Get revenge on enemy territory!

On April 15th of this year, Tokyo welcomed G Osaka at their home ground, the Japan National Stadium. They allowed an opening goal by Inamoto, equalized with Amaral's goal, but then were stunned by two quick goals from Kojima, ultimately losing with a score of 1-3. G Osaka, who had been suffering from a losing streak until the previous match, celebrated their long-awaited victory, while Tokyo, following their defeat in the previous match against Kashima, experienced their first consecutive loss of the season and their first home defeat, which was a shocking event. In the midst of heavy rain, Tokyo, who lost the battle of attrition at home, suffered significant physical and mental damage.

Then, on July 29th, more than three months had passed and Tokyo was heading to the away Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium for revenge.

The situation is different from the match in the 1st stage, as both teams had one loss each until the 6th round of the previous match. G Osaka is in 2nd place and Tokyo is in 3rd place, making it a highly anticipated match between top teams. Both teams were determined not to lose in order to avoid consecutive losses and stay in the top positions, and it was expected to be an intense battle of wills and fierce attacks and defenses. Although Tokyo lost in the previous match against Hiroshima, there were many positive aspects in their offensive play, and the team's condition was actually heading in a good direction. It was hoped that they would definitely take revenge in this match.

Despite conceding the first goal, a lucky own goal equalized the score.

The game started and G Osaka was the first to find their rhythm. G Osaka launched an intense press from the front line, and after winning the ball, the Japanese national team's midfielders Inamoto and Vitau became the starting point of the attack, building up the midfield with accurate passing and launching a strong attack by passing the ball to the front line. In the front line, Nino Bure, a candidate for the Croatian Olympic team, who is currently being promoted, became the target with his flexible technique despite his tall stature, and another forward, Yoshihara, made sharp movements to break into the spaces on the left and right and aim for a shot. In the 2nd minute of the match, Nino Bure received the ball on the right side, dribbled inside, and passed it to Nakagawa in the center. Nakagawa played a direct pass to Yoshihara in the front line. The pass hit Tokyo's defender Komine's shoulder and dropped in front of Yoshihara, who was running into the penalty area on the right. Yoshihara then struck a powerful shot with his right foot into the goal net.

Following the previous match, Tokyo once again conceded the opening goal and woke up as a result. From the start of the game, they were completely overwhelmed by G Osaka's intense press and couldn't control the ball, but gradually started to develop Tokyo's style of play. Tokyo kept the ball in a low position with the in-form Yoshina and expanded it to the sides. From the left, Fujiyama actively joined the attack and tried to break down the G Osaka defense in combination with Masuda on the same side. When Masuda kept the ball on the left side, Fujiyama would pass him on the outside, making Masuda's marking weaker, and Masuda would either dribble inside, distribute passes to Amaral, TUTO, or Fujiyama ahead, who had overtaken him. On the right side, Yukihiko started using his speed to easily cross from the outside.

Tokyo gradually started to create a good shape, but the attitude of entering from G Osaka's defense on this day was thorough, and they couldn't create scoring opportunities easily. In particular, Inamoto's presence was significant, and although several passes were connected in the midfield, whenever they tried to play a vertical pass, it was always intercepted by Inamoto. Although it's not all because of him, with sharp anticipation and strong tackles, he disrupted passes to TUTO and Amaral.

Tokyo, who couldn't make a decisive pass from the midfield and couldn't reach the goal even with Amaral and TUTO's aggressive breakthroughs, sent a daring long pass from DF Sandro to the front line Amaral in the 20th minute. The opponent's DF Dambury, who was competing, tried to clear the ball with his head, but unfortunately, the ball rolled into their own goal, resulting in an own goal. Tokyo equalized with an unexpected lucky own goal.

A decrease in midfield composition due to Kina's injury and subsequent withdrawal

Tokyo, who caught up with the tie with an unexpected goal, regained their breath. In the 30th minute, Kina, who received the ball on the left side, broke through the opponent's defense with a brilliant individual skill and crossed it. Yukihiko then took a reverse shot from the keep, but unfortunately it missed to the right of the goal. After this, Kina became the starting point in the midfield, spreading the ball left and right to create a rhythm.

On the other hand, G Osaka also started with Inamoto, and Vitaou passed a sharp through pass to Yoshihara and Ninobure in the front line with his versatile pass. In the 35th minute, a pass from Vitaou to right back Yanagimoto was successful, and when Yanagimoto raised a pinpoint cross, Ninobure, who was waiting in the center, threatened the Tokyo goal with a head that was one step ahead. In the following 37th minute, Vitaou rushed to the ball that came out in front of the goal and collided with Doi. Doi's good judgment saved the crisis, but Vitaou's technique, pass, and surprising leg strength and physical fitness were also impressive.

After that, not only the forward but also the midfielders Futagawa and Yamaguchi created scoring opportunities by running forward from Vitau's through pass, but they were somehow prevented by Doi's fine save. While effectively marking forwards Yoshihara and Nino Boure, Kominato and Sandro did not allow them to do decisive work, but dangerous situations occurred repeatedly because they couldn't catch Vitau.

Somehow, an accident befalls Tokyo, which had been repeatedly counterattacking from Kina as a starting point, preventing G Osaka's attack. In the 40th minute just before the end of the first half, Vitaou made a fierce tackle on Kina, who was keeping the ball on the left side of Tokyo's own field. Kina fell violently and was forced to leave the field due to injury. Vitaou received a yellow card, but for Kina's injury and subsequent exit from the field, Vitaou was given a red card (ejected with a single offense), making the losses for both teams even. It was such a painful event for Tokyo.

Intense battle between both teams

In the second half, G Osaka came out to win. From the start of the second half, Vita made dynamic movements and created chances, Inamoto continued to work diligently in the defensive midfield position, and always joined the attack whenever there was a chance.

On the other hand, Tokyo is struggling after losing Kina, with a decrease in ball possession rate in the midfield, and difficult times continue. They are still unable to catch Vitau and are passing through a through pass to a player who breaks through vertically from there. Barely, Sandro and Komine, both center backs, are holding their ground and not allowing goals, but they are in a defensive state.

70 minutes, Tokyo also made a move. It was the introduction of "goal scorer Kamino". The Kamino effect was immediately apparent. Tokyo was able to create space in the front line by adding Kamino to the post, and Amaral and TUTO started to build attacks from the balls dropped by Kamino. In addition, the participation of both full-backs in the attack became more effective.

In the 27th minute, a scoring opportunity was created from a few chances. TUTO, who came in from the right side while dribbling past the opponent, floated a pass to Kamiya on the left side with his left foot. Kamiya quickly volleyed the ball from a chest trap. Unfortunately, it was saved by the goalkeeper, but being able to take a decisive shot from such a difficult situation is something that only a "striker" can do. He also scored a determined goal in the previous match, raising expectations.

In the 28th minute that followed, Amaral kept and broke through the ball that came out to the left side, and rushed towards the goal. He took a powerful shot after entering the penalty area, but it was also blocked by the goalkeeper's fine save.

The back and forth continued. In the 29th minute, a decisive shot was taken from a counter attack, but Komine made a super tackle and it resulted in a corner. In the following 31st minute, Nino Bure headed a cross from the right (G Osaka), but it went over the bar. In the 38th minute, Matsunami, who came on as a substitute, headed a sharp cross after the right side (G Osaka) was broken through with a one-two, but it also went over the bar. On the contrary, Tokyo endured G Osaka's fierce attacks and in the 40th minute, Naito brought the ball in from the right side and took a long shot from about 35 meters, hitting the crossbar. As the ball bounced back, Kobayashi, who came on as a substitute, jumped in and Inamoto prevented a dangerous play (leaving a bruise on Kobayashi's face...). Kobayashi was brought down in this play and the referee indicated a penalty kick. However, for some reason, the assistant referee raised the offside flag, and after a discussion between the referee and the assistant referee, the initially awarded penalty kick was withdrawn due to offside.

In addition, in the stoppage time, Naito once again took a shot from the overlap, and on the contrary, Matsunami of G Osaka took a decisive volley shot, and the fierce offense and defense continued until the end. And then, the whistle for the end of the second half sounded.

Sinking in Vitau's super goal...

The match ended with a disappointing ending. In the 2nd minute of extra time, when Yanagimoto, the right back of G Osaka, held the ball on the right side, Bitau sprinted with all his might towards the corner space on the right side. Tokyo's Seki followed closely, but a moment too late, and immediately after, a pass from Yanagimoto passed through, and Bitau unleashed a powerful shot with his right foot from an angle outside the penalty area. That bullet shot went straight through the near side of Doi and pierced into the goal. In the next moment, the referee's whistle blew, and the match ended. Tokyo couldn't contain Bitau until the very end, and in the end, this man who needed the most attention scored a winning goal. It's regrettable that Asari and Kina had to leave the field due to injury, but it's no use saying it now. Throughout the match, G Osaka had control of the ball for a long time, but it's a fact that there were several opportunities to win. It's also true that fatigue was evident in Tokyo's players in this match, and we want to prepare and start again in the next week. The real battle starts now.

[Coach Okuma's Comment]

Due to the schedule and weather conditions, today was tough on the players. I think they were able to give their best despite these conditions.

Today, Amaral's physical activity was particularly low, and he was unable to defend from the front line. Even if one person's balance is disrupted, compact defense cannot be achieved. Gamba Osaka is a team that has a very high level of physical activity in the midfield and adopts a fluid positioning. The problem was that we couldn't catch up with them in that aspect. In the future, we will have a week off, so we will adjust our condition properly and aim to be in perfect shape for the next match.