How to fight the Nabisco Cup without representative players...

　The NABISCO Cup, which will be held for the first time since April 29th. Today is the 3rd round of the qualifying league, challenging Kashiwa Reysol away. After finishing the 2nd round, Tokyo is in 2nd place with 3 points tied with Kashima, following Kobe (4 points) in Group D. The qualifying league will continue until the 6th round, but we want to accumulate points and aim for a top 2 finish to advance to the final round.

　However, during this period, Doi and Kaji were absent from the activities of the Japan national team, while U-19 Japan national team's Mashima and Kajiyama were also absent. In addition, Kelly and Ishikawa were unable to participate due to injuries. However, despite the tough schedule, Shigetani, Konno, and Tokunaga, who will face Turkey on May 26th and Mali on June 1st as members of the U-23 Japan national team, maintained their condition and were named as starters. The lineup consisted of Tokunaga, Jean, Shigetani, and Kanazawa in defense. Konno and Asari in double pivot. Toda on the left MF and Suzuki, who played in this position for the first time, on the right MF. Bamba and Lucas were placed at the top.

　On the other hand, Kashiwa is sinking to the bottom of the league, but they still have a good chance of advancing to the final round in the Nabisco Cup. This is an important match as it could be a turning point for them to make a comeback. Although Japan national team's FW Tamada and MF Tanizawa will be absent due to suspension, head coach Hara commented on the team's strength in facing the match with only Japanese players, saying "It was the same in the 1st stage against Shimizu, but they have a strong defense and play as one unit." The focus for Tokyo will be on how to break through that defense. The temperature is rising before the match, and it started with Kashiwa's kickoff under the hot and humid weather.

Took the lead, with Jean scoring the opening goal from a free kick

　The start of the game saw both teams pressing each other and not allowing any chances, resulting in an even match. However, in the 5th minute, Suzuki boldly attempted a dribble on the right side, causing Kondo, the opposing left back, to receive a warning. In the 6th minute, Lucas received a pass from Baba at the post and swung to the right, receiving a return pass from Suzuki and getting into a shooting position. Although the opposing defender blocked the shot, Tokyo gradually gained control of the pace. In the 7th minute, Imakano pushed forward and received a pass from Suzuki, resulting in Tokyo's first shot of the day.

　At 12 minutes, Toda broke through the DF's defense from the left side in response to Baba's exquisite through pass, creating a decisive scene. The shot had no angle and was saved by the opponent's GK, but they showed a well-coordinated connection. At 15 minutes, Tokunaga's powerful long shot just missed the top of the goal. Tokyo firmly picked up the loose ball, created a rhythm from Baba's pass, and Lucas kept it in the front line, with Toda and Suzuki involved, showing a smooth development. At 20 minutes, they gave a FK to Kashiwa in the left penalty area, and MF Kato aimed for a goal, but Shioda saved it. As a result, they only allowed one shot from Kashiwa in the first half.

　And in the 24th minute, Lucas was fouled on the left in front of the goal and earned a free kick. Suzuki took the kick and Baba was waiting in front of the goal for a free header with a fast trajectory! The ball changed course and was sucked into the net!! They finally scored the first goal.

Toda aggressively adds points to create rhythm on the field.

　Tokyo, who completely took the lead, had Lucas and Toda exchanging quick passes in front of the goal at the 25-minute mark, and Baba boldly took a shot from just outside the penalty area. Although it narrowly missed the target, as coach Hara instructed, "Yuta should aim for the goal as if he were part of the two-top," his aggressive attitude towards scoring shone through.

　And in the 27th minute, Suzuki, who received a vertical pass from Tokunaga, vigorously entered the right penalty area, battled with the opposing defender, and showed persistence. The ball was momentarily taken away, but this clearance went to Baba in front of the goal. Without hesitation, Baba took a low shot, which bounced off the goalkeeper's hands, and Toda followed up and kicked it into the goal! While it was a goal that involved the opponent's mistake, Suzuki, Baba, and Toda all fulfilled their roles perfectly and scored an additional point as planned.

　Kashiwa's attack was cut off by Asari and Konno in the midfield, and when it reached the front line, Jean and Shigetani concentrated on their play, not allowing any real chances. They also connected wide attacks from the defensive line. In the 35th minute, Toda made a direct pass to the right from Baba's through ball. Lucas took a sharp shot from the right penalty area, but unfortunately it went over the goal. In the 43rd minute, Baba surprised everyone with a long shot from the midfield. Although it was saved by the opponent's goalkeeper, it was a well-placed shot that continued to threaten Kashiwa's goal, and they went into the second half with a 2-0 lead.

Each player showed their strengths and achieved a shutout victory.

　In the second half, Kashiwa brought in MF Hirayama, who had been out of the team due to injury, to try to create chances from the left side, but Tokyo's attack remained unchanged. Shortly after the start, Lucas made a post-play and passed it to the front line. Suzuki ran behind the defensive line, but was slightly offside. In the 50th minute, Toda received a pass from Baba on the left side and cut inside for a powerful shot. The goalkeeper blocked it, but Inano picked up the rebound on the right side and crossed it to the center. Baba then attempted an overhead goal. In the 51st minute, Suzuki broke through on the right side and won a corner kick, from which Inano headed the ball. They continued to pick up loose balls and maintain a safe lead in the game.

　In the 60th minute, Baba was surrounded by DF and kept the ball, passing it to Toda on the left side. Toda's shot hit the GK head on, but Baba's dominant attack overwhelmed Kashiwa. In the 64th minute, after Toda's chasing on the front line, Kanazawa stole the ball and followed up with a cross. Although no one could connect with Toda's last pass in front of the goal, the attack was revitalized by Baba's play and repeated.

　Kashiwa made a substitution in the 72nd minute, bringing in DF Watanabe for DF Komine and switching to a 3-back formation to launch a counterattack. In the 75th minute, Yamashita headed down a precise early cross from Hirayama, but Kato was quick off his line to catch it. In the 68th minute, Tokyo made a substitution, bringing in Wu for Suzuki, and in the 76th minute, bringing in Abe for Lucas. Immediately after in the 77th minute, Kashiwa regained possession of the ball in a high position and Abe made a clever run behind the opposing DF, receiving a perfectly floated pass from Baba. Abe quickly took a touch and aimed for a looping shot, but unfortunately it hit the post with the chasing DF left behind.

　In the 81st minute, the ball was taken from the right midfielder due to a defensive error and passed to Jean in the center of the goal, who was left free in the penalty area. However, this was saved nicely by TERRY, avoiding a dangerous situation. In the 84th minute, Miura came in for Baba to tighten up the game. In the 89th minute, from Inamoto's side change, Abe on the left passed to Wu in the center, who then passed to Toda in front of the goal, creating a wide chance. Immediately after, Jean dropped Miura's corner kick, but Toda's shot did not reach the goal. In the end, despite creating numerous chances, they were unable to score again before the final whistle. However, they were able to shut down Kashiwa's attacks and secure a victory by showcasing their individual strengths. As Kashima won against Kobe by a 3-point difference, both teams surpassed Kobe and reached 6 points, but they were unable to take the top spot due to goal difference being 1 point behind Kashima.

【Player Comments】《Baba》"In the previous match against Kashima, I played as a forward, but today I played as an attacking midfielder and I think I was able to produce good results. However, I still wanted to score a goal myself. For the free kicks, I had been thinking of kicking a fast ball since practice, so I was able to kick it as I had thought. For the second goal, I aimed for a low ball to go into the frame. I want to continue to increase the pace and attack more and more in this way."《Suzuki》"It was my first time playing on the right side, but I was thinking of using my characteristic of 'forward, forward' and making plays to aim for the back. In the beginning, I gave a warning to the opponent in a dribbling scene and thought that I could take the lead, but there are still some areas where I need to improve. I wish I could have made more vertical breakthroughs since I was read on the left. (Although it was the starting point for the second goal), I don't want to be satisfied with this and want to challenge myself to be able to play in any position."

[Summary of Manager Hara's Press Conference] "Our current challenge is scoring goals. Our defense has been stable, but our forwards, especially the FWs, have not been scoring. Of course, there have been changes in the lineup, but today, Kelly, Ishikawa were replaced by Baba, Suzuki, and Lucas, who did a great job. Until now, our attacks have taken too much time, so we need to shoot aggressively and follow up on rebounds. If the shots don't go in, we need to pick up the rebounds and continue to cross from the outside. We talked about this, and we were able to score goals in the way we intended and earn 3 points. Baba and Toda showed a proactive attitude, and Lucas was able to create a fast-paced development. We have used Kelly and Kajiyama in the central position until now, but Baba must have had the feeling that he could do it himself. Today, there were one-touch turns and passes to Toda on the outside, which cannot be taught. He can also make passes, so there were many situations where he didn't shoot like in the previous match against Kashima in the league, but he has the ability to shoot and I wanted him to score more goals. If he plays like he did today, he can be counted on as a valuable player. Suzuki is also emerging with the momentum to take Ishikawa's position, and this kind of competition will raise the overall strength of the team. Mogi, Konno, and Tokunaga were also focused, and Wu and Abe were able to show their strengths. Shioda may not have been able to play in the game behind Doi, but he should have gained confidence by keeping the opponent scoreless. We can expect growth from him. And the one who is currently making the biggest impact is Asari. He has been playing the role of a supporting player and has been holding the team together. I think his work is supporting the team. Next, we will return home, so we want to score goals and aim for 3 points."

[Kashiwa · Ikegaya coach's press conference summary] "If we are conceded in the current team situation, the damage is huge. We can't score easily, and this is the best we can do. We want to win the next game, but the players have lost confidence, so we want to regain that confidence. Hirayama has returned after a long time, and his condition is not the best after about 6 months, but he can be used from the start next time. His return is a plus."