Entering the second half of the league, we will face Kashima in an away game with all our might.

　As we enter Sec. 18 of the league, we face an away game against Kashima Antlers. In the previous match against Nagoya, we conceded a goal just before the end and suffered a shocking defeat, resulting in two consecutive losses. This match is crucial as we want to avoid a third consecutive loss at all costs. Following this, we have a series of away games against the top teams, so we need to fight with determination and composure to aim for points. On the other hand, Kashima had been at the top from Sec. 13 to Sec. 16, but after losing to Shimizu in the last match, they are now in third place. However, they have only lost three matches this season. Naturally, they will aim to secure three points at home this match and will come in with a strong mindset to avoid consecutive losses. During the break, defender Lee transferred to Qatar. Additionally, forward Marquinhos was injured and unable to play in the last match, but they have high-caliber players like defender Inoha and forwards Kōrō and Ōsako, so they do not feel a drop in strength. In response, we want to disrupt their play with passing and side changes, exploiting any gaps to score. We aim for victory through a united effort and a fight that does not give up until the end. Tokyo has seen Akamine transfer to Sendai on a loan deal. Meanwhile, forward Maeda Shunsuke has joined, but he has not yet participated in full team training. We are facing this match under those circumstances, but Hayabusa will not play due to concerns about his foot condition. Also, Kajiyama injured his right ankle the day before, and since he cannot play at "100 percent" (Coach Jōfuku), he will be removed from the lineup at the last minute. Amidst these ongoing accidents, Tokunaga will start for the first time since Sec. 13. Kim Yong-gun, who participated in the national team match on the 11th, will also be in the starting lineup, with Matsushita on the left midfield, Mukuara on the right back, and Nakamura on the left back. We are truly entering this match as a total force. In the midst of the Obon holiday, it is cloudy yet humid at Kashima Soccer Stadium. The match started at 19:04 with Tokyo's kickoff.

Forced to struggle, conceding a goal from a set piece...

　From the beginning, we were pushed back by Kashima. In the 1st minute, FW Kuroki attempted an overhead shot from a cross, and in the 6th minute, we were hit by a counterattack, with Tokyo DF's clearance picked up by Kashima DF Arai, who took a shot from mid-range. In the 8th minute, MF Ogasawara took a looping shot after a clearance from a cross. Tokyo struggled from the start, unable to pick up second balls. Even when we regained possession in a low position, we couldn't connect passes against Kashima's intense press. In the 15th minute, Tokunaga's right cross was contested by Hirayama, but the ball was taken by Kashima, leading to a counterattack. A cross from right MF Nozawa was dropped by FW Osako, and DF Jouton unleashed a powerful shot, but we escaped to a corner thanks to Shiota's save. In the 16th minute, Ishikawa attacked down the right side to the touchline and made a backward pass. This passed through the gap between Kashima DF and reached Hirayama in front of the area. Hirayama took a powerful shot, but it went straight to the GK. In the 20th minute, a long ball from Kim Yong-gun went behind Kashima DF. Hirayama broke free and took a shot from a tight angle, but the GK saved it. In the 21st minute, we launched a speedy attack, changing sides from Mukuahara's advance. Matsushita received the ball and cut back inside to shoot, but it went well wide. In the first half, we hardly created any chances apart from this moment. In the 26th minute, Kim Yong-gun fouled Kashima FW Kuroki, giving away a free kick from the left side of our half. In the 27th minute, Kashima MF Ogasawara sent the free kick forward, and FW Kuroki made a clever run to head the ball in unmarked. We conceded the first goal again from a set piece, forcing us into a difficult battle. After that, we struggled to move the ball forward against Kashima's intense press. Although we didn't allow Kashima to score a second goal, we ended the first half without finding our rhythm.

Takeshi and Nakamura create movement and rhythm, and Inoue's strike earns 1 point!

　In the second half, trailing by one goal, Konno was moved up to the defensive midfielder position, and Morishige shifted to center back to make adjustments. In the 50th minute, Tokunaga was replaced by Konno, who advanced and aimed for a long-range shot, but it went wide. In the 56th minute, Ohtake was brought in for Mukuahara in midfield. Matsushita dropped back to left back, and Nakamura took the right side. This change paid off, as Ohtake began to find space between the opposing defenders, and Nakamura's attacking runs gradually helped the team find their rhythm. In the 59th minute, Matsushita delivered a ground pass to Hirayama in the box. Hirayama boldly aimed for the goal, but the quickly closing Kashima defender blocked the shot. Following that, Nakamura's cross found Hirayama again, who headed the ball but missed the target. In the 66th minute, Shigematsu came on for Ishikawa, and in the 72nd minute, Ricardinho replaced Hirayama, bringing in more attacking players to try to break through. Kashima's energy levels dropped, and Tokyo pressed forward. In the 69th minute, Daigoku passed to Ohtake, who then found Tokunaga in the center, and Nakamura made an overlapping run to deliver a sharp cross. Daigoku made a dive for it, but the Kashima GK, who had stepped out a moment earlier, caught the ball. In the 74th minute, Nakamura's shot-like cross from the right side hit the far post. However, the rebound was quickly caught by the Kashima GK. In the 71st minute, Ohtake stole a ball that had gone over Kashima defender Jiu-ton's head and made a last pass to Daigoku, who was breaking into the center of the box. But just before the pass reached Daigoku, it was cut off by a Kashima defender. Time passed without being able to create a decisive finish due to a lack of accuracy in play. However, in the 86th minute, Ohtake followed Ricardinho on the right side. He brought the ball inside and made a wedge pass to Daigoku in front. Daigoku neatly laid it off, and Konno, just outside the box, took a step forward and struck a precise shot with his left foot into the goal! They equalized in the late stages against Kashima, who were trying to hold onto their one-goal lead! After that, Kashima also brought in forward Sasaki. Both teams continued to press for a winning goal, but the defense held firm, and the match ended. This was a hard-fought battle without Hanyu and Kajiyama. Although they were at a disadvantage from the first half away, they fought without giving up, and Konno's passionate equalizer earned them a valuable point. 【Player Comments】《Konno》 "I felt relieved that we didn't lose in a tough match. I moved up to the defensive midfielder position in the second half, and I was determined to score. The goal came from Daigoku's layoff, and I focused on getting it on target. Kashima is a good team and solid in every aspect. I believe our collective effort to break them down led to that point." 《Nakamura》 "I knew Kashima would tire in the second half, so the plan was to attack. However, we conceded from a set piece that we had been wary of in the first half, which disrupted our plan. To win, we needed to finish the first half without conceding. In the second half, we were able to play at our pace, and I was also conscious of transitioning from defense to attack, creating some good opportunities... But we need to improve the accuracy of our crosses. The next match is important to make today's point meaningful. I want to prepare well for it." 【Coach Jofuku's Press Conference Summary】 "It’s frustrating to end with just one point. Despite not getting the results we wanted, many fans came to support us away, which was encouraging, but we need to reflect on not being able to secure three points. However, I want to commend the players for their effort in equalizing against Kashima. It was a game we could have won, but the inability to finish has been my shortcoming. I believe we need to level up, including myself. I want to prepare the best I can to secure three points in the next match. (Considering the number of chances, isn't a draw the fair result?) First of all, I respect a team like Kashima, which has players with high skills. They can deliver quality kicks with just a slight gap of two or three balls. Having such players is a threat. It’s not just about breaking down our defense, but the fear of pinpoint passes, which I expected to increase in frequency in the first half. However, I recognized that the opponent's energy levels would change in the second half, so I thought if we could keep the first half scoreless, we could play our game in the second half. That’s why conceding in the first half is regrettable. Nevertheless, we should learn from Kashima's precision in play. I could feel the sharpness of their counters, so I want to learn from their strengths and turn them into our own power." 【Kashima Coach Oswaldo Oliveira's Press Conference Summary】 "(Coach Jofuku analyzed that Kashima would tire in the second half?) I personally think that the positional change between Tokyo's Konno and Morishige was the smartest choice. This made FC Tokyo more dynamic, and the ball moved better than in the first half. Konno's mobility was effective. As a result, he was able to score. (The first half was excellent compared to recent matches. Is it difficult to maintain the same pace for 90 minutes?) There were chances to score additional goals not just in the first half but also in the second. Not being able to capitalize on those chances was a factor in not being able to seize the momentum. The most important rule in soccer is that the team that fails to convert chances will pay the price later. That affects the outcome. I personally think that Tokyo had more chances in the first half than in the second. I believe we were able to suppress Tokyo's attacking patterns more in the second half."