Challenge the semifinals with our own soccer and aim for the semifinal round!

　The Emperor's Cup quarterfinals will be against Urawa Reds. In the 4th round match against Mito, it ended with a goal from an own goal, but we won with no goals conceded by demonstrating perseverance. Although we were troubled by Mito's ball possession, Kanda said, "It was a development that we haven't seen much in the league matches so far, but we were able to endure it firmly. It may have been a good preparation for the Urawa match," reflecting on it as a learning experience. We aim to reach the semifinals for the second consecutive year.

　Urawa, on the other hand, finished 15th in the J1 League with 36 points. They barely survived the relegation battle, but in the Emperor's Cup 2nd Round, they faced Verdy, and in the 3rd Round, they faced Ehime FC. They have demonstrated their strength as a J1 team against J2 teams and have made it this far. Moreover, in order to overcome the bitter experience of the league matches, their motivation for this tournament should be high. Above all, as Kiyoshi OKUMA, the coach, and Tokyo players have been cautious, saying "Urawa's players have high individual abilities," their attacking power is also a significant threat.

　Tokyo will face the 4th Round with the same members. Coach Kiyoshi OKUMA said, "There are parts where Kajiyama gained confidence by being able to play without anxiety for 90 minutes. Including Nao, there is a sense of freshness and fulfillment." He wants to create a solid block and defend firmly, as well as aggressively seize opportunities by quickly switching tactics. If we lose in physicality and intensity, we may be forced into a disadvantageous position. That's why we want to emphasize "tenacity" more than ever before.

　In the match against Urawa, Tokyo has not won since the 2004 Nabisco Final. However, there is no need to be afraid or lament the past bad compatibility. As Inamoto says, "We want to continue trying to break down the opponent's weaknesses by moving the ball easily when it is our rhythm." We will evolve our efforts this season and challenge head-on. We will fight with our current style of soccer and go for the victory. The match started at 13:04 with Urawa's kickoff at Kumagaya Athletic Stadium.

Leading with Ishikawa's goal, but unable to score additional points due to lack of accuracy, the first half ends.

　Urawa, who tried to take the initiative from the start, calmly entered the game. They pressed hard, stole the ball, and passed it forward. In the 7th minute, Yu intercepted the ball in the midfield and passed it to Lucas in the penalty area. Lucas got into a shooting position, but he lacked momentum while competing with the opponent, and the goalkeeper caught the ball. In the flow of this play, Urawa's left-back Yamada was substituted due to injury, and they created a rhythm starting from the right side with Ishikawa and Tokunaga.

　11 minutes, Lucas makes a move in the center and Hanyu takes a shot near the area following the loose ball from the defense. However, it goes just above the bar. In the 13th minute, from a right throw-in in their own half, Lucas passes behind the opponent's defense with one touch. Ishikawa breaks through here, dribbles up, and takes a shot with good timing, but it goes just to the left... In the 16th minute, Tokunaga advances boldly with a dribble. He raises a cross from the outside and exchanges passes with Ishikawa, but they fail to connect inside.

　At the 20th minute, this time attacking from the left side, Lucas -> Taniyama combination, Ishikawa received a pass in front of the goal and boldly took a step forward with a middle shot. The controlled shot went in the upper left corner! Ishikawa, who scored the decisive goal in last year's Emperor's Cup quarterfinals, took the lead with a beautiful middle shot. They tried to continue attacking while connecting the ball, but the coordination and accuracy in the front line were slightly lacking. They ended the first half with a one-goal lead.

Defending against the opponent's fierce attacks with high concentration, and achieving a victory for the first time since 2004 in the Urawa match!

　In the 48th minute after the start of the second half, Lucas in the center dropped Ishikawa's cross to the far side of the valley with a quick restart, but this pass was slightly off and missed a great chance. In the 51st minute, they launched a counterattack from the opponent's mistake, and from Takahashi -> Hanyu -> Ishikawa's cross, Lucas timed it and shot an exquisite shot, but it was off target. In the 54th minute, Hanyu made a move from a right throw-in and earned a right corner kick. Ishikawa's kick was cleared once, but again a right cross. Morishige headed the ball, but it went straight to the goalkeeper.

　But when they missed the chance, Urawa dominated the ball afterwards and pushed them back. In the 67th minute, Umazaki, the right midfielder, flew out to the goal line with a big side change, but Gonda caught it firmly. In the 71st minute, Marciolishardes easily passed the press of Tokyo's defense and made a through pass to the front line. Takasaki, who came on as a substitute, broke through and took a shot, but Gonda quickly reacted and caught it.

　Despite being pushed back for a long period of time, we managed to prevent the opponent from scoring with good defensive coordination. Furthermore, after the 75th minute, Urawa created several scoring opportunities in the penalty area, but Mokuhara, Imano, Takahashi, and others defended bravely with quick reactions to prevent any danger. Even in the final minutes, we faced intense attacks from Urawa, but we maintained our focus and protected the valuable goal scored by Ishikawa, securing our place in the semifinal round! We will face C Osaka at Nagai Stadium in Osaka on the 29th (Thu) at 13:00.

　【Player Comment】《Ishikawa》"There was an accident with Urawa's left full-back, and I felt that the balance was a little disrupted from there. So first of all, I made an effort to run behind more than usual, and the ball was coming there, so I kept aiming for it. As for the goal, it was a situation where I received the ball in the center...but there is also the center, the side, and the back, so I think I was able to play with a good balance. I had the image of shooting from the first touch of the ball. When I received it from Lukon before that, I also thought about turning and shooting...but I had the image that if I returned the ball once, it would lead to another chance."

　It was a form that I had been practicing and trying repeatedly, and everyone had an image of that play, and the combination was good. Usually, I often use the inside from the side, but I thought it was also important for me to continue entering that area. I didn't have the luxury of aiming for the frame with the shot, but I could see the position of the goal, so I kicked it thinking of flowing it in there. I was able to calmly kick it, taking the power out in a good way.

　"As for the way the match started, there was a feeling of being too rushed. Nyu-san and Rukon, as well as both sides, pressed from the front, and Kaji-kun also moved vigorously back and forth... I was a little worried about fighting with that much physical exertion, but it was significant that we were able to carry it out in the first half. So, in a sense, it was expected that we would be pushed back by Urawa in the second half. I think there is value in everyone defending together and winning, overcoming difficult moments, and overcoming them both mentally and in terms of play."

　(There were many good saves, right?) That's because the defense players were closing down the angles. There shouldn't have been any shots from the front with plenty of free space and options. After that, it's my job. I just fulfilled my role. But we want to continue playing that first half football for the entire 90 minutes. If we can do it as long as possible, I think our chances of winning will increase.

　[Summary of Coach Ookuma's Press Conference] "Regarding the first half, it was a very productive half, including the intention of putting Nao in. There was a lot of movement and we were able to pass the ball well. If we can do that for the entire 90 minutes, it would mean that the team has really improved. In the second half, I had a feeling that it wouldn't go as smoothly as the first half. However, we were able to show the resilient defense that we have cultivated in J2. We need to calm down and provide support quickly, and raise the team's common understanding from carving passes in the midfield to taking the ball from a counterattack and scoring the second goal. I felt that this will be necessary for the team in the upcoming two Emperor's Cup matches and when we go to J1."

　Although we did well in terms of patience, it is difficult to defend the remaining Emperor's Cup and J1 in the current situation. We have little time, but we want to correct the issues mentioned and continue to fight the remaining two matches in a way that shows results as a team. FC Tokyo does not have a history of playing on New Year's Day, so we want to switch and focus to be able to play soccer on January 1st and approach the next match with concentration."

　[Urawa Hori's press conference summary] "Both the players and myself really wanted to win this game, but unfortunately, it ended up with this result. FC Tokyo is a tough team, having experienced difficulties in J2. Congratulations on the win and I hope you continue to do your best in future matches. Regarding the game, the players expressed what we have been conveying in training and our intentions, but it didn't translate into results."

　Players have been running well and I appreciate it. Despite them doing what we aimed for, we ended up with this result and I feel my own lack of ability. (What was the cause of the first half not going well?) In the first half, especially at the beginning of our attacks, we felt some pressure and couldn't deliver the ball to where we intended. I think that was the biggest issue. We felt the pressure. I think that was the problem."