Overcome the accident and grab the victory with all our might!

　After finishing a tough 5-game stretch and entering November, the 34th round will be held against Shonan Bellmare. We will be away. In the last 3 games, we have not had a win and there is still frustration, but even with each team taking "Tokyo measures", we have been able to create chances from our own soccer and feel a sense of accomplishment. From here on, in the last 5 games, there will be pressure for promotion, but we will make adjustments for the next game without rushing and steadily accumulate points. That is everything. Starting this round, Japan national team's Imakano will be absent. And today, Takahashi and Kajiyama will be suspended due to accumulated warnings. Also, Tokunaga injured his neck during practice yesterday and will be forced to miss his first game of the season. As a result, Shimoda will be starting for the first time, partnering with Darbou midfield. Center backs will be Jadenorth and Morishige. Nakamura will be on the right side back, and Ishikawa and Tanabe will be starting for the first time this season in the midfield. Lucas and Taniyama will be leading the attack. On the other hand, Shonan is currently in 11th place with 45 points. The possibility of promotion may be extremely slim, but their record so far is 12 wins, 9 draws, and 12 losses. In the 13th round on May 22nd, Tokyo took the lead but showed resilience in the second half and ended up with a draw. This round will be Shonan's home game, and they will surely come aggressively to secure a win. In response, we want to aim for victory with calm and calculated plays, focusing on balancing with Darbou. The team situation may be difficult, but we will face the "J2 final chapter" with all our might. The game started at 4:03 pm with Shonan's kickoff at a cold and rainy Hiratsuka Stadium.

Tokyo Call On Squad To Deliver

With the demanding schedule of five games in two weeks behind them, FC Tokyo traveled to Shonan to take on Bellmare in the first game of November. Despite a lingering frustration at being winless in three and the special approach taken by opponents when playing them, Tokyo were still creating chances with their style of football and had plenty to be positive about. As the season entered the final stretch of five games and the pressure mounted, the key would be to remain composed, focus on each individual game, and slowly pick up points.
Konno was absent, called up to the Japan National Team, while Takahashi and Kajiyama were suspended. Tokunaga had suffered a neck injury in training the day before the game, forcing him to miss a match for the first time this year. As a result, Shimoda made his first-ever start for the club, partnering Hanyu in a double defensive midfielder formation. Jade North lined up alongside Morishige in central defense, with Nakamura at right back, while Ishikawa made his first start of the year with Tanabe in midfield. Lucas and Yazawa were paired in attack.
Opponents Shonan were in 11th place at kick off with 45 points from a record of 12 wins, 9 draws, and 12 losses. Promotion was likely out of reach, but in the previous match in May, the team had put in a gritty performance to equalize Tokyo's early goal and take a point. With home advantage, they were expected to take an aggressive approach.
To counter that threat, Tokyo would need to maintain their composure while adapting to the state of play. Much was expected of Hanyu in a central role, using his movement to control the team's balance. The team was in a difficult situation and the squad was needed to rise to the challenge as the final chapter of the season began.
A light rain was falling on a chilly afternoon as Shonan kicked off shortly after 4pm.

Both teams fought back and forth, and the first half ended scoreless.

　Both teams attacked each other from the start, and the game continued with a back-and-forth flow. In the 2nd minute, Tanabe took a daring middle shot. In the 7th minute, Shonan took a heading shot from a corner kick, but right after that, Tokyo also had a chance with a header from Morishige off a corner kick. In the 12th minute, Tanabe made a move on the right side and Nakamura followed with a right cross. Taniyama in front of the goal made a perfect header, but it was saved by the goalkeeper. Both teams quickly switched to counter attacks, and around the 20th minute, they were exchanging counter attacks. In the 22nd minute, Tanabe's pass to Hayashi was intercepted, and Shonan took advantage of the counter attack. However, Undera stopped MF Ajier's central breakthrough and launched a counter attack from the DF line. But from Lucas' pass on the left side, Taniyama calmly trapped the ball in front of the box and made a shot, but it went just above the bar. In the 28th minute, Ishikawa made a speedy dribble shot, but it was saved by the goalkeeper. In the 30th minute, Shonan's DF Kamada made a run from the right side, and the opponent's FW was able to cross the ball in the box, but Mukuhara blocked it with his body and escaped with a corner kick. In the 36th minute, Tokyo launched a quick attack. Ishikawa in the center moved to the right side. Tanabe dribbled past the defenders and made a last pass to the center, where Ishikawa and Taniyama connected with a direct pass, and finally sent it to Mukuhara who had moved up from the far side, but it was cut off just a moment too late. Tokyo showed their strength in winning the ball and had space and time to pass, but they also faced Shonan's strong attacks and were unable to take control of the game. However, they were able to stop Shonan's counter attacks with focused defense, and the first half ended with a scoreless tie.

See-saw First Half Ends Scoreless

The game began in an open, attacking manner with play shifting from end to end. In the 2nd minute, Tanabe attempted a shot from the middle of the field. Shonan won a corner in the 7th minute, but their header went wide. Tokyo responded with a corner of their own moments later, but Morishige's header was off target. Tanabe pushed forward down the right in the 12th minute and passed the ball to Nakamura, who then crossed it to Yazawa. Yazawa's powerful header was saved by Nishibe in the Shonan goal.
Both teams exchanged counter attacks starting from the 20th minute. The home team intercepted a pass from Tanabe to Hanyu, releasing midfielder Adiel who ran straight up the field until he was stopped by Shimoda. This led to a counter attack from the Tokyo defense line. Lucas took the ball down the left and passed it to Yazawa on the edge of the Shonan area. Yazawa received the ball neatly, turned a defender expertly, but his shot narrowly missed the bar. Ishikawa showed his speed with a dribble and shot in the 28th minute, forcing another save from Nishibe.
Shonan defender Kamata made a bold run down the right in the 30th minute, entering the Tokyo area before passing the ball to a forward. Mukuhara threw himself in front of the resulting shot, blocking it out for a corner. Tokyo had a fast-paced break in the 36th minute as Ishikawa took the ball up the middle and passed it to Tanabe on the right. Tanabe took the ball into the Shonan area and drew a defender towards himself before passing it to Ishikawa. Ishikawa then passed it to Yazawa, who in turn passed it to Mukuhara on the far side. However, a defender intervened and the promising move came to nothing.
Tokyo were aggressive in their approach to the ball and had time and space to play, but Shonan's dynamism in attack prevented them from gaining complete control of the game. The Tokyo defense held strong and the first half ended 0-0.

Cover together! With ZAGO's 2 goals, we pull away from Shonan and take valuable 3 points.

In the early stages of the second half, they continuously created opportunities from the combination of Ishikawa and Nakamura on the right side. However, their final play lacked precision and they were unable to score. In the 53rd minute, they launched a quick attack and found Lucas free on the left side. However, the timing of the shot was off and Lucas drew the defender before returning the ball to Ishikawa in the center. But his shot from there was blocked.

　Unable to decide here, it was pushed back to Shonan instead. Therefore, in the 60th minute, Roberto CESAR was substituted for Tanabe. The substitution strategy of trying to compete with speed was successful. In the 64th minute, Shonan also brought in speedy FW Takayama and in the 70th minute, tall FW Tahara, but in the 72nd minute, Taniyama skillfully controlled the ball on the left side and sent a high pass to the far side. Cesar dove in head first for the GOAL!! Taking advantage of Shonan's weakness, he scored the first goal with a determined diving header!

　However, immediately after that, Shonan midfielder Nagaki entered the area and was judged to have been fouled by Hayabusa, giving a penalty kick. In the 75th minute, this was perfectly converted by MF Azier, equalizing the score... Shonan, fueled by this momentum, increased their attacking strength and put pressure on the Tokyo goal. In the 79th minute, from a left cross by Shonan FW Takayama, FW Tahara hit a high header over the Tokyo DF, narrowly avoiding danger as it curved to the left.

　The game became hectic, but Tokyo still switched quickly from solid defense to attacking. In the 81st minute, Nakamura boldly made a move and entered the right area with a powerful dribble. He sent a minus pass to the center. Cesar then trapped it with his right foot and turned around, striking an eye-opening shot with his left foot!

　The remaining time, including 3 minutes of stoppage time, was dominated by Shonan, but Tokyo maintained their focus and defended until the final whistle. With Cesar's 2 goals, Tokyo pulled away from Shonan and secured their first victory in 4 games. Above all, they covered well for the absence of players due to the Japan national team and accidents, and took home a valuable 3 points away from home.

　【Player Comment】《Roberto CESAR》"It was a tough battle, but we were able to overcome it together. Personally, I have been playing for a short time recently, and I was frustrated by that, but I am happy that I was able to hit it on the pitch and score a goal. The second goal was not with my dominant foot, so I hit it with my feeling, but I was able to score. I am really happy to have scored a goal that helped the team."

　《Jade NORTH》"As expected, it was a fierce game and Shonan came to win with all their might. It was a tough match, but we also gave our all. In the first half, there were moments where we were outplayed by Shonan, but we made adjustments at halftime and I think we were able to defend well with the combination of Morishige and winning the second ball with Shimoda's dominance in aerial duels. And with the strength of our attacking players and Cesar, we were able to take the lead. I think we all fought for and earned these 3 points."

　[Manager Okuma's Press Conference Summary] "It was a tough game today, just like the five consecutive games before. Lately, there have been moments where our emotions got the best of us and there has been a lack of sharing and trust among the players. Each player has their strengths and weaknesses, but it's important to trust each other and be patient with each other's shortcomings. As I have always said, a team is not just 11 players, and today, even with many new members, we were able to perform well. I have always emphasized the importance of each game since taking on the role of manager, and that has not changed. We will continue to focus on each game in the remaining four matches."

　Including the feelings of the rehabilitating players, we want to deepen our trust and fight the remaining matches. (What is trust specifically?) For example, even for ZAGO, there are moments where we ask ourselves, "Why did we lose the ball there? Why didn't we defend?" When we get anxious, we start questioning ourselves on the pitch. When we are winning, those voices don't come out and there is an atmosphere of everyone trying to support ZAGO. However, when we start feeling anxious or wanting to secure promotion quickly, those voices start to mix in. Today, we all shared and endured together. It's strange, but until now we couldn't seem to score, but ZAGO scored a goal like today's and it makes me think, "Is this also soccer?" It was a match with a mix of difficulty and greatness.

　(What is Ishikawa's evaluation?) I always wanted to start him, but he has been repeatedly injured, so I had to be patient. It was the same last season, but when it came to... Naoya was gone. He has the atmosphere and the threat of work that he brings to the team. It's great that his performance was good. He also did a good job defending today, and it was a play worthy of wearing the captain's armband. I want him to stay on the pitch until the end of the season, and I think he is a valuable player for FC Tokyo once again."

　[Shonan - Antomachi Coach's Press Conference Summary] "It was a very tense and exciting game for those watching. We lost, but I want to think of us as good losers and we have to think that way. We gave the players a big tactical task, but they executed it well and gave a dynamic performance. I don't want to blame them for the defeat, I just want to say thank you for their hard work. We have been fighting hard since the beginning of the season towards our goal, but we couldn't reach it today. I feel responsible for that."

　(Did Tokyo's feelings towards J1 make a difference in the outcome?) Perhaps Tokyo has the upper hand in terms of ability. Even if the first half ends in a close game, there will be a difference in the second half. This is a society based on ability. Even at halftime today, we were reminded, "Don't give even a moment of opportunity to an opponent who can't be fooled." Looking back at the scenes where we conceded goals, the first goal may have been due to the opponent's foul. However, everyone stopped there and we were taken advantage of. The second goal was when we had possession of the ball, but then we took a break and made a careless play. This is not about blaming individuals, but a problem for the entire team. If we don't overcome this toughness, we won't be able to rise to the top.

　Today may have been a coincidence, but there were many games in the J1 last season where we were easily taken advantage of and ultimately lost. Even though we knew we couldn't afford to make mistakes in a heated and tense game like today, we still let our guard down and relied on our own complacency or the referee, and couldn't make clear plays. Looking back, Tokyo has fewer opportunities compared to the other team. I always tell my players to learn from their experiences and grow from them. It's important to use these experiences as a stepping stone for improvement."

Cesar Brace Earns Hard-fought Win

Tokyo started the second half with a strong attack, with Nakamura and Ishikawa linking up well on the right side. However, their final passes were often inaccurate. In the 53rd minute, Ishikawa led a quick attack and passed the ball to Lucas on the left side of the Shonan area. Lucas was unable to take a shot and instead drew the home defense towards him before passing the ball back to Ishikawa. Ishikawa took a shot, but the Shonan defense blocked it.
Tokyo's missed chances led to a period of domination by the home team, prompting the visitors to substitute Tanabe with Roberto Cesar in the 60th minute. Shonan responded by bringing on speedy forward Takayama in the 64th minute and towering striker Tahara in the 70th minute. Tokyo's substitution paid off in the 72nd minute when Yazawa skillfully brought the ball down the left side and crossed it to Cesar at the far post. Cesar scored with a diving header, giving Tokyo a crucial lead.
However, the lead was short-lived. Just three minutes later, Shonan midfielder Nagaki burst into the Tokyo box and was fouled by Hanyu. Adiel converted the penalty, tying the game once again. Buoyed by the goal, Shonan continued to attack and put pressure on Tokyo. In the 79th minute, Takayama raced down the left side and crossed the ball to Tahara, who narrowly missed his header.
Despite the intense pressure, Tokyo's defense remained calm and quickly switched to the attack. Then, in the 81st minute, Nakamura made a strong run into the Shonan area on the right side. He passed the ball back to Cesar, who controlled it with his right foot before scoring with his left.
In the remaining time and three minutes of added time, Tokyo defended well against Shonan's relentless attacks and secured the win. Cesar's two goals had earned Tokyo their first win in four games. Despite injuries, suspensions, and absences, the team came together to put on a great performance and earn three crucial points.


Players' comments
Roberto Cesar
"That was a really hard game but everyone pulled together and we came through in the end. On a personal level I haven't enjoyed much time on the pitch recently which has been disappointing but I'm delighted that I was able to contribute with goals today. The second goal I hit with my weaker foot just as a matter of intuition and it went in. I'm really pleased that I could help the team with my goals today".

Jade North
"We'd expected a tough game and Shonan went for the win with everything they had. It was a hard match and we also played to the full extent of our power. We were losing out to Shonan at times in the first half and we tweaked things at half time, the combination of myself and Morishige in defence and Shimoda picking up the second balls following high balls into our box. And then Cesar and the attack won the game for us. It was a real team performance that earned the three points".


FC Tokyo manager Kiyoshi Okuma
"We've just had five consecutive games and today's match was another example of how hard this season has been. We haven't been at our best of late, a little impatient and perhaps lacking some confidence. Persevering has been the key. I usually say that the team isn't comprised of only 11 players and we saw that today in an excellent, hard working performance by a team with several changes. Since I became manager I've always said that the next game we face is the most important one and nothing has changed there. We're going to take each of the remaining four games as they come.
We want to increase the players' faith in each other. What do I mean by that? Well, for example take Roberto Cesar. Sometimes we have to say, "Why did you lose the ball there? Aren't you going to defend?" If we're impatient, if we're hurrying, then we get the answer, "Why?"
If we're winning then we don't hear that because the mood is different. We played a very patient game today. It's strange how Cesar hasn't been scoring recently yet produced two goals today; I suppose that's one of the mysterious things about football. The game was a real mix of the brilliant and the extremely difficult.
What about Ishikawa's value today? I always want to put him in the team but because of his recurring injuries I've had to be patient. It was the same last year; just we needed him the most he wasn't available. He adds a special mood to the team and carries a real threat in attack. I'm delighted with his performance today. He defended very well and it was entirely appropriate that he wore the captain's armband. We want him on the pitch until the end of campaign as he's such an important player for FC Tokyo".

Shonan manager Sorimachi
"That was a very tense game and I'm sure it was exciting to watch. We lost and I suppose we have to be good losers but I don't feel like that. The players were set a great task tactically yet performed very well and I certainly can't blame them for losing. We've fought hard to achieve the aim we set for ourselves at the start of the season and which is beyond our reach now. I feel I have to accept the responsibility for that.
Did Tokyo's drive to return to J1 decide the game? Perhaps they are better than us in terms of ability. The first half was a struggle for domination but in the second half they were stronger; it's a competitive society, after all. At half time we told the players that Tokyo weren't a team we could fool easily so if a chance appeared they had to take it. Looking back at the goals we conceded, there was probably a foul in the build up to the first one. The players stopped momentarily and that left a space for the opposition to exploit. The second goal came after some careless play and a lapse in concentration. I'm not pointing the finger, it's a fault of the team as a whole. If we can't overcome these problems we won't be able to improve.
Today was similar to many games in J1 last year where we made fatal mistakes that really cost us. Even with our motivation, the tense atmosphere and knowing we couldn't afford any mistakes we still relied on the referee and weren't decisive. You couldn't say the same thing about our opponents. I repeat this endlessly to the players because I want them to learn and to understand. They have to learn from their experience".