Challenging G Osaka aggressively in order to achieve consecutive victories!

　In Sec. 29 of the league, we will face Gamba Osaka at home. In the previous match, despite the bad weather away, forwards Hirayama and Okuro scored, leading to a victory over Shimizu. This match aims for our first consecutive league wins of the season, and we are determined to achieve a victory at Ajinomoto. This week, while Tokunaga and Ricardinho return from suspension, Kajiyama is suspended due to accumulated warnings. Kim Yong-gun has left the team to participate in the Asian Games as a member of the South Korean national team, continuing our difficult situation. Coach Okuma emphasized, "We cannot win with just one player. To showcase our strengths, it is important for everyone to fulfill their roles in both offense and defense," vowing to fight through the final stages as a united team. The starting lineup will feature Tokunaga and Yonemoto as a double pivot. On the other hand, Gamba Osaka currently sits in 3rd place with 49 points. In the previous match, they lost 2-4 in a shootout against Kobe, but they will aim for a comeback to secure their position in the ACL qualification zone, targeting 3 points even away from home. This week, forwards Lucas and Usami will be on the bench, but with the emergence of forwards Hirai and others, their attack is diverse. Above all, they have a talented midfield, and Tokunaga has heightened his caution, stating, "Their passing work is among the best in the J-League." In response, even if we allow them to dominate the midfield, we want to continue our aggressive pressing and strive to win the ball back. From there, we aim to transition quickly into attack and take on Gamba Osaka's tall and strong defense with speed. In defense, we need to be fully aware of the sharp movements of Gamba Osaka's forwards Hirai and midfielder Usami, who are always aiming for the goal. Allowing them to be free is dangerous, so full concentration from everyone will be required in this match. We will strive for victory without losing in tenacity, strength in ball contests, and concentration in front of the goal. Clear skies at Ajinomoto. The match started at 15:05 with Gamba Osaka's kickoff.

Overwhelming G Osaka by connecting defense and offense, taking the lead with Daikuro's consecutive goals in two matches!

　Although both teams were competing for possession at the start, Tokyo quickly transitioned from their spirited defense towards the G Osaka goal, creating rhythm by taking shots. In the 4th and 8th minutes, Ishikawa took shots, and in the 6th minute, Okuro took a mid-range shot. In the 10th minute, Morishige took a shot from a free kick situation. In the 12th minute, Hirayama received a vertical pass from Tokunaga in the right area, skillfully turned to break through the opposing DF, and passed to Ishikawa, who ran into the area from the right. They created a chance from their coordination, but Ishikawa's shot was saved by the GK, resulting in a corner kick. In defense, Yonemoto and Tokunaga effectively tracked the movements of G Osaka's MF Endo, who was the starting point for their attacks. In the 15th minute, from Endo's play, left-back Yasuda sent in a cross, but Gonda caught it easily. G Osaka was not allowed to create any significant chances. In the 17th minute, from Nakamura's switch, Ishikawa sped around to shoot in front of the goal. The ball flew to the upper left of the goal frame, but it was only a corner kick due to the GK's save. In the 19th minute, Hirayama attempted to break through the front line with a dribble but was cut off and had to settle for a throw-in. In the following 20th minute, Hanyu threw in the throw-in, received a return from Hirayama, and sent a cross behind the opposing DF. Okuro precisely connected with the low ball with a header, scoring a goal! He marked his second consecutive goal and took the lead. Even after taking the lead, Tokyo continued to connect their attacks from solid defense, maintaining control of the game. In the 27th minute, they earned a right corner kick from Mukuahara's cross, and Okuro cleverly connected with Ishikawa's kick at the near post, but the shot was thwarted by a great save from the GK... In the 34th minute, Hirayama dropped a left cross from Yonemoto in the area, and Okuro took a direct shot, but it went wide. In the 45th minute, Tokunaga sent a floating ball pass to Hirayama, who barely broke through behind the DF, and when he returned the ball from the sideline, Okuro in the left area tried to connect with it, but it was blocked by the DF and could not be shot. In the first half, G Osaka only had one shot, a free kick taken by MF Endo in the 37th minute. Tokyo had completely seized the flow of the game but could not score an additional goal as they headed into the second half.

In the second half, the flow changed and we conceded a goal from a set piece. We could only secure 1 point...

　However, the flow changed in the second half. G Osaka, who brought in FW Usami, dominated possession and began to attack. In the 50th minute, they could not stop G Osaka's central breakthrough, and the ball was passed to MF Endo, who was free on the right side. MF Endo delivered a last pass in front of the goal. It was a dangerous scene when a shot was taken, but they managed to hold it in the center and defended it. In the 56th minute, MF Fukawa's left cross was dropped by FW Usami in the center of the area, and he was free to run in from the midfield, but Tokunaga cleared it just in time. In the 57th minute, FW Usami created a chance for FW Igno, who broke through the center. In the 61st minute, FW Igno passed to FW Usami on the left side, who was brought into a shooting position, but Yonemoto blocked it with a sliding tackle, resulting in a corner kick. Even though they lost the rhythm, Yonemoto and the defense held their ground and continued to prevent goals. However, there were moments of mistakes even when they regained possession, making it difficult to connect to effective attacks. In the 66th minute, Muku entered the area on a counterattack and earned a corner kick. Ishikawa's kick was met with a header from Morishige, but it went wide. In the 71st minute, Matsushita came on for Hanyu, and in the 74th minute, Ricardinho was brought in for Daigoku. However, in the 81st minute, G Osaka's FW Usami dribbled between two Tokyo defenders in the right area and took a shot from close range. Gonda saved it with his left foot, resulting in a corner kick. In the 82nd minute, from a right corner kick taken by MF Endo, DF Nakazawa scored with a high header, resulting in a goal conceded. Even after being equalized, they did not crumble and created chances from counterattacks. In the 84th minute, after a breakthrough by Ricardinho, Ishikawa turned and headed towards the goal but was blocked. In the 87th minute, Matsushita advanced and sent a sharp left cross. Yonemoto, who came up in the center, could not connect, but the ball that flew to the right area was trapped by G Osaka's MF Endo, spilling to Hirayama, who took a decisive shot, but the ball grazed the opposing defender and seemed to go out of bounds, resulting in a goal kick for G Osaka. They could not take the lead and ended in a draw, earning one point at home. 【Player Comments】《Hanyu》"In the first half, we did not allow the opponent to enter the area, and we were able to score the opening goal as planned. Even after taking the lead, we wanted to aggressively press for an additional goal, or at least maintain the 1-0 lead to secure the win. Perhaps we needed to apply enough pressure to decide the game in the first half. However, considering the current situation of the team, it is important not to lose. I mentioned that even if we concede a goal, we should endure it well. I believe that fighting for one point and ending in a 1-1 draw will lead to the next step." 《Daigoku》"I aimed for the goal. I always look for opportunities behind the defense, and I knew that G Osaka's defense was weak against such plays. It was good that we were able to switch from solid defense to attack and score the opening goal. Of course, I wanted to win, but I want to carry the result of drawing as a minimum outcome to the next match. Even after conceding a goal, we were able to unify our will as a team to fight calmly." 【Coach Okuma's Press Conference Summary】"It is unfortunate that we conceded a goal from a set piece, but I can be confident that we competed with G Osaka on equal terms. We must not be overconfident and need to correct our points of reflection. It was a match that showed both sides. I want to maintain balanced football and aim to score more goals in the remaining five matches and the Emperor's Cup. (What about not being able to score additional goals?) Currently, there is no striker in the team who can score 20 goals. Considering that, we must continue to create goals as a team. I want to demonstrate the power of the team, including the substitutes, and ensure that we create decisive moments by adding even one or half a person to the attack. I want to improve the accuracy of set pieces and do things that the opponent dislikes. (Regarding points of correction?) It is about breaking through individually and penetrating between the GK and DF through combinations of two forwards and fullbacks. If we can do that, pullbacks will also be effective, and we can create decisive moments. We are able to penetrate behind and take shots. How to create discomfort between the GK and DF line, and how to step out with courage. I want to raise that coordination a bit more. (With tough matches ahead?) I have known since my appointment as coach that it would not be an easy fight due to suspensions and the absence of national team players. We cannot increase or decrease the number of players from the current 27. From here, the true strength of the team and the club will be tested, and the 27 players must do what they need to do together. I want to positively explore better preparations and fight in the upcoming matches." 【G Osaka Coach Nishino's Press Conference Summary】"Both teams worked hard, and it was a closely contested game. We struggled to find our pace and tempo against Tokyo's pressing, but we gradually grasped the overall flow from the second half. In the first half, we were not cautious, but we tried to create rhythm by valuing passing exchanges. However, we were pressed and struggled without being given time or space. It would be good if we could create a rhythm like in the second half, but the midfield and forward players did not blend, which has become a current issue. We are considering casting and changing the positioning and shape of the forward players, but it has not been settled. I think that is the reason for the lack of balance. However, everyone is trying to maintain their style without wavering. I feel that we are far from our original shape and flow, but I want to connect the points we have earned to the next match."