"KOKURITSU" is filled!

In the second leg of the Nabisco Cup Semifinal Round against the J1 powerhouse, Kashima Antlers, the Japan National Stadium was filled with a large crowd of 40,885 spectators. Looking at recent J1 league matches, has there been a game that filled the "KOKURITSU" to this extent? Additionally, the number of media representatives is extraordinary. While there are no exact figures, it would not be an exaggeration to say that almost all media personnel from television, radio, newspapers, magazines, etc., gathered in one place. The number of cameras surrounding the field, including TV cameras, is impressive. Naturally, the excitement in the venue was on a different level than usual. The blue and red army behind the goal in Tokyo took their position in the center of the back stand for the first time this season, raising their voices high with enthusiasm before the match, prompting applause from the entire venue except for the Antlers area. The Antlers supporters, though few in number, did not back down as they continued their intense support with their familiar unique rhythm. The stage for the decisive battle is set!

Defensive Antlers

Tokyo, who lost the first match 0-2 on 9/29, needed to win this game by a goal difference of 3 or more in order to advance to the final. Tokyo desperately needed to score the opening goal. If they scored first, the goal difference in the total score would be reduced to 1, creating the possibility of a draw and a comeback. On the other hand, if they conceded the opening goal, the goal difference would widen to 3, making it very difficult. Therefore, on this day, they had to play a style of soccer that prioritized scoring goals while not allowing any goals to be scored.

The match quickly turned into a fast-paced game with swift transitions between offense and defense. Tokyo, eager to score first, replaced Okamoto with the speedy Wada as a starter. Wada started in the first leg of the quarterfinals against F. Marinos (7/20), showing the expected performance and contributing to a significant victory. With Amaral as the lone striker, Tokyo lined up three speedy players: Yukiho on the right, Kaburaki in the center, and Wada on the left, waiting for counterattack opportunities after withstanding the Antlers' fierce attacks. However, the Antlers were formidable that day. Having assessed Tokyo's strength and tactics highly in the first leg, the Antlers chose to maximize their two-goal 'savings.' They focused on defense and refrained from their usual attacking participation from both full-backs. Particularly, they dedicated the offensively skilled right full-back Narahashi to defense, likely a lesson learned from being troubled by Fujiyama on the same side in the first leg. In attack, they circulated the ball around midfielders Bismarck and Abe, targeting the strong header Hasegawa with crosses at opportune moments. There were dangerous situations where Bismarck could take precise free kicks, leading to close calls for Hasegawa from set pieces, but Sandro and Yamao covered with high concentration, preventing any goals. On the other hand, Tokyo's attack, similar to the first leg, displayed excellent fighting spirit, gathering the ball to Almir, who controlled the team on both offense and defense, and then spreading it to the left and right. The left side saw Wada unable to showcase his strengths and fell silent, but on the right side, Yukiho made several aggressive breakthroughs, creating chances. Additionally, since Yukiho was able to hold the ball well, right full-back Umehara also became capable of actively participating in attacks, leading to a more robust offensive. Kaburaki and Amaral also showcased their strengths, moving freely in the front line. In the 26th minute, Kaburaki broke free from a scramble and faced the goalkeeper one-on-one, but was thwarted by a fine save. Amaral was closely marked by Japan national team stopper Akita, but he displayed stable hold-up play and took a shot from a combination with Almir. The match was evenly contested, ending the first half at 0-0.

Kaburagi scores the long-awaited opening goal! Tokyo continued to dominate the pace afterwards, but...

Whether crying or laughing, Tokyo, which must score at least two goals in the remaining 45 minutes to secure a spot in the Final Round, became more aggressive in their soccer play in the second half. Following the coach's instructions, Tokyo strengthened their attacks from the right side, starting with the in-form Yukihiko, and boldly charged at the Antlers' defense. Yukihiko, holding the ball on the right side, bravely faced Japan national team's left back, Soma! With his superior speed, Yukihiko almost won the one-on-one battle, breaking through and delivering a sharp cross in front of the goal. Perhaps it was his star quality, but throughout both teams, Yukihiko was the one who burned the brightest and shone the most in front of this large crowd. In the 9th minute of the second half, after persistent attacks on the right side, Amaral was fouled and earned a free kick. Almir sent the ball into the goal area, and Amaral executed an overhead kick. Kaburaki, who was following up on the rebound, powerfully kicked it in with his right foot to score the long-awaited opening goal! With this, Tokyo closed the gap to one point in the total score and gained even more momentum. Even when they faced decisive shots, GK Suzuki made a series of super fine saves, preventing any goals. Wanting one more point, in the 20th minute of the second half, Yukihiko again evaded his opponent on the right side and sent a cross to the center, where Almir received the ball unmarked and shot from close range! However, he was thwarted by the opponent's GK's fine play. In the following 25th minute of the second half, Almir dribbled up about 30 meters from his own half and made a through pass to Kaburaki, who had broken free at just the right moment. When Kaburaki was brought down while trying to receive the ball, they earned a free kick in a perfect position in front of the goal. Almir, who had scored free kicks in two consecutive J2 matches on 9/25 and 10/3, aimed for the goal, but it was deflected by the wall. Tokyo continued to control the pace, creating chances from the right with Yukihiko and from the left with Kaburaki, but they couldn't score an additional goal. Instead, in the 36th minute of the second half, they conceded a header to Akita from a corner kick, falling behind by two goals again. With no time left, Tokyo pushed defender Sandro forward and brought in midfielder Kobayashi to form a "super offensive formation" to assault the Antlers' goal until the end. However, they ultimately failed to score again, and the match ended in a cruel time-up with a 1-1 draw, resulting in a total score of 1-3 loss. Tokyo, making their debut in the Nabisco Cup, had a remarkable performance by defeating three J1 teams in a row and even troubling last year's J-League champions, the Antlers, until the very end, but they could not advance to the final.

Coach's Comment

<ZICO Antlers General Manager Comment>

It was a good game worthy of the semi-finals. Both teams had a good balance of offense and defense, and it was an impressive and well-coordinated game. Tokyo is a team that has defeated three J1 teams, so it's no surprise. I thought they would tire more in the second half, but I was surprised by their strong physicality, which was beyond my expectations. I think they will be able to compete well in J1 next season.

<Coach Okuma's Comment>

The players did well. They had a game three days ago, and being able to play soccer today in such a tough schedule confirms their potential and gives them confidence. Both individually and as a team, they have gained something. The speed of transitioning between offense and defense was equal, but the difference was made in the accuracy of crosses and the focus in crucial moments. They need to quickly switch their mindset and prepare for the next game against Tosu on the 11th.