The crucial match of the final league round, fight with focus and passion

　The league matches are finally reaching their climax, and the final match will be against JEF United Chiba. In the previous match, despite struggling under Niigata's pressure, we celebrated a victory in our final home game, moving up to 5th place. Although it depends on others, there is still a possibility of rising to 3rd place depending on the results of this match, and we will not give up until the very end, doing our utmost to seize victory. However, Ishikawa has injured his right foot and will be forced to miss the match. Additionally, Kajiyama will be suspended again following the previous match. Therefore, Suzuki will make his first start since transferring in the right midfield position. The formation will feature Kono and Asari in the defensive midfield, with Cabore and Akamine forming the two-top attack.

　Chiba is currently in 17th place, and even a draw this round would result in automatic relegation to J2, so it is essential to secure all 3 points. They are expected to adopt an aggressive approach, but for Tokyo to win, it is crucial not to be on the defensive mentally. In defense, one key point is to contain Chiba's scoring source, forward Maki, including during set pieces. It is important not only to mark him closely but also to be cautious of the accurate balls sent in from the sides by midfielders Michel, Tanizawa, and Fukai.

　Chiba's quick transitions between offense and defense mean they want to compete without losing in terms of physical exertion. In attack, it will depend on how calmly they can evade Chiba's intense pressing and move the ball forward to switch the play. They want to break down Chiba's well-organized defense with the speedy movements of Cabore, Hanyu, and Suzuki. Chiba's DF Bosnar is suspended, and DF Hayakawa will be used as a center back. Additionally, they have made some changes to the lineup from the previous match, with GK Kushino making his first start in this league, and the midfield will consist of Toda and Kudo, with Fukai playing as left midfielder.

　Although it was a clear day, a cold strong wind blew, making the Fukuda Denshi Arena quite chilly. With a sense of tension filling the stands even before the match, Coach Jofuku stated, "This is a special game for both sides. We came to the stadium with that determination. I understand that the motivation of the Chiba players is something we cannot imagine, but it is only by securing 3 points in this situation that we can move forward. This will be a game that tests whether we can step up or not." The crucial match kicked off at 14:34 in Tokyo.

Avoiding Chiba's press and seizing the flow, Cabore scores the opening goal!

　The intense back-and-forth continued from the start. Chiba applied powerful pressure from the front line, while Tokyo matched them with their movement and momentum, launching quick attacks with fast transitions between offense and defense. Shortly after the start, Suzuki received a pass from the center, advanced to the right area, and took a sharp shot. The goalkeeper made a save, resulting in a right corner kick, but Tokunaga's kick was cleared, leading to a counterattack. However, Tokyo defended well with their defensive line and quickly launched another attack. In the 5th minute, Hanyu received a return pass from Cabore and advanced while shooting. The timing was good, but the distance was too far, and he couldn't hit the target.

　In the 19th minute, from a midfield battle, Konno sends a floating pass to the front line. Cabore breaks free, but the ball is a bit too long and is caught by the opposing goalkeeper. Chiba also shows their fighting spirit, and in the 21st minute, from a right early cross, FW Maki heads the ball over Sahara's head, but Shiota catches it easily. After that, Hanyu, Suzuki, and others utilize their decisive movements to create chances. There were moments where they struggled against Chiba's intensity, but in the 27th minute, Chiba's FW Ronaldo faced off one-on-one with Nagatomo, and Nagatomo successfully defended. In the 29th minute, Cabore played the ball to Akamine, who persistently connected it to Asari, who moved up freely from midfield. Asari took a well-timed shot from distance, but it went to the left...

　In the 38th minute, Nagatomo's cross flew to the far post, where Suzuki, running in free, took a direct shot but was denied by the GK's save... However, in the 39th minute, Tokunaga took the corner kick earned from this, and Cabore scored with a header, breaking free from the opponent's mark to take the lead!

　In the 40th minute, from a fast cross by Chiba, FW Maki was consecutively headed the ball. In the 44th minute, trying to exploit the gap behind Tokyo's defense, MF Reinaudo sprinted down the right side. He sent a cross parallel to the goal from the area, but MF Fukai dove in, only to be cut off by Tokunaga's sliding tackle. They maintained their concentration and defended well; it was certainly not an easy situation, but they managed to take the lead and head into the second half.

Although they extended their lead with Nagatomo's goal, they suffered a comeback loss by conceding goals in the final stages.

　In the second half, Chiba's intense pressing eased somewhat, allowing Tokyo to control the ball, find their rhythm, and launch an attack. In the 47th minute, Konno intercepted a pass in midfield and dribbled fiercely. He connected with Akamine on the left, who got into shooting position but was blocked. However, he regained the loose ball and passed to Hanyu, who was free. It was a decisive moment, but Hanyu's powerful shot from distance hit the post... The rebound was picked up by Suzuki, who shot from the right side, but it went well over the bar. In the 53rd minute, they launched a counterattack, with Konno passing to Nagatomo, who calmly cut back inside the opposing defender just outside the area and took a shot. This one found the back of the net, giving them a two-goal lead!!

　Having completely seized the momentum, Tokyo did not give Chiba any chances, as Cabore, Suzuki, and others launched successive attacks on the Chiba goal with their smooth passing. However, they were unable to convert any of their clear opportunities, and time passed without securing the third goal to finish off Chiba.

　Chiba did not give up, substituting MF Michieu for FW Niihira in the 56th minute, and MF Fukai for MF Tanizawa in the 63rd minute. Tokyo also brought in Ohtake for Hanyu in the 63rd minute, both teams showing an attacking intent. In the 74th minute, Chiba lost the ball in midfield, leading to a long pass behind Tokyo's DF. FW Niihira broke free to receive it. The shot taken after a one-touch deflected off Shiota's outstretched hand and went into the goal. After conceding a goal due to a mistake, in the following 77th minute, Chiba's FW Maki won a duel in the front line, and MF Tanizawa ran in free to score with a powerful shot...

　In the blink of an eye, they were caught up to a tie, and still aiming for victory, they went for a goal, but instead, they became unsettled in front of Chiba's intensity, losing their balance. In the 80th minute, they failed to clear a contested ball from Chiba FW Maki once again, and Konno fouled Chiba MF Ronaldo, who had taken the ball in the area, resulting in a penalty kick. This penalty kick was successfully converted by Chiba MF Ronaldo himself, allowing them to take the lead.

　After that, in the 81st minute, Kondo was substituted for Suzuki, and in the 86th minute, Hirayama was brought in for Asari as they tried to recover a goal. However, in the 85th minute, MF Tanizawa broke free from a vertical pass from Chiba and dribbled solo. They conceded a fourth goal as a final blow. Despite having a two-goal lead, they could not stop Chiba's determination and momentum, and in the remaining 15 minutes, they continued to concede goals and lost in a comeback... As a result, they dropped one rank and finished the league in 6th place.

　【Player Comments】<Hanyu> "To my teammates in Tokyo, the supporters, and everyone involved, I feel sorry for not being able to give my best. Today, I expected the game to be a kicking battle at first, and within that, I tried to be a focal point up front to create the game to some extent and get involved in the attack. I could feel the momentum was on our side, and after scoring two goals, there was a chance to finish it off. It's disappointing that we couldn't do that. I regret not being on the pitch when we were caught up. Of course, I didn't intend to give my all from the start and last the full 90 minutes... but if there is an aspect that I was beaten because of that, I need to focus on being able to stay on the pitch for 90 minutes. To level up as a football player, I want to think about that. From the match against Chiba, I learned that we must believe in our football, and also that the opposite can happen. I want to connect each step to the Emperor's Cup." <Suzuki> "It was an important match for both teams. Even so, we did not take a defensive stance against Chiba's fighting spirit, and played aggressively as usual, trying to keep pushing forward. There were parts where things went as planned, but I felt we lacked the strength to secure the win. With Chiba desperately coming at us, it became difficult to make decisions after conceding. We tried to score, but whether the decisions made along the way were correct... various aspects need correction. I really wanted to produce results in my first start... The game was under good control until midway, so now I am full of frustration."

　[Summary of Coach Shirofuku's Press Conference] "In the final league match, Chiba absolutely could not lose, and we absolutely had to win, so it was a game with a different atmosphere than usual. The players stood on the pitch with that determination, but the fear of being 2-0 down, the inability to stop the collapse once it started, and the scenes of conceding goals revealed the challenges we faced this season. Including that, I felt that the current state of the team is reflected in the league matches, and our strength cannot be hidden. In the end, our weak points were exposed. Not holding on after the score became 2-2 is a current issue for us. We want to take that seriously. At the same time, we must learn from Chiba's spirit today. We want to carry that into the Emperor's Cup. (What caused the sudden change from a 2-goal lead to conceding 4 goals?) Each conceded goal was different, so I can't point to just one cause. It was about not making mistakes on where to put in effort, decisions on whether to hold the line or drop back, and various other factors that were exposed. Also, the atmosphere that we could score a third goal at any time was very frightening. We should have learned how scary a 2-0 scoreline can be. (What was the intention behind substituting player Hanyu?) He played at a high pace from the first half, with very good quantity and quality of movement. However, just before the substitution, his leg cramped and his movement decreased. I don't know if the timing was good, but I wanted to use the space created by his movement to control the ball. (After finishing the league) We accept our position firmly. There were matches where luck was on our side and others where it was not, but the ranking is fair. The result of 6th place under various circumstances reflects our current strength. However, this is not the end; we will learn from every match and build up steadily. Today was just one match in that process. The Emperor's Cup remains, so we want to reflect and prepare for it."

　[Summary of the press conference by Chiba's coach Alex MILLER] "From the start, we played very well with counterattacks after winning the ball. However, the final part was not good. The team did not function well there. We tried to fix that at halftime. The first goal we conceded came from a corner kick where the marking was not tight, resulting in a bad goal. In the second half, our short corner passes were delayed, allowing the opponent to steal the ball and score on a counterattack. On the other hand, we scored at a very good moment. When we equalized 2-2, I truly believed we could win. I think our players maintained good fitness until the end. There was a risk of relegation in today's match, but the players gave their all. Since I took over, the team's condition has gradually improved, and we have been earning about 1.65 points per game. I think we have recovered well from being at the bottom. However, while we can be happy today, tomorrow is no good. For both myself and the players, winning next season's league matches is what success means. I made many important decisions today. That is what being a coach is about. I changed the captain, the goalkeeper, and midfielder Tanizawa. After conceding, I brought in players who could do the right job. I gave those players proper guidance, and since they understood the breakthrough of Tokyo's number 9 and the opponent's tactics, they also understood what kind of plan to approach with. (Differences between Japan and the Premier League?) There are many, but Japanese players have technique and a great attitude toward training. If told to do what they did on the right on the left side, they can do it. Regarding our team, we need to adjust our defense a bit more. We have conceded many goals in recent matches. Also, it is important to find the opponent's weaknesses and exploit them, and to firmly control the game in the final stages. We must learn these things. (Next season?) First, it is important to raise the team's standard. Without taking responsibility and doing the assigned tasks, we cannot move forward. Even with a small squad, I want to build a team where everyone can play and fight in matches. I want the players to work with ambition."