Aiming for consecutive wins, we challenge G Osaka with aggression in both offense and defense!

　In Sec. 29 of the league, we face Gamba Osaka at home. Despite the bad weather in the previous away match, the FW duo of Hirayama and Oguro scored, and we narrowly defeated Shimizu. This match is crucial as we aim for our first consecutive league wins this season and desperately want to secure a victory at Ajinomoto. For this match, Tokunaga and Ricardinho return from suspension, while Kajiyama is suspended due to accumulated warnings. Kim Young-gun has left the team to participate in the Asian Games as part of the South Korean national team, so the tough situation continues.Coach Okuma said, "We cannot win with just one player. It is important for everyone to fulfill their roles in both offense and defense to bring out our strengths," and he vowed to fight through the final stages with full force. The starting lineup will feature Tokunaga and Yonemoto as a double pivot.On the other hand, Gamba Osaka currently sits third with 49 points. Although they lost 2-4 in a high-scoring match against Kobe last time, they will aim to regroup and secure 3 points away to maintain their ACL qualification spot. FW Lucas and Usami will be on the bench this match, but with the rise of FW Hirai and others, their attack is diverse. Above all, their midfield talent is strong, and Tokunaga is especially cautious, noting that "their passing game is among the best in the J.League."In response, even if we concede midfield control, we want to continue aggressive pressing and defensive efforts to regain possession. From there, we aim to quickly transition to attack and take the speed battle against Gamba Osaka’s tall and physically strong defenders. Defensively, we must be very careful of the sharp movements and constant goal threats from Gamba Osaka’s FW Hirai and MF Usami. Allowing them free space is dangerous, so full concentration from everyone is required. We will strive for victory without losing duels in tenacity, ball challenges, and concentration in front of goal. Under clear skies at Ajinomoto, the match kicked off at 15:05 with Gamba Osaka starting.

Overwhelmed G Osaka with a connected defense leading to attack, taking the lead with Ohkuro's consecutive goals in two matches!

　Although the start saw both teams fiercely contesting possession, Tokyo quickly shifted from their spirited defense to attack G Osaka's goal, creating rhythm by advancing to shots. At 4 and 8 minutes, Ishikawa took mid-range shots, and at 6 minutes, Oguro did the same. At 10 minutes, Morishige fired a shot following a free-kick sequence. At 12 minutes, Hirayama received a vertical pass from Tokunaga inside the right area, skillfully turned to break through between the opposing DF, and passed to Ishikawa who was running into the area from the right. They created a chance through teamwork, but Ishikawa's shot was saved by the GK, resulting in a corner kick. Defensively, Yonemoto and Tokunaga closely tracked G Osaka's key MF Endo, who was the starting point of their attacks. At 15 minutes, from a play by MF Endo, the attacking left side-back Yasuda sent in a cross, but Gonda caught it easily. G Osaka was not allowed to create any real chances. At 17 minutes, from Nakamura's side change, Ishikawa sped around in front of the goal and took a shot. The ball flew to the upper left inside the frame, but the GK saved it, resulting in a corner kick. At 19 minutes, Hirayama tried to break forward with a dribble but was cut off and forced to a throw-in. Then at 20 minutes, Hanyu threw the throw-in, received a return from Hirayama, and sent a cross behind the opposing DF. Oguro met the low ball with pinpoint accuracy, heading it powerfully into the goal! Marking his second consecutive game scoring, he put Tokyo ahead. Even after taking the lead, Tokyo maintained control by connecting tough defense to attack. At 27 minutes, from a cross by Mukuhara, they earned a right corner kick, and Oguro skillfully connected at his feet near the near post from Ishikawa's kick, but the shot was stopped by a great save from the GK. At 34 minutes, Hirayama dropped a left cross from Yonemoto inside the area, and Oguro took a direct shot, but it went wide. At 45 minutes, Tokunaga sent a lofted pass to Hirayama who narrowly broke behind the DF, and from the line, Hirayama crossed back, but Oguro on the left side tried to connect at his feet but was blocked by the DF and could not finish. In the first half, G Osaka had only one shot, a free kick by MF Endo at 37 minutes. Tokyo completely controlled the flow but could not add to their lead, heading into the second half.

The flow changed in the second half, conceding a goal from a set piece. We only managed to earn 1 point...

　However, the flow completely changed in the second half. G Osaka, who brought on FW Usami, dominated possession and launched attacks. In the 50th minute, they broke through the center, and MF Endo, who advanced freely on the right side of the area, received a pass. MF Endo delivered a final pass in front of the goal. Although a dangerous shot was taken, it was controlled centrally and defended successfully. In the 56th minute, MF Futagawa’s left cross was dropped by FW Usami in the center of the area, and a free run from midfield was made, but Tokunaga cleared just in time. In the 57th minute, FW Usami created a starting point inside the area, leading to FW Igno breaking through centrally and creating a decisive chance. At the 61st minute, FW Igno passed to FW Usami on the left side of the area, who prepared to shoot, but Yonemoto blocked with a sliding tackle, resulting in a corner kick. Even though the rhythm was taken by the opponent, Yonemoto and the DF line put their bodies on the line to defend, continuing to prevent goals. However, there were also moments of mistakes after regaining possession, and it was difficult to connect to effective attacks. In the 66th minute, a counterattack was launched, with Mukuhara advancing into the area and earning a corner. Ishikawa’s kick was headed by Morishige but went off target. At the 71st minute, Matsushita replaced Hanyu, and at the 74th minute, Ricardinho came on for Oguro. However, in the 81st minute, G Osaka’s FW Usami dribbled between two Tokyo defenders in the right area and took a shot from close range. Gonda saved with his left foot, resulting in a corner. But in the 82nd minute, from a right corner kick by MF Endo, DF Nakazawa scored a high-headed goal, conceding a goal. Even after being equalized, the team did not collapse and created chances from counterattacks. In the 84th minute, Ishikawa turned toward the goal after Ricardinho’s breakthrough but was blocked. In the 87th minute, Matsushita advanced and sent a sharp left cross. Yonemoto, who rose in the center, could not connect, but the ball fell to Hirayama in front after a trap by G Osaka MF Endo in the right area, who took a decisive shot. The ball seemed to have grazed the opposing DF and crossed the line, but it was ruled a goal kick for G Osaka. The winning goal was not achieved, and the match ended in a draw, earning only one point at home. Player Comments Hanyu: "In the first half, we prevented the opponent from entering the area and managed the game as planned, scoring the opening goal. Even after taking the lead, we wanted to aggressively press to score an additional goal or at least hold the 1-0 lead to decide the match. Perhaps we needed enough pressure to decide the game in the first half. However, considering the current situation of the team, not losing was important. We talked about enduring well even if we conceded one goal. I think finishing 1-1 after fighting for one point will lead to the next step." Oguro: "The goal came from the shape we aimed for. I always try to get behind the defense, and I knew G Osaka’s defense was weak against that. It was good to switch from solid defense to attack and take the lead. Of course, I wanted to win, but I want to build on the minimum result of a draw. Even after conceding, the team was unified in calmly fighting without panic." Summary of Coach Okuma’s Press Conference "It was unfortunate to concede from a set piece, but I am confident that we competed on equal terms against G Osaka. We must not be overconfident and need to correct the points for improvement. This match showed both sides. We want to maintain balanced soccer and aim to score more goals in the remaining five matches and the Emperor's Cup. (About not scoring additional goals?) Currently, the team does not have a striker who can score 20 goals. Considering that, we must continue to create goals as a team. We want to demonstrate the team’s power, including substitute players, and by adding even half or one player to the attack, we want to secure goal-scoring opportunities. We want to improve set-piece accuracy and do things that annoy the opponent. (About points to fix?) We want to break through individually and create combinations between the two forwards and side backs to penetrate between the GK and DF. If we can do that, pullbacks will be effective, and decisive chances can be created. We can also get behind and shoot. We want to improve coordination on how to do unpleasant things between the GK and DF line and have the courage to go forward. (About the tough matches ahead?) We knew from the start of my appointment that it wouldn’t be easy due to suspensions and national team absences. We cannot increase or decrease the 27 players now. From here, the team and club strength will truly be tested, and the 27 players must unite and do what they have to do. We want to positively explore better preparations and fight the upcoming matches." Summary of G Osaka Coach Nishino’s Press Conference "Both teams worked hard, and it was a closely contested game. We couldn’t establish our pace and tempo against Tokyo’s pressing, but from the second half, we gradually grasped the overall flow. In the first half, it wasn’t that we were cautious, but we tried to build rhythm by valuing passing exchanges. However, we struggled as we were pressed and given no time or space. It would be good if we could create the rhythm like in the second half, but the midfield and forward players have not fused well, which is our current issue. We have been changing the casting, swapping forward players, and adjusting midfield positioning and shape, but it hasn’t settled. I think that is the cause of the imbalance. However, everyone is trying to stick to their style somehow. I feel we are far from our original shape and flow, but we want to connect the points earned to the next game."