Facing tough opponent Kashima away, aiming for victory with a solid defense

As we enter the last weekend of August, the 22nd round of the league will be held. We will be facing Kashima Antlers away. In the previous round against Urawa, it was an intense match that ended in a 4-4 draw. It could be said that we were brought to a draw in a game that we should have won. However, Muto scored two goals and, as Coach Massimo evaluated, "even when pushed by Urawa, we found opportunities and fought until the end with the attitude of going for the win." With this, we have gone 9 matches without a loss in the league and have been building a solid foundation that is not easily shaken or defeated. Now, we want to continue this momentum and turn it into a battle to "take 3 points."

However, in this Urawa match, Hirayama suffered a fracture and was forced to take a long-term absence. It is a big blow for the team, but on the other hand, Shoya NAKAJIMA joins the team in the form of a return from his loan to Toyama and already makes it into the squad for this match. Also, Watanabe starts and plays a role as one of the two forwards.

Kashima, who is currently in 3rd place with 39 points, is the team with the most momentum, currently undefeated in 8 league matches and on a 4-game winning streak. In particular, their total of 41 goals is the highest in the league. They have increased their ability to score at crucial moments and aim for further improvement. In this match, MF Ogasawara, MF Endo, and DF Ueda are suspended, but MF Jorginho, who joined this summer, will make his first start. FW Davi will be at the top, with MF Doi playing behind him. MF Caio will be on the right in the second row, and Jorginho will be on the left. MF Shibasaki and Umehara will form a double pivot in midfield. CB Yamamura and Shoji will form the defensive line.

To suppress Kashima's attacking power, we want to demonstrate aggressiveness and tenacity, and aim to break free from the "unwinnable game". The match started at 19:04 with Kashima's kickoff, under a slightly chilly weather with a temperature of 22.2 degrees.

Unable to create rhythm, conceded 2 goals from mistakes...

Kashima took control of the game right from the start. In the 5th minute, they quickly connected a second ball and FW Davi broke through the defense from a through pass by MF Caio in the center, getting into a shooting position. Although he managed to avoid being offside, in the 6th and 8th minutes, they were continuously attacked from the sides and FW Davi was able to connect with a cross. In the following 10th minute, they quickly switched from their own half to MF Caio, and DF Nishi on the right side changed the side with a long pass to the left front line. Tokyo was unable to respond to this and MF Doi received the ball with a one-touch control, allowing a shot aimed at the gap between Gonda's legs... Just like in the previous match, they conceded a goal in the early stages of the game.

Tokyo continued to struggle both offensively and defensively. In the 26th minute, Muto entered the left area with speed after receiving a pass from Hayashi on the right side. He brought the ball to the finish but failed to score, as it was caught by the Kashima goalkeeper. During this period, Takahashi attempted to make adjustments by caring for the defensive line against Kashima's attacks. However, immediately after, Kashima goalkeeper Sogahata sent a kick to the front line that couldn't be dealt with, allowing Davi to break through. Takahashi chased after him, but Davi skillfully floated the ball forward, and he himself rushed to the sideline. Despite being off balance, he stretched his right foot and took a shot that went into the goal... Tokyo conceded a second goal, displaying their strength.

Still, Tokyo gradually started to create scenes of moving forward in order to score a goal. However, they were taken away by Kashima in a half-hearted manner and the first half ended with a development where they were troubled by counterattacks.

We aim to recover and secure 1 point with Edu's penalty kick and Muto's consecutive goals in 2 matches.

In the second half, Tokyo substituted Mita for Kohno and Edu for Hanyu. Mita moved to the inside half position and Edu to the top. Watanabe and Muto served as the two sides of the 3-top formation, trying to regroup. This immediately paid off, as in the 47th minute, Ota's left cross was cleared, but Yamamoto picked up the ball that spilled to the left side and sent a floating ball into the area. Muto, who had run into this area, was fouled and brought down, earning a penalty kick. In the 49th minute, Edu kicked this penalty kick into the middle of the goal! They raised the signal fire of counterattack, narrowing the gap to one point.

In the 54th minute, the ball became loose in the DF line and was taken away by Kashima MF Caio, creating a one-on-one situation with Gonda, but Gonda made the save! The attack and defense continued to go back and forth, but Tokyo regained their defensive focus and started to find their rhythm.

In the 70th minute, Aoki, a Kashima DF, received a red card and was sent off due to a fierce foul against Edu. Kashima was forced to play with 10 men, and from here Tokyo launched an offensive. In the 78th minute, Nakajima was substituted for Yoshimoto as an attacking midfielder. Takahashi moved to CB, and with the double pivot of Yonemoto and Mita, they tried to create chances from the fluidity of the front line.

Before the intense contact of Kashima, there were also scenes where it was not easy to play in front of the goal, but in the 87th minute, Nakajima ran in from the opposite side to the floating pass sent by Tokunaga on the right front line and passed it into the area with a heel. It slipped from the Kashima DF and the opponent's GK, and there, Muto did not miss the ball that further slipped, rushed into the area, and stabbed it into the goal.

Muto scored in two consecutive matches, launching an intense battle! They didn't give up until the end of a tough match and managed to secure a draw, earning 1 point.

[Player Comments]
"Muto"
"In the first half, we were influenced by the atmosphere of Kashima and couldn't play our own game, so it was a difficult situation. Personally, there were also moments where I could break through the defense, and I have regrets about not being able to convert the few chances we had... However, as a team, no one gave up and we were able to make adjustments in the second half. We were conscious of the distance and coordination in the front line and were able to play in a way that the opponent didn't like. I thought the second goal would come loose. We had enough stamina, and it would have been great if we could have turned that into a comeback... We ended up with a draw, and there are still many challenges and things to reflect on, but I want to do my best even when I go to the national team."

"Nakajima"
"I have practiced several times and everyone understands my characteristics. I think the coordination with the team was good. Before the match, I received instructions from Coach Massimo to 'move and play freely'. I played while finding spaces where Kashima was open. In the future, I want to earn trust and recognition in the midst of competition. In order to win the competition, I will continue to play my own game and help the team win."

[Summary of Massimo FICCADENTI's press conference]
"We started the first half a bit defensively and ended up giving away two goals to Kashima, who were in good form, due to our own two mistakes. In the second half, we reviewed our approach to the game from scratch and were able to quickly change the momentum by playing more aggressively and forming a front line with three forwards. Even after equalizing, there was a decisive shot from Watanabe, and I think we were able to push for a comeback until the very end. Kashima is a very strong team on a four-game winning streak, and everyone knows that. Being able to play a game like this against such a team gives us great confidence and I think it was a draw that will lead to the next game. I was impressed by the great work of Kashima's coach, Toninho CEREZO."

[Kashima Toninho CEREZO Coach's Press Conference Summary]
"The team became different in the first half and the second half. Tokyo naturally made changes to the system and launched an offensive by introducing attacking players from the start of the second half, with nothing to lose. What I told the players at halftime was that a score of 2-0 is dangerous. The opponent will receive instructions from the coach at halftime, raise their spirits, and come into the second half with the aim of scoring early and creating momentum. That's why I told them to increase their concentration and attention and enter the second half with a fighting spirit."