A soccer style that works in unison on both offense and defense, aiming for victory!

　In Sec. 30 of the league, we will face Shimizu S-Pulse away. In the previous match against Kashiwa, we scored 4 goals from well-coordinated combinations and achieved a convincing victory. However, Ishikawa has injured his left knee and will be sidelined. Despite this situation, Coach Jofuku stated, "Losing the league's top scorer is very painful. However, the healthy players must showcase their strengths and cover for Ishikawa's absence as a team. Our approach will not change from before." This match can be considered a crucial battle to keep any possibility alive for the final match. Aiming for victory while building further unity and playing soccer characteristic of Tokyo.

　Shimizu is currently in 4th place with 50 points. This season, including the Nabisco Cup, their record against Tokyo is 3 wins and 1 draw, making them a favorable opponent. However, Coach Jofuku stated, "We lost last season's match as we were meant to lose. From that point, this season has brought us to a battle where anything could happen. While we can take confidence from being able to compete on equal terms by building ourselves up, they are definitely not an easy opponent to beat." In particular, forward Okazaki, who continues to perform well even in the Japan national team, has a quick start and aggressively exploits gaps in the defense line even when the ball is not near him. It seems we will have to maintain our defensive focus for an extended period, but we want to hold our ground, including coordination with the full-backs and defensive midfielders.

　Tokyo sees Nagatomo return from injury, with Suzuki, who was suspended in the previous match, taking Ishikawa's place as right midfielder. Just like in the last encounter, Shimizu will send long balls to forward Jönsson, who acts as a pivot in the front line, so the key for Tokyo will be how to win the second balls and transition into attack. Yonemoto stated, "Of course, we want to win the second balls, but not just to pass it to Kajiyama; I also want to aim for vertical through balls. That way, we can expand our attacking options." We want to dominate the midfield without losing in terms of work rate.

　Shimizu has a high accuracy in crosses, starting with side back Ichikawa, and wants to create chances by utilizing the abundant stamina of Hanyu and Suzuki without losing in the battles on the sides. Additionally, in recent matches, a rhythm has begun to develop in the partnership of the two forwards, Hirayama and Akamine, so they aim to continue playing coordinated football, leading to goals and victories! The match started at 15:03 with Shimizu's kickoff at Outsourcing Stadium Nihondaira under a gloomy sky with strong winds.

Lead by one point at halftime due to the opponent's own goal

　Both teams aggressively attacked towards each other's goals from the beginning, leading to a quick transition between offense and defense. In the 3rd minute of the first half, a long pass was sent to Suzuki, who surged up the left side from possession at the final line. He then passed it back to the midfield, where Yonemoto and Akamine reorganized the play, shaking up Shimizu's defense and sending it to Tokunaga on the right side. Tokunaga's cross found Suzuki at the far side, who headed it in for a goal! They took an early lead with a great start.

　However, just four minutes later, Shimizu's Hyoho took a right corner kick, which was headed in by forward Okazaki, bringing the score to a tie. This was a goal conceded from a set piece, which has been a problem in recent matches. However, the players did not show any signs of agitation, and the match continued with back-and-forth attacks. In the 25th minute, Nagatomo, who had been suffering from a right shoulder injury since before the match, was substituted for Miku. Miku took the right back position, while Tokunaga moved to left back. In the 37th minute, Tokyo picked up the ball from a scramble and passed it to Akamine up front. It seemed like a goal after skillfully evading the opponent, but it was ruled offside. Gradually, the momentum shifted towards Tokyo.

　Then, in the 39th minute, after gaining a free kick from a matchup on the left side of the Tokyo defense, they quickly restarted. The ball was passed from Hanyu to Kajiyama to Hirayama, advancing into the attacking third. Tokunaga on the left side evaded the opposing defender and delivered a fast cross with his right foot. This was not cleared properly by Shimizu's defender Tanaka, who was waiting in the center, resulting in a fortunate own goal for an additional point. They continued to defend tenaciously against Shimizu's long balls and ended the first half with a one-point lead.

With calm responses to the opponent's counterattacks, we secured our fourth consecutive league victory!

　Tokyo maintains its rhythm in the second half and aggressively attacks. In the 46th minute, Yonemoto quickly reacts to a loose ball in front of the goal and takes a shot, but it's right at the goalkeeper. In the 54th minute, despite being surrounded by two opponents on the left side, Yonemoto delivers a superb loop pass to Hirayama. Hirayama cuts in with a dribble and takes a shot, but it's off target. In the 59th minute, they connect the ball in midfield, and Tokunaga on the left side passes to Hirayama in the center. From this post play, Suzuki takes a direct volley, but it hits the opposing defender and results in a corner kick.

　Following the instructions from Coach Jofuku at halftime, Tokyo patiently circulated the ball without rushing their attack, looking for opportunities. In the 62nd minute, Shimizu's forward Okazaki intercepted a back pass from Bruno QUADROS and aimed for a shot, but missed the connection. Tokyo's mistakes were exploited as Shimizu launched attacks, but these were effectively defended by Tokyo's concentrated defense. Tokyo, wanting an additional goal, saw Bruno QUADROS head a ball from Hanyu's right corner kick in the 74th minute, but it just went over the bar...

　Shimizu became more aggressive by making substitutions, and Tokyo struggled to defend, often losing the ball and allowing Shimizu to advance into their area. In the 76th minute, Tokyo substituted Hiramatsu for Suzuki, and in the 85th minute, they brought in Fujiyama for Hanyu. They continuously sent in defensive players. Thanks to the dedicated defense from Hirayama and Akamine at the front, they managed to contain Shimizu's attacks. In the end, they maintained possession and effectively managed the time, finishing the match. They celebrated their fourth consecutive league victory on away soil.

　[Player Comments] {Suzuki} "(What about the opening goal?) I entered the area at the first timing, but it got a bit chaotic in front of the goal, so I took a moment to reposition myself. I think that was good. The idea of 'repositioning' is something the coach has always told us. I tried to reposition and take a position between the opponents. The result of believing in that led to the goal. The cross came in at an exquisite angle. I instinctively headed it. It felt more like I redirected it rather than just hitting it, but as long as it goes in, that's fine (laughs). If we don't get results as a team because of injuries, people will definitely say things like 'it was because that person wasn't there' or 'it's due to accidents.' I don't want to hear that. I just wanted to get results. It was the same when Cabore was gone, but I want to keep winning until we reach a point where those things aren't said. That's all I want."

　Tokunaga: "There was no chance to go up except to win, and I think it was really significant to get 3 points away. Unlike previous matches, FW Okazaki came in and made a lot of runs behind the defense, and that actually created chances and allowed us to find our rhythm at times. I think it was good that we were able to capitalize on our chances by keeping that in check. I believe we were able to show the shape of the practice we prepared for a week. (What about the assist for the opening goal?) I wasn't really aiming for it. The cross that led to the own goal wasn't something I was targeting either... I just lifted it based on my instincts, but I believed that if I kicked it there, something would happen. (What about the upcoming league matches?) I think the chance for ACL has increased, and to win in the end, we have to keep winning. For that, I want to value each day and fight. There have been accidents like injuries, but I want each player who steps on the field to have awareness and fight with responsibility. (Regarding the Nabisco Cup Final?) This will be my first final, but I want to try to stay calm and approach it normally. I want to prepare well and fight."

　[Summary of Coach Jofuku's Press Conference] "From the perspective of the league standings, we are currently in a situation where we cannot afford to lose any matches to create a miracle in the final match. In particular, today we faced a strong opponent in Shimizu, and since it was an away game, I thought it would be very tough. We approached this match with the awareness that it was a crucial battle in the league. Regarding the content, I believed that if we valued our positions, moved the ball, and patiently connected while navigating through Shimizu's very solid zone defense, we would definitely have chances. Both goals came from shaking the opponent and, in the end, from calm crosses; the first was a header, and the second was an own goal by the opponent, but I think it was a scene where we executed our intended attack. In the end, we all focused on not allowing the opponent to showcase their characteristics or strong points. If we had been a bit more precise towards the end of the second half, we would have had a chance for a third goal, but there were a few mistakes. Nevertheless, winning against Shimizu is very significant for keeping the possibility of creating a miracle in the final match alive, and many fans and supporters came today, so I want to celebrate together with them."

　[Summary of Shimizu Coach Hasegawa's Press Conference] "I am very disappointed that we could not respond to the supporters' cheers. I honestly feel that whether this is the pressure of winning or the pressure of competing for the top, there is an invisible weight that is bearing down on the players. The match turned out to be very tense and heavy, almost resembling self-destruction. However, there are still four matches left, so we cannot give up here. We believe in our strength and want to finish the remaining four matches well for the supporters. With the Emperor's Cup in between, we want to prepare properly and approach the match against Kashiwa."