In the Nabisco Cup final, challenging Urawa Reds as a challenger

　The 2004 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup Final Round is held. It is the long-awaited and the club's first final. Although it is a tough schedule with only two days between the league match held last weekend, we will adjust our condition to focus on this crucial match and approach it in perfect form.

　The Urawa Reds have advanced to the Final Round of this tournament for three consecutive years. They are a strong opponent aiming for back-to-back victories following last year. In the league's 2nd stage, Urawa currently leads the standings, while Tokyo has not won in their last five matches. The momentum and high expectations are overwhelmingly in favor of Urawa. However, the Nabisco Cup season, which started on March 27, shows that the data so far indicates a close match-up: Tokyo (4 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss in the qualifying round) = 18 goals scored, 10 goals conceded, and Urawa (4 wins, 2 losses) = 19 goals scored, 10 goals conceded. The head-to-head record in league matches is also 1 win and 1 loss, with Tokyo being the only team to hand Urawa a defeat in the 2nd stage. Expectations are high for a good match, and Tokyo is challenging to create a new history as the challenger!

　Ahead of the decisive match, Urawa's coach BUCHWALD stated, "Tokyo is a team that plays good soccer. Considering their strength, I think their league position is too low." At the same time, he mentioned, "National is our home." In response to his words, nearly 70% of the free seats at the packed Japan National Stadium are occupied by Urawa supporters. However, Tokyo's supporters are not lacking in enthusiasm either. Their cheers reach the players, and before the match, the eleven respond to each of the calls. Without being overwhelmed by the atmosphere of the grand stage, the usual Tokyo was present on the field as always.

An accident in Tokyo, fighting aggressively...

　Under the clear autumn sky, the fierce battle kicked off in Tokyo. In the 1st minute, Kelly was fouled and from the resulting free kick, Ishikawa made a move to the center and delivered a final pass to the front line. In the 2nd minute, Ishikawa took a grounded shot from a free kick on the left side of the area. In the 5th minute, Konno passed to Toda, who broke behind the defensive line, but it was offside. In the 7th minute, Ishikawa intercepted a pass from the Urawa defensive line, broke through vertically, and sent a cross. Although they couldn’t finish, Tokyo kept their defensive line high throughout, aggressively pressing from the front, regaining possession and controlling the ball. Using Ishikawa on the side as a base, they attacked the Urawa goal. Urawa’s FW Tatsuya TANAKA and FW Nagai tried to disrupt with free movements up front, but their movements were stiff and passes didn’t connect well. In the 13th minute, Jean fouled Nagai in front of the goal, and MF Mitsunushi aimed directly at goal from the free kick. This was Urawa’s first shot.

　In the 15th minute, Kanazawa sent a long pass into the left space, which Toda chased down and crossed from near the end line. It was caught by the opposing goalkeeper, but it was a familiar attacking shape. In the 18th minute, Toda picked up a loose ball from Kaji's right cross and crossed from the left, showing a wide attack. However, in the 20th minute, Urawa launched a quick counterattack from a goalkeeper save, and MF Hasebe's through pass found MF Mitsutsubushi, who shot freely from inside the area. The ball crossed the goal, avoiding a crisis, but it showcased Urawa's ability to convert chances into goals. Nevertheless, Tokyo was not intimidated and quickly switched to attack. In the 25th minute, Lins matched a long feed, and Lucas broke free just past the offside line, executing a direct shot after a chest trap. In the 28th minute, from Lucas's skillful hold, he attempted a one-two with Kelly, winning a corner kick. However, Lucas's headed shot went over the goal.

　It was the 29th minute. Urawa stole the ball in midfield and passed it to forward Emerson. Emerson tried to use his speed to turn and move forward, but Jean's foot got in the way. A yellow card was issued for this foul, and Jean received his second warning of the day and was sent off. Tokyo was forced to fight in an overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation without their defensive pillar.

　However, without rushing, at the 33rd minute, Fujiyama was brought on to replace Miura. Although taking Miura off, who could control the game, was a painful decision, the game plan was adjusted. Fujiyama was placed at center back, and Konno played as the lone defensive midfielder. At the 34th minute, Urawa's Nagai sent an early cross from the left, which Tatsuya TANAKA headed away, and Emerson rushed into the goal area but just missed connecting. At the 37th minute, Emerson received a cross from the right, cut inside, and took a shot. However, Tokyo remained composed despite the accident, focusing on defense while quickly attacking whenever there was an opening. At the 42nd minute, Toda boldly surged forward and was fouled while holding on to the ball on the right side of the area, earning a free kick. Ishikawa's kick found Moiniwa rushing into the goal area, but he could not connect. In stoppage time, Lucas's through pass reached Ishikawa on the right side but was ruled offside. Nevertheless, Tokyo continued to press near the goal, finishing the first half with an almost perfect performance for a team playing with ten men. The score remained 0-0 as the match went into the second half.

Intense battle! Soccer with perseverance and never giving up

　At halftime, Coach Hara confirmed set plays for both offense and defense with 10 players. He also said, "If we lose the ball poorly, we will be countered. We must finish with a shot no matter what," and "If we continue like this, the opponent will definitely attack even if they lose their balance. That will be our chance." They looked for attacking opportunities from solid defense, and in the 48th minute, Lucas persisted on the right side, and Kelly made a direct pass to the right side. Ishikawa, utilizing his speed, broke through and sent a cross, then they attacked again from a throw-in. In the 50th minute, Lucas broke through the center and picked up a loose ball, passing to Kaji in the right space. However, Ishikawa was unfortunately offside. In the 52nd minute, Toda received a pass from Kanazawa and earned a free kick near the end line. Ishikawa's free kick reached Kelly at the far side, but they couldn't shoot due to a timing issue.

　However, Urawa changed their formation, allowing left midfielder Yamada to move inside and forward Nagai to position himself on the right side. Taking this opportunity, Urawa found their rhythm and started creating chances. In the 54th minute, Kaji, who made an overlapping run, won a corner kick. However, they allowed a counterattack by Urawa after the loose ball was picked up. Emerson broke through Tokyo's defense one after another and made a final pass to Nagai, who rushed up free in front of the right goal. Shigeno also chased after him without giving up, but the shot taken from inside the area was brilliantly saved by Doi with his right foot!　

　In the 60th minute, Kelly was surrounded and lost the ball after passing it back to Kaji in his own half, leading to a pass to Emerson up front. Emerson charged towards the goal, undeterred by Fujiyama's challenge, and took a shot, but it went over the bar, escaping danger. However, after that close call, Tokyo had a decisive chance. In the 61st minute, from a left throw-in, Toda broke into the area and delivered a low cross. This deflected off a defender in front of the goal, changing its course, and Ishikawa, free in the area, took a shot. But just at the last moment, the opposing GK made a save. In the 63rd minute, the opposing GK rushed out for a left corner kick, and Shigeno shot with his right foot from the far side. It was on target, but was blocked by Tatsuya TANAKA, who came in to cover.

　Tokyo, unable to connect passes, made a substitution in the 71st minute, replacing Kelly with Kajiyama. It was expected to create space in midfield, but due to fatigue, it gradually became difficult to push up as a whole. On the contrary, Urawa gained even more momentum. In the 77th minute, MF Hirakawa, who came on as a substitute for Mito, broke through the right side, and MF Suzuki created a dangerous chance from the cross. Suzuki headed the ball off Emerson's cross, but it went off target. Then, in the 78th minute, DF Tōriō fed the ball to Nagai, who made a run into the left area and crossed in front of the goal. Emerson charged in, but Moniwa and Fujiyama blocked him with their bodies, not allowing him to touch the ball. In the 80th minute, Moniwa faced a one-on-one challenge from Emerson and managed to escape to a corner kick. From this left corner, DF Alpai launched a powerful header, but Toda made a desperate clearance with his head just before the ball crossed the line! Despite creating several decisive scenes, Tokyo showed incredible concentration and did not concede a goal.

　In the 84th minute, Baba came on for Toda. They made their last substitution in an attempt to counterattack, but the structure of Urawa attacking and Tokyo defending did not change. In the 86th minute, Emerson took a shot from directly in front of the goal after connecting from a right throw-in. It just went over the goal. In stoppage time, Tatsuya TANAKA's header shot, which he took from a cross by Nagai, hit the right post. It is true that Urawa was unlucky, but Fujiyama, Shigeno, Kaji, Kanazawa, and Konno... maintained their fighting spirit and concentration to defend resolutely, truly guarding the goal. The match was taken into extra time.

Won the PK battle and secured the first title!!

　The momentum of Urawa does not change even in extra time. In the first minute of the first half of extra time, Emerson received a left cross and took a powerful shot from near the penalty arc. Doih was superbly reactive and made the save, and Tatsuya TANAKA's shot from inside the right area on the rebound was also blocked by Doih again. In the 97th minute, a pass play from Hasebe to Tatsuya TANAKA led to a shot by Emerson, but Doih firmly caught it.

　Tokyo had a young squad with an average age of under 24 for field players, but led by Konno, everyone maintained their composure, keeping up with Urawa's attacks and creating opportunities for counterattacks despite the limited chances. In the 101st minute, Kajiyama advanced to the left end line and delivered a backward pass in front of the goal. However, it did not reach Lucas. In the 103rd minute, Fujiyama picked up a cleared ball from the opposing defender and aimed for the goal.

　In the 4th minute of extra time, there was a decisive scene for Urawa. Emerson passed to Tatsuya TANAKA in the area, and finally, Suzuki shot from the right. However, it went over the goal. In the 110th minute, FW Okano came in for Urawa's Nagai. In the 111th minute, Emerson shot from directly in front of the goal after a deep cross from Okano. However, it was saved by Doih's super save, resulting in a corner kick. Ultimately, the battle ended in a scoreless draw after 120 minutes, and the outcome was finally left to a penalty shootout.

　In the first attack, Tokyo's Lucas, Baba, and Konno scored accurately. Urawa's Tulio and Hasebe scored, but the third shooter, Tatsuya TANAKA, hit the bar. Next, Tokyo's Kajiama's kick was saved by the goalkeeper, but Urawa's fourth shooter Yamada's shot was saved by Doi with a sharp reaction! Then, the fifth shooter Kaji struck a powerful ball into the net, winning the penalty shootout 4 to 2! With a fight that never gave up until the end, they claimed the Nabisco Cup and achieved their first victory!!

　Dohi, who saved the team from danger with numerous fine plays including the penalty shootout, won the MVP award. However, in this Nabisco Cup, in addition to the players who stood on the field today, Shioda, who continued to guard the goal until the Semifinal Round, Abe, who kept delivering results even after being substituted, and special designated players Tokunaga and Kurizawa, all fought together as a team. This was the first title won by everyone together. While expressing gratitude for the many supports, we want to use this victory as a foundation for the future and connect it to the strength of the team.

　【Player Comments】<Doi> "Jean was sent off early, but I feel that the team actually became united because of that. It was tough in terms of running, but we all came together for Jean. Each player was fully aware and followed the coach's instructions, which led to this result. We had practiced penalties after training before, and Tokyo's players are skilled. I thought they wouldn't miss. This is my first appearance in the Nabisco Cup this year, and I felt like I hadn't done anything so far, so I was determined to stop it no matter what." <Moniwa> "It became difficult after Jean was sent off, but our tasks became clear. My mindset was no different than usual, but throughout the game, we unified in playing defensively, which I think led to this result. Emerson is a special presence to me. I was determined not to let him get the better of me. I tried to push more and more to the sides, though it was difficult, but I endured well. I was sure we could win, and because the team united, we achieved this victory. The title is a huge confidence boost for the team." <Kanazawa> "In the first half, we discussed with Toda how to suppress Urawa's Yamada and whether we could exploit the space behind him, and it went well. Even though we were one player down, Jean left his spirit behind, which tightened our resolve. Nagai pushed out wide and created chances, but we tried to respond by positioning ourselves in coordination with the players inside. Before entering extra time, everyone decided to work twice as hard. After that, we only thought about winning. It was our first Final Round, but the atmosphere before the match was good, bright, and I thought we would be fine." <Kajiyama> "We had a good atmosphere since yesterday's practice, so I was looking forward to today. When I played, I wanted to create space in midfield first and wait for everyone to move up. But it was tough. I regret that we were pressed defensively and couldn't get shots on goal. I think we have come this far in the tournament by fighting with everyone's strength."

　[Summary of Coach Hara's Press Conference] "Our opponent in the Final Round is Urawa, who currently has the most momentum. The weather was good, and many supporters came. On this greatest stage, rather than trying to nullify Urawa's strengths, we aimed to put all our power into the match. I told the players that if they get scared of Urawa's attacking line and pass back or sideways, it would lead to shots on goal. The three players up front have good coordination, but I told them to face it without fear. Also, it seemed Urawa had little experience in close matches. In tight games, not only the front three but also players from the back lose balance and rush forward. I said there would be gaps then, and we would have a chance to win. However, Emerson has speed, and when Jean received his first yellow card, I had a bad feeling. It was a very early dismissal, but from there, I think our team's persistence and never-give-up spirit really showed. For example, even when Toda cramped, he kept pushing forward, and Fujiyama, who came in midway, adapted quickly. (Regarding the substitution of Fujiyama, why was Miura, a defensive midfielder, taken off instead of a forward?) Urawa has many talented players up front. If we took off one of our attacking players, Urawa would push forward even more. I told Kelly to increase his running but to return close to Konno when defending. Toda and Ishikawa, while defending, pushing forward would be the most annoying for Urawa. I thought putting Miura or Konno in defense would disrupt the balance. Miura was more motivated than anyone for this Final Round, but Fujiyama is good at handling speedy players. His entry tightened the team. When we lose the ball badly and get hit by a quick counterattack, there's no way to stop it, so we wanted to prevent quick breaks. After going down to nine players, the players returned to defense faster, which I think helped somewhat to suppress Urawa's speed. Many players participated in the Nabisco Cup, and we won with everyone's strength. Doi made his first appearance, and although Jean had been captain all along, including Jean and Shiota, who had been playing continuously, we decided to fight as a team. Before the match, all players formed a circle, and the stronger the hardship, the more that feeling came alive. In the penalty shootout, the outcome can go either way, but I wanted to thank the players who fought until then. I was happy to face Urawa in the Final Round, and I never thought winning the title by defeating them would be this joyful. Many people were happy, and winning is great. I want to win again. This title will give the club confidence to become one level stronger. Until now, we had come close but never reached it, and we had no experience in the Final Round. Overcoming that, I think we can bring out more of our strengths."

　[Summary of the press conference by Urawa coach BUCHWALD] "We had a difficult start to the match. Tokyo applied good pressing and aggressively disrupted Urawa's play. We became nervous because it was the final, and for about the first 30 minutes, we couldn't play our usual free-flowing football. The first half ended 0-0, but both sides had chances. In the second half, with a numerical advantage, we attacked well, and for several tens of minutes, I think Urawa was on the offensive most of the time. Of course, there were two or three dangerous moments, but as the shot count of 27 to 8 shows, we played overwhelmingly attacking football. From the second half, to push Tokyo's back four to the sides, I instructed Nagai to play wider and Yamada to play more centrally. That worked well, and Nagai created several good chances. However, despite creating chances, shots that would normally be sure goals, like Mito's artistic shot in the first half, Alpay's header, and Tatsuya TANAKA's shot that hit the post, did not go in today. Even in extra time, we were mostly on the attack. We used the flanks and tried to break through the center to enter the penalty area, but unfortunately, no goals were scored. I think Tokyo defended hard while looking for shooting opportunities. The penalty shootout is largely about luck and mental strength. The fact that we couldn't score despite chances during the 120 minutes sums up everything today. I sincerely congratulate Tokyo. We have league matches soon, so we will focus on those."