Victory at home Ajinomoto Stadium!

　The league match since May 22, Sec. 12 of the 1st stage will be against Gamba Osaka. Tokyo is currently in 7th place with 16 points, while G Osaka is in 8th place with 15 points. Today's result could reverse the rankings, making this a crucial "direct confrontation" that cannot be lost. Tokyo has been on a winning streak in the Nabisco Cup qualifying league just before this match. We aim to carry this momentum into the latter part of the league, and it will be held at Ajinomoto Stadium for the first time in about a month. With passionate support at our home, we strive for victory.

　Dohi, who returned from the Japan national team, starts. Lucas, who was suspended in the previous match (Nabisco Cup), takes the top position, and the rest of the lineup remains unchanged from the previous Nabisco Cup match. On the other hand, G Osaka is missing DF Miyamoto and FW Magron, but DF Shijikurei has returned from injury. They will use a four-back formation with DF Kiba, who is making his first appearance this season, as a center-back. Additionally, with FW Okuro at the top, FW FERNANJINO, MF Endo, and MF Fukawa are using a system where they move freely, as 'it is not wise for these three players to engage in contact, so we want to change positions fluidly to shift the marking and draw the ball while moving' (Coach Nishino). The match started with a kickoff from G Osaka in humid conditions with a temperature of 27 degrees and humidity at 62 percent.

Although they allowed the first goal shortly after the start, they counterattacked from a set piece.

　It was just after the whistle. G Osaka connected the kickoff ball and forward Daiguro entered the penalty area. Tokunaga regained possession of the ball, but it was again a throw-in for G Osaka. Then, as G Osaka broke free from a tussle on the right side of Tokyo, central midfielder Nikawa made a through pass to Daiguro, who was running into the area from the left side. As Daiguro charged forward with the dribble, he collided with Jean, who was chasing him, and the ball deflected to Doih, who came out. Daiguro kicked the loose ball into the goal. They conceded the first goal in just 53 seconds after the start.

　Although conceding early goals was a challenge this season, the team did not get discouraged. Tokyo remained undeterred, and at 4 minutes, Suzuki received a long feed and delivered a right cross. At 5 minutes, Tokunaga overlapped and won a corner kick from a sharp cross. Baba's right corner kick was initially saved by the opposing GK, but the ball spilled inside the penalty area, and the unmarked Konno took a shot. However, the ball went over the bar, missing a golden opportunity. At 8 minutes, they won the ball back with intense pressing in midfield, and Baba took a bold long-range shot. They earned another corner, with Lucas aiming a header. At 10 minutes, from Baba to Toda on the left side, persistence led to another corner. From there, Jean struck a header, but the opposing GK Matsushiro made a fine save just at the goal line. Coach Hara briefly recalled, "The nightmare from last year (in the 2nd stage match, where GK Matsushiro saved every clear chance leading to defeat) flashed through my mind," but surely everyone felt the same uneasy premonition.

　In the 11th minute, however, from the right corner kick earned, Suzuki took a quick kick, and Lucas, who ran into the center, headed the ball into the goal! Tokyo quickly equalized with the long-awaited goal from Lucas. After that, they created opportunities from Baba's distribution on the side, earning six corner kicks and taking six shots, quickly overwhelming G Osaka.

G Osaka also dominated the midfield, with neither side giving way

　However, G Osaka, who caught up, gradually took control of the ball and counterattacked. Tokyo struggled to press against the passes at their feet, unable to fully capture the dynamic movements of Fernandinho, Endo, and Nikawa in the front line. In the 18th minute, they fouled Daigoku near the penalty arc, giving away a free kick. Endo aimed directly at the goal, but the ball grazed the bar and went out of bounds, escaping without incident. Tokyo also had a direct free kick in the 20th minute and won a corner kick in the 25th minute with a combination from Kanazawa to Toda, creating chances from set plays for both sides. After that, Tokyo tended to be pushed back and couldn't progress the game at their own rhythm, but in the final moments, they focused and did not allow G Osaka to create any decisive chances.

　In that situation, in the 37th minute, Baba sent a long pass to the right side from a quick development, and Lucas, who caught up, persisted. Konno, who followed up, sent a direct cross, but Todah and Baba collided at the far side and could not shoot. Kanazawa's powerful shot that reacted to the loose ball unfortunately went over the goal. In the 40th minute, once again, Baba's pass led to Konno breaking free, sprinting with the ball towards the goal. He was brought down in the penalty area, but there was no whistle. In the 41st minute, G Osaka's FERNANDEZ was brought down in front of the goal, earning a free kick opportunity. From a free kick in a similar position to the 18th minute, Endo aimed directly again, but this time it hit the crossbar and bounced back, with Doih catching it. No goals were allowed, and the match went into halftime still tied.

Lucas & Yuta's combination erupts with a beautiful goal!

　In the second half, Suzuki took a bold long shot from the kickoff. Tokyo, showing an aggressive attitude from the start, created chances from the sides. In the 46th minute, Kanazawa advanced from Lucas's hold and delivered a cross. Although it didn't reach Suzuki, in the 47th minute, Toda's header from Lucas's right cross was blocked by the crossbar. In the 54th minute, Konno picked up a cleared ball from Suzuki's right cross and took a shot. They created chances in quick succession.

　However, G Osaka also controlled the ball with quick passing. The tense development continued. In the 61st minute, Konno advanced on a fast break, connected with Baba, and passed to the left side. Konno, who had moved into the area, shot from Lucas's cross. He picked up the rebound from the opponent's block and shot again, but the goalkeeper caught it. In the 66th minute, G Osaka had a decisive chance. Fernandinho advanced with a dribble and passed to Nikawa on the left. Endo picked up the clearance from the cross sent from there and shot from inside the penalty area. However, it missed the target, escaping the danger.

　At the 69th minute, as the activity level of both teams gradually dropped, Tokyo substituted Abe for Suzuki. Then, in the 71st minute, connecting from Baba to Toda, Lucas took a shot from the left area. In the 74th minute, Tokunaga, who broke through the front line, received a pass from Konno and crossed from the right. Baba picked up the opponent defender's desperate clearance and shot from the left side of the goal area. Both attempts were blocked by the goalkeeper, but they successfully created finishing chances. At the 75th minute, Kure was brought on for Toda. Then, at the 76th minute, when the game's pace slightly slowed, Asari intercepted a feed from the opponent defender to the midfield on the right side. He headed the ball to Lucas in the center. Lucas passed to Baba, who was just outside the area, and Baba delivered a soft floating pass directly into the space inside the area. Lucas fiercely chased it down and struck with his right foot, scoring a goal! They scored the go-ahead goal from a smooth and beautiful one-two play!!

　In the 84th minute, Fujiyama was brought on to replace Lucas, who had fought hard until then. Fujiyama, who entered as a right midfielder, took a long-range shot in the 86th minute, but unfortunately it was blocked by the post. Although there were no additional goals, they successfully defended against G Osaka's attacks until the time was up. The victory at home at Ajinomoto Stadium was the first since the match against Verdy on April 3. With Lucas scoring two delightful goals, the long-awaited victory was achieved. This brings their points to 19, temporarily lifting them to 4th place. They will push hard in the remaining three matches aiming for a higher position.

【Player Comments】<Lucas> "The second goal was a shape I always aimed for in practice. Until now, I couldn't quite score it, but today I was glad to finish it well. Yuta is a smart player with good technique. I knew the return pass would come back, and it went as planned. I haven't been able to score much until now, but I never gave up and kept believing in myself. This is my first year in Japan, and there are differences in football and I don't know much about the opposing teams, but I am not in a hurry and didn't feel any strange pressure. I want to keep playing with confidence from now on." <Doi> "Our start to the match was poor. Just before conceding the first goal, G Osaka's player Oguro got into the right side and created a dangerous situation. After that, I was most careful not to be broken down from the sides, but we couldn't recover the ball in midfield, and the defensive line had to drop back. We corrected this in the second half and the balance improved, but there were still some stretched moments. Personally, I had little match experience with the Japan national team, so it was difficult in some parts, but the team's condition is good. I want to learn from today's reflections and fight carefully, step by step."

[Summary of Coach Hara's Press Conference] "We had been winning consecutively in the Nabisco Cup and had been starting well lately, but today was a failure. I used Dohi right after he returned from the Japan national team, thinking that if he could secure the first ball, he would settle down, but that first shot went in. This season, we have often conceded goals early, and this was the shortest record. However, while it's not a good thing, we have experienced conceding in the 3rd or 5th minute before, so the players unexpectedly became more aggressive and attacked afterward. I think the mindset of needing to attack more came out because we conceded a goal. We were creating chances from set plays, and Todai and Kiro were able to execute the plan of breaking out behind the opponent from defense. In that context, Lucas scored at a good spot."

　However, in the first half, G Osaka's small and skillful players had a lot of movement, and we couldn't apply pressure. We struggled with that and it stretched us out. At halftime, I mentioned that G Osaka's frontline lacks height, so if we force them to kick long balls in desperation, we can win the duels. Therefore, I asked Lucas and Yuta to go for the checks, and in the second half, our balance improved. However, conversely, we became too calm, and Suzuki also showed signs of fatigue, so I brought in Abe. I expected that if we let him go boldly in front of the goal and add some accent, something would happen. In that situation, a goal was born from a wonderful one-two between Yuta and Lucas.

　Lucas was struggling to score and was deep in thought, but he said, 'My job is in front of the goal. If I can easily play in the midfield and dynamically move into the goal area, the crosses will definitely come.' Adapting to Japanese football is not an easy task, but he is trying hard to get used to it, and I believe that communicating like this is important. It's undeniable that when he scores, the team gains momentum. Today's two goals are very significant for the team. The supporters, and above all, he himself must have felt a sense of accomplishment!

　It was a hot and tough match, but Fujiyama, who came on as a substitute, has the ability to play anywhere, whether as a left or right back or in the center. For now, we are not using him as a starter considering the balance, but he and Miura are always working hard, allowing the younger players to play boldly when they come on. The outcome of today, whether it ends in a draw or a win, will make a difference in the future. I want to make good preparations for the next match against Ichihara, taking advantage of these 3 points.

【G Osaka Coach Nishino's Press Conference Summary】 "We assembled the best members from our current squad and approached the match with the best system. However, today, our attacking play lacked the depth we usually have. Daigoku was holding up well as a lone striker, but in the second half, we couldn't apply pressure effectively from the midfield. Overall, we aimed to raise our defensive awareness and look for counter-attacking opportunities, but Tokyo's defense was solid, and we couldn't break through it."