Aiming for 4 consecutive wins based on a stable defense!

In the 19th round of the league, we will face Cerezo Osaka away. In the previous round, we scored 4 goals and achieved our first 3 consecutive wins of the season. Not only do we want to maintain this momentum, but the players also have a strong desire to "improve even more than now" (Yoshimoto). Yoshimoto continued, "In the previous round, there were moments where we were caught on the counter after scoring 4 goals. We want to make adjustments and improve on these details." As we approach this round, we aim to further mature as a team.

However, Tokyo will be without injured Hayu for the match. Higashi will make his first start in the league since the 13th round against Tokushima. Ishikawa will also make his first appearance on the bench since the Nabisco Cup match against Sendai on April 2nd. Manager Massimo said, "First of all, we want to prevent the opponent from having space and continue with an organized defense. We aim for 4 consecutive wins based on a stable defense."

Cerezo Osaka, on the other hand, currently sits in 16th place with 18 points. In June, they welcomed new head coach Marco Pezzaiuoli, while FW Yoichiro Kakitani transferred to Swiss club FC Basel. Since the league resumed, they have yet to secure a win with 2 draws and 3 losses, making it a difficult time for the team. This round, MF Ariajasuru Hasegawa will make his first start since the league resumed. While the lineup shows a 4-3-3 formation, MF Yamaguchi and Hasegawa will play as a double pivot, with FW Minamino in the attacking midfield role, and FW Sugimoto and MF Kusunoki on the wings.

The typhoon, which seemed to have settled down for now, started just before the start of the game, and strong winds and rain began to fall. However, although there is humidity, the temperature is not that high. Above all, it will be a match where C Osaka, aiming for their first victory in 8 games at home, will not be on the defensive and will aim to take 3 points.

The match started at 19:04 with Cerezo Osaka's kickoff.

DF line concentrates on defense, and it's scoreless into the second half.

First, in the first 3 minutes, Tokyo's Muto, who received a left throw-in, was brought down while trying to move forward, resulting in a FK from just outside the left area. This FK was taken by Yonemoto with a strong kick, but it was blocked by the opposing GK.

After that, the attack and defense continued to go back and forth, and in the 14th minute, Tokyo launched an attack. Edu, who had broken through on the right side, returned the ball and Tokyo tried to make a move, but they were intercepted and Cerezo Osaka launched a counterattack. MF Nakanishi couldn't stop the dribble and FW Sugimoto took a shot from the right after a pass exchange in the front. It was blocked, but the rebound was connected and FW Forlan, just outside the left area, dribbled past Tokyo's DF and took a shot. It narrowly missed the top of the bar.

In the 18th minute, Yonemoto from the opponent's team hit a powerful left-footed shot. It hit the right post after being touched by the opponent's GK. Kono tried to follow up on the rebound, but it was cleared for a corner kick.

20 minutes have passed, and Tokyo has tried to break the situation several times from the middle, but they were unable to create a coordinated attack due to the influence of the wind.
The game was taken away in the middle and Cerezo Osaka was caught on the counter. However, the defense line was able to hold up well even in situations where they were pushed back. As time passed, they were unable to create any scoring opportunities. Edu and Kono were able to create attacking rhythm in the front line, but Cerezo Osaka was still in control of the ball and momentum. However, they were able to hold off the attacks with persistent defense and did not allow any goals.

At 39 minutes, Muto dribbled a long distance. He advanced to the right area and passed to the east. East crossed the ball on the ground to Kono at the far post, but it was off target and Cerezo Osaka escaped with a corner kick. In the following 43 minutes, Edu pushed forward on the left side and Kono played a through ball behind him. Ota then made an early cross, but it did not reach East in the right area.

In the early stages, it was difficult to create attacking opportunities, but Yonemoto played a key role and gradually Edu, Kono and others found their rhythm. However, Cerezo Osaka's midfielders Kusukami and forwards Minamino and Sugimoto had good combinations and there were a few moments where they were pushed back, but the defense stayed focused and held on for a scoreless first half.

At the last moment, he put his body on the line and did not allow a goal.

In the second half, both teams lacked the decisive touch, but in the 62nd minute, Cerezo Osaka's passing and coordination allowed MF Masaru HASEGAWA to enter the left corner, but Tokyo cut off the minus pass sent to the center. Forward Edu on the left side tried to bring the ball on a counter attack and pass it to Muto who was moving up in the center, but it was just barely escaped for a corner kick.

Immediately after the 63rd minute, Ota's left CK. Near Takahashi rushed in sharply and headed the ball, but it was only slightly touched and they were able to get another left CK. After 65 minutes, Tokyo has been doing a good job of taking care of the opponent's counterattacks on defense, but their position is too low to effectively connect to the front line.

At 70 minutes, Cerezo Osaka took the ball from their own half and FW Sugimoto took a shot on the right side, but Gonda caught it in front. In the 75th minute, Mita replaced Kono as the attacking midfielder. In the 79th minute, Edu on the right side carefully assessed the situation and sent a ball to Muto on the left side, but Muto couldn't create a chance due to a trapping error.

80 minutes have passed. The ball is not being connected in the front, and the game is gradually being pushed. We need to calmly read the flow and avoid conceding a goal. Immediately after that, Cerezo Osaka's FW Robert dribbled a long distance from the midfield. He was brought to the right area and was in a shooting position, but Erik calmly responded. He stretched out his leg and blocked it. In the 82nd minute, Cerezo Osaka quickly connected from the right side, and MF Kim was able to face forward in the center and take a high-precision shot with speed, but it just went over the bar.

83 minutes, substitute Edu with Hirayama. 85 minutes, FK from the left area outside the opponent's field, near the touchline. From Ota's kick, Hirayama jumped in front of the goal but couldn't head the ball properly, and the ball floated to the GK.

In the 89th minute, C Osaka broke through the Tokyo DF's right front line and seemed to create a decisive situation as FW Nagai turned towards the front... But the Tokyo DF threw their bodies and escaped the danger with a clear. From this clear, Mita connected and received a foul in the midfield, but played on. Hirayama tried to break through the front line. Hirayama was surrounded by the opposing DF, but from a persistent keep, Mita followed fiercely with a header. He connected with Muto in the right area, but... at the last moment, he was blocked and couldn't finish...

In the latter half, C Osaka's attack was pushed in by their momentum. However, they did not allow any goals. They attempted to score from a counter, but both teams defended well until the end and did not allow any goals. The game ended in a scoreless draw, and they only managed to earn 1 point away.

[Player Comments]
《Morishige》
"After playing against them, I felt that C Osaka is a team with high quality. Even though they are ranked lower, each player's level is top class. It may be natural for us to struggle against such opponents. However, I think we can take confidence in the fact that we were able to keep a clean sheet against them. Instead of just looking at the surface of "drawing against a lower-ranked opponent," we can take confidence in the fact that we were able to defend well against a good team. Of course, there were also areas for improvement. But that happens in every game. We want to reflect on it and make corrections, and carry it over to the next game."

"Yoshimoto"
"Our defensive style often starts from the front, making it difficult to have a strong attacking mindset. I think it was tough for our forward players. We were still able to create some counterattacks, but the team as a whole became too defensive. We need to make some adjustments and be more aggressive in our attacks."

[Summary of Massimo FICCADENTI's press conference]
"It was a very difficult game under special weather and ground conditions. Our team was able to create chances and did not allow the opponent to play the way they wanted, which was great. The most impressive points were the team's dedication and team spirit. The opponent, Cerezo Osaka, is also going through a tough time, but they are a team with great quality. It is highly commendable that we fought until the end against such an opponent. I believe that these kinds of battles always lead to the growth of players, so I think they did a really good job today."

[C Osaka Marco PEZZAIUOLI Manager's Press Conference]
"We are in the relegation zone, but today we played against a top team. However, as you all saw, I don't think you could feel the difference in rankings during the game. Tokyo had scoring opportunities in the first half, but we also had 4 or 5 close chances. The team played compactly throughout the 90 minutes and didn't give the opponent many chances. However, we were just unlucky and couldn't score. I think the team worked hard for 90 minutes, but we couldn't capitalize on the chances we had."