'Kirin Oolong Tea CHALLENGE MATCH'

The 2016 Meiji Yasuda J3 League Sec. 28, which took place in a soccer-watching weather of 21.4℃, attracted a record-breaking 7,653 fans and supporters to the home game this season.
Tokyo's Hiraoka and Ikichi are suspended for this round due to accumulated warnings.
GK is guarded by WAI, and in the center of the DF line, Sakaguchi and Okazaki made their J3 debut and first start. YANAGI on the right, OGAWA on the left.
Riku NOZAWA and Suzuki formed a double pivot, with Hirakawa making his first start on the right side in the previous match. Insoo YU played in the center, with Koyama on the left and Hayashi leading the line as a lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation.
Ben Duncan will be waiting for his first chance to enter the bench as a member of the U-18 team. The average age of the registered members is 19.29, a young lineup.
Nagano, on the other hand, is listed as 4-4-2 but in reality, it is 3-4-3.
In the center of the midfield, former Japanese national team player Hashimoto applies pressure to the front line with a simple progression.
Experienced players are included in each position, and the average age of registered members is 28.27 years old.
Tokyo, which fights with an aggressive attitude both in attack and defense, and Nagano, which still has a slight possibility of promotion.
The match started with the kick-off in Tokyo, watched by many fans and supporters.

[First Half]

Nagano, who launches an offensive from the start, approaches the Tokyo goal with simple long balls, long throws, and set plays.
2 minutes, a long throw-in from the right side, allowing a shot but the goalkeeper made a save.
Furthermore, in the 7th minute, a long throw-in from the right side. From this sequence, a cross was delivered and the opposing forward jumped in with his whole body, but it went wide of the goal.
12 minutes, Nagano U's long feed from inside the Nagano team allows a direct shot, but it goes wide of the goal.
The opponent scored first with a high header in the center after 17 minutes of their continuous time and being awarded a right corner kick.
Tokyo had a hard time finding their rhythm, but around the 20th minute, they gradually started to possess the ball.
Create time to pick up the second ball and push it back into the Nagano territory while keeping possession of the ball.
27 minutes, picking up the second ball and connecting at a fast pace, Insoo YU's pass from the left PA, and Hirakawa in the center aimed for a shot from in front of the opponent's DF, but it goes wide to the left.
Defensively, the defensive line centered around Okazaki puts their bodies on the line to defend and wait for their teammates' counterattack.
However, in the 32nd minute, when our time was starting to come together, Nagano scored a goal by jumping into the center after a long throw-in from the right side.
Tokyo, who wants to counterattack, holds the ball but cannot launch a smooth attack due to slight discrepancies in accuracy and coordination.
Including one minute of additional time, they couldn't create any real chances and went into halftime trailing by two points.

【Halftime】
Coach Nakamura's comment
"Let's make sure to challenge and cover well in defense."
Let's play actively on both offense and defense. We need to predict and pick up the second ball as the opponent is picking it up.
Use the sides effectively and launch attacks.

【Second half】
Tokyo replaces Kobayashi with Kubo in the forward line.
Insoo YU in the center, along with Lins on the left, form a fluid front three.
Double volante is served by Hirakawa and Suzuki, with Ogawa on the left MF and Yanagi on the right.
DF changed to a 3-4-3 formation with Sakaguchi, Nozawa, and Okazaki from the right side.
Kubo made his debut at the age of 15 years, 5 months, and 1 day, breaking the J3 record for youngest appearance held by Hirakawa.
Tokyo, which regained the initiative from this system change, launches a comeback in the second half.
Nagano created opportunities from set plays and simple long balls, just like in the first half, but we responded tenaciously.
Gradually, Hirakawa, who is positioned in the center of the midfield, receives the ball and expands to the left and right, and the three players in the front line start to pass intricately by changing positions from the center.
In the 63rd minute, Lin passes to Ogawa and attacks from the left side, crossing from a high position. The ball goes over Insoo in the center and reaches Yanagi, who has moved to the far side.
He immediately entered shooting position, but was blocked by the opponent's block and obtained a corner kick. This right corner kick is bounced back.
Furthermore, in the 67th minute, Kubo in the center exchanged passes with Insoo YU inside the area and entered the area. He tried to aim for a shot from a one-two, but the trap was disrupted by a strong return pass and he couldn't bring it to a finish.
70 minutes, Suzuki slightly to the left in the midfield skillfully controls the ball and passes it to the left front line. Ogawa delivers a precise cross, and Hayashi heads it into the top right corner of the goal, making it 1-2.
Tokyo, which is intensifying its offensive, made a strong push in the 78th minute when Kubo, slightly to the right, broke through the opponent's defense and sent a through pass, and Insoo YU made a run.
It seemed like it was going to be a decisive one-on-one situation with the GK, but it was blocked one beat too late.
82 minutes, Kubo breaks through the left front line as Ogawa feeds vertically and enters the penalty area.
Unable to slightly match Insoo YU's decisive last pass in front of the goal, cutting back the opponent facing him with dribbles and feints, and sewing through the gap of the DF.
Furthermore, Insoo YU picked up the second ball and connected it, and in the end, he aimed for a shot, but it went wide of the goal.
In the midst of an open and intense offensive and defensive battle, additional time.
Insoo YU is fouled on the left side of the opponent's field, earning a free kick. Although it is deflected by the opponent, the ball is picked up and connected, and Kubo in front of the right area crosses to the left area.
Okazaki was ready, but it didn't go through and went over his head.
Unable to score an equalizing goal, the match ended as it is. It was the first defeat since Sec. 23.

Thank you very much for your passionate support for FC Tokyo U-23.
Thank you for your continued warm support.

[Summary and Comments from Manager Nakamura's Press Conference]

"We are grateful for the many fans and supporters who came to our home game."
Regarding the match, just like the Toyama match three games ago, in the first half, the opponent's quick press and three-back were very strong in heading, and we couldn't hold the ball, couldn't move forward, and couldn't show our good points.
We conceded 2 goals from the opponent's weapon, set pieces, in that match.
Regarding the second half, I wanted to make some positional adjustments, make a substitution, and establish our own pace in order to move the ball and also be able to attack from the outside.
The players moved the ball very well and there were moments when the opponent's legs stopped, but the attacking time increased and as a result, we were able to score one goal, but we couldn't score the second goal and the game ended.

【Player Comments】
《Sakaguchi》
"The start of the game became passive, but we were able to regain our momentum with the coach's encouragement during halftime, and in the second half, we were able to play our own game."
I think it would have been better if we could have played a game like the second half from the first half.
(My own play) In the beginning of the first half, I was a little nervous and became stiff, but there was support and encouragement from the senior players around me, and I gradually got used to it.
I think I was able to adapt to the speed and quickness of preparation, so I was able to perform well in the second half, especially for myself.
(What are your strengths?) I am committed to winning in the battle for the ball. Although there were parts where I lost in the first half, in the second half, even if I couldn't win the battle, I was conscious of not allowing the opponent to play freely.
(What are your thoughts on the next match?) "If I have another chance, I want to contribute to the team's victory by playing with passion from the first half."

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