Final match of the league competing for the championship qualification

After the previous league match against Kashiwa, the Emperor's Cup and the World Cup qualifiers for each representative were held, and after an interval of about two weeks, we finally welcome the final match of this season's league, facing Sagan Tosu in Sec. 17 of the 2nd stage. We narrowly won that Kashiwa match 1-0, and our annual points have risen back to 3rd place. The point difference with 4th place G Osaka is just "2", but we are in a position to secure a spot in the championship on our own.

Coach Massimo said, "What we have built over 33 matches will not change in just one game tomorrow. However, this match is crucial as it will determine our 'next' depending on ourselves. That is why what we have continued to do will be tested. It is about whether we can give our all that we have cultivated throughout the season." He calmly spoke and vowed to approach this match, which will test the team's maturity, with the same composure as always.

Facing Tosu, they are in 13th place in the 2nd stage. In terms of annual points, they are in 11th place. They reached the quarterfinals in the Emperor's Cup, but for them, this match is the last of the league. With a mindset of "having nothing to lose," they will likely show aggression and focus as they aim for victory. Especially in the league, they have not lost in their last four matches. They have demonstrated solid defense, managing to keep the score low against higher-ranked teams like Hiroshima and Urawa, and have successfully secured at least one point.

In order for Tokyo to secure victory, they need goals, but they also want to win battles in key moments such as ball contests and quick starts, while minimizing careless plays and mistakes as much as possible, aiming to break down Tosu's solid defense. Throughout the 90 minutes, they want to demonstrate the attitude of "simply winning against the opponent in front of them" and accumulate 3 points.

Tokyo will approach the match with the same lineup as the previous game. Tosu will have FW Toyota.S and DF Kikuchi starting on the bench. The top will feature FW Hayasaka, Mizunuma, and Ikeda. The three-back consists of DF Taniguchi, Niwa, and Kim. The midfield will be held by Okamoto and Takahashi, with both wide positions occupied by MF Yutaka YOSHIDA and Choi.

Covered by clouds and feeling the cold that signals the arrival of winter at Ajinomoto, the crucial match that concludes this season started with a kickoff from Tosu at 13:34.

Unable to score the opening goal, time passes with a scoreless match

From the start, both teams pressed each other fiercely, leading to an attacking exchange. In the 3rd minute, Tosu's FW Mizunuma took a middle shot from the right side, but it lacked power and Vlada AVRAMOV caught it. After 5 minutes, Tokyo continued to aim for a counterattack from an interception in their own half, with Takahashi's cut leading to a pass to Higashi on the left. However, Tosu quickly switched and received a foul, resulting in a free kick. In the 9th minute, they earned a free kick in the central midfield, and Yonemoto quickly restarted. Higashi, who broke through the left front line, evaded the opponent and feinted to cut back sharply, advancing into the left area and delivering a final pass to Maeda in the center. Maeda, while retreating, set up for a shot after trapping the ball. It seemed the ball hit the opponent and went over the bar, but it was ruled a goal kick for Tosu.

After that, they managed to withstand the momentum of Tosu well, trying to connect to chances from a fast-paced development, but a period continued where they could not bring about a decisive shot. In the 23rd minute, they quickly transitioned a free kick from the left side to the right. Tokunaga delivered a right cross, but it was cleared and spilled into the left area. Here, Kono, who was positioned, took a shot from a trap, but it was blocked and resulted in a corner kick. The spilled ball from this left corner kick reached Hashimoto in the right area, who aimed for a volley from a chest trap, but this too was thwarted by the Tosu defense.

In the 29th minute, a lateral pass in the midfield was targeted, and Tosu surged forward. FW Mizunuma broke into the right area and connected with FW Hayasaka, who advanced centrally. A powerful shot was taken, but Tokyo's defense desperately closed in, and the ball went over the bar, avoiding a crisis. Tokyo pushed their line high and had time to maintain possession, but they couldn't effectively connect against Tosu's tough defense. In the battle for second balls, they were outmatched by Tosu and couldn't find their rhythm.

In the 42nd minute, from a free kick on the right side, Maeda in the center of the area attempted a header but was marked fiercely by the Tosu DF. In the 45th minute, Hashimoto intercepted a long pass to the front line and sprinted with the ball. He spread it to the right, and Yonemoto tried to get into a shooting position but was blocked by a sliding tackle. All shots were blocked, and they could not break through the Tosu DF. Meanwhile, they maintained their balance and did not allow Tosu to create almost any chances, ending the first half scoreless.

They did not give up and aimed for the goal, but... the one point was far away, and due to the goal difference, they finished in 4th place for the year.

They had been making detailed changes to their formation since the middle of the first half, but started the second half with a 4-4-2 formation, betting on this 45 minutes. As planned, they seized the rhythm from both flanks, and in the 48th minute, they circulated the ball, with Ota delivering a cross. Maeda jumped in at the near post but was caught by the Tosu goalkeeper first. In the 51st minute, Ota passed to Higashi, who made a move up front and earned a left corner kick. However, they could not capitalize on the corner kick opportunity. In the 54th minute, Higashi broke through the left flank with a one-two with Kono, but the cross drifted to the far side. Shortly after, Nakajima was brought in to replace Kono, further intensifying their offensive.

However, in the 56th minute, they passed the ball around to create an opportunity on the left side, and Yonemoto aimed from just inside the left corner of the area. Next, Morishige took a mid-range shot. Furthermore, Takahashi, who connected short passes in the front line, entered the right area and prepared to shoot, but all were blocked by Tosu's determined defense. In the 62nd minute, from a free kick earned by Ota on the left front line, Maruyama headed the ball but it went wide of the goal.

Tosu brought in FW Toyota.S in the 64th minute. Still, Tokyo's rhythm did not change, and in the 65th minute, Higashi made a ground shot after receiving a pass from Maeda on the left flank. However, this was also blocked in the area and did not reach the goal. In the 70th minute, Hayashi was brought in to the front line in place of Hashimoto. However, in the 72nd minute, Takahashi sent a short cross from the right area to Higashi, who jumped in, but could not make a header. Maeda rushed in for the loose ball but was surrounded by Tosu's defense and could not finish.

Tosu defended with all players almost pulled back into their own half, solidifying their defense in front of the goal. In the 84th minute, they were caught off guard as Tosu MF Mizunuma passed to MF Kamada, who broke free on the right flank. A decisive shot was taken from a free position, but it hit the left post... Still aiming for a "goal," in the 85th minute, Hayashi in the right area turned after winning the second ball from a scramble. He got into shooting position but was blocked, resulting in a right corner kick. From there, Morishige, while being marked, attempted to push the ball in with his right foot, but it went straight to the goalkeeper. In the 89th minute, Ota's cross was headed back by Takahashi just barely at the far post, earning a left corner kick. However, Morishige's header went wide of the target. In stoppage time, Morishige headed the ball from a left corner kick, but it went to the right...

In the second half, we almost dominated the ball and progressed the match within the Tosu territory. We created chances through combinations in the front line, Ota's crosses, and set plays, and we kept pushing towards the goal until the end. However, one goal was elusive... We ended up with 1 point, finishing 6th in the 2nd stage. For the year, we matched G Osaka with 63 points, but due to goal difference, we ended up in 4th place.

[Player Comments]
《Morishige》
"It is very disappointing and frustrating that we could not seize the opportunity to take the next step ourselves. I think there were various factors that led to the draw, but not being able to capitalize on matches like this is our weakness... I believe. We have approached this season with a strong desire to win a title with FC Tokyo. We have accumulated tough matches to reach this position, and that is why today, I wanted to seize it with our own strength. I can only express my gratitude to the fans and supporters. There is a frustration that we could not deliver results in return for that."

Ota
"We couldn't win. That's everything. I wanted one goal, but... I gave it my all. Our ability just wasn't enough. We had chances from crosses, but my own kicking accuracy and the accuracy of set plays were lacking. I think we couldn't effectively break through while Tosu solidified the center, nor could we maintain possession. I am truly grateful to the fans and supporters for their support throughout the year. Right now, I still can't organize my feelings, but I feel disappointed and regretful for not being able to meet those expectations, and I apologize."

【Summary of Coach Massimo FICCADENTI's Press Conference】
"It was a difficult match. Tosu closed down the spaces, and we were also conscious of not losing our balance while being wary of the opponent's counterattacks. In the first half, there weren't many chances, but we had a few, including a shot from Maeda. In the second half, we faced two critical moments from counterattacks, but I knew that a draw wouldn't mean anything, so we pushed forward. I understood it would be a tough match, but I think the second half was similar to the matches against Urawa and Shonan in terms of content. I feel disappointed for the players who fought so selflessly, and I apologize to the fans and supporters for not being able to deliver a result."
(About this season)
Although we could not advance to the CS due to goal difference, if we cannot objectively and calmly evaluate what we have accomplished by looking at things from all angles, we cannot hope for further evolution of the team or a new start. The wonderful thing about this team is that, despite facing various problems, they always fought together until the end without giving up. Of course, right now, everyone is filled with regret, but I believe that they, having become real players, can grow even more from here. Even in the midst of many difficult situations, what I have always thought is that I want to somehow rise to a high position with this team. I have worked for that. The Emperor's Cup is still ahead. For the club FC Tokyo, I want to keep my head up and work diligently."

【Tosu - Hitoshi MORISHITA's press conference summary】
"The game was almost perfect. In terms of defense, we hardly allowed any clear chances, and in attack, we were able to create opportunities. The word 'almost' refers only to the part where we couldn't score and win. The players played with that much courage, and what we have been doing for the past year has started to show in the last few matches. Today, I am happy that we were able to grow further in this game against a team like Tokyo. I want to work with the players to become a team in a position like Tokyo."