Aiming for a third consecutive win with the same momentum!

In Sec. 3 of the league, we will face Cerezo Osaka away. In the previous match against Kashiwa, we showed strength in converting key chances and achieved a convincing victory without allowing the opponent to showcase their strengths. Watanabe and Hayato HASEGAWA both scored goals following the opening match, indicating that the team's condition is good. This match will be a contest between two teams on winning streaks, and it seems likely to be a challenging game away, but we want to aim for our third consecutive win as a united team, including the substitutes.

C Osaka, in their opening match, won 1-0 against Niigata and narrowly defeated Kofu 2-1 in the previous match, showing good form with two consecutive victories. This match features a two-top formation with FW Edgino and Kakita, and on both sides, MF Minamino and Yamaguchi. The double pivot consists of MF Simplisio and Ogiwara, with DF Moniwa positioned as a center-back. Special attention is needed for MF Kakita, who leads the attack; he has the ability to exploit the opponent's weaknesses, quick movement, and problem-solving skills, having already scored in two consecutive matches, becoming the driving force behind their victories.

Tokyo will approach the match with the same starting lineup as before. Coach Ranko POPOVIC stated, "C Osaka has been competing under Coach Krupi for over six seasons, and that philosophy has taken root. Additionally, young players with potential are gaining experience, and the balance with mid-career and veteran players is good." He also asserted, "We do not intend to play according to the opponent's style." He continued, "It's not an easy task, but we want to maintain Tokyo's pace throughout and lead to victory."

Furthermore, as the battles on the sides become crucial, attention is drawn to C Osaka's DF Mukuhara, who has been on loan since this season. Tokyo aims to gain an advantage on the sides, first by preventing the opponent from showcasing their strengths, and then taking control of both offense and defense with Tokyo's characteristic coordination and passing. They want to adapt their play according to the changes and flow of the match. Both teams advocate attacking football, and Coach Ranko POPOVIC stated that this match will undoubtedly be an exciting one. The match kicked off at 15:04 with Tokyo's kickoff at Osaka Nagai Stadium.

Neither team was able to create scoring opportunities, and they went into halftime scoreless.

Tokyo launched a wave attack from the start. In the 1st minute, after connecting from the kickoff, Watanabe picked up a loose long feed and took the first shot from the right side, but it went wide. In the following 2nd minute, Hasegawa passed to Watanabe, who then passed to Higashi on the left side, and from Ota's cross, Hasegawa in the left area aimed for the goal, but it lacked power and was caught by the goalkeeper. In the 4th minute, Tokunaga took a shot from the right area, but it went over the bar.

Gradually, C Osaka regained composure, and the match entered a stalemate. In the 21st minute, from a coordinated ball movement in the front line, Ota delivered a floating pass into the right area. Higashi, deep in the area, controlled it, and Lucas beautifully volleyed it into the net, but... it was ruled a foul for handball by Higashi, resulting in no goal. Tokyo was unable to make vertical passes against C Osaka's intense pressing. Conversely, C Osaka launched quick counterattacks, leading to a tense development.

In the 37th minute, Tokyo's Hasegawa intercepted a lateral pass from the opponent and dribbled into the area, passing to Watanabe on the right. His trademark cross shot from the area went across the goal, but Higashi in the center couldn't finish it. In the 43rd minute, Lucas passed to Tokunaga, who sped down the right for a cross. Higashi was running in front of the goal, but it was cut off by the defender and resulted in a corner kick. As indicated by the shot count in the first half: 3 to 2, both teams connected well up to the midfield, but neither could break through to score. The match remained scoreless as we headed into the second half.

Unable to break through the opponent's goal until the end, resulting in defeat

C Osaka brought in MF Maruhashi to replace DF Mukuhara from the second half, moving him to left back. Then, in the 47th minute, due to a mistake in midfield, C Osaka launched a counterattack, and from the last pass by MF Maruhashi to MF Minamino on the left side, MF Yamaguchi scored, allowing the first goal. Tokyo quickly countered, and in the 54th minute, Lucas on the right side made a move inside the area, delivering a superb ground cross in front of the goal. Higashi connected at the far post and shook the net, but it was ruled offside. However, after that, they faced a counterattack from C Osaka due to mistakes, leading to continued pressure on them.

In the 62nd minute, Ishikawa was brought on for Takahashi on the right side. Hasegawa moved to the defensive midfield position. Immediately after, from Ishikawa's right corner kick, Watanabe headed the ball but the GK caught it. In the 66th minute, Lee was brought on for Watanabe. Then, in the 68th minute, Lee broke through the defense after a long pass from Morishige. He found himself one-on-one with the GK in the left area and took a left-footed shot, but the GK made a save. Reacting quickly to the rebound, Lee took another shot himself, but this time it was cut off by a covering defender. It was a decisive chance, but he couldn't finish it.

C Osaka tightened their defense by falling back into their own territory, and in the 77th minute, Kono was brought on to replace Lucas. They pushed for a more aggressive attack. Just after that, in the 78th minute, Ishikawa sprinted down the right side with the ball and delivered a final pass to the center. This was blocked by the opposing defender and resulted in a right corner kick. From this corner taken by Ishikawa, Lee made a perfect header, but it went straight to the GK. In stoppage time, Lee unleashed a powerful shot from a left cross, but once again it was caught by the GK. They continued to attack until the end but could not break through C Osaka's resolute defense, resulting in a time-up. This marked their first loss of the season.

[Player Comments]
"In facing an opponent that solidifies their defense, I am consciously focused on challenging their center-backs. If I pull back too much, the defensive midfielder will take care of me. (Were there moments when you entered the area multiple times?) To achieve goals and assists, it's important to keep repeating those actions. I want to be able to do it even more often. Although we lost today, I believe the team can improve further. I want to maintain a fighting spirit and always aim for high-level play, improving with each match."

"Li" said, "There were good chances, but I couldn't convert them. I think the timing and the course were good, and we were able to create good opportunities. That said, this has happened for three consecutive matches. I wonder why myself, but I want to score somehow without getting discouraged. (Was there a frustrated atmosphere on the pitch regarding the decisions?) No, we had chances, and we should have been able to score. It was a match that we could control with our own strength. So it's not about the decisions."

【Summary of the Coach's Press Conference】
"Coach Ranko POPOVIC" "(Was there a problem with the referee?) No comment. I believe that discussing the referee here will not lead to a solution. However, I do have a desire for a better understanding of football. It is not about criticism, but I think it is necessary for all of us to continue to think about how Japanese football can progress further. I believe that the team should play fairly and cleanly to make it easier for the referee to blow the whistle, and conversely, the referee should properly control the match and manage it well.

I believe we must think about contributing to Japanese football together. Another important thing is to continue showing our ideal form of football. I think it is essential to continue fighting with fair play, respect for our opponents, and respect for the referees. However, there were some aspects regarding decision-making that I would like you to consider today.

"Cerezo Osaka's Levir CULPI coach said, 'With 9 points from these 3 matches, we have achieved 100% of the points available. There is no doubt that this is the best result. Our goal is to take the top position. To achieve that, we must continue to win. In that sense, this was an important victory. However, in terms of coordination, the level of completion is still lacking. We need to refine our coordination as we play more matches. (What is the reason for continuing to win by a one-goal margin?) I don't think I can explain the reason for our three consecutive wins in one word. As I mentioned earlier, there are still areas where the content is lacking. However, it is also true that we are showing plays that deserve victory.'

I think there were wonderful goals like today's, and although there were no goals in these three matches, there were very good plays and dedicated defense. Another important point is that we used all our substitution slots throughout the three matches. This indicates that our player depth has increased. And today, when I looked back at the bench in the second half, there were moments when I thought about bringing in Billiken-san (laughs).