To make the most of the 3 points from the last match, let's achieve consecutive wins at home.

The match for Sec. 3 of the 2nd Stage will be held on Sunday. We will face Montedio Yamagata at home. In the previous match, we showcased dynamic play, with Higashi scoring the opening goal with a consecutive goal at Ajinomoto. Takahashi also marked his first goal of the season, and Mori-shige added the third goal from a set piece, securing the victory. Although conceding one goal is a point of reflection, Coach Massimo stated, "Showing a new form is proof that the team is evolving. It is important for each player to continue growing." However, the coach and players all agree that "if we do not win next, the way we won the previous match and the three points will mean nothing," and they aim for upward growth by giving 100 percent effort in each match to achieve victory.

However, Higashi injured his left foot in the Niigata match and will miss this round. Therefore, Nakajima will be used as a side half for his first start of the season. The rest of the lineup will be the same as the previous match, and they will kick off in a 4-4-2 formation.

Yamagata, on the other hand, finished the 1st stage with 14 points in 15th place. However, in the 2nd stage, they drew against Yokohama FM and Urawa. Yamagata is known for its solid defense, but in the last match, they changed their formation to three midfielders as a strategy against Urawa, creating many chances with sharp counters and aggressive runs from the sides and midfielders. Building on that confidence, they approached this match with FW Diego at the forefront, and positioned MF Frank ROMERO, MF Matsuoka, MF Arceus, and MF Miyazaka in a formation resembling three midfielders, close to the top.

Yamagata FW Diego and MF Frank ROMERO will require a resilient defense against attacks initiated by them, while the focus will also be on whether they can break through the defensive line that has reinforced numbers from the midfield to the back. They aim to capitalize on any gaps from the opponent to pursue consecutive victories.

Even just before the start, the temperature exceeded 30 degrees, and in the midst of the oppressive humidity, the match began with Yamagata's kickoff.

Frequent changes between offense and defense, with a series of accidents occurring

In the early stages, Yamagata created chances with their aggressive attacks. In the 3rd minute, unable to stop Yamagata's counter, the ball was passed to left-side FW Diego, who aimed to cross to MF Frank ROMERO making a run to the far post. In response, Nakajima fouled him, resulting in a free kick just to the right of the penalty arc. In the 5th minute, this free kick was directly aimed at Yamagata MF Miyasaka, but the shot hit the post... narrowly avoiding a goal. In the 10th minute, Tokyo also had a chance from Maeda's hold-up play, with Ishikawa on the left aggressively dribbling into the center. He was fouled here, earning a free kick from the left of the penalty arc. However, Morishige's shot went over the bar.

There were moments when Yamagata's quick attacks pushed us back, but Tokyo responded with quick transitions. The game saw rapid changes between offense and defense. In the 22nd minute, Maeda received a ball cut from the left side of our defense, turned towards the center, and made a through pass to Nakajima on the left flank. Timing his run perfectly, Nakajima broke free and found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. He took a well-aimed shot, but it went just wide of the right post... He couldn't capitalize on the scoring opportunity. In the 29th minute, Ishikawa on the right passed to Nakajima, who advanced into the center and struck with his right foot, but it just went over the bar.

Gradually, the number of finishing scenes increased, but in the 32nd minute, Kajiyama received a tackle from an opponent and injured his left ankle. He returned to play once but was unable to get back up again. Therefore, in the 35th minute, Hanyu was brought on. The formation was changed to a 4-3-3 with Takahashi in central midfield and Yonemoto and Hanyu on the flanks. They effectively contained Yamagata's attack, which was centered around set pieces, but when the 5 minutes of added time began, Ota injured his foot and could not continue playing. As a result, Maruyama was brought on in the 45th+3 minute. Immediately after, Nakajima passed to Maeda, who broke into the right area and crossed. Ishikawa, in front of the goal, attempted a shot with the heel of his right foot while being marked by a defender, but it hit the opponent's defender and went out to the side... The first half ended scoreless.

Suppressed Yamagata's counterattack and aimed for the goal until the end, but...

Despite a series of accidents, Tokyo maintained their rhythm and launched an offensive in the second half. In the 47th minute, Maruyama applied pressure on the opponent in his own half to win the ball, and then Yonehara and Maeda spread it to the left. Ishikawa's cross led to a left corner kick. Ishikawa's own kick was met with a free header from Maeda at the far post, but it was thwarted by a great save from the opposing goalkeeper. In the 49th minute, Nakajima on the left flank passed to Ishikawa in front, who then passed to the center. Hanyu, who had surged forward at the right moment, took a shot that went to the upper right of the goal, but this too was saved by the Yamagata goalkeeper.

In the 57th minute, Sandaza was brought on to replace Nakajima, using up all three substitution slots as they aimed for a goal. Immediately after entering the game, Sandaza slipped between two defenders from just outside the left area and dribbled towards the center. He aimed for a shot himself but it was blocked. In the 59th minute, Sandaza attempted a direct volley from Ishikawa's left cross in front of the goal, but it went just slightly over the top right.

While increasing the momentum to move forward, the heat also caused significant exhaustion, gradually stretching the line and leading to counterattacks. Nevertheless, Yamagata was not allowed to create any real chances. However, in the 68th minute, Gonda rushed out to punch away a free kick from the right side by Yamagata. In the process, he ended up colliding with Takahashi, injuring his face. Takahashi was unable to get up and had to temporarily leave the pitch for treatment. He returned to the pitch in the 72nd minute, but could not escape an unstable condition.

Still, they pushed forward, and in the 80th minute, Sandaza utilized his strength to break free from the opposing defense and spread the play to the right. Tokunaga's cross was met by Ishikawa at the far post, but it went over the bar. In the 7 minutes of added time, they gathered their energy to aim for a goal, with Takahashi heading the clearance ball to Sandaza in the right area just outside the box. Sandaza turned and took a shot, but it was saved by the opposing goalkeeper. Nevertheless, they did not give up and threatened the Yamagata goal from set pieces, but in the end, Yone moto was there to pounce on a loose ball from a left cross, and his long-range shot went well wide of the target, leading to the final whistle. They were unable to convert any of the 9 shots in the second half. In the league match, they managed to keep a clean sheet for the first time since the Niigata match on April 25, but ended in a scoreless draw.

[Player Comments]
《Nakajima》
"There were chances, but I couldn't convert them, and it's frustrating. I feel like I could have taken more initiative, and I need to receive the ball more often. I want to bring what I do in practice into the game and play as I usually do."

《Maruyama》
"I have been preparing all along so that I can play whenever needed. I didn't feel any tension or pressure, but my main focus was to enter the match properly. While playing with no risks, I was conscious of connecting the ball well and targeting spaces. I wanted to secure 3 points, but I want to view the 1 point gained by keeping a clean sheet positively."

【Summary of Massimo FICCADENTI's press conference】
"Yamagata eliminated space as expected and aimed for counterattacks. Among them, Nakajima's chance in the first half was a significant opportunity. If he had scored there, the match might have been a bit more composed, but time passed without capitalizing on the chances. Kajiyama and Ota were in a situation where substitutions were unavoidable. Therefore, it became difficult to make tactical changes in the second half, but we were able to push back Yamagata without allowing them many chances. Morishige and Ishikawa created scoring opportunities, but... Looking at Yamagata's last two matches, it was clear that they were an opponent to be respected, and their good condition was also an undeniable factor. Overall, it wasn't a match that showcased technical brilliance, but it was a game where strength in ball contests was frequently observed.
(Regarding the status of the injured players)
Kajiyama has a severe bruise on his ankle. We won't know for sure until tests are done. Ota seemed to have discomfort in the back of his thigh, but we want to monitor his progress. Takahashi has a bruise on his nose, and I think it can be resolved quickly. Considering the issues we faced, I believe earning one point is not a bad result.

【Summary of the press conference by Yamagata's coach Nobuhiro Ishizaki】
"We tried to challenge Tokyo, who finished 2nd in the 1st stage. Although we faced several critical moments, we were able to manage our defense to a certain extent as we intended. Even after Tokyo changed their system, we were able to respond with good balance. However, we couldn't create good opportunities in attack. This isn't just about today, but we still need to practice more. Nevertheless, considering we had three matches in one week with only three days in between, and in the humid weather, the players fought well. I want to take the three draws positively and look forward to the next match."