I want to decorate it with a victory, the last game at the current Japan National Stadium

Sec. 10 of the league will be held. We will host Nagoya Grampus at the National Stadium. In the previous match, we defended the goal scored by Higashi as a team, achieving victory with three consecutive clean sheets in official matches. In this match, we will demonstrate our strong desire for victory and high defensive awareness, aiming for growth and consecutive wins step by step.

Nagoya is currently in 15th place with 9 points. They welcomed new head coach Akira NISHINO this season, and although they achieved three consecutive wins in Sec. 2 to Sec. 4, they have since suffered five consecutive losses. They are struggling with injuries, and it seems they are experimenting, using midfielder Danilson as a center-back and forward Yano as a side-back. However, in this match, forward Tamada and defender Otake have returned to the starting lineup.

Coach Massimo said, "Nagoya has many experienced players, and we cannot underestimate them. The fact that the opponent is on a losing streak is
completely irrelevant to us." To prevent attacks starting from Nagoya's FW Tamada and to utilize FW Nagai's speed, Tokyo wants to apply pressure from the front line, just like in the previous match, and connect good defense to good offense.
Above all, it's a battle at home. We want to maintain an aggressive attitude and seize victory. However, Kono and Hanyu are not in perfect condition and are out of the lineup. It's been two days since the last match, but we will approach this game with the same starting members as the previous match.

Despite the cloudy sky, there was no sign of rain, and with the temperature being cool, the match started at 1:04 PM with Nagoya's kickoff.

Unable to connect to the attack, allowed Nagoya to press in, but it was scoreless

At the start, both teams pressed from the front in an attempt to create chances. In the 3rd minute, Watanabe fiercely pressured Nagoya's goalkeeper, and from there, Yonemoto cut the pass on the right side. He connected with Higashi in front, while Hirayama advanced to the far post. However, Higashi was unable to deliver the cross, resulting in a throw-in. In the 5th minute, Nagoya also pressed Morishige, who was trying to maintain possession at the defensive line. Although they were close to losing the ball, Gonda quickly came out to cover.

In the 10th minute, Ota sent an early cross, resulting in four consecutive corner kicks, but they were unable to capitalize on the chances. In the 25th minute, Yoshimoto took a high header from Higashi's right corner kick, but it went over the goal. As time passed, they were increasingly bypassed by Nagoya's pressing from the front, allowing them to pass the ball and advance towards the goal. In response, Tokyo changed their formation to a similar 4-4-2 as Nagoya. Additionally, by concentrating on their defensive line, they managed to contain Nagoya's attacks.

In the 37th minute, a clearance from Nagoya fell to Mita in the opponent's half. From there, they launched a counterattack, with Hirayama advancing centrally and making a final pass to Higashi in the left area. Higashi tried to carry the ball forward to bypass the opposing defender, but there was no angle, and he couldn't take a shot. In the 43rd minute, Mita aimed for a long-range shot, but it veered to the right. Although Nagoya gained momentum, they endured the time and finished the first half scoreless.

Conceded a goal from a corner kick at the start of the second half, despite a fierce counterattack that did not bear fruit...

Tokyo brought in Muto on the left side in place of Sanda from the second half, trying to turn the game around. However, in the 46th minute, Nagoya FW Nagai passed to MF Ogawa in the area, who then caught right MF Edamura off guard. This led to a series of corner kicks, and in the 48th minute, Nagoya MF Ogawa's right corner kick was met by FW Yano, who headed it in... allowing the first goal. This sparked Nagoya's momentum. FW Nagai utilized his speed, frequently penetrating the area, but Yoshimoto blocked all attempts with passionate play, preventing any additional goals.

In the 55th minute, Tokyo substituted Matsuda for Tokunaga. In a 3-4-3 formation, Ota and Matsuda moved up a line. Hirayama was at the forefront, with Watanabe and Muto on the flanks, preparing to counterattack. In the 56th minute, they transitioned to a counterattack from a corner kick by Nagoya. Muto secured the ball at the front, then connected again, with Matsuda delivering a lobbed pass into the area. They made a short connection in the area, and Hirayama, with his back to the goal, laid it off for Watanabe, who circled around to the left side and took a shot, but it hit the crossbar...

In the 69th minute, Ota's early cross saw Hirayama dive in headfirst in front of the goal, but his low header was saved by the goalkeeper. After that, there was a fierce exchange of counterattacks, and in the 76th minute, Edu was brought on. However, Nagoya also brought in midfielder Danielson to try to suppress Tokyo's wing attacks.

In the 80th minute, Muto regained possession in midfield and surged into the left area. Although Hirayama in the center couldn't shoot from the last pass, Edu followed up on the loose ball and shot! However, it was narrowly saved by the GK... In the final stages, the match turned into a shootout, but both teams lacked finishing power. In the 82nd minute, Muto broke through on the left flank, cut inside, and aimed for a shot, but the GK caught it at the near bottom corner. In the 88th minute, Takahashi advanced while intercepting and made it to the sideline, earning a right corner kick. Ota's kick was headed down by Yoshimoto, leading to a scramble in front of the goal, but they just couldn't break through Nagoya's solid defense... Despite launching a fierce counterattack with all their might, they were far from scoring. They succumbed to a single strike from Nagoya and could not celebrate 'the last National' with a victory.

[Player Comments]
Matsuda
"Since we were in a situation of losing 0 to 1, I saw my entry as an opportunity to attack aggressively. Of course, I also considered the balance of defense, and the sides took high positions to go for a goal. I aimed for breakthroughs vertically, moved the ball forward with my first touch, and was able to deliver several crosses and passes in front of the goal. I believe I was able to showcase my strengths, but it's disappointing and frustrating that it didn't lead to a goal."

《Takahashi》
"It was a truly frustrating defeat. In the first half, Nagoya not only played vertical passes but also created lateral movements. While the ball was being shifted to the sides, we wanted to maintain awareness of lateral play, but I think we lacked the courage to take care of the ball. However, we don't reflect just because we lost; we are trying to grow by organizing what we did well and what we didn't even when we win. As always, I want to identify the points for reflection while mentally switching gears towards the next match."

【Summary of Massimo FICCADENTI's press conference】
"In the first half, both teams played a tactically solid match, mutually eliminating each other's spaces in a balanced contest. Even after conceding a goal, we created many chances from set pieces. There was a period of about five minutes where we struggled after the goal, but we assessed the situation and responded appropriately. After that, we continued to have our time, creating many decisive chances, including heading shots from Morishige and shots from Watanabe and Edu. It was a physically demanding match, but I want to commend the effort put in. Regarding Nagoya, I knew they were a high-quality team with players like midfielder Danielson and forward Tamada. One characteristic of Japan's J-League is the competitive level. I understood it would be a difficult match. I had communicated to the players that with high-quality players in Nagoya's frontline, allowing dangerous balls could lead to chances for them."
(Regarding Matsuda's substitution intention)
There was an intention to attack from the sides. Matsuda demonstrated his speed and accuracy in crossing. Ota on the opposite side also aggressively initiated plays, delivering precise crosses to create chances. I think both of them fought well.

【Nagoya - Akira NISHINO's Press Conference Summary】
"We had been going through a series of games without results. This match was also a close battle, but by somehow pulling through and achieving a result, I believe it will bring about changes for future matches. There were still many areas where we were lacking in content, but even in such circumstances, I could feel the determination. It was a very tough game, but I think the result is everything."