Chiba, armed with immense height, challenges the league's resumption

　Due to the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the J-League schedule has also been changed. Today, the league resumes and we will face JEF United Chiba in the second match of the season, away from home. After the first match against Tosu, there have been various changes in the team during the break. DF Jade NORTH has joined the team. MF Hashimoto from the U-18 team has also been called up to the top team. In addition, Kanda, Kajiyama, and Takamatsu, who have been injured, will gradually return to the team as Yamamoto's suspension ends.

　On the other hand, Pedro JUNIOR, Roberto CESAR, Ishikawa, and recently Hirayama, who broke his right foot. It is unfortunate that Hirayama, who was the mainstay of the front line, is absent, but coach Okuma and the players also emphasized that they will fight together to cover for his absence and make use of each player's strengths, saying, "In order to make up for Sota's frustration, it is important for everyone to fight together and use their individual strengths, no matter who plays."

　Chiba, on the other hand, has welcomed Dutch coach Dwight this season, as well as new signings such as 204cm tall FW Oroy (Norway), MF Mattram (Netherlands), and DF Takeuchi. They play in a compact defense with a 4-2-3-1 formation, and their biggest weapon is their counter-attacks led by FW Oroy. It is important to be wary of FW Oroy, but also to control the second ball after a challenge and prevent Chiba's attacks from their second and third lines.

　A match between two teams aiming for promotion to J1. It is expected to be a difficult game, just like the opening match, as it is the first official game in a while. However, it is important to not give up and persistently aim for the goal. The match started at 2:05 PM in a calm and sunny Fukuda Denshi Arena in Chiba.

Tokyo Take On The Giants Of Chiba As League Restarts

Following the Tohoku Earthquake the J.League schedule had undergone major changes that meant Tokyo restarted their season with a trip to Chiba to take on Jef United in what should have been the 8th game of the year. During the break Tokyo had made changes to the squad: defender Jade North arrived and U-18 midfielder Kento Hashimoto was promoted to the top team. Yonemoto had served his suspension while Gonda, Takamatsu and Kajiyama returned from injury.
On the other hand Pedro Junior, Roberto and Ishikawa were missing while Hirayama was a long-term absentee with a fractured tibia. Hirayama's loss was keenly felt given his role as attacking lynch-pin. "He's obviously very frustrated so to ease his disappointment we have to cover for his absence. Whoever plays in his place will have to make use of their own special ability and that's the most important thing," was the comment from his team-mates.
Opponents Jef United were led by a new manager, Dutchman Dwight Lodeweges, and featured three new signings, giant Norwegian striker Aaroy, Dutch midfielder Matt Lam and defender Takeuchi. Jef lined up in a compact, counter-attacking 4-2-3-1 formation with the 2.04m Aaroy the target man. Obviously Tokyo would need to guard the towering forward but winning the second balls would be vital to prevent the Chiba midfield pushing forward.
It was a fixture matching two teams with hopes of promotion to J1. The first competitive game for several weeks was expected to be difficult but a positive approach and a tenacious spirit was most important. The hosts kicked off shortly after 2pm on a warm and sunny spring day.

The match continues with intense back-and-forth action and a fast-paced pace of play.

　Tokyo will have Mokuhara as right fullback, Tokunaga as defensive midfielder, Kajiyama as attacking midfielder, and Takamatsu leading the front line. Goalkeeper Konda, midfielders Kajiyama and Yonemoto, and forward Takamatsu will all make their first start of the season.

　The match was fiercely contested from the beginning, with a quick transition between offense and defense and a speedy pace. Chiba took control of the ball and consistently sent long balls towards FW Oroy, as expected, but Tokyo raised their line and dealt with it. They maintained a compact formation and connected well in their attacks.

　In the 6th minute, Mokuhara made an attacking run and sent a long early cross. Takamatsu from the far side tried to head it in, but couldn't make contact. In the 7th minute, from a short counter, Tanizawa → Suzuki crossed it back into the box, but it just missed Tanizawa. In the 14th minute, Chiba also had a chance as MF Matsumura broke through on the right side, but Abe quickly recovered and stopped it with a combination with Konno. A cross was sent in, but Mokuhara tightly marked Chiba's attacking line and didn't allow a shot.

　In the 28th minute, Suzuki in the center spread out to Kajiyama on the left area. Kajiyama took a step forward and sent a pass to the front, and Taniyama timed his shot perfectly. In the 37th minute, Suzuki on the right side picked up the second ball and made a wide attack with Abe, who had moved up on the left, but Taniyama's careful finish was blocked by Chiba DF... Suzuki, Kajiyama, and Taniyama's combination created a "Tokyo-like style", but they were unable to score.

　A fierce battle continued in the midfield, but in the 43rd minute, Yonemoto suffered a knee injury and was forced to be substituted, causing an unexpected incident. As a result, Hayabusa was brought on as a midfielder. In stoppage time, Chiba's MF Yonekura made a sharp dribble and broke through the Tokyo DF's defense, but his shot missed the goal. Both teams failed to capitalize on their chances and the first half ended in a scoreless draw.

Game Opens At Frantic Pace

Tokyo lined up with Mukuhara at left back, Tokunaga in DF and Kajiyama playing just behind lone striker Takamatsu. Takamatsu, Yonemoto, Kajiyama and Gonda all made their first appearances of the season.
The game began at a frantic pace with a ferocious battle for possession. As expected, when Chiba won the ball they immediately played long balls towards Aaroy but the Tokyo defense dropped deeper and was able to deal with the threat. Tokyo maintained a compact formation and looked to pass their way forward.
In the 6th minute, Mukuhara advanced down the left and hit an early cross that narrowly evaded Takamatsu at the far post. A minute later, Yazawa and Suzuki combined on a short counter-attack with Yazawa inches away from reaching Suzuki's return pass in front of goal. Chiba's Matt Lam slipped through the Tokyo defense on the right in the 14th minute and raced down the flank but Abe showed great pace in tracking back and combined with Konno to quash the danger. Lam managed to cross but Mukuhara was able to clear ahead of the home attack.
In the 28th minute, Suzuki fed Kajiyama on the left and the Tokyo midfielder picked out Yazawa with a fine pass. Yazawa met the ball with a well-timed shot but was unable to beat Okamoto in the Chiba goal. In the 37th minute, Tokyo stretched the play with a sweeping move down the right after Yonemoto had pounced on a loose ball in midfield. Abe crossed and Yazawa connected again only for his effort to be blocked away by the home defense. Suzuki, Kajiyama and Yazawa combined neatly in a typical "Tokyo Style" to create openings but the breakthrough failed to materialize.
Yonemoto sustained a knee injury in the fierce battle for midfield control and was forced to leave the field in the 43rd minute, Hanyu taking his place. In additional time at the end of the first half, Chiba midfielder Yonekura embarked on a solo run behind the Tokyo defense before shooting wide. Neither side had been able to conjure a decisive finish and the first period ended 0-0.

Repeatedly conceding goals in the final stages, unable to capitalize on chances until the end, resulting in defeat...

　Tokyo substituted Roberto CESAR for Suzuki in the second half. They hoped to take advantage of his speed and seize control of the game. On the other hand, Chiba also brought in DF Mark Milligan as a center back.

　In the early stages of the second half, Tokyo took control and in the 55th minute, Tanizawa dove to head in Abe's left cross. In the 56th minute, Mokuhara's well-placed short cross was spilled and Tanizawa ran free to take a decisive shot, but... he couldn't find the target. In the 58th minute, Roberto CESAR competed for a left cross and Mokuhara ran in to shoot at the ball that fell in the right area, but the contact was weak and he couldn't score.

　On the other hand, in the 67th minute, a decisive header was released by FW Aoki Takashi, who jumped out free behind FW Oroi from Chiba's early cross, but he escaped the pinch by missing the frame. In the 70th minute, Cesar was fouled while dribbling and earned a FK from the right area. Morishige aimed directly by going around, but it slightly missed to the right. After that, both teams continued to attack each other, leading to a tense back-and-forth development.

　Substituted Takamatsu for Otake in the 76th minute. Cesar moved to the front line, Hanyu played as an attacking midfielder, and Kajiyama and Tokunaga formed a double pivot in the midfield, aiming for a goal. However, immediately after, Chiba DF Mark Milligan threw in a series of long throws, and in the 77th minute, they finally conceded a goal from a precise left throw to central FW Oroy...

　And then, perhaps the tension broke, in the 83rd minute, MF Yonekura was beaten by DF and lost the second goal. Still not giving up, they pushed forward with Konno in the front line. But in the 89th minute, Konno dropped a cross and Cesar ran into the left area, only to be stopped by Chiba DF. And then, right after that, from Chiba FW Aoki's cross, FW Oroi headed in... Konno's absence broke the DF line and all was lost. The score did not reflect the content, but they suffered a defeat unable to break the bad flow.

　【Player Comments】《Taniyama》"The reason for the loss was not being able to score the first goal. I really wanted to score in the first half. I feel responsible for not being able to score... (Playing against my former team) I didn't have any special awareness. No matter who the opponent is, I just want to focus on my own play and our team's soccer, and continue to fight for results in the future."《Suzuki》"Personally, I just tried to attack the opponent's back. I think we were able to play with one priority as a team from the first half. However, I regret not being able to score, and each of us needs to think about what we are lacking in order to win in the future. We want to show our attacking power as a team. The most important thing is to switch to the next game. We can't let today's loss weigh us down."

　[Summary of Coach Ooguma's Press Conference] "After Yonemoto got injured, the pressure in the midfield loosened a bit, and although it's not just about finishing, we let Chiba create a flow while we couldn't score. We were keeping a high line and the first goal was difficult to prevent, but I feel like if we had put our bodies on the line a bit more, we could have cleared it. We were able to handle the flow and corner kicks, but their throwing accuracy, speed, and quality were high. On the other hand, we want to think about how we used Roberto CESAR and how we divided roles. There were some good aspects, but as a team, we need to bring out the good parts of CESAR and make adjustments to have a player who can kick accurate free kicks and adjust the roles on both offense and defense. We want to switch gears as a team and prepare for the next game."

　[Summary of Jeff Chiba, Dwight's coach] "At first, I think I was a little nervous. I wanted to prove what I could do at the stadium, but I think there was some stress. I couldn't show what I had prepared and there was space between the DF line and the midfield. In the second half, we were able to compact the distance between the lines and we were able to take the ball well. By putting in DF Mark Milligan, he was able to push up well. It was also a big deal that we were able to give clear instructions at halftime and take back the game. I think it was a game worthy of victory."

(Is the first goal the key point?) When I think about attacking, I always start by considering how to defend and where to take the ball. We couldn't do it well in the first half, but in the second half, the players defended well while receiving information. Goals are born from that. We were playing well enough to deserve three goals. In front of many fans, we were able to beat the strongest FC Tokyo in J2 and it was a good PR for the club, wasn't it?"

Late Goals Cost Profligate Tokyo

Tokyo replaced Suzuki with Roberto Cesar for the second half in an attempt to use his pace to gain control of the game. Chiba exchanged central defenders, replacing Ryota Aoki with Mark Milligan.
Tokyo seized the initiative as the second period began, creating a series of chances. In the 55th minute, Abe crossed from the left and Yazawa flung himself at the ball to make contact with a diving header. Moments later, a golden opportunity fell to Yazawa again as Mukuhara's short cross was deflected into his path in front of goal. Yazawa ran onto the ball and smashed it towards goal but failed to hit the target. In the 58th minute, Roberto Cesar battled hard to win a cross from the left and the ball ran loose to Mukuhara on the right of the Chiba penalty area. Mukuhara struck first time but without power, another opening came to nothing for the visitors.
Chiba were guilty of a glaring miss in the 67th minute as an unmarked forward, Kota Aoki, directed an inviting early cross wide of the post. Roberto Cesar embarked on a powerful run forward in the 70th minute before he was fouled in a promising position just outside the Chiba penalty area on the right. Morishige feinted to pass the resulting free kick but instead stroked the ball over the defensive wall and narrowly wide of the right-hand post. The game continued to ebb and flow as the nervous tension rose.
With just under 15 minutes to play, Tokyo replaced Takamatsu with Otake and altered the formation. Roberto Cesar led the attack with Hanyu playing off him, while Kajiyama dropped back into a deeper midfield position. Despite Tokyo's attacking intent, it was Chiba who took the lead. Substitute Mark Milligan launched consecutive long throws into the Tokyo area and from the second one, striker Aaroy rose to head past Gonda in the 77th minute.
Tokyo's nerves frayed after conceding and in the 83rd minute, Yonekura raced behind the Tokyo defence to double the lead. Even so, the visitors refused to accept defeat, pushing Konno forward into the front line in an attempt to reduce the deficit. In the 89th minute, Konno knocked down a cross, Kajiyama moved the ball out to Cesar on the left of the area and the substitute lashed an attempt on goal. Once again, the Chiba defence blocked the effort away. Chiba launched an attack immediately and Aaroy was able to fill the space left by Konno, converting a cross from forward Aoki for the decisive third goal. While the scoreline didn't match the difference in quality of the teams, Tokyo were unable to stem the sudden change in the flow of the game and suffered their first defeat of the season.


Players' comments
Yazawa
"We lost because we didn't score first. We really wanted to score in the first half. If I had only taken my chances - I feel a strong sense of responsibility for it. I had no special feelings about returning to a former club, I just think about my game and the team regardless of the opponent. We want to pick up the results from now on".

Suzuki
"On a personal level I was aiming to get behind their defence. We managed to achieve that in the first half but the problem was that we didn't finish off the chances we made. Every one of us needs to think about what is lacking and what we need to win games. We need to have more forward momentum. What's important is to get over this defeat and bounce back in the next match".

FC Tokyo manager Okuma
"Yonemoto's injury led to a slight decrease in our midfield pressing and our lack of decisive finishing allowed Chiba to change the flow of the game. We kept a high line and although there wasn't much we could have done about the first goal perhaps if we had handed over marking duties better we could have cleared the ball. We defended well in open play and from set plays but it was a top quality throw, with speed and accuracy. More than that goal though we have to think about our failure to score and how best to use Roberto Cesar. There were some good aspects to our performance although we have to get the best from Cesar, bring in an accurate free kick taker and more clearly fine-tune the different roles in defense and attack. We want to come back strongly in the next match".

Jef United Chiba manager Dwight
"I think we were a little nervous to start with. We wanted to prove what we are capable of doing on the field so there was some stress. We're weren't really able to do what we'd prepared and left space between our midfield and defence. In the second half we kept a more compact shape, reduced the distance between the lines and won the ball well. We sent on Mark Mulligan and he was able to drive us forward. The team followed the instructions we gave at half time and we were able to regain control of the match. This is a very valuable win.
Was the first goal the key point? When I think about attack I think about how we defend and where we win the ball - it starts from there, I believe. We couldn't manage that in the first half but with more information at half time the players defended well in the second half. That's where the goals came from. I thought our performance merited three goals. All lot of fans turned up today so to beat the strongest team in J2 is great publicity for the club".