J.League resumes! Creating something new and aiming for a comeback in the second half

　After a break of more than a month, the J-League resumes. On the 17th (Saturday), we will face Vissel Kobe in Sec. 13 at home. During this break, Daigoku and So Yondoku have joined the team. Takumi ABE has moved to Yokohama FC, and Nagatomo has also been loaned to Cesena in Italy, resulting in player changes. On the other hand, Gonda is injured, and while the team's condition is not perfect, we have focused on the themes of "aiming for offensive football while striving for the least goals conceded" and "who will score" in preparation for the resumption. To build momentum for the second half of the season, this match is crucial for us to secure a victory. In contrast, Kobe is currently in 15th place with 11 points. In the early part of this season, they have struggled to secure wins, but FW Tokura has become a key player in the front line, and their attacks centered around FW Okubo are powerful and dynamic. Additionally, with players like MF Botti who have high kicking accuracy, we need to be cautious of their long shots and set pieces. For Tokyo, the key will be how to move the ball forward without losing possession and how to switch plays. While raising defensive awareness, we want to win the battles on the flanks and break through to score. This first match after the resumption is important for predicting the future. The starting lineup will feature a two-top of Ricardinho and Daigoku, with Hanyu and Otake on the wings, and Matsushita and Nakamura as the full-backs, with Shioda in goal. Coach Jofuku explained, "Considering each player's characteristics and challenges, I made the closest choice to resolve the current team's issues." He also stated, "Nagatomo has something that no one can imitate, but other players also have unique qualities. As a team, we have the chance to create something new," and the team is united in aiming for victory. As July arrives, the daytime heat continues, but in the evening, it has finally started to cool down at Ajinomoto Stadium. The match started at 18:34 with Kobe's kickoff.

Kajiyama and Otake score from the intended formation! Take a 2-goal lead

　In the 10th minute, Ohtake and Kajiyama intercepted the ball from Kobe on the right side of their own half, passing it to Daigoku in the center. Daigoku received the ball and immediately changed direction, sending a sharp pass to Ricardinho, who had moved up into the space on the left side. Ricardinho brought the ball inside and took a shot that was blocked by the goalkeeper, but Kajiyama, who had dashed into the goal area, calmly pushed in the rebound for a goal! They took the lead with a sharp counterattack. In the 18th minute, Kajiyama passed to Matsushita, who then passed to Ricardinho, who dribbled past the opposing defenders on the left side and entered the left area. Ohtake connected with a direct shot from a negative pass to score an additional goal!! They smoothly transitioned from solid defense to attack, switching gears at key moments to connect for goals, leading by two points early on. After that, they maintained a calm game, not allowing Kobe any freedom. In the 23rd minute, Ricardinho intercepted a ball sent by the goalkeeper during a pass exchange in Kobe's defense line. He immediately took a shot, but it went wide. In the 30th minute, Kobe's MF Edmilson passed to FW Tokura, who was trying to break through behind Tokyo's defense, but Konno marked him tightly, and the shot went wide. In the 35th minute, FW Okubo from Kobe created a play, and MF Edmilson, who ran into the right area, sent a right cross. Left back Mogi, who overlapped to the far side, took a shot, but Hayu blocked it with his body. In the 40th minute, Kajiyama and Matsushita launched a counterattack utilizing Ricardinho's speed. In the 43rd minute, Ricardinho cut inside from the left side and won a left corner kick from a shot, but Matsushita's kick was punched away by Kobe's goalkeeper, preventing them from scoring a third goal. In the first half stoppage time, during a corner kick for Kobe, Shiota collided with an opponent in front of the goal. There was an incident where the game was temporarily stopped due to a head injury, but they did not concede a goal. They maintained a two-point lead and headed into the second half.

Nightmare added time, gave PK, painful draw...

　Kobe changed to a 4-1-4-1 formation towards the end of the first half. In the second half, DF Kondo and DF Ishibitsu were brought in as full-backs, with DF Kitamoto moving to the center. DF Mogi was pushed forward, and MF Matsuoka played as a lone defensive midfielder to launch a counterattack. They applied pressure from the front and attacked aggressively. In the 46th minute, Tokyo's defensive line was pressured and the ball was stolen, leading to a pass from Kobe FW Okubo to the free MF Park in the right area, creating a dangerous situation, but Shiota made a quick save. In the 55th minute, Kobe MF Botti took a shot from distance. In the 58th minute, a powerful shot from Kobe's right MF Park to central MF Ishibitsu was saved by Shiota, resulting in a corner kick. Kobe had more possession, but still did not allow entry into dangerous areas, only permitting shots from mid-range. In the 62nd minute, Hanyu's early cross from the left found Ooguro in the right area, who volleyed but missed the target. In the 63rd minute, Ooguro dropped Hanyu's left cross, and Otake, running inside, took a looping shot that was on target but was blocked by a great save from Kobe's GK. After missing chances, Suzuki was brought in for Hanyu in the 63rd minute, and Ishikawa replaced Ricardinho in the 69th minute. In the 76th minute, Hirayama came on for Otake, and Tokyo also made attacking substitutions to aim for an additional goal. However, in the closing stages, they were pushed back by Kobe's momentum. In the 84th minute, from a counterattack, MF Botti entered the right area. Unable to stop him, he scored a looping shot into the top left corner of the goal, resulting in a conceded goal. Kobe, not giving up, continued to press towards Tokyo's goal with set plays even in the 4 minutes of stoppage time. In the 90th+4 minute, Kobe MF Botti's precise free kick was blocked, resulting in a corner kick. This right corner was cleared once, but Morishige committed a handball on the ball that was thrown back into the goal area, giving away a penalty kick. This was converted by Kobe FW Okubo, and shortly after, the match ended. They were equalized at the end, resulting in a painful draw. 【Player Comments】《Otake》"I was focused on scoring from before the match. I was able to score thanks to a good ball from Ricardinho. I practiced with Ricardinho, so I knew he would pass at that timing. I was able to create a good shape and score. However, after scoring two goals, we couldn't pick up loose balls or second balls, and we lost possession, allowing the opponent more time. That is a major point of reflection." 《Ooguro》"We conceded an unlucky goal at the end, but I think not being able to score the third goal affected the outcome. I also had a decisive chance, and I need to convert those opportunities. Especially in the second half, when we were pushed back by the opponent, I wanted to create a shape to score on the counter. (The play that led to the opening goal) I received a pass from Kajiyama, turned, and tried to bring it forward when I saw Ricardinho moving on the left side. I think I was able to deliver a good pass there, and Kajiyama also pressed well. The connection between the forwards and the defensive midfielders is not bad, and I think it can improve even more. Since we didn't lose today, it's important to use this reflection to prepare for the next match. I want to switch gears." 【Coach Jofuku's Press Conference Summary】"I am grateful to the many fans who came to Ajinomoto Stadium, eagerly awaiting the restart. It is very disappointing that we could not share joy with them. It is hard to accept ending with just one point. It was that kind of match. (What is your evaluation of Ooguro?) I want to play a style of football that brings out each other's strengths so that we can earn three points as a team, including him. I hope he can contribute further to that." 【Kobe Coach Miura's Press Conference Summary】"I am grateful to the supporters who came all the way to the away match. The content changed drastically between the first and second halves, but Tokyo is a team with a solid defense that ranks in the top three in J1. After going down by two goals, being able to equalize shows that the players played well until the end. On the other hand, in the first half, we allowed Tokyo to showcase their strengths, and I reflect on the fact that we fell behind due to my mistake. I think it was a game with that duality. (Why did you change to a 4-1-4-1 formation?) After conceding the second goal in the first half, I changed to a formation with FW Tokura as the lone striker, FW Okubo inside, and MF Botti on the side. We were being shut down by the defensive midfielders and side midfielders, so I changed to a more attacking shape. I think that brought the momentum back to us. (Regarding points of reflection, was there a misreading?) One point was how much we could stop Tokyo's buildup. The plan was to apply more pressure on Morishige, Konno, and Kajiyama, forcing them to make back passes or sideways passes and not allowing them to advance forward. We completely failed to do that, allowing them to play comfortably. In the 4-4-2 formation, it felt like we were just chasing the ball and getting fatigued. I think that was a misreading, and Tokyo's quality was high."