A match where both teams want to seize the opportunity to rise up

The 1st stage reached the halfway point with the 9th section. The 4 teams participating in the ACL played their matches on the 29th (Fri, holiday) ahead of the other matches. Tokyo played against Avispa Fukuoka at Ajinomoto Stadium.

In the previous match against Kofu, Hirayama, who started for the first time in about 1 year and 8 months, scored the equalizing goal. However, we were unable to secure the victory and remained winless in the official matches for 4 games. This match is crucial as we want to take advantage of our home ground and earn 3 points.

Fukuoka, who returned to J1 this season, is currently in 17th place with 3 draws and 4 losses so far, with one game yet to be played. However, they have brought each game to a close contest and are expected to approach the upcoming matches with a strong determination to achieve their first victory.

Under the situation where both teams want to seize the opportunity to rise, Fukuoka is listed as 4-5-1 on the team sheet, but they have placed MF Kamikawa as a left back and MF Suezaki and MF Danilson as a double pivot in midfield. MF Jogo and Taida are on both sides. They have approached the game with a 4-4-2 system, with FW Wellington and MF Kanamori leading the front line.

Tokyo, Ogawa returns to the starting lineup for the first time since the 7th section Kawasaki match. The team aims for victory with the same members as the Kofu match. It is sunny but windy at Ajinomoto Stadium. Tokyo takes the end with the wind and the match started with Fukuoka's kickoff at 17:04.

Both teams had few chances and the first half ended scoreless.

In the first half, both teams pressed each other and the transition between offense and defense was fast-paced. However, they struggled to convert their ball possessions near the goal into finishes. Despite having numerous restart opportunities against Fukuoka's intense tackles, they were unable to capitalize on them.

4 minutes: Just outside the area on the left side, a free kick is awarded. From Abe's kick, Morishige and Maruyama, who moved up to the front line, tried to create a chance, but it was offside.
20 minutes: Erik earned a free kick near the left area, but Morishige's direct shot was blocked by the wall and Fukuoka got the ball.

25 minutes: Kajiyama puts a lobbed pass to Nathan BURNS, who was trying to enter the right area from the area in front of the goal, successfully defending against Fukuoka's counterattack. Nathan BURNS evades the opponent's defender and tries to bring the ball to a finish, but the ball is blocked and goes to the goalkeeper.

30 minutes: From the free kick obtained around the halfway line, Maruyama passes to the right area. Hirayama tries to dribble past the opposing defender with a feint and take a shot, but is blocked by the Fukuoka defender and unable to finish.

34 minutes: Nathan BURNS pressed against Fukuoka's MF Anderson and won the ball. After a quick pass exchange between Hirayama and Takumi ABE, Ogawa advanced on the left and ABE crossed from the inside. Hirayama, who was close to the far post, tried to aim with a header but couldn't finish it.

42 minutes: Mori Shige, who pushed up from the restart, aimed for a shot from the middle while carrying the ball forward, but it went wide of the goal.

Tokyo could not push through, and in the first half, Mori Shige only took two shots. Fukuoka also only had one shot from Wellington, the far forward, from a right cross in the 43rd minute, and the first half ended scoreless.

Exploited gap and conceded... a regrettable defeat

In the second half, which was a gamble, we tried to aim for the goal with an aggressive attitude from the beginning.

51 minutes: Tokunaga sends a long pass into the space on the right side. Nathan BURNS catches up and takes a step inside to aim for a shot, but it goes over the bar.
52 minutes: Fukuoka's midfield player Sueyoshi feeds the ball into the area. Jogo, the midfield player who has come forward in front of the goal, is volleyed and a decisive opportunity is created, but Akimoto makes a quick save and avoids the danger.

54 minutes: Nathan BURNS replaces Muriqui. Immediately after that, Muriqui dribbles up the left side of the opponent's field. He is tackled by Fukuoka MF Danilson and falls, but perseveres and regains possession. Hirayama expands to the left. Abe crosses the ball, but it goes wide. Kono chases after the ball and crosses it from the right, but this time it is blocked by Fukuoka DF.

61 minutes: Tokyo was starting to gain momentum by attacking from the side, but they gave a right-side free kick to Fukuoka. The kick sent by Fukuoka MF Sueyoshi to the front line was cleared by Tokyo DF, but the loose ball was connected to MF Danilson, who once again put in a right cross. From here, FW Wellington in the center of the area had a header over Morishige's head... The ball bounced in the area, but no one could clear it and it went in on the right. They were truly caught off guard and conceded the opening goal.

62 minutes: Fukuoka, who tried to ride the momentum after taking the lead, but the high-precision middle shot from MF Kanamori, who shot from the counter, was saved by Akimoto! Then, MF Kamekawa's long throw was dropped in the center, and DF Mifuto in the front right area was shot with a middle shot, but it was off target. No additional points were allowed.

67 minutes: Muriqui receives a foul inside the penalty area and in the middle, and is brought down, earning a free kick. Morishige aims and takes a shot that grazes the goal... but narrowly misses to the left.
69 minutes: Tanabe was substituted for Kajiyama as a defensive midfielder. In the 70th minute, Maeda was substituted for Kono, forming a two-top with Hirayama. They launched a counterattack with Muriqui and Abe on both sides. However, despite crosses from both sides, Maeda's knockdowns and Fukumoto's final pass, they were unable to create a decisive shot for a prolonged period of time in front of the Fukuoka goal.

90 minutes: Yonemoto sends a floating ball to the area, and Hirayama starts running at the perfect timing. However, the ball is intercepted by the Fukuoka defender who was running alongside, resulting in a corner kick...

In additional time, Muriqui skillfully turned around and aimed for the goal after receiving a pass at the left goal area corner... but was blocked by the opponent's defender and went to the left. Here, Hirayama closed in, but it just barely didn't reach. However, Abe's follow-up right cross hit the hand of the opponent's defender who slid in the area, resulting in a penalty kick. In the 90th minute +7, Morishige took the penalty kick, but it hit the bar and bounced down, failing to score...

Unable to bring it to a draw, it resulted in giving Fukuoka their first victory of the season, a regrettable defeat...

[Player Comments]
《Shun Hirayama》
"Crosses were coming in from the first half. I also felt that I was being watched by the Fukuoka DF, so in the second half, I was able to change my movements and create several chances. However, I couldn't score when I should have. Playing up front gave me a sense of getting closer to the goal. I needed to concentrate more there..."

《Ogawa》
"Crossing is one of the things I should do. Today, it didn't result in a goal, but I think it's important to keep doing it. The whole team is currently struggling, but by continuing to do what we should do, we will eventually get results. I strongly believe in that. We have no choice but to continue patiently."

[Summary of Coach Hiroshi JOFUKU's Press Conference]
"It was a game that we had to win. The result is very disappointing, and we have made the fans and supporters feel disappointed as well. However, even in the midst of that, I strongly feel the need to fulfill the wishes of these people by hearing words of encouragement. The only thing we can do now is to lift our heads and move forward. It was a difficult game to accept, but I want to face the next one head-on. Fukuoka consistently played long balls and scored one decisive chance out of two. I feel that this is also soccer, but we have to overcome the reality that we had chances but couldn't finish them. We want to further explore the timing of crosses, combinations, and challenging plays in different areas. Even in a tight match like the first half, we need to create more decisive moments."

[Fukuoka - Coach Masami Ihara's Press Conference Summary]
"Many fans and supporters rushed to Ajista, and we achieved our first victory in J1 this season, which was a great gift. It was a long-awaited 3 points for the people who support us in Fukuoka. I am delighted that we were able to play a game that gives courage to those who were affected by the earthquake in Kyushu as representatives of Kyushu. As for the match, we faced a strong Tokyo by changing our system. Based on hard work, we also focused on putting more players in the attack. The players fought with a strong determination for 90 minutes. That ultimately led to the 3 points. We were conceded a penalty kick at the end, but I think their attitude also became the driving force to end the game without conceding a goal. There are still many areas for improvement, but today's victory is a big win for the team. Despite the busy schedule, we want to prepare well and continue to the next game."