Breaking free from the fierce competition!?

The J2 top battle, where the rankings change fiercely, has been in a "dumpling state" where no team has been able to pull ahead, but Niigata and Oita, who have greatly livened up the first half (always joining the top group), have slowed down. As a result, Tokyo and Kawasaki F, who have always been in the top, have started to pull away a little. Niigata was hoping to ride the wave with a great result of 2 wins and 1 draw in the first three games of the second half against Tokyo, Sapporo, and Kawasaki F, but they were unable to extend their points with a painful draw against bottom-ranked Kofu, and fell to 3rd place (37 points). Oita also couldn't break out of their 5-game losing streak and slipped down to 4th place (35 points), so Tokyo (42 points) and Kawasaki F (44 points) were able to break away from the close battle. If Tokyo wins this game in 90 minutes, they will extend their points to 45 and keep their top spot, but if it goes to extra time and they win, they will have 44 points and fall to 2nd place behind Kawasaki F in goal difference. This is a game they must win in order to widen the gap with 3rd place and below.

Unable to find a clue to the attack...

The match was a slow-paced affair with both teams cautiously observing their opponents. Tokyo wanted to launch attacks from both wings (i.e. full-back positions), but due to accumulated warnings, their right full-back Umayama was absent, resulting in a lack of attacking options on the right side. Almir, who was expected to be a key player alongside Amaral in a high position, struggled to make an impact against Tosu's tight marking and lost the ball frequently, disrupting the team's rhythm. As Almir gradually dropped deeper (i.e. to the position of a defensive midfielder) to get involved in the play, the burden on Amaral in the forward line increased, and their attacking options became even more limited due to thorough man-marking. Fortunately, the proactive involvement of left full-back Fujiyama in the attack created a few chances and even produced some decisive moments, but the difficult situation remained unchanged, with the attack struggling to build up play towards the right side.

Sagan Tosu, on the other hand, showed a simple style of soccer by aggressively pressing and stealing the ball, then delivering it to their forward, Takehara (J2 top scorer), to create opportunities on the wings. However, Sagan Tosu's attacks were hindered by frequent passing mistakes near the final third, and Takehara was tightly marked by Furube, while Sandro, who excels in aerial duels, consistently cleared crosses, preventing any clear-cut chances. Tokyo, on the other hand, maintained a numerical advantage in defense due to the limited involvement of their right full-back in the attack, ensuring balance and stability. However, there were concerns in the midfield and defense, as they were vulnerable to counterattacks due to easy (horizontal) passing mistakes.

Leading by two points, they shake off Tosu's fierce pursuit!

In the second half, Tosu tried to break through Tokyo's solid defense by taking aggressive shots from the center and far away. In the 50th minute, they took a powerful shot from the center, but GK Suzuki made a fine save. On the other hand, Tokyo confirmed the halftime instructions from the coach to actively target the opponent's defense from behind. As a result, substitute Kaburagi started to make dynamic movements in the front line with speed, causing the opponent's marking to shift and allowing Amaral, who had not been able to fulfill his role in the first half, to function. Both teams finally started to play the game they were supposed to play. In the 59th minute, Yukihiro, who had not been able to deliver an effective cross in the first half, persisted on the right side and sent a perfect pinpoint cross to the center. Almir, who was waiting for it, pushed the ball into the goal with a powerful diving header, finally breaking the deadlock and scoring the opening goal. Riding on this momentum, Tokyo scored their second goal in the 67th minute. This time, Amaral evaded the defenders with nimble footwork and kicked the ball into the net with his left foot. However, just as they were trying to score the decisive third goal, Kaburagi received a second yellow card and was sent off in the 70th minute. The situation changed completely. Tokyo, who had to defend their two-goal lead, naturally became defensive and started to receive the fierce attacks from Tosu, who pushed forward with all their players. Amaral, who had been performing well in the defensive line, became tired and his movement decreased. Tokyo, who were already outnumbered, were dominated in the midfield by the energetic Tosu. Although they were not completely broken, they faced numerous powerful shots from the center, but GK Suzuki's reactions were perfect on this day, making fine saves and preventing Tosu from scoring even though they could have conceded two goals. In the 80th minute, Tokyo took advantage of Tosu's mistake and had a decisive chance on the counterattack, but failed to score. The remaining time was all about defending. In the 85th minute, they finally conceded a goal when Asari's careless sideways pass, which had been a sign since the first half, was intercepted. There were 9 minutes left (including 4 minutes of stoppage time), but they lost the ball due to half-hearted time-wasting tactics and faced more attacking situations. However, with GK Suzuki at the center, they remained focused until the end, managed to hold on, and successfully resisted Tosu's intense pursuit, despite the difficult situation of 9 shots against 14.

<Coach Okuma's Comment>

While we were in a situation where we could aim for the third goal, we ended up in a difficult position due to our own mistakes (red card), and we will reflect on and correct this as a learning experience for the future. In terms of attack, Almir dropped back too much and we couldn't take the initiative to exploit the opponent's weaknesses, which led to a difficult development where we couldn't establish a rhythm. However, it was a big help that we were able to withstand Suzuki's defense well. Regarding the current situation of being in first place, I don't think there is much to be happy about yet, as there is still a long way to go. Right now, we just need to change our mindset and focus on the next matches against Sapporo and Kawasaki Frontale.