Pursuing a home victory and the possibility of promotion with our own hands

　League Sec. 35 will be held, welcoming Mito Hollyhock at home. In the previous round, we overcame all the accidents such as suspensions and injuries and won a valuable victory away. With 68 points, we have a 9-point lead over 4th place Sapporo, and it can be said that we have made a big step forward towards promotion. Depending on the results of the other matches that will start earlier, there was a possibility that Tokyo would secure a place in the top 3 with a draw or more, but that did not happen. However, in order to secure promotion with our own hands, we must concentrate and aim for victory in this match. In this round, Morishige will be suspended due to accumulated warnings. In addition, Konno will continue to be absent due to his activities with the Japan national team. Therefore, Tokunaga will be used as a center back, forming a new partnership with Jade NORTH. In addition, Ishikawa will start for the second consecutive round. On the other hand, Mito currently has 39 points and is in 15th place, but this season they have shown strength in overcoming difficulties despite the impact of earthquakes and typhoons. In the last 9 matches, they have 4 wins, 4 draws, and 1 loss. They also have a strong determination to never give up, with many goals scored at the end of the first and second halves. In this round, MF Shimada will be suspended. In addition, FW Suzuki, who has been a key player for the team so far, will start on the bench. However, as coach Ohkuma warns, they are a dangerous opponent if they are allowed to gain momentum, as both individual players and the team as a whole have been growing. In order to not let them get into a rhythm, Tokyo also needs to play with determination. We want to concentrate on both offense and defense and win. The sun began to set from the hot and sunny afternoon, and the sky became cloudy at Ajinomoto. The match started at 4:04 pm with Mito's kickoff.

Tokyo Aim For Home Win To Possibly Clinch Promotion

Mito Hollyhock were the visitors to Ajinomoto Stadium for the 35th game of the season. In their previous outing Tokyo had overcome injuries and suspensions to dispatch Shonan Bellmare, a win that lifted the side to 68 points, 9 ahead of fourth placed Sapporo and within sight of promotion.
Depending on the results of games being played before theirs, Tokyo could theoretically achieve promotion with a draw; however, to regain J1 status by their own efforts the side needed to focus on beating Mito. Morishige was suspended and Konno away on National Team duty. Tokunaga started at centre back alongside Jade North, the first time the two had been paired together. Ishikawa made the starting eleven for the second consecutive game.
Opponents Mito lay in 15th place at kick off with 39 points. The team had shown admirable character to overcome the effects of the earthquake and typhoons, and had posted an impressive W4 D4 L1 record over the previous nine games. The number of goals scored late in both halves of matches was further testament to the never-say-die spirit within the team. Influential midfielder Shimada was suspended, while veteran striker and team leader Suzuki started on the bench. Tokyo manager Okuma issued a warning against allowing them any opportunity to gain momentum during the match, "Their young players and the team as a whole are developing". Tokyo would need a focused display in both defence and attack and a gritty performance to overcome the visitors.
The warm and sunny weather at lunchtime had given way to grey clouds by the time Mito kicked off shortly after 4pm.

Progressing at a fast pace, but ending the first half with a scoreless tie.

　Tokyo has been approaching the Mito goal with a fast-paced passing game from the beginning, but lacked accuracy. On the other hand, Mito was able to quickly switch to attacking and create scenes where they could finish. In the 5th minute, a one-two pass was connected to the Mito front line, and FW Okamoto took a shot from the right area. In the 7th minute, MF Murata was directly targeted from a free kick just outside the Mito left area. In the 12th minute, Kajiyama aimed for the ground from the left 45 degrees from a minus pass from Tanizawa → overlapping Mokuhara, but there was no momentum. Immediately after that, they received a counter from Mito, and left fullback Ohtomo went up to a high position and crossed. FW Koike took a shot on target from the right area, but Gonda made a save. In the 17th minute, Nakamura won against the defender on the right side and dribbled into the area. He sent a precise ground pass to the center, and Tanizawa took a direct shot, but it went off target. In the back and forth match, in the 27th minute, Lucas took a shot from Tanizawa's right cross, but it was blocked by the goalkeeper... Despite attacking, they lacked precision and were unable to score. Around the 40th minute, Mito continued to dominate with set plays, but Tokyo did not panic. In defense, Jade NORTH and Tokunaga worked together to maintain balance and the first half ended scoreless.

Fast-paced First Half Ends Scoreless

The first half began at a brisk tempo, with Tokyo moving the ball around at pace and drawing close to the Mito goal, although a certain accuracy was lacking. The visitors equally briskly turned defence into attack and managed to finish their forays forward with an attempt on goal. In the 5th minute Mito moved forward, played a one-two and striker Okamoto drove a shot across goal from the right of the Tokyo area. In the 7th minute midfielder Murata stroked a direct free kick over the wall and the bar.
In the 12th minute Yazawa played the ball forward to the overlapping Mukuhara but Kajiyama's low shot from the resulting cross lacked the power to trouble Homma in the Mito goal. The visitors counter attacked immediately, DF Omoto taking the ball down the left and crossing; FW Koike managed a shot from the right of the Tokyo area but GK Gonda comfortably held his effort. MF Nakamura bulled his way past a defender in the 17th minute and drove a low cross in to the near post where Yazawa met the ball with a first-time shot on the run but was unable to keep his attempt down.
The game continued to ebb and flow. In the 27th minute Yazawa skipped down the right and crossed yet once again Lucas' shot failed to trouble Homma. Mito threatened briefly from a series of set plays as the first half drew to a close but DF Tokunaga and DF Jade North linked comfortably in defence and dealt with the danger tidily. The first period finished 0-0.

Takahashi scores with a header! Cesar's consecutive goals put promotion within reach.

　After switching our feelings, we faced the second half. In the 48th minute, Hayashi started and Kajiyama and Taniyama attacked the goal. Although Mito cleared it once, Takahashi, who followed up on the rebound, took a shot and earned a corner kick. In the 49th minute, Ishikawa took the right corner kick and Takahashi, who jumped near the goal, headed the ball into the net on the opposite side! We finally took the lead in the early stages of the second half from a set piece.

　With this momentum, in the 54th minute, Jade NORTH ran up to the left front line, put on a tough press, and stole the ball. From the combination of Hanyu and Mukuhara, Ishikawa took a decisive shot, but it was blocked by the GK. In the 59th minute, Mito made a double substitution, bringing in FW Suzuki and FW Tokiwa. In the 68th minute, Tokyo also brought in Roberto CESAR for Hanyu. Against Mito, whose movements were gradually slowing down, they tried to attack even more quickly and make a decisive move.

　Despite taking the lead and attacking, they were unable to score another goal. In contrast, in the 74th minute, Mito's FW Suzuki received the ball on the front line and passed it to MF Frank Romero, who took a shot from the center but missed the target. In the 77th minute, Mito's right MF Koike received a sharp pass in the area and connected with FW Tokiwa and MF Ozawa behind him, but they were stopped by a quick cover.

　And in the 79th minute, Lucas made a lofted pass to the front line. Cesar caught up with it at high speed and fired a powerful shot from the right area, scoring the second goal! With Cesar's second consecutive goal, Mito took a commanding lead. In the 85th minute, Mito MF Frank Romero received his second warning and was sent off, leaving the team with 10 players. But they managed to hold off the opponent's counterattack and the game ended. A focused battle on both offense and defense led to a victory at Ajinomoto Stadium! With this result, they accumulated 71 points and are now in a strong position for promotion.

　【Player Comments】《Takahashi》"The victory was the result of perseverance on the pitch. I think it was very good. I was suspended in the previous match, but I'm sure all 31 players on the team want to be on the pitch for important matches like this. Even though only 11 players can start, I tried to carry the feelings of the players who couldn't play and take responsibility. In that sense, the opening goal was crucial. (Promotion is within reach, but) we will face each match ahead and aim for victory, so nothing changes. We want to face each match and grow even a little bit."

　"Roberto CESAR" "The goal was a good pass from Rukon, and I think it was a good shot by myself. I have been coming off the bench lately, but I think it is important to produce results in the given time. I want to score more in the future, but above all, I want to fight for the team's victory."

　[Summary of Manager Okuma's Press Conference] "Today, the players who did not participate in the game came to Ajinomoto after practicing in Kodaira. Despite changes in players due to injuries or accumulated warnings, I think we were able to continue playing the soccer we have been playing so far by enduring any slight inconsistencies and connecting with the rhythm of the second half and substitute players. Today was another game that symbolized this season, and it was a game that encapsulated the difficulties we faced when we stopped during the five consecutive games. However, there were times when we were impatient, but now we have built a strong defense and players who can attack, and we have developed a trust in each other and have become more patient. As a result, both the team and individuals have become more intimidating. I think that led to our victory. We will continue to fight firmly in each game of the Emperor's Cup and the remaining league matches, as we have done since the beginning of the season."

　(The first half was terrible soccer, but in the second half we were able to pick up the pace, was defense the factor?) As for the first half, I think that's right. Offense and defense are contradictory, but in terms of attack, we can't do what the opponent dislikes without taking a fluid positioning. What we've been working on this season is to first take possession of the ball and then take a good attacking position. We've been thinking of defending up to the point of taking and connecting. If each individual is anxious or has bad positioning, the team cannot take the ball. In the second half today, we went back to basics and I think Lucas was able to shut down the opponent's midfield and we were able to play our own soccer. In the future, we have to be able to do that for 90 minutes."

　[Summary of Mito's Coach Hashitani's Press Conference] "It was a game dominated by FC Tokyo from start to finish. Our players ran really well and did their best, but we could still feel the difference in strength. It's not that we were bad, but FC Tokyo was just better. They have a great team with great players, and it was a fantastic game. We did our best, but it was inevitable that we would lose. We have the Emperor's Cup coming up soon, so we need to switch gears and do our best. We wanted to keep the game compact and go into the last 30 minutes with a 0-0 score. It's difficult to beat FC Tokyo even if we play them head on. We knew we would have to defend and press high, and if we could intercept the ball...FW Suzuki injured his foot in the previous game, so we knew he couldn't play the full 90 minutes. We wanted to bring him on in the last 30 minutes and try to win the game. (Did bringing on FW Suzuki give the team a mental boost?) That was part of it, but also because he can create opportunities and make runs from the second line. However, if we had started him, we didn't know how long he could last and there was a risk of his injury getting worse. He wanted to play, but I made the decision to go for it in the last 30 minutes. We all agreed on that as a team."

Goals From Takahashi And Cesar Take Tokyo To the Brink Of Promotion

The home side looked to make a fresh start in the second half and were soon on the attack. Hanyu was the instigator of a move in the 48th.minute that saw Yazawa and Kajiyama push forward into threatening positions in front of the Mito goal. The ball was cleared initially but only as far as Takahashi, whose shot from middle range was blocked out for a corner. Ishikawa stroked the corner in to the near post where Takahashi's late run took him ahead of a defender and a downward, glancing header beat Homma and nestled inside the far post. Tokyo had broken the deadlock with a perfectly timed and executed set play.
Buoyed by the goal Tokyo plunged forward again, Jade North making a surging run forward in the 54th.minute. He lost the ball under heavy pressure but Hanyu quickly scooped it up and Ishikawa cracked a shot on target that drew a save from Homma. Mito responded by replacing their forward pairing with Suzuki and Tokiwa in the 59th.minute, while Roberto Cesar appeared for Hanyu shortly after. With Mito's work rate beginning to decline the injection of pace provided by Cesar was an attempt to seal the win.
Despite being firmly in control of the game Tokyo struggled to conjure a decisive second goal and endured a nervous moment in the 74th.minute as Suzuki's knockdown narrowly evaded marauding Mito midfielder Romero. In the 77th.minute Mito midfielder Koike stroked a tempting ball into the Tokyo area where Tokiwa and midfielder Ozawa exchanged passes, but the Tokyo defence quickly regrouped to smother the danger.
Then, in the 79th.minute Lucas lofted a pass over the Mito backline, and Cesar gave chase at full speed, reaching the ball before the flagging defenders could cover. Cesar unleashed a ferocious volley that flashed past Homma almost before the keeper could react, and Tokyo had a two-goal cushion. In the 85th.minute Mito midfielder Romero received his second yellow card of the game and trudged disconsolately from the field. Despite being two goals down and a man short, the visitors battled gamely on but it was an uphill struggle and Tokyo were able to comfortably run down the clock. The final whistle blew on a 2-0 win that took Tokyo to the very brink of promotion.


Players' comments
Takahashi
"That's great result and we earned it by our patience during the game. I was suspended last week and I know that all 31 players in the squad want to play in an important game like this; only 11 can start though, so I was conscious of my responsibility to those who weren't selected today. Scoring first was very important.
Promotion is close? We're focusing on winning the next game we have to play and nothing has changed there. We're aiming to deal with the issues each game brings and improve to whatever extent we can".

Roberto Cesar
"I got a great pass from Lucas and it was a pretty good shot, even if I say so myself. I've been coming on as a substitute and I feel it's important to make an impact on the result in the time I have on the field. I want to score even more goals and contribute to the team winning".


FC Tokyo manager Kiyoshi Okuma
"Once again today we practiced at Kodaira with all the squad except for the starting eleven before we came to Ajinomoto Stadium. We've suffered from changing line ups caused by injuries and suspensions but managed to persevere and play our own game and today I felt the substitutions had a positive effect on altering the rhythm in the second half. Yet again the game could be seen as encapsulating all the difficulties we've had over the season, like the stretch of five games that recently finished. However, even though we were hasty at times, I felt the mutual trust of the defence and attack was there and we were patient. Moreover I thought the players felt the pressure and that drove them on to getting the win. We want to carry on taking the games as they come, the Emperor's Cup match on Wednesday night and the league game next week, just the way we have since the start of the season.
The first half performance was poor but the pace increased in the second. Was that down to the defence? I think that's right about the first half. Attack and defence are exact opposites in that if you don't have fluidity of positioning in attack then you won't be able to hurt your opponent. One thing we've been working on this year is our positioning in attack after we win the ball. We've been looking at defence from when we go out to win the ball to the connecting pass after we do regain possession. If a player is impatient or has poor positioning then it prevents us from winning the ball back as a team. In the second half today we went back to basics and Lucas marked the opposition defensive midfielder out of the game. We want to work to make sure we can do that for 90 minutes in the next game".

Mito manager Hashiratani
"It was Tokyo's game from first to last. Our lads ran hard and worked hard but I really felt the difference in quality out there today. It wasn't that we were bad but Tokyo were very good. There were a lot of excellent players on the field and it was a good game. We gave it our best and the result can't be helped. The Emperor's Cup game is up next so we want to bounce back and be ready for that. Today we had wanted to keep a compact formation and hold them to 0-0 for at least the first hour or so. Even if we play flat-out it's still difficult for us to beat Tokyo. We felt there was nothing to be gained from sitting back so if we pressed from the front we might be able to win the ball and do something with it. Also, Suzuki picked up a knock in the last game and playing the full 90 minutes was impossible today. Our plan was to keep it close and then send him on for the last 30 minutes.
After he went on our pressure increased. Was that a psychological bonus? Yes, I think so. He was able to hold the ball up and allow our midfielders to push forward. If we'd started with him we'd have no idea how long he could last and there was the possibility that he could exacerbate the injury. He wanted to start but it was my decision to hold him back for the last 30 minutes".