Capping off with four consecutive wins, "I want to send off Muto with good feelings"

As we reach the final match of the 1st stage, we will face Shimizu S-Pulse at Ajinomoto. In the previous match, Nakajima scored his first goal in J1 to equalize, and we turned the game around with a penalty, achieving our third consecutive win. As a result, we are currently in 3rd place, and if we earn 1 point this match, we will secure our highest-ever position of 3rd. There is also a possibility of rising to 2nd place, albeit relying on others, but first and foremost, we need to secure victory ourselves. Additionally, this is the final game before Muto's transfer to Germany, making it a highly anticipated match, and we want to conclude the 1st stage with a win, focusing on concentration and unity.

Shimizu is currently in 18th place with 13 points. In Sec. 14 against Kawasaki, they achieved a big victory with a score of 5 to 2, but they suffered consecutive losses in the following matches against Urawa and Kofu, indicating that they have not yet overcome their difficult situation. However, their total goals scored so far is 20, which is not significantly different from Tokyo's 21, showing that they are an attacking team. With FWs Oomae and Peter UTAKA as key players, they launch fast-paced attacks, and the midfield is filled with players who possess both technique and stamina. The key will be how long they can minimize conceding goals. They have been conceding goals for 8 consecutive league matches, but they want to endure the critical moments and take advantage of the opponent's vulnerabilities to score the first goal.

Tokyo will start with the same lineup as the previous match, with Mita and Higashi on both sides in a 4-4-2 formation. Additionally, Hanyu, who has returned from injury, will be included in the squad for the first time since the Nabisco Hiroshima match on May 27, and will be on the bench.

Every teammate describes Muto as a "fun and reliable player to play with," and they say, "We want to win and send him off feeling good." The time left for the "current team" is only 90 minutes. Over 40,000 spectators gathered at Ajinomoto for the third time this season, united on the best stage to achieve the best results.

Higashi scores the opening goal of the league from Kajiyama's ball steal!

From the beginning, both teams displayed an aggressive attitude and fought offensively. In the 7th minute, Higashi dribbled up the left side and passed to Muto, who was advancing on the outside. Muto sent a low cross to the near post, which Maeda tried to connect with. In the 12th minute, Maeda dropped a right throw-in in Shimizu's territory, and the opposing goalkeeper punched away the right cross. Ota, running in from the opposite side, aimed for a shot from the middle. The match progressed at a fast pace, with intense exchanges between both sides.

In the 22nd minute, Ota made a vertical run, bypassing Shimizu DF Edamura and sending a cross from the sideline. Higashi in the left area made a perfect header, but it went wide to the left and could not hit the target. In the 26th minute, Shimizu connected direct passes in midfield, starting with left wide MF Kawai, and FW Peter UTAKA broke into the area, but the shot was caught by Gonda. In the 35th minute, a pass mistake was intercepted, and Shimizu FW Omae passed to MF Mizutani, who was free in the front line. A shot was taken just outside the area.

Although a chance was created from a mistake, we were saved by Shimizu's missed shot and managed to survive the crisis. In the 38th minute, after a right throw-in in Shimizu's half, Mita attempted to shoot from the right area, but it was blocked. However, as Shimizu's midfielder Kaneko tried to advance, Kajiyama applied pressure, stole the ball, and moved forward. Then, he sent a through pass to Higashi, who had just slipped behind the offside line on the left. Higashi brought the ball forward, dribbled past the advancing goalkeeper, and scored with his left foot, achieving his first league goal and taking the lead.

In the 43rd minute, Higashi created space on the left side and sent a precise floating ball into the left area. Takahashi made a run to meet it. In the first half's additional time, Takahashi followed up on a loose ball from a right cross and took a controlled shot, but they could not secure an additional goal. They maintained a one-goal lead as they headed into the second half.

Maeda scores 2 goals! Winning the shootout, achieving the highest ever 2nd place

At the start of the second half, Shimizu gained the rhythm. In the 46th minute, from a passing play on the left side, Shimizu's DF Edamura broke through behind the defense, and a pass was sent to him. It was offside, but it created a dangerous scene. In the 48th minute, Shimizu's left DF Inukai made a cross. Following that, Shimizu's MF Kawai dribbled into the left area. The shot was blocked, but Tokyo's defensive response was slow. In the 51st minute, a feed to Shimizu's forward line allowed FW Peter UTAKA to break free. Morishige, who chased him, was turned around, and a negative pass was sent in front of the goal. From there, Shimizu's MF Mizutani took a shot that hit the bottom of the right post and bounced back... From the rebound, Shimizu's right DF Edamura delivered a low cross in front of the goal. FW Omae reacted to this. After trapping with his right foot, he turned and slotted it into the goal with the same right foot... they equalized.

In the 53rd minute, Tokyo substituted Hanyu for Mita to regain balance in both offense and defense. In the 60th minute, midfielder Kajiyama persevered and passed the ball forward. Maeda, who received the pass, initiated a counterattack and connected with Muto in the area. Muto was surrounded by Shimizu defenders but calmly passed to Maeda, who had moved up to the right area. Maeda evaded the sliding Shimizu defender and scored under the goalkeeper's arm! Kajiyama and Muto effectively exploited Shimizu's weakness, and Maeda succeeded in scoring his first goal since the match against Urawa in the 12th round, putting Tokyo ahead.

In the 66th minute, they earned a free kick from the left side, and Maeda scored with a powerful header from Ota's sharp kick, GOAL!! Maeda marked his second goal in quick succession! They extended their lead to a two-goal difference! In the 77th minute, Ishikawa was brought on, and in the 81st minute, Hashimoto was introduced, trying to pull away from Shimizu.

However, amidst the muggy heat, a sense of fatigue was evident, leading to an open exchange in the final stages. In the 83rd minute, the ball was passed around by Shimizu, and we were unable to apply pressure. Shimizu DF Takeuchi passed to FW Sawada on the left side, who received the ball in the center and was free for a shot from distance. The sharp trajectory of the right-footed shot was absorbed into the top right corner... resulting in the loss of the second goal and allowing the opponent to close the gap.

Still, Tokyo gathered the ball to Mutou at the front line, countering by posing a threat to Shimizu. Although Mutou himself did not score a goal, they managed to withstand Shimizu's counterattack until the time was up. With this victory, they achieved four consecutive wins and rose to second place due to Hiroshima's draw. They finished the first stage in their highest-ever ranking.

[Player Comments]
"The opponent played with three at the back, and when we won the ball, we were able to create chances from the sides. I think we started the match well. I received a good ball from Kajiyama and was able to score. My bad habit has been to panic after receiving the ball, but today I was able to stay calm in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. I wanted to score for Muto as well."

《Maeda》
"It has been a long time since I was able to score, and it was tough. I especially wanted to score quickly at this stadium. I finally managed to do it, and both Mutou and Oota sent me really good balls. More than anything, I am happy to have contributed to the team's victory. Mutou is truly a great player. I hope he continues to do well, and we all want to come together as a team and head towards the 2nd stage."

《Muto》
"I wanted to express my gratitude so far by scoring a goal at the end. However, I think I was too tense, and early in the second half, my legs started cramping, and I wondered if I was nervous (laughs). Even so, today my teammates scored goals, won, and sent me off. I truly owe my current self to all the fans, supporters, teammates, coaches, trainers, and everyone involved with the club. After the match, I had decided not to cry, but... thinking about the past 13 years since I was taken care of by FC Tokyo from school and all the people who supported me made me unable to stop my tears. I want to show my gratitude and repay everyone by performing well with the Japan national team and in Germany. Thank you very much."

【Summary of Coach Massimo FICCADENTI's Press Conference】
"I anticipated a difficult match. Shimizu is lower in the standings, but they have very good players. Their speed is impressive, and they played well today, which deserves praise. We had some tough moments, but after scoring the goal, we found a good rhythm, and I think Hanyu's introduction during the difficult times was effective. Shimizu's second goal was also a wonderful goal. After that, the match developed quickly again, and we were able to win within that context. I believe today's match encapsulated our characteristics. It led to the result of finishing second in the 1st stage, but the season is still only halfway through. I want to look to the future with confidence, building on the 35 points we've accumulated so far. Regarding Urawa, who won the 1st stage, we must acknowledge their results."
(What are the factors that led to the 2nd place?)
The penetration of tactics that started a year ago and the growth of the players can be mentioned. We must also respond properly to Muto's departure. What is important for us is the growth of all the players.
(Which is more important, winning the stage or the results throughout the year?)
I tell the players that they can't just give half their effort and take the rest as a vacation. Continuity is important for the team, and I believe that leads to good results. It's crucial to give your all in every match while keeping an eye on the bigger picture.

[Summary of the Press Conference by Shimizu Coach Katsumi OENOKI]
"This is the last game of the 1st stage, and we desperately want the 3 points. Just like before, we were able to apply pressure from the front to win the ball and attack behind the opponent. We created several chances in the first half, and if we had converted those, the flow of the game might have changed. The first goal we conceded was due to a mistake, which was unfortunate. However, we played well in the first half and equalized at the start of the second half. We pushed the opponent as planned, but we conceded the second goal from a counterattack that we were cautious about. Our response was slow, and we also conceded from a set piece. We managed to pull one back, but we couldn't create many chances afterward. Finishing at the bottom of the 1st stage is entirely my responsibility. I want to make sure to reflect on this and make a comeback in the 2nd stage."