Facing Oita at home amidst a tough schedule

　In the 2nd stage, matchday 12, we will face Oita Trinita at home. On October 31, we will take on Hiroshima away, followed by a tight schedule with the Nabisco Cup in two days and this match. Although we won the cup match three days ago, considering the condition, Shigeno, Miura, Kelly, and Ishikawa will not participate today. The starting lineup includes DF Masushima, MF Miyazawa, Suzuki, and FW Yusuke KONDO. The formation consists of Fujiyama and Masushima as center-backs, Toda as left MF, Suzuki as right MF, Baba as the attacking midfielder, and Yusuke KONDO at the forefront.

　Oita currently sits in 13th place with 10 points, but they are only 3 points behind Tokyo. In the previous match, they secured a victory against Kobe, and their form is improving. Special attention should be paid to their attacks, particularly those centered around counterattacks that utilize the speed of forward Magno Alves. Above all, Tokyo has not won in their last five league matches, with a record of 3 wins, 4 draws, and 4 losses. They want to utilize fresh players to accumulate points and aim to level the score. The weather is pleasantly clear with a temperature of 20.1 degrees, making it a perfect day for football at Ajinomoto Stadium. The match began with Oita's kickoff.

Starts with bold play, but

　Right after the start, they stole the ball in their own half, and Yusuke KONDO broke through to the goal following a long pass from Miyazawa. Although they couldn't shoot due to a handball, their aggressive play hinted at a promising match. In the 3rd minute, from a left-side free kick by Miyazawa, Kanazawa made a powerful shot with his right foot, but unfortunately, it was blocked by the goalkeeper's save. In the 8th minute, Tadashi BABA connected a direct pass to Norio SUZUKI, attempting to break through in the right area. Then, in the 9th minute, Miyazawa, who had drifted to the right side, boldly attempted a dribble shot. In the 12th minute, after an interception by Miyazawa, BABA delivered a cross. However, they couldn't convert it into a finish.

　In a situation where they couldn't make a decisive play despite controlling the ball, Tokyo gradually began to lack combination and precision in their play. In the 14th minute, Oita's midfielder Umeda broke into the area from a midfield tussle and took a shot. Nevertheless, in the 23rd minute, they earned a corner kick from a cross by Noriyuki SUZUKI, but the following two corner kicks also did not lead to a shot. In the 27th minute, Miyazawa picked up a loose ball from Masushima's long feed and took a mid-range shot. In the 28th minute, Noriyuki SUZUKI made a dribble into the central space and took a ground shot, but it did not find the back of the net.

　After that, they couldn't create a starting point in the front line, and the attack became monotonous. Oita connected a long ball in the 30th minute, and Magno Alves took a mid-range shot, but it went wide. In the 36th minute, after an interception in midfield, Magno Alves dribbled forward and shot from the left area. This was saved by Doih, resulting in a corner kick. In the latter stages, Oita couldn't create chances while gaining momentum, and the score remained 0-0, carrying the match into the second half.

Regaining pace, expectations for goals are rising!

　In an attack that left something to be desired, Coach Hara's instructions at halftime were, "The defense from the front line is weak. Fight more, run more. You can't win by taking it easy." In the 48th minute, Noriyuki Suzuki aimed directly from a free kick slightly to the right of midfield, but it went over the goal. In the 49th minute, they quickly restarted and attacked in front of the Oita goal, where Noriyuki Suzuki persisted with a shot in the area, but it hit Tadashi Baba. Tokyo was the first to make a move in this situation. In the 50th minute, Lucas was brought in to replace Yusuke Kondo.

　As a result, with this substitution and increased movement, the rhythm began to emerge. Immediately after, they attacked from a set piece, and in the 53rd minute, Noriyuki SUZUKI, who had moved to left midfield towards the end of the first half, made a challenge inside the area. In the 54th minute, Lucas received a fast pass from Tadashi BABA and surged through the center, evading the DF to take a shot. However, it went over the goal. In the 56th minute, they faced a counterattack from Oita, and a personal skill from Magno Alves allowed the ball to reach a free Umeda inside the area, but they were saved by a mistake. In the 57th minute, Tokyo launched a wave of attacks. On the right side, Lucas challenged, persisted, and delivered a grounded cross right in front of the goal. Tadashi BABA, surrounded by DFs, couldn't make solid contact, but Miyazawa picked up the loose ball and shot. The GK deflected it, but Toda was there to follow up, only to be unfortunately caught offside.

　In the 61st minute, Oita substituted FW Nishiyama for FW Takamatsu, while Tokyo brought in Kajiwara for Miyazawa. Tokyo, known for their ball retention skills, saw Norio SUZUKI deliver a left cross in the 67th minute, which Toda headed down for Kajiwara, who received it in front of the goal and made a sideways last pass. Tadashi BABA took a shot, but it went over the goal. Shortly after, Norio SUZUKI made another sharp left cross. Konno picked up the clearance from the defender and took a shot, winning a corner kick. In the 68th minute, from a free kick, Konno executed a diving header to meet Kaji's early cross at the far side. Unfortunately, it missed just to the left of the goal, but it showcased Tokyo's attacking style in quick succession.

Lucas's opening goal ends in a draw due to a lapse in defense.

　In the 70th minute, Abe came on for Baba. In the 72nd minute, Noriyuki Suzuki's negative cross found Lucas, who was free in front of the goal, but his left-footed shot missed the target, raising expectations for a goal. In the 75th minute, a short corner kick was connected, and Kajiyama cut in from the edge of the area after receiving the ball from Fiento, delivering a negative cross. Abe rushed in at the near post but couldn't get a shot off. Oita's counterattack was thwarted by concentrated defense, preventing them from finishing.

　Kajiama, Norio Suzuki, and Abe provided a good accent as they attacked, and in the 82nd minute, Konno sent a pass into the open space on the right side, which Abe chased down, delivering a low cross! Lucas, who ran into the near post, kicked it in directly, scoring a goal. They seized the long-awaited opening goal with an ideal development! Immediately after, Norio Suzuki quickly sent a strong long pass to the front line after winning the ball in their own half. Lucas took a shot while being surrounded by defenders, but it was weak and easily caught by the goalkeeper. Hopes for an additional goal were high, but in the 84th minute, Oita substituted MF Komorita for MF Matsuhashi.

　Immediately after that, Tokyo lost a half-hearted pass in Oita's territory and was countered. After going through midfielder Yoshida, Magno Alves surged up the right side and crossed. The one-bounce ball was volleyed in by forward Takamatsu with his right foot, finding the bottom right of the goal. As Tokyo pushed forward, Fujiyama was distracted by Magno Alves, and Masushima was slow to respond to Takamatsu, resulting in the equalizer. In the remaining time, including 4 minutes of stoppage time, Tokyo aimed to take the lead, but in the 89th minute, a through pass from Kajiyama to Lucas in the area was thwarted by the defense. In stoppage time, from Abe's left throw-in, connecting with Kajiyama and Lucas, Toda dropped the ball off the post, and Konno took a shot. However, it went wide right, and time was up. Despite attacking throughout the second half, they conceded a goal due to a lapse and ended in a draw. They missed what seemed like a victory and settled for 1 point.

　【Player Comments】<Konno> "The midfield balance was not good today. Especially, we couldn't properly collect the loose balls. Regarding the attack, we couldn't vary the tempo well and couldn't fully press forward, but after Lucas came in, we were finally able to create some space, and the midfield faced forward and spread the ball to both sides, enabling our usual style of attack. The opponent struggled with the simple long-ball attacks after Mr. Takamatsu was brought on." <Doi> "We had only two days between the Nabisco Cup and this match, but I thought we couldn't afford to play poorly since we won the cup. Although the lineup changed somewhat, this was a match we had to win. In the first half, we couldn't quite get into our rhythm, but in the second half, I believed we could score. However, after scoring, our defensive line gradually dropped, and we conceded a goal, which was disappointing that we couldn't secure the win. Next match, I want to improve finishing accuracy and win with everyone attacking and everyone defending. The award ceremony was very joyful, and I want to thank everyone. (Regarding the national team) As usual, I want to appeal myself and do my best. If I get a chance to play, since we have won all preliminary matches so far, I want to do my best so that we don't lose when I am on the field."

　[Summary of Coach Hara's Press Conference] "The Nabisco Cup Final Round is on Wednesday, and today Jean was suspended, and both Moniwa and Ishikawa were not back to full condition, so we boldly put in young players like Masushima and Norio. Lucas, who I hoped would change the flow as a substitute, was also tired, and Miura and Kelly had been highly motivated up to the Nabisco final, so I wanted to see how much the young players could do. I expected them to play in a way that would take over positions. The start was good, but Yusuke KONDO and others might have been a bit tense. Lucas came on in the second half, and I think our rhythm started to come as the ball settled there. Oita uses early long balls, and when Magno Alves gets the ball, chances are created, so if we lose the ball badly, the players remaining up front get used. It was hard to score, but we took the lead in the 82nd minute, and after that, we had to use the time well and win. Since there are many young players, I think that part is still a bit weak. However, in the previous league match, we went to Hiroshima and fought in the Nabisco under tough conditions, and I think we played in a way that is our strength: 'the team functions no matter who plays.' In that, individual issues also came up, and as a team, we want to make sure to win matches like today properly."

　[Summary of Oita's Coach Han Berger's Press Conference] "I think we were able to play an interesting game. The final score was 1-1, which I believe is the best possible result. When I saw FC Tokyo's starting lineup today, I thought it wouldn't be easy. The lineup was different from the Nabisco Cup Final, and the energetic players came with the mindset to seize their chance. Some might think the change in members was good for Oita, but I believe it would have been tougher if they had fielded the same players as in the Nabisco Final, as those players would have been tired and unable to maintain high concentration. However, today fresh players participated, which made it more difficult. We played a practice match with FC Tokyo during the pre-season camp, and they truly have a young and talented squad. We are strong at home, Big Eye, but perhaps we lack confidence when playing away. Nevertheless, I am satisfied with today's result. Of the remaining four matches, three are home games, so I believe we can earn 3 points. I want to ensure we achieve good results by the end of the season."