Aiming for consecutive wins to join the battle for the top!

　In Sec. 28 of the league, we will face Kashima Antlers away. In the previous match against Jubilo Iwata, we turned the game around in the second half to achieve a comeback victory. While maintaining control throughout the 90 minutes is the ideal style of football we aim for, we are starting to make plays that assess the situation and determine what needs to be done, without losing individual battles, including those involving substitutes. Today is also a match that will test our true value, and we want to focus on winning while aiming to surpass with even higher quality football.

　Kashima, currently in 13th place with 34 points, faced Gamba Osaka in the last match. Although they were equalized just before the end, the formation with FW Osako as the lone striker and MF Renato as the attacking midfielder worked effectively. They maintained an advantage over Gamba Osaka throughout the match, marking two goals. In this match, MF Ogasawara and Shibasaki will serve as double defensive midfielders in a 4-5-1 formation. In the last four matches, they have recorded 1 win, 2 draws, and 1 loss, indicating that their form has not fully improved, but their underlying strength is acknowledged by everyone.

　Tokyo has changed its lineup from the previous match. Watanabe is positioned as the lone striker, and Hyun Soo JANG is utilized as the left side back. Kajiyama will serve as a defensive midfielder, with Lucas playing just behind the striker, and Ishikawa and Hanyu on the flanks. Particularly in attack, the key point will be whether they can finish when they find their rhythm. They want to avoid monotonous passing and introduce variation. Dynamic positioning and quick decision-making will be crucial, but they aim to increase the fluidity of the front line, using Hasegawa, Ishikawa, and Lucas as starting points to exploit the opponent's weaknesses.

　In past match records, Tokyo has 5 wins, 5 draws, and 13 losses, which is not favorable, and at the away Kashima, they have only achieved 1 win in the league since 2007. They are undoubtedly a tough opponent, being skilled in tactical maneuvers and knowing how to win. Nevertheless, Coach Popovic expresses his determination, stating, "The past cannot be reclaimed, but the future from here can be changed. I want to pursue success with that as motivation." The match started at 15:03 with Tokyo's kickoff at Kashima Soccer Stadium.

Unable to stop Kashima's momentum, allowing a 2-point lead and ending the first half

　From the start, both teams tried to seize control, resulting in a back-and-forth development. In the 5th minute, Morishige advanced, and Tokunaga passed to Kajiwara, who pushed forward on the left flank and won a corner kick. From Ishikawa's left corner kick, Morishige made a precise header, but it went straight to the GK. In the 9th minute, Kashima's right midfielder Endo took a sharp shot from distance. It grazed Gonda's hand and hit the crossbar, resulting in a corner kick, but they managed to defend it. Due to the light rain, the slippery pitch made it difficult for the ball to settle, and neither team could connect their passes.

　However, Kashima quickly transitioned from a concentrated defense to attack, gradually pushing Tokyo back with precise counters. Then, in the 18th minute, from a right throw-in in Tokyo's territory, Tokyo was caught off guard for a moment. Kashima MF Shibasaki made a run into the right forward position and delivered a sharp ground cross between the GK and DF. Gonda barely managed to save it with one hand, but the rebound was finished by MF Dutra just in front of the left area, allowing the first goal.

　Tokyo wanted to launch a counterattack, but the flow did not change. In particular, they struggled to keep up with the ball retention of Kashima MF Renato and FW Osako, leading to goal-scoring opportunities. In the 33rd minute, MF Dutra took a decisive shot, but it went over the bar, avoiding a crisis. In the 35th minute, Yonemoto was brought in to replace the injured Hanyu. Kajiyama moved to the attacking midfield position. Lucas played as the lone striker, while Watanabe moved to the side.

　However, in the 38th minute, a counter-attack allowed MF Shibasaki, who entered the area freely, to score and give an additional point. Later, towards the end of the first half, as the opponent began to tire, Lucas took several shots in quick succession but was unable to score. The first half ended with a two-goal deficit.

Takahashi scores his first goal in J1, but they concede goals on the counter and lose the match

　After the start of the second half, Tokyo aggressively attacks. In the 46th minute, Ishikawa and Watanabe combine to penetrate the area, and in the end, Tokunaga's right cross is chest-trapped by Lucas, but the shot goes straight to the goalkeeper. In the 57th minute, the ball is cut off once, but a mistake in Kashima's pass leads to the ball spilling to the free Ishikawa in the area. It became a decisive opportunity, but the shot aimed after turning around goes over the bar.

　Immediately after, Edmilson was brought in to replace Watanabe. Furthermore, in the 63rd minute, Nemanja VUCICEVIC came in for Chan Hyun-soo. They continuously brought in attacking players, shifting the DF line to a three-back formation, with Lucas and Edmilson as the two forwards, and VUCICEVIC and Ishikawa on the sides. In the 67th minute, Nemanja made a run into the area from a pass by Kajiyama, but was blocked by the DF. However, Edmilson, who seized the loose ball, tried to advance into the area again after a one-two with Lucas, but the pass did not connect.

　Tokyo completely took the offensive, increasing the moments of pressing the opponent. However, in the 69th minute, the experienced Kashima did not miss the opportunity. After a clearance was picked up, MF Endo connected with MF Renato to break through for the third goal. In the 71st minute, Kashima attempted a central breakthrough, and from a short pass by FW Osako, who drew in the Tokyo DF in front of the goal, MF Dutra struck a shot... resulting in a consecutive loss of goals and a four-goal deficit.

　With no choice but to attack, Tokyo in the 83rd minute saw Hasegawa advance and pass to Ishikawa on the right. They earned a corner kick from the right cross. Ishikawa took a short corner, and Yonemoto delivered a cross. Edmilson received it at his feet, turned, and aimed a shot that Takahashi redirected into the goal. This was Takahashi's first goal of the season and his first in J1, bringing one point back, but it was already too late. Furthermore, they conceded another goal to Kashima, ending the match with a heavy defeat of 5 goals conceded. Their winning streak could not be achieved.

　[Player Comments] {Takahashi} "It feels like every shot on target from Kashima went in... There were parts where we were unclear about who was closing in, and their movements to exploit the space behind our defense and their ability to adjust after preliminary movements were skillful, resulting in us allowing them to be free. Their counterattacks after forming a block were sharp, and they confidently took on dribbles. It's disappointing that we ended up being passive against that. My own performance wasn't good either, but considering individual abilities, Kashima's skill and strength were beyond what I had anticipated. They have something completely different from us..."

　"Hasegawa" said, "We were defeated... We also had the desire to score, and when we pushed forward, we conceded goals from Kashima's counterattacks. It hurt to concede two goals in the first half, but in the second half, when we tried to recover, we conceded again, making the game difficult. If we are a team aiming for the top, we cannot concede five goals. Even if we lost, we should have ended it at 1-2 or 1-3. We conceded four goals in the Sendai match, but we needed to hold on more today, and in the end, it felt like everyone was scattered. We need to regroup from here and want to rebuild towards the Nabisco Cup."

　[Summary of Coach Popovic's Press Conference] "It really ended up being a disappointing result. Looking at the 5-1 score, I can only congratulate the opponent, and I think they played accordingly. Reflecting on the match, everything the opponent did went well. Conversely, I think it was a match where we couldn't execute what we wanted to do. If the ball had rolled our way in some key moments, or if we had scored first, the situation might have changed, but that didn't happen today. We couldn't do what we wanted. However, there were moments in the match where we had our chances, and if we had scored then, it might have led to a different outcome. I think it was a game where the opponent scored during that crucial period."

　(Hyunsoo's evaluation after playing as an inexperienced left-back?) It was said to be an unfamiliar position, but what position are you used to? Whether it's on the right side, in the center, or on the left, I don't think it matters to me. I believe his strength will be needed in the next match as well. There were concerns about suddenly playing as a center-back in terms of match awareness. I thought it would be easier for him to adapt in the next match if he was used here once, which is why he was utilized today. However, if you are a player from Tokyo, the quality of play should not change whether the position is 10 meters to the right, in the center, or on the left. I believe I must show my strength as usual.

　[Summary of Coach JORGINHO's Press Conference] "We have adopted a new system since the last match, but we felt positive about it even then. With MF Endo joining, we can hold the ball longer in the opponent's half and create opportunities. What I have demanded is the stability of the team's defense. Additionally, we aimed to switch quickly from defense to attack to increase our offensive power, and I believe that has worked well. By playing in a familiar position, MF Renato has also been able to demonstrate his abilities even more. I think we have particularly improved in the accuracy of through passes to the attacking line and in utilizing a wider field of vision."

　The most important thing is not whether we scored or performed well, but rather the emotional aspect. Each player showed a willingness to take responsibility for their own play and that of their teammates, and I believe that was communicated. Being a part of this club and team comes with a responsibility to win. We have been discussing that in order for everyone to fulfill that responsibility, we must play with the right mindset; otherwise, it cannot be achieved. In the past, we transformed into a strong team in matches where we played with that mindset, and that is the power we inherently possess. The challenge now is whether we can continue that.