Stick to our style and take the gamble

In the previous round, Edu scored 2 consecutive goals in the official match, but also conceded points, resulting in the first loss in the qualifiers. They are currently in 3rd place in Group A, but this round they will face 2nd place Gamba Osaka away. In order to secure a spot in the final round, they must win this "direct confrontation".

However, the match is only two days after the Shimizu match. Manager Massimo explained, "We will be facing Gamba Osaka immediately after the league match. Therefore, these two days will be aimed at improving our tactics and common understanding as a team, rather than focusing on countering the opponent."
Tokyo will start with Uyu in the midfield, Watanabe, Hirayama, and Muto as FW. A 3-top formation. Uyu will serve as game captain.

Gamba Osaka, who is currently at 3 wins and 1 loss, has "2" more points than Tokyo. MF Uchida and Okazaki will form the midfield in place of Japan national team's Endo and Konno, with MF Abe and Omori on both sides, and FW Kurata and the returning from injury FW Usami as the two top players.

It is crucial to control Gamba Osaka's passing and attacks initiated by their fullbacks. Therefore, it is essential to have quick footwork, quick transitions between offense and defense, and not lose in physical battles. In order to embody our defensive balance and our style of "maintaining communication and coordination regardless of who is playing," we will put everything on the line.

The match started at 16:04 with Gamba Osaka's kickoff at the hot and humid Expo'70, although the wind has started to blow a little.

Conceded the first goal, but with Tokunaga's first goal of the season, it's 1-1 heading into the second half.

In the 4th minute of the match, Gamba Osaka took control in the opponent's territory, and from Hirayama's development, Watanabe attacked the right front line and sent a minus ground ball to the goal. Muto tried to follow up, but the ball's momentum was strong and the trap drifted forward, giving the opponent the ball. From here, they were hit by a counter attack, and from that flow, Gamba Osaka's midfielder Okazaki aimed for the back and sent a floating ball, but Shioda caught it. In the 6th minute, Gamba Osaka quickly moved forward from their own right side, but Kaga persistently responded and did not allow them to finish. In the 8th minute, the opponent attacked. The Tokyo DF was drawn in by a direct pass exchange in the center, and left SB Fujiharu was free on the left front line. The cross from here was dropped in the area, and Okazaki tried to score on the loose ball, but Tokyo managed to block it.

In the 11th minute, Muto was fouled in Tokyo's half, giving the opponent a chance for a FK from near the center. Ota aimed directly, but the shot grazed the bar and did not go in... In the 16th minute, Gamba Osaka's left side passed to FW Usami, who received it in front. He brought it to the center himself and took a daring shot as he entered the penalty area. Although the Tokyo DF had enough players, they couldn't put pressure on him. The ball went in with a powerful trajectory to the upper right... and they conceded the first goal. The back and forth attack continued, but Gamba Osaka's Usami scored, putting them in a chasing position. In the 26th minute, Hirayama was fouled on the right side of the opponent's half, giving them a FK. Watanabe sent it to the front line, but it was bounced back. Hayashi tried to connect with the loose ball, but was stopped and G Osaka countered. However, they did not neglect risk management and Kaga held them off.

At 33 minutes, Watanabe ran to the right side and crossed to Hirayama in the center. Hirayama dropped the ball in the area, and Hayabusa followed from the center, passing it back short. Tokunaga, who had come up from the right, scored a GOAL with a direct shot!! This was Tokunaga's first goal of the season, bringing the score to a tie.

38 minutes, Mutoh intercepts the ball in the opponent's territory. He tries to bring it forward, but Gamba Osaka's defense also has three players lined up, making it impossible for him to break through alone. Hirayama provides support and the team tries to push forward and attack, but Takahashi is fouled and a free kick is awarded. However, Takahashi is injured in this play and has to temporarily leave the pitch. Gamba Osaka is forced to play with 10 players until Takahashi returns around the 44th minute.

FK from the opponent's right side in the first half additional time. Ota sends it to the front line and Hirayama jumps in with a header, but... the ball hits the post and does not go in. Gamba Osaka's FW Usami scored first, but Tokyo did not lose balance and fought back tenaciously. There was also a period where they couldn't connect chances, but in the 33rd minute, Tokunaga scored his first goal of the season from a combination of Watanabe, Hirayama, and Hayashi. The game is back to square one and the battle continues into the second half.

Unable to make player substitutions or change formations, resulting in consecutive losses

In the second half, in the 49th minute of the early stages, G Osaka created an opportunity on the right front line, and from there, they took the loose ball from the cross and shot continuously from the front of the goal. This was blocked by Tokyo DF, but in the end, it was connected to MF Omori who was free in the left area, and a decisive shot was taken... However, this shot missed to the right and the danger was avoided. In the 51st minute, Hirayama received a foul and a FK from the right side. Ota's kick was dropped by Yonemoto from the far side, and Hayashi followed up, but the distance was too far and they couldn't make a shot.

At the 53rd minute, G Osaka's FW Usami and right MF Abe exchanged short passes. FW Usami, who received the return, dribbled through the center of the area between Yoshimoto and Tokunaga, shaking off Takahashi who was chasing from behind, and took a shot. However, it was scored on the right side... and they lost their second goal.

Substitutions for Watanabe and Hirayama in the 61st minute, with Edu and Kono coming on. Muto and Edu as the two top players. Kono in the top position. In the 67th minute, Muto was taken away and G Osaka countered. FW Usami on the right area faced off against Kaga and made a shot that grazed Kaga and resulted in a CK. In the 68th minute, the opponent's DF Nishino scored a free header from this right CK, giving up the third goal. In the 71st minute, Higashi was substituted for Kaga. DF Takahashi in the center, Tokunaga on the right, and Yoshimoto on the left as the 3 back. Ota and Yonemoto on both sides. Higashi and Hanyu as the double pivot. After 80 minutes, another goal was conceded from a CK, resulting in the third goal. Substitutions were used to try and counterattack, but they were unable to connect passes against G Osaka's defense. They continued to receive counters after losing the ball.

89 minutes, Takahashi persistently chased after the substitute FW Lins and won the ball on the right side of the midfield. From here, Higashi broke through and skillfully received a ball from behind, sending a ground pass to the far side. Mutoh slid in and created a decisive opportunity, but... it was cleared by the G Osaka DF with a corner kick.

In the second half additional time, Edu connected from a vertical pass from the east and Muto, who broke through the area while competing with the opposing DF, took a decisive shot... but it missed the goal. In the second half, the game was pushed by the speeding up G Osaka. They conceded the second goal to FW Usami early on, and then another goal from a CK. Despite player substitutions and formation changes, they suffered another defeat.

[Player Comments]
"Hanyu"
"I think there was also a sense of fatigue from playing consecutive games for the players who have been playing until now. However, it was a shame that we conceded a goal when the defense was well organized. After conceding the first goal, G Osaka started to defend and we felt like we were being allowed to have the ball, but we were still able to make intentional vertical passes and create opportunities from the wedge, so we were able to keep the ball moving. I think we were able to equalize because we continued to do that. In the goal-scoring situation, Hirayama fought hard and dropped the ball for me, and I was able to enter the area well. In the second half, until we conceded a goal, we didn't feel like we were being dominated. However, it was damaging for the team to be scored on when we had enough players to defend against it."
It's a shame because I felt like we could have won if we kept up that form and caught up to make it 2-1. After giving up two points, we made player substitutions and changed the system, but we may have lost our organization. It didn't become a game that we controlled ourselves. However, I don't feel like we were completely dominated by the opponent... We conceded in that way and made it difficult for ourselves. We had the feeling that we could have played our game and we had to do that..."

"Tokunaga"
"(How many points?)
Hanyu-san dropped a good ball for me. I was able to aim for the course and hit it firmly. Before the series of events, first of all, Yonemoto became the starting point for the breakdown. If the starting point increases and the distance between players is closer, I think I can also create such an attacking form by going up."
(First goal, but?)
But more importantly, we conceded today... We were involved in the second goal, and even with three people, we couldn't stop it. We had enough players, but it was unclear who was going to challenge. One person would go in strong, and the others would cover, which is something we always practice. We need to make that clear, and it's a problem that goes beyond tactics. We lost again, but we will fight as long as there is a possibility, and we will prepare to win.

[Summary of Massimo FICCADENTI's press conference]
"I think we were able to regroup as a team until we conceded the second goal. The second goal, like the first, was a result of allowing the opponent to score despite having enough defenders. We have a lot to think about, as this is not the first time we have conceded a goal in this manner, including in the Shimizu game. I believe the absence of Morishige was a big factor, but I also think we could have done better with the players we had. After conceding the first goal, we were able to equalize quickly and create other chances, so it's disappointing that we couldn't score another goal. There were mistakes that we didn't make in the league games, so we need to analyze and improve on those areas."

[Gamba Osaka Manager Kentaro Hasegawa's Press Conference Summary]
"Before the break, it was the final home game, so I wanted to somehow give the supporters a victory. The players fought well until the end of today's match. We took the lead in the first half, but then we couldn't move the ball at a good pace and ended up being tied. I think if we had scored the last set piece in the first half, the game would have taken a different turn. I think the fact that we managed to tie the first half led to the second half."