Facing Strong Shimizu

　Sec. 3 will face the in-form Shimizu S-Pulse at home. In the match against Niigata, they suffered a complete defeat and many issues were exposed, but the season has just begun. We hope to see growth from here on out. However, we want to avoid consecutive losses. This match will be focused on how they can fix their issues and score goals through passing, with the support of their home crowd.

　Shimizu, on the other hand, has achieved two consecutive victories with the only clean sheet in the league. They play in a 4-4-2 formation, with their MFs spreading wide and providing solid support for the front line. They create chances by sending long passes to FW Cho Jae-jin and Marquinhos, who serve as their starting points. Their counterattacks from a strong defense have been sharpened, and they aim for a third consecutive victory at the start of the season.

　Garlo, the coach, said that they are taking measures against Shizuoka's development from the side. Their plan is to pass the ball around in the open midfield and aim for chances. In this week's practice, they have been training with various patterns such as a 4-4-2 formation with Kajiyama as the attacking midfielder and using Miyazawa. Coach Garlo mentioned that they have been trying out different combinations, considering the future and not just focusing on the immediate match, showing that they have a long-term growth in mind.

　This week, Jean has fully recovered from his injury. As a result, Rychely was left out of the lineup, but FW Abe made his first start. Sasa and Abe will lead the front line, with Lucas playing a withdrawn role in a 4-3-3 formation. The match kicked off at 2:04 PM in cloudy Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo.

The ball cannot be settled on the front line, lacking attacking options.

　1 minute into the game, Sasa heads a cross from Tokunaga. It flew straight to the opponent's goalkeeper, but we showed an aggressive attack from the start. In the 6th minute, Inonami sends a long pass from our own half to the front line. Abe runs for it, but the opponent's defender clears it. In the 12th minute, Kajiyama picks up the rebound from Shimizu's MF Ito's shot and quickly starts a counter attack with Lucas. However, they are surrounded by the opponent's players and lose the ball. As Shimizu's intense press continues, we gradually lose possession and Shimizu starts to find their rhythm.

　At 20 minutes, Shizuoka picked up the ball cleared by Shigeki in the Tokyo team and launched a fast attack. The shot from FW Marquinhos, who had circled around from the left, was caught by Tsuchi. Shizuoka continued to attack from the sides, but Shigeki and Jean safely defended against crosses and did not allow any decisive chances. At 24 minutes, Sasa hit a header from Kajiyama's right corner kick, but it was once again caught by the opposing GK.

　In the 26th minute, Suzuki competed with Shimizu MF Edamura, who was trying to cross, and Edamura was forced to leave the field due to injury. Shimizu brought in MF Sugiyama and was forced to make an early substitution. However, Tokyo lacked attacking options against Shimizu's unchanging press, and chances were few. In the 36th minute, Lucas connected from an indirect free kick in the opponent's half, and the pass from the right by Imano reached Sasa in front of the goal, but he was unable to shoot due to being surrounded by DFs. Lucas on the left then picked up the loose ball and sent a high pass to the right. Abe ran in and prepared to shoot, but was stopped by a sliding Shimizu DF. The number of shots in the first half was even at 4-4, but it ended 0-0. The scoreless draw continued into the second half.

Defeated by Shimizu's momentum...

　In the second half, the movement started from the beginning and it became a quick exchange of attacks. In the 46th minute, Abe's right cross was headed down by Sasa, and sent to Lucas who ran into the goal, but he was surrounded by defenders and couldn't take a shot. In the 47th minute, Shimizu countered. FW Marquinhos ran deep into the right side and crossed, but Jean cut it off. In the 48th minute, Shimizu's right cross was cleared by Shigetaka. Shimizu MF Hyodo picked up the loose ball on the right side of the area and took a shot, but it went over the bar. In the 49th minute, Abe chested down a ball from behind and Sasa aimed for a shot.

　50 minutes, Shizuoka picked up Tokyo's clear and connected to the goal, FW Cho Jae-jin kept it. From there, MF Sugiyama made a clean shot. This was saved by Tsuchi's nice save and escaped to CK. However, from the left CK kicked by Shizuoka MF Fujimoto, FW Cho Jae-jin scored a high-headed goal. They scored from a set piece and conceded a goal.

　At 56 minutes, Erik was substituted for Inonami and Kawaguchi was substituted for Sasa. The aim was to clearly score one point and push the whole team up, collecting long balls to Kawaguchi who was jumping out to the front line. At 72 minutes, Akamine was substituted for Akamine. In the midst of a fast-paced development, at 77 minutes there was a chance for a free kick on the left side of the opponent's field. From Miyazawa's accurate kick, Tokunaga headed it down, but was blocked by the opponent's defender. However, Kajiyama picked up the loose ball on the right side of the area and took a left-footed shot. But it was saved by the goalkeeper. At 81 minutes, Miyazawa passed to Suzuki on the left side. Suzuki boldly challenged and crossed, but it went over the line.

　However, the momentum was with Shimizu. In the 85th minute, Shimizu had a right CK. MF Heido's accurate kick was headed by FW Cho Jejin. It hit Imakano and went back to a right CK. MF Heido connected with this and took a shot. It was saved by Doi, but while Tokyo was aiming for a goal, Shimizu's "solid defense and quick counterattack" strategy was also thoroughly executed, and they were bombarded with shots one after another. In the 88th and 89th minutes, Kawaguchi tried to retaliate by rushing to the front line and receiving a quick pass, but the opposing DF was also quick to close in and he couldn't finish the shot. Apart from the one chance they scored, they defended well, but they were overpowered by Shimizu's momentum and suffered a disappointing defeat.

　【Player Comments】《Jean》"I did my best as usual, but the opponent was better. It was my first game in a while and I gave it my all, but there were also aspects that were different from practice. The goal we conceded was because I was beaten by the player I was marking. I can't escape responsibility for defending in the area. Above all, I couldn't play the kind of soccer I wanted to. Our passing was also inferior to the opponent's. However, it's important to switch gears for the next game."《Kawaguchi》"When I came on as a substitute, I knew I had to catch up. However, Shimizu was also focused on defending and counterattacks. We were just throwing the ball into the middle, so it may have been easy for the opponent. It would have been better if we could have attacked from the sides... When the team is in a good rhythm, anyone can make good plays. But when things are going badly, we need to have the mindset of 'I have to do it myself.' However, we have good players and it's important to gain experience. In that process, we need to have the mindset of going for the win ourselves, not relying on others, and each of us needs to speak up and have the motivation to do it ourselves."

　[Summary of Manager Garo's Press Conference] "Unfortunately, the opponent was superior in both physicality and technique today. This can happen in a match. We gave our all, but Shimizu was particularly dominant in winning second balls. Shimizu presses high up the field, so we were planning to bypass their press and move forward using Kajiyama or Imakawa. However, we made some passing mistakes and ended up being pushed back by their front line. Shimizu was superior in all aspects of the game today. (On bringing on Kawaguchi) We were losing 0-1, so I instructed Abe and Kawaguchi to use their speed to exploit the space behind the opponent's high offside line."

　[Shimizu - Manager Hasegawa's Press Conference] "It was a tough game, but it was good to get 3 points. We have won the last 2 games, but we haven't been able to play a hot game with incomplete combustion. Today, we aimed for revenge against FC Tokyo, who we lost to twice last season, and the players fought well with their emotions. In set pieces, FC Tokyo left 3 players in the front line, while we took the opposite approach of having everyone return, but we wanted to score somehow. I want to praise the players for winning 1-0 by scoring one chance. We want to continue this momentum and approach the next game. I think the reason for the consecutive clean sheets is because we can organize our defense from the front line. It's not just about organization, but also about winning the ball in the air, and we are able to have a well-balanced game as a whole. (Substituted for injured MF Edamura) MF Sugiyama was very good. I was worried about his condition, but he got used to the rhythm and feeling in the second half and showed his true strengths. He balanced the team well. MF Ito was also a perfect leader in defense. It would have been impossible to keep a clean sheet without him. MF Fujimoto was also good. He fought with the mindset of "not wanting to lose" against Tokunaga. He didn't score, but he assisted with a corner kick and has become a big strength for the team. In the first half today, DF Ichikawa's passing accuracy was too poor. I think there were also problems with his feet, but he showed some good progress in the second half. We need to eliminate simple mistakes. It may have been due to Sugiyama's entry that the balance changed, but there were also times in the end of the first half when we were pressing and there was no midfielder to pull the ball out. If we can clear that up, the game will be easier. I'm happy that we were able to beat FC Tokyo, who I didn't think would be an easy opponent."