A match where both teams want to seize the opportunity to rise up

The 1st stage reached the halfway point with the 9th round. The 4 teams participating in the ACL played on the 29th (Fri) ahead of the other matches. Tokyo faced Avispa Fukuoka at Ajinomoto Stadium.

In the previous round, Hirayama, who started for the first time in about 1 year and 8 months, scored the equalizer. However, they were unable to secure the win, resulting in 4 consecutive games without a victory in official matches. This round, they want to take advantage of their home field and aim for 3 points.

Fukuoka, who returned to J1 this season, is in a state of having one game left to play, but so far they have 3 draws and 4 losses, currently in 17th place. However, they have brought each game to a close match and are sure to come out with a strong determination to achieve their first victory.

With the situation where both teams want to grasp the opportunity to rise up, Fukuoka is listed as 4-5-1 on the team sheet, but they have placed MF Kamekawa as a left back, with MF Suetoshi and MF Danilson as a double pivot. MF Jogo and Taida are on the wings. FW Wellington and MF Kanamori are leading the line in a 4-4-2 system.

Tokyo, Ogawa returns to the starting lineup for the first time since the 7th round against Kawasaki. The rest of the team aims for victory with the same members as the Kofu match. It was a sunny day, but Ajinomoto Stadium was windy. Tokyo took the end with the wind and the match started at 5:04 pm with Fukuoka's kickoff.

Both teams have few chances and the score remains 0-0 at halftime.

In the first half, both teams pressed each other and the pace of the game was fast. However, despite both teams bringing the ball up to the goal, they were unable to finish. Fukuoka had many chances to restart the game due to their intense pressure, but they were unable to capitalize on them.

4 minutes: In front of the area, a free kick was obtained on the left side. Erik, who had moved up to the front line from Abe's kick, tried to connect with Maruyama for a chance, but it was offside.
20 minutes: A FK was obtained in the left area, but Morishige's direct shot was blocked by the wall and Fukuoka gained possession.

25 minutes: Fukuoka defends well against the counter and Kajiyama sends a lob pass to Nathan BURNS who tries to enter the right area from the front of the area. Nathan BURNS avoids the opponent's DF and heads towards the ball, trying to finish, but the ball is blocked by the GK.

30 minutes: From the FK obtained around the halfway line, Maruyama goes to the right area. Hirayama tried to shoot after feinting the opposing DF, but was taken care of by Fukuoka DF and couldn't finish.

34 minutes: Nathan BURNS pressed MF Danilson of Fukuoka's midfield and got the ball. Hirayama ran forward and quickly exchanged passes with Abe, and Ogawa went up on the left, and then Abe crossed. Hirayama tried to head it in at the far post, but couldn't finish it.

42 minutes: From the restart, Morishige pushed forward and aimed for a shot from the middle, but it went wide.

Tokyo could not push through, and in the first half, there were only two shots taken by Morishige. Fukuoka also only had one shot from FW Wellington from a right cross at the 43rd minute, and the first half ended scoreless.

Goal conceded by taking advantage of a gap... a regrettable defeat

The second half, in which the game was put on the line, started with an aggressive attitude aiming for the goal.

51 minutes: Tokunaga sends a long pass into the space on the right side. Nathan BURNS catches up and takes a step forward, attempting a shot, but it goes over the bar.
52 minutes: Fukuoka midfielder SUEYOSHI feeds the area. MF JOKO, who jumped out in front of the goal, was volleyed and created a decisive form, but AKIMOTO made a quick jump and saved the pinch.

54 minutes: Muriqui is substituted for Nathan BURNS. Immediately after, Muriqui dribbles up the left side of the opponent's field. He is hit by Fukuoka MF Danilson and falls, but perseveres and regains possession. Hirayama then spreads the ball to the left. Abe crosses it in, but it goes out to the far side. Kono chases after the ball and crosses it in from the right, but this time it is deflected by Fukuoka DF.

61 minutes: Tokyo was starting to gain momentum by attacking from the side, but gave a right side FK to Fukuoka. Fukuoka MF Sueyoshi sent a kick to the front line, which was cleared by Tokyo DF, but the loose ball was connected to MF Danilson, who once again put in a right cross. From here, FW Wellington in the center of the area was hit with a header over Morishige's head... The ball bounced in the area, but no one could clear it and it went in on the right. They were truly caught off guard and conceded the first goal.

62 minutes: Fukuoka, who tries to gain momentum after taking the lead, but the high-precision middle shot from MF Kanamori is saved by Akimoto! Next, MF Kamekawa's long throw is dropped in the center, and DF Mifuto in front of the right area is shot with a middle shot, but it goes outside the frame. No additional points were allowed.

67 minutes: Muriqui receives a foul and is taken down in the penalty area, and Mori Shige aims for the free kick and takes a shot that just barely misses to the left.
69 minutes: Replaced Kajiyama with Tanabe as a defensive midfielder. In the 70th minute, Maeda was substituted for Kono, forming a two-top with Hirayama. They launched a counterattack with Muriqui and Abe on both sides. However, despite crosses from both sides, Maeda's knockdowns and Yonemoto's final passes, they were unable to take a decisive shot in front of the Fukuoka goal.

90 minutes: Yonemoto sends a floating ball to the area, and Hirayama runs out with perfect timing, but the ball is intercepted by the Fukuoka DF who was running alongside, resulting in only a corner kick......

In additional time, Muriqui received a pass at the left goal area corner and skillfully turned to aim for the goal... but was blocked by the opposing DF and went to the left. Here, Hirayama closed in but just couldn't reach it. However, Abe's follow-up right cross hit the hand of the sliding opposing DF in the area, earning a penalty kick. In the 90th minute +7, MoriShige took the penalty kick but it hit the bar and bounced back down, not going in...

Unfortunately, we were unable to bring it to a draw and ended up giving Fukuoka their first victory of the season, resulting in a disappointing defeat...

[Player Comments]
"Hirayama"
"We had crosses coming in from the first half. I also felt that Fukuoka DF was being cautious, so in the second half, I was able to change my movements and create several chances. However, I couldn't score when I needed to. Playing in the front, I had a sense of getting closer to the goal. I needed to concentrate more there..."

"Ogawa"
"Crossing is one of my responsibilities. Today, it didn't result in a goal, but I think it's important to continue doing it. The whole team is struggling right now, but if we keep doing what we need to do, we will eventually get results. I strongly believe that. We just have to keep persevering."

[Coach Hiroshi JOFUKU's Press Conference Summary]
"It was a game we had to win. The result is very frustrating and we have disappointed our fans and supporters. However, even in the midst of that, I strongly feel that we must fulfill the wishes of these people. All we can do now is to lift our heads and move on. It was a difficult game to accept, but we want to face it head on and move on. Fukuoka was very persistent with their long balls and they were able to convert one of their two chances. This is also part of football, but we have to overcome the reality that we had chances but couldn't finish them. We want to further explore the timing of crosses, combinations, and where we should challenge more on the field. Even in a tight game like the first half, we need to create more decisive moments."

[Fukuoka - Coach Masami Ihara's Press Conference Summary]
"Many fans and supporters came to Ajinomoto Stadium, and we were able to get our first victory in J1 this season, which was a great gift. It was a long-awaited 3 points for the people who support us in Fukuoka. We are also happy to have been able to play a game that gives courage to those affected by the earthquake in Kyushu. As for the game, we faced a strong Tokyo team by changing our system. We focused on hard work and putting more players on the attack. The players fought with a strong mentality for 90 minutes. That ultimately led to the 3 points. We were given a penalty kick at the end, but their attitude also served as the driving force to end the game without conceding a goal. There are still many areas to improve, but today's victory is a big win for the team. The schedule is tight, but we want to prepare well and continue on to the next game."