Facing Hiroshima for the 100th home victory in J1

The league Sec. 29 is being held. We will face Sanfrecce Hiroshima at home at Ajinomoto. In the previous match, we lost to Omiya. We suffered two consecutive losses against lower-ranked teams following the Sendai match. Although the content of the two matches and the ways we lost were different, we want to address the issues that arose and stop the losing streak in this match.

Hiroshima is currently in 7th place with the same 42 points as Tokyo. Since September, Hiroshima has had a record of 1 win, 2 draws, and 2 losses until the last match, struggling to secure victories. However, they secured a spot in the Final Round of the Nabisco Cup on October 9, and in the last match, they achieved a resounding 4-0 victory against Nagoya. With the recovery of players like FW Sato and MF Aoyama, it can be said that the team's situation is improving. Above all, they are a team that does not miss the opponent's weaknesses and has the ability to finish with a single strike. Having lost to a single goal from a corner kick in the away match in the first half, it is crucial not to repeat the same mistake and to find a way to bring the game to their own style. They want to fight aggressively while maintaining balance and not getting caught up in Hiroshima's calm pace.

Edu, who has completed his suspension, returns to the starting lineup for Tokyo. Canini continues to be used as a center-back from the previous match. Hanyu enters the midfield, and the front line consists of Watanabe, Edu, and Muto in a three-top formation. Hiroshima sets up in a 3-6-1 formation with FW Sato at the forefront as usual. The sides are manned by MF Shimizu and Kashiwa, while MF Aoyama and Shibasaki serve as the holding midfielders.

If we win this match, it will mark our 100th home victory in J1, making it a milestone game. A tense battle is expected, where a single mistake could determine the outcome, but we will maintain our fighting spirit and aim for victory while staying focused for the full 90 minutes. Unfortunately, the weather is cold, with persistent rain, and the match started at 19:04 with Hiroshima's kickoff.

Watanabe scores the long-awaited opening goal! Gonda's great save helps avert the crisis.

Right after the start, Hiroshima aggressively attacked. However, in the 5th minute, Muto broke through the left front line, swapping places with the opposing DF. He then sent a last pass in front of the goal after getting past the Hiroshima DF. It barely missed Edu, but Yonemoto connected with the loose ball, and finally, Watanabe in the center took a decisive shot, but it was blocked by the Hiroshima DF who covered just in time at the goal line. In the 7th minute, Muto rushed in front of the goal, slipping between two opposing DFs. He tried to break into the area but was crushed by a sliding tackle from three Hiroshima DFs. Edu rushed in on the loose ball in front and aimed for a shot, but there was no angle, and it went across the goal.

Muto created a scoring opportunity with his breakthrough, but after that, there were some passing mistakes, and it became difficult to hold the ball in the front line. As both teams tried to seize control and attacked each other, there were many instances where Hiroshima picked up the second ball and pressed forward. In the 18th minute, a cross from Hiroshima's right midfielder Shimizu was blocked by Tokyo's defense. However, with momentum, Hiroshima forward Sato reacted to the ball that flew into the far area. He headed the ball freely, but Canini cleared it just as the ball was dropping, escaping to a corner kick.

Aiming for a counterattack from a calm defense, in the 25th minute, Morishige passed to Ota, who sent it to the left front line to Yonemoto. Yonemoto, free, brought the ball forward and delivered a precise cross in front of the goal. Watanabe, diving low, headed the ball into the net from close range, scoring a GOAL!! Preventing Hiroshima from gaining momentum, Watanabe marked his first goal since the match against Tokushima on September 23, successfully taking the lead.

However, in the 29th minute, Hiroshima DF Shiotani advanced into the area, and Moriwaki, who responded from behind, was judged to have committed a foul, resulting in a penalty kick. But in the 30th minute, FW Sato's penalty kick was saved by Gonda with one hand! Gonda's great play helped avert the crisis. In the 39th minute, they earned a free kick from the right sideline in the opponent's half, and Ota delivered a long kick to the far post. Edu slid in to connect, but the shot was saved by the goalkeeper. The ball spilled into the right area where Watanabe rushed in, but his direct shot grazed the opposing DF... Although they couldn't secure an additional goal, they ended the first half with a one-goal lead.

They equalized, but Mutou's goal pulls ahead of Hiroshima!

The second half began with both teams attacking each other's weaknesses. In the 46th minute, Hiroshima delivered crosses from both flanks, and finally, left midfielder Kashiwa aimed for a sharp shot from the middle, but Gonda made the save while forward Sato was offside. In the 49th minute, from their own right, Watanabe passed to the center to Muto, who directly sent it to the right forward Edu. However, he couldn't break free from the marking defender, and his one-touch shot lacked power and went to the goalkeeper. After the 54th minute, they gave consecutive corner kicks to Hiroshima. They had been holding on well until then, but on the third corner in this situation, Edu's header, trying to clear the kick from Hiroshima midfielder Takahagi, collided with Gonda, and the loose ball was kicked in by Hiroshima forward Sato... resulting in a goal conceded.

Once again, we conceded a goal from a corner kick, and the match was back to square one. However, in the 58th minute, Muto turned and evaded Hiroshima's defender Shiotani while making contact, breaking free on the left flank. He sent a ground pass into the area, but it flowed between Edu in front and Watanabe behind, getting cut off by Hiroshima. In the 63rd minute, Muto sprinted down the left side. A pass to the center was missed by Watanabe, who entered near, but it did not reach Edu at the far post.

Tokyo initiates a counterattack starting with Muto, but gradually allows Hiroshima to dominate possession, leading to pressure on their defense. In the 65th minute, Hiroshima's substitute left MF Yamagishi delivers a cross that weaves between Tokyo's defenders trying to mark him. Hiroshima FW Sato attempts to connect with it near the left area but fails to make contact. The loose ball is reacted to by central MF Ishihara, who takes a direct shot, but Gonda makes the save! Shortly after, in the 67th minute, Mita is brought on as left MF in place of Edu. With Watanabe and Muto as the two forwards, Hanyu on the right side, and Takahashi and Yonemoto serving as double defensive midfielders in a 4-4-2 formation, in the 70th minute, Hiroshima MF Aoyama passes to FW Ishihara, who breaks into the area and takes a decisive shot. However, it narrowly misses to the right, avoiding a crisis.

In the 71st minute, Hiroshima substituted forward Minagawa. Tokyo also made a change in the 74th minute, bringing Kono on for Hanyu in the attacking midfield position. They changed their formation again, with Watanabe at the front, Muñoz on the left, and Mita on the right. Before this substitution, Muñoz was fouled on the left side, earning a free kick. Ota sent the free kick forward, and Muñoz, who jumped in at the near post, headed the ball. The ball hit the opposing defender and went into the net for a goal! Muñoz successfully scored his 12th league goal, putting them ahead.

In the final stages, there was a period where they were pushed back by Hiroshima's fierce attacks, but they maintained their defensive concentration. They took advantage of openings to launch counterattacks. Although they couldn't secure a third goal, they successfully contained Hiroshima's counterattacks until the final whistle. They achieved victory for the first time in three matches and recorded their 100th home win in J1. They accumulated 45 points, leaving a 15-point gap from Kofu in 16th place (30 points) as this round concluded. However, since there will be matches among the lower-ranked teams in the future, they cannot surpass Tokyo's points. With five matches remaining, it has been confirmed that they will compete in J1 next season.

【Player Comments】
《Watanabe》
"Today we played with a front three and aimed to apply pressure from the front. There were parts we executed well and parts we didn't, but I'm glad we got the result. I was targeting behind Edu for the goal. The ball came as I aimed, and I was able to connect well. The three players in front were conscious of simply moving into the box for crosses. In terms of attack, we had few opportunities to create shapes with the front three, but I think having variations as options for the team is a good thing. I want to continue contributing to the team by delivering results going forward."

《Canini》
"It was a very tough battle, but there were also wonderful opportunities and plays that saved us from danger. I'm really glad we achieved victory. Today, considering we had been on a losing streak, I stepped onto the pitch thinking only about the team winning. Of course, playing to the best of my ability and playing for victory is also my motto. In response to Hiroshima's attack
, we focused on suppressing them through combination plays, and with the help of my teammates, we were able to contain them during the flow of the game."

【Summary of Massimo FICCADENTI's Press Conference】
"It was a difficult match for both sides as we both wanted to win. However, we fought through tough times believing in victory, and that spirit was wonderful. Hiroshima is a great team, as shown by their consecutive league championships. They may be struggling a bit this season, but there is no doubt about their quality. Against such an opponent, we delivered a performance worthy of victory. I believe our tactics with three forwards worked well, and we created many chances while we were able to keep possession of the ball. In the second half, even after changing our formation, we were able to score and endure the subsequent periods well."

【Summary of Hajime MORIYASU's Press Conference】
"Today was a match between the 6th and 7th placed teams, both tied on points. I thought it would be a tough battle away, but we approached it with the mindset to win and move forward. In terms of content, we aggressively attacked with courage from the first half. Although we conceded a goal, we fought tenaciously, defended with our bodies at the end, and worked hard. We also challenged in our attacks, and I am satisfied with the players' efforts. However, despite creating many chances, we couldn't finish in the final moments, and today our opponent's finishing ability was superior, leading to our loss. Many Hiroshima supporters came to the away ground, and I wanted to present them not just with the content but also with the result of three points. It's disappointing that we couldn't do that, but I want to tell everyone, 'Thank you for your support today.'