Although it is a difficult situation with many injured players, we will do our best to end our losing streak.

　In the 16th round of the league, we will face Júbilo Iwata away. In the previous round, we were unable to break through Kashiwa's solid defense and suffered our 5th defeat of the season without scoring. Although we only conceded from set pieces, we cannot achieve victory without scoring. Despite the short preparation period of only 2 days, we aim to improve our play and decision-making and aim for a goal in this match. Since the break, we have had 1 win and 2 losses, so we hope to secure 3 points even in an away game.

　Iwata, on the other hand, is currently in 6th place with a one-point difference from Tokyo. This season, they welcomed new coach Morishita and maintained a good start to the league with a style of taking action themselves. However, after the break, they have struggled with injuries like Tokyo and have lost three consecutive official matches. However, their total goals in the league so far are 31, which is the top (tied with Sendai). With a wealth of physicality, they press from the front and threaten with attacks led by Japan national team's FW Maeda. In addition, they have a large number of crosses centered around DF Komano, making side attacks another weapon for Iwata.

　Tokyo, as in the previous round, is still without Kajiyama, Ishikawa, and Hanyu due to injuries. We must approach this as a team effort. Takahashi says, "In the Kashiwa game, there were times when we rushed too much forward, and on the other hand, our passes in the midfield were not connecting, and we didn't go forward enough from the defensive midfield. When the ball is with Lucas, I want to support him while balancing with Yone and move up to a position where I can take a shot." The key will be how we can switch and work together after bringing the ball up to the front line.

　The focus is on how to recover from the bitter defeat in the previous match and take control in this game. It will be a tough battle, but we want to dominate with our energy and quick start. We will not be passive mentally and will show Tokyo-style soccer to score and win. The match started at 19:03 with Tokyo's kickoff at Yamaha Stadium.

Conceded a goal early on and unable to find a rhythm, the first half ended.

　Both teams started cautiously, but Iwata was able to score the first chance. In the 6th minute, they lost the ball to the opponent in their own half and conceded a left cross. The ball then flowed to the other side and was cleared, but the opponent was able to get the ball again. Iwata's speedy right cross from MF Kosuke YAMAMOTO was perfectly headed by MF Shuto YAMAMOTO in the center, resulting in an early goal. Despite keeping possession in the midfield, they made a mistake and were countered. However, they managed to hold on thanks to a strong effort from FW Maeda, who even brought the ball to a shot before being stopped at the last moment.

　In the 18th minute, Tokyo started with Tokunaga on the right side, Hasegawa passed to Yonemoto who dodged the opponent's defender with perfect timing and took a shot from outside the box. It was a well-controlled shot, but it curved to the left. Despite this, Iwata, who had the momentum, started strong and took control of the rhythm with a tough press, while Tokyo struggled to connect passes. In the 29th minute, Morishige tried to regain the rhythm by pushing up and taking a long-range shot, but it missed widely. In the 32nd minute, they earned a free kick on the left side of the opponent's half, but Tanizawa's kick was cleared.

　In the 45th minute, Iwata lost the ball in a battle on the front line and was hit by a wave attack after the second ball was picked up. In the last play, Iwata FW Yamazaki brought the ball into the right area and took a shot, but Gonda made a save. Tokyo was able to steal the ball through players like Yonemoto and Takahashi, but they struggled to connect passes in the vital area due to Iwata's tough press. They were unable to create attacking opportunities and ended the first half without being able to make any vertical passes.

Kawano scores first goal after transfer, but loses with 3 points at the end

　In the second half, Hasegawa and Tanabe changed positions and put pressure on the opponent's goal. In the 49th minute, they took the opponent's clearance and connected it to Tanabe in the center, who then passed it to Yuzawa on the left side. Yuzawa managed to get past the opponent and sent a cross. Lucas, on the far side, chased after the ball and headed it towards the goal, but it went wide. In the 54th minute, Yuzawa made a run behind the defense after receiving a ground pass from Tanabe, but the pass was slightly too long... and the Iwata goalkeeper caught it first.

　56 minutes, Mori Shige flew out to head the kick sent by Tanizawa between the GK and DF from the FK. It was decisive, but just above the bar. In the 60th minute, Hasegawa in the center ran to the right front line after receiving Takahashi's through pass and entered the area. He turned his body towards the goal and took a shot, but it went outside the frame and hit the side net. Tokyo is holding onto the ball and attacking, but they can't finish their chances. Iwata's counterattacks are also dangerous, and the game continues with them quickly bringing the ball up to the front line without missing any mistakes from Tokyo.

　Substituted Watanabe for Lucas in the 63rd minute. In the 67th minute, Hasegawa made a forward through pass from Gonda's goal kick. Watanabe tried to break through behind the defense, but the pass was too long and went out of bounds. However, in the 70th minute, from a big side change, Iwata MF Miyazaki dribbled into the area from the left side and took a sharp shot from an impossible angle, scoring on the opposite side... Tokyo concedes their second goal. In the 84th minute, from a corner kick, a powerful header from DF Cho Byong-guk finds the back of the net, resulting in their third goal against.

　In the 89th minute, Tokyo's substitute Kono, who came on in the middle of the game, took advantage of the opponent's defender's clearance in the left area and scored with a left-footed shot after a chest trap. In stoppage time, a free kick was awarded from the right area. Watanabe perfectly headed Kono's kick, but it went wide... Despite trying to make a comeback until the end, the final whistle blew. Kono scored his first goal since transferring, but Tokyo was always on the back foot both offensively and defensively, resulting in a difficult loss of 3 goals.

　　【Player Comments】《Kawano》"(About the first goal) It took a little longer to score... But personally, I think it had meaning. If we could score one goal, I felt like we could ride the momentum. I think we will be able to score more goals from here on out. (Do you want to play more forward?) I do want to play more forward, but it's different from the soccer we should play as a team. Especially today, everyone was tired when they came on, so I was thinking of dropping back, receiving the ball, and participating in the build-up. I don't think I've been able to show my play yet, but before I can do the play I want to do, there are plays that I have to do first. If my playing time increases, I think I can change to be able to show both my strengths and team play."

　《MoriShige》"I don't think what we are trying to do is wrong. We must not lose focus. We conceded a goal in the first half today, but it's the worst when we can't turn things around from there. We want to play our football with courage. However, it is absolutely necessary to improve our accuracy and quality. (Tanabe played as a top midfielder and seemed to function as one formation?) I think the combination of Kaji and Lucas has been one of Tokyo's characteristics. Today, there were many situations where Lucas was isolated and instead of playing with two touches as before, he ended up holding onto the ball. It is also a challenge to figure out what to do when the opponent falls back, but we keep losing the ball by rushing and playing too many vertical passes. I think it is also important to create a tempo in the midfield."

　[Summary of Coach Popovich's Press Conference] "There's not much to say after a 1-3 loss. It was a painful defeat when you look at the result, but if you watch the game, you'll see that it wasn't that bad and the gap wasn't that big. Sometimes, luck is also necessary to win, but today we were also abandoned by that and the opponent scored with their first shot on target. We had several decisive chances after that, but couldn't convert them. Regarding today's match, I feel that if we had scored when we needed to, the game would have had a different outcome. It was a vicious cycle where we conceded goals to the opponent during our good periods."

　I want to make sure to fix the issues that came up during the game and improve the quality. I still feel that there are players who need to raise their level. However, I cannot say that I am completely satisfied with today's game. We were in control throughout the game and created several clear chances. It was not a completely unsatisfactory game."

　[Iwata Morishita's press conference summary] "Yesterday, we asked the media to come to the stadium and support the players, and it really happened. I think the players were able to gain courage from that. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude. As for the game, the players were like warriors and fought well, recovering from the Sendai game. (What was the intention of putting MF Fujita in the defensive midfield?) It was amazing. Even though he hasn't played in that position much, he showed courage and pushed forward. I am grateful for that. (Was the midfield formation today for Tokyo?) We haven't watched any videos or prepared any strategies. We just focused on what we were going to do. That was the only message we gave to the players."