Do not allow consecutive losses at home, aim to run and win against Iwata for victory.

　League Sec. 27 will be held. Following the previous round, we will face Júbilo Iwata at home. The loss against Kawasaki was due to two goals in the second half, despite dominating in the first half. However, there is no time to dwell on it. Takahashi stated, "The performance and the result are not separate. We must continue to believe in ourselves and strive for a good result with a good performance," showing even more determination to aim for a home victory in this round.

　Iwata, on the other hand, is currently in 4th place with 42 points. Their total score is "51", second only to G Osaka in the league. Their attacking power is astonishing. In particular, the "hotline" between Japan national team's FW Maeda and right-back DF Komano is Iwata's biggest weapon. However, not only do they start from the right side, but they also score goals from the inside movements and set plays of MF Yamada, showing a variety of scoring patterns.

　In addition, one of Iwata's strengths is their pressing from the front line, based on a rich amount of movement. The key to victory will be how they can take control and bring the game to their own rhythm by avoiding it. Even if Iwata has possession of the ball, they should persistently defend and not allow the opponent to finish. By winning the ball and running, they want to connect from a good defense to an attack and win the competition.

　Tokyo, with Mokuhara starting as left back for the first time in 3 games since September 5th. FW Edmilson also started and Lucas was on the left side. Chang Hyun Soo JANG, who has recovered from injury, also made it to the bench for the first time since June 30th. It was a sunny day, and the strong sunlight made it feel hot at Ajinomoto Stadium. The match started at 2:04 PM with Iwata's kickoff.

Conceded the first goal in the beginning and struggled against Iwata's press

　Tokyo created a chance right after the start. In the 5th minute, they quickly moved forward and Ishikawa on the right side made a fast pass to the center. Kajiyama, who had moved up the center, controlled the ball with a one-touch and took a volley shot, but it hit the GK in front. In the 6th minute, Yonemoto made a forward run and earned a FK on the right side. Lucas headed it, but it went outside the frame.

　Tokyo started off with a push, but in the 7th minute, Iwata's long pass from the DF line was met by FW Maeda, who managed to get past the offside line and into the right area. Tokyo's DF quickly contained the situation, but the ball was passed to the right side, where MF Matsura headed it. The ball was then picked up by Iwata's DF Miyazaki, who took a shot. In the 9th minute, MF Suganuma from the center passed to MF Matsura, who then sent a soft cross to the back of Tokyo's DF. MF Yamada on the right side was able to connect with the cross, and Tokyo's DF lost sight of MF Suganuma, who was able to score a free header... and Tokyo was already behind.

　Iwata, who will take advantage of this opportunity. In front of their tough press, Tokyo was unable to connect the ball forward even when they held it in their own half. Still, in the 26th minute, Tokunaga hit Edmilson in front and forcefully cut into the area, winning a corner kick. From the right corner kick taken by Ishikawa, Takahashi headed low, but it hit the post... From the rebound, Lucas took a shot, but it was blocked.

　At 35 minutes, Iwata DF Komano overlapped and brought it inside, but Gonda caught the shot. At 38 minutes, Yonemoto was pressed in the midfield and lost the ball, and Maeda was able to break through the right area and enter the shooting position, but Morishige blocked it at close range. In response to Maeda's run to the front line, the DF line raised and caught the offside to avoid giving up an additional point, but they were unable to create chances in the flow of the game. In stoppage time of the first half, Ishikawa made a breakthrough and earned a FK, followed by a left CK, but Lucas' sharp header was saved by the goalkeeper's quick reaction... Iwata was able to defend against the set piece opportunity and went into the second half trailing by one point.

Vucicevic turned on the switch and scored two goals to secure a come-from-behind victory!

　Tokyo brought on Nemanja VUCICEVIC in the second half. Ishikawa moved to the left side and launched a counterattack with a formation close to a 2-top with Lucas and Edmilson. This proved successful as VUCICEVIC switched on the speed and created multiple chances. In the 46th minute, Edmilson cut inside from the left side and Lucas aimed for the goal. In the 47th minute, VUCICEVIC in the center just outside the box took a sharp turn and shot. In the 48th minute, Kajiyama broke through on the left front line and earned a free kick. Ishikawa played it short and VUCICEVIC in the middle crossed it. Hasegawa near the goal headed it.

　In the 54th minute, from Hasegawa's development, Ishikawa pushed the left front line and Vucicevic, who attacked the inside, took a shot in the area. This was saved by the goalkeeper, but Edmilson followed up and scored with his right foot. They caught up with the equalizer with a speedy combination play.

　After that, both teams aimed to take the lead and the game became a fast-paced and hectic exchange of offense and defense. In the 57th minute, a perfect cross from Iwata's DF Komano reached FW Maeda in front of the goal, but his header was ruled offside. In the 60th minute, Ishikawa dribbled up the left side, pushed past the opposing DF, and took a forceful shot, but the ball aimed at the near post hit the post instead...

　In the 62nd minute, Hyun Soo JANG replaced Kajiyama as center back and Takahashi moved to defensive midfielder. Iwata also made an attacking player substitution, with FW Julian ABÉ breaking through on the right side in the 76th minute and drawing the Tokyo DF, then passing to free FW Lins in the far area. A decisive opportunity was created, but the shot was blocked by Tokunaga, avoiding danger. In the tense battle, both teams had chances, but in the 80th minute, Watanabe was brought on. With Iwata's momentum slowing down, the pressure on the front line increased as they continued to push towards the goal.

　And in the 85th minute, they connected passes from their own half, and midfielder Hasegawa sent a vertical pass to Watanabe on the right side. Watanabe skillfully trapped the ball with his heel, bypassing the opposing DF, and brought it to the goal line before crossing it back to the center. Lucas in front of the goal attracted the DF, leaving space behind for Vucicevic to make a perfect run and calmly strike a powerful shot, GOAL!! After that, everyone ran until the end, including the 5 minutes of stoppage time, and held off Iwata's counterattack to secure the win. The substitutions also worked, as they scored 2 goals in the second half to come from behind and win.

　【Player Comment】《Edmilson》"I was able to score and turn the game around for the team. That's what makes me the happiest. I didn't expect to start today, but I was always prepared, so I didn't have any problems at the start. The important thing is to give it your all when the chance comes. Not just my own goal, but I think we all worked hard together, including the defense, to grab this victory."

　"Nemanja VUCICEVIC": "I have been playing well for a few games, but I haven't been able to get results, and I felt responsible and pressured for that. Soccer is all about results. In the first half, Iwata played well and we were struggling, but in the second half, we were able to regain our true form and fight. I think that led to the comeback, and I was able to contribute to that. (About his goal) Watanabe sent me a great ball. He is also an attacking player and he wanted results, but this time he assisted me. And the most important thing in that situation is to stay calm. You could say that's everything."

　[Summary of Coach Popovich's Press Conference] "We showed a different side in the first and second half. However, I think the game was open and attacking for both teams, so I hope everyone enjoyed it. In the first half, our movements were slower and more rigid compared to usual. I'm not sure why, but we were often on the back foot. It wasn't that the opponent was much better than us, but rather that our movements were rigid in the first half."

　In the previous match, we had a very good start and I thought that if we could play like we did in the first half of the previous match, there would be no problem. However, since the first half turned out like this, at halftime I told the players, "Don't get too tense. Just relax and do what you always do. Believe in your own abilities and give it your all." In the second half, we brought in Rene and were able to turn the game around and win. But until then, every player fought without giving up and in the second half, each one of them did what they could do, and I think that was the result.

　[Iwata・Morishita's Press Conference Summary] "Despite being away, we had nearly 2,000 supporters come and support us. Regarding the game, I think the players played very well and we want to use this experience to unite and aim for higher in the next match."