Despite the difficult situation with many injuries, let's stop the losing streak with a united effort.

　In Sec. 16 of the league, we will face Júbilo Iwata away. In the previous match, we were unable to break through Kashiwa's solid defense, suffering our fifth scoreless defeat of the season. All goals conceded came from set pieces, but without scoring, victory cannot be achieved. With only two days of preparation for this match, we aim to improve our play's precision and judgment, striving for goals. Since the break, we have one win and two losses, so even though it's an away game, we are aiming to secure three points.

　In contrast, Jubilo Iwata is currently in 6th place, just 1 point behind Tokyo. This season, they welcomed new coach Morishita and maintained a good start to the league with an action-oriented style, but after the break, they have struggled with injuries like Tokyo, suffering three consecutive losses in official matches. However, their total goals in the league so far is 31, which is the highest (tied with Sendai). Based on their abundant physical stamina, they press from the front to win the ball, and their attacks, initiated by Japan national team forward Maeda, pose a significant threat. Additionally, with DF Komano at the center, they have a high number of crosses, making their wing attacks a weapon for Iwata.

　Tokyo remains in the same situation as the previous match, with players like Kajiyama, Ishikawa, and Hanyu sidelined due to injuries. We must approach this as a total team effort. Takahashi said, "In the match against Kashiwa, there were moments when we rushed forward too quickly, and on the other hand, we struggled to connect passes in the midfield, which limited our ability to move forward from the holding midfielders. When the ball goes to Rucon, I want to support while considering the balance with Yone and get into a position to take a shot from distance." The key will be how we can switch gears and coordinate after moving the ball up to the front line.

　This match draws attention to how each team can recover from their bitter defeats in the previous games. Although it is a consecutive match, they want to seize the initiative by not losing in terms of physicality and quick starts. They aim to showcase Tokyo-style football without becoming passive mentally, and to snatch goals and victory. The match started at 19:03 with Tokyo's kickoff at Yamaha Stadium.

Conceded a goal early on and ended the first half without finding a rhythm

　Both teams started cautiously, but Iwata capitalized on their first chance to score. In the 6th minute, they lost the ball in their own half and allowed a left cross. Although they cleared it to the opposite side, the ball was passed back to the opponent, and Iwata's midfielder Kosuke YAMAMOTO delivered a fast right cross that was perfectly headed in by midfielder Shuto YAMAMOTO, resulting in an early goal conceded. After that, they maintained possession in midfield, but a mistake led to a counterattack, and forward Maeda was involved in a shot, but they managed to hold on by putting their bodies on the line at the last moment.

　In the 18th minute, Tokyo's Tokunaga initiated a play on the right side, passing to Hasegawa, who then set up Yonemoto to evade the opposing defender with good timing just outside the area for a mid-range shot. It was a well-controlled shot, but it veered to the left. Nevertheless, Iwata, gaining momentum, started quickly, seizing rhythm from a tough press, while Tokyo struggled to connect their passes. In the 29th minute, after breaking free from Iwata's press, Morishige advanced and aimed from long range, trying to regain rhythm, but the shot went wide. In the 32nd minute, they earned a free kick slightly to the left in the opponent's half, but Tanizawa's kick was cleared.

　In the 45th minute, Iwata lost a contest for a ball sent to the front line, allowing the second ball to be picked up and a wave of attacks to ensue. In the end, Iwata forward Yamazaki brought the ball into the right area and took a shot, but Gonda made the save. Although Tokyo was able to regain possession and circulate the ball, centered around Yonemoto and Takahashi, they could not connect passes in the vital area due to Iwata's intense pressing. Vertical passes were also anticipated, and they ended the first half without being able to create an attacking shape.

Kono scored his first goal after the transfer just before the end, but they suffered a third defeat in a row with three goals conceded.

　In the second half, Hasegawa and Tanabe changed positions and applied pressure on the opponent's goal. In the 49th minute, they intercepted the opponent's clearance and connected the play, with Tanabe in the center passing to Tanizawa on the left side. Tanizawa evaded the opponent and brought the ball forward to send a cross. Lucas at the far post chased the ball and headed it, breaking away from the defender, but it went wide of the goal. In the 54th minute, Tanizawa made a run behind the defense to meet Tanabe's ground pass, but the ball was just a bit too long... and was caught by the Iwata goalkeeper first.

　In the 56th minute, Tanizawa sent a kick between the goalkeeper and defender from a free kick, and Morishige jumped out to head the ball. It was a decisive moment, but it just went over the bar. In the 60th minute, Takahashi's through pass found Hasegawa in the center, who ran to the right flank and entered the penalty area. He turned to face the goal and shot, but it went wide of the target and into the side netting. Tokyo is maintaining possession of the ball, connecting passes, and attacking, but they are unable to convert their chances. Iwata's counterattacks are also threatening, as they quickly capitalize on Tokyo's mistakes and push forward.

　In the 63rd minute, Watanabe was brought on for Lucas. In the 67th minute, from Gonda's goal kick, Hasegawa turned forward and made a through pass. Watanabe tried to break through behind, but the pass was too long and went out of play. However, in the 70th minute, from a big switch of play, Iwata's midfielder Miyazaki dribbled into the area from the left side and unleashed a sharp kick from a tight angle that found the net at the far side... Tokyo conceded their second goal. In the 84th minute, from a corner kick, a right cross was met with a powerful header by defender Cho Byung-guk, resulting in the third goal conceded.

　In the 89th minute, Kono, who came on as a substitute, intercepted a clearance from the opposing defender in the left area, controlled the ball with his chest, and struck with his left foot to score a goal. In stoppage time, there was a free kick from just outside the right area. Kono's kick was met perfectly by Watanabe, who headed it with great elevation, but it went wide of the goal... Despite attempting to fight back until the end, the match ended with the final whistle. Kono scored his first goal since transferring, but throughout the match, they were always one step behind Iwata, conceding three goals and suffering a difficult defeat.

　　【Player Comments】《Kono》"(About my first goal) I took a bit too long to score... But I think it had personal significance. I felt that if I could score one goal, I could gain momentum. I believe I will be able to score from here. (Do you want to play a bit further forward?) I do want to play further up, but it's different from the style of football we should play as a team. Especially today, everyone was tired by the time I came on, so I thought I should drop back, receive the ball, and participate in building up the play. I don't think I've been able to show my play yet, but before the play I want to do, there are things I have to do first. If my playing time increases, I think I will be able to show both my strengths and team play better."

　"I don't think what we are trying to do is wrong. We must not waver. We conceded a goal in the first half today, but it's the worst to lose our rhythm from there. I want us to have the courage to fully execute our style of football. However, it is absolutely necessary to improve our precision and quality. (Is there an impression that when Tanabe played as an attacking midfielder, it functioned as a formation?) Until now, I think the combination between Kaji and Lucon has been one of Tokyo's characteristics. Today, there were many situations where Lucon was isolated, and in places where we wanted to play with about two touches, we ended up having to hold onto the ball. What to do when the opponent pulls back is also a challenge, but more than that, we keep losing the ball by rushing to play vertical passes too quickly. I think it's also necessary to create some pause in the midfield."

　[Summary of Coach Ranko POPOVIC's Press Conference] "Since this is after a 1-3 defeat, there isn't much to say. Looking only at the result, it was a painful loss, but if you watch the content of the game, I think you'll see that it wasn't that bad, and the gap wasn't as wide as the score suggests. Sometimes luck is necessary to win a game, but today we were also let down in that regard. The opponent scored with their first shot on target, and we created several decisive chances afterward but couldn't convert. Regarding today's match, I feel that if we had scored when we needed to, the game would have unfolded differently, and we fell into a bad cycle of conceding goals to the opponent during our good periods."

　I want to properly address the issues that arose during the match, and I feel that there are still players who need to improve their quality. However, I can't say that I was completely dissatisfied with today's match. We were the ones who controlled the game throughout and created several decisive chances. It was not a match that I was completely dissatisfied with.

　[Summary of Coach Morishita's Press Conference] "Yesterday, I asked the media to encourage many fans to come to the stadium, and it really happened. I believe the players gained courage from it. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude. Regarding the match, today they were more like warriors than players, and I think they fought well, recovering from the Sendai match. (What was the intention behind placing MF Fujita as a defensive midfielder?) It was wonderful, or rather amazing. Even though it was a position he hasn't played much, he showed a willingness to step forward as a message. I am grateful for that. (Was today's midfield structure a strategy against Tokyo?) I haven't watched any videos at all, and there was no strategy prepared. It's all about what we do. That was the only point I wanted the players to focus on."