I want to conclude the series of matches with a victory at home.

　On July 2nd (Saturday), the league Sec. 19 match against Gainare Tottori will be held. We will face them at home. In the previous match, despite the heat and a tough schedule with two away games in a row, we maintained our focus and achieved victory by exhausting our opponent. Since the defeat against Kusatsu on May 14th, we have been unbeaten in the last 7 matches with 5 wins and 2 draws, but we want to conclude the final match of this series with a victory to aim for higher positions.

　Two days after the away night game. Along with a tough schedule, Ishikawa and Suzuki have reported discomfort in their legs and will miss this match. However, Coach Okuma stated, "The overall organization of the team is not bad, so I want to keep the defensive line mostly unchanged and focus on making changes up front. This is something we have tried before, and there are options like using Otake and playing Abe in midfield," indicating a determination to tackle the consecutive matches with full strength. The starting lineup will consist of the same members for the fourth consecutive game.

　Tottori, currently with 4 wins, 4 draws, and 5 losses, is in 13th place. They are a team that joined J2 this season, but under the leadership of Takeo MATSUDA, who has been in charge since the 2010 season, they have a cohesive and organized style of play. Primarily using a 4-3-3 formation, MF Jitsunobu has scored the most goals on the team with 4. DF Togawa has also already scored 3 goals, making set pieces a weapon for them. Therefore, they want to maintain focus and work together to keep control.

　Tottori boasts a solid defense with a total of 12 goals conceded so far. The key will be how to break down their defense, which consists of three midfielders with Hattori as the anchor and four defenders. Although they struggled in the match against Okayama, Konno mentioned, "If we take control and pass the ball in a way that the opponent dislikes, they will surely tire out." Therefore, even if there are times when we can't score first, it is important to continue playing our style without rushing. We want to surpass Tottori with a resilient performance throughout the 90 minutes and lead to victory.

　Evening arrived, but the humidity remained at Ajinomoto. The match started at 18:34 with Tottori's kickoff.

Tokyo Aim To Extend Winning Streak

Gainare Tottori were the visitors to Ajinomoto Stadium for a fixture scheduled as the 19th game of the season. Tokyo had won their second consecutive away game in three days on Wednesday by exhausting Okayama on a brutally hot and humid evening, a win that extended the side's unbeaten streak to seven games since the May 15th loss to Kusatsu and propelled the team up to third in the league.
The intense run of games had taken its toll as both Ishikawa and Suzuki were missing with leg twinges. Tokyo manager Okuma commented, "The team's organisation is fine and I don't want to tinker with the backline so we'll be thinking about some variations up front. It's something we tried before and we have the option to play Otake or Abe in midfield." The starting eleven named was unchanged for the fourth straight game.
Opponents Tottori lay in 13th place with a W4 D4 L5 record at kick off. The side, a newcomer to J2 this year under second-season manager Takeo Matsuda, had a reputation for playing systematic, consistent football. Lining up in a 4-3-3 formation midfielder Sanenobu was the leading scorer with four while defender Togawa's three goals testified to the team's threat from set plays. Tottori also boasted a parsimonious defence, having conceded only 12 goals, with a bank of three defensive midfielders led by veteran Hattori protecting the back four. How well Tokyo would be able to unlock that defence would be the key to the game. When asked whether the heat and hard work of Wednesday's game would have any effect Tokyo captain Konno dismissed the idea, "If we can seize the initiative then we'll wear the opposition down with the way we retain possession and play the ball around." If the opening goal failed to appear then patience and perseverance would be vital.
The heat and humidity of the day still lay heavily on Ajinomoto Stadium as the visitors kicked off shortly after 6:30pm.

Although we took control, the first half ended scoreless

　The match started with both teams engaging in a tough defensive battle. However, neither side was able to create a clear scoring opportunity. Gradually, Tokyo began to take control and circulate the ball. In the 21st minute, Tanabe created a play on the left flank, and from there, Takahashi aimed for a long-range shot but missed the target. In the 23rd minute, Hanyu advanced with a strong dribble on the right side of the opponent's territory, and when he entered the right area, he took a shot but was thwarted by a save from the goalkeeper.

　In the 27th minute, Tanizawa took a left corner kick, and Morishige at the far post dropped the ball inside for Konno to attempt an overhead kick. Takahashi in front redirected it with his heel, changing the angle, but it went wide of the goal. The time continued where Tottori's defense and holding midfielder could not break through the solid central defense.

　Still, without ever panicking, they launched wide attacks from the advancing full-backs. In the 35th minute, Tokunaga moved to the right and Kajiyama ran to the center, drawing the defenders and letting the ball pass through. A pass reached Tanabe, who was free on the left back, creating a great scoring opportunity, but Tanabe's shot went straight to the goalkeeper... In the 37th minute, Kajiyama himself dribbled past an opponent and took a shot from just outside the area. In the 40th minute, Tanizawa broke free from Hanyu's through pass. Although they couldn't score, they managed to find their rhythm and headed into the second half.

Tokyo Dominate Scoreless First Half

Both sides began carefully and chances were at a premium as the defenses dominated. As the half progressed Tokyo slowly started to take control and pass the ball around. In the 21st minute Tanabe began a move down the left that ended with Takahashi shooting narrowly wide from middle-range. In the 23rd minute Hanyu played Cesar in down the right channel and the Brazilian drew a save from Kobari, in the Tottori goal, with a firm drive.
Tokyo edged closer in the 27th minute as Morishige headed down a corner from Yazawa and Konno attempted an overhead kick from near the penalty spot. As the ball flew towards the goal Takahashi attempted to alter its course with a heel flick but diverted it over the bar. The visitors' solid defense prevented Tokyo from creating any further clear-cut chances.
Nevertheless Tokyo refused to panic and the sidebacks lent their weight to the attack from wide positions. In the 35th minute Tokunaga steamed down the right before clipping the ball inside to Kajiyama; Kajiyama drew defenders towards him before neatly dummying the ball which reached Tanabe, unmarked on the left inside the area. Tanabe shot first time but the ball was at a decent height for Kobari to parry to safety.
In the 37th minute Kajiyama dribbled his way into the Tottori area and shot while in the 40th minute Hanyu slipped a pass through the visitors' defense for Yazawa to chase. Neither effort produced a goal and the first period ended 0-0.

Taking advantage of the opponent's gap, ZAGO scores! Takahashi and Morishige's consecutive goals lead to a 5-game winning streak!

　In the 49th minute of the second half, a foul was committed against Tottori's FW Umeda during a post play, resulting in a free kick awarded from slightly to the right of the penalty area. FW Mio aimed for it with a powerful kick that skidded along the ground, but Shiota made a solid catch. After that, Tokyo dominated possession and took the lead.

　In the 58th minute, Nakamura, who made a breakthrough on the left side, was fouled and earned a free kick. Tanizawa quickly restarted the play at the right moment. Hanyu received the ball and moved it forward, delivering a cross, which Roberto CESAR met with his right foot to score a goal! Taking advantage of the opponent's gap, the team scored first through the coordinated play of Tanizawa, Hanyu, and CESAR.

　In the 67th minute, Hanyu received a big switch from right to left and passed to Nakamura, who overlapped. Nakamura's left cross was intercepted by the opposing defender, but Takahashi intercepted the opponent's pass from there, dribbled to evade the defender, and took a precise shot from distance! The ball was perfectly placed into the top right corner, marking Takahashi's impressive consecutive goal in two matches, as they quickly added another point.

　Tokyo, having expanded their lead, completely dominated the match. With a game plan as intended, they evaded Tottori's attempts to regain the ball, connecting passes and striking at the right moments. In the 85th minute, Ohtake was brought on to replace Roberto CESAR. Then, just before the end in the 89th minute, Tanabe made a move on the right flank after a pass from Kajiwara to Tokunaga, earning a corner kick. Ohtake took the corner, and Morishige, breaking free from his marker, jumped high to head the ball into the net, scoring his third goal in three consecutive matches and securing the third point.

　After that, they gave Tottori almost no chance to counterattack. In the 90th minute, Abe was brought in as a left MF, and in stoppage time, Uesato was brought in as a defensive midfielder to close out the match. They achieved a comfortable victory, marking their fifth consecutive win.

　[Player Comments] {Morishige} "For corner kicks, I adjust my approach depending on the kicker. In the case of Ohtake, if I can shake off my marker, he will deliver the ball right there. Today, it came right on target. If we can score from set pieces, it will make the tough battles in the summer easier. Today, while moving the ball around, we were able to take the lead by exploiting a gap. If we can do that, it will make it easier for us to play our style of football, and if we don't create gaps, we won't lose. I want to work hard to continue taking advantage of our chances."

　"Roberto CESAR" "I was happy to score after a long time, but I'm also glad that other players scored and contributed to the team's victory. The goal came from a set play where Hanyu found a gap and delivered a cross. I was able to time my run well, get in front of the opponent, and score. I believe the team is improving, but I think we can get even better. Our goal is still to promote to J1, and we haven't achieved that yet. Without getting carried away, I want to continue giving my all in every match and keep winning."

　[Summary of Coach Okuma's Press Conference] "In the first half, we struggled to break down a compact opponent, but in the second half, space opened up, and we were able to play our attacking style. In the heat, it was necessary to exploit the opponent's weaknesses, including set pieces. Achieving that will lead to our next steps. However, I want to raise our level and team strength so that we can show the courage to exploit spaces and create combinations from the first half."

　[Summary of Tottori Manager Matsuda's Press Conference] "In the third match of the three-game series, I felt that physical issues affected the game. Even so, in the first half, we managed to keep a clean sheet by effectively switching between pressing from the front and defending in our own half. Although the ball was moved around slightly, the game proceeded as we had envisioned. In the second half, we anticipated some ball circulation, but we had no intention of sitting back and defending with a block; instead, we aimed to regain possession high up the pitch and go for the goal. That is always our concept. However, at a crucial moment, we were caught off guard by a quick restart, and we were undone during the transition. From there, the game fell apart. If we could hold the ball a bit more, many things would change, but the reality is that we cannot. That became clear in today's game. There are many shortcomings not only physically but also in other areas, but we see these as points to correct moving forward, and we want to face the next game positively without looking down."

Cesar Breaks The Deadlock As Tokyo Extend The Winning Streak To Five

In the 49th minute Tottori forward Umeda drew a foul just outside the Tokyo area on the right. Forward Mio stepped up and drove a fierce, low drive through the wall that Shiota saw late but quickly got down to save. After that brief scare Tokyo asserted themselves and dominated the game.
In the 58th minute Tokyo launched a break down the left and Nakamura was fouled as he raced forward. Yazawa reacted sharply while Tottori were still making their preparations, prodding the ball down the line to Hanyu who took a couple of touches and curled a superb cross into the area between Kobari and his defenders. Roberto Cesar flung himself at the ball and made contact on the half-volley, spearing it into the roof of the net to give Tokyo the lead.
In the 67th minute Hanyu sprayed a crossfield ball to Nakamura, overlapping down the left. Nakamura crossed but a Tottori defender intercepted the pass then moved it on to a teammate just outside the penalty area. Takahashi darted in, whipped the ball away from the dithering Tottori player, took a touch and stroked a perfectly-hit curling shot high into the top right corner of the goal with Kobari rooted to the spot and able to do nothing as the ball sailed into the net.
With a two-goal cushion established Tokyo entirely controlled the game, moving the ball around almost at will. Otake replaced Roberto Cesar in the 85th minute and contributed almost immediately. Kajiyama, Tokunaga and Tanabe linked up down the right in the 89th minute, eventually winning a corner that Otake curled in to the near post. Morishige got in front of his marker and glanced a header down and beyond Kobari to extend Tokyo's lead to three.
Tokyo introduced Abe and Uesato as late substitutes and ran the clock down until the final whistle blew on a comprehensive 3-0 win that extended the winning streak to five games.


Players' comments 
Morishige 
"I've altered my approach at corners depending on who's taking them. If it's Otake and I lose my marker he'll put the ball where I am and that's what he did today. It was a pinpoint corner. It's definitely true that if we can score from set plays it makes these difficult summer games much easier. Today we moved the ball around and probed until we found an opening for the first goal. It makes it easier for us to play our own game and if we can create and exploit openings like that then we aren't going to lose. I want to continue to do my best and keep taking the chances as they come." 

Roberto Cesar
"It's my first goal for a while so I'm happy and I'm also delighted that the other guys scored and we won. Hanyu spotted a gap in their defence from the quick free kick and played a great cross in and I managed to get in faster than their defenders and score. Naturally the team is improving and we can improve much further I think. Our aim is to return to J1 but we haven't achieved that yet. We can't afford to lose our focus and must play to the best of our ability in each game to keep on winning".

FC Tokyo manager Kiyoshi Okuma
"Our opponents defended deeply in the first half so it was fairly difficult to open them up but in the second half we found space and played the way we wanted to. In this kind of heat we need to be able to find those chinks in our opponents’ defensive armour and I think the performance today will have an influence on the next game. However, we do need to improve overall to play in narrow areas, to get behind defences and to make the combination moves that can break the deadlock in the first half of games."

Gainare Tottori manager Takeo Matsuda
"This was the third game in a week and I felt that the physical side had an influence on the game. Even so, in the first half our pressing and defensive organization went well and we kept the score to 0-0 at half time. The first half went as we imagined with them moving the ball around and the second half too, where our plan wasn't to defend deeply in blocks but to win the ball high up the field. That's our usual plan. Unfortunately though we conceded from a quickly taken free kick and our game plan went out of the window. If we could enjoy more possession then we could change aspects of our game but we can't and that's our situation right now. That was plain to see in today's game. We're lacking not only the physical side of the game but in many areas as well. There's no point in being downhearted so we have to fix what we can and look forward positively to the next game."