Focus on the current match and accumulate points

　In Sec. 28 of the league, we will face Shimizu S-Pulse at home. In the previous match, despite struggling, we showed our ability to capitalize on chances and achieved our fifth consecutive win. This match is crucial as it could mark our first six consecutive wins in J1. Particularly this season, we have not won against Shimizu, with one draw and two losses including the Nabisco Cup, so this is also a match where we want to achieve revenge.

　Shimizu is currently in 8th place with 37 points. In the last match, they narrowly lost to Kashima, but since Sec. 18, they have not suffered any consecutive losses, and they have advanced to the finals of the Nabisco Cup, showing an upward trend. Their defense is solid, and their ball possession in midfield is high, indicating a high level of maturity. In the attack, FW Nishizawa will be absent, but FW Okazaki is maintaining good form. In this match, they formed a two-top with FW Hara, with Hyodo on the left MF and Yamamoto on the right.

　Tokyo, with Bruno QUADROS and Hanyu injured again and leaving the team, will see the return of Konno and Hirayama after their suspension this match. Konno, Asari, and Kajiyama will form the defensive midfield, with Cabore and Ishikawa on the wings, and Akamine leading the front line. Building on the recently stable defense, they aim to take control on the sides and create chances. Currently, they are 4 points behind the leaders, and while the gap is closing, the focus is solely on winning against Shimizu in front of them and steadily accumulating points.

　It was a clear day with rising temperatures, and Ajinomoto Stadium attracted 30,410 spectators. The match started at 15:04 with Shimizu's kickoff.

Lost rhythm and conceded 3 goals in the first half...

　In the early stages, Shimizu slightly dominated possession, but the back-and-forth battle continued. In the 6th minute, Kajiyama sent a long pass to the front line, and Akamine, who broke through on the left side, took a shot as he entered the area, but it went outside the side netting. In the 12th minute, Shimizu forward Hara aimed for the goal from the right side. In the 14th minute, Nagatomo advanced, and Ishikawa, who followed, circled in to take a shot. In the 17th minute, Ishikawa sprinted into the right area from a pass aimed behind Shimizu's defense by Asari. They earned a corner kick, but none of the chances were converted.

　In the 20th minute, Shimizu FW Hara connected with MF Edamura with a header after a clearance from Tokyo, and the ball was passed to right-side MF Yamamoto Makoto. Seeing that there was no pressure from Tokyo, MF Yamamoto Makoto boldly took a shot from distance. The highly accurate shot was absorbed into the goal, allowing the opponent to take the lead. This moment energized Shimizu, who began to gather long balls to FW Okazaki, picking up second balls to launch secondary attacks. Nevertheless, Tokyo was on the lookout for chances, and in the 28th minute, FK was connected by Cabore, and Akamine surged into the area. He was brought down by the opposing DF, but there was no foul called on Shimizu.

　As time passed, they were pushed back by Shimizu and lost their rhythm, and in the 38th minute, Shimizu FW Okazaki broke into the area. This was avoided by a corner kick, but in the 39th minute, Shimizu MF Hyodo's sharp right corner kick was beyond the reach of the rushing Shiota. Shimizu DF Iwashita managed to push it in while tangled with Tokunaga, scoring the second goal.

　In the 44th minute, Kajiyama cut back past the opposing defender and took a shot from the middle, but it went to the left. Immediately after that, they were unable to stop a quick attack from Shimizu following a goal kick. FW Okazaki dribbled up the right side and passed to the central FW Hara. With his back to the goal, FW Hara skillfully turned after trapping the ball, quickly slipped between Tokunaga and Shigeno, and charged towards the goal. Shiota bravely came out, but the rebound from his save rolled into the net. They suffered a painful development by conceding a third goal in stoppage time, ending the first half.

Emerson, counterattacking from Ohtake! Although they scored a goal, they suffered a heavy defeat with 5 goals conceded...

　In the second half, Emerson and Otake were brought in to replace Ishikawa and Asari. Right after the start, Cabore received a pass from Emerson and broke through on the left side, but was blocked just before the goal. In the 49th minute, Otake created rhythm with a dribble and passed to Cabore on the left. Cabore delivered a cross, but the Shimizu goalkeeper caught it. In the 51st minute, Nagatomo surged up the right side, circled in, and took a shot. It went over the goal, but Emerson and Otake created flow with their dribbling and fluid movements, while Konno and both full-backs also pushed forward to seize the pace. In the 59th minute, Kajiyama on the right side passed to Emerson, who exchanged a one-two with Konno in front of the goal and advanced into the right area. Calmly evading the opposing defender, he shot! The ball pierced the net perfectly, bringing one point back.

　As the mood for a counterattack rises, in the 64th minute, Otake's left corner kick is met by Sahara, but the opposing GK makes a save just in time. In the 67th minute, Akamine, who drifted to the right, crosses the ball. Konno, free in front of the goal, makes a diving header! He created a decisive chance, but it went straight to the GK... In the 71st minute, Emerson passes to Konno in the area, and Cabore gets into shooting position, but is blocked by the Shimizu defender.

　In the 75th minute, Hirayama was brought on for Cabore. He sent in crosses from the side, aiming for an additional goal. In the 76th minute, Nagatomo on the right and Emerson on the left made a wide attack, but Emerson's final cross did not reach Hirayama. Conversely, Shimizu brought in defensive players, MF Marcos Paulo and DF Ichikawa, to strengthen their defense. However, right after DF Ichikawa came on in the 78th minute, he lost the ball in midfield, and Shimizu's FW Hara rushed towards the goal. Drawing in the Tokyo DF, he passed to FW Okazaki, who was marked by Nagatomo. However, Okazaki took a powerful shot and scored the fourth goal.

　Nevertheless, they maintained their attacking stance until the end and approached the Shimizu goal, but in the 79th minute, Hirayama's header from Tokunaga's cross went over the bar. In the 86th minute, Tokunaga advanced high up the field again and delivered a left cross. Hirayama at the far post struck a high header, and Akamine was also there to capitalize on the goalkeeper's spill, but they were unable to break through the defense. They launched a fierce attack during the 3 minutes of stoppage time, but could not penetrate Shimizu's solid defense. Conversely, just before the end, a long pass to the front line from Shimizu allowed forward Okazaki to break into the area. Shinobu tried to hold him back, but a backward pass was made to the midfield. There, substitute Shimizu forward Toda ran in, and Tokyo could not catch him, allowing him to score easily, sealing the match... They could not achieve a sixth consecutive win and suffered a harsh defeat with a large number of goals conceded.

　【Player Comments】《Emerson》"It was a tough match as we conceded 3 goals in the first half. In the second half, we found our rhythm and tried to catch up, but we couldn't. The goal came from exchanging passes with Konno, receiving the return, and calmly entering the area. (Although I wasn't a starter?) Not only me, but whether starting or coming on as a substitute, I always try to contribute to the team with my best effort. I gave it my all... However, the league is not over today. Although the result was disappointing, even after the match ended, I could hear the strong support from the fans. I want to take that energy and achieve better results next time." 《Konno》"The team was building good momentum, and I had a strong desire not to lose after returning. I entered the match with that feeling, but I couldn't play well at the start. I'm very frustrated with this result. In the second half, I just tried to push the ball forward and think I was able to do so without fear... If I had scored my header, I think Tokyo's momentum would have been stronger. Recently, the starts haven't been good. I want to take control of the pace from the beginning and improve our game management over the full 90 minutes. Many fans came today expecting a good game, and I apologize for the heavy defeat. Still, I'm very happy that they supported us until the end. We have to keep working hard."

　[Summary of Coach Shirofuku's Press Conference] "The players stood on the pitch with passion, but unfortunately, we could not meet everyone's expectations. In the first half, Shimizu simply aimed for the behind and collected second balls. We had to be more patient and maintain possession when the ball was with us, but the game turned into a bit of a kicking battle that we lost. Still, it would have been better if we could have kept the goals conceded to zero or at a minimum. Including just before the end of the first half, conceding three goals and everyone getting unsettled was the biggest cause of the defeat. In the second half, we had no choice but to attack, so to turn the kicking battle into our pace, we considered player positioning and mindset to control the ball and carry it into the opponent's attacking third. The players positively aimed for the goal, and although there was fighting spirit, the final step was just out of reach, and conceding the fourth goal was decisive. We want to seriously reflect on the technical and tactical aspects. (You haven't won against Shimizu this season; do you have a psychological barrier?) Even if people say that, I don't think there is a psychological barrier. I approached this match reflecting on the previous three games, but maybe the analysis was insufficient, or the players and our efforts were lacking... We want to reflect properly once again and make corrections for the next match. Even so, after the game, the supporters kept singing, teaching us that we must not give up. From here on, it will be a tournament situation, but hearing the songs from the stands after the match, I renewed my determination to win all six matches."

　[Summary of Shimizu Manager Masaru HASEGAWA's Press Conference] "The result was surprisingly excellent. Although we lost to Kashima in the previous match, it was a learning game about what we could gain from that. The players switched their mindset well and showed today the parts they couldn't in the last match. We scored at a good time, and although we were pressed in the second half, we managed to concede only one goal. Also, scoring an additional goal during that time was a very important point in today's game. We don't know what would have happened if Konno's header had gone in, and although the final score was a big difference, it was by no means an easy match. Based on the content, it was a development where either team could have won. (The reason for slightly changing the lineup from the previous match) FC Tokyo also changed their midfield formation. That was a choice made as a result of analyzing each other. Before the break, being able to beat the team currently on a roll and finishing the busy September schedule, including the Nabisco Cup, with a win was significant. Since matches against top teams continue after the break, we want to prepare well and aim for an even higher position."