A match we absolutely must win!

　The Nabisco Cup qualifying league Sec. 4 is an away match against Oita Trinita. In the previous match against Chiba, we conceded a goal in the first half and allowed the opponent to take the lead. However, in the second half, we regained possession through intense pressing from the front line and created several chances with quick side attacks, but we were unable to score and ended up losing. As a result, we are at the bottom of Group C with 1 draw and 2 losses, putting us in a very difficult situation for advancing in the qualifiers, but there is still a possibility. We must fight with all our strength in the remaining 3 matches, and we absolutely must win this match against Oita.

　Oita has made significant changes to their lineup, but they have already faced each other twice this season, so both teams know each other's strengths. Oita currently has 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss, sitting in 3rd place, and there is no doubt they will come for a win to advance in the qualifiers. The four defenders and four midfielders create a solid line, first waiting in their own half, and when the opponent attacks, they aim to regain possession, from which the two forwards launch a quick counterattack. Particularly in this season's league match, Sec. 9, it is fresh in memory that forwards Magno Alves and Dodo scored from two chances. Forward Magno Alves will miss this match due to injury, which may slightly reduce their attacking threat, but in the previous match against Kashiwa, despite being dominated, they managed to contain Kashiwa's attacks, and from a set-piece situation, forward Dodo scored. They are able to execute a 'solid strategy to make the most of a single goal.'

　Tokyo has changed its starting lineup. The defensive line remains the same, but Miyazawa returns to the midfield, using his precise passes to create rhythm in the attack by sending the ball behind Oita's defensive line. Up front, Toda and Yusuke KONDO form a two-top formation. After the last match against Chiba, where Chiba went on the defensive in the second half, we hope to see the good combination between Toda's energetic movements in the front line and Yusuke KONDO's ability to find space and receive the ball.

　And on the bench is the warrior Miura. He just returned in the last match, and it seems it will take a little more time for him to regain his original form, but with Miura entering the pitch, he can create spaces in the midfield that have not existed before and change the tempo of the attack, which has been monotonous. Moreover, Miura's solid presence at the base of the midfield provides calmness and reassurance to the entire team. Danilo has also struggled to produce results, but he certainly has the finishing ability when it matters most. The feeling of an explosion is coming soon...

　It can be expected that Tokyo will have a certain degree of control, but the key will be whether they can break down Oita's defensive line. They want to create many chances through wide play and repeated attacks from the midfield, starting with Konno, to pry open Oita's goal. They are well aware of the poor compatibility with Oita since last season, but such concerns cannot be entertained in this match. Winning would improve the team's situation, while losing would almost eliminate their chances of advancing to the Final Round. This is a match that absolutely must be won. Under a clear sky reminiscent of summer, the match began at 3:00 pm with Oita's kickoff.

Although they attacked well in the first half, they did not score.

　Contrary to expectations, Oita aggressively attacked from the start of the match. In the 2nd minute, they broke through Tokyo's left side, creating a free kick opportunity. In the 4th minute, MF Matsuhashi dribbled past on the right side and delivered a cross, but FW Kijima was unable to connect in front of the goal. However, after the 5th minute, Tokyo began to settle down and started to circulate the ball, launching a counterattack.

　In the 7th minute, Miyazawa aimed for the goal from a free kick opportunity but shot over the bar. In the 9th minute, on the left side, Kurizawa connected with Miyazawa and then Konno, and Yusuke KONDO sent a through pass to Toda, who had made a run from the post, but the opposing goalkeeper caught it just in time. In the 10th minute, Yusuke KONDO aimed for the goal from another free kick opportunity but again shot over the bar. In the 12th minute, on the right side, a switch from Konno to Kurizawa led to Kanazawa making a cross after joining the attack. Toda attempted a header while falling but missed the ball. In the 15th minute, Ishikawa and Toda broke through on the right side, passing to Yusuke KONDO for a shot, but it hit an opposing defender and earned a corner kick. Three consecutive corner kicks followed, and from the last right corner, Kurizawa passed to Yusuke KONDO, who evaded one defender in front of him and shot, but it went wide of the left side of the goal.

　Tokyo completely dominated possession, but Oita's FW Dodo received the ball in the space between Tokyo's DF and MF, leading to an attacking pattern where they could either use the left and right MFs, Nemoto and Matsuhashi, for a side attack, or Dodo could dribble forward and attempt a central breakthrough in combination with FW Kijima. In the 19th minute, from a quick restart, MF Nemoto shot from inside the left area but missed the target. In the 21st minute, from a counter, right-side MF Matsuhashi delivered a cross. Kijima picked up the loose ball and boldly took a shot from distance, but Shiota made a fine save to deflect it for a corner kick. Ultimately, Oita only managed two shots in the first half during this period.

　Tokyo's attack continues. In the 25th minute, Kanazawa sends a pass to Toda, who breaks forward. He turns and shoots. In the 32nd minute, Ishikawa on the right side attempts to dribble through the center, but Oita can't help but foul him. Miyazawa aims for the free kick, but it is blocked by the wall. Despite maintaining defensive balance and launching attacks, they fail to create decisive chances, and the first half ends at 0-0.

Yusuke KONDO and Kurisawa secure the match with a goal

　Tokyo scored the opening goal immediately after the start of the second half. Ishikawa kept the ball and passed it to Toda, who had moved to the right side, and then delivered a direct, line-drive cross. Kondo Yusuke, who had made a run into the goal area, executed a perfect header to score the opening goal.

　They continued their offensive efforts. In the 50th minute, Konno dribbled in from a throw-in on the right side and passed to Yusuke KONDO. He took a touch to turn towards the goal and shot, but it went straight to the GK. In the 51st minute, Todai received a clear ball from Jean in a contest with the opposing DF, earning a free kick about 25 meters from the goal. Miyazawa aimed for the lower left corner of the goal, but the GK made a save. After taking the lead, the players began to show confidence and stability in their movements, and the team's rhythm improved significantly. Then, in the 55th minute, an additional goal was scored. From a wide play by Miyazawa, the ball was sent to Fujita on the right side, who delivered an early cross into the box. Although the opposing DF cleared it, it fell to the far side, where Kurizawa, who had made a run, shot directly, grazing the right post and going into the goal! They extended their lead to two goals.

　Oita is also making moves. They brought in Abe in the 60th minute to increase the number of attackers up front. They are gathering the ball to MF Komorita and quickly sending long balls to both sides from around the center circle to create opportunities for attack. However, they continued to be pressured by the opponent, who pushed forward, but the Tokyo defense remained calm and did not allow any final shots.

　Tokyo took a 2-point lead and created numerous chances. In the 70th minute, Yusuke Kondo made a strong dribble into the area and took a shot, and in the 71st minute, Ishikawa aimed directly at a free kick from about 30 meters, but it went over the top right of the goal. In the 75th minute, Kurizawa picked up a cleared ball from Ishikawa's cross on the right side and connected it, but Miyazawa's shot unfortunately went over the top right of the goal. In the 79th minute, Danilo was brought in to replace Toda, and he carried the ball forward on a counterattack but did not take a shot. In the 85th minute, Miura was brought in to replace Yusuke Kondo, changing the formation to push Miyazawa forward. Oita's final counterattack was held off by the team working together, ending the match without conceding a goal. This was a victory after 10 matches, and with a clean sheet, it was a result that raises expectations for future battles.

　【Player Comments】<Fujita> "In the first half, we focused on observing the opponent's approach and maintaining balance. In the second half, we had to score to win, so I approached the 45 minutes with a mindset to take a chance. I always try to take corner kicks or throw-ins from advanced positions and then return to our side. (Regarding the cross that led to Kurisawa's goal) I saw Toda was free, so I boldly sent the cross in. This is the first time I've started and won a match, so I'm really happy. I want to contribute to the team and win next time as well." <Kurisawa> "From the second half, the opponents got tired and spaces opened up inside, so I kept pushing and tried to do things that would annoy them. I couldn't feel safe with just 1-0; I thought the second goal would decide the match. For the goal, I controlled my shot to make sure it flew on target without slicing it. I was able to shoot without unnecessary force. I think we all played with strong determination. I'm glad we could respond to the supporters who came from far away with a victory, but winning next time is also important." <Shiota> "Before the match, I stumbled over the phrase 'Let's unite and win in Oita, then return to Tokyo!' and everyone laughed. It was embarrassing, but it created an atmosphere similar to before last year's Nabisco Final. When you focus too much on winning, you tend to tense up, but maybe that helped me relax. Even after taking the lead and scoring two goals, Oita kept pushing forward, so we were careful not to go into a defensive shell. At that time, voices like 'Let's press from the front!' naturally came from everyone. It wasn't because the bench told us to do so, but we used past lessons to think for ourselves and showed an attacking attitude. (About the good saves?) I was always told to 'prepare quickly,' so I watched carefully where the shots would come from and reacted. That might have lifted the team, but the victory was the result of all defenders, midfielders, and forwards working together. I feel like I received the best birthday present."

　[Summary of Coach Hara's Press Conference] "Since we lost to JEF in last week's Nabisco Cup, we have no choice but to win. I talked with the players about giving our all in each match, betting on even the slightest chance. In the second half of the previous JEF match and the earlier league match against JEF, although we lost, the overall rhythm and balance were gradually returning. However, with these poor results, close misses, or conceding from a single chance by the opponent, and today also being attacked from Oita's right side with shots on goal, those chances had been converted before. But today, Shiota saved us, and although the first half was a bit awkward, I think we fought well. I showed the players the Champions League matches between Milan and Liverpool, explaining how Liverpool, losing 3-0 to Milan, changed after scoring one goal, how small plays can change the game. Scoring goals requires individual mental strength, and as a team, we must fight with strong determination. With so many supporters traveling all the way to Oita and continuously cheering at Ajinomoto, everyone felt the need to respond to them, so it was good to win for the first time in a while and keep a clean sheet. Even if it looks a bit unrefined, I am happy they fought with their bodies and never gave up until the end. We will take this as the first step to start a new FC Tokyo. We cannot end like this, so we will fight with all our strength in the remaining two Nabisco Cup qualifying matches and the league matches. That will raise our strength. We want to continue working hard in daily training."

　[Summary of Oita's Kwan HWANGBO's Press Conference] "Today's match was not about creating a new team by changing the lineup, but we did change the members from the previous game. However, we might have tried to do too many things. The match itself, especially the first half, was not bad. The cause of the defeat was conceding the first goal easily to the opponent in the second half. Defensively, maintaining balance is important, and we managed that in the first half. In the second half, we applied pressure on the ball, but I am dissatisfied that we conceded easily. However, climbing the mountain requires timing, and we also have to cross the river. We have a clear objective. There is still a chance in the Nabisco Cup, so we want to fight without giving up. The intention behind selecting young players is that all members, both those playing and not playing, are competing. We need to improve as a whole for the second half of the season; otherwise, we cannot compete in July. It was a challenge. (Today we used young players,) and as a team, of course, results are important, but we also need to prepare for the next match. Both are important."