Can we show what we have built up so far in the match against the top-ranked Urawa?

　League Sec. 15 will face Urawa Reds and go away. Although they suffered a frustrating defeat in the Nabisco Oita match, they will need to quickly switch their mindset as they have a consecutive match in just two days. At the same time, it is a match where they want to grasp the feeling of how far Tokyo's soccer can go against the top team. Coach Jofuku said, "We want to focus on giving our all with our current strength and have no regrets in the battle." Considering the consecutive matches, the starting lineup will be changed again from the Oita match and will face the same starting lineup as the Chiba match in the league. In addition, Kawaguchi will enter the bench again after the Oita match, and Koyama also made his first bench appearance of the season.

　Urawa, on the other hand, is currently in first place, but has lost five consecutive games including the Nabisco Cup. In addition, MF Mitsudomoe, who returned in the previous round, is once again absent, making the situation difficult. However, Coach Jofuku says, "Despite being targeted by all teams, we are still in first place. We have strong individual players and the potential to improve as a team." In this round, FW Tanaka will make his first start in the league, and MF Tatsuya TANAKA will be used as a defensive midfielder. In addition, FW Edmilson and MF Ponte have the ability to break through on their own, so a strong defense will be required for the full 90 minutes.

　In the attack, the key will be whether Urawa can exploit the spaces on the sides and behind the defense while connecting passes in their own style to win. Tokyo, who will "turn the away pressure into energy (Coach Jofuku)" will also be fighting, and we can expect a heated game. The match started at 19:04 with Tokyo's kickoff at the Saitama Stadium 2002, where the hot and humid weather continues since the afternoon.

Early painful goal, Urawa takes control of the rhythm

　2 minutes, Emerson -> Kanazawa, who went up to the left, sent a cross, and Hirayama in the far post dropped it, and Hayabusa took a direct shot. It missed above the frame, but it was Tokyo who took the first shot early on. However, in the 3rd minute, Urawa FW Edmilson broke through Tokyo's right side and sent a minus pass to the front of the goal. FW Tatsuya Tanaka ran in, but just missed it, and it seemed like the danger was avoided. However, in the next play, MF Hirakawa from Urawa sent a ball behind Tokyo's DF, and FW Tatsuya Tanaka broke through. Tokyo's DF couldn't catch him, and this time Edmilson from Urawa scored perfectly, giving up the lead early on...

　At 6 minutes, Cabore used his speed to break through into the area, but there was no foul despite being tackled by the Urawa DF. After that, Urawa completely took control of the rhythm. They were troubled by the movements of FW Tatsuya TANAKA and were pushed back. Tokyo tried to attack by connecting passes after winning the ball, but they were unable to move forward against Urawa's press.

　Still, we tried to counterattack with our own soccer, and in the 28th minute, Hirayama sprinted through the Urawa defense with a loose ball in the midfield. He tried to cut back and shoot in front of the area, but was closed down by the DF and couldn't get a shot off. In the 29th minute, Kajiyama dribbled past an opponent and advanced. He was fouled and we got a free kick just left of the Urawa goal. However, Kajiyama's shot missed to the left. In the 32nd minute, Hayashi received a return pass from Hayashi after a right throw-in and crossed. Hirayama tried to jump in, but the GK caught it.

　In the 34th minute, Kajiyama expanded to the right. Tokunaga went up and sent a direct cross, earning a CK. However, Hayashi's right CK was cleared. In the 39th minute, Tokunaga and Konno attacked inside the area and tried to pick up the loose ball for a shot. However, there were few decisive moments... In the 44th minute, from Emerson's right CK, Konno headed the ball but hit the post... Unable to convert their few chances, they ended the first half with a 1-0 lead.

In the second half, we dominated the ball but couldn't break through Urawa's solid defense...

　In the second half, Urawa made substitutions with FW Tatsuya TANAKA in the 54th minute and MF PONTE, who had injured his foot in the 57th minute, being replaced by FW NAGAI and MF UMEZAKI. However, as time passed, Urawa's legs began to slow down and Tokyo took control of the ball. In the 61st minute, IMANO, KAJIYAMA, Emerson, and KANAZAWA connected passes, and in the end, Cabore and Emerson made runs into the area, but they were unable to finish against the crowded Urawa defense. In the 62nd minute, Emerson made a through pass to Julian, who was left free on the right side. He took a shot from a dribble, but it went wide, missing a crucial opportunity.

　Substituted Kawaguchi for Cabore in the 67th minute. He tried to grasp the rhythm by moving into the space behind the opponent's DF. In the 71st minute, Hayashi caught up with the side change from left to right and connected it to Tokunaga. Kawaguchi headed decisively from Tokunaga's cross, but it was saved by the opponent's GK with one hand... Next, Hayashi, who broke through the offside line, sent a sharp cross from the right front line, but Kawaguchi couldn't finish it. In the 74th minute, Hayashi, who broke through the offside line, sent a sharp right cross parallel to the goal. Kawaguchi on the far side tried to finish it, but the shot went wide. In the following 75th minute, Emerson was fouled and got a free kick in the center of the Urawa field. However, Tokunaga's shot missed the target.

　78 minutes, Tokunaga aimed for a sharp middle from the right side. Although Konno tried to follow up on the goalkeeper's save, he was blocked by the Urawa DF and couldn't take advantage of the opportunity. In the 88th minute, Urawa's long pass led to a second goal by FW Nagai, sealing the deal... In the end, we couldn't break through Urawa's defensive strategy and suffered a defeat with no points. It was a tough match where we could feel the difference in finishing ability.

　【Player Comments】《Imano》"It was painful to concede a goal early on. We expected the opponent to attack from behind, but we couldn't stop it. However, we were able to make adjustments after conceding and I had a feeling that the momentum would change if we scored one goal. In the first half, if I had scored a header... We need to come up with more attacking strategies to score."《Kawaguchi》"There was a decisive header, but I wanted to score... Before coming on, I was instructed to go out into space and keep the ball, and also to defend. The opponent was tired, so I wanted to make the most of my chance to play and get a result. It's not enough to just say 'unlucky'. In the first half, the opponent was desperate and we couldn't move the ball forward, but in the second half, we were able to pass the ball around. I was conscious of the need to attack from the sides, but it's important to switch mentally as well."

　[Summary of Manager Jofuku's Press Conference] "The most painful thing was that Urawa scored a goal before we could organize ourselves against Tanaka, who was playing as a forward. We wanted to turn the game around while playing our own style of football, but we were not given enough time to do so and the players were getting frustrated. I think it was because we conceded a goal first. I don't know how much actual time was left, but we wanted to play the game as close to 90 minutes as possible. In that sense, today's loss is truly regrettable. (What was the intention behind bringing on players Kawaguchi and Ishikawa?) To control the ball, build up play, and break down the opponent by switching sides. I think we were able to do that. However, even though we had chances, we couldn't exploit the space behind the opponent's wing-back who was left open. We brought on Kawaguchi, who is good at finding space, as Cabore was getting tired and couldn't move as well. As for Ishikawa, he has good finishing ability, so we brought him on with the expectation that he would create something if given a chance. However, I think he didn't have enough time."

　[Urawa Engels coach press conference summary] "We were able to start with a very good rhythm and score early. We were able to pass and keep the ball, and the first half was almost perfect, but it would have been easier if we had scored one more goal. In the second half, we had to defend for a long time, but everyone concentrated and fought, moved, and the game was decided by Nagai's second goal. The point of reflection is that if we could have kept the ball a little more in the second half, and if we had scored a second goal in the first half, it would have been even easier. We had a losing streak, but it was very important that we were able to win without conceding today. I am grateful to the players and supporters. (Why did you leave FW Takahara out of the starting lineup?) It's not because he's in bad shape, but because FW Tanaka Tatsu is in good shape. The combination with FW Edmilson is also good. (Will MF Taro continue to play in the midfield?) He is a player who can influence the team in the center position. Both in play and in voice. He did well today."