Facing the league match in 2 days, we will face Kashiwa for the third time this season.

　In the 21st round of the league, which will be played only two days after the Nabisco Cup, we will face Kashiwa Reysol away. In the Nabisco Sendai match, we achieved victory with the intended game play. Although coach Popovich is strict, saying "Just because we played well in one game doesn't mean it's a savings. If we think it's good enough, there will be no growth," the players also seem to have a sense of accomplishment and are planning to continue the good parts of the Sendai match as a base and build on it to achieve even more in the upcoming match.

　Kashiwa, on the other hand, is currently in 4th place with 34 points. In the league, they have only lost one game (against Nagoya on July 7th) in the 11 matches since the 12th round on May 12th. They have also secured a spot in the semifinals of the Nabisco Cup and are in excellent form. This match will be their third meeting this season, following the Xerox Super Cup and the first half of the league, but in the previous two matches, Tokyo had control of the game but conceded goals from set plays and individual skills from MF Leandro Domingues and MF Jorge Wagner, resulting in defeats. This is a match where they want to seek revenge and they cannot afford to lose to the same opponent again. They will want to show their determination.

　However, Takahashi will be suspended for this match due to accumulated warnings. As a result, Kaga will be placed as center back and Edmilson will make his first league start following his appearance in the Nabisco Sendai match. Lucas will be on the side, Kajiyama will also make his first start since June 23, and they will face the game with a formation that includes a top midfielder. New signing Nemanja VUCICEVIC will also be on the bench. Kashiwa will use MF Ibarata alongside MF Ohtani in the defensive midfield. In place of suspended DF Hashimoto, DF Watanabe will serve as left back. New signing FW BETO will also be on the bench.

　Hitachi Kashiwa Soccer Stadium, hot and humid despite the cloudy sky. The match started at 7:04 PM with Kashiwa's kickoff.

Kajiyama earns a PK, Lucas calmly scores to take the lead early on!

　Concentrating and entering the game, we took an aggressive stance and grasped the rhythm. In the 4th minute, Kajiyama picked up a clearance from Edmilson's competition and aimed for the goal in the left area. In the 9th minute, Kaga advanced to the right front line and sent a cross. However, this was cut off by the Kashiwa DF just before reaching Edmilson. Immediately after that, in the 10th minute, Ishikawa connected from Morishige's feed and Kajiyama entered the area from a one-two with Edmilson. Here, they received a foul and won a penalty kick. In the 11th minute, Lucas calmly and surely scored this penalty kick, taking the lead in the early stages.

　However, Kashiwa also tried to suppress Tokyo's play with a tough defense, and when they took the ball, they quickly sent it to the front line for a counterattack. In the 18th minute, Kashiwa's FW Kudo started the attack from the post and pushed Tokyo back with a fast-paced passing game, but Tokyo's DF defended with their bodies. In the 22nd minute, Ishikawa carried the ball from the left side and connected with Edmilson in the left area. However, Edmilson's shot lacked power and went straight to the GK. In the 25th minute, Kashiwa's MF Leandro Domingues moved to the left from the right side. He took a sharp shot at the goal, but Shioda made a save.

　34 minutes, Kajiyama received a vertical pass from Hasegawa, turned forward, aimed and shot a precise middle, but it was saved by the goalkeeper. In the 45th minute, Kajiyama received a foul and earned a free kick from the left sideline. Ishikawa sent a sharp kick and Edmilson from the right area made a direct shot on the ball that bounced off the opponent's defender, but it went wide. Both teams fiercely fought for the ball and created chances for Kashiwa, but Tokyo maintained a balance between offense and defense and ended the first half with a 1-0 lead.

After being caught up to a tie, Kashiwa managed to withstand the fierce attack and draw despite being at a numerical disadvantage.

　Kashiwa brought in FW Neto Baiano in the second half. At the start of the second half, Tokyo gained momentum and in the 48th minute, Kajiyama quickly passed the ball from the left and aimed for the goal himself. However, Kashiwa's quick defensive start blocked it and in the 51st minute, Tokyo's DF initially took the ball from Kashiwa's FK, but a miscommunication between Morishige and Shiota caused the ball to fall into the area... Neto Baiano from Kashiwa took advantage of this and Kudo's shot shook the net. However, this was offside and Tokyo escaped danger, but this gave Kashiwa more power.

　Tokyo was pushed back by the high DF line and couldn't calm down and connect the ball even if they took it. In the 67th minute, from the flow of Kashiwa's throw-in, Kashiwa DF Kondo floated the ball to the front line. This was easily dropped by FW Neto Baiano with his chest and then spectacularly pierced by MF Jorge Wagner from the left area... and they were caught up to the same score.

　Substituting Tanizawa in the 68th minute, we tried to change the flow, but Kaga received his second warning and was sent off for colliding with Kashiwa FW Kudo, who was trying to jump into the area in the 72nd minute. We were forced to fight with 10 people. In the 73rd minute, Maruyama made his first appearance in the league, replacing Kajiyama, and in the 77th minute, Watanabe came in for Ishikawa. We tried to tighten our defense and take advantage of any opportunities, but in the end we were subjected to Kashiwa's fierce attacks.

　While concentrating on overcoming consecutive pinches, in the 79th minute, Yonemoto broke through the right side. He sent a decisive last pass to Watanabe in front of the goal, but couldn't finish it here. The follow-up from Hasegawa's middle only resulted in a corner kick. Immediately after, from this corner kick, Taniyama scored from a right cross in the left area, but it was off target... After that, they received a throw-in from Kashiwa and became defensive against the attacks led by FW Neto Baiano and MF Leandro Domingues, but the cross was bounced back by Morishige and the goal was defended by Shioda, leading to the end of the game. Despite a tough match, they managed to secure a draw and took 1 point away from home.

　【Player Comments】《Kajiyama》"In the first half, we were able to execute our plan to some extent. If we can improve our teamwork a little more, I think we can make decisive passes to the FW. That's what we want to work on. However, when the ball goes forward, it feels like we are attacking with the 4 players in the FW and the sides. We want to involve the fullbacks in our attacks and push the opponent back, leading to results. We want to focus on getting 3 points and make sure we win."

　"Maruyama" "(It was a tough situation to come on as a substitute?) I was originally preparing to replace Kajiyama. Even though we were down to 10 players, I tried to think positively and stay calm, as the coach always says, and enjoy playing. Since it was a 1v1 situation with 10 players, I was conscious of not conceding any goals. I think we were able to control the line and communicate with players like Morishige, and we were able to hold on until the end. I think it wasn't bad that we ended up with a 1-1 draw and got 1 point away. I'm happy to have made my first appearance in the league, but it's important to think about how to use it in the future. We need to win to keep up with the top teams. I want to do my best to contribute to that."

　[Summary of Coach Popovich's Press Conference] "The players fought well and it was a good game. We had a good start and took control. However, as you all saw, the game turned out the way it did. This is not criticism, but rather a reflection on how today's game was for the football world. I would like to think about it together with all of you. Going back to the game, I think we were in control. There were moments where the opponent stopped us with physical fouls, but we were able to keep playing without losing ourselves."

　Tokyo players never played rough and fought calmly by organizing themselves until the end. Even with one less player, they persisted and endured with patience. There were times when they were dominated by the ball, but they did well by putting their bodies on the line and running as long as they had the energy. I want the people who watched this game to feel that. We were able to show Tokyo-style football by doing what we should do collectively.

　[Kashiwa NELSINHO coach's press conference summary] "It was a very competitive game from the start. In the first half, there were emotional moments where we were reacting to the opponent's style and approach, and we couldn't control the game well. So at halftime, I talked to the players and told them not to get caught up in the opponent's provocations or fights. We needed to control our emotions and not try to force passes that would lead directly to a goal after winning the ball. We tried to move the ball more and create a rhythm."

　In the second half, the players regained control of the game and created many chances from possession and counterattacks. There were some mistakes in front of the goal, but overall we were able to play in an organized manner. When the game ends in the last atmosphere, there is a feeling that a draw is a waste, but we have experienced many times that one point in the end can make a difference. So we want to value today's one point as well."