Attacking Tokyo, Defending Yamagata

Yamagata has a record of 2 wins, 2 losses, and 5 draws so far. They are currently in 6th place with 1 point behind Tokyo, making this a crucial match for both teams. The game started with Tokyo taking an aggressive approach, while Yamagata focused on defense and counterattacks. Tokyo quickly passed the ball to Amaral, who moved around the field, trying to establish an attacking rhythm from both sides. On the other hand, Yamagata closely marked Amaral and adopted a defensive system, with Bautele, Hirama, and Mutail leading their attacks. Amaral's post-play was consistent as always, creating rhythm through combinations with Almir, Umayama, and Yukihiko.

Painful PK failure

In the 15th minute of the first half, Almir, who persisted on the right side, delivered a sharp cross into the center, which was handled by Yamagata's defender Washida. For Tokyo, who had been attacking since the start of the match but had not created any real chances, this resulted in a penalty kick at the best possible time. The kicker was Yukihiko SATO, who played for Yamagata last year. Everyone was convinced that Tokyo would score the opening goal, but the kicked ball was brilliantly saved by Yamagata's goalkeeper Suzuki. Tokyo, disappointed for missing the biggest chance, saw Yamagata breathe new life into their game, feeling as if they had escaped death. In the 20th minute of the first half, Tokyo's defensive linchpin, Asari, was injured and had to leave the field, allowing Yamagata's playmaker Hirama, who had been held back by Asari, to gain freedom, and the combination of Bauter, Hirama, and Mutair began to shine. On the other hand, Tokyo struggled to switch their mindset after the shock of the missed penalty, and overall, passing errors and coordination mistakes began to stand out. It seemed like a moment when everyone should encourage each other and unite as a team... Nevertheless, Tokyo, wanting to regain their rhythm, tried to gather the ball to Amaral, who was fighting alone at the front, but they could not create any decisive moments.

First defeat with a V-goal this season

In the second half, "Fighter" Okamoto took the pitch in place of Kobayashi. With his intense play, he energized the team, and the game became more intense. On the other hand, Yamagata, which had been somewhat defensive in the first half, changed their approach and began to dominate the ball with increased pressure from the front line. After the match, Coach Ueki stated in the press conference, "I thought we could win if we contained Amaral and Almir," and in the second half, Almir faced strict marking, completely disrupting Tokyo's rhythm. Due to the poor condition of the pitch and Yamagata's aggressive pressing, Tokyo made many mistakes and was on the defensive. They faced several critical situations, but with Horiike at the center, along with Sandro and Komine, the defense remained solid and stable, preventing any goals. As extra time began, Tokyo tightened their focus and counterattacked, but the situation remained unchanged with Yamagata holding the initiative, leading to a difficult period. Then, in the 12th minute of the first half of extra time, the deadlock was finally broken. Yamagata's forward Mutail held on the right side and passed to the center. Substitute Mashimo calmly kicked it in, ending the game. For Tokyo, it was their first V-goal loss of the season, and a tough result with two consecutive losses at home. In the post-match press conference, Coach Okuma said, "Not being able to switch our mindset after missing the penalty was a problem. Also, losing Asari, who is key to our midfield defense, was painful. Moving forward, we want to adjust our balance for the Nabisco Cup on the 14th and prepare for the match against Oita on the 17th." Switching mindset is important.