Aiming for 3 points with an energetic style!

On October 1st (Sat), FC Tokyo faced Sanfrecce Hiroshima away on the club's founding anniversary.

In the previous round, Tanabe and Kono scored spectacular goals, and Hirayama, who came on as a substitute in the 90th minute, scored the winning goal. However, in additional time, they suffered a devastating third goal and ended up with a draw. They dominated the game and scored a season-high tying 3 goals against G Osaka, but they couldn't stop their opponent's counterattacks and conceded 3 goals for the second consecutive game, resulting in a goal difference of "minus 2".

Manager Shinoda said, "We need to clearly define our first defender for this match. At the same time, by creating our own time, we want to continue growing as a team and be able to control the game a little more." He also mentioned that they will continue to address the challenges that arise in each match and shorten the term to increase maturity.

In addition, Coach Shinoda revealed, "Sota and Barnes' condition has improved significantly," and in this week's practice, Hirayama will also have a chance to join the starting lineup. In order to increase competition within the team, we want to continue to push each other to improve.

Hiroshima, on the other hand, is currently in 10th place in the 2nd stage and 6th place overall. Since their 7th match (August 6th) against Nagoya and their 8th match (August 13th) against Shonan, they have not been able to string together consecutive wins, and it can be said that they have not been able to ride the wave. In the previous match, they were unable to capitalize on their chances and ended up losing with 3 goals against them, despite pushing Urawa back.

However, FW Peter UTAKA has marked 18 goals and is currently at the top of the scoring rankings. His speed is of course impressive, and he is also skilled at breaking through the DF's defense. Tokyo will want to prevent any potential danger by containing the attacks from Hiroshima MF Aoyama, as well as the combination play with shadow MF Chajima and MF Shibasaki.

Tokyo's Hirayama, who scored a goal just before the end of the previous round, will make his first start in the 2nd stage. With an energetic style, he aims to secure 3 points by carefully assessing the situation.

EDION Stadium Hiroshima covered in thick clouds.
The match started at 7pm in Tokyo, under conditions with occasional light rain.

Both teams lacked a decisive factor and the first half ended scoreless.

4 minutes: Kono receives a pass from the left side and takes a left-footed shot from the edge of the area. However, GK Hayashi saves it in front.
5 minutes: Nakajima, who received a pass from Higashi, shoots from the left side of the area. However, GK Hayashi saves it in front.
Afterwards, Hiroshima passed the ball around, but Tokyo showed a well-organized defense with no gaps.

14 minutes: Hiroshima FW Peter UTAKA dribbles up the center and passes to MF Shibasaki in the area. Shibasaki turns and takes a shot, but Akimoto calmly catches it.
19 minutes: Hiroshima DF Shiotani's long feed was responded by FW Peter UTAKA. He escaped behind the DF line, but Akimoto jumped out and caught it while colliding in the area.


28 minutes: Tokyo, who is pushing forward, crosses from the right to the far side to Kajiyama. Higashiguchi heads the ball and Hirayama and Nakajima follow up, but the shot misses the target.
30 minutes: MF Aoyama, who stole the ball in the opponent's zone, takes a shot from the front of the area, but Mori Shige blocks it. Hiroshima, who picked up the loose ball, has FW Peter UTAKA aiming for the goal with his right foot from near the penalty arc, but Tokyo DF blocks it with their body.
33 minutes: Higashi keeps the ball on the left side. Higashi → Tokunaga → Nakajima connects, and Nakajima, who made a move to the left area, supplies a ground cross, but it narrowly misses Hirayama in front of the goal.

45 minutes: Tokunaga injured his right knee while running alongside MF Mikić. He was carried off on a stretcher and left the pitch.
45 minutes + 1: Hashimoto substituted for Tokunaga, who was injured, and entered the game in the middle.
Both teams lack a decisive factor and the first half ends scoreless.

Nakajima's dramatic goal secures victory in the final moments!

Tokyo's lineup consists of Hashimoto at right back and Muroya at left back.
47 minutes: Hiroshima sends a lot of long feeds towards FW Peter UTAKA, but Maruyama and Morishige put their bodies on the line to defend.

58 minutes: Kicker Kawano's right corner kick scene. The cross to the goal is blocked, but Kawano picks up the loose ball and takes a daring shot from outside the area. However, it misses the target.
62 minutes: Hiroshima makes their first substitution. MF Chajima is replaced by FW Miyayoshi.
Tokyo aims to attack towards the goal while expanding to the left and right. On the other hand, Hiroshima waits for the opportunity to counterattack while pulling back to their own territory.
65 minutes: Hiroshima FW Peter UTAKA takes a powerful shot from about 25 meters in front of the goal. The ball goes wide to the right of the goal.
65 minutes: Tokyo makes their second substitution. Nathan BURNS comes on for Hirayama.
67 minutes: Nathan BURNS receives the ball on the left side and passes it to Nakajima. Nakajima takes a powerful shot with his right foot from just outside the box, but it narrowly misses the top of the goal.

73 minutes: Nakajima and Nathan BURNS make a one-two pass to enter the area. Nathan BURNS' shot is blocked by Hiroshima DF, and Nakajima's shot from the rebound goes over the crossbar.
77 minutes: Hiroshima makes their second substitution. FW Peter UTAKA is replaced by FW Sato Hisashi.

81 minutes: Tokyo makes their final substitution. Hanyu is brought on to replace Kono.
90 minutes: From the flow of Hiroshima's left corner kick, FW Sato takes a volley shot on the far side. Akimoto reacts well and deflects it, avoiding danger with a great save.
85 minutes: Hiroshima makes their final substitution. MF Shimizu comes on for MF Kashiwa.

90+2 minutes: Nakajima receives a pass in front of the area. He turns the opposing DF and takes a right-footed shot. It hits the back of the net and it's a goal! Tokyo takes the lead in the final moments of the game!
Nakajima leads the team to a dramatic goal and earns 3 points for the victory.

[Player Comments]
"Nakajima"
"The way to break through with a one-two was not something I had completely imagined, but I was able to make that play naturally while heading towards the goal. Sometimes it's not good to think too much, so I think heading towards the goal first led to that scene."
It's been a while since I played with Nathan BURNS, but we have built a good combination from our usual practice. He has speed and can get behind the defense to receive the ball, which makes it easier for me to move forward. I think it worked well against today's opponent. It was a good goal."

"Akimoto"
"In a game that felt like a battle of endurance, we were able to hold on and that led to Shoya's amazing goal. The whole team was able to defend well and it feels great to get the win. Today's game was tense and we have been conceding a lot of goals recently, so we really wanted to end the game without conceding. I think we were able to achieve that. We have had some tough losses and draws recently, but today we were able to win 1-0, so I think the team will have a good atmosphere going into the game against Urawa. The game against Urawa might also be a battle of endurance, but first we want to prepare well and aim for a clean sheet victory at home."

[Coach Yoshiyuki SHINODA's Press Conference Summary]
"I am grateful to all the fans and supporters who have come all the way to support us, and have given us the final push. Hiroshima is a truly organized and wonderful team, and we have been preparing for this week on how to control them. In terms of how to eliminate the two players in the shadow position, there were a few dangerous scenes where we left Chajima open twice or three times at the start. In response to that, we were able to create time for the whole team to close the space, and to firmly bounce back Utaka's ball control with Morishige and Maruyama. I think we were able to move the game forward positively. The players never gave up until the end, and they played with a single-minded determination in this game of endurance. I feel that the players' and fans' never-give-up attitude led to Nakajima's goal. Finally, today is Tokyo Citizens' Day, and it is also the club's founding day, so it is also Tokyo Dorompa's birthday. It has truly become a celebratory day... I am being strongly reminded by the PR department (laughs)."

《Q&A》
Q=Regarding Akimoto's performance today, he showed many plays that gave courage to the defense with his amazing saves. What are your thoughts on Akimoto today?
"As you said, he closed it firmly and in the scene where he was shot in the middle, I think we were able to put pressure on everyone. The approach of the volante is also a place where I really want to take one more step, but the whole team was able to block the shooting course. The scene where Akimoto caught a volley shot in the penalty area was a really good reaction and he helped me."

Q=Regarding player Tokunaga who was injured just before the end of the first half.
"Tokunaga seemed to have twisted his knee a little. We won't know for sure until we do some tests, but it seems like it's not good."
I think it's not a minor injury, but I still don't know."

[Hiroshima - Manager Hajime Moriyasu's Press Conference Summary]
"We also lost in the recent Urawa match, so I wanted to win in front of our home fans and supporters and make them happy at EDION Stadium Hiroshima. It was really disappointing. The game progressed with a 0-0 score and we were able to create chances, but we couldn't score. That's something we need to work on from the Urawa match and we have to address it. The last goal we conceded was after missing a clear chance, and I felt that we couldn't finish the game and lacked strength. I think the players fought with the desire to win, but I haven't been able to work on the balance of the game, how to play, the players' mental control, and the tactical aspects. I am reflecting on that."