Final league match, aiming for 3 points away!

　The final match of the league will be an away game against Albirex Niigata. In the previous home match, we secured a victory by capitalizing on set-piece opportunities after a resilient fight. As a result, we have risen to 5th place. Although it depends on others, if we win this match, there is a possibility to reach 4th place at best. We will showcase what we have built up this season and go for the 3 points with a strong mindset, even in an away game!

　Niigata, sitting in 8th place with 49 points, will be without key midfielder Honma, who is suspended for this match. Additionally, midfielder Marcio Richardes, who has scored 10 goals this season, and forward Oshima are unavailable due to injuries. However, Niigata boasts the league's fewest total goals conceded at 30, and breaking through this solid defense will be crucial. Coach Jofuku stated, "Considering Niigata's strong defense, I believe the match will be decided in a very tight manner. We want to fight patiently and turn a close contest in our favor."

　Tokyo has welcomed back Kajiwara and Hirayama from suspension, returning to the starting lineup. Continuing from the previous match, Hirayama will be utilized as a center-back considering Niigata. In attack, against Niigata's defensive midfielders who solidify the center, Tokyo aims to first seize control in midfield, utilizing the width of the pitch for attacks and repeatedly leveraging Suzuki's speed to break through. Additionally, against the opponent's sharp counters and crosses from the sides, as shown in the previous match against Kobe, the full-backs will focus on maintaining balance and aim to prevent conceding goals with a resilient performance.

　Coach Jofuku reiterated, "Just because it's the final match, it doesn't mean it provides any advantage. While I am happy that we can still fight with even a slight possibility of qualifying for the ACL, regardless of our ranking, we will focus solely on proving our strength this season and securing points." As always, we are preparing to concentrate on winning the upcoming match. The game started at 15:33 with Niigata's kickoff at Tohoku Electric Power Big Swan Stadium.

First goal by Hokuto! Leading at halftime.

　At the start, Niigata's press was intense, making it difficult to connect passes and launch an attack. There were moments when we faced counterattacks, but we remained calm in defense and built blocks to hold our ground. In the 12th minute, Konno's long feed from the defensive line was headed down by Hirayama while competing with an opponent, and Nakamura, who was running into the center, aimed for the goal with a direct shot. The shot hit the left post and bounced back inside, resulting in a goal. We capitalized on the opportunity and took the lead.

　Tokyo, gaining momentum, primarily launches attacks from the left side. In the 16th minute, Nagatomo advanced with a dribble, broke free after a one-two with Hanyu, and delivered a cross. In the 22nd minute, Hanyu exchanged passes with Hirayama and sent a left cross. Neither was able to connect in front of the goal, but the flow is not bad. However, gradually, New York began to take control with their quick starts. In the 28th minute, from a right corner kick, DF Chiyohanda unleashed a powerful diving header. Tokyo's DF desperately cleared the shot that hit the post, preventing a goal.

　Although the ball was controlled, no decisive chances were created during the flow of the game. In the 31st minute, Tokyo launched a counterattack, with Hanyu sprinting up the left side and delivering a through pass behind the opposing defenders. It seemed that Suzuki had timed his run perfectly, but he was ruled offside. In the 34th minute, from a left-side free kick, Suzuki kicked the ball to the near post where Hirayama connected with his head, but it went wide of the goal. In stoppage time, Hirayama persistently attacked on the left flank, maneuvering past the opposing defender near the goal line and advancing into the box. He aimed for a shot from a tight angle, but it went well wide. After the 25th minute, even though Niigata controlled the ball, the defense, led by Konno, remained calm and composed. They finished the first half maintaining a one-goal lead.

Allowed a heartbreaking equalizer just before the end, finishing in a draw

　After the start of the second half, Tokyo showed a proactive attitude and advanced the game in Niigata's territory. In the 47th minute, Konno made a fierce overlap and won a corner kick. On the second left corner kick, Suzuki's kick was aimed at Hiramatsu, but he couldn't connect. In the 50th minute, Hanyu drew Nagatomo's overlap and delivered a left cross. Hirayama jumped in, but couldn't connect with the header. In the 54th minute, from a speedy development, Hirayama sprinted down the right side after a one-two with Nakamura. YoneMoto created a decisive chance with a cross, but his left-footed shot was blocked by the goalkeeper's save.

　In the 70th minute, Kajiyama's vertical pass was dropped by Hirayama, and Suzuki and Nagatomo also ran forward, but they were defended by Niigata's DF. In the 76th minute, from a cross by Kajiyama who broke through on the right flank, Hirayama attempted a heel shot while holding off the opposing DF, but it went straight to the GK. In the 80th minute, Hirayama took a shot from a pass by substitute Akamine, but this was also blocked by the GK... There were also mistakes during the attack, leading to sharp counterattacks, but while Niigata's attacks were firmly contained, time passed without converting the chances.

　In the 82nd minute, Fujiyama came on, followed by Asari, as they aimed to properly finish the match. However, just before Asari was brought on in the 89th minute, Niigata's left midfielder Kigure broke through on the side. Fujiyama managed to slide in and deflect it for a corner kick. From this left corner, DF Matsuo scored with a perfect header, resulting in a goal against... Nevertheless, they did not give up and relentlessly aimed for victory, but their late-game assault did not bear fruit. The match ended in a draw, finishing the league with 53 points in 5th place. This match also marked the end of all official matches for the season.

　[Player Comments] {NAKAMURA} "Everyone was really focused. For the players who couldn't participate in the match... I have felt that way this season, so I understand their feelings very well, and I tried my best to run hard for them. I approached the game with a strong mindset, but Niigata also showed a never-give-up attitude. Until the last corner kick situation, we weren't conceding... (About the goal scene) In practice this week, I had been focusing on direct shots. That helped, but I think Sohta did a great job of setting it up, and the ball moved well on the slippery pitch due to the rain."

　"Hanyu" said, "After the Nabisco, I think we could have taken one more step and secured the win. I want to leverage this experience to aim for titles in next year's Nabisco and league matches. From now on is crucial for that. I want to start next season with what we have built up this year, rather than starting from zero. Fuji-san and Sari-san told me, 'Please take care of Tokyo.' Without a doubt, these two players have made history in Tokyo, and they said, 'I hope it becomes a good team that has both content and results.' I also want to work hard to become such a team. I have received strength from the fans and supporters, and I am grateful for their support. I want to work hard so that we, as players, can unite and share joy as the Tokyo family."

　[Summary of Coach Jofuku's Press Conference] "I think both teams played a very good game with a lot of passion. As someone involved in the match, I could feel the emotions of both teams on the pitch. It is very disappointing that we couldn't win, and that we ended up with only 1 point instead of 3 is my fault. This may be due to my tactical mistakes or how we managed the end of the match, as well as not being able to score the second goal. All the results from the matches we've played so far have led to us earning just 1 point today, and being in 5th place, which I want to accept. Regarding today's game, I want to praise the players and thank them for a year of hard work."

　(Based on today's results, what is the summary of this season?) Each team has had its accidents, and there is luck and misfortune. Finishing in 5th place after 34 matches is the result of our efforts, and I want to accept that. However, it is undeniable that there have been more matches, both won and lost, that I would like to play again. I believe that increasing the number of matches we want to play again, rather than those we never want to play again, is what strengthens the team. I feel a great sense of achievement and potential in this team, and I want to thank the players who have continued to work hard.

　[Summary of Coach Suzuki's Press Conference] "I expected today's game to be very difficult. We had suspensions and injuries, and both teams were highly motivated due to the ranking competition. I thought FC Tokyo would incorporate more penetrating plays. Initially, they simply aimed for Hirayama and tried to pick up the second balls, but we couldn't recover the second ball and conceded a goal. However, our game plan was to build a solid defense, execute quick attacks when we regained possession, and when that wasn't possible, to spread the play to the sides and connect the ball, which the players executed well. However, Hanyu applied pressure on DF Uchida, not allowing him to play freely. They clearly studied and devised strategies around the fact that he is the starting point of their attack."

　If the ball could have settled a bit more with the two top forwards, Ewerton and Yano, we could have pushed up from the midfield, but there were cases where we were crushed there, and we ended up making many mistakes near the opponent's penalty area, which made it difficult to create good chances. We had several opportunities, but I think it was because our momentum was something the opponent struggled to respond to. In the second half, during the back-and-forth battle, we couldn't do anything with a score of 0 to 1, so we generally pushed forward, and the opponent defended well against that, connecting the ball and creating shots several times. I think we managed to avoid conceding a second goal there and, with our persistence, it led to a goal from a set piece in the final scramble. We changed the system, used players in different positions, and made various changes when the players we brought in didn't function well, but it didn't have much effect. However, I think we were able to play a tenacious game that was true to ourselves, with everyone's spirit united during the set piece, thanks to the support of our fans, leading to that final goal.