League match resumes, facing Yokohama F.Marinos at home

　Entering the Golden Week consecutive matches. After the Nabisco Cup on April 29, there are two days until the league match, Sec. 7 against Yokohama F.Marinos. In the previous Nabisco Cup, Tokyo achieved a comeback victory with a fresh lineup. Today, we have Japan national team members Doih, Kaji, and U-23 representatives Shimonia, Konno, and Ishikawa all together, and we want to take that momentum to challenge last season's champions, Yokohama.

　However, Kanazawa was injured during the practice the day before. He had to withdraw suddenly, and Kure will take on the left side back position. Considering Miura's condition, the coach said, "The combination of Konno and Asari is also good," so they will proceed with a double pivot of Konno and Asari.

　On the other hand, Yokohama is missing key defenders Dutrã, Riki MATSUDA, and Nakazawa due to suspension. The Japan national team forward Kubo is also absent, and Coach Okada stated, "(With Dutrã suspended) there were no players available to play on the left side of the four-back formation." As a result, Nasu was placed as a libero, while Yanagi and Ueno took on the roles of defensive midfielders, and Endo was positioned on the left outside in an improvised three-back formation.

Although they allowed the first goal, they seized the rhythm and attacked the Yokohama goal.

　It was once again about the start. In the first minute, Tokyo's defense cleared Yokohama's free kick to a corner kick, and Yokohama picked up the loose ball from this corner and launched a persistent attack from the right side. In the second minute, MF Endo passed to MF Tanaka, who delivered a right cross. The ball was lifted high, and Dohi tried to catch it, but he was pressured by Yokohama FW An from the far side. Losing his balance, Dohi couldn't handle the ball that hit his head from An. An kicked the loose ball into the goal, allowing an early lead just two minutes into the match.

　Just as they were trying to find their rhythm, Tokyo fell behind with a goal, and from there, they lagged behind Yokohama's quick start. The first shot came in the 9th minute when Kajiyama was fouled in front of the goal while advancing with a dribble, earning a free kick. Ishikawa aimed directly for the goal, but it was blocked by the DF wall. In the 15th minute, Lucas advanced, and Toda received a pass, cutting into the left area at high speed, but the opposing DF made a sliding tackle to cut it off. In the 16th minute, Konno received a pass from Kajiyama and took a controlled mid-range shot, but it went wide to the right.

　Tokyo, adapting to a fast pace, gradually regains control. In the 17th minute, they create a decisive chance. Ishikawa picks up a clearance from the opposing defender and sprints down the right side. When Lucas directs a cross, Toda, who is positioned in front of the goal, shoots freely. However, he is thwarted by a nice save from the opposing GK. In the 22nd minute, Yokohama's GK Enomoto's clearance reaches the front line, and An keeps possession. From a cross by MF Yanagi, Endo takes a shot from the left side of the area. However, in the end, Yokohama was only allowed to take two shots in the first half.

Continuing to create chances in Tokyo soccer...

　Tokyo seizes the rhythm and controls the match. In the 25th minute, they regain possession from Yokohama's counterattack, and Ishikawa races up the right side. Lucas connects with Kajiyama, and the final pass goes to Shigenobu, who is attacking up front, but is blocked by the defender and concedes a corner kick. In the 26th minute, Lucas takes a forceful shot in front of the goal. In the 29th minute, after Ishikawa's interception, Konno sends the final pass, and Toda takes a shot. In the 30th minute, Kaji's early cross is met by Jean's foot. However, all of these are saved by the opposing goalkeeper.

　In the 32nd minute, there was another decisive scene. Kaji and Ishikawa stole the ball from the opponent on the right side of their own half, and Ishikawa sprinted up the right side, passing to Lucas who had drifted to the right side of the area. Lucas sent a fast ground cross to the center, but just before it reached the rushing Toda, an opponent defender made a desperate sliding tackle to cut it off. Unfortunately, it did not lead to a finish.

　In the 38th minute, from Konno's interception on the left side, Ishikawa on the right and Kajiyama in the center launched a fierce attack using the width of the field. In the 41st minute, Ishikawa, Lucas, Toda, and Kajiyama advanced towards the goal and passed the ball around, with Konno taking the final shot, but it went over the goal. Ishikawa repeatedly became the starting point on the right side, creating many chances from Konno's advances and Kajiyama's passes. However, it can be said that not being able to finish here ultimately became the reason for the defeat.

Suppressed counterattack, bitter defeat

　The match progressed quickly in the second half. Both teams attacked each other's goal, but neither reached a decisive moment. In the 52nd minute, Yokohama DF Kawai's shot from distance became the first shooting scene of the second half. In the 53rd minute, Yokohama MF Oka's through pass found FW Sakata, who broke through between Tokyo's DF, but Todai, who had returned to defend in front of the goal, made a last-minute clearance. In the 55th minute, FW An shot from the right side of the area, but Doih saved it. On the other hand, Tokyo's Kaji overlapped in the 57th minute. In the 59th minute, Lucas made a cross and launched an attack from the right side, but they could not bring it to a finish.

　In the 60th minute, Miura was brought on to replace Asari. This happened just after they tried to make a comeback. In the 61st minute, Tokyo cleared a corner kick from Yokohama. However, a foul was called on Kajiyama after a collision with the defender, giving Yokohama a free kick. The ball kicked by MF Oka from about 20 meters in front of the goal went over the wall and into the right side of the goal. They unexpectedly conceded an additional goal from a set piece.

　In the 63rd minute, Abe was brought on for Toda. In the 64th minute, Lucas passed to Kajiwara, who maneuvered through a one-two in the penalty area. In the end, Lucas was caught offside by a narrow margin, but he did not give up and continued towards the goal. However, in the 66th minute, Miura, trying to evade an opponent's check in the Yokohama half, was penalized for rough play after raising his foot. This was Miura's second warning of the day, resulting in his expulsion, forcing Tokyo to fight with 10 men.

　In an attempt to break through the situation where every counterattack was suppressed, Ishikawa took a powerful long-range shot in the 69th minute, but it went straight to the goalkeeper. In the 70th minute, Abe tried to break through to the goal following a through pass from Kajiyama, but the opposing defender cut it off just in time. In the 71st minute, Kurizawa was brought in to replace Ishikawa. They pushed towards the goal until the end, but ultimately could not change the flow against the eleven players from Yokohama. They were put on the defensive and the time ran out. They suffered a 0-2 shutout loss, marking a bitter defeat as their first home loss in the league this season.

【Player Comments】《Asari》"(It was my first start in a while) I was desperate. I focused on easily passing the ball forward. I think I was able to communicate well with the defenders during defense. Konno is strong going forward, so we divided roles where he would win the ball as far forward as possible and I would follow up. In the first half, we needed to seize the momentum and score during our attacking phase. We needed to be a bit calmer in our attacks." 《Toda》"This season, I am focusing on opening up to the sides, creating a point outside before entering the goal area. If I can grasp that timing, I should be able to create more decisive scenes. (Today, I also got close to the goal several times and created chances, but) at this timing, it is still too late."

[Summary of Manager Hara's Press Conference] "We conceded the first goal, and then Asari and Wu received consecutive warnings, which I think caused the players to become unsettled and confused. In the first half, we managed to use the flanks effectively and created several decisive chances from crosses on the right side, but we wanted to score there. At halftime, I said the content was not bad at all. Yokohama aimed for counterattacks and only moved quickly when they regained possession, so I told the team to continue attacking while being careful of that, and that chances would surely come. From the middle of the second half, we brought in Miura and tried to reinforce that point to everyone again. We tried to connect passes and use the right side with Ishikawa and Kaji, or the left side effectively. However, his sending off was an unexpected setback. At that point, things became difficult. Honestly, we were confused because we couldn't understand the refereeing standards today. Yokohama is a good team, and playing with 10 men made it a dull match for the fans who came to watch. It's regrettable that it ended with frustration. However, since the matches continue, including the condition of players returning from national duty, we want to switch gears as soon as possible and focus on the next game. We cannot afford to keep sliding like this."

[Summary of Yokohama Coach Okada's Press Conference] "We scored early in the first half and had a good start, but gradually became passive and lost the movement to create passing opportunities. The atmosphere shifted to one of fear towards the ball, and we faced intense attacks. However, the three defenders and goalkeeper were very resilient and defended well. They maintained their concentration without faltering and always put their bodies on the line until the end. I think that was the key point in today's game. At halftime, I talked about not wanting to just sit back and let the game slip away... I encouraged the team to try without fear. In the second half, we were able to play well, and with one opposing player sent off, it became easier. Considering the current team situation and members, earning 3 points here is very significant. We have been managing to pick up points somehow, but I am not satisfied with the content. However, I do think we are gradually improving. Since we have consecutive matches, I want to start players who are in good condition."