Nabisco Cup Quarterfinal Round, First Match at Home

Entering the Nabisco Cup knockout stage, the quarterfinals will be against Kashima Antlers. The first match will kick off at home at Ajinomoto Stadium. It will be held just three days after the previous league match. Although it will be a series of matches including the second game, Coach Massimo stated, "Our attitude to aim for victory in each match will not change. There is no need to think about the second match, and it is important to continue the same flow as in the league matches," emphasizing the need to maintain focus and approach each match with a winning mindset.

However, alongside this tournament, the World Cup Asian qualifiers are being held in various locations, and Nathan BURNS has been selected for the Australia national team. Morishige and Maruyama have also been selected for the Japan national team, meaning that these three players will be absent for this quarterfinal match. Therefore, alongside Yoshimoto in the center-back position, Nara will make his first start and appearance in Tokyo. Hashimoto and Nakajima will also be in the starting lineup, with Maeda and Nakajima forming a two-top. Kono will play as an attacking midfielder. The formation will see Hashimoto serve as the right inside half. At the same time, Higashi returns to the bench for the first time since the match against Kofu on August 12. Sandaza and Hirayama will also be on the bench following the match against Shimizu.

Kashima will participate in the Nabisco Cup starting from this Semifinal Round due to their involvement in the ACL. Since the match against Tokyo in Sec. 4 of the 2nd Stage, Kashima welcomed Coach Ishii as their new leader, and they have achieved six consecutive wins, placing them at the top. They can be considered the most in-form team right now.

Today, Japan national team midfielder Shibasaki will be absent, but in the second stage match, they were thoroughly countered with 'Tokyo measures' and were troubled by their opponent. For Tokyo to secure victory, they need to exceed Kashima not only in resilience but also in the speed and aggressiveness of their press. Additionally, when the points are tied after two matches, goal difference and away goals will also come into play, so they want to minimize goals conceded at home as much as possible. They will need to assess the situation and flow, requiring unity of purpose, but they will transform individual strength into team cohesion and challenge Kashima with a united effort.

After a long time, the weather was clear. Even at night, the humidity was severe, and the match started at 19:04 with a kickoff from Kashima.

Fighting aggressively, we take the lead with Kono's goal, but...

From the very beginning, they showed an aggressive attitude in both offense and defense, taking control of the game. In the 1st minute, they transitioned to attack due to a mistake by Kashima, with Kono dropping a pass to the right, and Hashimoto taking a bold shot from distance. Although it was blocked by the Kashima goalkeeper, they quickly earned consecutive corner kick opportunities in the 2nd minute. In the 4th minute, Kashima's forward Akasaki broke through behind Tokyo's defense with a long pass from their own half, but was caught offside. Tokyo regained possession with a compact formation and quickly moved the ball forward. In the 5th minute, Maeda broke free from a fierce matchup with Kashima's defender Shoji on the right flank and delivered a cross. However, it was blocked by the Kashima defense and resulted in a throw-in.

After 10 minutes, they were pressured by a set piece from Kashima, but they persevered and immediately countered. This attitude paid off, and at the 15-minute mark, Takahashi quickly restarted a free kick earned in midfield. Yonemoto sent the ball to the left side, and Ota, who advanced, delivered a cross in front of the goal. Kono, who found space between the opposing defenders, took a light jump and shot in a back-header style. The ball was drawn into the top right corner of the goal. From Ota's pinpoint cross, Kono marked his first goal of the season and took the lead.

In the 20th minute, Kashima DF Masaki was injured and substituted by DF Aoki. Immediately after that, Kashima's left MF Nakamura cut into the left area, drawing in the Tokyo DF for a negative cross. Right back Nishi, who advanced freely, took a shot, but Yonemoto threw his body to block it. In the 28th minute, a header from a Kashima free kick shook the net. This was offside, so they avoided conceding a goal, but gradually Kashima began to counterattack. In the 30th minute, Tokyo launched a counterattack, with Ota aiming for the opponent's DF's back with a grounded cross. Nakajima slid in to stab it into the net, but he was just slightly offside…

In the 38th minute, Kashima FW Dawhan made a bold move in the right area, but Hashimoto and Nara managed to contain him. In the 43rd minute, a long ball from Kashima allowed FW Akasaki to break into the right area and attempt a shot, but Tokunaga deflected it for a corner kick. Tokyo had been defending well up to this point, but they couldn't cut off the flow from this corner. Kashima's left back Yamamoto broke through vertically after a one-two with central MF Nakamura. A short pass was sent to the near post from the goal line, and FW Akasaki ran in front of Tokyo's defense and pushed it in... a painful conceded goal.

In added time, Kono on the left front line skillfully trapped a floating ball from the back. Despite competing with the Kashima defender, he broke through and took a decisive shot, but hit the right post. The first half ended with a score of 1-1.

Nakajima scores the equalizer! He kept pushing towards the goal without giving up until the end, bringing the match to a draw.

In the 46th minute of the second half, Kashima FW Dawhan made a dribble attack, passing through Nara's legs and breaking into the area, but Yoshimoto managed to slide in and deflect it for a corner kick, maintaining the defense. After that, Tokyo advanced the game in Kashima's territory, focusing on set plays. In the 55th minute, they stole the ball from Kashima in midfield, with Kono on the left passing to Yonemoto in the center, who then one-touched it to Nakajima on the right. Tokunaga persistently brought the ball into a cross, earning a right corner kick, but they could not convert it into a shot.

In the 59th minute, Kashima substitutes MF Doi onto the pitch. Tokyo brings in Higashi in place of Kono. However, in the 61st minute, after a series of passes on the right side, DF Nishi skillfully dribbles past the Tokyo DF and advances. Receiving a return pass from FW Davi in the right area, MF Endo cuts inside and strikes with his left foot. The sharp shot grazes the right post and bounces back into play. Both teams allowed the first shot of the second half to be scored, conceding the lead.

However, Tokyo did not give up, and in the 62nd minute, Higashi sent a soft cross to the far post from the left area, where Hashimoto headed it down, but it was blocked by a great save from the opposing goalkeeper. Shortly after, Kashima's MF Endo broke through on the right side, and a heel shot was taken by MF Nakamura in the area from the cross, but they were saved by the post. Next, Hirayama was brought on. In the 79th minute, Sandaza was brought on to the front line. Nakajima moved to left MF, with Takahashi and Yonemoto forming a double pivot. They tried to increase their momentum for a counterattack, but in the closing stages, both sides made mistakes, leading to opportunities for both teams from counterattacks.

In the 88th minute, Nakajima in the center passed to Tokunaga, who surged up the right side and delivered a cross. Sandaza's header in the center of the area just missed, but Nakajima, who timed it perfectly, struck the ball with his left foot directly, piercing the controlled shot into the goal!!　

As they equalized and the mood for a comeback intensified, in the 90th minute, a cross from the right by Higashi reached Nakajima in the left area, creating a scene similar to the goal, but they couldn't capitalize on the floating ball... In added time, they created a chance from another right cross and pressed towards the Kashima goal with numbers, but they couldn't push it in. Finally, Hirayama's shot was caught by the Kashima goalkeeper, and the time was up.

They did not give up on victory until the end and aimed for the Kashima goal, but they could not score the third goal. The first match ended in a draw with a score of 2 to 2.

[Player Comments]
《Nakajima》
"It was a match we could win, and there were more opportunities to score. I believed the cross would flow to the far post. I was able to score at the right timing. In the first half, I should have shot when I had the chance to dribble and take a shot, but I lost the ball to the opponent, so I thought I should be proactive and shoot when there is space ahead. From tomorrow, I want to focus only on winning the second match and prepare for it. I want to enjoy it, cooperate with all my teammates, and work hard for victory."

《Nara》
"I wasn't feeling pressured, and I thought I understood the extent to which I could play at my full capacity. I wanted to channel that into a victory for the team. There were parts where the DF line held firm, but we conceded 2 goals, and personally, I felt there were many issues. I'm particularly regretful about the goals conceded in the first half; it was a missed opportunity. There were moments when we could have disrupted the opponent's advantageous situations and won the ball up front, but I believe we conceded due to my poor response. However, the result of the draw leads to the next step. If we can keep the goals conceded to zero as a DF, we have players who can score in front, so there is a great chance to win away. I want to continue good preparations."

【Summary of Coach Massimo FICCADENTI's Press Conference】
I think it was an interesting match for those who watched. In the first half, we were able to take the lead at a good time. In the second half, Kashima's midfielder Endo scored a wonderful goal, but we were able to equalize afterward. I believe we showed our belief in victory as a team and our determination to never give up. The result of 2 to 2 puts Kashima in a slightly advantageous position, but we want to play our game without giving up until the very end in the next match.
(Did you let Nakajima play the full match?)
He was continuing to play well. There were no significant tactical changes, and we effectively utilized the space created by Hirayama's hold-up play. In the latter stages, we moved Nakajima to the left side and created many chances. There was also a decisive opportunity to score the third goal, but Kashima is a strong team with good players. We came into this match with six consecutive wins, and I believe this result is significant against the team that is in the best form at this time. Tactically, we were able to execute the plan of bringing in two physically strong forwards during the period when the opponent's stamina was declining.

【Kashima - Masatada ISHII's Press Conference Summary】
"I think it was good that we were able to score two goals away. FC Tokyo utilized the height of players like Hirayama in the latter stages, and we were a bit pressured by that, but since the second match is coming up soon, we want to prepare for it."
(In the first half, there were noticeable scenes where Nakajima was challenged, but how did they adjust?)
Since Nakajima had many plays that initiated movements from the outside to the inside and side changes, we tried to respond in a way that prevented him from playing facing forward.