Using fresh members for consecutive matches, challenging Yokohama FM

　In Sec. 4 of the league, we will face Yokohama F.Marinos away. Although we couldn't achieve victory in the last match, we managed to secure a determined draw with the support of our home crowd. This will be a back-to-back match just two days later, but we aim for victory away while addressing our challenges.

　This season in Tokyo, there has always been a heightened sense of competition with the belief that "those who achieve results in practice can stand on the match pitch." At the same time, Coach Jofuku has stated, "I want to build the team's foundation while making changes without fixing the members." Therefore, in this match, considering the strategies against the opponent and the fact that it is a consecutive match, we will rotate players. Kajiyama returns from injury, and both center-back Sahara and right MF Morimura will be in the starting lineup for the first time this season. Hanyu will play left MF, and the two forwards will be Hirayama and Kawaguchi in a 4-4-2 formation.

　Yokohama FM, who faced their first loss of the season against Kashima in the last match, has a record of 2 wins and 1 loss in the league, and 1 win and 1 draw in the Nabisco Cup, showing good form. In particular, FW Oshima, known for his precise post play, along with FW Ronny, MF Lopez, and MF Koji YAMASE, possess both ball retention and breakthrough power. It will be essential to apply intense pressure on them to prevent them from playing freely. Additionally, while Yokohama FM appears to be set up in a 4-4-2 formation on the lineup, MF Komiyama and DF Hayato TANAKA serve as wingers, making the battles on the flanks one of the highlights.

　Yokohama FM's three-back line has both height and strength, so they want to shake things up from both sides. Starting with forward Hirayama, Kawaguchi, Hanyu, and Morimura will utilize their movement to disrupt the defense and aim for goals and victory. The match started at 19:05 in Tokyo at the NHK Spring MitsuzawaFootballStadium under cloudy skies.

A tense match, ending the first half scoreless

　Right after the start, Morimura received the ball from Kajiyama and spread it to the right. Tokunaga, who advanced deep into the position, won a corner kick. However, the right corner taken by Morimura was cleared by Yokohama FM's defense. In the 6th minute, on the left side, Kawaguchi connected with Hanyu, and Morimura, who was positioned more to the left, made an attacking run and took a shot. It was saved by the goalkeeper, but they bravely challenged from the beginning and created a good shape. Yokohama FM also quickly transitioned after winning the ball in Tokyo's territory in the 8th minute, with MF Koji YAMASE aiming from the middle. In the following 9th minute, they launched a quick attack from Yokohama FM's territory, with MF Lopez dribbling forward, and FW Ronnie receiving the ball outside the left area to take a shot. However, it lacked power, and Shiota made the save.

　In the 14th minute, a free kick was awarded on the left side, and Kajiyama quickly restarted the play. Morimura aimed with a header from the opposite side, but was contested by the opposing DF and couldn't get a shot off. Both teams attacked each other, but neither could break through the defense. On the contrary, the match remained balanced with concentrated defending. In the 26th minute, Kajiyama made a cross-field pass from the left to the right space. Tokunaga made a precise run and challenged the Yokohama DF in the area with a shot, but it went high over the goal. In the 30th minute, Kajiyama intercepted the ball in his own half. Nagatomo quickly sent it forward, and after passing to Hanyu, Hirayama advanced and took a shot from distance, but this too missed the target.

　After 30 minutes, they were pressured by Yokohama FM from a set piece. In the 35th minute, a free kick taken by MF Koji YAMASE from a deep position on the right side was barely punched away by Shiota. In the 36th minute, from a left throw-in by Yokohama FM, MF Koji YAMASE took a middle shot that flew towards the upper left corner of the goal, but Shiota made a close save, resulting in a corner kick. In the 37th minute, Shigeno, who tried to suppress Yokohama FM's MF Lopez, injured his shoulder and temporarily left the pitch but returned quickly. After that, they faced a series of corner kicks that created danger, but they managed to defend well, led by Shiota, and the first half ended scoreless.

Conceded 3 goals in the second half, suffering a complete defeat and experiencing the first loss in the league.

　In the second half, to make a decisive move, Otake was brought in to replace Morimura. It was a tactical substitution aimed at scoring a goal. However, just after the start, in the 46th minute, the ball was lost in midfield to Yokohama FM's left forward, Oshima. After a post play, the ball was passed back, and the receiving MF Koji YAMASE made a fierce dash towards the goal with a dribble. No one could stop this, and even the last line of defense, Shigeno, couldn't close in, resulting in a powerful shot that pierced the net, leading to a goal conceded... They allowed an early lead and brought in Cabore in the 50th minute, aiming for a counterattack with a quick attack that exploited the gaps in the defense.

　In the 53rd minute, Hanyu's left cross was returned by Hirayama, and Otake skillfully controlled the ball, lifting it over the opponent's DF and shooting. However, the shot was blocked by the GK, missing a big chance, and then Yokohama FM had their opportunity. In the 57th minute, the second corner kick = a right corner taken short by MF Koji YAMASE, receiving a return from DF Nakazawa, led to a right cross. This skimmed past the Tokyo DF and reached MF LORI, who scored with a header.

　It was a difficult situation as they were trailing by 2 goals, but in the 59th minute, Hirayama broke free from a floating pass by Konno and pushed the ball into the goal as the goalkeeper rushed out. However, it was ruled a no-goal due to a handball. After that, they launched a quick attack but lost the ball midway, leading to a speedy counterattack from Yokohama FM. In the 69th minute, they attacked the Yokohama FM goal with passing and dribbling from Kajiyama, Ohtake, and Nagatomo, but they couldn't take a shot at the last moment. Instead, they lost the ball and faced a counterattack, with Yokohama FM's MF Komiyama getting a shot off.

　In the 72nd minute, Tokunaga advanced and delivered a sharp cross parallel to the goal. Ohtake in front of the goal, along with the opposing defender and Hirayama, couldn't capitalize on the loose ball, and Kajiwara shot from just outside the area, but it went high. In the 75th minute, Hirayama at the front line shifted to the left area, and Cabore broke free, circling in to pass to Ohtake in the center. They connected the play finely, and finally, Konno took a shot from just outside the area, but it veered to the right. In the 77th minute, Asari was brought on. Along with Kajiwara and Konno, both full-backs advanced, adding numbers to the attack in search of a goal.

　However, Tokyo approached the goal but could not break through. Yokohama FM launched sharp counters, and the offense and defense switched rapidly. In the 86th minute, a left cross was dropped by Hirayama in the center, and Cabore, positioned to the left, executed a volley while turning his body. A powerful shot struck the goal but was blocked by the goalkeeper. Then, just before the end in the 89th minute, Yokohama FM's MF Matsuda became the pivot, receiving a return pass from MF Koji YAMASE, who boldly unleashed a ground shot from the middle. This hit the left bottom corner of the post and bounced back, resulting in a goal. Taking advantage of the gap left by the advancing attack, they conceded the third goal, and the match ended. They suffered a complete defeat with a score of 0-3, marking their first loss in the league.

　【Player Comments】《Morimura》"I was conscious of the quick transition between offense and defense, and I wanted to launch attacks that exploit the gaps behind the opponent's three-back defense. I feel that I can manage the transition part, but I wasn't able to receive the ball much and couldn't create a rhythm. I also couldn't hold the ball up front, and I felt that we need to be more creative in how we enter from the sides to the middle." 《Sahara》"In the first half, we were able to play well. I think we communicated with each other and defended with good coordination. If we had scored first from that situation, it would have been our pace. I believe that a slight difference caused our game plan to fall apart afterward."

　[Summary of Coach Shirofuku's Press Conference] "We started with a different lineup from the previous match, but I believe each starting member, including those making their first start, fulfilled their roles. Hirayama was assigned the role of receiving with his height, Kawaguchi was used for his balance of running both offensively and defensively or breaking behind the defense. Their condition was good and considering the three consecutive matches, I chose them as starters. In the first half, there were almost no moments when we were broken down, so I recognize it was a decent 45 minutes. The way we conceded in the second half was due to losing the ball unnecessarily in situations where we could have moved it easily or without forcing it, which led to the opponent's quick counterattack. We were cautious about MF Koji YAMASE facing forward near the penalty area and shooting, but the way we lost the ball was poor, leading to that situation. After conceding the first goal, our rhythm became a bit off. Also, as we tried to chase the game, the lack of sharpness remained an issue. While we kept passing and moving the ball, even as time passed, we did not make the most of the two forwards Cabore and Hirayama who came on as substitutes, and instead circulated the ball in the same way as the first half. (Difference from Yokohama FM?) After entering the attacking third, awareness and accuracy toward the goal are necessary, but there were several moments when we could have gone straight to the goal immediately after winning the ball, yet we took too many touches. I think that is the difference."

　[Yokohama FM - Coach Kuwahara's Press Conference Summary] "We lost to Kashima in the previous match, so today was an important game. The players understood that and gave their all for 90 minutes, and I think their desire to win showed in their play. I am grateful that today's victory was a gift from the players. One difference from the previous match was that today was a night game. Night games have a different sense of speed and distance, so we decided to be more aggressive. In the first half, MF Koji YAMASE took a shot that the opposing goalkeeper saved, but his awareness to shoot was high. Previously, he hesitated to pass even inside the penalty area, but today he was determined to push forward and was able to execute what he aimed for. MF Koji YAMASE had not scored for the team since returning from scoring for the national team. Due to jet lag and other factors, I think his true qualities were subdued. However, his combination with MF Lopez has improved, and today he seemed to enjoy playing. If he can play like that, we can expect about two goals from him."