In the league match held two days later, we will face Kashiwa for the third time this season.

　The league Sec. 21, which comes just two days after the Nabisco Cup, will be a match against Kashiwa Reysol. We will be heading away for this match. In the game against Sendai, we achieved victory with the game plan we aimed for. Coach Ranko POPOVIC stated, "Just because we played well in one match doesn't mean it counts as savings. If we think this is enough, we will stop growing." However, it seems the players have also gained confidence, each expressing their desire to continue the good aspects from the Sendai match as a foundation and build upon that to lead to victory.

　Kashiwa, currently in 4th place with 34 points, has only lost once in the last 11 matches since Sec. 12 on May 12 (against Nagoya on July 7). They have also secured a spot in the Semifinal Round of the Nabisco Cup, indicating they are in excellent form. This match is the third encounter of the season following the Xerox Super Cup and the first half of the league matches. In the previous two matches, Tokyo had the upper hand but lost due to set pieces and individual skills from MF Leandro Domingues and MF Jorge Wagner. This match is also an opportunity for revenge, and above all, they cannot afford to lose consecutively to the same opponent. They want to show their determination.

　However, in this match, Takahashi is suspended due to accumulated warnings. Therefore, Kaga is placed as a center-back, and Edmilson will make his first league start following the Nabisco Sendai match. Lucas will play on the side, and Kajiyama will also start for the first time since June 23, forming a lineup with a top attacking midfielder. Additionally, new signing Nemanja VUCICEVIC will be on the bench for the first time. Kashiwa will use MF Otani and MF Ibaraki as defensive midfielders. In place of the suspended DF Hashimoto, DF Watanabe will serve as the left-back. The bench will also include new signing FW Neto Baart.

　Despite the cloudy sky, it was a muggy day at Hitachi Kashiwa Soccer Stadium. The match started at 19:04 with Kashiwa's kickoff.

Kajiyama won a penalty kick, and Lucas calmly scored to take the lead early!

　They entered the match with focus, displaying an aggressive attitude to seize the rhythm. In the 4th minute, after a challenge by Edmilson, Kajiyama picked up the clearance and advanced into the left area to aim for the goal. In the 9th minute, Kaga pushed up to the right front line and sent a cross. However, this was cut off by a Kashiwa defender just before reaching Edmilson. Immediately after, in the 10th minute, from Morishige's feed, Ishikawa connected, and Kajiyama entered the area after a one-two with Edmilson. Here, he was fouled and won a penalty kick. In the 11th minute, Lucas calmly and surely converted this penalty kick, scoring the opening goal early in the match.

　However, Kashiwa also applied strict defense to suppress Tokyo's play, and when they regained the ball, they quickly sent it forward to counterattack. In the 18th minute, Kashiwa's FW Kudo initiated a quick tempo passing play that put Tokyo in a pinch, but the Tokyo defense held strong. In the 22nd minute, Ishikawa carried the ball from the left side into the middle and connected with Edmilson in the left area. However, Edmilson's shot lacked power and went straight to the goalkeeper. In the 25th minute, Kashiwa's right-sided MF Leandro Domingues spread the play to the left. MF Jorge Wagner, who was free, took a sharp shot, but Shiota made the save.

　In the 34th minute, Kajiyama received a vertical pass from Hasegawa just before the area, turned to face the goal, and took a well-aimed shot from distance, but it was saved by the goalkeeper. In the 45th minute, Kajiyama was fouled and earned a free kick near the left sideline. Ishikawa sent a sharp kick, and Edmilson in the right area connected with the ball that had spilled from the opposing defender, but it went wide of the goal. In a fierce battle for the ball, Kashiwa also created chances, but Tokyo maintained their balance and concentration in defense and attack, leading by one goal as the first half ended.

After being equalized, despite being at a numerical disadvantage, we withstood Kashiwa's fierce attack to secure a draw.

　Kashiwa brought in FW Neto Baiano in the second half. Right after the start of the second half, Tokyo seized the momentum, and in the 48th minute, Kajiyama connected passes smoothly and advanced from the left to aim for the goal himself. However, he was blocked by Kashiwa's quick defense. In the 51st minute, from a Kashiwa free kick, the ball was sent forward, and although Tokyo's defense initially regained possession, a miscommunication between Morishige and Shiota caused the ball to spill into the area... This was seized by Kashiwa FW Neto Baiano, and FW Kudo's shot shook the net. However, this was ruled offside, allowing Tokyo to escape the danger, but from this point, Kashiwa's intensity increased.

　Tokyo was pushed back as they were targeted behind their high DF line, and even when they regained possession, they could not calmly connect the ball. In the 67th minute, from a throw-in by Kashiwa, Kashiwa DF Kondo sent a floated ball forward. This was easily controlled by FW Neto Baiano with his chest, and from the left area, MF Jorge Wagner powerfully struck it in... and they were equalized.

　In the 68th minute, we brought in Tanizawa to try to change the flow of the game, but in the 72nd minute, Kaga received a second warning and was sent off for colliding with Kashiwa FW Kudo, who was trying to break into the area. We were forced to fight with 10 men. In the 73rd minute, we substituted Kajiwara for Maruyama, who made his league debut, and in the 77th minute, Watanabe came in for Ishikawa. We aimed to solidify our defense while looking for opportunities to exploit gaps, but in the final stages, we were subjected to a fierce attack from Kashiwa.

　While concentrating on overcoming a series of crises, in the 79th minute, Yonemoto broke through on the right side. He sent a decisive last pass to Watanabe in front of the goal, but it could not be finished. A follow-up shot from Hasegawa resulted in a corner kick. Shortly after, from the flow of this corner kick, Tanizawa, who was free in the left area, connected with a right cross, but it went wide. After that, they faced a barrage of attacks from Kashiwa, starting with FW Netbaiyano and MF Leandro DOMINGUES, but Morishige cleared the cross, and with Shiota at the center, they defended the goal to secure a draw. Despite a tough match, they managed to earn 1 point away.

　[Player Comments] {Kajiyama} "In the first half, I think we were able to execute our plan to some extent. If we can improve our coordination a bit more, I believe we can deliver decisive passes to the FW. That's something I want to align on. However, when the ball is played forward, it feels like we are attacking with the FW and the four players on the sides. I want to draw out the participation of the full-backs in the attack and fight to push the opponent back, leading to results. I want to focus on securing 3 points and ensure we can win."

　Maruyama: "(It was a tough situation coming in as a substitute, but?) I was originally prepared to replace player Kajiyama. Even though we were down to 10 men, I tried to think positively, stay calm, and play with enjoyment as the coach always says. Since it was a one-on-one situation with 10 men, I focused on absolutely not conceding a goal. I think we were able to communicate with Morishige and the others about line control, and we managed to hold on until the end. Ending it as a one-on-one and getting one point away wasn't bad. I'm honestly happy to have made my league debut, but what's important is how I can utilize this going forward. We need victories to keep up with the top teams. I want to work hard to contribute to that."

　[Summary of Coach Ranko POPOVIC's Press Conference] "The players fought well, and I think it was a good match. We started the game well and had the initiative. However, as you all saw, the subsequent developments unfolded as they did. This is not a criticism, but rather a reflection on what today's match meant for the football world. I would like to think about that together with all of you. Returning to the match, I believe we were in solid control. There were moments when the opponent stopped us with fouls, but we managed to play without losing our focus."

　The Tokyo players did not engage in rough play until the end, and they organized themselves and fought calmly. Even with one less player, they persevered and endured patiently. There were times when the ball was passed around us, but in the end, I want to commend them for continuing to stop the ball with their bodies and for running as long as they had the stamina. I hope those who watched this match can feel that. I believe we did what we needed to do collectively and were able to show a style of football that is characteristic of Tokyo.

　[Summary of Coach NELSINHO's Press Conference] "It was a very competitive game from the start. In the first half, we were somewhat emotional in response to the opponent's approach and style, and we struggled to control the game. So at halftime, I talked to the players and told them not to fall for the opponent's provocations or get into fights. We need to control our emotions and avoid being too eager to make passes that lead directly to the goal right after winning the ball. We aimed to move the ball more and create rhythm."

　In the second half, the players regained control of the game, creating many chances through possession and counterattacks. There were mistakes in front of the goal, but overall, they played in an organized manner in the second half. While there is a feeling that ending with a draw feels wasteful, especially with the final atmosphere, I have experienced many times that one point can make a difference in the end. Therefore, I want to value today's one point.