Nabisco Cup has begun! Starting to aim for the top

　The first match of the Nabisco Cup qualifying league is against Shimizu S-Pulse away. Tokyo belongs to Group B along with Tokyo V, Shimizu, and Iwata, and will compete in the qualifying league in home and away matches. In the previous league match against Niigata, they maintained a three-goal lead in the first half to secure their first victory of the season, and they want to carry that momentum into this opening match as well. Coach Jofuku stated, "We will return to our roots and aim for the title. We will approach each match with full effort, and even with national team players absent, we will actively challenge ourselves to improve as a team."

　Shimizu has 1 win and 1 loss in the league so far. However, Coach Hasegawa stated, "The result of 4th place in the league last season could not have been achieved without strength. We have 1 loss this season as well, but the way we fought until last season has taken root, and we are leveling up by utilizing the accumulated experience." It is important to take care of the tall FW Yajima and the speedy and energetic FW FERNANDEZ, but even more crucial is not to let Shimizu's midfield, which is filled with highly skilled players, take control.

　In Tokyo, although the Japan national team is missing Konno and Hanyu for their activities, Asari and Kurizawa have been included in the squad. Kurizawa expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "I want to show my face more during build-up play from the DF line to receive the ball and connect the play. On top of that, I also want to be conscious of breaking forward into the attack." Additionally, Coach Jofuku stated, "To make it easier to utilize each player's characteristics," Hirayama will return to the starting lineup for this match. The matchup against Shimizu DF Ikiru Aoyama will be a highlight, but Hirayama also mentioned, "I want to not only win headers but also move to receive the ball and create chances by getting between the DFs," showcasing his desire to contribute and his hunger for victory.

　It seems like it will be a match where both teams apply pressure and cancel each other's strengths, but if we can prevent Shimizu's attacking midfielders, including the newly joined Marco AURELIO, from playing freely and launch quick counterattacks, we should be able to create chances. We want to dominate the midfield battle and aim for consecutive victories. The match started at exactly 3 PM with Shimizu's kickoff at the chilly Nihondaira Stadium with light rain falling.

Hirayama scores a goal, but the first half ends with a one-point deficit.

　The match started with action early on. In the 2nd minute, Shimizu MF FERNANDEZ passed to FW Nishizawa, who dropped the ball for FW Yajima to receive, dribbling down the left flank. Despite a long run, Tokyo was unable to stop this, resulting in a shot from the left area. They conceded a goal early on. However, without collapsing, they shifted to attack. In the 8th minute, on the left side, Kurizawa passed to Nagatomo, who dribbled up and returned the ball to Kurizawa. He sent an early cross into the middle, and Hirayama attempted a low header, but it went wide. In the 12th minute, a pass from Kurizawa on the left side went to Ishikawa, then to Tokunaga, and finally to Kajiwara, leading to a through ball into the right area. Ishikawa reacted to this but was quickly surrounded by Shimizu DF and could not finish.

　Then, in the 15th minute, Tokunaga made a dribble on the right side and passed it to Asari, who followed from behind. Asari delivered a direct cross, and Hirayama connected with a powerful header to equalize. After that, they tried to attack from the sides while passing the ball around, but the front line became isolated, making it difficult to advance the ball to the area. Conversely, they lost rhythm as they were often countered by Shimizu after losing the ball due to passing mistakes in midfield. In the 31st minute, a pass was connected inside the area, and Mogi was judged to have fouled Shimizu FW Nishizawa, resulting in a penalty kick. This was calmly converted by Shimizu MF Fujimoto.

　They desperately wanted to equalize quickly, applying intense pressure from the front line to win the ball back, but the opposing forward skillfully created a play, leading to a counterattack that put them in a pinch. In the 40th minute, Kurisawa took a powerful shot from distance aiming for the goal, but the opposing goalkeeper caught it. In the 44th minute, they won a left corner kick from Nagatomo's cross, and Emerson's kick was met by Yoshimoto at the far post, but he couldn't connect well. In the end, they went into halftime trailing by one goal.

Unable to capitalize on chances until the end, lost with 3 goals conceded

　In the second half, Cabore was brought in to replace Ishikawa. Emerson moved to the right, and Kurizawa took the left midfield position in a 4-4-2 formation to go for a goal. Right after the start, Nagatomo advanced to the center and took a shot from just outside the left area, but it went wide. In the 54th minute, a long through pass from Kajiyama to the right front line was chased down by Cabore, who delivered a low cross. However, it did not connect with Emerson. In the 57th minute, from a right free kick, Hirayama dropped the ball on the right side, and Emerson made a deep run along the line to deliver a cross. Cabore jumped to meet it in front of the goal, but it did not connect.

　In the 63rd minute, Tokunaga on the right side delivered a cross, and Hirayama passed it short to Kabore in the area, but Hirayama's shot was blocked by the opposing defender and resulted in a corner kick. Gradually advancing the game into Shimizu's territory, Tokyo substituted Ohtake for Kurizawa in the 64th minute. They intensified their attacking stance, but in the 66th minute, they conceded a left free kick to Shimizu, and unable to clear it in front of the goal, they allowed the third goal. Having completely seized the momentum and cornered Shimizu, it was a frustrating goal conceded due to a momentary lapse.

　Still, Tokyo aims to score first. In the 67th minute, Emerson's corner kick was headed back by Shigeno, and Cabore shot but missed above the goal. In the 74th minute, Akamine was brought on to replace Hirayama. In the 76th minute, Ohtake crossed from the left side, and Tokunaga, who ran up to the cleared ball, took a sharp shot from distance, but it hit the defender and resulted in a corner kick. In the 80th minute, Ohtake reacted to a loose ball and entered the left side of the area. He aimed for the goal while colliding with the opposing GK, resulting in a corner kick. On the left corner kick taken by Ohtake himself, Cabore connected with a high header, but the ball went wide of the goal.

　In the 86th minute, Akamine from the front line passed to Emerson on the right, who made a direct pass to Tokunaga. Tokunaga unleashed a powerful shot from inside the right area, but the goalkeeper made a save. Tokunaga connected again with the rebound, and Kajiyama feigned a shot before passing to Ohtake on the left area. Ohtake sent a strong cross towards the goal, but it barely missed Cabore. Just before the end, Nagatomo made a breakthrough from the side and delivered a floating cross in front of the goal. Cabore's header was met by the goalkeeper, but it was cleared by a Shimizu defender who came in to cover. In the final stages, Ohtake was heavily involved with the ball, creating many chances, but they could not break through Shimizu's solid defense, and the match ended as is. The Nabisco Cup started with a loss.

　【Player Comments】《Hirayama》"The goal came from a good cross by Sari-san, so I just had to connect it. I focused on stepping in front of the opposing defender and jumping, which I think led to the goal. However, I made many mistakes throughout the match, and when the ball didn’t come to the front line, I inevitably dropped back. I need to be patient and avoid dropping back, or else we won’t have enough players up front. This is a point for reflection, and I want to correct it and approach the next game better." 《Otake》"I came on determined to definitely catch up... I might have changed the flow, but it didn’t lead to a goal. There were many small mistakes, and I need to improve my accuracy. I was allowed to take the free kick because I was in good form during practice. But it went straight to the goalkeeper. (About the cross you sent in front of the goal after receiving a pass from Kajiyama?) I thought someone would connect with it, so I aimed for a strong cross with a shooting intent. However, I reflect that I need to kick the ball more accurately on target. Although some national team players are absent, I want to train with a strong mindset as if I’m starting in the lineup."

　[Summary of Coach Shirofuku's Press Conference] "Considering Shimizu's performance in the J.League over the past few years, we thought we had to be challengers to have a chance, so we entered the game intending to challenge from the start. The opponent scored with their first shot, conceding a goal, but we held up well in the first half, created our own time, and were able to stay calm to some extent as planned, which was good. However, we conceded a goal from a penalty kick. Since that was the referee's decision, there was nothing we could do about it, but I feel we got a bit anxious after that. In the second half, we went for the goal, so I thought it was inevitable to receive some counters, but I wish we had scored during the good attacking periods. Also, if we had kept the score to a one-goal difference at 1-2, many other things could have happened. Conceding the third goal is a point to reflect on. (What was the aim and impression of bringing in Otake?) In the effort to score, in terms of players passing and receiving the ball, I think he fulfilled his role well by receiving the ball from the defense and supplying it to the forward striker. Of course, this was based on the foundation of other players picking up loose balls. We brought him on expecting him to add an accent in supplying the ball to the front line. He came on knowing exactly what he needed to do in that kind of situation, so I thought he could do at least that much, and it would be a problem if he didn’t. Whether he could do that from the start is another matter."

　[Summary of the press conference by Shimizu and Coach Hasegawa] "I’m happy to have earned 3 points at home in such an important match, the first game of the Nabisco Cup. I think the players really gave their best. I didn’t know we hadn’t won for 8 years, so when I saw the newspaper, I realized we hadn’t won that often. We lost the home opener of the league match for the first time in years, so it was good to win this time. We knew FC Tokyo was gaining momentum after beating Niigata in the previous league match. The key was whether we could properly contain Ishikawa and Emerson, who break forward from the shadow position. In the first half, it was unfortunate that Hirayama created chances several times and scored from a cross. I thought we had to stop that area properly, and since it was right after we took the lead, it was a very unpleasant goal to concede. However, scoring another goal in the first half was significant. Nishizawa became a focal point up front and created space, and the second-row players joined the attack at very good timing. I think they really did well today. Nishizawa had many scenes where he delivered crosses, and although there were few scenes where he connected inside, he received the ball inside during the penalty kick scene, turned, and scored. We also earned many corner kicks, so I think we fought as planned. We kept running until the end and kept aiming for goals, so I think it’s fair to say he has fully recovered. Nishizawa’s return in this way is very important for the team, and I hope he will continue to lead the attack. Honda is in his third match, and I think he is adapting well. It was not good that he dived in during the free kick situation at the end, but he is improving match by match, and I appreciate that. At halftime, I told the players that the next goal would be decisive and sent them out, and I was glad we defended well and scored from set plays. In the end, we were pressed several times and faced dangerous situations, but we stayed focused and responded until the end. FC Tokyo played without their national team players, but considering the qualifiers, I’m happy we won at home today, and we want to prepare thoroughly for the upcoming away match."