A crucial battle where we want to secure 3 points in a difficult away game

　Sec. 3 of the league, which had been postponed due to the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake, was held. We played against FC Gifu away. In the previous match against Kitakyushu, we conceded a counterattack and stopped our streak of not conceding a goal in 5 matches. At the same time, we failed to score and suffered our first defeat in 12 matches. Coach Okuma said, "We need to be able to determine the crucial moments." In defense, it is necessary to enhance the coordination between pressing and covering, and in the attack, it is necessary to overcome the challenge of finishing ability by breaking down the opponent who defends by putting their body on the line.

　Gifu, on the other hand, is currently in last place with 8 points. They had a resounding 4-0 victory in the home game on July 17th, but this time it's an away game. As Shioda mentioned in the Kitakyushu game, it's important not to get caught up in the "upset atmosphere" of the entire stadium. We want to carefully defend against counterattacks led by MF Oshidani and quickly transition to an offensive attack.

　Tokyo, now joined by Konno and Gonda who were away from the team for national team activities, and Nakamura who has returned from injury. Ishikawa has also fully joined the team. Takahashi aims to "focus on running even more after a defeat in an away game, and wants to grasp the rhythm", so he wants to maintain his level of physical activity even in the heat and add sharpness at the right moments.

　Even in a situation where we cannot score, we want to continue attacking by not only passing in the center but also being aware of the width and depth of the pitch and attacking the opponent's back. Ishikawa has strong breakthrough ability, and Lucas has also improved his condition, so their ability to score in the front line is high. We hope that their inclusion will activate the attack and increase the scoring power. The match started at 18:04 with a kickoff in Tokyo at the Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium, where the lingering heat remains.

Tokyo Aim For The Points In Tricky Away Fixture

Tokyo took on FC Gifu in a game that should have been the 3rd of the year but was postponed due to the Tohoku Earthquake. In the previous outing, a Kitakyushu goal on the counterattack saw Tokyo's consecutive clean sheet run stopped at five as the side lost for the first time in 12 games. Manager Kiyoshi Okuma demanded his side be, "More clinical in the key moments," as the team sought improvements in defensive pressing and covering, finishing, and how to open up opponents who defend deeply.
Opponents Gifu propped up the table at kickoff with a meager 8 points. Tokyo had won the first encounter 4-0 on July 17th, but that had been at home and, as Shiota had commented on the Kitakyushu match, it was important that Tokyo weren't overwhelmed by the home support's expectations of an upset win. Tokyo would need to pay attention to Gifu's counterattacks, led by midfielder Oshitani, and to smoothly switch between defense and attack.
For Tokyo, Konno and Gonda had rejoined the team following Japan National Team duty while Nakamura had shrugged off an injury to return to the starting eleven. Ishikawa also made a welcome return to the squad. Takahashi commented, "It's an away game after a defeat so we have to run even harder than usual and find our rhythm," pinpointing Tokyo's need to maintain a high tempo despite the oppressive humidity and show variety in attack.
If the goals failed to materialize then patience would be vital, using the full width and depth of the pitch to find space behind the Gifu defense. Ishikawa's penetrative ability and Lucas' improving fitness and match sharpness added an extra layer to the Tokyo attack.
The humidity of the day lingered in the Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium as Tokyo kicked off shortly after 6pm.

Leading with goals from Tokunaga and Tanihara, they head into halftime

　In the early stages, the pace could not be grasped. There were scenes where the ball was passed to Gifu, and the development was back and forth. However, after 15 minutes, Roberto CESAR broke through the left side. The cross flowed to the far side, but Tanabe chased after it and connected. From here, Tokunaga overlapped and hit Takahashi, who had moved up to the front line. He himself went inside. When he received the return pass directly, he swung his left foot without hesitation from just outside the right area. The well-controlled shot went into the bottom right corner! Without missing the opportunity, they took the lead.

　Gradually getting into the rhythm, in the 26th minute, Kajiyama seized the loose ball from the strong challenge, and Tanabe made a through pass to Hayu who ran to the right front line. Hayu tried to dribble past the opponent's defender and take a shot in the right area, but it was blocked. In the 30th minute, Roberto CESAR made a move in the area from a throw-in, and Tanizawa followed up, received the ball, and was fouled, resulting in a penalty kick. However, the penalty kick taken by Roberto CESAR was saved by the goalkeeper... We couldn't capitalize on the chance of a penalty kick for the second consecutive game.

　However, without getting discouraged, Roberto CESAR started creating opportunities from Kajiyama's pitch selection. In the 42nd minute, Roberto CESAR dribbled powerfully and broke through to the left area, taking a shot. The shot was saved by the goalkeeper, but the ball spilled into the center and Tanizawa confidently pushed it into the net, GOAL! They continued their attack without easing up, and in injury time, Kajiyama made a move from the right and changed sides, passing through to the left front line. Roberto CESAR took a shot from the left area, but the angle was not good and it curved to the left. In the end, they finished the first half with a 2-point lead.

Tokunaga, Yazawa Give Tokyo First-Half Lead

Tokyo struggled to force the pace in the opening minutes and it was Gifu who played the ball around as the game ebbed and flowed. Then, in the 14th minute, Roberto Cesar burst down the left and crossed beyond the far post where Tanabe picked up the ball, before slipping it to the overlapping Tokunaga. Tokunaga spotted Takahashi's forward movement and played the ball infield before cutting inside himself. Takahashi laid the ball back and Tokunaga let fly first-time with a left-footed effort that beat Noda at his right post to give Tokyo the early breakthrough.
With the goal advantage, Tokyo slowly began to find their rhythm. In the 26th minute, Kajiyama showed his strength on the ball in midfield and Tanabe stroked a defense-splitting pass forward to Hanyu. Hanyu rounded a defender on the right of the area and shot, but his effort was blocked away. In the 30th minute, Roberto Cesar received the ball from a throw-in and set off on a run, supported by Yazawa. Yazawa took the ball into the Gifu area and was promptly fouled, earning Tokyo a penalty. Roberto Cesar stepped up but Noda anticipated his intentions and blocked the spot kick, the second consecutive game in which Tokyo had failed to convert from 12 yards.
Tokyo remained unaffected by the miss and Kajiyama continued to show his range of passing with Roberto Cesar frequently the recipient. In the 42nd minute, Cesar bulled his way through the Gifu defense on the left, burst into the penalty area and hammered a shot on target. Noda saved but was unable to prevent Yazawa pouncing on the loose ball and doubling the lead from close range. Tokyo continued to press forward and in injury time, a crossfield ball from Kajiyama played in Roberto Cesar on the left; Cesar took the ball on and shot but the angle was too tight and his effort hit the side-netting. The half-time whistle blew with Tokyo two goals ahead.

Victory by keeping the opponent's attack scoreless, centered around Shioda

　In the second half, Gifu, who had been pushed back from the start, gained momentum. In the 46th and 50th minutes, they attempted to break through the center from through passes, and skillfully brought the ball to MF Someya and FW Shimada for shots. In the 47th minute, they allowed FW Nishikawa to be free from a cross and he took a header. They were saved by missed shots in both cases, but dangerous situations were created one after another.

　Tokyo responded by putting Lucas at the top. Ishikawa, who made his first appearance since June 29th, and Suzuki also entered the game. They tried to increase the movement in the front line to counter. However, Gifu continued to attack, but Tokyo was able to create chances on the counter. In the 74th minute, Ishikawa followed up on Nakamura's cross that went past the far post and directly hit the ball as it dropped, but it slightly veered to the left.

　In the final stage, Lucas and Ishikawa created consecutive opportunities, but in the 83rd and 86th minutes, Lucas' shots missed the target. In injury time, Ishikawa ran to the right area, cut back the opponent's defender, and took a decisive shot, but it did not result in a goal in front of the goalkeeper. Although they couldn't score a third goal, they defended without conceding any goals and the game ended. They took 3 points away from home and returned to the top of the standings.

　【Player Comment】《Tokunaga》"I had an image of scoring from the one-two play, so I was able to calmly shoot as I saw an open space. It's the first time I was able to kick it exactly where I aimed (laughs). Lately, I've been able to hit the ball with a clear image of scoring, rather than just hitting it "somehow". Before, when I missed, everyone around me would say, 'Hey!' and it felt like they were telling me not to shoot, but now they're telling me to keep shooting. I also feel more confident. (We reached the halfway point of the schedule and are in first place, but?) Considering the start, I feel like we've come a long way, but I want to continue to stay in first place. I want to keep accumulating points from here and do my best."

　"I had many chances, but I have to score the last one. I wanted to score there and make the team feel at ease. My body was moving and it was just as I had imagined. I was able to do it until I pulled out the ball. (How is your foot condition?) At first, I was thinking a little, but once I got into the game... (laughs). However, I think I was able to control the cutbacks and shots well, including the condition of my foot. I had various images, such as whether to send a cross or make a cutback... and I want to continue expressing them one by one and shaping them. (How is the combination with Lucas?) We couldn't score today, but I want to assist quickly and also receive assists (laughs). I want to continue being a nuisance to the opponents."

　[Summary of Coach Okuma's Press Conference] "I think our bodies felt a bit heavy overall. The temperature was high and it was quite tough, but we tend to make more mistakes when our bodies feel heavy. I was also concerned about the technical mistakes we made in the second half when the opponents started to get tired and we had the chance to finish them off. In various environments such as home and away matches, we need to stay focused on the mental aspect and continue to make good plays until the end. We also created opportunities for the opponents and our defensive approach was weak. However, we managed to keep a clean sheet and there were players, including the substitutes, who showed good performances in this environment. So, we will review the positives and negatives and prepare ourselves for the next match."

　(After the opening goal, the opponent dropped back and there were more dribbles, right?) I think it was probably over 30℃, so I think it's difficult for the opponent to keep it up for 90 minutes. They have been playing a very connected and attacking style of soccer, including player substitutions, and I think there were moments where we couldn't get to the ball. The vital areas were also used quite a bit, and we didn't mark the players running diagonally. There were scenes where we were on the back foot. I think there was a deliberate intention in the opening stages throughout the 90 minutes. We had many reflections that if we don't firmly grasp the opponent, we will concede goals."

　[Summary of Gifu Kimura's Press Conference] "The opponent was a stronger team, so it was expected to be a difficult game to win. We aimed to keep it to one goal conceded in the first half and anticipated that the opponent's performance would decline in the second half. However, we ended up conceding two goals, and if we could have scored one goal when the momentum slightly shifted in our favor in the second half, the game could have turned around. But not being able to score that one goal is what we consider to be our biggest shortcoming. It was a disappointing result for us."

　(Regarding today's performance of the DF) Regarding the DF, we have analyzed various aspects so far and concluded that we need to be more aggressive towards the ball. I think the players have been working hard in that regard. Unfortunately, there were a few instances where fouls were committed, but if things go well, it can lead to even bigger opportunities in terms of how we can steal the ball, or more specifically, disrupt the rhythm of the opponent's attack better than before. However, as time passes, fatigue accumulates, and naturally, the distance between players gradually increases, causing delayed reactions. It is also challenging in terms of the size of the players' bodies. We believe that unless we surpass the opponent in that aspect, it will be difficult to take the ball or bounce it back. We want to continue working towards progress in those areas."

Shiota Dominant As Tokyo Hold Off Gifu

The hosts flew at Tokyo as the second half began, pushing the visitors back and creating a series of chances. In the 46th and 50th minutes, through passes led to shooting opportunities for midfielder Someya and forward Shimada, while forward Nishikawa was presented with a free header in the 47th minute. Wayward finishing helped Tokyo, but Gifu were threatening, and Tokyo responded by introducing Lucas in the 61st minute. Ishikawa made his first appearance since June 29th, and Suzuki was also a late substitute as Tokyo sought to inject some extra movement into the front line. Despite the changes, Gifu continued to push forward, leaving themselves open to the counterattack. In the 74th minute, Nakamura played a deep cross to the far post where Ishikawa smashed the dropping ball narrowly wide of the left post.
As the game entered the final stages, Lucas and Ishikawa created decent opportunities, with the big Brazilian shooting wide of the goal in the 83rd and 86th minutes. In additional time, Ishikawa raced down the right, turned a defender inside out, and shot but was unable to beat Noda. The final whistle blew on a 2-0 victory. Tokyo had earned another clean sheet, and the three points took the side back to the top of the table.


Players' comments
Tokunaga
"I had an image of the movement that led to the first goal in my head as I made the move - play the one-two, cut inside and shoot. The space opened up, I kept calm and hit the ball. It's the first time the ball's gone just where I aimed! Recently I've been all about having a focused image rather than just a vague hit and hope approach. Before if I shot and missed I felt that the players around me weren't over-impressed and that I shouldn't be shooting but now I'm being encouraged to have a go. I feel much more confident about it now.
How does it feel to be top at the halfway point? Well, if you consider the start we had then we've done well so far and we want to stay at the top. We want to continue to rack up the points from here".

Ishikawa
"We had a lot of chances and really needed to put away one more as another goal would have made the game far easier for the team. When the chance came late on my body movement was good and I had a clear image of what I was doing in my mind. How's my leg? Well, I was a little conscious of it at first but as soon as I got on the field it was fine and I had no problems with shooting or cutting back. Looking at the shape of the opposition I could cross or cut inside; I had various options and clear images of all of them. How is it playing with Lucas? We couldn't score today but I want to assist his goal quickly and I want him to assist me as well. We want to carry on giving opponents a hard time".


FC Tokyo manager Kiyoshi Okuma
"I thought we looked a little heavy out there. When it's hot and you're feeling heavy then mistakes happen. I was a little worried by the way we made technical mistakes in the second half when our opponents were tiring and we had chances to wrap up the game. Home and away are very different environments but we have to be clinical throughout the game; they created some chances and our defending was a little naive at times. We kept a clean sheet and given the circumstances some of the players, including the substitutes, showed their strengths; we have to look at the good points and the bad and put in a solid performance in the next game.
After the first goal our opponents sat back and dribbled more? It was over 30C out there I think and it was hard for them to continue for the full 90 minutes as well. Including the substitutes we played very smooth attacking football but also suffered, letting them attack us in the key areas and not picking up runners when they played diagonal balls. We lost the initiative at times. I think that was part of their game plan. We have to reflect that if we don't pick up opposition players then we're going to concede goals".

FC Gifu manager Takahiro Kimura
"Since our opponents are higher-ranked we knew it wasn't going to be easy to win. We were thinking that if we could hold them to just a single goal in the first half they might run out of steam in the second. In fact we conceded twice but I told the players at half time that if we could pull one back then the game might turn in our favour; not being able to score that first goal was our biggest weakness, I believe. It's a very disappointing result for us.
What about our defence? The results of our defensive analysis were that we needed to be more aggressive towards the ball and the players worked hard on that today, I felt. Unfortunately we conceded a lot of fouls but if things had gone better we could have created more chances from the way we won the ball. I also felt we isolated their attack better than in previous games. However as the game progressed we tired a little and the distance between the players was stretched; our reactions slowed down. Our lack of size also caused problems. If the opponents are bigger then it's difficult to win the ball and you have to pick up the rebounds. We have to improve in all those areas I think".