Aiming for 3 consecutive victories with all our might

After a two-week interval, the J1 League resumes. In the 2nd stage, they will face Shonan Bellmare at home in the 14th round. In the previous round, they defeated the top-ranked Hiroshima and climbed to 3rd place in this stage, keeping their chances for the title alive. As they head towards the end, coach Massimo emphasizes the importance of everyone moving in the same direction, as a united team. The team's stance remains unwavering, as they continue to approach each match with calm and focus.

Shonan, on the other hand, is currently in 9th place in the 2nd stage. They have 39 points for the year and are only "1" away from securing their spot in J1. In the league, they have not won in 5 games since the August 22nd Kawasaki match, and in the 3rd round of the Emperor's Cup on October 10th, they lost to Matsumoto in a close match. It seems that their usual "momentum" has been slightly subdued. However, just like Tokyo, they have had a preparation period leading up to this match and it is not difficult to imagine that they will come out with their "Shonan-like" spirit of having "nothing to lose" and aim for victory.

This week, FW Kirino will be placed on the front line, with FW Takayama and FW Furubayashi serving as shadows. Kono will be absent for Tokyo, so Higashi will be used as the attacking midfielder. Nathan BURNS and Maeda will form a two-top in a 4-3-1-2 formation to start the game.

A crucial match where we want to take control of the game in the midfield, while countering Shonan's pressing and aggressiveness from the front line and taking advantage of their weaknesses to secure a victory. Furthermore, we are only one goal away from reaching Tokyo's 700th goal in J1, so all eyes will be on who will score this milestone goal. But above all, it's a home game. We want to increase the unity with the fans in the stands and give our all to take home the win.

It was chilly and occasionally there was light rain, but just before the start, the sun began to peek through and the game kicked off in Tokyo at 2:04 PM.

A devastating goal was conceded in the first half's additional time.

3 minutes into the game, Shonan's right wide MF Fujita Masashi dribbles down the side. Kirino, the central FW, makes a through pass. The first shot of the game is taken by FW Takayama, who has moved up from the far side. However, it misses the goal and Tokyo gains possession of the ball. In the 5th minute, Maeda drops a feed from Morishige and Nathan Burns enters the left area. He faces off against Shonan's DF in a 1-on-1 situation, but as he takes too much time, the defense is able to cover and he is unable to break through. In the following 9th minute, the ball is passed around the DF line, with Maruyama, Ota, and central midfielder Yonemoto moving towards the left front line. Ota crosses the ball, but it is cut off near the goal. Just before this, Shonan's DF Andre Bahia suffers an injury. In the 10th minute, he is forced to be substituted by DF Shimamura.

12 minutes, Nathan BURNS breaks through on the right side and sends a ground pass into the center space. This pass went between Maeda and Yonemoto, but they persistently regained possession of the second ball, and once again Nathan BURNS crosses from the right. This is contested by Higashi, and Maeda in the left goal area hits it with a header, but the angle is not good and it goes straight to the opposing GK. In the 23rd minute, Hashimoto chased after a counterattack by Shonan's MF Kikuchi, but Morishige, who had come to cover, made contact and injured his leg. He fell to the ground, but quickly returned to the game, and it didn't seem to be a serious injury.

In the 26th minute, Nathan BURNS from the center slid around the area and expanded to the left, getting a left corner kick from Ota's cross. In the 31st minute, they changed sides from the center to the right, and Maeda jumped in from the cross sent by Higashi from the right side, but it hit the Shonan DF and resulted in a right corner kick. However, all the corner kicks were caught by the Shonan GK and they were unable to take a shot.

Unable to take control of the pace without being able to attack, Shonan gradually began to create a rhythm from their intense defense, and the game was back and forth. In the 35th minute, Shonan changed sides from the right and sent it to MF Kikuchi on the left, but he was able to hold off Maruyama in a 1-on-1 situation in the area and the ball went to Tokyo. Just before the end of the first half, they were pushed in from a set piece, and although they had been defending well until then, they gave away a free kick from the right side in the 45th minute. The goal was about 35 meters away, but Shonan's MF Nagaki aimed for a low, sharp shot. Vlada Avramov saved it in the bottom right corner, but the ball fell to Shonan's MF Takayama on the left side, who sent a shot-like final pass to the center. Shonan's MF Furukawa was left free in front of the goal and easily pushed it in... They conceded a painful first goal in additional time of the first half. Immediately after this, Morishige was unable to continue playing and went off the pitch. Yoshimoto was immediately substituted, but the first half ended with a series of unfortunate events.

East marks their 700th goal and ties the game, but...

Still aiming for a comeback, Nathan BURNS was substituted for Nakajima in the second half. Higashi and Hashimoto on both sides. Takahashi and Yonemoto launched a counterattack in a 4-4-2 formation with a double pivot. This immediately paid off as in the 50th minute, they pushed forward in front of the Shonan goal, snatched the opponent's clearance and persistently attacked, with Yonemoto on the left side passing to the center, then to the right area where Tokunaga sent a lob into the box. Higashi trapped the loose ball from Nakajima's challenge with the Shonan defenders, and his well-aimed shot was sucked into the top right corner! Higashi marked Tokyo's 700th J1 goal and equalized the score.

At 54 minutes, Ota's cross flowed to the far side, but Nakajima chased after it and made it his own, entering the right area. He took a powerful shot from an angleless position, but it was saved by the opposing GK. The atmosphere for a comeback was building, but at 50 minutes, Shonan FW Takayama dribbled towards the center right. From there, a through pass was sent into the area, which Maruyama tried to control, but the clearance ball spilled to Shonan FW Takayama and Yonemoto, who were competing, and it flowed to the right side of Shonan. MF Fujita's liner-like cross was met by MF Kikuchi, who jumped in from the far side... and was pushed in by Tokunaga... Shonan scored their first shot of the second half and lost their second goal.

Still, in the 63rd minute, East ran into the left front line and Ota, who received the return, controlled the left cross. Nakajima in the area reacted to this. He took a shot with his right heel, but... it was blocked by the GK's great save, and they only got a CK. In the 70th minute, they made their third substitution, replacing Hashimoto with Mita.

In the following 75 minutes, the opponent's clear ball was persistently connected, and Nakajima on the left side brought it in while running from the right, dropping it to Mita. Mita aims for the goal with speed, but it is blocked and becomes a left corner kick. In the 79th minute, the ball also enters East in front of the left area, and Maeda is on the left front line. In front of the goal, Nakajima blocks the opponent's DF. A pass is made to the space created there, and Mita runs in, but the shot is blocked and becomes a corner kick. Unable to break through the defense of Shonan, who has many players in front of the goal, there was a period of time when they could not bring the ball to a shot, but Mita, along with Nakajima, activated the attack and gave rhythm and momentum.

In the final stage, we had multiple opportunities to score. In the 89th minute, Nakajima passed to Mita on the left side, who dribbled close to the goal and shifted the opponent's timing, then passed to the far side. Takahashi was free and stretched his right foot, but the shot went wide. In additional time, Yonemoto was fouled and we got a free kick on the left side. We then earned a corner kick on the left. GK Vlada AVRAMOV also moved up to the front line, and Ota's low kick slipped through the space in front of the goal, but... Maruyama and Nakajima in the box were unable to connect, and time was up. We were unable to take advantage of any decisive chances, including 8 corner kick opportunities in the second half. We suffered our first home defeat in the 2nd stage.

[Player Comments]
"<East>"
"I think the second half was really good. We were able to play our game. However, this season we have been focused on results, and if we don't get them, it doesn't mean anything. Even if we have a good performance, if we can't win... That's why I'm really frustrated. The goal came from a good opportunity, so I calmly controlled the ball and aimed for a shot. We were able to equalize early in the second half and create an atmosphere for a comeback... However, no one has given up on the desire to win the title. We will prepare for the next game and fight to win with our best performance."

"Maruyama"
"Against Shonan's pressing and momentum from the front, we tried to connect our passes firmly and take advantage of their movements. We expected a tough match, but we also didn't give them many chances. However, they were able to convert those chances into goals. On the other hand, we created several scoring opportunities with our intended style of play, but we couldn't finish them and also couldn't hold our defense. It's a frustrating loss, but there are still chances. It's important not to dwell on this defeat and to regroup firmly."

[Summary of Massimo FICCADENTI's press conference]
"It was a good performance, but Shonan took advantage of their few chances and scored. I think the second goal was the only chance they had in the second half. We knew it would be a difficult game against a team that runs so much, but we created a lot of chances in their half towards the end. Of course, it was a game where we couldn't afford to make mistakes, but if we don't finish our chances, it becomes a difficult game like this. However, we continued to run aggressively until the end and our condition is definitely good. We never gave up until the very end. In the second half, it was clear to everyone that we were controlling the pace and we were able to handle their counterattacks well. We lacked composure in the final pass in front of goal, but I think today was just one of those days where things didn't go our way. We know that these kinds of days happen in football. Ultimately, the result is what matters and we have to accept it, but we can only move forward. We want to keep looking ahead."

[Shonan Choukije Coach's Press Conference Summary]
"Ajinomoto Stadium is a place where we had a bitter and sad experience two years ago, and it is also the stadium where we became J2 champions last season. We have been working hard to not be left behind as a rival team in the Kanto region against FC Tokyo. Tokyo has achieved the highest number of points in the club's history, but in order for us to defeat that team, we have no choice but to fight like this and I instructed the players to do so. In terms of content, we wanted to create more opportunities by passing and breaking through from the sides, and there were also scenes where we lost the ball by choosing a lateral pass in a counterattack chance. However, our players cannot survive unless they give 100% in both practice and games. It's not about being pushed to the limit, but rather enjoying it and feeling the joy of playing soccer. I have always said that we should give our all even if we fail, and I think this was a game where we were able to express that. We have been building up to play this kind of game every match. I sincerely congratulate the players for earning the right to play in J1 next season with their own strength. In soccer, it may be true that bigger players are better and smaller players are not, or that having fast feet is good and slow feet are bad, but they are strong for overcoming the wall with their own strength."