Aim for consecutive victories with fearless and focused battles!

　Sec. 24 is an away match against Yokohama F. Marinos. Following the Shimizu match, this is a game where we want to aim for consecutive wins. This season, there have only been two instances of back-to-back wins, but the last time was on 7/13 Sec. 16 against Shimizu and 7/17 Sec. 17 against Yokohama FM. Coincidentally, the consecutive matches are against the same opponent, which raises expectations. Regarding the condition of injured players, Ishikawa gradually improved his condition this week while checking his status. Kajiyama, who injured his leg in the Shimizu match, practiced separately but is expected to return by the weekend with no issues. In addition to the return of injured players, Abe Yoshi, Toda, and Sasa are also in good shape. Regarding the attacking lineup, Coach Hara said, "We are well-stocked and it's hard to decide who to use. Including substitute players, we have various options." Ultimately, the starting lineup is the same as the previous match. Ishikawa is on the bench, ready to step in.

　Yokohama FM, currently in 10th place with 31 points. In the previous match against Kobe, FW Grau and Sakata scored in the 8th and 19th minutes of the first half. After that, they couldn't bring it to a finish, ending the match with only these two shots. However, they must have gained confidence by 'producing results' even in that state. For the past three days, they held a mini camp in private, but regarding this, Coach Hara said, 'It's not because we are facing Tokyo, but rather during a time when we have the luxury of time, we thoroughly focused on our own soccer.' The DF line, which faced Tokyo at home last time with a 4-back formation as a 'countermeasure against Tokyo,' has recently stabilized with a 3-back formation. In this match, MF Nasu is suspended, so MF Ueno and Kawai will form a double pivot.

　However, since we have the ability to defend once we take the lead, we want to avoid a situation where we allow Yokohama FM to take the lead. Just like in the previous match, we need to focus on our defense first, transition quickly between offense and defense, and bring our Tokyo-style football into play, starting with breakthroughs by Toda and continuously challenging the opponent's defense. To overcome the disadvantage of being away, it is essential to fight with all our might from the very start, without hesitation, in order to achieve victory. The match started at Nissan Stadium, still humid, with Yokohama FM's kickoff at 19:04.

Best Foot Forward

F.C.TOKYO made the short trip to Yokohama to take on the F Marinos in the 24th game of the season. The team was determined to build on the victory over S-Pulse and post consecutive wins for only the third time this year. Ishikawa had shown progress in his return from injury and Kajiyama had sufficiently recovered from a knock to be named in the starting eleven. Manager Hara had the better kind of selection problem for once as all the attacking players were fit and able to play. Ishikawa made the substitutes' bench as TOKYO were unchanged from the previous game.
Opponents F Marinos lay in 10th place on 31 points at kick off. The previous game had been a 2-0 win over Vissel but the goals came from the only two shots the team managed during the 90 minutes. Playing badly and winning is the mark of a good side but manager Okuda, taking advantage of the uncrowded schedule, whisked his side away for a three-day mini-camp. "Not because TOKYO are our opponents", he commented, "but because we need to work on our game". After the 4-0 drubbing TOKYO dished out in the reverse fixture the Marinos reverted to their usual three-back formation with Kawai and Ueno as double defensive midfielders.
The Marinos are skilled at protecting a lead, particularly at home and TOKYO's immediate concern was to avoid conceding the first goal. TOKYO would need to maintain defensive concentration and balance in attack, while using the darting runs of Toda to infiltrate the Marinos backline. A timid, hesitant approach could prove fatal. The home side kicked off shortly after 7pm on a humid evening in the old port city.

Launch fast attacks from a focused defense together

　Both teams aimed for quick attacks from solid defenses, but Tokyo applied pressure well, stifling Yokohama FM's momentum and slowing down their attacks. However, there were often moments in the attacking phase where the coordination was lacking. In the 11th minute, Kaji aimed for a long-range shot as if to break the deadlock. In the 16th minute, Norio SUZUKI sprinted down the right side. He made a deep cut and sent a sharp negative cross, but it was blocked by the opposing defender's desperate clearance. In the 19th minute, Kurizawa's right corner kick was volleyed by Konno at the far post, but it was blocked in front of the goal. In the 20th minute, they attacked with left and right corner kicks, but were instead countered and lost possession.

　In the 28th minute, Kurizawa took a free middle shot, but it went straight to the opposing goalkeeper. Toda also repeatedly tried to exploit the gaps behind the opposing defenders, but he was often caught offside, leading to a situation where Yokohama FM's attacks did not put much pressure on us, resulting in some dangerous moments. In the 31st minute, MF Ohashi's right cross found FW Grau for a header. Dohi desperately reached out but couldn't get to it. However, thanks to Jean's great play, we cleared the danger. In the 44th minute, Yokohama FM's defensive midfielder Kawai sprinted down the right side. As he crossed, FW Grau jumped in from the center, but Jean's excellent play allowed us to escape to a corner kick.

　As a result, there were only three shots in the first half taken by Kaji, Konno, and Kurizawa. The four corner kicks also struggled to lead to a finish. While we couldn't create many decisive moments, we fought hard in defense, maintaining focus with Moino and Jean at the center. We managed to contain Yokohama FM's attacks and kept our hopes alive for the second half.

Defence Dominates

Both sides made a solid start with TOKYO slightly more aggressive, pressing hard and looking to break at speed. The attack failed to mesh however and Kaji attempted a long range blast in the 11th minute in an effort to break the deadlock. Suzuki scampered to the byline in the 16th minute and pulled the ball back but the home defence dealt with the danger. Kurisawa struck a corner from the right to Konno in the 19th minute but the defence smothered his volley. Another corner led to a rapid Marinos counter attack a minute later.
Kurisawa belted another long range effort straight at Enomoto in the Marinos goal in the 28th minute. TOKYO attempted to play Toda in behind the home defence but he was repeatedly caught offside as the three man defence coped easily. A rapid counter attack in the 31st minute saw Gral head Ohashi's cross beyond Doi; Jean saved the day with a clearance off the line. As half time approached Kawai raced down the right and centred towards Gral; Jean again defended immaculately, clearing the ball behind for a corner.
TOKYO managed only three shots in the first period and failed to make the most of the four corners earned. The defence was rock solid, with Jean and Moniwa dominant however and TOKYO were well-placed for the second half.

Despite showcasing a compelling offense and defense, they were struck by one accident after another.

　In the second half, from the start, Yokohama FM connected short passes and launched an offensive. In the 48th minute, they allowed FW Sakata to invade the area, and in the 49th minute, the ball was switched from right to left in front of the goal, leading to a close-range header shot from FW Grau off a left cross by MF Dutra, but it was saved by Jean's fine play. After surviving the early crisis, Tokyo also broke through the sides with a fast attack and created chances.

　In the 55th minute, Sasa was brought on to replace Noriyuki SUZUKI. Immediately after, Sasa aimed directly for a free kick from outside the left area, but it went straight to the opposing goalkeeper. In the 62nd minute, Kurizawa advanced to the right from Sasa's pass and delivered a cross from a deep position. Lucas jumped in the center but went well over the bar. In the 63rd minute, Konno made a fierce advance down the left side. He approached the goal with a dribble but was blocked by the opposing defender.

　Sasa and Lucas lined up as a two-top. Kurizawa on the right MF and Toda on the left formed a formation that launched fast attacks and frequently targeted the sides. In the 69th minute, the biggest scoring opportunity of the match arrived. Sasa connected with a header from a feed from the back, and at the perfect timing, Toda broke through behind the DF line! He faced the GK one-on-one and aimed for a loop shot, but it just went over the bar. As time passed, the match became increasingly intense. Around the 72nd minute, both sides collided when the ball was out, creating a rough atmosphere on the pitch. In the 76th minute, Ishikawa was brought in for Kurizawa, and in the 82nd minute, Yoshiro ABE was substituted for Toda. Tokyo repeatedly targeted the sides of Yokohama FM's three-back formation, creating chances. Yokohama FM, on the other hand, maintained their focus, transitioning from solid defense to attack, resulting in a captivating back-and-forth battle.

　As the match approached its final moments, it was a situation where either team could score at any moment, and just after the display of 5 minutes of stoppage time, Ishikawa, who delivered a cross, injured his right knee and left the pitch. Having used all their substitution slots, Tokyo was left to fight with 10 players. Shortly after that, Lucas and Jean collided fiercely while trying to clear a loose ball that had risen high in their own half. Jean suffered a head injury requiring 6 stitches. Lucas initially got back up and continued to play, but after hitting his head and neck, he fell down again.

　A long time passes on the pitch, but Lucas is taken directly to the hospital by ambulance from the pitch. He was struck by a major accident and was unable to continue the match. After about a 20-minute interruption, the match resumes amidst the concern and anxiety of players and staff from both teams, as well as many in the stands, but quickly ends with a time-up. The match concluded with a score of 0 to 0.

　【Player Comments】《Noriyuki SUZUKI》"In the previous match, we won 4-0, so we knew the opponent would come at us desperately today. We talked in the pre-match meeting about starting with full concentration. In that sense, we didn’t concede any goals and I think we started well. (You couldn’t score during Tokyo’s dominant periods?) We couldn’t finish when we should have. But no one is taking it easy; everyone is giving their all. The spirit is there; it’s just that the results aren’t coming. Even in tough times like this, if everyone remembers the feeling from the good times and tries a little harder, I think we can improve. We want to defend as a team, attack as a team, and secure 3 points. We want to work hard together."《Toda》"(About the lob shot) I wasn’t tense, but the distance was a bit off. I don’t think our approach was bad, but right now I’m worried about Lucas. I can’t calmly reflect on the match."《Ishikawa》"I twisted my right knee when landing after kicking a cross. I can’t put weight on it now. I came on as a substitute and got into the game well... it’s very disappointing."

　[Summary of Coach Hara's Press Conference] "Both we and F. Marinos won the previous match, and today both teams first focused on solid defense, then aimed to counterattack. We played with a four-back formation, F. Marinos with three backs, and in this setup of strong defense and counterattacks, both sides had chances. The opponent is also strong in set pieces, so we paid close attention to that and tried to create opportunities by having speedy players like Toda and Norio SUZUKI break forward. We managed to execute this strategy several times, but in hindsight, we could have been a bit calmer in switching sides and more precise on the flanks. However, our current priority is solid defense, so there were moments of rushing. F. Marinos also launched early long balls, which we intercepted, and forwards Sakata, Grau, and substitute Shimizu made forward runs. They are individually strong players, so defensively they stayed very focused and performed well. However, near the end, Ishikawa injured his knee, and Lucas collided heads with Jean, resulting in a concussion. The condition of both players is still unknown. The doctor accompanied Lucas, and Ishikawa is being examined by the trainer. We only know that Ishikawa injured his knee. We are worried about Lucas but hope it is nothing serious. The ending was hectic, and it was difficult for other players to return to the match after that. Ending the match at that point was a good decision. We hope their injuries are not serious. Each match is tough, but in the next match against Oita, we absolutely must secure 3 points."

　【Yokohama FM Coach Okada's Press Conference Summary】"It feels like I've completely forgotten about the match... We're not perfect yet, but our condition is gradually improving, and today we tried to attack aggressively at home. The content is getting better little by little. However, in the second half, we really started to tire, and we faced some dangerous counterattacks from Tokyo. It may not be our responsibility, but I'm worried about Lucas. A fellow soccer player had an accident. And against an opponent missing two players due to injury, the players should not be too aggressive. The referee's decision was correct. In any case, I want to pray that Lucas recovers quickly as a fellow teammate."

Quality Play Marred By Injuries

The Marinos began the second half on the attack with some neat short passing. In the 48th minute Sakata burst into the TOKYO area and Jean again cleared the danger a minute later after Gral connected with Dutra's cross from the left at point blank range. TOKYO weathered the storm and replied with some chances of their own.
Sasa replaced Suzuki in the 55th minute. He had an opportunity to make an immediate impact but flighted a free kick from outside the area on the left straight into Enomoto's arms. In the 62nd minute his pass set Kurisawa away down the right; Lucas reached the deep cross but directed the ball over the bar. Konno surged forward to the edge of the area in the 63rd minute until his path was blocked.
Sasa was playing slightly behind Lucas up front, with Kurisawa on the right and Toda on the left as TOKYO attempted to make headway down the wings. The best chance of the game arrived in the 69th minute. Sasa headed on a long ball from the back and Toda beat the offside trap with perfect timing to put himself clear on goal with only Enomoto to beat. Toda attempted a lob but the ball cleared the bar as well as Enomoto. Following that near miss the game became increasingly intense and a collision in the 72nd minute as the ball went out of play soured the mood somewhat. Ishikawa replaced Kurisawa in the 76th and Abe replaced Toda in the 82nd minute. TOKYO strove manfully to pierce the Marinos along the wings and the home side responded with some resolute defence as both sides gave everything in a fascinating endgame.
The scoreboard showed five minutes of injury time when Ishikawa was forced to leave the field after injuring his knee centring from the right, reducing TOKYO to ten men as all the substitutions had been made. Worse was to follow; Jean and Lucas collided attempting to clear a loose ball and Jean needed six stitches to close a head wound. Lucas picked himself up and played on but collapsed and it quickly became apparent he had suffered a serious injury. It was impossible to continue the game and play was held up for around twenty minutes as Lucas received treatment on the pitch. The players, staff and fans were extremely concerned about Lucas' injury and a sombre mood descended on the stadium. Eventually an ambulance drove onto the field and took him to hospital. The referee restarted the game then blew the final whistle immediately. The final score was 0-0.

Players' comments 
Suzuki 
"We beat them 4-0 in the last game so we knew they would come out hard against us and we talked about keeping our concentration in the pre-match meeting. We didn't concede and kept a good shape throughout the game. We were on top at times but couldn't score when we should have done. Nobody was holding back though; everybody gave it their all today. We had a very good spirit, we just didn't get the result. If we remember the tough times when we're on top maybe that will spur us to play a little better. Everybody defends, everybody attacks and we win by playing as a team. That's how we want to play".

Toda 
"I misjudged the distance on the lob rather than hitting the ball too hard. We didn't play badly at all today but I'm worried about Lucas right now. I can't really comment on the game".

Ishikawa
"I wrenched my right knee as I put my foot down after making the cross. I felt good when I came on but many regrettable things happened out there today".


F.C.TOKYO manager Hara 
"We beat them last time out so the order of the day was tight defence and the game developed into a counter attacking affair. Both teams had their chances today. They are very strong at set plays so we had to be careful and tried to use Suzuki and Toda's speed to get in behind their defence. We tried that countless times but need to change sides more, be a little calmer and more conscientious. So, solid defence was our priority but even so we still became ragged at times. The Marinos were playing a lot of early balls in as well, towards Gral, Sakata and the substitute Shimizu. They are all good players and our defence performed magnificently to keep their concentration the whole game. Unfortunately we had Ishikawa, Jean and Lucas injured at the end of the match. Ishikawa has injured his knee but we don't know the extent of Jean and Lucas' injuries yet. We're worried about Lucas. We really hope it's nothing serious. It was very difficult for the players left on the field to continue and the referee made the right decision in finishing the game there. These are all tough games and the next one against Trinita is a must-win for us." 

F Marinos manager Okada
"I feel like I've forgotten about the actual game already. We're far from perfect yet but our condition is improving and we wanted to make an aggressive start today. The quality of our football is slowly improving but our legs stopped in the second half and that allowed TOKYO to counter attack. It wasn't really our fault but we're obviously worried about Lucas. He's a fellow footballer and nobody wants to see that kind of injury. The referee made the correct decision; the players couldn't attack an opponent that had lost two men in such an accidental collision. We're praying that he'll be well".