Stick to our own style and take a gamble

In the previous match, Edu scored 2 consecutive goals in the official game but also conceded goals, resulting in the first loss in the qualifiers. The team is currently in 3rd place in Group A, but in this match, they will face Gamba Osaka, who is in 2nd place, away from home. In order to qualify for the final round, it is necessary to win this "direct confrontation" and finish in the top 2.

However, it is a battle just two days after the Shimizu match. Coach Massimo explained, "It is also right after playing against Gamba Osaka in the league. Therefore, these two days are aimed at improving our tactics and common understanding together, rather than focusing on countermeasures against the opponent."
Tokyo starts with Hayu in the midfield, Watanabe, Hirayama, and Muto in the forward line. A formation with three forwards. Hayu serves as the game captain.

Gamba Osaka, who is currently 3 wins and 1 loss, surpasses Tokyo's points by "2". In place of the Japanese national team's Endo and Imamura, MF Uchida and Okazaki form the central midfield, with MF Abe and Omori on both sides, and FW Kurata and the returning from injury FW Usami as the front two.

Especially important is to suppress Gamba Osaka's passing and attacks initiated by the fullbacks on both sides. For that purpose, it is essential to have quick footwork and transitions between offense and defense, as well as not losing in duels. To embody the defensive balance that has been built up so far and our own style of "maintaining consistent communication and coordination regardless of who is playing," we will stake our chances and compete.

Although a slight breeze has started to blow, the match kicked off at 16:04 in the scorching heat of Expo'70 with Gamba Osaka.

Despite conceding the first goal, Tokunaga's first goal of the season brings the score to 1-1 going into the second half.

The match took off in the 4th minute, with Gamba Osaka taking the initiative in the opponent's territory. From Hirayama's development, Watanabe broke through the right front line and sent a low ball in front of the goal. Muto tried to connect, but the ball had too much momentum and the trap flowed forward to the opponent's ball. From here, they suffered a counterattack, and from that flow, Gamba Osaka's midfielder Okazaki aimed for the back and sent a floating ball, but Shioda caught it. In the following 6 minutes, Gamba Osaka quickly moved forward from their own right side to the front line. It seemed like FW Kurata was about to break through, but Kaga persistently responded and prevented him from finishing. Furthermore, in the 8th minute, the opponent attacked. Tokyo's defenders were drawn in by the direct pass exchange in the center, and left SB Fujiharu was left free on the left front line. The cross from here was dropped in the area, and Okazaki was trying to score from the loose ball, but Tokyo managed to block it somehow.

In the 11th minute, Muto was fouled in Tokyo's opponent's territory, giving them a chance for a free kick from almost the center. Ota aimed directly but the shot grazed the bar and did not go in... In the 16th minute, Usami, the forward for Gamba Osaka, received a pass from the left side and brought it to the center himself. He took a daring shot as he entered the penalty area. Although Tokyo's defenders were in position, they couldn't apply pressure. The ball went in with a powerful trajectory to the top right corner... conceding the first goal. The back and forth battle continued, but Gamba Osaka allowed a goal to Usami, putting them in a chasing position. In the 26th minute, Hirayama was fouled on the right side of the opponent's territory, resulting in a free kick. Watanabe sent it to the front line, but it was blocked. Hayashi, who tried to connect with the loose ball, was stopped, and G Osaka countered. However, they did not neglect risk management, and Kaga held them off.

In the 33rd minute, Watanabe ran to the right side and crossed to the center to Hirayama. Hirayama dropped the ball in the area, and Hayashi, who followed from the center, played a short pass back. Tokunaga, who came up from the right, directly scored a GOAL!! Tokunaga's first goal of the season equalized the score.

38 minutes, Muto intercepts the ball in the opponent's territory. He tries to bring it forward, but Gamba Osaka's defenders also gather, and he cannot break through alone. Hirayama provides support and tries to push the whole team forward to attack, but Takahashi is fouled and a free kick is awarded. However, Takahashi injures his nose in this play and temporarily leaves the pitch. Gamba Osaka is forced to play with 10 players until Takahashi returns around the 44th minute.

FK from the opponent's side on the right inside the opponent's field in the first half additional time. Ota sent it to the front line, and Hirayama from the far side jumped in with a header... The ball hit the post and did not go into the goal. Gamba Osaka FW Usami scored the opening goal, but Tokyo did not lose balance and fought back tenaciously. There was also a period of time when they couldn't connect to a chance, but in the 33rd minute, Tokunaga marked his first goal of the season from the combination of Watanabe, Hirayama, and Hanyu. The game returned to square one, and the battle continued into the second half.

No player substitutions or formation changes bear fruit, resulting in consecutive losses

In the 49th minute of the second half, G Osaka created an opportunity on the right front line, and from there, they took the loose ball from the cross and took consecutive shots from the front of the goal. Tokyo DF blocked it, but in the end, it was connected to free MF Omori in the left area, who took a decisive shot... However, this shot missed to the right and the danger was avoided. In the 51st minute, Hirayama was fouled and a FK was given from the right side. Ota's kick was attempted to be dropped by Yonemoto in the far area, and Hayashi followed up on the loose ball, but there was distance and they couldn't bring it to a shot.

In the 53rd minute, G Osaka's central FW Usami and right MF Abe exchanged short passes. FW Usami, who received this return, dribbled into the central area between Yoshimoto and Tokunaga, shaking off Takahashi who was chasing from behind, and took a shot. It was scored to the right... and we conceded the second goal.

In the 61st minute, Watanabe and Hirayama were replaced by Edu and Kono. Muto and Edu formed a two-top formation, with Kono playing as an attacking midfielder. In the 67th minute, Muto was dispossessed and G Osaka launched a counterattack. Usami, the forward on the right side, faced Kaga and attempted a shot that grazed Kaga and resulted in a corner kick. In the 68th minute, the opponent's defender Nishino scored a free header from this right corner kick, conceding the third goal. In the 71st minute, Haga was replaced by Higashi. The defense consisted of Takahashi in the center, Tokunaga on the right, and Yoshimoto on the left, forming a three-back formation. Ota and Yonemoto played as wide players. Higashi and Hanyu formed a double pivot in midfield. After 80 minutes had passed, we conceded another goal from a corner kick, resulting in the third goal being conceded. We attempted to counterattack by making player substitutions, but we were unable to connect passes against G Osaka, who defended from the midfield to the back. We continued to be exposed to counterattacks after losing possession.

89 minutes, Takahashi persistently chased after opponent FW Lins, who came on as a substitute, and won the ball in the midfield right side. From here, Higashi broke free and skillfully received the ball from behind, sending a ground pass to the far side of the area. Mutoh slid in and created a decisive opportunity, but... it was cleared by G Osaka DF with a corner kick.

In the second half additional time, from a long pass from the east, Edu connected forward, and Muto, who broke through the area while competing with the opponent's DF, took a decisive shot... but it missed the goal. In the second half, the game developed with G Osaka speeding up and pushing us back. We allowed the second goal by FW Usami early in the game, and then conceded another goal from a corner kick. Player substitutions and formation changes did not bear fruit, resulting in a consecutive loss.

[Player Comments]
"Hanyu"
"I think players who have been playing up to this point also had fatigue from consecutive matches. However, it was really disappointing that we conceded a goal when the defense was in place. After conceding the first goal, G Osaka pulled back and strengthened their defense. We felt like we were being allowed to have the ball, but we still had the impression that we were able to pass vertically with intention and create opportunities from the wedge. By continuing to do that, I think we were able to catch up to a tie. In the goal-scoring situation, Hirayama fought hard and dropped the ball for me, and I was able to enter the area well. In the second half, until we conceded a goal, there wasn't much of a feeling that we were being beaten. However, it felt like it was a damage to the team that we were beaten even though we had enough players."
It is disappointing because I felt that if we caught up and continued in that form, we could have won 2-1. After conceding two goals, we made player substitutions and changed the system, but we may have lost the ability to organize properly. It didn't become a game that we controlled ourselves. However, I don't have the impression that we were dominated by the opponent to that extent... We conceded in that way, and I think we made it difficult for ourselves. I have the feeling that we were able to play our game, and we had to do that..."

《Tokunaga》
"(How many goals did you score?)
Hanyu-san dropped a good ball for me. I was able to aim for the course and hit it firmly. Before the series of events, first, Yonemoto became the starting point for breaking through. If the starting points increase in front or if the distance between players is close, I think I can also go up and create such an attacking form."
(First goal, right?)
But today we conceded a goal... I was involved in the second goal, and even though we had three players, they still scored. We had the numbers, but it was unclear who would go for the challenge. One player would go in strong, and the others would cover, which is something we always practice. We need to make that clear, it's a problem that comes before tactics. We lost again, but as long as there is a possibility, we will fight and prepare to win."

[Summary of Massimo FICCADENTI's press conference]
"I think we were able to regroup as a team until we conceded the second goal. The second goal, like the first goal, was conceded despite having defensive players, allowing the opponent to score. We conceded goals in the same way as in the Shimizu match, so there is a lot to think about. I think Mori's absence was also significant, but I believe we could have done more with the current squad. After conceding the first goal, we immediately caught up and created other chances, so it's disappointing that we couldn't score additional goals. There were mistakes that didn't happen in the league matches, so I want to analyze them thoroughly and make improvements."

[Gamba Osaka Manager Kenta HASEGAWA Press Conference Summary]
"Before the interruption, it was the final home game, so I wanted to somehow give the supporters a victory. The players fought well until the end of today's match as well. We took the lead in the first half, but then we couldn't move the ball at a good tempo and ended up being caught up. I think if Hirayama had scored the last set piece in the first half, the situation would have been different. I think the fact that we managed to end the first half with a draw led to the second half."