League match resumes, maintain focus, launch quick attacks for a home victory

　In Sec. 3 of the league, we will face Kyoto SANGA F.C. at home. After the Nabisco Cup, it will be a league match for the first time in two weeks, but during this time, there have been activities for the Japan national team and the Olympic team, and the time for Konno, Hanyu, and Nagatomo to join the team has been short. Additionally, there have been a series of injuries. Kajiyama, Emerson, and Ishikawa have left the team. Coach Jofuku stated, "Including the condition of the national team players, the team situation is not perfect," but he also expressed his determination, saying, "Every team is in the same situation. Starting from this match, we will have three consecutive matches, but we will do our best to achieve victory in the upcoming match."

　On the other hand, Tokunaga, who had been suffering from a foot injury, made his return. Konno, Hanyu, and Nagatomo also worked on their conditioning and started. In the midfield, which has many injured players, Kanazawa was used to partner with Konno as a double pivot. Yoshimoto returned to the starting lineup as a center-back for the first time in two matches since the Nabisco Shimizu game, and the team lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Cabore and Akamine as the two forwards, Otake on the right midfield, and Hanyu on the left.

　Kyoto, which is competing in J1 this season, has a record of 1 win and 1 draw in the league, matching Tokyo's performance. Additionally, they have not lost a single match this season, including the Nabisco Cup. They flexibly utilize different systems, winning the ball from a compact formation, with players like midfielder Sato and left-back Watanabe joining the attack. The offense, centered around FW Yanagisawa, FW PAULINHO, and Tokushige, is not only energetic but also highly effective in finishing. Furthermore, the bench includes unique players such as the tall and strong FW Tahara and the speedy FW Hayashi.

　There is a possibility of being caught off guard against the well-performing Kyoto if we lose focus even for a moment. Speed will be required in all aspects, including transitions between offense and defense and restarts. This is an important match to gain momentum for the three consecutive games starting this round. We want to secure a victory at home without losing in the battles for possession in the early stages and midfield. The match started at 2:04 PM with a kickoff in Tokyo at Ajinomoto under cloudy and chilly skies.

Yoshimoto scored the opening goal, and although they were equalized, Akamine's header gave them the lead again.

　The match started with action. In the 2nd minute, Cabore seized on a clearance mistake by the opposing GK, stole the ball just outside the right area, and dodged the Kyoto DF to shoot. This was blocked by the GK, but a corner kick was earned. Ohtake took the right corner kick, and the ball, contested by Cabore, spilled from the Kyoto DF to Yoshimoto in the left area. Yoshimoto skillfully controlled the ball and shot, scoring his first professional goal and taking the lead early in the match.

　However, Kyoto quickly launched a counterattack after regaining possession. In the 7th minute, they stole the ball from Tokyo in midfield and initiated a fast break, with MF Sato advancing the ball to FW Yanagisawa in the left area. Here, Yanagisawa acted as a decoy, and the follow-up shot from FW PAULINHO hit the right post, allowing Tokyo to escape a crisis. In the 13th minute, it was Tokyo's turn to regain possession, with Konno advancing through dribbling. Although the attacking players were committed, Kyoto's recovery was swift, and they couldn't create a chance. In the end, Tokunaga's cross was met with a header from Cabore, but the timing was off.

　In the 17th minute, a free kick for Kyoto in the center of Tokyo's half. Although it was a distance shot, FW PAULINHO aimed directly at the goal. The ball, which changed direction after hitting a Tokyo DF, was saved by Shiota, resulting in a corner kick. However, this left corner kick was converted by MF Kakuta, leveling the score.

　Both teams continued to attack each other, resulting in a back-and-forth battle, but Tokyo found their rhythm starting from the sides. In the 25th minute, Tokunaga persevered to earn a right corner kick, and at the perfect timing, Konno connected with Ohtake's kick with a header, but it just went slightly to the left. In the 29th minute, Hanyu passed into the area from the left side. Konno, who had moved up, made a one-touch pass, and Ohtake in the left area controlled the floating ball and attempted a looping shot. Although he couldn't hit the goal, Akamine persistently picked up the ball that flowed to the far side and made a right cross. Cabore swung his head at it, but it went to the left.

　In the 36th minute, from Kyoto's corner kick, Shiota connected with Cabore, and Hanyu, who advanced on the left side, delivered a cross. The ball was picked up by Kanazawa, who pushed forward, but ultimately it was defended successfully. Just before the end of the first half, in the 44th minute, Hanyu connected from Shigeno's quick restart, and Nagatomo sent a cross from the left. It didn't reach Cabore in front of the goal, but resulted in a corner kick. Here, Otake's kick was headed in by the unmarked Akamine, scoring a goal. Both teams exchanged goals from set pieces, and with Akamine's second consecutive goal following the Nabisco, they took a 1-point lead into the second half.

Despite being pushed back by Kyoto's momentum and allowing a comeback, a determined equalizer from Konno secured a draw.

　Kyoto brought on FW Tawara in the second half, aiming to counterattack with him as a target up front. Just after that, in the 46th minute, there was a breakthrough by FW Tawara leading to a corner kick. From the rebound of the corner kick, Kyoto's MF Sato took a shot, but Tokyo's DF blocked it. In the 48th minute, Tokyo seized a chance to add another goal, with Tokunaga advancing into the right area and making a backward pass outside the area. There, Ohtake, who was free, took a left-footed shot, but it went over the bar.

　In the 56th minute, Kyoto brought in MF Tarik as a holding midfielder and shifted MF Shijikurei back to a three-man defense. This system change caught Tokyo off guard for a moment. In the 57th minute, while passing the ball around in Tokyo's half, MF Tarik passed to FW Tokushige on the right, whose shot was blocked by Kanazawa. The loose ball went left to DF Watanabe, who had pushed up. Ohtake went to mark him, but as he closed in weakly, Watanabe cut inside and took a long-range shot. This struck the net powerfully, bringing the score level once again.

　With this momentum, Kyoto sent a long ball to forward Tarik at the front line, pushing back Tokyo's DF. Tokyo did not just defend, and in the 74th minute, they brought in Asari and moved Konno up a line to aim for a comeback. However, Kyoto's momentum continued, and in the 78th minute, substitute forward Hayashi crossed from the left side behind Tokyo's DF. Forward Tarik, who broke free, headed the ball, but Shiota saved it with one hand. In the following 80th minute, Yoshimoto's clearance landed at the feet of MF Atariba, who made a one-touch pass over the Tokyo DF. Tarik, who ran in, slid and shot, allowing a goal from a difficult position and conceding the lead.

　Still not giving up, in the 82nd minute, Kawaguchi was brought in to replace Otake, and in the 84th minute, Hirayama was brought in to replace Akamine. They counterattacked utilizing Hirayama's height. Then, in the 87th minute, Tokunaga, who advanced up the right side, delivered a soft cross in front of the goal. The ball grazed past the Kyoto defender and headed towards the upper left corner of the goal, where the opposing goalkeeper made a one-handed save. In a quick reaction, Konno, who was alert, headed the ball into the net, scoring a goal. This marked Konno's third consecutive goal in the league, equalizing with determination.

　In stoppage time, starting from Kawaguchi, they attacked into the area and won a right corner kick. They connected passes from Hanyu's kick, but were thwarted by Kyoto's desperate defense. Immediately after, Nagatomo, who had drifted to the left, delivered a cross. Konno headed it down, but it missed the target. The first half saw Tokyo take control, while the second half was dominated by Kyoto, with both teams creating chances and exchanging goals in a fierce game that ended in a 3-3 draw.

　【Player Comments】<Konno> "We ended the first half in a good position, but in the second half, we became defensive and got flustered ourselves. That allowed the opponent to control the ball and we felt like we were on the back foot. It was unfortunate to concede a goal in that situation. We want to develop the ability to bounce back and manage the game well. Also, the challenge is whether we can maintain our pace while leading." <Hanyu> "I think it was an entertaining match for the spectators. But it was a game we could have won. In the first half, we took a good 2-1 lead. In the second half, after being equalized, we were overtaken, and although we caught up at the end, there were moments we were saved and lucky. The style of football Tokyo aims for is well understood by everyone. However, while we understand it intellectually, executing it requires skill, decision-making, and precision. We still have limited time where things go as planned. Confidence is also necessary, so through practice and matches, we want to build confidence both individually and as a team."

　[Summary of Coach Shirofuku's Press Conference] "This match was played with the highest number of injured players this season. Especially with many midfielders injured, we selected players who were well-prepared among those available on the pitch. At the start, we were careful about how we entered the game, considering Kyoto's defense and their subsequent counterattacks, and we consciously circulated the ball with that in mind. However, that focus was too strong, resulting in a somewhat rough midfield. I think there were too few scenes where we carried the ball into the attacking third using the passing play we have consistently practiced. Although it was understandable at the start of the match, there were moments during the game when the midfield passed back instead of facing forward, or passed backward when they could have advanced the ball. If we had played a bit more aggressively, I believe there would have been more opportunities to connect passes and move toward the goal. In the end, we managed to equalize well. I think this was the result of the players' strong desire to win and their drive toward the goal, but there are still many issues and areas we want to correct regarding the content of our play. Fortunately, injured players will be returning soon. We want to select well-prepared players and review the style of football that forms our core."

　[Summary of Kyoto Coach Kato's Press Conference] "We ended up having another match where '6 goals are scored in Kyoto's games.' Even when the matches are close, there are chances to secure a win and to score a crucial point. In that context, today we came from behind but were caught up at the end. Regarding that, we could clearly feel the determination of FC Tokyo's players and their strong desire not to lose at home. It would have been better if we had resisted that and secured the win. Today, first of all, we conceded an easy goal from a set piece in the first half, but I want to acknowledge that we turned the momentum around from there. I think our players' motivation was not inferior to FC Tokyo's. If we had been competing in J1 last year, it would have been easier to predict that matches like this would generally occur. However, this is a team that just returned this season and is still feeling its way. We want to continue persevering in matches like this, steadily accumulating even small points, and gradually improving our fundamental strength."