Challenge! Nabisco Cup Qualifying League Final Match

　In the qualifying league Sec. 5 held on July 17, we secured the top position in the group and have already qualified for the knockout stage of the Nabisco Cup. In this final match of the qualifying league, we will face Kashiwa without Japan national team members Doi and Kaji, and Olympic representatives Moniwa, Konno, Ishikawa, and Tokunaga.

　However, coach Hara stated that he wants to make many attempts and will approach the game with a fresh lineup. The center backs are Jean and Masushima. Fujiyama is at right back, and Kanazawa is on the left. Miyazawa and Kajiyama form a double pivot, with special designated player Kurizawa on the right MF and Abe on the left MF. Baba is in the center, and Lucas is at the top of the formation. On the bench are Endo, Miura, and Toda, along with Kelly who has returned from injury. Maeda, who is registered for the first time since May 2002, is also on standby.

　Kashiwa, after the end of the 1st Stage, has changed their coach. Under the new coach Hayano, they will approach the game as a new team. Additionally, since winning this match would keep their hopes alive for advancing to the Final Round, their motivation should be high. Although the lineup shows a 4-4-2 formation, DF Hirayama will play as a left-side half, and MF Ze Roberto and FW Unosawa will form a two-top in a 3-5-2 formation.

　For Tokyo, this is not just a mere formality, and in the official match at home for the first time in about a month since June 19, we want to showcase the Asia Challenge and the new face of Tokyo. Although the daytime heat has slightly eased, the match started with a kickoff from Tokyo in temperatures exceeding 30 degrees.

Although we grasped the rhythm from the start...

　Tokyo took control from the start. Within 15 seconds, Baba aimed for a goal from the middle range, and at 1 minute, Lucas exchanged a one-two with Baba and entered the area. At 6 minutes, Kajiyama picked up the ball flowing to the far side from a right corner kick and took a powerful shot inside the area. The rebound from the opponent's GK's save was shot again but was blocked by the GK once more. Then at 7 minutes, Kurisawa connected the rebound from Baba's shot, and Miyazawa took a shot from just outside the area, slightly veering to the right. At 8 minutes, Abe broke through the left side and crossed the ball, and Baba, running through the center, headed the ball perfectly timed! However, this was also met with a great save by the GK, and no goal was scored. At 9 minutes, from Kajiyama's side change, Kurisawa delivered a floating final pass to the front. It was caught by the GK, but so far Tokyo had moved well, launching six shots from a speedy and wide play, pressing Kashiwa.

　However, Kashiwa was not solely on the defensive. They persistently stole the ball, maintained possession, and looked for counterattack opportunities, threatening the Tokyo goal from a right-side free kick in the 15th minute. In the 16th minute, Hirayama, who had remained on the right side during a set play, circled to the center and took the first shot of the day, but it went over the goal. After that, until the 30th minute, neither side was able to create any decisive chances, resulting in a back-and-forth battle.

　At the 30th minute, Lucas dribbled up the right side, feinting past the opposing DF two or three times to enter the area and won a corner kick. At the 34th minute, Kashiwa's Roberto CESAR broke through the left side, and Unozawa jumped in front of the goal to meet the cross, but Tokyo's DF concentrated on defense and did not allow a shot. At the 36th minute, Tokyo had a chance. Baba surged forward to meet Miyazawa's free kick, but was unfortunately offside. However, at the 38th minute, Tokyo was caught off guard for a moment. Kashiwa circulated passes repeatedly along the DF line, looking for an attacking opportunity. When the ball reached the defensive midfielder Myojin, he quickly passed to MF Mobara on the right side. Despite two Tokyo players marking Mobara, a pass was made to Otani, who advanced from the defensive midfield position. Otani was left free, dribbled into the right area, and took a shot. The ball hit the left post and went in, beyond the reach of goalkeeper Shiota's outstretched hand. This was the second shot of the day and the first goal conceded. Although the flow was not bad throughout the first 45 minutes, it was unfortunate that the team missed early chances and gradually lost momentum. Regrouping, they headed into the second half.

Kelly takes a gamble with the introduction of Toda

　Kashiwa brought on forward Yamashita in place of Roberto CESAR in the second half. Kashiwa was aggressive from the start, focusing on set plays. Although they did not create any decisive shooting opportunities, Tokyo also brought on Kelly in place of Abe in the 52nd minute, making a counterattack. Then, in the 53rd minute, Lucas on the left side passed to Kajiyama, who made a follow-up run. Kajiyama evaded the defender and entered the area, sending a last pass to the center, but Kashiwa's defense cut it off. In the 55th minute, Kajiyama, receiving a pass from Kanazawa, attacked into the area again, but could not shoot due to Kashiwa's quick check. In the 56th minute, Lucas matched Kelly's pass, breaking into the area while competing with the defender, and returned the ball to Kelly, who was running in from behind. However, Kelly's shot, taken while free, went over the bar. They missed a big chance to equalize.

　Kashiwa substituted MF Masuda for MF Nagai in the 57th minute. However, in the 60th minute, Jean sent a long ball to Lucas, who dropped it for Kanazawa, who surged up the left side and took a shot. They showed a quick attack, but Kashiwa's defense blocked it. In the 66th minute, from a free kick on the right side, a pass went to Masuda just outside the area, and although he shot freely, it hit a teammate and missed the goal, avoiding any trouble.

　As the offense and defense continued, in the 70th minute, Todai was brought in to replace Miyazawa, who had injured his foot. Todai positioned himself as right midfielder, with Baba on the left, and Kajiyama and Kurizawa forming a double pivot. Just after that, in the 73rd minute, Todai received a pass from Fujiyama on the left side, using his speed to get past the opposing DF and cutting into the center. The ball deflected off a Kashiwa DF but Fujiyama, who followed up, passed to Kanazawa, who moved into the center. Kanazawa took a one-touch and unleashed a well-controlled shot, but it just veered slightly to the left.

　In the 77th minute, Kelly persistently tried to take the ball from Kashiwa in his own half, then dribbled forward and passed to Lucas on the left side. Lucas challenged the defender in a one-on-one situation and seemed to be brought down as he entered the area, but instead, a foul was called against Lucas. Despite Kashiwa's tight marking and tenacious defense, they couldn't connect to a goal at the last moment, but with the introduction of Kelly and Toda, they gradually began to find their rhythm, and the prospect of scoring became very apparent.

Launch a fierce attack against the 10 players of Kashiwa and equalize!

　In the 81st minute. Jean cut off a pass from Kashiwa. He connected with Kurizawa, who sent a floating pass forward from around the center line. Responding to this, Toda brilliantly broke into space and took a shot near the penalty arc, but Kashiwa's goalkeeper Minami blocked it with his hand. Minami was sent off for this play. Kashiwa brought in goalkeeper Shimizu in place of Unosawa, forced to fight with 10 men. From the free kick gained from this, Lucas aimed for a direct shot that was blocked by the opponent's wall, but just before this play, Maeda was brought in to replace Mashima. Maeda took on the right side back position, and Fujiyama moved to the center.

　During the substitution, Maeda said, "I was happy to hear my call. I was calm enough to hear it." He showed determination from the first play. In the 87th minute, Kanazawa intercepted a clearance from Kashiwa's defender. After passing to Baba, Kelly sent the ball to the right side, and Maeda, judging that he couldn't get past two opposing defenders in the area, chose to cross without hesitation. In the meantime, Kelly was fouled in front of the goal. Lucas calmly kicked the resulting penalty to the left, scoring a goal! They equalized at the last moment.

　Tokyo is gaining momentum. To aim for 3 points, there was still time left, including 5 minutes of stoppage time. In the 89th minute, Kelly dribbled past the DF and surged up the right side, taking a mid-range shot that went over the goal. Then it was stoppage time. A pass from Kajiyama to the front line connected with Toda → Lucas, but it was initially intercepted by the opposing DF. However, Baba picked up the loose ball and delivered a floating last pass in front of the goal. Lucas timed his run, and despite colliding with the GK, he lifted the ball with his toes, creating a shot that arced beautifully into the goal! It seemed like an artistic go-ahead goal by Lucas, but it was ruled out for a foul against the GK. It became a “phantom goal,” but Tokyo did not give up on victory and continued to press towards the Kashiwa goal until the end. However, the match ended in a draw at 1-1, having pushed Kashiwa to the brink of defeat.

　Although they were unable to take the lead, it can be said that this match became a fruitful one that brought confidence, highlighted by the lively play of substitutes Kelly, Toda, and Maeda, which led to the equalizing goal from numerous tries. Additionally, it has been decided that they will face Gamba Osaka, who placed second in Group B, in the Nabisco Cup Semifinal Round on September 4.

【Player Comments】<Maeda> "Hearing the cheers from the stands, I always wanted to stand on the field of Ajinomoto Stadium. After being included in the squad for the first time in two years, if I got to play in the match, I decided to go all out without hesitation. (The moment Lucas earned the PK) When I thought I couldn't break through vertically, I saw Lucas inside. I actually wanted to send a grounded cross... I think I played fairly well overall, but there were times when the ball slipped on the final crosses. I want to pursue higher accuracy and not be satisfied with just one good game. I want to keep working hard to achieve good results and always be able to play in matches." <Kelly> "I'm happy to be back on the field, and considering it's been a while, I was able to play well without pain from the injury. Mentally, I'm at 100%, but I still lack physical condition and match rhythm. I have no choice but to accumulate matches from now on. I want to practice together with everyone as much as possible and regain match sharpness so that I can enter the 2nd stage at 100%."

[Summary of Coach Hara's Press Conference] "Six players were selected for the Japan national team and the Olympic team, and with them absent, we decided to try various things today. First, we placed Fujiyama as a side back and Mashima as a stopper. The double start of Miyazawa and Kajiyama as defensive midfielders was also unprecedented. Miura has more leadership, but we boldly tested how well the two could play together. We also tried starting Abe and bringing in Toda as a substitute. Regarding Toda, I think his speed is more effective coming off the bench. Kelly is still not in top form, with inconsistent touches and finishing still lacking. However, since practice alone doesn't restore form easily, although he strongly wanted to start today, we brought him on at a crucial point in the second half. Gradually, he got used to the game and showed his typical slipping movements. Maeda is by no means skillful but has been steadily practicing hard. Originally a defensive midfielder, he can also play in the back line, and we considered using him if the timing was right. (At the substitution) I told Fujiyama to move to center back and defend firmly, and to push forward aggressively on the right side. As a result, we earned a penalty kick from his cross. When a hardworking player like him produces results like this, it motivates other young players and intensifies competition. Using Maeda and seeing him play well will have a positive impact on the team going forward. Despite the heat and having already secured first place in the preliminary league, we were able to try these things. Honestly, I thought we had won at the end, but (the no-goal due to Lucas's foul) that situation is our style. It is becoming a specialty for Lucas as well. Through the upcoming Spain tour and the Rome match, we want to deepen coordination with Kelly, increase our scoring ability, and head into the 2nd stage."

[Summary of Coach Hayano's Press Conference for Kashiwa] "There is a future challenge in not being able to draw victory in matches where we aimed to win by any means. We anticipated FC Tokyo pressing hard in the first 15 minutes of the first half. Although they missed some decisive chances, we saw the team endure and recover. Until now, scoring goals has been difficult, but we managed to score one. I think the players fought with concentration. However, the final step—securing the win and the 3 points—was not reached, which makes me feel the lack of scoring ability. Especially for the second goal and set plays, the accuracy still needs improvement. This is an ongoing challenge that must be addressed continuously. However, after being reduced to 10 players, the team did not collapse and held firm, which I see as progress. Without the determination to fight through, no matter the tactics, the body won't respond, and not breaking down at that moment will lead to the next step. Whether the last two matches are seen as failing to score or as fighting tenaciously until the end depends on perspective, but I want to consider both aspects and shape the team's direction."