Win the battle on the side and avenge the two defeats!

　In the Nabisco Cup qualifying league Sec. 5, we will face Shimizu S-Pulse. It will be a home game in Matsumoto. In the previous match against Verdy, we won decisively 3-0, and the team's atmosphere is good. However, since the group leader Shimizu will secure first place with a victory in this match, it can truly be called a crucial game. For Tokyo, it is important to earn 3 points to tie with Shimizu in order to advance to the final round. Moreover, since we have lost to this opponent twice this season, it is a match where we definitely want to achieve revenge.

　In contrast, Shimizu is in a difficult situation with the absence of Olympic representative GK Kaito YAMAMOTO, DF Aoyama, MF Honda, and FW Okazaki, along with recent injuries to DF Ichikawa and Kodama. However, in the last match, MF Hyodo made a comeback. In the holding midfield, MF Yamamoto Makoto and fresh members like FW Omae were utilized to secure a victory against Iwata. Their tight defense allows for connecting passes, and their attacks, initiated from the full-backs, remain effective.

　In Tokyo, the starting members have the left and right side backs Kanazawa and Tokunaga from the previous match. Additionally, Akamine has returned to the bench. Coach Jofuku reflects, "Shimizu's style of play is thorough and refined. In our two previous encounters, we fell into Shimizu's defensive approach. They quickly formed a block, and we couldn't break through it." Therefore, the key to victory will be whether we can respond with quick passing and seize control on the sides. Before Shimizu can set up their defensive block, we want to win battles on the sides and exploit the gaps behind the defenders. In defense, it will be crucial to apply pressure in coordination, as we did against Verdy, and create rhythm from tough defensive plays.

　Hayabusa said, "I want to be careful about the balance of our side attacks. Both sides have pushed too far up, so we need to avoid being countered. Also, I couldn't participate in the past match against Shimizu, so I feel regret for not being able to contribute to the team. We will show our style of soccer and win." Let's fight with our rhythm and break through Shimizu's solid defense to achieve victory! The match started at 14:04 with a kickoff from Tokyo at Matsumoto City Comprehensive Sports Park, where cold rain was falling.

Took the lead with a goal from Bruno QUADROS, leading by one point at halftime

　Tokyo launched a quick attack from the sides from the start. In the 4th minute, Asari's left cross to Hanyu allowed Kanazawa and Cabore to take a decisive shot, but it was blocked by the Shimizu defense. In the 8th minute, they intercepted a Shimizu throw-in, and Hirayama dropped the ball for Asari, who played it directly to Hanyu on the left side. Hanyu carried it deep along the sideline and crossed it. Here, Bruno QUADROS jumped in and volleyed the ball into the net! Following the match against Verdy, Hanyu and Bruno QUADROS combined to take the lead.

　In the following 10 minutes, Emerson on the right side dribbled in and passed the ball. Hiyama reacted to that ball and took a decisive shot from inside the left area, but could not score. After that, Shimizu also had a shooting chance from a free kick, but with Shiota at the center, they could not break through the goal. In the 20th minute, a quick attack was launched with Emerson to Cabore to Bruno QUADROS, and Hiyama kept the ball just before the area and dropped it to Hanyu, but the timing was off and they could not take a shot.

　Shimizu attempted to send the ball from the defensive line to the front, but Sahara and Fujiyama calmly cut it off. In particular, Fujiyama repeatedly made sharp interceptions, preventing the opponent's forwards from getting involved. After 30 minutes, they launched an attack starting from Emerson. In the 34th minute, Emerson on the right side passed to Hirayama, who had made a run behind the defensive line. The pass was sent to Cabore, who had moved up the center, but the trap was slightly too long, allowing the Shimizu goalkeeper to catch it. In the 35th minute, Emerson moved from the right to the center, exchanged a one-two with Cabore, and took a shot with speed, but it went over the goal.

　In the 39th minute, after connecting from Tokunaga's right free kick, Cabore's volley from the left cross shook the net, but this was ruled offside. Just before the end of the first half, there were moments when Shimizu raised crosses from both sides and attacked in front of the goal, but we held our defense. There were also moments where both teams made noticeable mistakes on the slippery pitch, but we did not allow Shimizu to dominate the ball and went into the second half with a one-goal lead.

Equalized just before the end, finishing with a painful draw

　In the second half, right after the start, Tokyo created chances through Emerson and Hirayama, but after that, Shimizu took control of the pace. With midfielder Fujimoto, who came on as a substitute, Shimizu's movements and ball release became quicker, while Tokyo's energy levels dropped, making it difficult to apply pressure and recover second balls. Still, in the 58th minute, from a left throw-in, Hirayama brought the ball inside and took a shot, but it went over the target. In the 59th minute, a sequence from Kanazawa to Emerson to Cabore resulted in a shot that hit the opposing defender and earned a corner kick. Despite being pushed back, they tried to regain their rhythm.

　In the 65th minute, Ishikawa was brought on for Emerson. Then, in the 69th minute, Cabore dropped a left throw-in, and Ishikawa struck sharply with his foot. He took a powerful shot, but it just went wide of the target. In the 70th minute, Tokunaga surged up the right side from a counter-attack and delivered a cross. Although it was cleared once, Ishikawa picked up the loose ball, quickly moved into the right area, and shot. Cabore also dove in at the far post but couldn't touch the ball. After the 75th minute, they were pushed back by an attack initiated by Shimizu's midfielder Fujimoto, leading to consecutive crises, but they managed to hold on, centered around Shiota's saves.

　Tokyo brought in Robert and Shigeno to try to change the flow of the game. In the 81st minute, from a right corner kick, a rebound from Ishikawa's kick led to a contest between Tokunaga and an opponent at the far post, and Sawara on the outside took a decisive shot with his right foot, but it was blocked by the goalkeeper. In the 85th minute, a pass from Fujiyama found Ishikawa moving up the right side, leading to a counterattack. Ishikawa's cross, gaining speed, saw Robert sliding in. The shot hit the crossbar and went out. Unable to secure an additional goal, the difficult situation continued, but they defended tenaciously, and it seemed like the match would end this way, but an accident occurred.

　In the 86th minute, Sahara received his second warning of the day and was sent off. At the same time, this play awarded a free kick to Shimizu, and MF Fujimoto's direct shot bounced in and scored... They immediately began to counterattack, but it was already too late. Just before the end, they were equalized from a free kick, resulting in a painful draw.

　【Player Comments】《Bruno QUADROS》"I think we played a good game, but we conceded a goal at the end and it ended in a draw. This often happens in football, but I didn’t want this to happen. Unfortunately, the result was a draw. (About the scoring scene?) It was a counterattack situation. I came in late, but the cross from Hanyu came right to me, and I was able to score a goal. He sent a good ball. My strength is to take the ball and push forward aggressively. I think I was able to do that. Of course, I also have to do what the coach told me. I want to move on and get another chance." 《Fujiyama》"This was a game we had to win. Looking back, there was also Hide’s sending off, which should not have happened. The coach was strict, but I think Hide understands that best himself. Everyone is playing to get results. However, we got 1 point and did not lose. If we win the next Verdy match, we still have a chance. But as a team aiming for the top in the Nabisco Cup, this was a game we should not have lost. We all need to rethink that. Next, we want to win properly and advance to the Final Round, and I think the supporters feel differently too. I don’t know if it will go as well as last time. Today, the second goal was a key point, but it’s necessary for the team to level up overall. In the upcoming Verdy match, we all want to definitely get 3 points. Hide can’t play next time, but since we are rotating players this year, it doesn’t matter who plays. I have been playing with Moni all last year, so there is no problem. Verdy is strong, so we want to stop them properly again."

　[Summary of Coach Shirofuku's Press Conference] "I think today was a game we had to win. In the final part of the second half, we were pressed and had some dangerous moments, but considering how the match went until then, it was a game where we had to take all three points. In the first half, we were able to attack and defend to some extent as planned, and although we scored one goal, I think we could have scored two more. This is a reflection from the previous match, but we couldn't push just a little more at the crucial moments. Also, in the second half, we held the ball a bit too long in midfield and couldn't move it simply. There were players in the midfield area trying to do something individually, and we lost the ball there, leading to a difficult period. That tough period lasted so long, and with us down to 10 men and the opponent having such good kickers, such things can happen. We should have avoided playing soccer in that area until then. (It seems Otake was prepared as the third substitute, but why did you use Moniwa?) With little time left, we were considering whether the opponent would come with height or on the ground, so we kept one substitution for the end. Since players like FW Marco AURELIO and FW Omae, who are skilled with the ball at their feet, came on, I decided to push Fujiyama forward to respond."

　[Summary of Shimizu Coach Hasegawa's Press Conference] "I am very satisfied that we were able to earn 1 point today. Despite having injured players and some making their first start, I believe the players who took the field did their job properly, and with the team's unity, we were ultimately able to come back like this. A team struggling in the league managed to catch up with a team in good form away from home and earn 1 point, which I think puts us in a favorable position for this qualifying round. However, we still have one match left in the Nabisco Cup, so we want to play solid football and finish strong. (The second half improved, what adjustments did you make?) In the first half, I told the players not to push forward too much. Although we conceded one goal, they switched well and managed to keep a clean sheet after that. In the second half, we brought in MF Fujimoto and FW Marco AURELIO to energize the attack, and our original style emerged. Also, MF Iwashita played as a side back to mark Hirayama and delivered passes to the front line, which I think was significant. In many ways, the second half was a game with valuable takeaways."