We cannot afford to lose consecutively. Hosting Matsumoto Yamaga at home Ajinomoto.

In Sec. 12 of the 2nd Stage, we will face Matsumoto Yamaga FC at home. In the previous match, we conceded a goal just before the end and could not secure a tightly contested victory, resulting in our first loss in 7 league matches. The players are determined, stating, "We absolutely cannot afford to lose consecutive matches," and although this will be the first match against Matsumoto at Ajinomoto Stadium in league play, it is also a battle where we want to leverage our "home advantage" to achieve victory.
However, Takahashi is suspended for this match as well. Therefore, Yonemoto will be used as the anchor for the first time in midfield. Hanyu and Hashimoto will serve as inside halves, with Kono playing as the attacking midfielder, and Maeda and Sandaza forming a two-top in the front line. Sandaza will be included in the starting lineup for the first time since the match against Sendai on July 29.

Matsumoto is currently in 15th place in the 2nd stage and 16th overall for the year. They have been unbeaten in the last three matches, but have not been able to escape the relegation zone. However, the teams fighting for survival will surely come with a strong determination to win. This match will see FW Obina suspended, but the team is committed to hard work, maintaining a style that emphasizes long feeds to the front line and winning second balls. Not only do they excel in set pieces, but MF Kudo, MF Ando, and MF Kim Bokyung, who joined mid-season, are said by Coach Massimo to be "enhancing the quality of the team." At the same time, he warns, "Matsumoto played well against G Osaka. They were unfortunate to concede an equalizer, but they are an aggressive team that we must be cautious of from the start."

However, in the last three matches, Matsumoto has taken the lead but ended up drawing, conceding goals during additional time or at the end of the match. This week, Matsumoto has replaced the suspended FW Obina with FW Shiozawa in the starting lineup. They set up in a 3-4-2-1 formation with MF Iwakami and MF Maeda positioned as shadows, MF Iwama and MF Kim Bokyung as holding midfielders, and DF Tanaka and Ando on the wings. In response, Tokyo is expected to maintain composure throughout the 90 minutes. They want to leverage the lessons learned and the gains from the previous match, assess the flow of the game, stay focused until the end, and seize victory.

Under cloudy skies, with a bit of the daytime humidity lingering, the match started at 18:34 with Matsumoto's kickoff.

Fighting tenaciously, we took the lead with Maeda's goal!

In the early stages, Matsumoto aggressively pressed forward, and as a result, they tended to push back into their own territory. However, they patiently countered this. In the 3rd minute, from Matsumoto's speedy passing play, MF Kim Bokyung advanced into the left area to MF Maeda, but Yonemoto managed to escape with a sliding tackle for a corner kick. In the 5th minute, Maruyama headed back a long kick from Matsumoto's goalkeeper, resulting in a throw-in. From a long throw by Matsumoto MF Iwakami, FW Shiozawa attempted a header, but it lacked power, and Brada caught it easily. In the 6th minute, Matsumoto MF Maeda broke down the side and delivered a left cross. It was headed by MF Iwakami, but again, the Tokyo DF contested it, and the shot went wide.

They defended safely, which resulted in giving Matsumoto several corner kicks and throw-ins, but they demonstrated concentration and patience, not allowing any decisive chances to be created. On the other hand, they posed a threat from counterattacks, and in the 11th minute, Ota from their own half made a long pass to the left front line. The opposing defender couldn't handle it, and as if to swap places, Sandaza broke through to the front line. Kono was also running towards the far post, but Sandaza, who entered the left area, took a shot from close range. However, the angle was slightly off, and it was blocked by the goalkeeper's save. He aimed for the loose ball again, but this time it was blocked by a sliding Matsumoto defender. Furthermore, Hashimoto rushed in on the ball that had spilled into the center, but this too was slid away by a Matsumoto defender, causing the shot to go over…

Although they couldn't take the lead with this chance, Tokyo gradually began to have more possession of the ball. In the 20th minute, Yonemoto advanced and became the starting point for a right corner kick. The corner taken by Ota was cleared, but the ball returned to Ota. From there, he sent a low right cross that perfectly reached Maeda at the near post, and Maeda headed it to change the course. The shot deflected off the Matsumoto goalkeeper's hand and went to the right, GOAL!! Maeda capitalized on the opportunity from the set piece flow and scored the opening goal.

Matsumoto continued to attack aggressively towards the goal without losing heart, but Tokyo, in a dominant position, calmly countered. They launched a counterattack at the right moment, and in the 39th minute, Tokunaga delivered a right cross. Sandaza made a run from the far side to the near post and tried to connect with the ball at his feet, but was thwarted by the quick cover from Matsumoto's defense. In the first half's additional time, Morishige, who was free, jumped in at the far post to meet Ota's free kick from the left corner of the area, but... his header went wide to the right. Although they couldn't secure an additional goal, they maintained their lead and ended the first half.

Achieved victory without conceding a goal, reaching a record high of 56 points

In the early stages of the second half, Matsumoto created a chance. In the 46th minute, from Tokyo's kickoff, they were counterattacked, and a right cross was met by midfielder Ando on the opposite side, but it was just in time to escape to a corner kick. This left corner kick was narrowly met with a heel at the near post, but it grazed the post and crossed the goal, avoiding a crisis. In the 50th minute, Hashimoto broke through the right front line, advanced to the goal line, and delivered a low ground ball into the right area. Sandaza jumped in but was a step late and was held back by Matsumoto.

After that, in the 56th minute, Higashi was brought in on the side to replace Kono. The formation changed to a 4-4-2 with Yonemoto and Hashimoto as double defensive midfielders. Immediately after, from a free kick on the right side, Ota sent a ball into the area, which Sandaza dove for and headed, but it went straight to the goalkeeper. In the 60th minute, Nathan BURNS was brought in. In the 62nd minute, Higashi passed to Maeda, who broke free on the left front and crossed. From behind Nathan BURNS in the center of the goal area, Hashimoto ran in and jumped to try to connect with his right foot, but was offside before that.

In the 70th minute, a Matsumoto defender made a control error from a feed in their own half. Nathan BURNS, positioned on the right flank, seized the opportunity and carried the ball into the area to take a shot, but it was thwarted by a great save from the Matsumoto goalkeeper. In the 79th minute, they earned a free kick just outside the left corner of the area, and Ota sent a soft kick into the goal area. Hashimoto made a perfect dive to meet it, but the shot went just slightly to the right...

Tokyo found its rhythm, but despite having chances including a free kick, they were unable to secure an additional goal. In the final stages, it became a counterattack exchange, but in the second half's additional time, Yoshimoto was brought in to replace Hashimoto in central defense. As a five-back formation, they effectively withstood Matsumoto's counterattacks, keeping a clean sheet and securing the victory. As a result, they have accumulated 56 points, surpassing their previous record of 55 (from 2008) with five matches remaining.

[Player Comments]
《Maeda》
"I am most happy that we were able to earn 3 points. (Regarding the goal) I always think about how to match the really good balls that come from Ota. Today it was from a corner kick, but I thought that if I entered near the goal in that way, it would create a chance. I was conscious of my movement and was able to match it well. I always want to make sure to score when a chance comes. I want to work hard to continue doing that."

Ota
"In the scoring situation, I found myself free, which made me nervous, but there were many players gathered at the far post, and I could see Maeda's movement at the near post well. I was able to send the cross calmly. I felt sorry for the fans and supporters after the last match, which was disappointing. I think I was able to make up for that today at home, and as long as there is a possibility, I will not give up on winning the championship. Difficult matches will continue, but I want to prepare well so that we can keep winning."

【Summary of Coach Massimo FICCADENTI's Press Conference】
"It was the start we expected. We knew the opponent would come out strong from kickoff, and indeed, they sent many balls into the penalty area during the first 15 minutes. However, we gradually created our own momentum, and after scoring the first goal, we had chances to score a second. The players performed well from every perspective. This is the highest point total in FC Tokyo's history, so I think it's a positive result. Matsumoto was strong in one-on-one situations and used their physicality, but we were able to respond carefully and in an organized manner. Although we have some issues like suspensions, the players who stepped in delivered results. Today, Yonemoto did well as the anchor, and Hanyu, Hashimoto, and Higashi, who came on as a substitute, also performed well. Everyone fought with a strong mentality. It wasn't an easy match, but being able to get results against a lower-ranked team under the pressure of needing to win is a sign of maturity. Different challenges await in every match from now on. The other teams currently competing for the championship have experienced winning in the past. It is important to keep up with them and fight with full effort in every single game."

【Matsumoto - Yasuharu SORIMACHI's Press Conference Summary】
"Although the result was disappointing, I want to thank the players who fought through this three-match series without stopping until the end. On the other hand, we are a team that gets punished immediately if we give away any openings. The scene of conceding a goal was exactly that kind of situation. We are training to avoid giving away openings, but it hasn't been going well, and as someone responsible for the team, I feel anger towards myself. However, we have no choice but to look forward and push ahead. I want to fight until the very end, and I hope to return to this Ajinomoto stadium for the Final Round of the Emperor's Cup and be able to greet everyone."