Yoichi DOI sets new record for Japan!

　The 11th match of the 2nd stage will be an away game against Hiroshima. The venue will be the Hiroshima Big Arch, which has not been used since 2002. It is an important match as it is held on Sunday and with a win of 3 points and a difference of 2 points or more, the team can move up from 9th to 6th place in the rankings, based on the results of other matches yesterday.

　Hiroshima currently has 2 wins, 5 losses, and 3 draws in the 2nd stage, with 11 points. In the last 3 matches, they have all ended in draws and they have struggled to secure a win. In order to increase their possession in the midfield and add depth to their attack, they have replaced FW Oki, who scored 2 goals in the previous match, with Hiroshi Morisaki.

　Tokyo, on the other hand, has not been able to accumulate points. In the recent 5 league matches, they have 1 win, 2 draws, and 2 losses. Their explosive attacking power, which used to score all 3 goals from set pieces, has been hidden. In this match, they will make significant changes to the starting lineup, considering the players' conditions. Miura will be replaced by Miyazawa, Kanazawa by Fujiyama, Kelly by Kajiyama, and Baba by Norio Suzuki, and they will face the match with a fresh formation.

　In this match, Doi will set a new Japanese record with 146 consecutive appearances in the league. He also wants to win this match and end it on a good note, considering the upcoming Nabisco Cup Final on November 3rd (Wed, holiday). Amidst the occasional heavy rain, a one-minute silence was observed to mourn the victims of the Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake before the kickoff by Hiroshima.

Struggling more than expected on a slippery pitch

　Manager Hara told the players in the meeting before the locker room, "The start of the first game is important", "The pitch is slippery, so be careful", "Let's shoot more than 10 times in the first half and be aggressive". However, as instructed by the coach, Kajiyama's middle shot at the start and Lucas's shot from an angle in the 7th minute, they were playing an aggressive game, but gradually they were drawn into the opponent's pace by a surprising set play from Hiroshima.

　In the 9th minute, a tricky floating pass from the Morisaki brothers on the right side earned a free kick, and DF Komura was left free to take a shot, but it went outside the goal. In the 11th minute, Morisaki Kazu kicked a right corner kick to the far side, and Hattori ran in from behind to take a free volley shot, which was saved by the post. However, the DF line started to get confused, and they ended up giving the first goal to Hiroshima.

　In the 15th minute, Morisaki Hiroshi put a right corner kick into the goal area with his left foot, and Morisaki Kazu picked it up and immediately shot it, which ended up in the upper right corner of the goal, giving Hiroshima the first goal.

　Tokyo started attacking from the sides after a fierce battle for the ball in the midfield, but they struggled to connect smoothly due to some passing errors. In the 22nd minute, Kajiyama received a high pass after stealing the ball from the opponent. He then passed it to Ishikawa on the right side, who dribbled past the defender but failed to make a successful centering. In the 23rd minute, Miyazawa quickly sent a free kick from the left side, but the opponent's GK punched it away. Kaji picked up the loose ball and took a shot, but it went straight to the GK.

　25 minutes, Ishikawa on the left side, Suzuki Nori, Kajiyama, Suzuki Nori's pass work, but the opponent's DF cuts it off. In the 31st minute, Lucas dribbles from a throw-in and enters the right side penalty area for a centering, but Ishikawa picks up the loose ball and shoots it outside the goal frame. Hiroshima also defends from the front line, with MF Beto constantly involved in the ball and attacking the Tokyo goal with a combination with FW Morita, but they do not allow any goals thanks to an organized defense centered around Doi. In the first half, the slippery pitch made it difficult to keep the ball and it ended without any real progress.

Lucas' equalizer finally brought rhythm to the attack...

　At halftime, Manager Hara's instructions were "Don't be afraid, hit the ball to the front and go forward" and "Before saying anything to others, let's do our own job properly." However, at the start of the second half, Hiroshima was able to launch a strong attack from the left side, and we were unable to control the ball as we wanted. However, Norio Suzuki made several aggressive dribbles from the left side, creating chances and causing the entire team to push forward. And finally, the equalizing goal was born.

　52 minutes, from the left side, Norio Suzuki passes through to Kono and changes sides to Kaji on the right. Before the opposing DF can form a defensive line in front of the goal, Suzuki wins the ball in a duel with the opposing DF and drops it to Lucas with his head. He then takes a one-touch shot with his left foot! The ball hits the right side of the net and ties the game. At the same time, Baba replaces Miyazawa and is placed in the top position. With Kajiyama as the defensive midfielder and Baba as the attacking midfielder, Tokyo completely controls the pace of the game.

　Kajiyama-Baba combination improves the tempo of the attack when they keep the ball. In the 54th minute, Norio Suzuki ran up with a vertical pass from Baba on the left side, and then centered it, but Ishikawa, who was closing in from the right side, took a direct shot that bounced off the frame. In the 55th minute, Kajiyama picked up the ball in the midfield and passed it to Norio Suzuki on the left side. He went all the way to the end line and centered it, but it was cleared by the opponent's DF, but the momentum was with Tokyo.

　Substitute Toda for Ishikawa in the 59th minute. Hiroshima also substitutes Yoshida for MF Komano in the 60th minute to strengthen their defense on both sides and stop Tokyo's momentum. They also occasionally try to counterattack, but in the 61st minute, Morita heads a cross from Hattori on the left side, but Tsuchi firmly catches it. On the other hand, Tokyo gets a big chance in the 73rd minute. Kajiyama and Baba exchange headers on the right side, and then pass to Toda who runs behind the DF line and shoots, but it narrowly misses the left goal.

　As the stalemate continued, Hiroshima brought in Maeda from MF Lee in the 77th minute. They tried to gain momentum by bringing in a young and energetic player, but the DF line, led by Shigetaka and Jean, responded firmly. On the other hand, in the 82nd minute, they replaced a tired Kajiyama with Masushima. They pushed for the Hiroshima goal with a more attacking approach, but were unable to find a decisive goal and the game ended in a tie. They were only able to secure 1 point.

　【Player Comments】《Lucas》It wasn't a satisfactory result and we couldn't create good attacking opportunities. I think the goal was the result of our usual shooting practice. (Today's result) was not losing and being able to catch up even after being scored on. I want to approach the Nabisco Final with the same mindset and rest for the next two days.《Doi》It was a game we could have won. We were aware of set pieces before the game, but unfortunately we conceded. I think we could have won if Toda's shot had gone in, but like the Marinos game, our start was not good. (About the new record) I'm happy about the new record, but we couldn't win... Not losing will lead to the next Reds game, and I think we can win no matter who the opponent is if we can play our own soccer. However, it's only if we can perform on the big stage.

　【Summary of Manager Hara's Press Conference】First of all, we had our chances, but then the opponent scored with a trick play from a set piece in the previous match, so we were prepared for them to try various things. However, they did something unexpected (a lob pass) and caught us off guard. This caused our team to become disorganized and we conceded a goal from a corner kick by Hattori. To be honest, we were in complete disarray due to those two set pieces. Also, Miyazawa and Ishikawa made mistakes in their first touches, which prevented them from playing to their strengths. I had expected Miyazawa to attack with speed on both sides and make good side changes, but his touches were rough and he became afraid to go for the ball. In such a situation, we conceded a goal from a loose ball from a corner kick and the first half was a disaster. At halftime, everyone was frustrated, so I told them to focus on their own play and not worry about others, to not be afraid and to receive the ball more and pass it to the players in front. Kaji and Fujiyama were afraid and kept making sideways passes, which put us in danger. When Baba came on and formed a partnership with Kajiyama, the ball started moving and we were able to play at our pace. We were able to equalize, but couldn't score the winning goal. It was a very tough match and we struggled with ball control in the rain and couldn't fully utilize our speedy players. On the other hand, Hiroshima played a simple game of hitting the ball forward and picking up loose balls. We wanted to get 3 points, but now we will focus on the Nabisco Cup final and do our best. (A message for the Nabisco Cup final) Yes, I'm glad we didn't lose today. I watched Reds' match in Osaka yesterday and their balance is good. They have a lot of momentum as a team, which is why the opponents often play back passes. Tanaka, Nagai, and Emerson defend well from the front, allowing the back line to stay solid. The front three, Hasebe, and when Yamada and Mitsumaru go forward after winning the ball, they have a simple attacking pattern. Reds have momentum and are a strong team, so we will use today's lesson and play without fear. We want to put pressure on them and then attack quickly after winning the ball, that's where the game will be decided. It's a one-game showdown, so the team with more momentum will win. It's our first final, while Reds have been in it for 3 consecutive years and are also aiming for the league title. As challengers, we want to play our best football and win.

　[Hiroshima Ono Coach's Press Conference Summary] First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to the supporters who cheered us on until the end in the rain. In the past few games, we have been drawing, so we came into this game with the mindset of taking all 3 points and scoring more goals than the opponent even if they score against us. We understand that it's inevitable to concede one goal against FC Tokyo. Regarding our performance, I thought we did what we were trying to do until the end, but in a game like this where we have a back-and-forth, we want to attack and win within that back-and-forth and bring the team to victory. I want to train with the players and live with them through this frustrating experience towards the next game.