This is the first match against C Osaka since 2006; we cannot lose to a promoted team!

　In Sec. 3 of the league, we face Cerezo Osaka at home in Ajinomoto. In the previous match against Urawa, we were at a numerical disadvantage and suffered a defeat. However, to fight through the season toward this year's goals, it is crucial not to lose heart and to avoid consecutive losses here. The players have all switched their mindset, saying, "We won't dwell on the defeat; we will focus only on the tasks ahead and the victory."For this match, Morishige is suspended, so Hiramatsu will start as center back for the first time this season. At the same time, the lineup has been rearranged, and Kim Young-gun will make his J.League debut as left side back. Nagatomo moves to right side back, and Akamine and Ishikawa are also named in the starting lineup. Additionally, new signings Takahashi and Otake are on the bench for the first time this season. Coach Shirofuku said, "This is part of the daily accumulation process. The team shares the same image, so we will bring out each other's strengths and characteristics," indicating various challenges will be taken depending on the situation.On the other hand, Cerezo Osaka returned to J1 this season for the first time since 2006. So far, they have 1 draw and 1 loss in 2 matches and have yet to win, but their motivation to achieve their first victory as challengers must be high. Compared to last season in J2, their 3-5-2 formation with FW Inui and MF Kagawa in shadow positions has matured, and they scored a total of 100 goals last season. Moreover, this season they added offensive talents such as FW Adriano, Ienaga, Barato, and MF Takahashi, making their attacking power a significant threat. In response, Tokyo aims not only to defend with concentration without showing any gaps but also to press from a high position and create chances.Usually, newly promoted teams have momentum, but without playing defensively, Tokyo aims to surpass Cerezo Osaka in terms of playing style and game management over 90 minutes and secure a home victory! Although the wind blows, Ajinomoto remains warm even after sunset, and the match kicked off at 19:04 with Tokyo starting.

Unable to capitalize on opportunities while grasping the rhythm

　In the first half, we aggressively tried to take the ball from the opponent and did not allow C Osaka to create any real chances. At 6 minutes, Konno → Hirayama cut back the opposing defender inside the right area and took a free shot. Then from a throw-in, Hirayama connected, and Akamine took a shot. At 12 minutes, we launched a counterattack after Tokunaga stole the ball, with Akamine → Tokunaga advancing into the area, but it was cleared to a corner kick. At 21 minutes, Hirayama → Hanyu attacked from the left and took a middle-range shot. The shot was on target but was caught by the GK. At 28 minutes, we launched a speedy attack from our own half, with Hirayama → Hanyu → Ishikawa dribbling up to the front of the area. The boldly taken shot was saved by the GK. Hanyu went for the rebound but couldn’t connect fully; however, the ball reached Akamine in the right area. He took a close-range shot, but this was also stopped by the GK. We couldn’t capitalize on the good flow of chances during this period. Then, near the end of the first half, C Osaka, who had pulled back to solidify their goal area and aimed for a counterattack, created a chance. At 40 minutes, C Osaka’s MF Kagawa penetrated deep into Tokyo’s left side and crossed in front of the goal. Gonda rushed out toward the goal, and C Osaka’s MF Omata, who came in from the far post, took a shot. However, Ishikawa and Nagatomo returned properly to cover in front of the goal and escaped the danger. In the first half, Tokyo took 6 shots compared to C Osaka’s 3, but could not convert any into goals and went into the second half.

Maintained a solid defense, shutting out C Osaka's attack but ended without scoring.

　The press from the front line continued to work well in the second half, and at the 48th minute, Tokunaga showed his strength in one-on-one situations. After winning the ball, Hanyu connected the play, and Ishikawa took a dribble shot, but it was caught by the goalkeeper. At the 54th minute, Hanyu intercepted the ball in the opponent's territory. Matsushita immediately sent a lofted pass to Ishikawa, who was trying to break through the front line, earning a left corner kick. At the 57th minute, Ishikawa, who took the ball high up the pitch, took a shot. At the 58th minute, Hirayama took a carefully aimed shot from just outside the area, but it was blocked by the left post... Immediately after, at the 58th minute, Otake was brought on for Matsushita, and at the 69th minute, Ricardinho replaced Ishikawa. They used substitutions to try to attack more aggressively. However, despite holding the initiative, they gradually lost the ball during attacks, and scenes of C Osaka counterattacks became noticeable. At the 72nd minute, C Osaka's MF Omata entered the left area. He connected with a cross and headed towards MF Kagawa. At the 75th minute, from a wedge pass by MF Kagawa on the left side for C Osaka, MF Omata received a return pass and took a shot, but it was blocked and resulted in a throw-in. At the 80th minute, Suzuki came on for Hanyu. Otake was moved to defensive midfield to connect passes and try to attack. However, at the 82nd minute, from a left cross by Kim Young-gun, Hirayama perfectly controlled the ball at his feet in the center and laid it off, and Otake, running in from behind, took a decisive shot, but it was again stopped by repeated excellent saves from the opposing goalkeeper Jin Hyeon KIM... After that, although they could regain possession, they could not bring the ball to a finish. C Osaka's counterattacks were tightly suppressed by early defensive pressure, but in attack, they ultimately could not break the deadlock, and the match ended in a scoreless draw. 【Player Comments】 《Ishikawa》"It was good that we kept a clean sheet, but we couldn’t take risks to score. I wanted to attack with more intensity, but it’s disappointing that we couldn’t. When we were attacking, the opponents left several players in their own half, so the fullbacks and the whole team couldn’t push forward easily. Personally, my movement was good. Even if the ball doesn’t come, I think it’s important to keep playing like that. It was a frustrating match today, but our defense was good, so I want to improve the intensity and quality of our attack and score next time." 《Otake》"When I came on, I tried to receive the ball more in midfield, touch the ball a lot, get involved in the attack, and aim for goals. (About the decisive shot?) I aimed perfectly... The wind was strong, so I tried to carefully target the course, and the ball went where I intended. I thought it would go in, but the opposing goalkeeper was also well-positioned, so I couldn’t score. I wish I had been calmer and connected passes better after winning the ball, but in the final stages, we lost the ball often and spent more time defending. As a team, we wanted to keep possession longer, and personally, I regret not touching the ball more to create rhythm." 【Coach Shirofuku’s Press Conference Summary】 "I wanted to get 3 points, so the result is very disappointing. In the first half, we won the ball through aggressive defense, and I think the players fought well. Ideally, we wanted to score in the first half. There were chances. But it wasn’t a perfect first half; if the team or individuals could have created some space in that fast-paced game, we would have had more decisive chances. The speed from aggressive defense was good, but we need to work on changes of speed and rhythm as a team from there. Of course, I want to develop players who can do that individually. In the second half, I thought continuing the first half’s approach would definitely bring chances. However, after using all three substitutions, the balance was lost, which is my responsibility. We didn’t want to be satisfied with 0-0 and made substitutions to try to score, but I expected some imbalance. Still, the positives must outweigh the negatives. I think the team needed to fight like that in the last 15 minutes of the second half. Honestly, balancing the negatives of losing balance and the positives of utilizing the substitutes’ strengths resulted in a negative. I will take that seriously and apply it to the next match. If we can maintain the style until around the 60th minute and bring rhythm changes as a team, we will definitely find a chance to win. I want to turn this frustration into progress." 【C Osaka Coach Levir CULPI’s Press Conference Summary】 "We have faced tough opponents since the start of the season, and in the previous match against G Osaka and today’s match against FC Tokyo, we had chances to win both. I think it’s positive that we could play such games. MF Amaral and FW Adriano still need some time to fully fit into the team, but even with those players, we had a game where we had a chance to win, which I appreciate. We continue to face tough opponents, but I feel confident that we can turn games into wins. We had plenty of chances to win in the final stages, and the players expressed the season’s slogan of ‘attack until the final whistle’ during the game. Including stoppage time, we had three decisive chances. I think if our finishing had been more precise, we could have won."