The second round of matches, welcoming Kumamoto to National as the home team

　The 22nd round of the league will be held. They will face Roasso Kumamoto at the Japan National Stadium for the first time this season. They had a great victory against Gifu in the previous round. They have accumulated points without losing for 10 consecutive games and have taken the top spot. However, the top four teams are all close with only a 2-point difference. Due to changes in the league schedule, they will now enter the second round of matches, but they want to focus on the upcoming battle and only think about accumulating more points.

　Kumamoto, on the other hand, is currently in 5th place. They have not lost in the last 6 games, but their last 3 games have all ended in draws, unable to secure a win. However, although their total score is only 15, their attacks targeting FW Thales are sharp. In the away game on June 12th, we felt their boldness, and the key to defense will be how well we can contain their momentum with pressing from the front line.

　On the other hand, Kumamoto's total goals conceded is only 11, second only to Tokyo, and the focus is on breaking through their solid defense. In the away game, they narrowly won with a goal from Roberto CESAR, but head coach Ohkuma said, "We had chances, but we were unable to break through their strong defense, especially with the combination of MF Edmilson and GK Minami, and their individual abilities." They will need to increase their passing game in the midfield to create space against Kumamoto's well-organized defense, and use movement in all directions to shake things up.

　Tokyo will face the match with the same members as before, without the important player Tokunaga who was injured in the previous match. Kumamoto's tall DF Cho Sonjin will start for the first time since May 14th. Their aim is to thoroughly utilize their height, including the 2 top players Nagasawa and Fabio. Although it has been cool for the past few days, the humidity has returned during the day, but in the evening, a refreshing breeze occasionally blows. The match started at 6:34 pm with Tokyo's kickoff.

Tokyo Take On Kumamoto At The National Stadium

FC Tokyo made their first visit to the National Stadium this year to face Roasso Kumamoto in the 22nd game of the season. The comfortable 4-0 win over Gifu in the last outing saw Tokyo extend their unbeaten run to ten games and leap to the top of the standings. Four teams were jostling for position within two points of the leaders, however. Due to the rearranged schedule the fixture was the second meeting between the sides this season, a game Tokyo needed to win to retain their place at the top.
Opponents Kumamoto lay in 5th place at kick off. The side was unbeaten in six but had struggled to finish off opponents in drawing the last three games. Despite not being a high-scoring team with only 15 goals so far the attack, lead by lanky striker Nagasawa, was sharp and to what extent Tokyo could blunt their forward pressing would be key to victory. The visitors also possessed the second-best defensive record, behind Tokyo, having conceded only 11 goals and prising open that miserly defence would be the focal point of the match.
Tokyo had ground out a narrow victory in the reverse fixture on June 12th. thanks to a Roberto Cesar goal, a game that prompted Tokyo manager Okuma to comment, "Although we had chances the connection between defensive midfielder Edmilson and goalkeeper Minami, together with the high level of individual ability left me with the strong impression that they had kept us out". In order to pull the tight Kumamoto defence out of position to create space Tokyo would need to further enhance the quality of their midfield passing.
The leg injury Tokunaga suffered in the previous game had healed, allowing Tokyo to name an unchanged team. For Kumamoto, towering defender Cho made his first appearance since May 14th. while the selection of equally tall strikers Nagasawa and Fabio indicated the visitors' tactical intentions.
Following several days of cool and refreshing weather, Sunday afternoon saw the return of sultry humidity but an occasional breeze was blowing through the stadium as Tokyo kicked off shortly after 6:30 pm.

Despite missing opportunities in front of Kumamoto's defense, they take the lead just before the end of the first half.

　Kumamoto showed an aggressive attitude in the beginning and was able to launch a strong attack. However, Tokyo DF calmly defended and quickly regained control of the ball, establishing their rhythm. In the 3rd minute, starting with Tanabe's shot, in the 7th minute, they connected from their own half, and Kajiyama → Roberto CESAR on the left side dribbled inside and took a shot from between the DF players. In the 10th minute, Cesar broke through in front of the goal with a pass from Hayu, creating a decisive opportunity, but the shot went wide...

　After that, we continued to pass the ball quickly and create chances. In the 20th minute, we launched a counterattack, with Hayabusa dribbling up and shooting from just in front of the left area. In the 37th minute, Tanabe dribbled past the opponent with a powerful run from our own half, and joined Cesar and Hayabusa on the front line. We launched a dynamic counterattack, with Cesar running down the left side and bringing the ball into the area, before unleashing a powerful shot. However, both attempts were stopped by a great save from Kumamoto GK Minami, and we were unable to score for a while.

　But in the 43rd minute, they launched a counter attack and Hayashi sent a precise right cross into the area. Cesar, who had run into the area first, collided with a defender and couldn't finish the shot, but the ball fell to Taniyama who was following from behind. However, he was fouled from behind and brought down. As a result, Kumamoto's midfielder Motoyoshi received a red card and was sent off. Tokyo was able to convert the resulting penalty kick, scored by Cesar, and finally took the lead! They went into the second half with a 1-0 lead.

Kumamoto Frustrate Profligate Tokyo Until Game-changing Incident

Kumamoto came out fighting from the kick off, throwing men forward into attack. The Tokyo defense held firm and the side quickly slipped into a passing rhythm. In the 3rd minute Tanabe let fly with a thumping volley, while in the 7th minute Cesar barged inside from the left and cracked a low drive to the near post. In the 10th minute Cesar raced down the inside-right channel, stroked the ball infield to Hanyu and burst through the Kumamoto defense to meet Hanyu's clipped return pass. With Minami sprinting out to narrow the angle Cesar shot low across the Kumamoto keeper but also wide of the far post.
Tokyo maintained the high tempo passing and continued to create chances. Hanyu raced half the length of the field on a fast break in the 20th minute and attempted to curl a looping shot beyond Minami while another lightning-fast counter attack in the 37th minute ended with Cesar hammering a low drive on target; on both occasions the Kumamoto goalkeeper produced superb saves to deny Tokyo the opening goal.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 43rd minute. Tokyo countered and from the right wing Hanyu took careful aim before crossing towards Cesar as the striker burst into the Kumamoto area. Cesar and a defender jockeyed for the ball which evaded them both, falling in front of Yazawa as the midfielder raced forward in support. Yazawa seemed certain to score until he was flattened from behind by a clumsy challenge; the perpetrator, Kumamoto midfielder Nejime, was sent off and Tokyo awarded a penalty. Cesar wrong-footed Minami from the spot and Tokyo took a 1-0 lead into half time.

Furious goal rush! Lucas also scored his first goal, leading to a comfortable victory with 5 points.

　In the second half, Tokyo took advantage of numerous chances against a disadvantaged Kumamoto and it became a goal rush. In the 48th minute, they continued to play despite being offside, and Tanabe passed to Cesar, who then passed to the right side where Imakano crossed. Hayabusa in front of the goal then scored with his left foot!

　Kumamoto made two substitutions in the 55th minute. With FW Matsubashi and Nagasawa as the two top players, Harada and Fabio formed a double pivot in midfield, while MF Edmilson dropped back to DF, forming a back three with Yano and Fukuo. After taking the lead, Tokyo slowed down their attacks at times, but they were able to switch gears when needed. In the 67th minute, they picked up the pace while attacking, and Tanizawa received a pass in the center of the area after a move from the right side, earning another penalty kick. Tanizawa himself converted the penalty, extending the lead to three goals.

　Lucas replaces Hanyu in the 72nd minute! Without easing the attack, just after in the 73rd minute, Tokunaga received a pass from Tanabe and dribbled up, and the powerful shot from just outside the right area pierced the top right corner of the goal, marking Tokunaga's second consecutive goal.

　In the 76th minute, Murohara was replaced by Tokunaga, and in the 85th minute, Yanagiraku, who made his first appearance, was substituted for Nakamura and put in as a left back. The DF line was changed, but Kumamoto's counterattack was shut out. Then, in the 87th minute, substitute Lucas broke through the opponent's DF, received a lob pass from Kajiyama, calmly dribbled with his right foot and scored a goal! Lucas scored his first goal since his return and secured the final goal, leading to a comfortable victory with 5 goals, the first time this season.

　【Player Comments】《Tanihara》"The balance between the front and back of the team is good, and everyone can move easily because our aim is clear. I am conscious of getting into the goal area, and that was evident in the situation where we got a penalty kick. I am focused and able to enjoy playing. I asked to take the penalty kick myself. In the future, I want to be able to score even in the flow of the game. We want to continue winning with this momentum and keep running towards the top."

　"Lucas" "I was able to score a goal in my second game back. I also wanted to score myself, and I felt the support and expectations from everyone, so I'm really happy that I was able to score early on. However, my first goal after returning is already over. Our goal is to return to J1. I want to do my best to contribute to that. The next game will be a difficult away game, and there will also be the difficulty of being in first place. But I want to continue playing our attacking football and keep winning."

　[Summary of Manager Okuma's Press Conference] "We were able to keep moving our bodies from the first half and continue to take the ball at a high position as the starting point of our attack for the full 90 minutes. However, if the first half had ended 0-0 or if the opponent had not been reduced to 10 players, the outcome could have been different. It's not about who...but as a team, we need to increase our decisiveness and avoid dangerous plays for the opponent. Lucas showed a good example, and I want our young players to learn from his composure in crucial moments. And we want to develop the ability to score from the first half. Today's victory is for the National Stadium, and we will continue to prepare for each match one by one."

　(Is the team's performance going as planned so far?) Despite the continuous injuries to the FW, Cesar has adapted well to Japanese soccer. He has shown a strong ability to learn, especially in terms of defense and dealing with the tenacity of opposing defenders. Recently, he has been able to come up with new tactics such as cutting to the left when being cut off on the right, making it difficult for opponents to read his dribbling. Additionally, the fact that the team's lineup has become more stable has been a major factor. Tanabe has gained confidence and has been improving rapidly. The team has also shown progress in areas beyond just offense and defense. The acceleration of young talent has created competition within the team, while veteran Hayashi's hard work has had a synergistic effect. Currently, there is a good balance between competition and unity. We hope that everyone will continue to work hard to further accelerate our progress.

　(About Lucas) As he plays more games, he will get used to the fast speed of Japan and his game sense will also return. There are still some parts that he is not completely used to, but his strong point is being able to stop and score in those situations. I want him to inject that into the team and make it work together.

　[Kumamoto Takagi Coach's Press Conference Summary] "I thought it would be the most difficult game of the season, but it far exceeded my expectations. The players and supporters worked hard, but even with 11 players, we struggled against the opponent who had only 10 players. We couldn't control the game as we wanted. It was impossible to take it in the direction we wanted. I think both teams have improved in terms of team strength since the last match, but we still lack quality. We want to train hard to improve our quality."

　Regarding the referee, I think the decision was fair. I think it was a consolation for us, but after the game, we were told "you played a very good game". The players fought hard until the end. (What specific qualities do you want to improve?) Stop and kick. Or, when the opponent approaches, how much distance is needed to create pressure... There are too many things to mention."

Lucas' First Goal On Return Completes Second-half Rout

The hosts exploited their numerical advantage ruthlessly as the second half unfolded. In the 48th minute, Tokyo quickly moved the ball via Tanabe and Cesar to Konno, who was overlapping down the right. Konno crossed and Hanyu darted between two defenders to slam the ball high past Minami and double the lead.
In response, the visitors made a double substitution in the 55th minute and changed their formation; Matsuhashi and Nagasawa played as twin strikers, Harada and Fabio as defensive midfielders, while Edmilson dropped back into a three-man defence. With a two-goal cushion and a man advantage, Tokyo no longer needed to maintain a high tempo and slowed the pace down somewhat, only speeding up when an opening presented itself. In the 67th minute, they quickened the tempo, moved the ball down the right, and then played it infield to meet Yazawa's run into the Kumamoto area. Yazawa's pace took him away from a defender, and a desperate late challenge earned Tokyo another penalty. Yazawa took the spot kick himself, blasting the ball high into the net beyond Minami to stretch the lead to three.
Lucas replaced Hanyu in the 72nd minute. Tokyo continued to push forward and were rewarded with a fourth goal in the 73rd minute as Tanabe played a quick free kick sideways to Tokunaga, who dribbled forward unchallenged to the edge of the Kumamoto area before unleashing a fierce drive that fizzed past Minami at his near post. Flush from scoring in two consecutive games, Tokunaga was shortly replaced by Mukuhara, while Nagira made his first team debut in the 85th minute as a substitute for Nakamura at right back. Despite the changes, the Tokyo defense dealt comfortably with the Kumamoto attack. In the 87th minute, Kajiyama spotted Lucas' forward run and chipped a delicate pass over the Kumamoto defense; Lucas took the ball down with a sublime first touch and then coolly flicked it past Minami with the outside of his right boot. Lucas' first goal since rejoining the club was the icing on the cake of a decisive 5-0 scoreline.


Players' comments
Yazawa
"The team balance is good both front and back, we fully understand our roles and it's easy to move, I think. I was aiming to get into positions in front of goal and earning the penalty was a result of that. We were very focused from the start and enjoyed the game. I asked to be allowed to take the penalty and I want to be able to score from open play in the future. It's important we keep this momentum going and maintain our position at the top of the table".

Lucas
"I was able to score in my second game back at the club. I wanted to score for myself but I'm really happy that I could repay everyone's support and live up to their expectations by scoring so soon. However, scoring that first goal is done with now and our aim is to get back into J1. I want to do my best to achieve that. We're away in what looks like being a tough game next and then there's the difficulty of keeping hold of first place but we want to keep on winning with the kind of attacking football we're playing right now".

FC Tokyo manager Kiyoshi Okuma
"Our movement was good from the start and we managed to achieve our aim of winning the ball high up the field for the whole 90 minutes. However, if the first half had finished 0-0 and our opponents hadn't had a man sent off the outcome could have been very different. We have to improve the finishing of the team as a whole and carry more of threat to our opponents. Lucas sets a great example and I want the younger players to learn from his coolness at the decisive moments. We need to add the power to score goals in the first half of games as well. Now we have to put today's game aside and prepare as best as we can for the next match.
Am I satisfied with the team's development so far? We've suffered injuries to our strikers but now Roberto Cesar has become used to Japanese football. In defense and in terms of the tenacity of opposing defenses he's shown a much faster aptitude to learn than we expected. He's become able to shift his positioning from right to left and his dribbling has become harder for opponents to read. Also, having a settled team has been very important. Tanabe is growing in confidence and his development is really accelerating. The improvement of the younger players creates competition within the team and draws performances from the senior players like Hanyu. There's a kind of synergy at work that creates team unity from that competition. We want everyone to contribute to that acceleration.
Regarding Lucas, as the games mount up he's getting used to the speed of Japanese football again and his sense of the game is coming back. He's not there completely yet but he showed his strengths today with the way he trapped the ball and then finished it off. We want to integrate that into the team".

Roasso Kumamoto manager Takuya Takagi
"We thought it would be the most difficult game of the season but it exceeded our expectations. The players and supporters did their best but even with eleven men against such opposition it was going to be tough, never mind playing with a man short. We controlled even less of the game than we had envisaged. It was impossible to do what we had wanted. I think both teams have improved since we last played each other but we're still lacking in quality in many areas. We want to work harder in training to improve our ability. I thought the referee today was very fair. Maybe it was meant to comfort us but after the match he said we had played a good game. The team fought very hard until the final whistle.
In particular, what do I think we need to improve? Stopping and kicking. Also, what kind of distance is needed to put pressure on an opponent when they approach. I can't really give a full explanation".