising effort that drifted just wide of the left upright. In the 57th minute a quickly taken free kick found Fujiyama on the left of the Reysol penalty area but his cross, aimed at Sato, was cleared. The same pair combined shortly after and this time Sato connected with Fujiyama's cross, only to see the ball sail over the bar. Just as TOKYO seemed about to make a breakthrough disaster struck. Komine brought down Ricardinho on the edge of the penalty arc and was shown the yellow card, his second of the game. Red followed and Komine trudged disconsolately from the field; for the third consecutive game TOKYO were down to ten men.

Lost with one chance, painful 3 consecutive losses

　Tokyo, who had placed Shimohira as a center back, made a substitution in the 67th minute, bringing in Asari for Kina. Shimohira returned to the defensive midfield position, while Asari was placed on the left of the defense. Jean and Fujiyama formed the final line.

　The unfolding was similar to the previous match, but Kashiwa's attacks were not particularly powerful, and while Tokyo was pushed back, in the 81st minute Amaral connected from Toda's post and Shimodaira took a middle shot, putting up an equal fight that didn't make them feel behind.

　But it was just a momentary gap. In the 84th minute, Kashiwa slowly passed the ball and Ricardinho caught up with it on the right side of the penalty area. He passed it back and Watanabe (Hikaru) crossed it directly. Kato jumped into the goal area at the perfect timing and headed it in with a diving header, scoring a goal. Tokyo conceded a goal at an unfavorable time.

　Afterwards, Tokyo tried to counterattack without giving up. In the 87th minute, the opponent's defender cut off Kaji's long throw, and Amaral picked up the loose ball and took a volley shot, but unfortunately hit the crossbar. However, even Tokyo's fierce attack was stopped by Kashiwa's defense, with Sampai and Myojin preventing them from taking shots.

　In the 4th minute of stoppage time, Kelly, who received a throw-in from the right side, tried to break through forcefully, but was brought down in the right penalty area without a whistle. In the last moments, both Kelly and Lori showed their determination by taking two consecutive corner kicks, but ultimately failed to take a shot before the time was up. In a self-destructive manner, they suffered a painful third consecutive defeat.

[Summary of Manager's Press Conference] "In the last three games, we have been struggling with missing players and red cards. The first half was a bit off in terms of rhythm and balance, so I can't say it was a good performance. However, during that time, Komine showed his marking skills and Kina gradually showed his strengths. Towards the end of the first half and into the second half, we were able to create some good opportunities and we were able to contain Kashiwa's side attacks. We were hoping to score a goal, even with 10 players. If we had put Sato and Toda on both sides, the opponent wouldn't have been able to attack from the sides, and we could have scored a goal through a side breakthrough or counterattack. However, we were unfortunately scored against in the last minute and we ran out of time. That's my honest impression."

3 consecutive games suspended, I don't think it was such a dirty play for the ejected player, but I think we need to control that.

[Kashiwa Aurelio coach's press conference summary] "There are no easy games every game, but today was a very difficult game. However, Kashiwa's tactics are to neutralize the opponent's important players. Today, we aimed to neutralize Amaral's high balls and the opponent's attacks from the right side, and we were patient and able to make the right attacks at the right time. Tokyo has Amaral as their top striker, so we used DF Nebariki to mark Amaral and left Satsukawa free, and we also succeeded by setting up our formation towards the right side of the opponent's side and shutting down Kelly. In the end, we broke through from the right side and were able to score using Kato."

Kashiwa Snatch Late Winner

Following Komine's dismissal Asari replaced Kina and moved into the back line. The nine outfield players stepped up their work rate and matched Reysol right across the field; TOKYO nearly had the lead in the 81st. minute as Amaral set up Shimotaira who shot wide. The killer blow came in the 84th. minute as Ricardinho chased a long ball down near the corner flag, held it up and slipped it back to Watanabe. Watanabe curled a teasing cross into the TOKYO area which Kato met with a perfectly timed diving header that gave TOKYO keeper Doi no chance.
TOKYO threw everything into attack and nearly equalised in the 87th. minute as Amaral volleyed a loose ball over the keeper and onto the bar. Veterans Sampaio and Myojin stood firm at the heart of the Reysol defence and survived a confident appeal for a penalty as Kelly went down under pressure in the 89th. minute. Goalkeeper Doi joined the attack as TOKYO won a pair of corners deep in injury time but to no avail and the final whistle blew on a third consecutive defeat.

TOKYO manager Hara:
"That's the third game in a row we've finished with ten men and it's tough. I don't feel the play was dirty but it's something we have to deal with. The first half we couldn't find our balance or rhythm but the period just before and after half time we played well and I thought we would score. We contained Reysol's threat down the flanks and created several chances. After being reduced to ten men we didn't buckle and I felt the threat posed by Sato and Toda might produce something for us. Their goal came from a counter attack down the wing and we ran out of time".

Reysol manager Aurelio:
"There are no easy games but today's game was particularly difficult. We managed to neutralize the main TOKYO threats though: Nebiki was detailed to cut out high balls into Amaral, Kelly was man marked and Sato was blocked down the right wing. The winning goal came from a move down the right and Kato took it very well".