Facing the top-ranked Kashima at home!

　In Sec. 10, just two days after the previous match against Oita, we face the currently leading Kashima Antlers at home. However, the team is in a state of injury. Lucas, Toda, and Noriyuki Suzuki were injured in the Oita match. Nevertheless, Coach Hara stated, "I don't want to use injuries as an excuse. The players on the pitch today will unite and showcase our strengths." The lineup features Yusuke KONDO making his first start of the season at the front, with Tadashi BABA playing just behind him, and Sakae serving as the left back. Kobayashi, also making his first appearance of the season, is on the bench as the team aims to break the losing streak and defeat Kashima.

　Kashima, despite losing to C Osaka in the previous match, sits at the top with 7 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss. They have scored 17 goals and conceded 7, resulting in a goal difference of +10. Their strength lies in their well-balanced ability to transition from solid defense to seamless attack. In this match, midfielder FERNANDO is suspended. Additionally, forwards Alex MILLER, Nozawa, and Fukai are injured, putting them in a difficult situation similar to Tokyo's. Rookie forward Kōraku and second-year midfielder Masuda will make their first starts. However, Coach Hara analyzed that regarding Kashima's lineup, "The injured players are being cautious, and I think it's a luxury to try out younger players." This match will be an opportunity to strike back at the top team while taking advantage of that gap.

　Ajinomoto Stadium, filled with 43,300 spectators under clear skies. Before the match, Coach Hara said, "I want to express my gratitude for this support. I want to meet your expectations." Of course, the players shared the same feelings as they welcomed the kickoff at 16:03.

Taking On The Leaders

Two days after the Oita game, league-leading Kashima Antlers visited Ajinomoto Stadium for the 10th match of the season. TOKYO were struggling with injuries: Lucas, Kanazawa, and Toda were the latest victims. Manager Hara refused to use the recent spate of injuries as an excuse, though. "I want the team we send out to play as a unit and show the best aspects of our game," he commented before kickoff. Striker Yusuke Kondo made his first start of the season as did Baba in a withdrawn role just behind him, while Sakoi played at left back. Kobayashi appeared on the bench for the first time this year as TOKYO attempted to put recent results behind them, unite, and take on the Antlers.
Kashima were surprisingly beaten at home by Cerezo in their previous game but still held on to top spot with a W7 D1 L1 record for 22 points. Solid defense and good balance are the main characteristics of this team. Holding midfielder Fernando was suspended while strikers Alex Mineiro, Fukai, and Nozawa were injured. Rookie Koroki made his debut, as did second-year midfielder Masuda. "The Antlers are looking after their injured players and promoting youngsters to the first team to have a look at them," commented manager Hara.
Over 40,000 people flocked to the stadium. "We are very grateful for this tremendous support," he added, "We really want to answer the fans' expectations."
The game began shortly after 4 p.m. on a glorious afternoon in west Tokyo.

Allowed the opening goal while trying to gain pace...

　Supported by the cheers from the stands from the start, Tokyo's players showed a forward-driving attitude. At 30 seconds in, Ishikawa fired a determined long-range shot. At 2 minutes, Jaan made a physical defensive play to take the ball from Kashima's attack. From there, they connected passes, and Sakoi passed to Yusuke KONDO, who had burst out on the right side. KONDO dribbled past the opposing defenders and charged toward the goal, creating a chance but narrowly missing a shot. At 3 minutes, Miyazawa directly targeted a free kick earned on the right side of Kashima's half. At 6 and 7 minutes, they earned more free kick opportunities, with Miyazawa and Ishikawa taking shots, but none were successful. At 8 minutes, Ishikawa received a side change from Miyazawa, cut inside from the right, and shot, but it went straight to the goalkeeper. At 14 minutes, in a quick attack, Yusuke KONDO acted as a wedge, and Miyazawa sent a pass to Ishikawa running on the right side. Ishikawa persisted and earned a corner kick but was unable to bring it to a finish.

　Up until this point, Kashima had not allowed any real chances, but that changed in the 17th minute. FW Suzuki received a long feed from MF Aoki and held it near the left end line. When he passed it back, left back Ishikawa, who had moved up to support, delivered an early cross. FW Kuroki, free at the far post, headed the ball, which grazed the crossbar and bounced back, allowing Motoyama to head it in. Tokyo, having gained momentum, conceded the first goal.

　Taking this opportunity, the match gradually fell into Kashima's rhythm. Kashima circulated the ball in the defensive line, carefully looking for attacking chances, displaying a relaxed style of play. In the 27th minute, they created a chance from a set piece; Miyazawa's free kick from the right side found Yusuke KONDO, who turned and shot, but it went wide to the left. In the 35th minute, they stole the ball in the opponent's half, and after a quick transition, Kaji boldly took a dribble shot from the center, but it was saved by the opposing goalkeeper in the upper right corner of the goal.

　However, in the 41st minute, the ball was kept on the left side by Tokyo, and Kashima MF Masuda made a well-timed pass to FW Kōriki, who dashed into the center. Kōriki unleashed a powerful shot with speed, and the ball hit the bar after going over Doi's hands. Motoyama, who picked up the rebound freely, scored decisively, resulting in a goal conceded. They were again scored on by the same combination and a similar play as the first goal, heading into the second half with a two-goal deficit.

TOKYO Start Well But Concede Early

TOKYO flung themselves at the Antlers straight from the kick off as though propelled forward by the thunderous waves of noise emanating from the stands. Ishikawa registered the first shot with only 30 seconds on the clock, Kondo latched onto a neat through ball from Sakoi and dribbled his way into the area in the 2nd minute and Miyazawa belted a free kick fractionally wide of the post a minute later. Two further free kicks within shooting range were given away by the Antlers but TOKYO were unable to hit the target. Livewire Ishikawa stung Sogahata's palms with a well struck drive in the 8th minute and battled tenaciously down the right wing to win a corner in the 14th minute.
Antlers took the lead in the 17th minute, completely against the run of play. Suzuki chased a long hoof to the byline and succeeded in keeping the ball in play, then rolled it back to midfielder Ishikawa. Ishikawa played a deep cross to the far post where Koroki attempted to cushion a header over Doi. The ball hit the bar and fell for Motoyama to nod home and give his team the lead with their first attack.
The goal changed the complexion of the game at a stroke. The Antlers were content to retain possession, playing the ball around the backline and building slowly into attack. Kondo had a brief glimpse of goal in the 27th minute but shot wide following Miyazawa's free kick. In the 35th minute Kaji dribbled forward and shot but Sogahata held his effort comfortably.
The killer blow came in the 41st minute. Masuda held the ball up on the right before rolling it into the path of the onrushing Koroki. Koroki lashed a fierce drive against the bar and Motoyama, unmarked inside the area, hammered the rebound into the roof of the net to double the lead. The first period ended 0-2.

Danilo and Kobayashi create opportunities, but unfortunately suffer defeat

　The second half started with a change in mindset. In the 48th minute, we earned a free kick, followed by a left corner kick, but we couldn't turn these opportunities into chances. In the 50th minute, Danilo was brought on to replace Baba. However, in the 54th minute, a breakthrough by Kashima's right back, Ari, was brought down by Sakai in the penalty area, resulting in a penalty kick. This was missed by Kashima forward Suzuki, and we avoided conceding an additional goal.

　After that, in the 57th minute, Kobayashi, who made his first appearance of the season, was brought on to replace Harakai. Kobayashi was placed on the left front line, launching a fierce attack with a three-back formation. In the 59th minute, Danilo stole the ball in the opponent's half, bravely turned towards the goal and dribbled, but his forceful shot hit the lower part of the left post! Jean rushed in for the rebound but was offside... It was frustratingly difficult to score even one goal. They continued to create chances from corner kicks and free kicks, but their execution was poor, and they couldn't create any decisive scenes.

　In the 66th minute, Danilo passed to Kobayashi on the left side from Miyazawa. Kobayashi took a bold shot, but it was weak and caught by the goalkeeper. In the 71st minute, Kashima substituted forward Kuroki with midfielder Honda, entering a strategy to strengthen their defense. Tokyo also brought in Masushima for Yusuke KONDO in the 75th minute, moving Jean to the front line for a full-scale counterattack. They repeatedly launched speedy attacks centered around Ishikawa, but the defense held firm, and they couldn't deliver a decisive blow against Kashima, who fortified their defense with fouls in midfield. They fought until the end, trying to score a goal with all their might, but ultimately, 8 corner kicks and set pieces did not yield results. They lost 0 to 2 against Kashima's skillful game management, suffering their sixth consecutive defeat.

　【Player Comments】《Jean》"We conceded before we could score, and after that the opponent pulled back, so we couldn't create chances. In the end, I moved up to a forward position, which is not my usual spot, and played with the desire to score and win, but it wasn't enough. I'll do my best and want to deliver results next time."《Yusuke KONDO》"By chasing the ball, we got tired against Kashima. The distance between the midfield widened, and passes were played through and circulated in that space. I tried to adjust, but I was overwhelmed with my own tasks and ended up being reactive. Even when Nao broke through, I couldn't push up and finish... I think failing to convert early chances ultimately affected the outcome."《Kobayashi》"We were fired up. I tried to compete on the side with Nao through fluid position changes. However, the opponent pulled back and controlled the vertical positions, making it difficult to break through by dribbling. Since we couldn't produce results, I don't know if there will be another chance, but if there is, I want to work hard to recover."

　[Summary of Coach Hara's Press Conference] "The supporters cheered more than usual, and I told the players to respond to that support by playing a good match and fighting hard. I think that attitude showed in the beginning. Although we couldn't create many clear chances, we attacked actively and earned free kicks and corners. However, after conceding the first goal, the team suddenly became timid. They couldn't pass forward and seemed afraid to challenge for the ball. At halftime, I told them to play more aggressively and put the ball forward without fear. In the second half, we brought in Danilo and Kobayashi, and since Yusuke KONDO cramped up, we pushed Jean forward and put Masushima in defense. Rather than focusing on balance, each player tried to carry the ball forward and recover loose balls. I think that attitude was stronger than in the first half. Although the results haven't come yet, we cannot ignore the supporters' cheers. The team must unite, lift their heads, and fight. We have to hold on and get through this. We need to play gritty soccer with everyone fighting together like in the second half to change things."

　[Summary of Kashima Coach Cerezo's Press Conference] "It was a wonderful first half. Since Tokyo is the home team, it was expected that they would come out aggressively and continue to attack in the second half if they fell behind. I emphasized to the players that a 2-0 score is very dangerous. Naturally, Tokyo brought in forward players to score. The key point was when to strengthen the defense. I was a bit worried when Danilo came in, but since he often plays in the gap between the DF and defensive midfield lines, we made sure to catch him there. He is a highly skilled player, but I thought it would be fine as long as the defenders stayed close even if he entered the penalty area. Tokyo took risks by using three defenders, with Miyazawa and Kaji playing as wing-backs, coming out quite offensively. Honda, who came in to suppress Danilo, worked well. Instead of man-marking, we strictly followed the rule that Aoki marks based on the ball's position, which helped us suppress their central attacks. We were also able to control the sides with Miyazawa and Kaji through substitution tactics. Fortunately, Tokyo used many long balls, which made it easier for our defenders to respond. We had to be cautious of Tokyo's Ishikawa, but I think Tatsuya Ishikawa kept him in check in the first half. In the second half, there was a moment when the side with Ali was broken down as he drifted left, but Ali was unfamiliar with Ishikawa, which caused some confusion in defense. We thought it would be easier to defend by bringing in players who know Tokyo's players well, and we managed to suppress them through substitutions. We instilled the awareness to regain the points lost in the previous defeat, and that showed well in this match. We were also able to handle set pieces and loose balls. Each player thoroughly followed the agreed tactics. Scoring two goals in the first half made things somewhat easier, but against a team like Tokyo that plays attacking football, it was still a score to be cautious about. By enduring the first 15 to 20 minutes, we were able to hold on until the end."

Danilo, Kobayashi Shine But TOKYO Fall

TOKYO began the second period in a positive mood, winning a free kick and a string of corners but were unable to trouble Sogahata. Danilo replaced Baba in the 50th minute. Antlers then won a penalty in the 54th minute as Sakoi upended Ari inside the area. Suzuki chipped the ball wide of the goal and failed to extend the lead.
Kobayashi replaced Sakoi in the 57th minute as TOKYO went in search of a goal to give them some hope of saving the game. Kobayashi moved to the left of the attack and TOKYO switched to a three-back system. In the 59th minute Danilo wriggled through the Antlers defense and cracked a low shot against the post; Jean was given offside as he desperately stretched to snare the rebound.
TOKYO were enjoying the lion's share of possession, winning corners and free kicks but were unable to create a clear opening. Danilo set up Kobayashi in the 71st minute but his shot was weak and straight at Sogahata. The Antlers replaced Koroki with defensive midfielder Honda in the 71st minute and switched to a defensive mode. TOKYO withdrew Kondo, sent on defender Masushima, pushed Jean up into attack and attempted to use Ishikawa's speed to unsettle the Antlers defense. The visitors defended in depth and resorted to illegal means to prevent TOKYO having a clear sight of goal. TOKYO won 8 corners and free kicks in the second half alone but all came to naught and the Antlers' superior skills won the day. It was TOKYO's 6th consecutive defeat.


Players' comments 
Jean: 
"They scored when we couldn't then settled back and defended deeply. Striker is not my usual position but I'll do anything for the team and we desperately needed a goal. We'll do our best to get a result in the next game". 

Kondo:
"Kashima tired us out chasing after the ball. I was isolated from the midfield and they kept possession very well. Ishikawa made some openings but I couldn't get on the end of them. Not taking those early chances really hurt us today".

Kobayashi
" We were really up for this game. We tried to use Ishikawa's movement and sudden changes in positioning to unsettle the Antlers defense on the wings but they were playing so deeply it was very difficult. Dribbling through was tough as well. I don't know if I'll get another chance but if I do I'd like to make amends for today's game".


F.C.TOKYO manager Hara:
" The support we receive from the fans is always superb but today was extra special and we really wanted to play a good game for them. The players' attitude showed in the way we started the game. It wasn't particularly great play but it was very positive and we had some chances from corners and free kicks. After the first goal we lost our spirit, stopped playing the ball forward and going in hard to win it. At half time I told the team not to be afraid and to get the ball forward more. In the second half we sent on Danilo and Kobayashi, replaced Kondo as he had an injury, moved Jean to the front line and put Masushima into defense. Rather than worrying about the balance we just wanted to get the ball forward and fight for the loose balls. We just can't win at the moment; the players will have to get their heads up and play through this difficult period. The way we played in the second half wasn't pretty but maybe that's what we have to do right now".

Antlers manager Toninho Cerezo: 
" We played a great first half. We had expected TOKYO to really attack us and were prepared to go into the second half behind. 2-0 is a dangerous score, as I told the players. Obviously TOKYO were going to add players to the attack in the second half and the key point for us was when to move into defensive mode and protect the lead. I was a little worried when Danilo came on as he's a good player and operates in the space between the defence and the holding midfielders. If we could stick tight to him then I thought he wouldn't be such a problem, though. We sent on Honda not to man mark Danilo but to work in tandem with Aoki, depending on where the ball was. Honda moved well and did a good job today. We also managed to suppress TOKYO along the flanks. We were relieved when they started playing the long balls as that was no problem for our defence and we dealt with it comfortably. TOKYO's Ishikawa is a dangerous player but our Ishikawa played him out of the game in the first half. In the second half Ari had some trouble coping with Ishikawa on the left as he doesn't know the player; we thought it was best to use substitutes who know the TOKYO team well. After losing the last game we were determined to take the three points today and that showed in the performance. All the players performed their tasks thoroughly and that's why we won".