Restarting the league, we want to gain momentum with fast-paced soccer.

　The league matches are resuming. In Sec. 19, we will welcome Oita Trinita at home. During this break, we have focused on reflecting on the challenges of the first half of the season based on the momentum we started to gain in June and July, and on ensuring that "the players are working towards the same goal (Coach Hara)." Konno, Inoha, and Hirayama spent a long time away from the team due to their respective national team activities, but they have been working on their conditioning and are now in perfect shape. We have been practicing with the awareness of not allowing ourselves to be countered, finishing our attacks decisively, and keeping the team compact while enhancing our coordination in side changes and passing work.

　　Oita currently has 4 wins, 4 draws, and 10 losses, with 16 points, placing them 17th. Since they are in the relegation zone, they are likely to make a desperate comeback from here. During the break, they acquired MF Roberto CESAR, Edmilson, and Suzuki. Additionally, MF Umezak is back, resulting in a different lineup compared to the first half of the season. MF Roberto CESAR has been injured and is not yet fit for the team, so he is not included in this match. U-22 Japan national team GK Nishikawa is out due to injury, and GK Shimokawa starts. The defense line consists of Deep Valley, Morishige, and Uemoto in a three-back formation. MF Edmilson and Fujita form a double pivot, with MF Umezak playing as an attacking midfielder, and the two forwards are FW Takamatsu and FW Matsuhashi in a 3-5-2 formation.

　Tokyo will be without Fujiyama due to an injury to his right ankle. Therefore, Moniwa and Konno will form the center-back pairing, with Inoha and Kajiyama as double defensive midfielders, Fukunishi in the attacking midfield role, Suzuki Noriyuki and Ishikawa on the flanks, and Lucas at the forefront. The key will be to maintain possession in the opponent's half and exploit the spaces on the sides of Oita's three-back formation, aiming to take control in midfield and on the wings to advance the game favorably. We want to win with dynamic football and make a good start after the resumption.

　The match started at 19:04 with a kickoff in Tokyo at Ajinomoto, where the heat and humidity lingered even after sunset.

Fukunishi scores with a header to take the lead! Holding off Oita's counterattack and heading into halftime with the lead.

　The match started with action. In the 3rd minute, Ishikawa and Lucas advanced from the right side, earning a throw-in. Tokunaga threw the ball, which Lucas trapped with his chest in the right area, sending a direct floating pass in front of the goal. Fukunishi, who timed his run perfectly, jumped in and headed it in for a goal! They took the lead early on. They wanted to build momentum from this, but Oita gradually found their rhythm to counterattack. As the Tokyo players later reflected, they all felt they had become passive, unable to apply pressure. Oita sent the ball forward and picked up the loose ball to launch their attacks. Still, Tokyo held firm at the back, and Oita's long balls were deflected for corner kicks, preventing any decisive moments from being created.

　In the 17th minute, Oita allowed a shot from MF Umezaki following a corner kick, but it went wide. In the 19th minute, Ishikawa, who had drifted to the left, utilized his speed to cut inside and was fouled in front of the goal, earning a free kick. This free kick just outside the penalty arc was taken directly by Noriyuki SUZUKI, but it was blocked by the defensive wall. In the 27th minute, from a right corner kick by Oita's MF Umezaki, FW Matsuhashi Akira made a high header, but it went off target. In the 30th minute, Tokyo earned a free kick from about 25-26 meters on the left side of the goal, and Kajiyama took the shot. However, the Oita GK made the save.

　Both teams had several chances from set plays, and the match was back and forth. In the 31st minute, Ishikawa's cross found Fukunishi, but it was cut off by the defense and resulted in a corner kick. From Suzuki's kick, Lucas at the far post tried to head it back, but it went out of bounds. In the 36th minute, Oita's midfielder UmezakI unexpectedly took a looping shot from a distance. Dohi made the save, and it resulted in a corner kick. In the 38th minute, the ball was passed from Ishikawa on the right to Fukunishi in the middle, then to Kanazawa on the left for a cross. They created a wide attacking shape, but Lucas in the middle couldn't connect. Although they managed to contain Oita's attacks without much trouble, they couldn't bring their own attacks to a shot from the flow of play. The first half ended with a score of 1-0.

Two goals conceded from Oita's restart, painful comeback loss

　It was a second half where they wanted to score an additional goal, but in the 47th minute, they gave away a free kick on the left side to Oita. MF Umezaki's kick was cleared by Shigeno, but Oita quickly restarted with the corner kick they gained from this. MF Suzuki connected with a short pass to MF Umezaki, who delivered a cross. For a moment, the Tokyo defense lost focus and allowed FW Takamatsu to be free, resulting in a headed shot. This went in, and they were equalized early in the second half.

　In the 51st minute, we stole the ball in the opponent's half and quickly counterattacked. Fukushi took a long shot at the goal as the Oita goalkeeper rushed out, but it went wide to the right. In the 54th minute, we failed to recover a loose ball in our own half, allowing Oita to launch an attack with quick passing. MF Umezaki advanced into the area, but the Tokyo DF closed in, preventing a shot. Although we were not broken down by Oita's defense, in the 57th minute, we conceded a second goal. Oita earned a free kick in their own half, and MF Suzuki quickly connected with DF Morishige, who sent a long pass to the front line. MF Takahashi broke free behind the Tokyo DF to meet this feed. The Tokyo DF could not mark him properly, and MF Takahashi skillfully trapped the ball and volleyed it into the goal. We conceded the second goal due to a lapse in concentration during Oita's restart.

　Tokyo, aiming for a counterattack, brought in Kawaguchi in place of Ishikawa in the 59th minute. In the 62nd minute, Konno, who advanced into the area, connected with Kanazawa, who sent a low cross towards the goal. Kajiyama pushed it in, shaking the net, but it was ruled offside. In the 66th minute, Akamine was brought in for Noriyuki Suzuki, and Kajiyama aimed for the goal in a 4-4-2 formation with support from the left. In the 70th minute, from a pass from Lucas to Akamine, Fukunishi broke forward, but the opposing defender cleared it, resulting in a left corner kick. In the 71st minute, Kajiyama broke free from Kanazawa's floated pass, but the opposing goalkeeper also came out and the ball went out of play without being touched. In the 74th minute, Akamine held on stubbornly in the opponent's half. From there, Lucas quickly spread the play to the right, and Kawaguchi delivered a cross, but it went well over the line.

　Kono was pushed forward, with Inoha covering as a defender, and in the 76th minute, Hirayama was brought in to replace Fukunishi. They aimed to take a more aggressive formation to score a goal, but due to mistakes in the midfield, they were unable to send effective balls to the front line. In the 88th minute, Kanazawa's left cross was met by Kono, who ran into the area and attempted a volley shot, but it did not connect. In the end, Oita maintained an advantage in terms of movement and midfield control, while Tokyo was unable to create attacking opportunities. Oita had a total of 12 shots, while Tokyo managed only 3 shots in both halves, suffering a painful comeback defeat at home.

　【Player Comments】《Inoha》"The front line was isolated, and we couldn't build up our attack. The distance between players was too far. It was good when I was able to win the ball in a high position, but we couldn't connect from the back, and Oita dominated. Also, there was little communication, and all the goals conceded were due to a lack of concentration. If we had communicated more, we might have been able to prevent them..." 《Noriyuki Suzuki》"It's disappointing that we couldn't win at home with many fans gathered for the start of the second half. The reasons for our defeat were the poor start to the second half and not being able to score the second goal. I couldn't perform well either. When we took the lead and the opponent came out to attack, I wanted to exploit the space instead... I believe we need to challenge more from the sides and take more initiative."

　[Summary of Manager Hara's Press Conference] "We scored early and started off very well, but conversely, the players became a bit passive, and Oita had possession and attacked frequently in the first half. In that situation, we conceded several corner kicks and had some dangerous moments. At halftime, I talked about how the ball started moving from the middle of the first half, and instructed to deliver low balls instead of high balls to Lucas and Fukunishi. That way, we could often win fouls, so I told them to not be afraid, make contact once, and then use the sides. Also, since we often concede goals early in the second half, I told them to start firmly. However, we conceded a free kick, and the rebound hit the corner flag, which everyone momentarily thought was a goal kick. That delayed our reaction and allowed Oita's forward Takamatsu to be free. That one goal was painful. But I also told them to stay calm and keep fighting even if we conceded a goal. Just as I was thinking about substituting players while observing the situation, Oita's midfielder Takahashi got behind our line. Rather than being broken down, it felt like everyone assumed 'someone will mark him,' and he got behind us. That caused confusion. We wanted to utilize both flanks more, but considering the pitch conditions, we judged it difficult to expand play to the sides. Also, since Lucas was isolated, we brought in Akamine to form a two-forward setup and tried to build play from there. We considered whether to bring in Hirayama or Baba, but since the pitch was rough, we chose Hirayama and decided the simplest way was to deliver the ball to him. However, we reflected that other players went for the aerial challenges and no one reacted to the loose balls. We haven't been able to win at home, so we decided to change from today. It's disappointing that despite so many people gathering, we couldn't do that. We have a match again on Wednesday, so we want to keep our heads up and prepare well for the next game."

　[Summary of Oita CHAMUSCA Manager's Press Conference] "The start of the second half of the season was truly a tough game. The players approached it with a serious mindset, fully aware that each match from now on would be crucial. Today, we were able to show the true Oita that we hadn't been able to display until now, and we showed a game where we fought without giving up until the very end. I believe we won because, after conceding a goal, we didn't get discouraged and kept fighting until the final whistle. In the first half, we created chances from set pieces, but in the second half, we were able to move the ball and create opportunities. Opponents Norio SUZUKI, Lucas, Ishikawa, and Kawaguchi, who came on as a substitute, are players you cannot take your eyes off for even a second, but it was good that everyone kept their focus until the end. In the first half, the ball circulation was low, players slipped on the slippery pitch, and the timing of long balls was off. That improved in the second half. The reason might have been that the players started running tirelessly, and the quality of passing also improved. Although the break lasted about 40 days, due to new signings and various national team activities, the whole team was only able to practice together for about three days. In that short period, I think the football they showed today was wonderful."