A crucial match aiming for consecutive victories by overcoming the weakness of away games

　In the 28th round of the league, we will face Ehime FC away. In the previous round against Kyoto, we had a great victory with 6 goals, including a hat-trick by Lucas. We want to continue this momentum, but we are currently struggling with 2 consecutive away losses. However, Coach Okuma says, "It's our first time playing at this stadium, and the unfamiliar pitch may have an impact, but above all, we need to fight tenaciously. Even if the opponent has studied us, we want to show changes as a team. We want to fight hard in the remaining 14 games and win."

　Ehime, on the other hand, is currently in 10th place with 34 points. As they were challenged at home by Komazawa in the first half, Ehime's strengths lie in their pressing from the front line, their energetic counterattacks, and their passing game. With the addition of DF Ohno and the return of FW Fukuda from injury, their game management has become more stable and they have been on an unbeaten streak in their last 6 games since their defeat against Mito on July 31st. It is necessary to be cautious of FW Fukuda's post play, the height of their attacks led by FW Jozimar, and the bold dribbling of MF Saito.

　Tokyo, Gonda is absent for the activities of the U-22 Japan national team. The starting lineup will remain the same as the previous match. In the attack, Lucas has been the key player and has been able to create chances. Furthermore, Coach Okuma aims to break through the opponent's defense and players without hesitation, saying "If we can do that, the chances of breaking through will increase. If that happens, it will lead to another step up and confidence." This match, the key to victory will be the side attack.

　Hanyu said, "I think the team's base has been formed, such as how to carry the ball and positioning. In the future, we want to focus on breaking through in the attacking third, being aggressive in the ball battles and not losing in running, and also gaining points with a "fighting" mentality." It seems that the team has also grasped the feeling of evolution. It will be a game where we want to overcome our weakness against away games and gain 3 points and more confidence. The match started at 18:04 in Tokyo with a kick-off at Ningineer Stadium after the rain.

Tokyo Take Aim At Awkward Ehime

For the 28th game of the season, Tokyo traveled to Ehime on the southern island of Shikoku. Buoyed by Lucas' hat trick in the 6-1 demolition of Kyoto in the previous outing, the side was looking to erase memories of two consecutive losses in the most recent away games. Manager Kiyoshi Okuma commented, "It's our first visit to the stadium and we're obviously not used to the pitch, so what we need is a gritty and tenacious display. Even though we'll have been analyzed by the opposition, we need to show variety in our play. We want to keep it tight and win the remaining 14 games".
Opponents Ehime lay in 10th place with 34 points at kick off. In the reverse fixture, played at Komazawa earlier in the season, Ehime had caused Tokyo various problems with their pressing from the front, dynamic bursts forward, and neat passing game. The side had been strengthened since then by the acquisition of defender Ono and the return from injury of striker Fukuda, and was unbeaten in six games since a loss to Mito on July 31st. The team had a steady, stable approach with the hold-up play of Fukuda and the height of Josimar the main threat, ably supported by the deft dribbling of midfielder Saito.
Tokyo were missing goalkeeper Gonda due to Japan U-22 commitments but were otherwise unchanged. In attack, with Lucas as the chief instigator, the side had begun to create chances again. Regarding the role of the fullbacks, the manager commented, "Even if the opposition sit deeply, we can increase our chances of opening them up by getting behind their defense. If we can achieve that, then it will take us up to the next level and increase the confidence of the team". Dominating the flanks was seen as vital in deciding the outcome of the game.
Hanyu commented, "With the way we move the ball and our positioning, I feel the basics of the team are there. After that, we need to focus on pulling our opponents apart in the final third, outrunning them, and being more aggressive in our approach to the ball; if we can manage those things, then the points will pile up". Tokyo entered a tricky away fixture against an awkward opponent aiming to see the team evolve further and to earn what would be a morale-boosting win.
The rain had abated as the visitors kicked off shortly after 6pm on a warm evening at the Ninjineer Stadium.

Tanabe and Konno score goals! Leading by 2 points, the first half ends.

　In the first half, the team struggled on a pitch with puddles due to the rain. In the 9th minute, Ehime's FW Jojimaar hit the post and left MF Saito dribbled through the center. Unable to stop this, a decisive shot was taken from inside the area. However, the ball grazed the bottom of the left post and went out of bounds. Avoiding a major crisis, Tokyo gradually began to connect passes and move forward, creating opportunities by passing to FW Lucas on the front line and building momentum from there.

　At the 28th minute, Tanizawa, who received a wedge on the right side, skillfully cuts back the opposing DF and connects with Lucas, who is free on the outside. Lucas' early cross passes by Hanyu in front of the goal and flows into the left area, but Tanabe, who ran in from the far side with perfect timing, calmly guides it into the goal. Tanabe, who also scored in the home game against Ehime, scored the opening goal.

　In the latter part of the first half, Ehime, who was trying to counterattack, was able to launch a powerful attack, but they were able to hold them back without losing focus, with GK Shioda at the center. On the other hand, in the 45th minute, left back Maeno received his second warning of the day and was sent off for a foul against Tanizawa. From the resulting free kick, Konno scored his first goal of the season with a diving header in stoppage time, extending the lead as they headed into the second half.

Tanabe And Konno Give Tokyo First Half Lead

The heavy rain prior to kick off had left puddles on the field, causing problems for both sides in the opening minutes. In the 9th minute, Ehime forward Josimar held the ball up and midfielder Saito made a run from deep before unleashing a drive that beat Shiota, then struck the left post before rebounding to safety. Following that lucky escape, Tokyo slowly began to connect their passes and fashion a rhythm as Lucas was brought into the game more.
The game had reached the 28-minute mark when Yazawa collected a pass on the right, neatly turned a defender, and found Lucas unmarked on his outside. Lucas drove an early cross into the danger area, the ball evaded Hanyu's lunge in the center but Tanabe popped up with superb timing at the far post to finish coolly. Tanabe, scorer of Tokyo's goal in the reverse fixture, had given Tokyo the lead.
Ehime exerted increasing pressure as the clock wound down on the first half, but the Tokyo defense, with Shiota in command, maintained its concentration. In the 45th minute, Ehime defender Maeno fouled Yazawa, received his second yellow card of the game, and was sent off. From the resulting free kick, Konno buried a diving header past Kawakita for his first goal of the season and doubled Tokyo's lead at halftime.

Scored a massive 5 points without letting up on the attack, achieving a consecutive victory.

　In the second half, Tokyo took control of the game against Ehime, who were at a numerical disadvantage. In the 52nd minute, Kajiyama stole the ball from Ehime's defensive midfielder in their own half. The resulting through pass was received by Tanizawa, whose looping shot hit the crossbar and was not able to be finished. However, Lucas picked up the rebound and continued to play in Ehime's half. In the center, Hayashi passed to Tanizawa on the left, who ran onto the loose ball and scored near the goal despite being off balance, extending the lead.

　Substitute Sakata for Tanabe, who injured his left shoulder at the 60th minute. At the 71st minute, Tanihara's left CK drifted to the opposite side, but Takahashi chased after it and connected it, and Uyu's cross was touched by Ehime FW Kin's hand in the area, earning a PK. Lucas calmly scored it. At the 73rd minute, Uesato was substituted for Kajiyama. Even after scoring 4 goals, they did not let up on their attack, and Tanihara received the ball in front of the DF while passing it around neatly, becoming the starting point of the attack and launching a wave attack.

　In the 84th minute, Tokunaga dribbled up the right side and sent a shot-like cross to the front of the goal. Substitute player Nagasato slid in from the far side and GOAL!! He scored his first goal in Tokyo and the game ended 5-0. GK Shioda, who was worried about playing due to an ankle injury during pre-game practice, showed a stable defense and secured 3 points in an away game for the first time in 3 games, leading to a consecutive victory with a large number of goals.

　[Player Comments]《Imano》"It was a difficult pitch condition in the rain, but apart from the early pinch, we weren't really attacked. Even though Ehime had a player sent off, they still didn't try to defend and maintained their attacking attitude until the end. It was good that we were able to keep attacking until the end. The goal was scored when the opponent was already one player down, so I took the chance and jumped in. Taniyama also kicked a good ball for me. We hadn't scored for a long time, but when it goes in, it goes in... that's my impression (laughs)."

　"Nagasaki" "I had a strong desire to score a goal in Tokyo, so I'm glad I was able to do it today. It was a game where we were already leading, but everyone had an attacking mindset. It's more meaningful to finish the game by giving it our all rather than just ending it somehow, and it also helps us prepare for the next game. Scoring goals is my specialty. It's similar to "Gotsu-chan", but being in that position is also one of my strengths. It was great to be able to score my first goal by utilizing my strengths in a place where I can score."

　[Coach Okuma's press conference summary] "In the second half, we had a numerical advantage and didn't come forward too much, so we aimed for the third goal while passing the ball around. Using the wings to attack was something the team intended to do, but due to the number of players and timing in front of the goal, we didn't have many good opportunities from the outside. As expected, the opponent's defensive midfielder was strong, but we were able to score with a ball from the side, which I think gave the team momentum. Also, the goal from the late free kick. The timing was good. If the first half had ended 1-0, we wouldn't have understood the game. We haven't been able to score many goals from set pieces, so I think scoring from a set piece will give the team confidence for the future. We will switch gears and continue to play one game at a time."

　[Ehime・Ivica BARBARIC's press conference summary] "Regarding the match, the second half was already in a state of collapse, so if we were to analyze it, it would be the first half. In the first half, we were up against a strong team like FC Tokyo and we were too defensive overall. Especially in our approach in the midfield line. We would make an approach once, but if we were to miss, we would stop there. And even in that approach, everyone would be too close together, so we would either get replaced in one go or get passed by. By doing that, we created space for the opponent to take more and more shots. We conceded the first goal in a weak defense. After that, DF Maeno was sent off, and at that point we were down to 10 players, and then we conceded the second goal. We could already see the difference in quality, and when we are down to one player against a strong opponent like FC Tokyo, I think the game was pretty much over at that point. FC Tokyo played a very good game. I congratulate them. One very unfortunate thing is that I feel very sorry for our fans who came out in bad weather."

Tokyo Run Riot To Earn Consecutive Wins

With a man advantage Tokyo dominated the second half from first to last. In the 52nd minute Kajiyama stripped the ball from an Ehime midfielder inside his own half and stroked a through pass to Yazawa; Yazawa's lob beat Kawakita but struck the crossbar and bounced back into play. Lucas pounced on the ball and kept the attack moving, finding Hanyu in a central position. Hanyu's attempt to play in Yazawa on the left ran loose, allowing him to beat Kawakita at his near post and extend Tokyo's lead to three.
In the 60th minute Tanabe left the field suffering from a shoulder injury and was replaced by Sakata. In the 71st minute Tokyo won a corner on the left and Yazawa's effort reached Takahashi on the opposite side of the field. Takahashi found Hanyu who crossed and Ehime's substitute Kim handled the ball, gifting Tokyo a penalty. Lucas dispatched the spot kick with alacrity for his fourth goal in two games. Kajiyama then made way for Uesato in the 73rd minute. Despite being 4-0 ahead and having an extra outfield player, Tokyo continued to press forward, passing the ball around in defense before finding Yazawa who then led the charge upfield.
In the 84th minute Tokunaga raced forward down the right and drove a fierce low cross into the Ehime area. At the far post substitute Nagasato slid in to force the ball over the line for the first goal of his Tokyo career and the fifth of the evening. Despite sustaining a neck injury in the warm-up and being doubtful for the game, Shiota was rock-solid in the Tokyo goal as the defense dealt comfortably with the Ehime threat. The final whistle blew on a resounding 5-0 win, the first away victory for three games, that marked another three points in the bag.


Players' comments
Konno
"The pitch was very difficult from the start but even so, apart from that one early chance, they didn't really threaten us at all. Even though Ehime had a player sent off we didn't think about playing defensively and continued to attack until the final whistle. For the goal, Ehime had already had the player sent off and when Yazawa put a great ball in I just threw myself at it. I hadn't scored for a long time but when they go in, they go in!"

Nagasato
"I really wanted to get my first goal for Tokyo quickly so I'm delighted that I got one today. We were already well ahead when I went on but even so we were still attacking. It's much better than simply running down the clock and gives us something to focus on for the next game. The goal was a kind of speciality of mine; although it was close to a tap-in getting into that position is my forte. It's very satisfying to score my first goal for the club like that".


FC Tokyo manager Kiyoshi Okuma
"In the second half we had a man advantage and since they didn't come out to win the ball we aimed to pass it around while we looked for a third goal. It was our intention to use the flanks but we couldn't really get the numbers in front of goal or the timing quite right and so didn't really create much from wide positions. As we had expected the Ehime defensive midfielders were strong so scoring from a horizontal pass gave the team a real lift, I felt. Then we scored again from the free kick just before half time, which was perfect timing. If there had just been a single goal in it at half time you never know what's going to happen. We don't seem to score many from set plays so getting one today will be a good confidence boost. We want to continue taking each game as it comes".

Ehime FC manager Barbaric
"Well, we collapsed in the second half so we should analyze the first period. Basically, we played far too deeply against a strong side like FC Tokyo, particularly in our approach to the midfield line. We lost our shape moving forward and then stopped; it made it easy for them to change positions or get past us, allowing them space to shoot in. Lukewarm defending cost us the first goal. Then Maeno got sent off and they scored from the resulting free kick. When you're two down against a good team like Tokyo and playing with only ten men it's always going to be difficult. Tokyo played extremely good football today. I feel disappointed for our fans who turned up in the terrible weather and would like to apologize to them"