A battle that determines fate. Proceed confidently towards victory!

　The final league match will be an away game against Kyoto Sanga F.C. Currently, we are in 15th place after the last match, with just a 1-point difference from 16th place Kobe. The situation remains tough, and the players are all saying, "It's an important match," acknowledging its weight. There is no doubt that this is a match that will determine our fate, but the results of the league are the accumulation of efforts over the year. As Coach Okuma has resolved, saying, "Our resilience will be tested, but we cannot bring out anything special beyond our own abilities," it will be crucial whether we can overcome the pressure, run boldly, and take risks without fear in this match. Kyoto, on the other hand, has confirmed their position below 17th and will move to the J2 stage next season. However, their attacking lineup includes forwards Yanagisawa and Diego, and midfielder Dutra, while their defense is centered around defender Mizumoto, indicating that the individual abilities of their players are high and require caution. Keeping in mind that the opponent is playing their final home match, Coach Okuma aims to "thoroughly go for the ball to score. We want to apply pressure from solid positioning and simultaneously create threats off the ball." Tokyo will set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Hirayama as the lone striker and Kajiyama just behind him. It is unfortunate that Ishikawa has left the team due to a right foot injury, but on the other hand, Suzuki has fully recovered. Takahashi and Hiramatsu have also joined practice, and the team is truly united. Coach Okuma emphasizes, "At this point, it's not about tactics," as the strength in duels and competitiveness that he has been instilling since his appointment must not be ignored; we cannot win if we turn away from adapting to changes in the situation until the final whistle. This will be the key to securing victory. Morishige states, "We want to return to the basics and fight simply. As a team, we have unified our approach to the game. Depending on the timing and situation, we want to do what we need to do together." Additionally, Otake adds, "It's an important match, but I want to focus on expressing what I've been working on without forgetting my own style. I believe that will lead to the team's victory," showcasing each player's strong desire for victory on the pitch as they fight through. With the hearts of the team, players, club, fans, supporters, and everyone involved with Tokyo united, we head into the final match. The match started at 15:32 with Kyoto's kickoff at the Nishikyogoku Athletic Park in Kyoto.

Falling behind due to a momentary lapse... struggling to turn the tide

　In the early stages, there were noticeable mistakes, and the team was often caught off guard by Kyoto's counterattacks. In the 5th minute, while trying to advance, the ball was taken away, leading to a mid-range shot from Kyoto's FW Yanagisawa, which went wide. In the 6th minute, another counterattack was launched from a Tokyo free kick, resulting in a cross from the right side. The team managed to escape to a corner kick. In the 9th minute, Kyoto's MF Dutra found himself free in the area, creating a dangerous scene, but Konno quickly closed in and forced a corner kick... They somehow maintained their defensive balance, focusing on transitioning quickly after regaining possession to connect to their attack. In the 16th minute, Hirayama stole the ball in the opponent's half, evaded one defender, and took a left-footed mid-range shot, but it went wide. In the 23rd minute, starting from the left side with Ricardinho, Kajiwara made a vertical pass, and Suzuki ran in from the far side, trying to connect back to Kajiwara, but Kajiwara was brought down by the opposing DF without a foul being called. In the 29th minute, Mukuara sent a sharp cross, but Hirayama at the near post couldn't connect, and Ricardinho in the center also failed to take a shot. In the 31st minute, from a corner kick, Morishige headed the ball, but the shot went straight to the goalkeeper. They couldn't take the lead during this period, and the rhythm shifted to Kyoto. In the 34th minute, Kyoto's left throw-in was dropped by FW Diego, who then sent a precise cross to left SB Futoshi NAKAMURA. The Tokyo DF was pulled side to side, and MF Dutra scored with a high header at the far post... allowing the first goal. However, there was still time for a counterattack. Yet, they were pushed back by Kyoto's momentum, who had nothing to lose, and ended the first half with the flow still in Kyoto's favor.

Unable to counterattack regardless of the effort to aim for victory... Ended up being relegated to J2

　Switching our mindset and starting afresh in the second half, we took control of the ball, connecting passes and launching attacks. In the 51st minute, Ricardinho's left cross was deflected by the GK, and the loose ball fell to the unmarked Hirayama. He took a decisive shot, but was blocked by the GK who threw himself in front... In the 59th minute, we brought in Daigoku to the front line, moved Konno to the right side, and changed to a formation with Tokunaga as center-back, aiming for the goal. However, in the 65th minute, Konno's header from a corner kick was cleared by a Kyoto DF just before the goal. In the 66th minute, we brought in Ohtake. After that, Hirayama, Daigoku, and Konno were at the front, with Ricardinho, Ohtake, and Morishige in midfield, and Kajiyama following the DF line in a 4-3-3 scramble formation to apply pressure up front. However, in the 79th minute, Konno's shot from the front line was blocked by a Kyoto DF. In the 80th minute, Daigoku headed a cross from Morishige but missed the target. In the 84th minute, Kim Yong-gun and in the 86th minute, Hirayama both aimed for the goal in quick succession, but were thwarted by Kyoto's solid defense, and time passed without a goal. In the 87th minute, Kyoto FW Nishino was sent off, giving Tokyo a numerical advantage, but in the 89th minute, we were countered from Tokyo's corner kick, unable to stop MF Dutra's dribble. A penalty kick was awarded for a foul by Gonda in the area. In the 90th minute +1, Kyoto FW Diego converted this penalty, resulting in our second goal conceded. Even so, we attacked including stoppage time, but the game became frantic, and we could not break through to score until the end. We lost without scoring, leaving us with 36 points. Meanwhile, since Kobe won, our ranking changed, and we dropped to 16th place. We could not remain in the J1 stage that has continued since 2000. 【Player Comments】《Konno》"I knew that a draw was not acceptable today. However, as the time we were trailing 0-1 increased, to be honest, I felt anxious. We were telling each other to 'stay calm,' but I think the whole team became anxious... When I moved forward and it became a scramble, I tried to score any kind of goal, even if it was messy... (What do you think was lacking this season?) It is not just one thing; we were lacking in every aspect, which led to this result. The level of J1 is high, and it was a year where I felt the severity and difficulty. Right now, I can't think of anything, and I don't know what to do..." 《Gonda》"...I don't feel it. I don't feel that the league for the year has ended, nor do I feel that I won't be able to compete in J1 next season. Regarding the match, I think there was a sense of urgency to score after allowing the first goal. I kicked long balls, but they were all bounced back by Kyoto DF Kaku... However, something might happen with that kind of fighting style, so it was okay in that sense... The play that led to the penalty was definitely not a touch (by the opponent). The opponent was shouting loudly even before I came forward. But that might be the skill of that player, and I don't know about the judgment regarding the sending off of the Kyoto player. Judgments are unavoidable. (When I heard the final whistle) I didn't know the progress of Kobe, so I felt, 'Is something happening in the Urawa match?'... I realized immediately from the bench that it was bad... But I can't stay down forever, so I accept that we lost today. Personally, throughout this year, there were important moments and games where I couldn't prevent or lost points. I think there was some softness. Nagoya DF Tulio said, 'I brought 10 points to the team to win,' but I think I caused a negative in points. I want to reflect on that properly. (Regarding next season) Each player has their own circumstances, so I can't say much, but I have grown in this team since elementary school, and whether in J1 or J2, fighting for FC Tokyo is a joy for me. I want to do my best next year." 【Coach Okuma's Press Conference Summary】"I feel very sorry. Regarding the match, I have the feeling, but there were times when we were caught off guard by Kyoto coming forward, which was within expectations, and I thought we had to endure that and bring it to the second half. Also, the weight of one goal on the current team created some anxiety, and I feel a bit disappointed that we could have connected a bit more. However, Kyoto also put numbers into defense, so I thought it would be difficult to break through, but if we could score one goal, we could turn it around. In the end, we couldn't reach it. (What kind of preparation did you do this week?) We have prepared well. There were some parts where fatigue and injuries changed our setup during this consecutive match, but the players prepared well for each match and fought. I think each of them prepared well. However, we must humbly accept that we couldn't pull in the results in various ways. (What specifically was lacking?) I think it was the team's underlying strength and power. It is not just about 11 players; it is about team strength. It is not about who, but the power of substitutes and various parts that were lacking. I also think it was a result of not being able to shake off the fear. (The supporters and fans gave us great support until the end) I am truly sorry for the result, and I wanted to repay that. In that sense, I have feelings that cannot be expressed in words. Right now, I feel so disappointed, sad, and sorry that I can't explain it in words. All I have left is gratitude. (Was there pressure from the relegation battle?) There is no doubt that personal judgment led to anxiety over time. However, including substitutions, we tried to change the flow by taking things that the opponent would dislike. When Ohtake came in, the flow changed a bit, but beyond that, the anxiety of feelings transcended. (Did you inform the players about Kobe's progress?) I judged that informing them about the score difference and flow of the Kobe match would not be beneficial, so I did not inform the substitutes. (What are your goals and areas of focus for next season?) At this stage, it is a difficult question for me to answer, but I think we need to properly share the severity and fear of soccer again and examine the weight of one goal in front of the weight of one point while doing various things. I can't say anything specific, but I think that is the most important thing." 【Kyoto Coach Akita's Press Conference Summary】"I thought FC Tokyo would come at us strongly from the start, but due to the pressure of relegation, their movement was not very good, so we were able to take the ball in good shape and had many short counters. We were able to create the flow as I imagined. Usually, we can't score in those situations, but this time MF Dutra scored, so I think the flow improved. (Reflecting on this season) I have almost been able to play the soccer I want to play, but we couldn't score. I feel that was what separated the win from the loss. Also, due to the pressure of relegation, we couldn't draw out the players' true abilities and couldn't remove the pressure. However, I think it was a good experience because I was able to play the soccer I envisioned during these four months."