2016 Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company J3 League Sec. 14.

FC Tokyo U-23, ranked 14th with 10 points, hosted Iwate Grulla Morioka, ranked 16th with 8 points, in a home game.
This match will be a contest where the rankings may change depending on the match results.
Tokyo deployed the same 4-4-2 formation as in the previous match.
The goalkeeper is Kai.
The DF line features the over-age center-back duo of Yoshimoto and Okazaki. On the right is Muroya, making his first start at home, and on the left is Yanagi.
As in the previous match, Nozawa and Suzuki entered at the bottom of the midfield, and Mizunuma, who made his debut and first start for FC Tokyo U-23, played on the right and left.
In the front line, Nakajima and the well-performing Insoo YU are positioned.
Morioka has invited Coach Kamikawa, who has led the Meiji University soccer team and the All Japan University Selection, starting this season.
Deploying a 4-4-2 formation, connecting the ball from the build-up including the GK and aiming for the goal.
Furthermore, an aggressive team that actively applies pressure from the front line.
The match started at 5 PM with a kickoff from Morioka, as the temperature, which had been close to 30°C during the day, began to drop.

[First Half]
The first half saw both teams showcasing their characteristics.
Morioka tries to break through Tokyo's defense by connecting short passes, including the GK, when they have possession of the ball.
In contrast, Tokyo maintains a high defensive line, forms a compact shape, and applies intense pressure from the moment they begin to enter their own half.
This will create a scenario where Nozawa and Suzuki pick up this second ball and launch a quick counterattack.
Especially, Mizunuma's off-the-ball runs are executed very effectively, allowing Tokyo to find their rhythm.
Tokyo was the first to create a chance.
In 5 minutes, Nakajima steals the ball in midfield and plays a vertical pass to Insoo YU.
Mizunuma dives in diagonally here and faces the GK one-on-one, but is thwarted by the opposing GK's excellent save.
Tokyo, continuing their offensive, scores the opening goal.
In the 16th minute, Tokyo's Muroya made a diagonal run into the penalty area, and Nozawa delivered a vertical pass.
As Muroya dribbled and took a shot, the opposing GK saved it, but Insoo YU, who was aiming for the loose ball, successfully pushed it in to take the lead.
Insoo YU showcased a goal performance with Muroya, exciting the venue.
Tokyo, gaining momentum, saw Insoo YU become the focal point in the center and connect with Nakajima after 20 minutes.
He passes it to Mizunuma, who is free on the right side, and Mizunuma heads it towards Insoo YU at the far post, but it is cleared by the defender.
Then, in the 25th minute, they are caught off guard and allow a shot from the right side, but Kai deflects it with his fingertips and it hits the post.
Morioka maintains their style, connecting passes carefully from the defensive line, and trying to break through Tokyo's defense with coordinated movements.
Tokyo continues to respond with counterattacks but cannot score additional points.
Then both teams' goalkeepers show great saves.
In the 39th minute, Okazaki connects a long pass from the center of his own half to Insoo YU on the left side, initiating a counterattack.
The fabric goes around Insoo YU, serving as a decoy while Insoo YU cuts inside.
Insoo YU takes a long shot with no spin from a distance, but the GK makes the save.
The 42nd minute was when the circle saved the team.
When the left side was breached, Ue made an exquisite run, charging up to the edge of the penalty area to close down the angle and block the opponent's shot.
Boosting the team's morale with passionate play.
Then, just before the end of the first half in the 43rd minute, Insoo YU's pass allows Nakajima to break free, creating a one-on-one situation with the opposing GK.
Nakajima attempted to dribble past on the left side and it seemed he was brought down by the opposing goalkeeper, but he received a yellow card for diving.
Lead 1-0 at halftime and turn around.

【Halftime】
Coach Anma's Comments
"Defense is as we aimed. We will continue this in the second half. We must score additional points. Let's overwhelm the opponent more than we did in the first half."

【Second Half】
During halftime, Yoshimoto inspired his teammates by saying, "We will definitely score another goal. We must not do the same thing as last time! Let's be aggressive!"
Morioka will substitute one player, change the combination in the front line, and add variation to the attack.
Tokyo challenged the second half with the same members.
Tokyo, eager to score the next goal, will actively attack.
In the 47th minute, Mizunuma delivered an early cross from the right side to the center, and the opposing defender misplayed it to Insoo YU.
However, Insoo YU also loses the chance due to lack of control.
As in the first half, Morioka will maintain possession of the ball, while Tokyo will respond with quick counters.
In the 59th minute, Mizunuma made a through pass to Insoo YU, who drifted to the left in front of the opponent's penalty area.
Insoo YU faces the GK one-on-one but is blocked by the GK.
In the 60th minute, Mizunuma and Muroya broke through on the right side with a one-two, and Muroya delivered a cross from a difficult position near the touchline, but it was caught by the goalkeeper.
Then, the biggest chance of the second half arrives.
In the 65th minute, Yanagi, who jumped in front of the goal, was fouled and won a penalty kick.
Nakajima kicks this into the left corner, but Morioka GK Doi makes a fine save.
Tokyo misses the chance to score an additional point.
Immediately after this, in the 67th minute, Hiraoka and Koyama were brought in to replace Nakajima and Muroya.
Place Yanagi at right back and Koyama on the left. Set Insoo YU and Hiraoka as the two strikers up front.
Tokyo, wanting to score an additional goal, saw Insoo YU head a soft cross from Mizunuma on the right side in the 70th minute, but it went to the left of the goal.
In the 75th minute, Suzuki steals the ball in the center of his own half, and Insoo YU breaks through behind the opponent's DF line and advances to just in front of the penalty area.
A final pass to Hiraoka, who evaded the opposing defender in a one-on-one and surged up from the left side.
However, this shot was blocked by the opposing DF.
In the 81st minute, switch from Kiji to Matsuoka, placing Insoo YU and Matsuoka in the front line, and positioning Hiraoka on the right side of the midfield.
In the 82nd minute, Hiraoka took the ball on the right sideline in the center of his own half and broke through with speed on his own.
In the end, it was blocked by the opponent's DF, but the play received applause from the crowd.
Immediately after, Matsuoka cut in from the right and the shot was caught by the GK.
In the 83rd minute, Insoo YU broke through on the right side and faced the opponent's DF one-on-one.
Insoo YU entered the penalty area, performed a step-over feint, cut inside, and took a shot, but the GK caught it.
After that, the battle in the midfield continued, and Tokyo secured their 'first home victory' in their seventh home match, having held on through the additional time.

Thank you very much for your passionate support for FC Tokyo U-23.
We appreciate your continued warm support.

[Summary of Coach Anma's Press Conference]

I am most happy to have delivered our first home victory to the fans and supporters who come to Nishigaoka every time to cheer for FC Tokyo U-23.
In the match, we actively challenged the opponent's defensive line as usual, tried to create chances repeatedly, and we have managed to score the first goal firmly.
However, we are aware that as a team and as individuals, we still need to improve in our inability to score the second and third goals.
What has changed is that even when we couldn't score, the defense remained calm and managed to keep the overall score at zero, which I believe contributed to this victory.
I want to continue working with the players to repeat good things, improve quality, and create what is lacking.
And I want to win again so that I can have a good holiday.

【Player Comments】
《Insoo YU》
"There was no atmosphere in the team where anyone wanted to slack off or give up. Looking at the entire team, everyone was fighting, running, and had a strong desire to win. With young youth (U-18) players among us, their determination to rise up was conveyed, and seeing them made us feel that we also had to do our part. I believe that was the reason for our victory in today's match."
(How do you feel about your performance?) I really think I ran my heart out today. Normally, I don't cramp up, but I think my desire to win made that happen today. However, I believe there were many other scoring opportunities that I couldn't convert, which remains a challenge for me.
(What was the scoring scene?) Player Muroya was aiming for the loose ball at the moment he took the shot. I believe that his ability to aggressively pursue the ball without being defeated by the back-and-forth with the defender and physical contact contributed to that moment.
(For the next match) As an individual, I want to play with all my might and with greater ambition. The reason I came to Japan is to always fight with all my strength, to challenge myself, and to run for the team. I want to continue to do my best from now on.

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