Change the team composition and aim for 3 points away!

In the previous match against Kawasaki, we suffered a bitter defeat. We have yet to achieve our first victory in the league this season, and it must be said that the team's situation is difficult. To change this flow, a victory is absolutely necessary in this match. The players calmly analyze the Kawasaki match, stating, "The reason was that we conceded a goal due to mistakes, but after allowing the first goal, we fell apart ourselves." Coach Massimo also reflects, "When something is lacking in our way of playing as a team, running, intensity in duels, and avoiding mistakes... it becomes difficult to win," and continues, "Therefore, we must not forget our priorities." To correct these issues, it is important to return to the essence of football individually, showing a fighting spirit through intensity in duels and running. We see how to fight during times when the team is not performing well as a challenge, and we will enhance our common awareness on the pitch as we approach this match.

Tokyo has appointed Yoshimoto as the center back. The composition of the forwards and midfield has also changed, with Nozawa as the anchor. Yonemoto and Mita are the inside halves.
And the front line consists of a two-top with Edu and Muto. Kono will be positioned just behind them. Additionally, there will be five youth academy graduates in the starting lineup.

On the other hand, Shimizu currently sits in 15th place with 4 points. Since their victory in the opening match against Nagoya, Shimizu has recorded 2 losses and 1 draw, indicating that they have not been able to showcase their true strength. However, Coach Massimo commented, "Shimizu has aggressiveness, and in addition to having high individual abilities, they are well organized." This season, they will deploy the tall FW Nagasawa at the top, with the newly signed FW Novakovich as the central axis, and will utilize the speed and breakthrough ability of FW Omae, DF Ishige, and FW Toshiyuki TAKAGI to launch their attacks. So far, they seem to have been experimenting with the midfield composition, but MF Murotani and Takeuchi have emerged. At the same time, MF Honda and the injured DF Ikeguchi are gradually improving their condition, and if they all come together, they will boast a significantly deeper player pool.

In response, Tokyo will likely struggle if they allow an early goal away. Against Shimizu's attack, which has height and speed, they want to prevent conceding by clearly defining the roles and coordination of Morishige and Yoshimoto, while fighting tenaciously as a team. They aim to withstand Shimizu's powerful attacks and fully capitalize on their chances, striving to secure 3 points away.

Although the wind has picked up, the match started at 15:05 with a kickoff from Tokyo in the spring weather of Nihondaira.

Although they allowed the first goal, Kono scored just before the end of the first half, making it 1-1 at halftime.

In the first 5 minutes of the match, there were continuous moments where both teams struggled to connect passes, possibly due to the strong winds. During this time, a pass from Yonemoto to Nozawa in their own half did not connect. Mori-shige attempted to gain possession of a ball heading into the area, but was aggressively pressed from behind by Shimizu FW Omae... The ball spilled behind Mori-shige and was struck by Shimizu FW Nagasawa, allowing an early opening goal.

15 minutes have passed. The team struggled to find their rhythm and conceded an early goal. Nevertheless, they are not looking down and are trying to regroup. Muto, who drifted to the right side, created space and connected with Kono, who made a run behind the defense. Kono dribbled into a high position in the right area and sent a decisive last pass to Edu waiting at the far post, but... the ball flowed negatively and missed the target... After that, the game continued with back-and-forth developments.

In the 24th minute, Yonemoto was fouled, leading to a free kick from the right side. Ota sent the ball forward, but all high balls were cleared away. From there, Shimizu launched a powerful counterattack, with forward Omae on the right side passing to forward Takagi, who broke free in the center, but... the trap was off, and Ota persistently held him back, preventing a finish. In the 25th minute, this time Tokyo quickly switched play, and from Mita's pass, Mutou broke into the left area. He had no angle and couldn't take a shot himself, but Mita ran in to cut between him and Edu on the right, receiving the last pass. Mita aimed for a shot, but was blocked by Shimizu's DF...

30 minutes have passed, and although there have been mistakes on both sides, the match has developed into a fast-paced attacking contest. Tokyo's Muto and Kono create decisive opportunities, but they are unable to capitalize on them. In the 40th minute, intense play continues, and the pitch becomes somewhat chaotic. In the midst of this, it appeared that Yonemoto was fouled in his own half, but play continued. Taking advantage of a moment when Tokyo momentarily stopped, Shimizu connected, and DF Yoshida was free in the right area. A shot was taken from there, but Gonda made the save.

The equalizing goal was scored in the 44th minute. Muto, just outside the right area, made a powerful shot. This was blocked by Shimizu's goalkeeper with one hand, but Kono, positioned just outside the central area, followed up and shot. The ball slipped between the opposing defenders and rolled into the bottom right corner past the goalkeeper, scoring a goal!! Although they allowed an early lead, both teams launched quick attacks against each other, leading to an intense match. Shimizu also created chances, but Tokyo countered with Mita and Muto as key players. Just before the end of the first half, Kono scored to bring the match back to level, setting the stage for a decisive second half.

The team came together to seize their first victory in the league!

In the 49th minute of the second half, EDU committed a foul in midfield, giving Shimizu a free kick. Shimizu fed the ball into the area. Ota, who contested the long ball, was penalized for a handball... resulting in a penalty kick for Shimizu. Morishige, who protested this decision, received a warning for dissent, his fourth yellow card overall. He will be suspended for the next match. However, Shimizu's forward Omae's penalty kick, taken to the left, was saved with all his might by Gonda!!! This big save shifted the momentum of the match in Tokyo's favor.

In the 57th minute, Muto received a harsh foul slightly to the right in the opponent's half, earning a free kick. From here, Ota sent a kick to the front line, and Morishige dove perfectly to make a high header! The ball, which was somewhat lifted, found its way into the net, successfully turning the game around. They now lead 2-1.

60 minutes have passed, and after Gonda's great play to fend off a critical chance in the second half, Morishige took advantage of a set-piece opportunity to score the go-ahead goal. The match continued with both teams attacking each other. In the 64th minute, Shimizu replaced the defensive midfielder Takeuchi with Yoshiaki TAKAGI on the right midfield, strengthening their attack to launch a counter-offensive.

In the 72nd minute, Higashi came on for Kono, who scored a valuable equalizer, moving to the inside half. Then, Mita shifted to the attacking midfielder position. Furthermore, in the 75th minute, Hirayama entered the pitch in place of Edu, who had fought with abundant movement on both offense and defense. After that, Shimizu's counterattacks and intense exchanges of play often interrupted the flow, making it difficult to find a rhythm. However, they concentrated on withstanding Shimizu's attacks and Tokyo aimed for another goal.

In the 82nd minute, Yoshimoto deflected a kick from the opposing goalkeeper and gained possession, moving into the opponent's territory. From Higashi's pass, Muto broke through on the right flank and delivered a grounded cross to the center. Although it didn't reach Hirayama in front of the goal, Yonemoto, who followed in from the far side, calmly shot into the net on the opposite side, adding another point. This made it 3-1.

In the early stages of the second half, Gonda made a great save on Shimizu's penalty kick. After overcoming the crisis, Morishige scored the go-ahead goal from a free kick. They maintained their concentration and kept the counterattacks at bay, and in the final stages, from a combination between Higashi and Muto, Yonemoto secured the third goal to pull away from Shimizu. The team united to seize their first victory in the league!

【Player Comments】
《Gonda》
"Even after stopping the penalty, we were still tied. I know from our past battles that just changing the flow doesn't mean anything. What's important is the result. Today's victory is thanks to the field players who helped us take the lead. We allowed the first goal and couldn't stay calm afterward. Since Shimizu, who took the lead, fell back, we should have been able to maintain possession and create rhythm. Not being able to create that rhythm is a point of reflection. Yoshimoto cleared the ball, picked up the second ball in midfield, and Mita and Muto were running around. Individual efforts brought us victory. But I believe we could have brought victory more easily as a team. I'm genuinely happy about our first win in the league, and it's great that five players from the youth team, six including Shimizu (MF Murohira = from FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa), were on the pitch, and we were able to achieve results. Many players who have been promoted to the top have gone outside, but being able to achieve results like this is also thanks to those who have valued and supported the youth team for a long time. I think this has become a step to meet those expectations."

"Yoshimoto"
"There are many points for reflection, but I think it was good that we fought together and achieved results. It was the first time I stood on the same pitch as Gonda as a professional. I only realized that when Gonda mentioned it (laughs). It was tough today as well, but Mita said, 'It's when things are tough that we, as youth players, must absolutely do our best,' and I thought, 'We've grown' (laughs). I feel that we are all the same teammates, and I don't have the feeling of distinguishing myself as 'youth,' but of course, I thought to myself, 'I have to do this.' Anyway, I tried my best to do what I could and to keep talking from start to finish. I wanted to create an atmosphere where everyone could discuss and unify our direction. We conceded a goal early on, but I believe we have become a team that can turn things around no matter who plays. The Nabisco Cup is coming up soon, and I want to continue preparing myself. I think this is where my challenge begins, and as a team, I want us to keep winning and ride the momentum."

【Summary of Massimo FICCADENTI's Press Conference】
"I had the impression that the opponent was a very organized and good team, and that turned out to be true. After we conceded a goal, it became a tough situation, but the players' attitude was wonderful, allowing us to equalize at 1-1 and achieve a comeback. The players approached the game with an incredibly positive mindset. I think it was very good that they maintained the approach of pressing the opponent firmly, not allowing them to do what they wanted, and taking control of the game. In the first three matches since the opening, we had unfortunately let the flow of the game slip away due to our own mistakes, so we had been eagerly waiting for a victory for a long time. I want to congratulate the players for their very good performance and celebrate this victory."

【Summary of the press conference by Shimizu's coach Afshin Ghotbi】
"I think the players started the match by bringing energy in a very good way. We created situations where it wouldn't have been surprising to score while we were fighting well. However, we conceded a goal from the opponent's counterattack, and I believe we could have gone into halftime with a lead. In the second half, there was a very important period for us, including a penalty kick, but we missed the penalty, and the momentum changed. The timing of the opponent's equalizing goal during today's match, and the moment we missed the penalty, were the turning points of the game. The players lost their concentration, and the atmosphere in the stadium changed as well."