The 2016 Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company J3 League, which started in March, has reached Sec. 24.

With 5 wins, 7 draws, and 11 losses, they have 22 points and are in 14th place.
This round's opponent Y.S.C.C. Yokohama has 4 wins, 4 draws, and 15 losses, with a total of 16 points, placing them in 16th position.
In the previous match, despite dominating the game, we were unable to score and lost 0-1 after conceding a penalty from a counterattack.
Tokyo's starting eleven, who do not want to suffer consecutive losses in the league against the same opponent, has GK Ue.
The DF line features players in their teens from right to left: Yanagi, Hasukawa, Okazaki, and Ogawa in this match.
In the midfield, Nozawa and Suzuki are positioned as defensive midfielders, with Mizunuma, Ikuchi, and Kobayashi lined up in the second row from the right, and Insoo YU at the front.
Yokohama YS also lines up in a 4-5-1 formation like Tokyo, with Murayama, a graduate of the FC Tokyo Academy, standing in goal.
The temperature rose to 31.9℃, and the match started with a kickoff from YS Yokohama under strong sunlight.

[First Half]

Both teams started quietly.
As time progressed, Tokyo maintained possession of the ball and pushed into the YS Yokohama territory, but they were unable to score.
YS Yokohama simply utilizes the space in the Tokyo defense, launching attacks with counters and quick counters.
Tokyo's first chance came in the 3rd minute, as Yanagi broke through on the right side and delivered a low cross to the near post. Insoo YU jumped in, but the defender blocked it.
In the following 4 minutes, Insoo YU took a shot from a chance created by the fabric, but the goalkeeper punched it away.
In the 7th minute, when the player has the ball in the center, Insoo YU makes a run behind.
Using this as a decoy, he connects to Mizunuma on the right side, and although the cross is aimed at Insoo YU at the far side, the header shot is deflected.
Kobayashi aims for the loose ball with a jumping volley, but it hits the post and is caught by the GK.
They continue to hold the ball, but effective vertical passes are hard to come by, and they cannot break through the opponent.
YS Yokohama changed their system to 4-1-4-1 around the 10-minute mark, forming a block in their own half while keeping one FW.
From there, they attempted to launch a counterattack, but the Tokyo defense prevented any chances for the opponent with proactive interceptions and quick transitions between offense and defense.
Tokyo continues to break down the opponent's defense, but time passes without scoring.
In the 30th minute, Mizunuma received the ball on the right side and aimed for Insoo YU, who was free in front of the goal, but the header could not be connected.
Tokyo took 8 shots in the first half but failed to score, ending the first half with a scoreless tie.
 

【Halftime】
Coach Nakamura's Comments
"We are being aggressive."
Let's put more players on the cross. Be aware of reacting to loose balls as well.
Manage risks during defense as if you were on the attack.
Let's continue to work hard together.
 

【Second Half】
The second half has started with Tokyo's kickoff. Tokyo replaced Ogawa with Okaniwa, positioning Yanagi on the left side and Okaniwa as the right back.
YS Yokohama started aggressively, but after around the 50th minute, they regained their composure, and Tokyo began to dominate with strong defense.
Among them, Okaniwa and Mizunuma on the right side begin to actively seize the rhythm of the attack.
Then, they score the opening goal from an attack on the right side.
In the 63rd minute, Okaniwa passed vertically to Insoo YU on the right side, and YU connected directly to Mizunuma, who delivered a sharp cross.
As the ball flows to the left side, it is picked up by the player who sends a soft cross to Insoo YU in the center, scoring the opening goal with a header.
Furthermore, the invigorated Tokyo, in the 68th minute, received the ball in the central midfield from Yanagi, and as he looked up, he sent a long pass to Insoo YU, who had broken through behind the opposing defense line.
Insoo YU calmly scores in a one-on-one with the GK from a dribble, making it 2-0.
After that, Tokyo continued to strengthen their attack, focusing on the right side. In the 69th minute, Mizunuma connected with Suzuki, who was free on the far side, and he unleashed a powerful shot with his left foot, but it went to the left of the goal.
In the 74th minute, Okaniwa broke free on the right side and dribbled in, taking a surprising shot aimed at the near top corner, but it went wide of the goal.
In the 79th minute, Mizunuma received the ball from Nozawa in the center and his cross from the right side was deflected once, but after picking up the loose ball, Mizunuma made a vertical run in a one-on-one situation.
Winning this one-on-one and delivering a cross, but it doesn't connect inside.
In the 84th minute, after launching a counterattack, Yanagi intercepted the ball in the center of his own half and passed it to Yuins, who made a run behind the right side.
Dribble from the side and finally connect to Hiraoka, who entered from the left side.
Hiraoka cuts in and takes a shot, but it is blocked by the DF.
Time passes without being able to score the third goal, but the Tokyo defense remains focused until the end of the match.
Secured the sixth victory with a score of 2-0.

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

【Summary of Coach Nakamura's Press Conference and Comments】
"First of all, I would like to thank the many supporters who came to the home game.
I think it was very good that we were able to share the victory of 2-0 together.
We approached the game with the feeling that neither of us could afford to lose, as we were both lower in the rankings.
In the previous match, we were disappointed with our performance, so I thought we should start over from the individual basics and focus on entering the game, starting from training.
Compared to the previous match, I think the players were very conscious of the basics such as ball contests and transitions, which led to us taking control of the game.
However, we struggled to score, increasing the number of players entering the box and the awareness to dive in, as well as ideas in front of the goal. We aimed to enhance both awareness and quality, including combinations, not just from the outside.
I believe that because we maintained that awareness until the end in the heat and entered the goal area, we were able to score, resulting in this outcome.
However, I told the players that J3 will have a two-week break, so we should unite as a team for the Levain Cup. I believe that a few members from this group will be on the bench, so I conveyed that we should switch gears and do our best starting tomorrow.
 

[Player Comments]

"Yanagi"
"In the first half, the pace was slow, and although I had opportunities to deliver crosses, their quality was poor, and I couldn't create the flow for the team."
In the second half, I think it was good that we actively aimed for shots, went for the goal, and achieved results with assists.
(Although the members and positions changed in the second half?) I believe I was able to maintain my focus and defend solidly without changing my play, regardless of which players were on the field.
(What was the scene of the assist?) When I had the ball and looked up, I made eye contact with Insoo YU, and he indicated with his hand, 'I want it here.' I think I was able to deliver the pass as intended.
(Although FC Tokyo's starting lineup was 20 years old) I was the oldest in the final line (in the second half). I fought with the awareness that I would definitely not let them break through the final goal.
I want to focus on achieving visible results in the matches, whether it's my own performance, today's assist, or scoring and assisting in the next matches.
 

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