A match where we want to grab 3 points in a difficult away battle

　The league Sec. 3, which had been postponed due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, is being held. They will face FC Gifu away. In the previous match against Kitakyushu, they suffered a counterattack from the opponent, stopping their streak of five matches without conceding a goal. At the same time, they ended up scoreless and suffered a defeat for the first time in 12 matches. Coach Okuma stated, "We need to be able to identify critical moments in the game," emphasizing the need to enhance coordination in defense through pressing and covering, and to overcome the challenge of finishing in attack by breaking down opponents who defend resolutely.

　Gifu, currently at the bottom with 8 points. In the home match on July 17, we won decisively 4-0, but this time it's an away game. As Shiota mentioned in the Kitakyushu match, it is important not to be overwhelmed by the "atmosphere of expecting an upset" throughout the stadium. We want to properly care for the counterattacks starting from MF Oshi and quickly transition to attack.

　In Tokyo, Konno and Gonda, who had been away from the team for the activities of the Japan national team, have joined, and Nakamura, who had been sidelined due to injury, has also returned. Ishikawa has fully joined the team and made the roster. Takahashi aims to "focus on running more during away games after a loss, and wants to find the rhythm," and even in the heat, we want to maintain our activity level and be precise about when to switch on.

　Even in a stalemate where we can't score, we want to continue attacking by not only passing in the center but also being aware of the width and depth of the pitch to exploit the opponent's weaknesses. Ishikawa's breakthrough ability, and Lucas is also improving his condition, making him strong in holding the ball up front. With their involvement, we hope to see an activation of our attack and an increase in scoring ability. The match started at 18:04 with a kickoff from Tokyo at Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium, where the humid heat remains.

Tokyo Aim For The Points In Tricky Away Fixture

Tokyo took on FC Gifu in a game that should have been the 3rd of the year but was postponed due to the Tohoku Earthquake. In the previous outing, a Kitakyushu goal on the counterattack saw Tokyo's consecutive clean sheet run stopped at five as the side lost for the first time in 12 games. Manager Kiyoshi Okuma demanded his side be, "More clinical in the key moments," as the team sought improvements in defensive pressing and covering, finishing, and how to open up opponents who defend deeply.
Opponents Gifu propped up the table at kickoff with a meager 8 points. Tokyo had won the first encounter 4-0 on July 17th, but that had been at home and, as Shiota had commented on the Kitakyushu match, it was important that Tokyo weren't overwhelmed by the home support's expectations of an upset win. Tokyo would need to pay attention to Gifu's counterattacks, led by midfielder Oshitani, and to smoothly switch between defense and attack.
For Tokyo, Konno and Gonda had rejoined the team following Japan National Team duty while Nakamura had shrugged off an injury to return to the starting eleven. Ishikawa also made a welcome return to the squad. Takahashi commented, "It's an away game after a defeat so we have to run even harder than usual and find our rhythm," pinpointing Tokyo's need to maintain a high tempo despite the oppressive humidity and show variety in attack.
If the goals failed to materialize then patience would be vital, using the full width and depth of the pitch to find space behind the Gifu defense. Ishikawa's penetrative ability and Lucas' improving fitness and match sharpness added an extra layer to the Tokyo attack.
The humidity of the day lingered in the Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium as Tokyo kicked off shortly after 6pm.

Tokunaga and Tanizawa lead with goals to turn around at halftime

　In the early stages, we couldn't find our pace. There were moments when we were passed around by Gifu, and the game was back and forth. However, after 15 minutes, Robert Cesar broke through on the left side. The cross drifted to the far side, but Tanabe chased it down and connected. From there, Tokunaga made an overlapping run and passed to Takahashi, who moved forward. Receiving a direct return, he struck with his left foot from just outside the right area without hesitation. The well-controlled shot found the bottom right corner! Seizing the opportunity, we took the lead.

　Gradually finding their rhythm, in the 26th minute, Kajiyama won the ball in a challenge, and Tanabe seized the loose ball, sending a through pass to Hanyu who was running on the right flank. Hanyu tried to shoot after evading the opposing defender in the right area, but it was blocked. After the 30th minute, from a throw-in, Roberto CESAR made a move in the area, and Tanizawa, who followed up, received the ball and was fouled, earning a penalty kick. However, the penalty kick taken by Roberto CESAR was saved by the GK... They were unable to capitalize on penalty kick opportunities for the second consecutive match.

　However, without getting discouraged, they switched gears, and the scenes where Roberto CESAR created chances from Kajiwara's distribution began to increase. In the 42nd minute, Roberto CESAR broke through the left area with a powerful dribble and took a shot. This was saved by the goalkeeper, but the ball spilled into the center, and Tanizawa confidently found the net, scoring a goal! They continued their offensive efforts, and in stoppage time, Kajiwara initiated an attack from the right, changing the side with a through pass to the left front line. Roberto CESAR shot from the left area, but there was no angle, and it veered left. In the end, they finished the first half with a two-goal lead.

Tokunaga, Yazawa Give Tokyo First-Half Lead

Tokyo struggled to force the pace in the opening minutes and it was Gifu who played the ball around as the game ebbed and flowed. Then, in the 14th minute, Roberto Cesar burst down the left and crossed beyond the far post where Tanabe picked up the ball, before slipping it to the overlapping Tokunaga. Tokunaga spotted Takahashi's forward movement and played the ball infield before cutting inside himself. Takahashi laid the ball back and Tokunaga let fly first-time with a left-footed effort that beat Noda at his right post to give Tokyo the early breakthrough.
With the goal advantage, Tokyo slowly began to find their rhythm. In the 26th minute, Kajiyama showed his strength on the ball in midfield and Tanabe stroked a defense-splitting pass forward to Hanyu. Hanyu rounded a defender on the right of the area and shot, but his effort was blocked away. In the 30th minute, Roberto Cesar received the ball from a throw-in and set off on a run, supported by Yazawa. Yazawa took the ball into the Gifu area and was promptly fouled, earning Tokyo a penalty. Roberto Cesar stepped up but Noda anticipated his intentions and blocked the spot kick, the second consecutive game in which Tokyo had failed to convert from 12 yards.
Tokyo remained unaffected by the miss and Kajiyama continued to show his range of passing with Roberto Cesar frequently the recipient. In the 42nd minute, Cesar bulled his way through the Gifu defense on the left, burst into the penalty area and hammered a shot on target. Noda saved but was unable to prevent Yazawa pouncing on the loose ball and doubling the lead from close range. Tokyo continued to press forward and in injury time, a crossfield ball from Kajiyama played in Roberto Cesar on the left; Cesar took the ball on and shot but the angle was too tight and his effort hit the side-netting. The half-time whistle blew with Tokyo two goals ahead.

Victory by keeping the opponent's attack scoreless centered around Shiota

　In the second half, we were pushed back by Gifu, who gained momentum from the start. In the 46th and 50th minutes, they attempted a central breakthrough with a through pass, skillfully bringing MF Somiya and FW Shimada into shooting positions. In the 47th minute, a cross left FW Nishikawa free, resulting in a header attempt. We were saved by their shooting mistakes and avoided conceding a goal, but they created dangerous situations one after another.

　In response, Tokyo brought Lucas to the top. Following that, Ishikawa, who had not played since June 29, and Suzuki came in. They tried to counter by increasing movement in the front line. However, Gifu continued to press for a while, but conversely, they created chances from counterattacks. In the 74th minute, Nakamura's cross went to the far side where Ishikawa was waiting, and he connected with the ball directly as it dropped, but it just went slightly to the left.

　In the final stages, Lucas and Ishikawa created consecutive good opportunities, but in the 83rd and 86th minutes, Lucas's shots missed the target... In stoppage time, Ishikawa, who ran into the right area, turned the opposing defender and took a decisive shot, but it did not result in a goal in front of the goalkeeper. Although they could not secure the third goal, they defended without conceding any goals, and the time was up. They snatched 3 points away and returned to the top of the standings.

　【Player Comments】《Tokunaga》 "I had the image of entering and shooting from the one-two play. I could see the open lane, so I was able to shoot without rushing. For the first time, I was able to kick exactly where I aimed (laughs). Recently, instead of just kicking 'somehow', I have been able to shoot with a clear image of 'deciding firmly'. In the past, when I missed, everyone around me would say, 'Hey~!' It felt like I was being told not to shoot, but now I'm being encouraged to shoot more and more. I think my confidence has grown. (Having reached the top after half of the schedule?) Considering the start, I feel like we've come a long way, but I want to continue to stay at the top. I want to keep working hard to accumulate points from here on out."

　I had many chances, but I needed to finish with that "one more" at the end. I wanted to score there and make it easier for the team. My body was moving, and it was as I had imagined. I was able to draw the ball out there. (How was your foot?) At first, I was thinking a bit while playing, but once the game started... (laughs). However, including the condition of my foot, I think I was able to control my turns and shots well. I was able to visualize various options, like whether to send a cross or turn... and I want to continue expressing that until it takes shape one by one. (How about the combination with Lucas?) I couldn't score today, but I want to assist quickly and want him to assist me too (laughs). I want to continue being a presence that is unpleasant for the opponent.

　[Coach Okuma's Press Conference Summary] "Overall, I felt that the players were a bit heavy. The temperature was high, and it was quite tough, but when the body feels heavy, there are more mistakes. Additionally, in the second half, as the opponent got tired, there were many technical mistakes in finishing, which concerned me. In various environments of home and away matches, we need to maintain our mental strength and continue to execute good plays at the crucial moments; otherwise, we create gaps and our defensive approach was also lacking. However, I was pleased that we kept a clean sheet, and there were players, including substitutes, who showed good performances in this environment. I want to review both the good and bad aspects once again and prepare to fight well in the next match.

　(After the opening goal, did the opponent drop back and increase their dribbling?) I think it was probably over 30°C, so I believe it was difficult for the opponent to maintain that for 90 minutes. Including substitutions, we played a very connected and attacking style of football, but there were moments when we couldn't get to the ball. The vital area was used quite a bit, and we didn't mark the players making diagonal runs. There were scenes where we were a step behind. Throughout the 90 minutes, I think that was the intention at the start. We had many reflections on the fact that if we didn't hold our ground against the opponent, we would concede goals.

　[Summary of Coach Kimura's Press Conference] "Since the opponent is a higher-ranked team, I expected it would be a difficult match to win easily. I hoped to limit ourselves to just one goal conceded in the first half and considered that the opponent might tire in the second half. In reality, we conceded two goals, and I mentioned at halftime that if we could score one goal when the momentum shifted slightly in our favor, it could change the game. However, not being able to score that goal is what I believe we lacked the most. It was a disappointing result for us."

　(Regarding today's DF performance) After analyzing various aspects of the DF so far, we need to be more aggressive towards the ball. I believe the players worked hard on that. Unfortunately, there were a few instances where we committed fouls, but if we do it well, it can lead to bigger opportunities in terms of winning the ball back. In other words, I think we have become better at disrupting the opponent's attacking rhythm than before. However, as time goes on, fatigue sets in, and the distance between players gradually increases, causing delays in reactions. Additionally, we are struggling with the size of our players. I believe that unless we can surpass the opponent in that area, it will be difficult to win the ball back or clear it. I want to continue to work on improving in those aspects.

Shiota Dominant As Tokyo Hold Off Gifu

The hosts flew at Tokyo as the second half began, pushing the visitors back and creating a series of chances. In the 46th and 50th minutes, through passes led to shooting opportunities for midfielder Someya and forward Shimada, while forward Nishikawa was presented with a free header in the 47th minute. Wayward finishing helped Tokyo, but Gifu were threatening, and Tokyo responded by introducing Lucas in the 61st minute. Ishikawa made his first appearance since June 29th, and Suzuki was also a late substitute as Tokyo sought to inject some extra movement into the front line. Despite the changes, Gifu continued to push forward, leaving themselves open to the counter attack. In the 74th minute, Nakamura played a deep cross to the far post where Ishikawa smashed the dropping ball narrowly wide of the left post.
As the game entered the final stages, Lucas and Ishikawa created decent opportunities, with the big Brazilian shooting wide of the goal in the 83rd and 86th minutes. In additional time, Ishikawa raced down the right, turned a defender inside out and shot but was unable to beat Noda. The final whistle blew on a 2-0 victory. Tokyo had earned another clean sheet and the three points took the side back to the top of the table.


Players' comments 
Tokunaga 
"I had an image of the movement that led to the first goal in my head as I made the move - play the one-two, cut inside and shoot. The space opened up, I kept calm and hit the ball. It's the first time the ball's gone just where I aimed! Recently I've been all about having a focused image rather than just a vague hit and hope approach. Before if I shot and missed I felt that the players around me weren't over-impressed and that I shouldn't be shooting but now I'm being encouraged to have a go. I feel much more confident about it now. 
How does it feel to be top at the halfway point? Well, if you consider the start we had then we've done well so far and we want to stay at the top. We want to continue to rack up the points from here." 

Ishikawa
"We had a lot of chances and really needed to put away one more as another goal would have made the game far easier for the team. When the chance came late on my body movement was good and I had a clear image of what I was doing in my mind. How's my leg? Well, I was a little conscious of it at first but as soon as I got on the field it was fine and I had no problems with shooting or cutting back. Looking at the shape of the opposition I could cross or cut inside; I had various options and clear images of all of them. How is it playing with Lucas? We couldn't score today but I want to assist his goal quickly and I want him to assist me as well. We want to carry on giving opponents a hard time."


FC Tokyo manager Kiyoshi Okuma
"I thought we looked a little heavy out there. When it's hot and you're feeling heavy then mistakes happen. I was a little worried by the way we made technical mistakes in the second half when our opponents were tiring and we had chances to wrap up the game. Home and away are very different environments but we have to be clinical throughout the game; they created some chances and our defending was a little naive at times. We kept a clean sheet and given the circumstances some of the players, including the substitutes, showed their strengths; we have to look at the good points and the bad and put in a solid performance in the next game.
After the first goal our opponents sat back and dribbled more? It was over 30C out there I think and it was hard for them to continue for the full 90 minutes as well. Including the substitutes we played very smooth attacking football but also suffered, letting them attack us in the key areas and not picking up runners when they played diagonal balls. We lost the initiative at times. I think that was part of their game plan. We have to reflect that if we don't pick up opposition players then we're going to concede goals".

FC Gifu manager Takahiro Kimura
"Since our opponents are higher-ranked we knew it wasn't going to be easy to win. We were thinking that if we could hold them to just a single goal in the first half they might run out of steam in the second. In fact we conceded twice but I told the players at half time that if we could pull one back then the game might turn in our favour; not being able to score that first goal was our biggest weakness, I believe. It's a very disappointing result for us.
What about our defence? The results of our defensive analysis were that we needed to be more aggressive towards the ball and the players worked hard on that today, I felt. Unfortunately we conceded a lot of fouls but if things had gone better we could have created more chances from the way we won the ball. I also felt we isolated their attack better than in previous games. However as the game progressed we tired a little and the distance between the players was stretched; our reactions slowed down. Our lack of size also caused problems. If the opponents are bigger then it's difficult to win the ball and you have to pick up the rebounds. We have to improve in all those areas I think".