Stick to our style and take the challenge

In the previous match, Edu scored two consecutive goals in official matches but conceded goals, suffering their first loss in the qualifiers. They are now ranked 3rd in Group A, but this week they face 2nd place Gamba Osaka away. To secure a spot in the Final Round, it is necessary to win this "direct confrontation" to finish in the top two.

However, it is a battle just two days after the match against Shimizu. Coach Massimo explained, "We just faced Gamba Osaka in the league match. Therefore, the goal of these two days is not so much to prepare for the opponent, but to enhance our tactics and common understanding among all of us."
Tokyo starts Hanyu in midfield, and Watanabe, Hirayama, and Muto in the forward positions. A three-top formation. The game captain is Hanyu.

Gamba Osaka currently has 3 wins and 1 loss, surpassing Tokyo's points by "2". In place of Japan national team players Endo and Konno, MF Uchida and Okazaki will form the holding midfield, with MF Abe and Omori on both sides, and the formation will start with FW Kurata and FW Usami, who is returning from injury.

In particular, controlling Gamba Osaka's passing game and attacks originating from both full-backs will be key. To achieve this, it is essential to have quick starts and transitions between offense and defense, and to not lose in one-on-one situations. We will embody the defensive balance we have built up to this point and our style of "regardless of who plays, we can communicate and work together," and take on the challenge.

Although a slight breeze has started, the oppressive humidity at Expo'70 began with Gamba Osaka's kickoff at 16:04.

Although they allowed the first goal, Tokunaga equalized with his first goal of the season, making it 1-1 as they head into the second half.

In the 4th minute of the match, we took control in the opponent's territory, and from Hirayama's setup, Watanabe broke through on the right flank with a low pass towards the goal. Muto tried to connect, but the ball had too much momentum, and his trap went forward, resulting in a turnover. From here, we suffered a counterattack, and Gamba Osaka's midfielder Okazaki targeted the space behind us, sending a lobbed ball, but Shiota caught it. In the 6th minute, Gamba Osaka launched a quick attack from their right side, and FW Kurata almost broke free, but Kaga responded tenaciously and prevented him from finishing. Furthermore, in the 8th minute, the opponent attacked. After a direct exchange of passes in the center, Tokyo's defense was drawn in, and left-back Fujiharu was free on the left flank. From this cross, the ball was dropped in the area, and midfielder Okazaki was there to aim for the goal, but Tokyo somehow managed to block it.

In the 11th minute, Tokyo's Muto was fouled, giving them a free kick opportunity almost centrally in the opponent's half. Although there was some distance, Ota aimed directly at the goal. However, the shot grazed the crossbar and did not result in a goal... In the 16th minute, Gamba Osaka's forward Usami received a pass from the left side and brought the ball into the center. As he entered the penalty arc, he took a bold shot. Although Tokyo's defense had enough players, they could not apply pressure. The ball found the top right corner with a powerful trajectory... allowing the first goal. The back-and-forth battle continued, but Gamba Osaka's Usami scored, putting Tokyo in a chasing position. In the 26th minute, Hiyama was fouled on the right side of the opponent's half, resulting in a free kick. Watanabe sent the ball forward, but it was cleared. Hanyu, trying to connect with the loose ball, was taken down, leading to a counter from Gamba Osaka. However, Kaga managed to contain the situation without neglecting risk management.

In the 33rd minute, Watanabe ran to the right front line and crossed to Hirayama in the center. Hirayama dropped the ball in the area, and Hanyu, who followed in the center, played it back short. Tokunaga, who came up from the right, connected with a direct shot for the GOAL!! Tokunaga's first goal of the season equalizes the score.

In the 38th minute, Muto intercepted the ball in the opponent's half. He brought it forward, but Gamba Osaka's defense had three players lined up, and he couldn't break through alone. Hirayama provided support, and as the team pushed forward to attack, Takahashi was fouled, resulting in a free kick. However, during this play, Takahashi injured his nose and had to temporarily leave the pitch. The team was forced to fight with 10 players until Takahashi returned to the pitch around the 44th minute.

A free kick from the opponent's half on the right side during first half injury time. Ota sent the ball forward, and Hirayama dove in with a header, but... the ball hit the post and did not result in a goal. Gamba Osaka's forward Usami allowed the first goal, but Tokyo maintained their balance and fought back tenaciously. There were periods where they couldn't convert their chances, but in the 33rd minute, Tokunaga scored his first goal of the season from a combination play with Watanabe and Hirayama. The match returned to square one, and the contest moved to the second half.

Substitutions and formation changes did not bear fruit, resulting in consecutive losses

In the early stages of the second half, in the 49th minute, G Osaka created a play on the right front line, and from there, they seized a loose ball from a cross and took consecutive shots from directly in front of the goal. This was blocked by Tokyo's defense, but ultimately connected with the free midfielder Omori on the left side of the area, who took a decisive shot... However, this shot went wide to the right, escaping the danger. In the 51st minute, Hirayama was fouled, leading to a free kick from the right side. Ota's kick was attempted to be dropped by Yonemoto at the far post, but Hanyu followed up on the loose ball, yet the distance was too great to bring it to a shot.

In the 53rd minute, G Osaka's central FW Usami and right MF Abe exchanged short passes. Receiving this return, FW Usami dribbled into the center of the area between Yoshimoto and Tokunaga, shaking off Takahashi who was chasing from behind, and took a shot. This was scored to the right... conceding the second goal.

In the 61st minute, Watanabe and Hirayama were replaced by Edu and Kono. Mutou and Edu formed a two-top. Kono took the position behind the forwards. In the 67th minute, Mutou lost the ball, and G Osaka launched a counterattack. Usami, the forward in the right area, challenged Kaga and his shot grazed Kaga, resulting in a corner kick. In the 68th minute, from this right corner kick, the opposing defender Nishino scored with a free header, allowing the third goal. In the 71st minute, Higashi was brought in to replace Kaga. The defense consisted of Takahashi in the center, Tokunaga on the right, and Yoshimoto on the left in a three-back formation. Ota and Yonemoto were positioned wide, while Higashi and Hanyu formed the double pivot. After 80 minutes had passed, they conceded another goal from a corner kick, losing the third goal. They attempted to counterattack using substitutions, but were unable to connect the ball against G Osaka, who solidified their defense from midfield to the back. They continued to lose the ball and faced counterattacks.

In the 89th minute, Takahashi persistently chased the opposing forward Lins, who had come on as a substitute, and gained possession on the right side of midfield. From here, Higashi broke free and skillfully controlled the ball sent into the area, delivering a grounded last pass to the far side. Here, Muto slid in and created a decisive opportunity, but... the G Osaka defender managed to deflect it for a corner kick.

In the second half's additional time, from a vertical pass by Higashi, Edu connected forward, and while competing with the opposing defender, Muto broke into the area and took a decisive shot, but... it went wide of the goal. In the second half, they were pushed back by G Osaka, who had increased their speed. They allowed FW Usami to score his second goal early on, and then conceded another goal from a corner kick. Despite player substitutions and tactical changes, they ended up suffering consecutive losses.

[Player Comments]
Hanyu
"I think the players who have continued to participate up to this point felt some fatigue from the consecutive matches. However, it was very disappointing that the goal conceded occurred when we had enough defenders in position. After allowing the first goal, G Osaka tightened their defense. We felt like we were being given the ball, but even so, we had the impression that we were able to circulate the ball with purposeful vertical passes and developments from the wedge. I believe that by continuing that, we were able to equalize. In the scoring situation, Hirayama persistently dropped the ball for me, and I was able to enter the area well. In the second half, until we conceded a goal, there wasn't much of a feeling that we were being dominated. However, it seems that conceding a goal despite having enough players was damaging for the team."
It is disappointing because I felt that if we caught up and continued that form, we could win 2-1. After conceding two goals, we made substitutions and changed the system, but we may not have been able to organize properly. The game did not become one that we could control ourselves. Still, I don't have the impression that we were dominated by the opponent that much... I think we made it difficult for ourselves by conceding a goal in that manner. I feel that we could have made it our game, and we should have done so...

Tokunaga
"(What about the goal?)
Mr. Hanyu dropped a good ball. I was able to aim for the course and strike properly. Before the series of plays, it was first Yonemoto who became the starting point for the breakdown. If there are more starting points in front and the distance between players is closer, I think I can also move up and create that kind of attacking shape."
(Is it the first goal?)
More importantly, we conceded goals today... I was involved in the second goal, and even with three of us there, we still couldn't stop it. We had the numbers, but it was unclear who was going to challenge. One person needs to go in strong, and the others should cover, which is something we always practice. We need to clarify that, and it's a problem that goes beyond tactics. We've lost consecutively, but as long as there's a possibility, we will fight and 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 allowed despite having enough defenders. Including the match against Shimizu, we conceded in the same way this time, and there are many things to consider. I believe Morishige's absence was significant, but there is no doubt that we could have done more with the current squad. After allowing the first goal, we quickly equalized and created other chances, so it's disappointing that we couldn't score again. There were mistakes that didn't happen in the league matches, so I want to analyze those thoroughly and improve."

【Gamba Osaka - Summary of the Press Conference by Coach Kenta HASEGAWA】
"Before the break, it was our final home game, so I wanted to somehow present a victory to our supporters. The players fought well until the end in today's match. We took the lead in the first half, but after that, we couldn't move the ball at a good tempo, and we ended up being equalized. I think if Hirayama had scored from the last set piece of the first half, the outcome would have been different. I believe that managing to go into halftime at a draw led to our performance in the second half."