Aiming for 3 points away without feeling intimidated

　In Sec. 28 of the league, we will face Shimizu S-Pulse. In the previous match against Niigata, we played aggressively, creating numerous scoring opportunities and maintaining the pace of the game, but we conceded a goal from a free kick and ended up drawing after equalizing with a penalty. Nevertheless, the attacking intensity has certainly increased, and there is a sense of unity in the team striving for victory. We want to correct our issues step by step and face the upcoming matches against the top teams without hesitation, aiming to accumulate points. On the other hand, Shimizu is currently in 6th place with 45 points. They have been in a situation where they couldn't secure wins, with 3 draws and 2 losses in the last 5 matches since September, but they won convincingly in the previous match and are regaining momentum. This match will see DF Hiraoka suspended, but FW Okazaki returns from injury to join the squad. There is no doubt they are a tough opponent. We need to be cautious of the excellent positioning of Shimizu FW Yonsen, who will be the starting point, along with FWs Fujimoto and Edamura, who can exploit gaps in the defense. Additionally, MF Ono and FW Fujimoto have precise kicks, so we want to prevent them from advancing as much as possible and aim to win the ball up front. Tokyo continues to face a tough situation this match as Tokunaga and Ricardinho are suspended, but on the other hand, Yonemoto returns to the starting lineup for his first official match of the season. Coach Okuma cautiously states, "Since Yonemoto has not played a single match this season, we must avoid excessive expectations. We need to judge when to press for the ball with his abilities and when to endure and defend as a team, taking our time." However, he expresses trust, saying, "His ability to disrupt the opponent's ball in midfield is outstanding." Hanyu mentions, "So far, we have faced opponents close in the rankings, and there has been a difficulty in prioritizing 'point calculations.' Moving forward, I want to embrace a challenger spirit in a good way and surprise the top teams." Yonemoto also states, "I have no complex against Shimizu." In the first half of this season's league, including the Nabisco matches, we ended up drawing each time, but we want to apply quick pressure to prevent Shimizu from showcasing their strengths and seize the narrow opportunities for victory. The match started at 13:04 with Shimizu's kickoff at Outsourcing Stadium Nihondaira.

Hirayama's header explodes! Take the lead and go into halftime

　Due to the approach of the typhoon, the wind and rain intensified, but the field drained well and was free of puddles. Under these conditions, both teams adopted an aggressive stance as the match began. In the 7th minute, Ishikawa took a right corner kick, and Morishige jumped in with his head but couldn't make contact. Ishikawa sent another cross, but it was cleared, leading to a counterattack. Shimizu FW Fujimoto dribbled up the right flank, but Yonemoto and Hanyu desperately returned to block. Particularly, Yonemoto, making his first appearance this season, applied pressure to win the ball back and connected passes towards the Shimizu goal. On the other hand, Shimizu also displayed high precision in their counterattacks, quickly advancing the ball to the front line, resulting in a tense match. Both teams made some minor mistakes on the slippery pitch, but in the 31st minute, Hanyu pressured the opposing DF on the left side to win the ball and earned a corner kick from the cross. Ishikawa took the left corner kick, and Hirayama, positioned behind Morishige in the center, scored with a well-timed header! Thanks to Hanyu's brave defense, Hirayama capitalized on the set-piece opportunity to take the lead. However, Shimizu, now trailing, launched a vigorous attack, and just before the end of the first half, Shimizu MF Ono passed to FW Fujimoto just outside the area for a direct through ball. This allowed FW Edamura to take a decisive shot, but Gonda made the save. Following that, from a corner kick, Shimizu DF Ota attempted an overhead shot from close range in the area. This was also a critical chance, but Gonda saved it with one hand! Although they faced dangerous situations, Gonda's consecutive excellent plays helped them maintain a one-goal lead as they headed into the second half.

Daikoku scores an additional point and defends against Shimizu's counterattack in a total team effort, securing victory!

　In the second half, both teams continued to attack each other in a back-and-forth development, but Tokyo maintained their defensive concentration and did not allow Shimizu to find their rhythm. In the 58th minute, they regained possession in their own half, with Yonemoto passing to the front line to Okuro. They launched a quick counterattack, and Hirayama dribbled after receiving the ball. From the right side, Muku and Ishikawa surged forward, and it seemed like a big chance, but the pass did not connect. Then, in the 65th minute, Kajiyama spread the ball to the left side, and Hirayama, who received it, brought it to the goal line and sent a low cross. Okuro pushed in the loose ball from the opponent's DF in front of the goal, scoring an additional point!! Shimizu did not give up either, and immediately in the 66th minute, they brought in FW Okazaki in place of MF Ono. They used the substitution to launch a counterattack. In the 78th minute, Shimizu's newly substituted FW Omae was allowed to enter the area, and Nakamura and Morishige were turned around, conceding a goal. In the following 81st minute, from Shimizu's passing work, they broke through behind Tokyo's DF, but Morishige made a desperate sliding tackle to cover! They escaped to a throw-in. Despite Shimizu's momentum to catch up, Tokyo also brought in Matsushita and Shigematsu. The situation turned into a counterattack from a tough defense. In the 88th minute, Shigematsu's direct free kick attempt slipped from Shimizu's GK's hands and went behind... ruled as no goal. They could not secure a third point to pull away from Shimizu, but in stoppage time, they substituted Kim Yong-gun for Hirayama in the front line, thoroughly implementing pressure and ball retention from the front. In the dying moments, Shimizu's FW Fujimoto's powerful volley went wide. Each player put their body on the line, covering for each other, and they repelled Shimizu's counterattack in a total war, reaching the time-up and securing a valuable 3 points away from home. 【Player Comments】《Yonemoto》 "I am glad we were able to take 3 points, and it was good for the team as well as personally to achieve victory in my comeback match. My determination for today's match was very strong. If we lost, I would lose my position, so I stood on the pitch with a strong mindset. We had to earn at least 1 point, so I entered the match with the aim of not conceding. I tried to play as usual with the same mindset as last year. It was a good start, and that’s when Saito-kun scored. Overall, I think the match development was good. Personally, I think I was able to show my strength in regaining possession several times, but towards the end, my legs stopped. Even though I could regain possession, there were quite a few moments where I lost it afterward. If I can calmly connect those moments, we should be able to launch high-precision counters. I have a strong desire to do more, and I want to bring my condition up to 100 percent in practice. I was also happy with the supporters' cheers today, and even in bad weather away, they came to watch, and I felt I would definitely do my best. The 'Sha' celebration is usually something the player who scores should do, so I am honored to have been allowed to do it. 《Okuro》 "(About the goal) Saito sent a good ball between the GK and DF. It came loose from the opponent's DF, so I just had to finish it. Despite being away, the supporters cheered passionately, and the defense, including Kon-chan and Morige, held firm. I feel like everyone's thoughts rolled into that ball. I always try to position myself right on the offside line and enter where the opponent dislikes, and I think that also induced mistakes from the opponent. The condition of the pitch itself was good, but it was slippery, and Shimizu's pressure was quick, which made it difficult. Personally, I made mistakes, but I played with the mindset of 'I just need to score one goal.' When we took the lead and the opponent came forward, there was space behind Shimizu. If we had exploited that, we could have broken through even more. I have a positive image, but I have made many personal mistakes, so I want to make sure I can finish those. Recently, Muku has been sending in good balls, so I want to score in that way soon. 【Coach Okuma's Press Conference Summary】 "I think the players did well. Individually and as a team, we prepared well, and although we hadn't seen results, we got results today. It is important to have confidence now, and I am really glad we got results. However, the situation where we cannot let our guard down has not changed at all. Since my appointment, I have not changed the mindset of treating the remaining matches as the first match, and I want to continue to work hard with the team united and with a sense of solidarity. (Did you hold the initiative until the end?) Calmly judging, I think the wide defensive range of Yonemoto, which did not allow the opponent to find their rhythm, was effective. And although he is not skilled, by having the courage to receive the ball, he creates a synergistic effect for the team’s attacking initiative. Not just Yonemoto, but also Hanyu and others having the courage to receive the ball allowed us to seize the initiative in attack, not just defense. I think we were able to hold the initiative for most of the first half. If we can play a match like that for 90 minutes, the probability of losing will definitely decrease, so I have a desire to extend that time in the future." 【Shimizu Coach Hasegawa's Press Conference Summary】 "I would like to thank the supporters who sent us warm cheers in the typhoon. I truly feel that it is a regrettable result that we could not win at home, and I want to continue to have games where we can win at home in the remaining 6 matches. I think that after we conceded a goal, the ball started to move very well. Before we conceded a goal, I think the pitch condition also played a part, but we could not create a passing sequence that broke down the block. After conceding a goal, in a sense, we had to go for a goal, and the ball started to move very well, creating chances. It was painful to concede the opening goal from a set piece, but regarding the way we fought afterward, I think we created many chances, but we could not finish one more. I think that difference led to the result. The next match will be away against C Osaka, but with only 6 matches left. Last year, we could not accumulate wins in the remaining 6 matches, so I want to prepare properly for this season to end on a good note.