A match where we want to maintain an offensive stance and seize victory by any means to turn things around.

　In Sec. 23 of the league, we will face Sanfrecce Hiroshima away. In the previous match against Omiya, we suffered a defeat with a score of 0 to 1, bringing our overall league record to 9 wins, 3 draws, and 10 losses, resulting in a negative record. Our ranking has also dropped to 12th place. Although we are in a frustrating situation without results, the team has not lost confidence. The focus this match will be on how to turn the lessons learned from the Omiya match into a victory. This match will be crucial as we want to use our frustration as motivation and seize any opportunity to turn things around.

　Hiroshima, currently at the top with 43 points, boasts a total of 44 goals scored, showcasing top-class attacking power, while conceding only 23 goals, resulting in an outstanding goal difference (+21). Additionally, forward Sato, who has scored in the first half of the season, currently leads the rankings with 17 goals. It is also true that there has been no victory against Hiroshima since 2007, and despite showing good football, the team has been caught off guard and suffered frustrating losses. There is no doubt that they are a formidable opponent, relying on solid defense and quick counterattacks.

　Tokyo will approach the match with a formation similar to Hiroshima's 3-4-2-1. The three defenders will be Kaga, Morishige, and Takahashi, with Mukuhara and Tokunaga on the left and right flanks, Lucas at the top, and Kajiwara and Ishikawa as the two shadows. Coach Ranko POPOVIC stated, "The team's aim remains unchanged. The three-back formation is one of the variations. We must not get caught up in the system and make things difficult or complicated for ourselves. We want to use it as an advantage to leverage each individual's strengths."

　With the side battles being one of the highlights, Muku Hara expressed his determination, saying, "I don't want to concede the first goal, and I don't want to lose the race against the opposing midfielder, Mikic. I want to put in the effort, always take the initiative, and connect that to scoring." In this crucial match against the league leaders, although it is an away game, as Coach Ranko POPOVIC also stated, "If we don't attack, we won't achieve victory," we will maintain an aggressive stance, not allowing the opponent to showcase their strengths, and seize the victory. The match started at 19:05 with Hiroshima's kickoff at Hiroshima Big Arch.

Created a chance from a corner kick in the final moments, but could not score, ending the first half scoreless.

　Since the start of the match, both sides showed a cautious approach. In the 4th minute, Takahashi's switch from the side allowed Tokunaga, who moved up to a high position on the left flank, to bring the ball forward to Lucas in the left area, but they couldn't connect from there. In the 9th minute, they stole the opponent's ball and connected the play, with Ishikawa dribbling forward and passing to Lucas on the left, while he himself advanced into the left area. Kajiyama briefly held the ball before crossing to Lucas, but it flowed behind Kajiyama and was cut off by the opposing defender.

　Conversely, in the 15th minute, Hiroshima's MF Takahagi aimed directly at the free kick, but it went over the bar. In the 16th minute, Hiroshima's DF Moriwaki dribbled into Tokyo's territory. Unable to stop this, it connected to the central MF Takahagi, who was pressed but took a powerful shot from just outside the area, which went over the bar, escaping the danger... Gradually, the game turned into a situation where Hiroshima had the ball, but they focused at the last moment and calmly connected to their own time.

　Even so, Tokyo could not settle in the front line. Although Hiroshima seized the rhythm and created decisive chances, the defense somehow held on and did not allow any goals. In the latter stages, they created opportunities from set pieces. In the 39th minute, from Ishikawa's left corner kick, Takahashi made a decisive header but was saved by the GK. In the 44th minute, they connected a short corner with Morishige, and from the cross, Hasegawa made a header that found the course but was caught by the GK. The first half ended scoreless.

Defended Lucas's opening goal with determination and celebrated victory.

　The second half began with Hiroshima pressing, but in the 49th minute, a pass was made from the right by Kajiyama to Lucas in the center. With the opposing defender in front of him, Lucas feinted by sliding sideways and struck a precise shot into the goal. He capitalized on the opponent's mistake to score the long-awaited opening goal. In the following 56th minute, Kajiyama advanced to the front line and earned a corner kick. From the second left corner kick, Morishige made a header. Just as it flowed right in front of the goal, Takahashi also rushed in but couldn't connect. The goal was not scored.

　Tokyo became more defensive after taking the lead, and as the DF line began to drop, they were pushed back by Hiroshima. In the 60th minute, Hiroshima's DF Moriwaki made a feint from the right and took a looping shot with his left foot. It was directed towards the goal, but Gonda managed to touch it with his outstretched hand to avert danger. In the 63rd minute, Tokyo brought in Nemanja VUCICEVIC to replace Ishikawa. Furthermore, in the 68th minute, Edmilson was substituted in for Kajiwara as they aimed for an additional goal.

　In the 70th minute, VUCICEVIC created a play on the left front, and YONEMOTO passed to Lucas on the left side, who made a vertical pass to Edmilson in the center of the area. However, he was surrounded by defenders and could not connect to MUKAHARA, who had moved up on the right. In the 78th minute, Daichi ISHIKAWA, who broke through on the right front for Hiroshima, made a decisive backward pass from the sideline, but MF TAKAHAGI in front of the goal could not take the shot. They avoided a crisis. After that, they created several decisive chances, but were helped by mistakes, and the time was up. This was their first victory in the league in six matches and their first win against Hiroshima since 2007.

　[Player Comment]《Lucas》"We were pushed back in the final stages today, but if I reflect calmly, it was a match where both sides canceled each other's strong points. Hiroshima made some mistakes, but overall, I think it was a match where neither team had many chances. (About the scoring scene) I don't remember it well (laughs). Was it with my right foot or my left...? I scored in a similar way in the opening match against Omiya, and that was with my left, so it might have been a trap with my left foot (laughs)."

　(Did you instinctively take a shot?) Yes, yes (laughs)!! (Did you run until the end?) That said, towards the end, there were some passing mistakes, and the ball to Yonemoto ended up being too long. I think that was about the only chance we had in the second half. Of course, we want to play aggressively, create many chances, and score goals. That's the ideal we have. But as you all know, soccer is not easy. Given the difficulties, I am really happy that I was able to score and win on my own.

　"Personally, I couldn't push the ball forward much in the first half. But we all talked about how if we could keep a zero goal difference in the first half, we could score in the second half, and we managed to endure the fight, so I think it was good that we achieved a shutout in the end. (After taking the lead, were you conscious of launching counterattacks?) A team without counterattacks is not scary. That's why I wanted to go forward like that and show that we could counterattack, and I was thinking we should at least try it once. Although we couldn't score, I wanted to show the attitude of running until the end and challenging even in the latter stages. But it was really tough (laughs). In the end, it was a battle with myself. I believed that doing my best there would lead to my future."

　[Summary of Coach Popovic's Press Conference] "As I expected before the match, it was a tough and difficult game. The key point for this match was how resilient and patient we could be in our fight. I think the outcome was very close, and it could have gone either way. Looking back at the match, I wanted us to maintain a high line and apply pressure from the front in the second half, just like we did in the first half, but we couldn't do that. Until we scored, I think the content was evenly matched, but after we scored, we tended to pull back a bit. I believe that is where we started to struggle."

　In the end, Hiroshima had several decisive chances, and it was truly a match where either team could have won, but today we were able to score when it mattered. Just like Hiroshima usually does, we capitalized on the opponent's mistakes and scored from counterattacks, but in today's match, we turned the opponent's mistakes into goals. I believe we can evaluate our ability to do what the opponent excels at. In the previous match, we created 10 chances but couldn't convert them, and today we made sure to take advantage of one chance. I think this was a key factor in bringing about the result.

　As you all know, the first job I had when I came to Japan was in Hiroshima. I have a deep connection to Hiroshima, and many players I know well are still there. I wish them good luck in their future battles, and I hope they continue to be a great team.

　[Hiroshima Coach Moriyasu's Press Conference Summary] "I think the players expressed the football we are trying to play throughout the match, and it was good that they ran and fought through it. However, we ended up giving the opponent a chance at the start of the second half, which made the match difficult. After we conceded a goal, the opponent solidified their defense, and there were some dangerous moments from counterattacks, but we were able to circulate the ball well and create scoring opportunities even against a retreating opponent. I want to continue that aspect. Today was a match where Tokyo effectively converted their chances."

　(More than 23,000 supporters came out) I was grateful to many supporters for coming to Big Arch and cheering us on. I wanted to fight hard and achieve results among the large number of supporters, and the players fought with that feeling as well, but I am disappointed that we could not deliver the three points.