Facing with our backs against the wall

　In the previous section, Tokyo suffered a close defeat to Kashiwa and experienced their third consecutive loss. At the end of the 2nd stage, Tokyo's total points for the year were 26, placing them in 12th position. 15th place Hiroshima, who are above the J2 relegation line, have 18 points, making the difference only 8 points. Currently, 6 teams are competing within this 8 point difference, making for a fierce battle to avoid relegation. Tokyo is tied with Tokyo V in 10th place and Ichihara in 11th place, both with 26 points, while Sendai in 9th place has 28 points and has the potential to jump to 9th place with a win in today's match. On the other hand, a loss would result in their first 4-game losing streak of the season, lowering the players' motivation and making the future outlook very difficult.

　On the other hand, the opponent Sapporo is in a tougher situation than Tokyo. Currently, their total points for the year is 7, and they are in last place at 16th. In the 2nd stage, they have yet to win a game and are on the brink of relegation to J2. However, at the venue for this day, Atsubetsu, they have a good record of 1 win and 1 draw this season and the passionate support from their fans has not shown any signs of weakening. With no more time left, Sapporo will come at Tokyo with nothing to fear and with the support of their fans, it is expected that this game will be extremely difficult for Tokyo.

　Tokyo, with DF Komine who was sent off in the previous match suspended, and DF Ito also starting on the bench due to poor physical condition, had concerns about the defense, but responded with an emergency formation by placing Fujiyama as center back alongside DF Jean and Shimodaira as left back. In midfield, Miyazawa, who was suspended in the previous match, returns and forms a partnership with Asari, who makes his first start in 10 games. Both teams face the crucial match with their backs against the wall, with a 2pm kickoff on the chilly northern land of Atsubetsu, Sapporo.

A Chill Wind...

Following last week's third consecutive defeat, F.C.TOKYO found themselves in 12th place on the J.League seasonal ranking with 26 points. With only 9 points separating them from next to bottom Sanfrecce Hiroshima, the 8th game of the second stage, away to Consadole Sapporo, suddenly assumed vital importance; to avoid being sucked into the relegation struggle and break the run of recent poor results, a victory was imperative.
Consadole, on the other hand, were already peering into that dark abyss: with a total of only 7 points for the year, every game had become a must win.
Consadole were unbeaten this season at the venue, Atsubetsu Park Stadium, and backed by vocal local support, were expected to prove stern opposition.
With Komine suspended and Ito still not completely fit, Fujiyama lined up alongside Jean in defence while Miyazawa and Asari started as defensive midfielders. A chill wind blew down from the mountains surrounding Japan's northernmost football outpost as the game kicked off.

Amaral's brilliant goal gives us the lead!

　The match progressed at a Tokyo pace from the beginning. Before the match, Coach Hara told the players, "It's not about what the opponent does, but about playing fast and contentful soccer with our own rhythm. We've been working on that kind of practice this week." As he said, each player quickly passed the ball with few touches and dominated the ball with a rich amount of movement. In attack, Kelly did not fix his position and made dynamic movements, not allowing the opponent to mark him and making plays. He appeared left and right, getting involved with the ball and creating rhythm. With Miyazawa's development on the opposite side, Amaral's post-play, and Toda's powerful runs behind the opponent's defense, the ball was moving interestingly. Even in defense, Fujiyama intercepted with his sharp start and there were no problems with the combination with Jean, who was worried about. In addition, Shimodaira, who entered as a left-back, showed stable play with veteran-like reading and intense fighting spirit, and became the starting point of the attack with accurate feeds after winning the ball.

　In the 7th minute, Asari made a sharp vertical pass to Kelly in the center of the front line, and Kelly dropped it directly into the space on the right. Amaral then broke free and carefully took a shot. The ball was sucked into the left goal, and Tokyo took the lead early on.

Amaral Gives TOKYO Perfect Start

Before the match TOKYO manager Hara had commented "We concentrated on fast, one touch football in training this week" and his team began the game in fine style, moving the ball around at speed. Prompted by a rejuvenated Kelly the forward movement was a joy to behold as Miyazawa launched sweeping cross field balls, Amaral held the ball up in advanced positions and Toda made darting runs behind the Consadole back line. In defense the untested combination of Fujiyama and Jean appeared rock solid while veteran Shimotaira used all his experience to great effect, snuffing out potential danger and feeding the forward line.
In the 7th. minute Asari found Kelly with a sharp through ball; Kelly swept the ball first time into acres of space on the right of the area for the charging Amaral to blast a low shot inside the far post. TOKYO were ahead.

Kelly adds a goal from a fierce attack!

　Against Tokyo, who rode the wave from the start, the home team Sapporo struggled with low passing accuracy and failed to connect on 3 passes, causing frustration among the players and receiving relentless criticism from the supporters. Nevertheless, they continued to target tall and strong FW Sota in the midfield with long balls from MF Ogura and DF Bijou, and then had speedy FW Hori and MF Hirama make runs to attempt a counterattack.

　On the other hand, Tokyo did not let up on their attack even after taking the lead, and their "attacking football" led by Kelly gained even more momentum. However, there is past data that cannot be celebrated without reservation for Tokyo's first half lead, so those watching were filled with anxiety in the situation where no additional points were born while attacking. This season, when Tokyo took the lead in the first half and returned with a score of 1-0, they lost in 6 out of 8 games. On the other hand, when they returned with a lead of 2 or more points in the first half, they have not lost in 3 games and have won all 3. They wanted one more point, an additional point.

　At the 18th minute, Kelly received a pass near the right corner kick and crossed it back, but Yukihiro headed it to the left side. Amaral followed up with another cross from the left side, and this time Yukihiro headed it back to the center where Kelly jumped and scored a goal, adding another point. These long-awaited 2 first half goals were the first in 12 games since the Sapporo game in the 1st stage. The approximately 70 supporters who traveled all the way to Sapporo must have been relieved by this.

　Tokyo, who took a 2-0 lead in the early stages of the first half, seemed to relax afterwards and gave Sapporo a chance to counterattack. In the 21st minute, Sapporo's cross from the left was punched away by Tokyo's goalkeeper Doi, who made a desperate effort. Then, in the 26th minute, Sapporo's FW Sota took advantage of a momentary pause in Tokyo's defense and attempted a looping shot, but it went over the crossbar. It was a very dangerous situation, and if Sapporo had scored a goal here, the game could have gone either way. A 2-0 lead is by no means a safe lead. Tokyo's style of play has changed from the beginning, with less fluid and light rhythm, and there have been moments where they have held onto the ball too much and lost it.

　Still, the lead did not change. In the 29th minute, Kelly broke through on the right side and sent a ground cross to the center, but Amaral's direct shot with his right foot missed to the left of the goal. In addition, in the 38th minute, Yukihiro, who broke through with a combination play with Kelly, rushed down the right side and crossed to Kelly in the center, but his shot after a feint hit the opposing defender.

　Kelly seemed to be playing with ease. If Sapporo were two points behind, they could press harder from the front line... but they are defending by pulling back. It's clear that Tokyo will have free reign at this rate. In the 44th minute, Toda made a great run behind the defense from Asari's long vertical pass, and while the ball was bouncing, he took a powerful right-footed shot that unfortunately missed to the left of the goal. Today, Toda's speed was particularly impressive, but the first half ended with Tokyo leading by two points.

Kelly Makes It Two!

Behind after only seven minutes Consadole were unable to string more than a couple of passes together and were roundly booed by the disappointed home fans. Their only attacking option, it seemed, was the long ball to lanky striker Masuda whose knock downs were aimed at the other Consadole forwards.
The TOKYO defense dealt comfortably with it.
Statistics show that of the 8 games in which TOKYO have taken a 1-0 lead this year 6 have been lost; however the three games where they had managed to score twice had all been won. With this in mind TOKYO set about finding a second goal and didn't have to wait long. Only until the 18th. minute, in fact, when Kelly headed home from a central position after Amaral's cross to the far post was headed back in by Sato. The 70 hardy TOKYO fans who had made the trip voiced their appreciation as silence emanated from the home support.
Despite totally dominating proceedings TOKYO were unable to add to their tally and the first half ended 2-0.

Kelly's powerful shot, Kaji's impressive first J1 goal!

　Kina came in for Yukihiko in the second half, but the goal was to use Kelly and Kaji on the right side and move the ball quickly. At halftime, Coach Hara instructed the players, "After going up 2-0, we became too relaxed and our balance was off. In the second half, please play simple ball movement like when we scored the first goal." And that's exactly what happened in the second half.

　6 minutes, Jean overlaps from the right and passes to Kelly in the center. Kelly then passes the ball to Toda on the left and takes it back to take a dribble shot, but unfortunately it goes to the left of the goal. In the following 7 minutes, Kina keeps the ball on the right side with excellent technique, attracting two Sapporo players before passing it to Amaral who is free. Amaral then passes the ball carefully to Miyazawa who runs in from the center of the goal, but Miyazawa's powerful low shot is saved by the Sapporo goalkeeper. In the 10th minute, Kelly takes a shot from the combination of Amaral and Kelly, and in the 17th minute, Toda heads in a cross from Kaji, but it goes over the bar. In the following 19 minutes, Kelly, Kina, and Miyazawa connect smoothly from the right, and Miyazawa takes a free shot with a one-fake, but it lacks power and goes wide of the goal due to being a right-footed shot.

　21 minutes, the cross from the right by Kina crossed the goal widely, and Toda chased after it and made it my ball as it flowed to the left side, and to Miyazawa who came to support nearby. Miyazawa ran vertically with a one-two movement to Kelly in the center, but Kelly who received it dodged one opponent DF with a sharp one fake, and swung his right foot powerfully from the center outside the penalty area, and the shot pierced the right corner of the goal. Kelly's powerful blow should have dealt a big damage to Sapporo, who was struggling to return one point. In addition, just 3 minutes later in the 24th minute of the second half, the ball cleared by the opponent DF with a header from the left CK was waiting in front of Kaji at a position about 30 meters in front of the goal. When the ball bounced, Kaji swung his right foot without hesitation, and the shot took a drive and pierced the left corner of the goal in an instant! In the past, the "Drive Shot" that was popularized in the manga "Captain Tsubasa" was suddenly reproduced in front of us, so that Atsubetsu was silent for a moment. Of course, the opponent GK couldn't move a step, and the enemy, allies, spectators, and even the person himself were frozen, but everyone understood that "Super Goal" was decided by Kaji's first J1 goal. The game was decided by this Kaji's first J1 goal.

　In the second half, Amaral came on and controlled the ball more than in the first half, following the coach's instructions to move the ball quickly, preventing Sapporo from catching up. Tokyo continued to attack, but in the 43rd minute, MF Jean, who had replaced Toda, received a pass from Amaral and had a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper, but his right-footed shot hit the left post and unfortunately did not result in a goal. Defensively, Jean and Fujiyama remained focused until the end, showing a stable defense. The game ended with a score of 4-0. Tokyo broke their three-game losing streak and showed a fantastic performance, achieving a clean sheet victory for the first time since the second round of the 2nd stage. If they can continue to play with the same level of energy and fast-paced rhythm centered around Kelly, they should see positive results in the upcoming rounds. Tokyo, who has started anew in the northern country, will now put all their efforts into the upcoming battles to release the stress they have experienced so far.

[Kelly Player Comment] "We knew the team was in a tough situation with three consecutive losses, so we all focused and it led to a good result. Today, the team's movements were good, so we were able to play good soccer. I am very happy with today's victory, but I want to do my best to win the next game as well."

[Kaji Player Comment] "I'm honestly happy to score my first J1 goal, but I'm even happier that we won the game. When I scored the goal, I was surprised myself and didn't know how to celebrate."

[Summary of Original Coach's Press Conference] "In the past 3 games, we lost to Jubilo due to mistakes, and then in the following Yokohama and Kashiwa games, we had a player sent off and had to play with 10 men, resulting in 3 consecutive losses. Even though it's only 3 games, having a player sent off in each one is too much, so I told the players before today's game to absolutely not get sent off. In terms of the lineup, Komine was suspended and Ito was not feeling well, so the team was in the most difficult situation, but our midfield core Miyazawa returned and Shimodaira did a good job of moving the ball as a starting point. We have been practicing this week to play our own style of soccer, not worrying about the opponent, so it was crucial that we were able to move the ball quickly and score the first goal like we did today. From now on, we want to continue winning with our "attacking soccer" by moving the ball quickly and creating our own rhythm, just like we did with the first goal today."

[Consadole Sapporo Manager Zhang Press Conference Summary] "We were completely defeated not just in terms of score, but also mentally and technically. In every aspect, FC Tokyo was superior."

Kaji Grabs First League Goal!

Kina replaced Sato at half time to add some vim to the right side. TOKYO manager Hara felt his side were losing their balance at the end of the first half and that a third goal would be the end of Consadole. TOKYO went straight onto the front foot with Toda shooting wide after some neat interplay with Kelly after 51 minutes, Miyazawa drew a fine save from the Consadole keeper a minute later and Kelly shot wide in the 61st. minute.
TOKYO were lining up to shoot and it was no surprise when a third goal arrived in the 66th. minute. Kelly feinted inside a defender and unleashed a thunderous shot from just outside the penalty area that the keeper got his fingertips to but couldn't prevent from flying inside the left hand post.
Kelly's shot was well struck but nothing compared to the rocket that Kaji produced five minutes later to notch his first J.League goal. Loitering about 30 metres out as TOKYO took a corner on the right Kaji saw the ball cleared to him and decided to try his luck; the ball bobbled invitingly as he made contact and hurtled over the mass of players, off the cross bar and into the goal. The goal keeper stood rooted to the spot and the crowd sat in stunned silence as Kaji and his teammates celebrated a phenomenal strike.
That was game over and TOKYO played out the remaining 25 minutes comfortably, denying Consadole even a consolation goal. An excellent win and, more importantly, a stylish one; TOKYO, inspired by man of the match Kelly, banished the blues with four goals and an inspired performance that should go a long way to reviving their season.

F.C.TOKYO Kelly:
"We all wanted to put the recent results behind us and we managed it today. It was a great team performance and we're looking forward to the next game".

F.C.TOKYO Kaji:
"It was great to score my first goal but the most important thing was that we won the game. I was so surprised by my goal that I didn't know how to celebrate!".

F.C.TOKYO manager Hara:
"We were determined to put our recent form behind us and, in difficult circumstances, we managed it today. We imposed ourselves on the game from the start, found our rhythm and scored four excellent goals".

Consadole Sapporo Manager's comment:
"Scorewise, and both mentally and technically, it was a total defeat. F.C.TOKYO were better than us in every department".