Entering the Golden Week consecutive matches, let's start the first game in a good way!

Sec. 9 of the league is being held. We will face Yokohama FM away. In the previous match against C Osaka, we showcased our fighting spirit and secured victory with dynamic play on both offense and defense. While preparing for our opponent, we are building a solid foundation as a team, and based on that, we want to gain momentum and continue to achieve victories. Especially from this match until Sec. 13 on May 10, five matches will be held in a short period. Once we lose our rhythm during consecutive matches, it won't be easy to regain it. Therefore, we want to maintain a good flow and turn it into victories.

Yokohama FM is currently in 11th place with the same points as Tokyo, 11. Last season, Yokohama FM was in a fierce title race until the end. This season, although FW Marquinhos has left the team, they have shown their strength and the height of what they have built, led by MF Saito and MF Nakamura, who are also candidates for the Japan national team, achieving three consecutive wins since the opening. However, they have struggled with a schedule that coincides with the ACL, resulting in two draws and three losses in the following five matches without a victory.

Nevertheless, Coach Massimo stated, "We cannot underestimate their 'experience'. For example, MF Nakamura is an indispensable presence for the team, not only in terms of play but also in his awareness both on and off the pitch. He is a true professional, and we have players like him." This heightens our caution. We do not want to give Yokohama FM the opportunity to showcase that experience and their game mastery. At the same time, one of the highlights will be whether we can launch a fast-paced attack and convert it into goals.

Kono, who has discomfort in his knee, is not included in the squad. The defense line and midfield are the same as in the match against C Osaka, but with Yonemoto and Mita as inside halves. Watanabe and Hirayama form the two-top. The formation features Higashi in the attacking midfielder position.

Under the sweaty early summer climate, the match started at 14:04 with Yokohama FM's kickoff.

Higashi scores the opening goal of the season from the connection between Watanabe and Hirayama!

The match started with action early on. In the 7th minute, Watanabe in the center of the opponent's territory applied intense pressure on a Yokohama FM player and won the ball. Hirayama on the right carried it forward with a dribble and took a sharp mid-range shot with a controlled trajectory. This was blocked by the goalkeeper's hand, but Higashi, who had run up front, pounced on the loose ball and confidently pushed it in with one touch for a goal! Higashi marked his first goal of the season and scored the opening point.

They maintained the intensity at the ball and quickness in their movements, applying pressure from the front and not allowing Yokohama FM to play freely. In the 12th minute, Hirayama made a run to meet Ota's early cross and shook the net, but this was ruled offside. In the 18th minute, from Higashi's skillful control, Mita broke through to the left edge of the area, providing a decisive last pass in front of the goal. It created a situation reminiscent of the goal against C Osaka, but Watanabe, who made the run, was contested by the opposing defender and shot wide of the target.

Even when Yokohama FM maintained possession of the ball, they stole it with powerful plays centered around Yonemoto and Mita in the front line and midfield, leading to quick transitions in attack. In the 31st minute, a pass was connected from Yokohama FM's FW Fujita's drop, with MF Nakamura moving to the left front line. He cut back past the opposing Tokyo DF and delivered a final pass to the center. It was aimed at the near FW Fujita, but he couldn't make contact, and the ball was caught by Gonda. From here, they launched a quick counterattack, but Watanabe's shot was blocked by the DF.

In the 42nd minute, Takahashi stole the ball from Yokohama FM's MF Nakamura and initiated a counterattack. Watanabe dribbled up the center and sent a final pass to Takahashi, who was free on the right, but it was too close to his feet for him to control. Although they couldn't score an additional goal, they prevented Yokohama FM from creating any real chances, maintaining an advantage throughout the match and finishing the first half with a one-goal lead.

In the second half, we were pushed back by Yokohama FM, but we solidified our defense as a team and won 1-0!!

The second half, which was expected to add more goals, saw Yokohama FM make two substitutions, bringing in FW Ito and DF Narawa. MF Nakamura dropped back to a holding midfield position, creating a formation closer to two forwards at the front. As a result, they managed to regain their rhythm. In the 48th minute, Yokohama FM's MF Fujimoto, just outside the left area, initiated a dribble and passed to the center. FW Fujita's shot hit the post, and MF Nakamura, positioned just outside the right area, took a precise shot, but Gonda made a save just in time, deflecting it for a corner kick.

After that, the pressure continued with set plays, and in the 52nd minute, an early cross from Yokohama FM's left back, Shitohira, went through the front of the goal and flowed into the right area. Here, Yokohama FM's MF Nakamura, who ran in free, took a decisive shot, but... it went over the bar, escaping the danger.

In response, the formation was changed to 4-4-2, and in the 59th minute, Muto was brought on to try to break Yokohama FM's momentum. In the 65th minute, Ota passed to Mita, who timely entered the left area. He sent a negative last pass from the sideline, but it did not reach Muto and was cut off by the DF. They could not create a shot, and in the 66th minute, Yokohama FM's MF Fujimoto moved from the right to the center, evading a one-two with a player in the area to enter the left area. A decisive opportunity was created, but Tokyo's DF put their body on the line, and the shot went wide.

In the 67th minute, Edu came in. Around this time, Takahashi was changed to a 5-back formation in the central defense line. Immediately after, Takahashi intercepted a pass in his own half and sent it to the forward Edu to initiate a counterattack. Edu attempted to pass to Muto, who was advancing on the right flank, but it was intercepted by a Yokohama MF, and the time without a finish continued. In the 78th minute, Hanyu was brought in. The team solidified their defense and repelled Yokohama FM's attacks. In the 89th minute, from a cross by Yokohama FM's left-back Shitohira, MF Sato made a perfect header in the area, but it went wide of the goal.

Including additional time, the second half saw Tokyo being pushed back by Yokohama FM, resulting in zero shots for Tokyo in the second half.
Still, everyone demonstrated a high level of defensive awareness, showing outstanding stability until the time was up. They secured victory by firmly defending the eastern goal, achieving consecutive wins with three official matches without conceding a goal.

[Player Comments]
《Higashi》
"The goal came right to me, so I was thinking about kicking it firmly into the net. Today, I played as an attacking midfielder, which is the position I find the easiest to play in. I'm glad I was able to score there. I'm happy to have scored my first goal, but it was a tough match, and keeping the goal difference at zero was also a positive outcome. It was hard, but I had confidence that I could push through even in the heat. Having fans come all the way to support us like this gives us strength. I'm grateful for that, and I hope many fans and supporters will come to the next home game as well."

《Takahashi》
"Today, our press worked well, and we were able to score first in the early stages. In the second half, we were pushed back, but I thought that if we conceded a goal there, it would mean we lacked the ability to bounce back. I'm glad we managed to keep the score down, and I'm happy about that. However, I think Yokohama FM created numerical advantages on the sides and played a style of 'looking for the best gaps' centered around midfielder Nakamura. Therefore, the strength of not only the defense but also the midfield players is significant. However, moving forward, I want to push up the line and increase our time on the ball."

【Summary of Coach Massimo FICCADENTI's Press Conference】
In the first half, the team played well. After taking the lead, we created two or three decisive chances and I think we were able to close out the match in the first half, but overall it was a good performance. We applied pressure at a relatively high rhythm in the first half, but the rhythm dropped in the second half. The players from Yokohama FM are of high quality and experienced, which increased the importance of our defense. In particular, Yokohama FM brought in another forward, and their wide players took up high positions, while midfielder Nakamura was appearing in various places to maintain a high density. Therefore, I instructed to solidly defend with a five-man defensive line.
Despite Yokohama FM pushing forward, the two center-backs effectively covered the space behind them, defending well even during difficult moments. If there is a lacking aspect, it would be the quality of the counterattacks. Throughout the match, after taking the lead, they struggled to score additional goals, but I want to commend the players for fighting well in such heat and not allowing the opponent to create any decisive chances. It is a pleasure to have won while keeping a clean sheet.

[Yokohama FM - Summary of the Press Conference by Coach Yasuhiro HIGUCHI]
"On the first day of GW, many children and numerous fans and supporters came, and I feel regret and apologize for not being able to deliver results. It is truly a difficult time, but this is where the team must hold firm. We need to share the sense of crisis and what we need to do as a team. In terms of the match, including how and when we conceded goals, when we allow Tokyo to score first, we fall into the opponent's game plan. This year's Tokyo changes their system when they take the lead, focusing on strengthening their defense and aiming for counterattacks. They have become a more realistic team. However, conceding a goal at that time disrupted our game plan, turning it into a match within the opponent's plan. We must accept the reality that we are not scoring. In the second half, we increased the number of times we put the ball in front of the goal, but we couldn't finish with a shot, and there was no space. Still, we could be more aggressive in sending crosses with intensity and making dirty plays to push in second balls or taking more mid-range shots. Various strategies can be considered, but to overcome this difficult period, we must organize and share our thoughts clearly and focus on the next game. It all comes down to organizing what we can do and doing our best."