Tokyo has accumulated 8 points with 2 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss in the last 5 matches.

The opponent this round is Toyama, who suffered a complete defeat of 0-3 at AJINOMOTO FIELD NISHIGAOKA in Sec. 4.
I want to clear the frustrating result at home here at Toyama Stadium.
The starting eleven of Tokyo is GK Enclosure.
The DF line consists of teenage players from right to left: Yanagi, Hasukawa, Okazaki, and Ogawa.
The double pivot of Nozawa and Suzuki supports the midfield, with Kiji, Hiraoka, and Uchida lined up in the second row, and Hayashi in the front line in a 4-5-1 formation.
The average age of the selected members is 19.53 years, resulting in a very young team composition.
Toyama sets up in a 4-4-2 formation, with the team's top scorer 23 Kayanuma starting on the bench. The frontline features 9 Kakeguchi, while the midfield includes 10 Eito, and the center line is solidified with veterans including GK 1 Iida.
The match started with a kickoff in Tokyo, watched by a large number of 5,081 fans and supporters.

[First Half]

Tokyo was registered as 4-5-1, but in reality, Hayashi and Hiraoka formed a two-top style 4-4-2.
Tokyo wanted to take control from the start, but Toyama took the initiative with intense pressing.
In the 2nd minute, Hayashi headed a cross from Ogawa on the left side for the first shot, and in the 5th minute, Hayashi aimed with another header from a free kick, but after that, the team continued to be pressured.
Tokyo tries to connect the ball, but they are unable to do so due to the defense from Toyama's frontline and the intense pressure in midfield.
Then they are threatened with a goal from a set piece.
In the 8th minute, a left corner kick was taken freely at the far side, leading to a crisis from a free kick in the 10th and 14th minutes.
Furthermore, in the 19th minute, a free kick was awarded to Toyama on the left side of their own half, and a surprising restart led to a ground pass down the left side.
If you allow deep penetration like this, a free dive into a negative ground cross will occur, but the decisive shot goes over the goal.
Tokyo also attempted a counterattack from a corner kick in the 20th minute, but Hayashi could not hit the target with Ogawa's left corner kick at the far side.
In the 26th and 27th minutes, Yanagi approached the goal from the right side but could not score.
Toyama does not give Tokyo any openings by alternating between pressing from the front and retreating to create a defensive block.
Although they occasionally create opportunities to attack, they struggle to maintain possession of the ball and continue to be troubled by Toyama's sharp starts in both defense and offense.
In the 38th minute, Ogawa received a warning, and by this time, three players—Nozawa (suspended for the next match due to accumulated warnings), Okazaki, and Ogawa—had received yellow cards, leading to a more severe situation.
Even so, Tokyo launched a counterattack in the 41st minute. Kijima dribbled up the center and connected with Yanagi. Yanagi passed to Hiraoka, who had dived in on the far side, but the defender touched it first.
Then, Toyama picked up this ball and launched a counterattack.
Toyama simply connects the ball to the front line and attempts to dribble solo from the center, but Hasukawa prevents the one-on-one.
Unable to create any real chances in the first half, we will challenge in the second half.

[Halftime]

Coach Nakamura
"Let's actively receive the ball. Have a strong desire to receive the ball yourself."
Let's actively go for the ball in the duels.
I can't go home like this.
 

【Second Half】
Tokyo substitutes Hiraoka for Koyama, moving Uchida to the right side.
The front line switches to a formation with Hayashi at the top and a slightly lower position for the fabric.
Toyama will start the second half with a kickoff, without making any player substitutions.
Tokyo intensified their attacking stance with a long-range shot immediately after the start of the second half, but the momentum shifted back to Toyama.
In the 47th minute, as they approached the goal from a counterattack, they allowed an advance deep into the left side in the 49th minute, but the cross was blocked by the defender.
The left corner kick given here went wide to the far side, leaving the opposing player free, but the shot taken from the return went over the goal. They escaped the danger.
In the 56th minute, after a right corner kick was crossed back from the far side, a decisive shot was allowed from a scramble, but the defender covered it on the goal line.
Although it is difficult to maintain possession of the ball, Tokyo attempts to counterattack.
In the 66th minute, Ue deflects a powerful shot from the left side with one hand.
When the left corner kick is caught by the defense, Suzuki makes a run up the right side to initiate a counterattack.
In the end, Hayashi connects with a cross from the right, but it does not result in a goal.
In the 70th minute, Hayashi contested a long kick from Kai, and Suzuki picked it up.
Suzuki plays a vertical pass to Kiji, who turns and sends a through pass to Hayashi.
Hayashi cuts inside from the right side of the penalty area in a one-on-one situation and aims for the goal with his left foot, but it goes to the left of the target.
Tokyo, gaining momentum, saw Yanagi penetrate into the right side of the penalty area in the 73rd minute from a counterattack. He attempted a vertical dribble and aimed for a low cross, but it was blocked by the defense.
Toyama's energy dropped, and Tokyo, which took control by winning battles for the ball and picking up second balls, launched a robust attack from both sides in the 76th minute, and in the 79th minute.
From the right side, Yanagi crosses to Ogawa, who runs behind the opposite side, and then he returns it to the center.
Here, Hayashi and Koyama dive in but are barely unable to connect.
Toyama also counterattacks by simply kicking long balls to the heads or spaces of the FW after stealing the ball in their own territory, but Okazaki and Hasukawa respond tenaciously.
In the open play of the final minutes, in the 86th minute, after a corner kick from the right by Toyama led to a series of attacks, a decisive shot was allowed in the center of the penalty area, but Nozawa cleared it on the goal line.
Even in additional time, Toyama created a chance, but the shot went straight to the goalkeeper, and the match ended as it was.
Accumulated 1 point with a score of 0-0.

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】
"First of all, I would like to thank the many supporters who came all the way from Toyama to watch the match.
We decided to start strong for those who support us, but in the first half, we were unable to move the ball due to the opponent's quick pressure from the front, and we ended up on the defensive.
The player receiving the ball has also become timid, facing the reality that they cannot move forward easily.
What I told the players at halftime is that there is something to be said for holding it at 0-0.
In the second half, let's show more of our play. We talked about receiving the ball with courage, running behind with courage, and going into challenges with courage.
I think the players fought very well compared to the first half.
However, Toyama was a good team until the end, and there were some dangerous moments from set plays, but I think the players did well to earn one point.

【Player Comments】
《Ogawa》
"In the first half, there were many moments where the opponent set the pace, and we had to endure a lot. In the second half, we firmly held onto the ball, and at times during the second half, it was our flow, so I think if we could have scored in those moments, it would have been a match we could have won."
(What is the difference between the first half and the second half?) As a team, in the first half, there were few players showing themselves when we had the ball, but in the second half, there were generally more players showing themselves, and everyone was trying to receive the ball, so I think we were able to move the ball around.
(What about your own play?) It was a match where issues were evident on both the offensive and defensive sides. Especially regarding the attack, I believe I need to produce results such as crosses and assists that lead to goals.
(Towards the next match) For a week, as a team, we want to work hard to win against Kashima and secure 3 points.

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