The ultimate showdown aiming for victory

　The 14th match of the 2nd stage will be against Verdy 1969. This will be the final home game of the season, and Tokyo is currently in 5th place with 20 points. Verdy is also in 6th place with the same number of points, making it a crucial match for both teams to keep their hopes of winning alive.

　Tokyo, on the 19th (Wed), called up Doi, Shigeta, and Kaji for the Japan national team's match against Cameroon. However, Shigeta returned to Tokyo in a hurry due to a sprained right foot during the training camp. Today, he will play through the injury. On the other hand, Amaral, who will start in today's match, has achieved 100 appearances in J1. This is a crucial match that cannot be lost for Amaral, who has led the team so far. On the other hand, Verdy's ace, Emboma, will play in the match as a member of the Cameroon national team. However, Verdy is facing difficulties as key players such as MF Ramon and Yoshiyuki KOBAYASHI are out due to injuries, and the condition of both teams will be a key factor in this game.

　The big match that will determine the survival for the championship gathered 32,781 spectators under a clear sky with low temperature, and the excitement was already high before the start of the game. The game started with a kickoff from Tokyo.

Both teams are utilizing their strengths and the game continues in a tense manner.

　Tokyo, who are good at picking up loose balls, are pressing Verdy's goal. Verdy, on the other hand, are keeping a high defensive line and trying to find their rhythm through direct passes. In the 6th minute, they picked up a loose ball from a left cross and FW Hiramoto took a shot. In the 8th minute, Tokyo responded with a quick attack and Toda headed in Ishikawa's cross. In the 10th minute, Ishikawa won a corner kick on the right side and took a shot from the resulting clearance. In the 12th minute, Amaral headed down Miyazawa's free kick and Ishikawa made a run, but the opposing GK caught it just in time. In the 16th minute, Kelly passed to a free Amaral in the left penalty area, who then made a run towards the goal, but his final pass was blocked by a defender. In the 19th minute, Verdy had a chance. Hiramoto dribbled on the left side and made a final pass to Emboma in the center. Emboma's shot narrowly missed to the right. In the 21st minute, Jean, who had been pressing forward after intercepting a pass in the midfield, ran up the right side and crossed. Kelly, who was free on the far side, headed the ball but it went wide of the goal.

　Verdy takes control by connecting passes, but Tokyo steals and launches speedy attacks to create chances. It was expected that today's match would become difficult in this tense and exciting development. In the 29th minute, Kelly received a pass near the area and turned to take a shot. This one also narrowly missed the goal. In the 32nd minute, Tokyo's left side was broken by the combination of DF Yanagisawa and MF Tanaka, and a pass was made to the free Emboma in the center, creating a dangerous situation. However, Emboma, who had lost his balance, was unable to take a shot and passed to DF Atsuhiro Miura, who had moved up to support. The Tokyo DF quickly closed in and did not allow Miura to take a shot.

　Afterwards, Tanaka frequently allowed Tokyo to attack the goal, but did not create any decisive scenes. In the 38th minute, MF Yamada picked up a loose ball from a CK and shot it over the goal. In the 43rd minute, Kaji went up the middle and passed to the right side. Toda headed Ishikawa's cross to the far side, but it was off target. They were unable to capitalize on a great chance and headed into the second half.

Unable to make a decisive move

　In the second half, Verdy was completely pushed back by their fast passing. However, Tokyo, who were persistent in their defense, launched a counterattack in the 48th minute. Kelly dribbled and sent a last pass to Amaral, but was blocked by the DF. In the 49th minute, Kanazawa took a shot from a side change by Miyazawa, but the GK caught it. In the 50th minute, Yamada headed a cross from a post play by Verdy Tanaka. In the 52nd minute, Tokyo created a chance from a free kick by Miyazawa. Ishikawa picked up the cleared ball and cut back the opponent's DF on the right side, crossing it. Toda headed it perfectly, but unfortunately it went over the goal. In the 56th minute, Kaji passed the opponent's DF on the right side and sent a pass to Amaral. Toda jumped in for the cross, but his decisive shot was blocked by the opponent's GK's fine save.

　In a development where chances are created but not finished, sighs come from the stands, but Verdy also tries to break through the center with a flowing direct pass in the 58th minute and launches a wave attack. However, the last shot by Verdy's midfielder Lins is cut off by the concentrated defense of Tokyo DF. Immediately after, Tokyo comes close to Verdy's goal with consecutive set plays from FK and CK, but they were unable to score. In the 63rd minute, Verdy has a chance to score. When Lins swings to the left from Emboma's post, substitute FW Sakurai takes a shot. In the 65th minute, Tokyo's Jean receives a long pass on the right side and passes to the left space where Kelly lures Toda in front of the goal. Ishikawa, who is free, takes a shot at just the right timing, but it misses the goal by a large margin.

　The back and forth battle continued as both teams utilized their strengths, but in the 65th minute, Tokyo brought in Abe for Miura. They were now betting on Miyazawa as their sole midfielder. Tokyo gained momentum with Abe's fresh movements up front. In the 69th minute, Ishikawa dribbled up the right side and passed to Abe in the center. Abe then passed it back and Kanazawa made a free shot, but it missed above the goal. Immediately after, Amaral dropped a free kick and Abe took a shot, but the GK saved it. They just couldn't score and the unpleasant outcome of the previous match against Gamba Osaka came to mind.

Abe's goal greatly pulled the victory, but...

　But in the 75th minute, Kelly, who received a pass from Kanazawa, dribbled up the field. Kelly, who carried the expectations of the stands, skillfully crossed the ball after deeply cutting through the left side. Abe, who was waiting on the far side, headed the ball into the goal! With Kelly's breakthrough power and Abe's decisive finishing, they scored a valuable opening goal and pulled off a big victory in a tense match that seemed to be a "one-point game"!!

　However, Verdy's fighting spirit never wavered. With a fierce counterattack, Tokyo was forced to defend from around the 80th minute. Despite their focused defense, they did not allow any decisive shots and instead tried to find opportunities for a counterattack. In the 88th minute, Kelly broke away after a pass cut, but failed to make the shot. And in the 89th minute, just as they were trying to hold on with the substitution of Asari for the visibly tired Ishikawa...

　Verdy, who is attacking, also has their GK coming forward to receive Tokyo's clear ball and connect it directly. Atsuhiro MIURA, who received the ball on the left, sends a lob to the front line, but the high ball is in front of Tokyo's DF. However, Jean, who took advantage of a momentary gap, miscalculated and couldn't touch it. Then, Imai, who was not in good shape, was replaced by Verdy's FW Iio, who traps the ball well on the bounce. He turns around and shoots, and the ball is sucked into the goal...

　In the remaining 3 minutes of stoppage time, Tokyo launched a full-scale counterattack, but they couldn't score even in the last chance. They were brought to a draw by a last-minute equalizer, and lost 3 points. As a result, their hopes for the championship were also dashed. However, after the game, head coach Hara and all the players gathered to greet the fans who came to the last home game, expressing their gratitude. They promised to give their all in the remaining 1 match and continue the fight that will lead to the Emperor's Cup.

【Player Comments】《Abe》"The goal scene was thanks to Kelly's great ball. There was also a good pass from Amaral before that... We ended up with a draw, but everyone did their best and worked hard. The hope for winning is gone, but it's meaningless if we can't keep going from here. We want to win the final round and make it to the Emperor's Cup."《Amaral》"There was a possibility of winning and it was the last home game, so we were motivated. Our motivation was as high as always and we were able to enter the game in a good shape, but unfortunately we conceded a goal from a mistake. In soccer, results are everything. However, the chance of winning is gone, but I want to lift my head and move forward positively. The support today was amazing. Not just today, but the fans always give me courage. I wanted to score a goal and win, but the result is disappointing. However, the fans' cheers are always in my heart. When I went around the stadium at the end, my emotions were high and I felt a strong surge of emotion, and my greeting was different from usual. I felt once again that I have been loved by the fans and have fought with them for 12 years. I want to keep fighting together from now on."

【Summary of Manager Hara's Press Conference】"In the final home game, we wanted to win because the opponent was Verdy. We thought we could win, but unfortunately we were caught up in the last little play. However, today, Amaral announced that he will be leaving at the end of this season, so the players were emotionally invested, but their movements were a bit stiff. Honestly, in the first half, they were putting in too much effort compared to usual. We expected Verdy to attack by connecting short passes, and Tokyo to use their speed to break through both sides. We thought it would be a battle where both teams would use their strengths. So we got into a stalemate and I thought we couldn't score without taking risks, so I put Abe in the front line and put one less midfielder to go for the win. I hoped that by changing the system, Abe would become the focal point. He scored as planned, but we wanted to win... Our challenge lies in not being able to finish the game. As for the goal we conceded, it was right after Asari was subbed in, but it wasn't his fault and Jean cannot be blamed either. He tried to bounce the ball and regain possession, but he became too cautious. If we can escape from these situations, we can aim higher. However, the players are giving their all with the current level of ability. Amaral has been supporting this team for a long time, and the players also want to win for him."

It was also there in the half. However, it is also true that the power was put in there. Thanks to Amaral, other players, Brazilian players, are fighting seriously and earnestly. I think that the team color is thanks to Amaral who became a model and pulled it. There is no possibility of winning the league, but I want to connect to the Emperor's Cup in a good way for Amaral. "We will fight with all our might in the next game by adding decisiveness."

[Summary of Tokyo V Ardiles Press Conference] "I think it was a great game. In particular, there was intense offense and defense in the final minutes, and we were able to return to our true Verdy form in the end. I am satisfied with the players. There were various problems such as injuries before the game, but the players who stood on the pitch today gave their all, and their play is something to be proud of. Both teams had a chance to win. It ended in a draw as a result of both teams' hard work, but I think this is a fair result. And I would like to take this opportunity to praise Amaral. He has made a great contribution to the J-League. I respect him as a player and as a human being. He is a player who has shown us how to play soccer. I really want to say thank you for your hard work."