Let's unite as a team and win the league match!

　In Sec. 6 of the league, we face Oita Trinita away for the third time this season. So far in the Nabisco Cup, we have a record of 1 win and 1 loss, making us familiar opponents. However, Tokyo is currently on a three-game losing streak in the league. This match will be without three Olympic representatives, but we want to maintain the momentum and stability regained from the Nabisco Cup match against Jubilo Iwata and secure a victory. This is an important match for our future resurgence.

　Oita is currently in 12th place after finishing Sec. 5 with 1 win, 2 draws, and 2 losses. They have already secured 3 wins in the Nabisco Cup, but have yet to see results in the league, so they will be aiming for victory. They have been trying various member compositions in the Nabisco Cup based on a 3-5-2 formation. In the league, they have utilized MF Nemoto and Renato AUGUSTO, but they are out of the lineup for this match due to injuries. Although they are in a difficult situation without their best lineup, the forward duo of Takamatsu and Akira Matsuhashi is maintaining good form, and right MF Takahashi has been scoring as a hidden shadow, so they must be adequately cautious.　

　Tokyo will approach the match against Iwata in the Nabisco Cup on Nov 11 (Wed) with Konno as center-back and Asari as a defensive midfielder, similar to the previous match. The aim is to keep the team compact and launch attacks by stealing the ball through coordinated defense. "In the Iwata match, the distance between players was close, and the balance was good. We were able to launch quick attacks from a defense that aligned with everyone's intentions," said Coach Hara. In terms of offense, once the ball is won, they aim to transition quickly, with Baba maintaining possession in the front line, Lucas and Ishikawa making runs, and incorporating the attacking movements of side-backs Kanazawa and Tokunaga to break through Oita's goal.

　Asari also said, "We were able to execute our defensive strategy as planned in the match against Iwata, but it would be meaningless if it ends with just that game. We want to continue the good parts and achieve consecutive victories." The match started at 4:04 PM with Oita's kickoff at the Kyushu Oil Dome, where sunny intervals appeared occasionally.

The first half ends without either side being able to create an attacking shape.

　From the start of the match, Tokyo defended in their own half and launched quick attacks after winning the opponent's ball. In the 6th minute, Lucas broke free from a pass exchange with Baba after a pass cut by Fujiyama, but was offside. Conversely, in the 10th minute, FW Takamatsu stole the ball from Kurizawa and passed it to FW Matsuhashi. Although he had a free shot, Shioda made a great save to deflect it for a corner kick. From this right corner kick, MF Fujita met the ball with a powerful header, but it went over the bar.

　In the 18th minute, Ishikawa picked up a clearance from Oita and dribbled inside. He passed to Kurizawa on the left side, aiming for the goal but it went over. In the 25th minute, after Asari intercepted a pass, Baba and Lucas connected, and finally, Ishikawa took a bold shot from the right, but it went high over the goal. In the 32nd minute, Baba stole the opponent's ball and charged forward with a dribble. He passed to Ishikawa, who ran in from behind, and shot from inside the right area, but it just veered slightly to the left.

　Oita also took care of Tokyo's solid defense in midfield, launching long balls from the defensive line behind Tokyo's defensive line to win corner kicks and create chances. In the 36th and 38th minutes, consecutive right corner kicks were awarded, and MF Nishiyama delivered sharp balls into the goal area, but the defense, centered around Shiota, prevented any goals. In the 41st minute, Fukunishi countered and dribbled up to Baba on the left side. He aggressively made a move, entered the area, and took a shot, but it was saved by the opposing goalkeeper. In the end, both teams played a cautious game, focusing on defense, and the first half ended in a 0-0 draw.

Wanchope created a scoring opportunity with the introduction of Noriyuki SUZUKI, but the match ended without any goals.

　Oita starts to attack from the beginning of the second half. In the 47th minute, FW Matsuhashi and Fujiyama find themselves one-on-one from a counterattack, but the shot goes straight to Shiota. In the 48th minute, MF Yamazaki breaks through to the front line, creating a decisive chance. However, the shot goes well wide of the goal. In the 57th minute, after a right corner kick, MF Fujita takes a shot, but it goes over the bar. Despite being unable to regain possession against Oita's momentum and being on the defensive, they hold on with tenacious defending.

　Then gradually, the pace shifted to Tokyo's. In particular, Baba and Wanchope, who came on as a substitute for Ishikawa, created the rhythm of the attack. In the 59th minute, Wanchope passed to Fukunishi, who crossed to Ishikawa with a negative cross. Lucas took a one-touch and sent it left, but Kanazawa was in a shooting position but was closed down by the defense. In the 68th minute, from a quick restart, Fukunishi passed to Norio Suzuki for a left cross. Lucas, Wanchope, and Fukunishi attacked in front of the goal, but they couldn't finish. In the 70th minute, Lucas stole the ball from the opponent and passed it to Wanchope, who flowed to the right. It seemed like a great opportunity, but it was offside.

　As the game approached its final stages, the opponent's legs began to tire, and chances came repeatedly. In the 80th minute, Fukunishi passed to Noriyuki SUZUKI, who surged up the left side and won a left corner kick from a cross. Wanchope's soft shot was saved by the goalkeeper. In the 81st minute, Wanchope timed his run perfectly to break through behind the defense on a feed from Lucas, but was blocked by Oita's defender just before he could shoot in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. In the 84th minute, Fukunishi leaped to meet an early cross from Noriyuki SUZUKI on the left side, but was unable to finish the shot.

　In the 86th minute, Kurizawa made a fast cross from deep on the right side, which Norio SUZUKI headed but was blocked by the defense, resulting in a right corner kick. From this corner kick, Wanchope headed the ball down but it went wide of the goal. In the 88th minute, Wanchope received a cross from Kurizawa on the left at the far post, and after trapping the ball, he took a shot. However, it was saved by the advancing goalkeeper. In the 89th minute, Norio SUZUKI boldly aimed for the goal from the left side, hitting the target but was thwarted by a great save from the goalkeeper. They continued to attack until the end, but the match ended in a scoreless draw.

　【Player Comments】《Wanchope》"The longer the playing time, the more I can do various things. Today, the connection with Lucas was good, and there were quite a few chances. I think I was able to do various things with my teammates... (I came on as a substitute, but) I believed that if I played with passion, I could have a good impact on the team. I tried to show everything I could do. There are still language issues, but I want to communicate as much as possible on the pitch from now on. Next is a home game, so I want to show everything I have and win." 《Fujiyama》"We ended without conceding a goal, but it's disappointing that we couldn't win. (Regarding FW Takamatsu) Kon-chan also has high physical ability, so we were able to defend the back line well. However, we dropped back too much. I want to discuss and correct that according to the situation. Although we couldn't score, I think getting one point will lead to the next. We were able to endure in defense, so I definitely want to win when we return home."

　[Summary of Manager Hara's Press Conference] "This is the third match against Oita in this short period this season. Although the lineup has changed somewhat, as seen by the fact that the opponent is paying close attention to Lucas, it was a battle where both sides knew each other's tactics thoroughly. I wanted to keep the team more compact overall, but I felt the fatigue from the five consecutive matches. In the first half, our rhythm was off as we conceded corners from long balls. We knew that the opponent's MF Takahashi is strong in heading, so I instructed the team to be careful with restarts at halftime. Also, in the second half, I was thinking of bringing in Wanchope at a crucial moment. His condition is improving, and he is getting used to his teammates and the rhythm of the J.League. It would have been fine to bring him on from the start of the second half, but since we made some adjustments at halftime, I decided to observe. We created many chances by putting Norio SUZUKI on the left, but it would have been better if we had scored at that moment. Konno stepped in as stopper, and although the defense was a makeshift formation, he worked well with Fujiyama and Asari to firmly contain FW Takamatsu and FW Matsuhashi. They did well despite the fatigue from the consecutive matches. Previously, we used to concede goals easily on counters, but recently the whole team has been able to hold on until the end. Naturally, we wanted all three points, but we will prepare well over the next week and aim to build on the one point earned today."

　[Summary of Oita's CHAMUSCA's Press Conference] "Today was a wonderful game with back-and-forth action. In the first half, we took control and created many situations with a numerical advantage in attack. In the second half, on the contrary, the opponent's attack improved, and we spent more time defending. Playing consecutive matches against FC Tokyo allows us to know and analyze the opponent, so rather than being difficult, I think it is advantageous. If the team is cohesive and the members are somewhat fixed, consecutive matches are not a problem, but with many injuries and a changing lineup, we need to train our coordination more thoroughly. Recently, we have been focused on recovery due to consecutive matches, but we have a week until the next game, so I want to prepare well. To achieve our target ranking, I desperately wanted the 3 points today, but we must also find value in the 1 point from the draw."