The crucial Sec. 12, heading to the away match at Saitama Stadium

In Sec. 12, which marks two-thirds of the first stage, we face Urawa Reds away. In the previous match, we ended without scoring for the second time this season. While we regret allowing the opening goal due to a lapse in concentration, we demonstrated a determination to regain our rhythm and not give up until the end. Although we suffered our second loss in the league, we remain in second place, one match ahead of Urawa in first and G Osaka in third, continuing to compete for the top spots. This match is a direct confrontation with the league leaders. Coach Massimo has positioned it as "the most important match of the season," and we head into the away game with high motivation.

In this match, Mita starts in the midfield, and Hayashi is deployed centrally in the front line. Muto, whose condition was a concern, is also included in the starting lineup, forming a front three with Muto, Hayashi, and Azuma. Additionally, Nakajima has made the bench for the first time since the Sec. 5 match against Shonan.

In contrast, Urawa has not lost a single match in the 1st stage with 10 games, leading in both points and goal difference. In the previous match, they conceded 4 goals against Sendai, bringing their total goals conceded to 8, the same as Tokyo, but their total goals scored is 18. To secure a victory against that opponent, they want to utilize aggressive defense from the front line according to the situation. Additionally, it will be necessary to maintain a competitive stance in the battles on the sides and to continue showing the attitude of 'going for goals whenever there is an opening' for the full 90 minutes.

Since 2004, Saitama Stadium has ended 10 seasons without a win (2 draws and 8 losses), but in 2012 and 2013, both ended in draws. Additionally, this season, Tokyo has not lost away games. After drawing in the opening match at Expo'70, they are currently on a 5-game winning streak. They will overturn past negative data, work hard together, and strive to seize victory.
　
The morning rain had stopped, but there was a bit of humidity felt before the start, and the match kicked off at 15:34 with Urawa's kickoff.

Carrying a two-goal deficit in the first half...

From the start, we were pushed back by Urawa's speed and power. In the 5th minute, following a free kick from Urawa, the ball was quickly connected, and FW Koroki delivered a low, fast left cross to left MF Ugajin. MF Lee, who had made a run behind the Tokyo DF, managed to stretch his foot and scored directly, resulting in an early goal against us. After that, the opponent did not miss Tokyo's mistakes, seized the ball, spread wide, and continued to create situations where they forcefully brought the play to a finish.

In the 24th minute, Tokyo advanced on the left side with Ota sending a cross from a high position, earning a right corner kick. In the 25th minute, from this corner kick, Muto made a high jump and headed the ball, but it went to the right. This was the only shot for Tokyo in the first half. In the 28th minute, Takahashi was brought in to replace Mita. With a double pivot, Yonemoto and Higashi were positioned on both sides. They aimed to change the flow with a two-top of Muto and Hayashi. At the same time, they did not lose in physical confrontations and gradually created more time to hold the ball.

However, in the 33rd minute, after a series of passes between Hayashi, Muto, and Ota, Muto was fouled, resulting in a free kick outside the left area. However, this free kick was cleared, leading to a swift counterattack from Urawa. In the 36th minute, Morishige made a timely advance, exchanging passes in the front line. Yonemoto on the right side delivered a floating cross into the area, but it was cut off by Urawa's defense, resulting in a counterattack. In both instances, Canini cleared the ball, but they were also troubled by Urawa's quick transitions.

In the 42nd minute, Urawa FW Koroki received the ball in the central front, and they were unable to apply pressure on the quick passing that followed. The play shifted from the center to the left side, where MF Ugajin's cross found MF Sekine, who was free in the right area. A direct shot was scored, resulting in the loss of the second goal. For the first time this season, they conceded two goals in the first half and went into halftime.

Maeda scores his first goal, but the team suffers a bitter consecutive defeat with multiple goals conceded.

In the second half, which was expected to be a turnaround, in the 47th minute, despite applying pressure in the midfield, they continued to be evaded. Urawa MF Kashiwagi made a vertical pass on the right side. MF Sekine broke through to the right front line and delivered a ground cross. In response, Urawa MF Muto entered in front of Canini and connected with a one-touch shot... They conceded the third goal in the same manner as the first half, being exploited on the side.

Still, without giving up, Kajiyama sent a floating ball into the area from just outside the right area in the 52nd minute. Muto dropped it, and it reached Hayashi in front of the goal, but it came in too close to his feet... He couldn't control it, and he couldn't take a shot. In the 54th minute, from Muto's drop, Takahashi positioned himself to shoot from just outside the left area, but it was blocked. In the 59th minute, Maeda was brought on to replace Hayashi. Immediately after, from a left corner kick, Morishige headed the ball, but it went over the bar.

While Urawa expanded their lead, there were moments when Tokyo maintained possession of the ball, but they struggled to attack due to fierce challenges and defense. In the 66th minute, Nakajima, who was making his first appearance of the season, came on. He moved to the right side, and Yonemoto shifted to the defensive midfield position. In the 74th minute, from the left, Ota delivered an early cross, and Maeda executed a magnificent header, striking the net for a GOAL!! He scored his first goal in Tokyo and aimed to ignite a counterattack from here.

However, in the 76th minute, while trying to connect near their own left area, they lost possession, and Urawa MF UmezakI dribbled into the center. A shot from just outside Urawa's right area found its way into the top left corner... Still, in the closing stages, Nakajima actively initiated plays, and combinations in the front line began to emerge. In the 81st minute, Nakajima broke into the area after a one-two with Higashi, but could not take a shot. In the final moments, they gained consecutive corner kick opportunities, and in the 89th minute, Maeda shot from a right corner kick, trying to push in the rebounding ball in the area, but was narrowly blocked by Urawa's defense and goalkeeper. In added time, Higashi cut in and earned a corner kick. However, they could not push in the high ball that rose in front of the goal from a header, and shortly after, the time was up. They maintained their fighting spirit until the end, but conceded goals from the sides, suffering a complete defeat with a season-high of 4 goals conceded... leading to a bitter second consecutive loss.

[Player Comments]
《Maeda》
"I am happy to score my first goal, but I couldn't change the flow of the game. I think Urawa had the pace from the first half. I aimed to be a starting point in the front line and tried to exploit the opponent's back with quick movements, but losing in this way makes me feel very frustrated."

《Nakajima》
"I am very frustrated with the loss. Personally, being able to participate in a match like this is the first step. Urawa played good football, and it was difficult. I had confidence that I could change the flow, but it didn't lead to results, which is disappointing. If I get another chance, I want to work hard from tomorrow's practice to perform better. I want to become a player who can be trusted and show a difference."

【Summary of Coach Massimo FICCADENTI's Press Conference】
"It was a difficult match from the beginning. We lacked compactness in the midfield and conceded a goal. After that, we created chances from simple ball losses and allowed a three-goal lead, but the team continued to run and fight for 90 minutes. One thing I can say clearly is that today, Urawa played in a way that deserved victory, while we played poorly. We need to review and correct the scenes where we conceded goals. However, it was good that we showed the will to fight even after conceding four goals. The number of decisive chances was not significantly different, and I think it could have been a higher-scoring game, but the kind of football that leads to many conceded goals is not what we aim for. Sometimes we cannot play the football we aspire to, but we will continue to follow the path we should take. Today, Urawa's performance deserved victory. (What was the aim of correcting the midfield structure early on?) In the early stages of the match, we couldn't connect the ball in the available space, which created a difficult situation. There was an aim to correct that part."

[Summary of the Press Conference of Urawa's Coach Zoran PETROVIC]
"I thought Tokyo was a tough opponent, but the players fought hard and controlled the game. They played in a way that deserved victory. Although the score gap widened, I believe it was a tough match. The overall defense was excellent, but today is not special; we have been able to defend like this consistently except for the last match. We can execute fast vertical attacks because we have players who can do that. For 20 years, I have focused on executing our own attack rather than adapting to the opponent's tactics."