Show a variety of strengths in both defense and attack to surpass the opponent and achieve victory!

Overcast skies, the temperature is not rising but the humidity is high as we welcome Sec. 9 against Shimizu S-Pulse at IAI.S.
This match will see Morishige's suspension end, and injured players will return one after another, with Ota, Kajiyama, and Azuma joining practice. Coach Massimo cautiously stated, "We need to assess the condition of each returning player," but explained that Ota's condition is improving, and he will return to the starting lineup for the first time in four matches since the game against Sendai on July 29.

Moreover, since his injury last August, Hirayama has been away from the battlefield for a long time, but the coach said, "It has been a tough time for about 11 months, but he has endured well. He is in very good condition now." He has made the squad for the first time since August 23 of last year (Sec. 21) and will be on the bench. Ota will play as the left side back, and Tokunaga will move to the right side, while the midfield and forward line will remain the same as the previous match.

Shimizu's 2nd stage is currently in 15th place with 6 points. Their overall ranking is 17th, but Kazuaki TASAKA has taken charge after about a month as head coach since August. At the same time, ahead of the 2nd stage, forwards Zheng and defender Kakuta have joined the team, aiming for a comeback. In the three matches in August, they have 1 draw and 2 losses, still winless, but each game has been decided by a one-point margin. The defense has improved, and they have managed to keep the matches close without collapsing.

With the new players included, if the team can work together, they should be able to demonstrate high attacking power. The opponent has FW Omae starting on the bench. The DF line has also been slightly changed from the previous match, with DF Murohira and Kalfin Yong A Pin as the full-backs. The midfield is composed of MF Honda and Edamura, with MF Shirasaki and Mitchell DUKE on the wings. FW Jeong and Peter UTAKA form the two forwards in a 4-4-2 formation.

In a match where Shimizu aims for an aggressive victory at home, Tokyo wants to showcase its versatility in both defense and attack to come out on top.
The match started at 18:04 with Shimizu's kickoff.

Both teams press each other, heading into the second half with no score.

The match is in the first 5 minutes. The opponent's left midfielder, Mitchell DUKE, advanced to a high position in the front line and crossed the ball. The central forward, Utaka, made a header but the shot grazed the post and went out. They escaped the danger. In the following 9 minutes, Tokyo's Barnes on the left side made a bold move and earned a left corner kick. The kicker is Ota. For this corner kick, Barnes jumped in at the near post, but in a fierce contest, the ball went out of bounds.

15 minutes in. Taking advantage of the opponent's mistake, Barnes had a one-on-one with the GK in the area from a quick counterattack. However, just before the shot, he was closed down, and shortly after, it seemed he was fouled and fell, but no foul was called by the opponent. In the 16th minute, Maeda brought the ball in from just outside the left area and unleashed a powerful long-range shot. The curved shot threatened the opponent's goal but was saved by the GK.

The game continues for 19 minutes. Anton BURNS runs up to the left front line and sends a grounded pass towards the goal. It didn't reach Kyonoto in the center, but he stretched out his foot desperately to drop it, and Takahashi, who was there, aimed from long range but was blocked by the opponent, resulting in a right corner kick. This right corner kick was cleared by the opponent and was securely collected by Shimizu FW Utaka, leading to a counterattack. However, they were saved by the opponent's missed shot. In the 33rd minute, Tokyo's Ota sent a cross into the area from the left side. The opponent's defender cut it with a sliding tackle, resulting in a left corner kick. The corner kick was cleared, but it returned to Ota again. From there, BURNS attempted a header on a cross that came in almost parallel to the goal, but he couldn't hit the target.

As 35 minutes have passed, Tokyo's time holding the ball in their own half is gradually increasing, but they are struggling to create attacking opportunities against Shimizu's tough challenges. When they win the ball high up the pitch, it has turned into a chance, but conversely, there have been moments where they are pushed back by long balls to Shimizu FW Utaka and FW Jeong. Both teams are pressing each other, and a very intense battle continues.

Against the attack initiated by Shimizu's forward Peter UTAKA, Morishige and Maruyama demonstrated strength and resilience. On the other hand, they won the ball in a high position and created chances, but were unable to capitalize on them. The match goes into the second half scoreless.

Ota scores from a free kick! The intense battle ends in a draw.

In the second half, at the 50-minute mark. Shimizu advanced to the left area, and MF Mitchell DUKE initiated an attack. Although Morishige initially intercepted, Shimizu applied pressure again, and the loose ball flew to Shimizu FW Peter UTAKA, who was between Tokunaga and Morishige. He took a decisive shot from the left area, which was saved by GK Enomoto... but FW Jeong easily pushed in the rebound... allowing the first goal.

In the 53rd minute after taking the lead. Tokyo, undeterred, moved forward quickly, advancing the ball to the front line, and earned a corner kick from Kono's left cross. Morishige's header from Ota's left cross hit the right post... He followed up on the loose ball, but was reacted to first by the Shimizu defender, leading to a right corner kick.

In the 57th minute, Nakajima was brought in to replace Kono. Then, in the 60th minute, Hashimoto came onto the pitch to replace Hanyu. Hashimoto and Nakajima are on the sides, with Takahashi and Yonemoto as the double defensive midfielders.

In the 61st minute, Shimizu quickly moved the ball forward, and as FW Jeong switched positions with the MF Mitchell DUKE who advanced from the center, he broke free to the right and took a shot. However, this was saved by GK Enomoto with one foot, resulting in a corner kick. In the following 64th minute, Shimizu's FW Utaka aggressively broke into the right area. The shot he took was barely touched by Enomoto, resulting in another corner kick. From this corner kick, Shimizu continued to press hard, creating difficult situations, but no additional goals were allowed. 65 minutes have passed. They allowed the opponent to take the lead and were pushed back, creating a tough situation. However, they maintained their concentration at the crucial moments and did not allow any additional goals. They wanted to avoid losing out in the fierce competition and exploit any gaps from the opponent...

In the 67th minute, Hirayama came on for Barnes, stepping onto the pitch for the first time in a year. In the 70th minute, Hirayama headed the ball down, and Nakajima, receiving it, was fouled just outside the right area, earning a free kick. A free kick from about 20 meters in front of the right area. Morishige, standing inside, acted as a decoy, and immediately after, Ota's shot found the top right corner of the goal, scoring a GOAL!! A magnificent free kick equalized the score! However, after that, the momentum of Shimizu and their set plays pushed us back. While we managed to hold firm at the back, we couldn't create opportunities for a counterattack up front. The play continued in our own half... In the 83rd minute, Hirayama tried to break free on the left flank but fell in a challenge with an opponent... resulting in a decision for Shimizu's ball.

Using a substitution, Tokyo's Hirayama returned to the pitch after a year. During this, Nakajima earned a free kick, which Ota brilliantly converted to equalize!! After that, they effectively contained the opponent's attacks aiming for the lead, and in the final stages, it turned into a counterattack exchange, but they couldn't capitalize on their chances. The intense match ended in a draw, and the second consecutive away game resulted in just one point.

[Player Comments]
Ota
"I haven't been able to play in the team's matches for about a month, and I wanted to make up for the trouble I caused with results. It would have been best to win, but I see it as a valuable point away from home, and I want to fight with all my strength in the remaining 8 matches. Regarding the free kick, I stayed after practice the day before yesterday to work on it, and I think I was able to kick it as I practiced then, which was good."

I would like to thank the coach who gave me the chance and the people who supported me. I want to repay that gratitude through my play, and although the remaining season is short, I want to show it through results. Wearing the number 9 for Tokyo is a great honor, and since good players have worn that number in the past, I want to work hard to live up to it.
(What are the instructions from the coach when going onto the pitch?)
To earn 3 points, we need to aim for goals and not be outworked by the opponent. Of course, we focused on post play, but we also played with the awareness that the ball needs to move well.

【Summary of Coach Massimo FICCADENTI's Press Conference】
"It was a very intense match. Shimizu ran a lot and utilized the strength of their forwards to launch balls into the front line. In the first half, we had several close chances with Barnes. If we had scored there, the flow of the match would have been completely different. We couldn't finish, which made it difficult. We conceded a goal from a counter-attack after losing our ball, but the players remained calm and continued without becoming passive. They also adapted well to the tactical changes. We brought in one technical player, Shoya NAKAJIMA, and one physically strong player, Kento HASHIMOTO, to play closer to a two-top formation, which allowed us to find a shape that suited us and we were able to keep trying until the very end. Today's point is 1, but I think it's an important 1."
(What are your thoughts on player Hirayama's long-awaited return and immediate use?)
"I think it was good. He has suffered a lot for over a year. I hope he can continue to improve his condition from here and that his playing time will increase. A player with his characteristics has been lacking in our team until now. As we approach the end of the season, we will need physically strong players like him. It's an important return."

【Shimizu - Kazuaki TASAKA's press conference summary】
"First of all, I would like to thank the supporters and sponsors. Once again, we are able to fight like this thanks to all of you. It is disappointing that we did not achieve the results we wanted, but I want to look forward and prepare for the next match. Various things will come up after the game, but what we must do is to look ahead and win. There is no other way. Even if we say the performance was good today, if we don't win, it means nothing. In that regard, there are both good aspects and areas where we still need to improve. I want to prepare well starting next week to ensure we can secure all three points."