Match against the top-ranked Urawa, how much of what we have built up can we showcase?

　In Sec. 15, we will face Urawa Reds away. After a disappointing defeat against Oita in the Nabisco Cup, we need to quickly shift our mindset as we have a match just two days later. At the same time, this is a match against the league leaders, and we want to gauge how far Tokyo soccer can go. Coach Jofuku stated, "We want to focus on bringing out all our current strength and fight without regrets." Considering the consecutive matches, we will change the lineup again from the Oita match and will approach this game with the same starting members as in the Chiba league match. Additionally, following the Oita match, Kawaguchi will be on the bench, and Koyama has made his first bench appearance of the season.

　Although Urawa is currently in first place, they have lost their last five matches, including the Nabisco Cup. Additionally, MF Mitsunari, who returned last match, is once again unavailable, putting them in a difficult situation. However, Coach Jofuku stated, "Despite being targeted by all teams, we are still maintaining our top position. The individual skills are high, and as a team, we still have the potential to improve further." In this match, FW Tatsuya TANAKA will make his first start in the league, and MF Toru will be utilized as a defensive midfielder. Furthermore, FW Edmilson and MF Ponte have the ability to break through situations individually, so a strong defense will be required throughout the 90 minutes.

　In attack, to win in our own style, the key is whether we can connect passes and exploit the spaces on the sides of Urawa's three-back defense or get behind the defenders. Also, we want to see Tokyo, who turns the "away pressure into energy (Coach Jofuku)," fight hard in what promises to be an intense game. The match started at 19:04 with Tokyo's kickoff at Saitama Stadium 2002, where the muggy heat from the daytime continues.

An early painful goal conceded, caught in the rhythm by Urawa

　In the 2nd minute, Emerson sent a cross from the left, which was dropped by Hirayama at the far post, and Hanyu took a direct shot. It went over the bar, but it was Tokyo that took the first shot early on. However, in the 3rd minute, Urawa FW Edmilson broke through on Tokyo's right side and delivered a backward pass in front of the goal. It barely missed FW Tatsuya TANAKA, and it seemed they had escaped the danger. But shortly after, in the next play, Urawa MF Hirakawa sent a ball behind Tokyo DF, and FW Tatsuya TANAKA broke free. This time, Tokyo DF could not catch him, and Urawa FW Edmilson scored decisively, allowing an early lead...

　In the 6th minute, Cabore utilized his speed to break into the area and was met with a sliding tackle from the Urawa defender, but no foul was called. After that, Urawa completely seized the rhythm of the game. They struggled against the movements targeting Tatsuya TANAKA behind the defense and were pushed back. Tokyo tried to connect passes and attack when they regained possession, but they were unable to advance against Urawa's pressing.

　Still, they calmly attempted to counterattack with their own style of football. In the 28th minute, Hirayama took possession of a loose ball in midfield and sprinted into the Urawa area. Just before the box, he tried to shoot after cutting back past a DF, but was closed down by the DF and couldn't get the shot off. In the 29th minute, this time Kajiyama dribbled past an opponent and advanced forward. He was fouled and earned a free kick slightly to the left in the Urawa area. However, Kajiyama's shot attempt went wide to the left. In the 32nd minute, from a right throw-in, Hanyu received a return pass from Cabore and delivered a cross. Hirayama tried to dive in but it was caught by the GK.

　In the 34th minute, Kajiyama spread the ball to the right. Tokunaga, who moved up, sent a cross directly, earning a corner kick. However, Hayakawa's right corner kick was cleared. In the 39th minute, Tokunaga and Konno attacked inside the area, trying to pick up the loose ball for a shot. However, there were few decisive moments... In the 44th minute, from Emerson's right corner kick, Konno headed the ball but hit the post... They could not capitalize on the few chances they had, allowing a one-goal lead and ending the first half.

Although we controlled the ball in the second half, we couldn't break through Urawa's solid defense...

　In the second half, Urawa substituted FW Tatsuya TANAKA in the 54th minute and MF Ponte, who had injured his foot, in the 57th minute, bringing on FW Nagai and MF Umezaki. However, as time passed, Urawa began to slow down, allowing Tokyo to dominate possession. In the 61st minute, Konno, Kajiwara, Emerson, and Kanazawa connected passes, and finally, Cabore and Emerson made runs into the area, but they could not finish in front of Urawa's heavily defended goal. In the 62nd minute, Emerson's through ball found Hirayama, who was free in the right area. He took a shot after dribbling, which was a decisive moment, but it went wide of the target.

　In the 67th minute, Kawaguchi was brought on for Cabore. He tried to seize the rhythm with movements that exploited the space behind the opponent's defense. In the 71st minute, Hanyu caught up with a switch from left to right and connected to Tokunaga. Tokunaga's cross was met with a decisive header from Kawaguchi, but it was thwarted by the opponent's goalkeeper with a one-handed save... Next, Hanyu broke through on the right flank and sent a sharp cross, but Kawaguchi couldn't connect. In the 74th minute, Emerson was substituted, and Hanyu, who slipped past the offside line, delivered a sharp right cross parallel to the goal. Kawaguchi at the far post tried to connect, but the shot went wide. In the following 75th minute, Emerson was fouled, earning a free kick in the center of Urawa's half. However, Tokunaga's attempted shot went over the bar.

　In the 78th minute, Tokunaga aimed a precise shot from the right side. Although Konno tried to capitalize on the rebound from the GK's save, he was thwarted by the Urawa DF, and they couldn't take advantage of the opportunity while attacking. In the 88th minute, a long pass from Urawa DF allowed FW Nagai to break through, resulting in the second goal conceded, sealing their fate... In the end, they couldn't break through Urawa's compact defense and lost without scoring. It was a tough match where the difference in finishing ability was evident.

　【Player Comments】《Konno》"It was painful to concede a goal early on. I anticipated that the opponent would try to exploit the space behind us, but we couldn't stop it. However, after conceding, we were able to make adjustments, and I had a feeling that if we scored one goal, the momentum would change. If I had scored with my header in the first half... We need to be more creative in our attacking play to score goals." 《Kawaguchi》"There was a crucial header that I wanted to convert... Before entering the match, I was instructed to find space and keep the ball, and also to contribute defensively. The opponent was tired, so I wanted to make an impact since I got the chance to play. Just being 'close' isn't enough. In the first half, they came at us desperately, and we couldn't advance, but in the second half, we were moving the ball around. I thought it was necessary to exploit the flanks at some point, and I was conscious of that. I believe it's important to switch our mentality as well."

　[Summary of Coach Jofuku's Press Conference] "It was most painful that we conceded a goal before we could organize our defense and midfield against Urawa's forward Tanaka, who came on. We wanted to turn the game around while playing our style of football, but they didn't give us much time to do that, and the players were frustrated. I think that was because we conceded first. I don't know how much actual time there was, but we wanted to play a game as close to 90 minutes as possible. In that sense, today's loss is truly regrettable. (What was the intention behind bringing in Kawaguchi and Ishikawa?) To control the ball and build up play while switching sides to break down the opponent. I think we were able to build up with that aim. However, even though we had chances, we couldn't exploit the space behind the opponent's wing-backs. Cabore was also physically unable to move, so we brought in Kawaguchi, who is good at entering that space. As for Ishikawa, he has finishing ability, so we brought him in with the hope that he could create something if given a chance. However, I think he had too little time."

　【Urawa - GERT ENGELS' press conference summary】 "We started with a really good rhythm and scored early. The passing and ball keeping were nearly perfect in the first half, but it would have been easier if we could have scored one more goal. In the second half, we had to defend for a longer period, but everyone stayed focused and fought throughout the match, and Nagai's second goal decided the game. The points for reflection are that we could have kept possession a bit more in the second half, and it would have been easier if we had scored a second goal in the first half. We had consecutive losses, but winning today without conceding a goal is very significant. I thank the players and supporters. (Why was FW Takahara left out of the starting lineup?) It's not that his condition is bad, but FW Tatsuya TANAKA is in good form. The combination with FW Edmilson is also good. (Will MF Toriya continue in midfield?) He is a player who can influence the team from the central position, both in play and with his voice. He did very well today."