Get ready and aim for the top!

　In Sec. 7, held two days after the previous match, we will face Kashima Antlers at home. In Sec. 6, we achieved a convincing victory against the league leaders, Urawa, and should have gained confidence and momentum. Coincidentally, today is "Brazil Day," where we have boasted an unbeaten record for the past seven years. We want to achieve consecutive wins here and aim for a rapid rise in the rankings. Lucas, who scored in the last match, will start. Additionally, Ishikawa, who has recovered from injury, has been included in the squad for the first time since Sec. 5 of the Nabisco Cup on July 17 (and since Sec. 11 of the first stage of the league on May 22) and will be on the bench.

　Kashima, currently in 8th place with 2 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses, cannot be said to be in good form. However, since September, they have shown resilience with 1 win and 2 draws. In Sec. 4 against C Osaka, they had a score of 4 to 3, and in Sec. 5 against Iwata, it was 4 to 4, indicating a high number of goals conceded. In the previous match, they managed a scoreless draw against Shimizu, showing improvement in defense. This week, they will be missing DF Kaneko due to suspension, but Japan national team MF Motoyama returns after 3 matches. Like Tokyo, they will aim to rise in the rankings and will come to seize 3 points.

Fell behind and allowed Kashima to take the lead

　Under a cloudy sky, the match started with a chilly weather where drizzle fell intermittently in Tokyo. Shortly after the kickoff, Tokyo showed a good development with a right cross from Kaji via Kelly to Toda, but just one minute later, Kashima's right back Uchida advanced and delivered a cross from a deep position. Forward Suzuki's shot from inside the area hit the crossbar. Although it didn't result in a goal, this play prompted Kashima to start pressing.

　Control the ball, and in the 4th and 10th minutes, there is a free kick from directly in front of the goal. In the 15th minute, from a left corner kick, forward Baron connects directly with his foot, but the ball bounces and goes over the goal.

　Tokyo started slowly and struggled to apply pressure. In attack, they aimed passes to Lucas at the front line, from which Baba and Toda tried to develop plays to the left and right, but their combinations did not sync, and they could not finish. In the 23rd minute, Kelly received a pass near the penalty arc, turned, and crossed. Toda's header, running in from the right side, was the first shot of the day.

　In the 26th minute, Kashima's left back Arai allowed a dribble breakthrough into the area, and Jean barely managed to escape to a corner kick. Although they conceded consecutive corner kicks, Tokyo seized the loose ball and launched a quick counterattack. From Kelly's hold-up play, Kanazawa was free on the right side. Kaji, who had made an overlapping run, sent a sharp cross from the right area towards the goal, but Todai at the near post became a decoy, leaving the goal wide open, though it just missed connecting with Kelly in the center. Baba's shot at the far post was blocked by the quickly returning Kashima defender.

　While Tokyo missed a big chance, Kashima capitalized on their opportunities and scored. In the 30th minute, a pass from midfielder Nakata reached Suzuki, who had drifted to the left. Suzuki's cross was cleared by Jean, but the ball floated up in front of the goal. Baron went up for a header, and at the right moment, midfielder FERNANDO ran in and picked up the loose ball, striking it into the goal. Tokyo was unable to keep up with FERNANDO's marking and conceded the opening goal.

Regaining rhythm and creating chances, but...

　After conceding the first goal, Tokyo finally began to focus on scoring. However, in the 33rd minute, Konno's long-range shot went to the left of the goal. In the 35th minute, they attacked from a right free kick, and Kelly's overhead shot from inside the area was on target, but the opposing goalkeeper made a save. In the 41st minute, Lucas dribbled past two or three defenders to enter the area but was unable to shoot. In the latter stages, they took control and launched a counterattack, but ultimately could not create any decisive chances and went into halftime trailing by one goal.

　The instructions from Coach Hara at halftime were to "thoroughly defend from the front line." The aim was to suppress the source of Kashima's long passes. Additionally, he noted that "there were too many sideways passes, and we weren't able to switch sides. We aimed for a big development." In the 49th minute, Miura was substituted for Miyazawa. In the 51st minute, Kashima's MF Ogasawara took a right free kick, and Nakata, who had slipped behind the defense, shot, but Dohi made the save. After overcoming the crisis, Tokyo substituted Abe for Baba in the 54th minute, moving quickly to aim for the equalizing goal.

　Immediately after that, Kelly received a right throw-in and made a floating pass in front of the goal. Toda jumped in but just missed it. In the 55th minute, Miyazawa picked up a cleared ball from a right corner kick and took a shot. In the 56th minute, Tokyo won another corner kick and approached the Kashima goal. In the 60th minute, Toda used the right side, and Kaji advanced to the goal line and made a negative cross. Lucas trapped it with one touch and shot from very close range, hitting the post. In the 62nd minute, Miyazawa took a surprising right free kick. He perfectly matched it to Kanazawa, who ran in front of the goal with a ground ball, but the free shot went to the right of the goal.

Kashima brought the game to their favored development, resulting in a regrettable defeat

　Tokyo advances into the opponent's territory, while Kashima counters, and in the 65th minute, Fernando takes a mid-range shot from a quick attack. After a clearance by Tokyo's DF, the ball is picked up and another shot is taken freely, but it goes over the goal, avoiding an additional point. Desperate for a goal, Tokyo substitutes Ishikawa for Toda in the 66th minute. The stands erupted in cheers for Ishikawa's appearance, his first since the Nabisco Cup match against Kobe on July 17. Ishikawa sprinted down the right side immediately after coming on, surrounded by two opposing DFs, and won a free kick. However, Lucas shot from the rebound of Miyazawa's kick, but the opposing DF blocked it.

　In response, Kashima brought in MF Aoki as a defensive midfielder in place of Motoyama in the 68th minute. They placed Fernando opposite Ishikawa and solidified their defense. However, Ishikawa played aggressively, putting his feelings forward. In the 77th minute, after a quick ball movement, he received a pass from Kaji on the right, cut inside, and took a shot, winning a corner kick. Miyazawa connected with Ishikawa from this right corner kick, and Kanazawa took a mid-range shot, but it went to the right of the goal. In the 80th minute, Kelly exchanged a one-two with Lucas and attempted to break through the center, but was blocked by the Kashima defense, and the shot did not materialize.

　From the 83rd minute onwards, we created chances with consecutive free kicks and corner kicks, but we were pushed back by Kashima's clear intention to "defend the one goal" and could not bring it to a finish. Time continued to pass. In stoppage time, Kaji injured his right foot and was forced to leave the game. Having used all our substitution slots, we faced the counterattack with ten men, but ultimately could not score. In the second half alone, we took 10 shots, earned 4 corner kicks, and had 16 direct free kick opportunities, but the "one goal" remained elusive, resulting in a frustrating defeat against Kashima's resilience and cunning game management.

【Player Comments】<Kanazawa> "We were chasing the game and mentally it was different from usual, but we didn't have the strength to score an equalizer. We controlled the second half, but there were no effective attacks. The Kashima defense eliminated the space, and their two center backs were tall, so we couldn't break through there. There were no movements to lure out the defense or position changes. If we focus on offense, we need to increase scoring opportunities, including my own shots, otherwise it will be difficult to keep winning. We need to show our own style." <Ishikawa> "(Regarding my appearance) I thought I shouldn't just match the opposing defenders who were waiting, so I tried to change the rhythm by using side changes and quick passes. We had several chances, but lacked plays that considered ideas and situations. I was happy to receive warm support at my beloved Ajinomoto Stadium, but since the results are not there, I want to focus on the next match. I hope to bring my fresh mindset to the team."

　[Summary of Manager Hara's Press Conference] "The start of the first half was very poor. We had a good game against Urawa and talked about firmly switching our mindset from there, but... Kashima played long balls from center backs Oiwa and Iwamasa to the open side players Ogasawara and Motoyama. Including Nakata, Lucas and Kelly were lax in checking the passers, which allowed them to kick freely and pick up loose balls. It was fortunate that we only conceded one goal in the first half. At halftime, we discussed enforcing defense from the front line, and the situation changed in the second half. Perhaps because Kashima was leading, they stopped connecting passes, and we dominated. However, we couldn't break down Kashima's defense, which was solid in front of the goal. The ball was moving, but for example, Kelly held onto the ball too long, slowing the rhythm. We need to move the ball with a better tempo and improve the accuracy of the final finish—crosses and shots. Kashima played tenaciously and persistently, and failing to break that was the cause of today's defeat. Despite such a good game against Urawa, today's first half was the opposite. The match still continues, so I feel we must raise our team strength even more. Next is an away game against Nagoya, and I want us to play like we did in the second half today right from the start."

　[Summary of Kashima Coach Seleso's Press Conference] "I think the result is reasonable based on the content. Both teams used the same formation, are offensive teams, and I expected an evenly matched battle. The only concern was that with three matches a week, some players were not in the best condition, and whether they could maintain the same pace until the end. An important point in Kashima's style of play is the midfield's recovery, and in the first half, Ogasawara and Motoyama executed it perfectly. With the midfielders dropping back, we were able to suppress the opponent's side advances. In the first 10 to 15 minutes of the second half, we were on the defensive and not playing football, but that was expected. I was confident that if we could get through that, we could win. Gradually, the opponent's pace dropped, Ogasawara and Motoyama created space, and the defensive midfielders were able to push forward. Although we kicked the ball forward repeatedly at the start, I think it was good that we gradually regained control. From around the 25th minute of the second half, our goal was to keep a clean sheet. We anticipated FC Tokyo's substitutions; the only new factor was Ishikawa, which was the only point we had to be careful about. Against Ishikawa, we brought in Aoki and moved FERNANDO to the side to thoroughly close down space. Even so, they created chances several times from crosses and set plays, but we defended with concentration and never lost our tenacity for the ball until the end. I think Kashima supporters were satisfied with the victory. As a coach, I was able to manage the game almost perfectly today. And the victory followed."