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

The 1st stage has reached the halfway point with Sec. 9. The four teams participating in the ACL will play ahead of the other matches, held on the 29th (Friday holiday). Tokyo faced Avispa Fukuoka at Ajinomoto.

In the previous match against Kofu, Hirayama, who started for the first time in about 1 year and 8 months, scored the equalizer. However, they were unable to secure a win, making it four official matches without a victory. This match is an opportunity to take control of the game at home and aim for three points.

Fukuoka, which has returned to J1 this season, has one match yet to be played, but so far they have 3 draws and 4 losses without a victory, currently sitting in 17th place. However, they have brought each match to a competitive level, and they will surely approach the next game with a strong desire for their first win.

In a situation where both teams want to seize the opportunity to rise, Fukuoka appears to be set up in a 4-5-1 formation on the roster, but they have placed MF Kamekawa as the left side back, with MF Sueyoshi and MF Danilson as a double pivot. On both sides are MF Shogo and Taira. They approached the match with a 4-4-2 system featuring FW Wellington and MF Kanamori as the two strikers.

Tokyo sees Ogawa returning to the starting lineup since the Sec. 7 match against Kawasaki. The team aims for victory with the same members as in the match against Kofu. It is a clear day, but the wind is strong at Ajinomoto. Tokyo takes the end with the wind at their backs, and the match started at 17:04 with Fukuoka's kickoff.

Both teams had few chances and went into halftime scoreless.

In the first half, both teams pressed each other, leading to a quick transition between offense and defense. However, despite bringing the ball to each other's goal area, there were prolonged periods where neither team could finish. Fukuoka had many opportunities for restarts due to their aggressive play, but they were unable to capitalize on them.

4 minutes: A free kick was awarded just outside the area on the left side. From Abe's kick, Morishige and Maruyama, who moved forward, tried to create a chance, but it was offside.
20 minutes: A free kick was awarded just outside the left area, and Morishige aimed directly, but it was blocked by the wall, resulting in a Fukuoka ball.

25 minutes: After successfully defending against Fukuoka's counterattack, Kajiama sends a lofted pass to Nathan BURNS, who attempts to advance from just outside the area into the right side. Nathan BURNS evades the opposing defender and moves towards the ball, trying to finish, but the shot is blocked and the ball goes to the goalkeeper.

30 minutes: From a free kick obtained near the halfway line, Maruyama moved to the right area. Hirayama tried to shoot after faking out the opposing DF, but was marked by the Fukuoka DF and could not finish.

34 minutes: Nathan BURNS pressed Fukuoka's midfielder Danilson, gaining possession. Hayama and Abe exchanged quick passes as they moved forward, with Ogawa advancing on the left, and Abe crossing from the inside. Hayama, just barely at the far post, attempted a header but was unable to make contact.

42 minutes: From the flow of the restart, Morishige pushed forward and aimed for a mid-range shot, but it went wide of the target.

Tokyo was unable to push through, with only two shots in the first half taken by Morishige. Fukuoka also had only one shot in the 43rd minute from a right cross, taken by forward Wellington at the far post, ending the first half scoreless.

Caught off guard and conceded a goal... a regrettable defeat

In the second half, after placing our bets, we aimed for the goal with an aggressive attitude right from the start.

51 minutes: Tokunaga sends a long pass into the space on the right front line. Nathan BURNS catches up, brings it in a step, and aims for a shot himself, but it goes over the bar.
52 minutes: Fukuoka's midfielder MF Sueyoshi feeds the ball into the area. MF Jogo, who broke into the center of the goal, connected with a volley, creating a decisive chance, but Akimoto made a quick save to avert the crisis.

54 minutes: Muriqui was brought on for Nathan BURNS. Immediately after, Muriqui dribbled up the left side of the opponent's half. He was hit by Fukuoka MF Danielson and fell, but he persevered and regained possession, passing to Hirayama who spread the ball to the left. Abe sent in a cross, but it drifted to the far side. Kono chased after this ball and delivered a right cross, but this time it was deflected by the Fukuoka defense.

61 minutes: Tokyo was starting to gain momentum by attacking from the side, but they gave a free kick to Fukuoka from the right side. Fukuoka MF Sueyoshi sent a kick to the front line, which was cleared by Tokyo's DF, but the loose ball was connected to MF Danielson, who sent another cross from the right. From here, FW Wellington headed the ball over Morishige's head... The ball bounced in the area, but no one was able to clear it, and it went in on the right. They were caught off guard and allowed the first goal.

62 minutes: Fukuoka, trying to build momentum after taking the lead, had a precise long-range shot from MF Kanamori saved by Akimoto during a counterattack! Next, a long throw from MF Kamekawa was dropped in the center, and DF Mizutani took a shot from just outside the right area, but it went wide. They did not allow an additional goal.

67 minutes: Muriqui was fouled in the center of the penalty arc and earned a free kick, which Morishige aimed for, but the shot grazed the goal and went just slightly to the left.
69 minutes: Tanabe was brought in as a defensive midfielder to replace Kajiyama. In the 70th minute, Maeda was brought in to replace Kono, forming a two-top with Hirayama. The team launched a counterattack with Muriqui and Abe on both sides. However, despite crossing from both flanks and pushing into Fukuoka's goal area from Maeda's drop and Yonemoto's final pass, they continued to struggle to take decisive shots.

90 minutes: Yonemoto sent a floating ball into the area, and Hirayama started running at just the right timing to match it, but the ball was poked away by the Fukuoka defender running alongside, resulting in a corner kick...

In added time, Muriqui received a pass at the left corner of the goal area and skillfully turned to aim for the goal, but was blocked by the opposing DF and sent it to the left. Here, Hirayama rushed in but just missed it. However, ABE's right cross followed, hitting the hand of the sliding opposing DF in the area, resulting in a penalty kick. In the 90th minute +7, Morishige took the penalty kick, but it hit the bar and bounced down, not resulting in a goal...

Unable to secure a draw, resulting in giving Fukuoka their first victory of the season, leading to a regrettable defeat...

[Player Comments]
"Hirayama"
"Crosses were coming in from the first half. I felt that the Fukuoka defense was wary of me, so in the second half, I changed my movements and was able to create several chances. However, I couldn't finish when I needed to. Playing up front gave me a sense of getting closer to the goal. I needed to concentrate more there..."

《Ogawa》
"Crossing is one of the jobs I need to do. Although it didn't lead to a goal today, I believe it's important to keep going. The entire team is currently struggling, but by continuing to do what we need to do, we will eventually see results. I strongly believe that. We just have to keep going patiently."

【Summary of Coach Hiroshi JOFUKU's Press Conference】
"It was a game we had to win. The result is very frustrating, and it has made our fans and supporters feel disappointed. However, even amidst that, I hear the voices of encouragement and strongly feel that I must fulfill their wishes. What we can do now is to lift our heads and move on to the next challenge. It's a game that's hard to accept, but I want to face it directly and prepare for what comes next. Fukuoka consistently played long balls and converted one of their two chances into a goal. I feel this is also part of football, but we must overcome the reality that we had chances but couldn't capitalize on them. I want to further pursue aspects such as the timing of crosses, combinations, and where we should be challenging in the game. Even in a tight match like the first half, we need to create more decisive moments."

[Summary of the Press Conference by Masami IHARA, Coach of Fukuoka]
"Many fans and supporters rushed to Ajinomoto, and we achieved our first victory in J1 this season, providing a great gift. For those supporting us in Fukuoka, it was the long-awaited three points. I am pleased that we were able to create a game that gives courage to those affected by the earthquake in the region, representing Kyushu. Regarding the match, we faced a strong Tokyo team and changed our system. Based on hard work, we considered putting more players into the attack. The players fought with strong determination for 90 minutes, which ultimately led to the three points. Although we conceded a penalty at the end, I believe their attitude was a driving force in finishing the match without conceding a goal. There are still many areas to improve, but today's victory is a significant win for the team. We have a busy schedule ahead, but we want to prepare well and carry this momentum forward."