Challenging G Osaka aggressively in order to achieve consecutive victories!

　In the 29th round of the league, we will face Gamba Osaka at home. In the previous round, despite the bad weather, our forwards Hirayama and Okubo scored goals and we won against Shimizu. In this round, we aim to achieve our first consecutive victory in the league this season and we really want to win at home. In this round, Tokunaga and Ricardinho will be back from suspension, but Kajiyama will be suspended due to accumulated yellow cards. Kim Young Gwon will leave the team to participate in the Asian Games as a member of the South Korean national team, so we will continue to face a difficult situation. Coach Okuma said, "We can't win with just one player. It is important for everyone to fulfill their roles in both offense and defense in order to demonstrate our strengths." He further emphasized the need to tighten their focus and fight with all their might in the final stages of the season. The starting lineup will consist of Tokunaga and Yonemoto as the double defensive midfielders. On the other hand, Gamba Osaka is currently in 3rd place with 49 points. In the previous round, they lost 2-4 against Kobe, but they will aim to bounce back and secure their position in the AFC Champions League qualification zone by targeting 3 points even in an away game. In this round, Lucas and Usami will be on the bench, but with the emergence of forward Hirai and a versatile attacking lineup, their offense is diverse. Moreover, they have talented midfielders and Tokunaga also expressed caution, saying, "Their passing game is one of the best in the J-League." In response, even if we allow them to dominate the midfield, we want to press aggressively and continue to defend by trying to win the ball back. From there, we want to quickly transition to our own attacks and take advantage of our speed against Gamba Osaka's tall and strong defensive line. In defense, we need to be fully aware of the sharp movements and constant goal-scoring mentality of Gamba Osaka's forward Hirai and midfielder Usami. All players need to maintain their concentration in this match, as it will be dangerous to leave them unmarked. We will compete with determination, strength in duels, and focus in front of the goal, aiming for victory. The match started at 15:05 with Gamba Osaka's kickoff under clear skies at the Ajinomoto Stadium.

Overwhelming G Osaka by connecting defense and offense, taking the lead with Daikuro's consecutive goals in two matches!

　Although both teams fought for control in the beginning, Tokyo quickly created a rhythm by transitioning from a passionate defense to attacking the G Osaka goal and taking shots. In the 4th and 8th minutes, Ishikawa took a middle shot, and in the 6th minute, Okubo also took a middle shot. In the 10th minute, Morishige took a shot from a free kick. In the 12th minute, Hirayama received a vertical pass from Tokunaga in the right area, skillfully turned past the opponent's defender, and passed to Ishikawa who ran into the area from the right. They created a chance through their combination play, but Ishikawa's shot was saved by the goalkeeper and resulted in a corner kick. Defensively, Yonemoto and Tokunaga did a good job of containing G Osaka's midfielder Endo, who was the starting point of their attacks. In the 15th minute, Endo initiated an attack and left-back Yasuda crossed the ball, but Gonda easily caught it. They didn't allow G Osaka to create any clear chances. In the 17th minute, Nakamura made a side change and Ishikawa quickly ran into the goal area with speed to take a shot. The ball flew to the top left corner of the goal, but the goalkeeper saved it and they got a corner kick. In the 19th minute, Hirayama tried to dribble and break through to the front line, but he was cut off and it resulted in a throw-in. In the following 20th minute, Hayashi threw the ball in, Hirayama returned it, and a cross was sent to the back of the opponent's defender. Okubo perfectly headed the low ball and scored a goal! He marked his second consecutive goal and gave Tokyo the lead. Even after taking the lead, Tokyo continued to connect their attacks from a strong defense and took control of the game. In the 27th minute, from Murohara's cross, they earned a corner kick on the right side, and Okubo skillfully connected with his foot to the near post from Ishikawa's kick, but the shot was blocked by the goalkeeper's excellent save... In the 34th minute, Yonemoto's left cross was dropped by Hirayama in the area, and Okubo took a direct shot, but it went wide. In the 45th minute, a lofted pass was sent to Hirayama, who barely escaped behind the defense from Tokunaga, and Okubo in the left area tried to connect with the ball that was crossed back from the sideline with his foot, but it was blocked by a defender and couldn't be finished. In the first half, G Osaka only had one shot, a free kick taken by midfielder Endo in the 37th minute. Tokyo completely controlled the flow of the game, but couldn't score another goal and entered the second half.

In the second half, the flow changed and we conceded a goal from a set piece. We could only secure 1 point...

　However, the flow changed in the second half. G Osaka, who brought in FW Usami, dominated possession and began to attack. In the 50th minute, they could not stop G Osaka's central breakthrough, and a pass was connected to MF Endo, who was free on the right side. MF Endo delivered a last pass in front of the goal. It was a dangerous scene when a shot was taken, but they managed to hold it in the center and defended it. In the 56th minute, MF Nikawa's left cross was dropped by FW Usami in the center of the area, and he was free to run in from the midfield, but Tokunaga cleared it just in time. In the 57th minute, FW Usami created a chance for FW Igno, who broke through the center. In the 61st minute, FW Igno passed to FW Usami on the left side, who was brought into a shooting position, but Yonemoto blocked it with a sliding tackle, resulting in a corner kick. Even though they lost the rhythm, Yonemoto and the defense held their ground and continued to prevent goals. However, there were moments of mistakes even when they regained possession, making it difficult to connect to effective attacks. In the 66th minute, they launched a counterattack, and Muku entered the area, earning a corner kick. Ishikawa's kick was met with a header from Morishige, but it went wide. In the 71st minute, Matsushita came on for Hanyu, and in the 74th minute, Ricardinho was brought in for Daigoku. However, in the 81st minute, G Osaka's FW Usami dribbled between two Tokyo defenders in the right area and took a shot from close range. Gonda saved it with his left foot, resulting in a corner kick. In the 82nd minute, from a right corner kick taken by MF Endo, DF Nakazawa scored with a high header, resulting in a goal conceded. Even after being equalized, they did not crumble and created chances from counterattacks. In the 84th minute, after a breakthrough by Ricardinho, Ishikawa turned and headed towards the goal but was blocked. In the 87th minute, Matsushita advanced and sent a sharp left cross. Yonemoto, who had moved to the center, could not connect, but the ball that flew to the right area was trapped by G Osaka's MF Endo, spilling it in front of Hirayama, who took a decisive shot, but the ball grazed the opposing defender and seemed to go out of bounds, resulting in a goal kick for G Osaka. They could not take the lead and ended in a draw, earning just one point at home. 【Player Comments】《Hanyu》"In the first half, we did not allow the opponent to enter the area, and we were able to score the opening goal as planned. Even after taking the lead, we wanted to apply aggressive pressure to score additional goals, or at least maintain the 1-0 lead to secure the win. Perhaps we needed to apply enough pressure to decide the game in the first half. However, considering the current situation of the team, it is important not to lose. I mentioned that even if we concede a goal, we should endure it well. I believe that fighting for one point and ending in a 1-1 draw will lead to the next step." 《Daigoku》"I aimed for the goal. I always look for opportunities behind the defense, and I knew that G Osaka's defense was weak against such plays. It was good that we were able to switch from solid defense to attack and score the opening goal. Of course, I wanted to win, but I want to carry the minimum result of a draw into the next match. Even after conceding a goal, we were able to maintain our composure and fight as a team." 【Coach Okuma's Press Conference Summary】"It is unfortunate that we conceded a goal from a set piece, but I can be confident that we competed on equal terms with G Osaka. We must not become overconfident and need to correct our points of reflection. This match showed both sides. We want to maintain balanced football and aim to score more goals in the remaining five matches and the Emperor's Cup. (What about not scoring additional goals?) Currently, there is no striker in the team who can score 20 goals. Considering that, we must continue to create goals as a team. We want to demonstrate the power of the team, including the substitutes, and ensure that we can create decisive moments by adding even one or half a player to the attack. We want to improve the accuracy of set pieces and do things that the opponent dislikes. (Regarding points of correction?) It is about breaking through individually and creating combinations between the two forwards and the fullbacks to penetrate between the GK and DF. If we can do that, pullbacks will also be effective, and we can create decisive moments. We are able to penetrate behind and take shots. How to create discomfort between the GK and the DF line, and how to go out with courage. I want to raise that coordination a bit more. (It will be tough matches ahead?) I have known since my appointment as coach that it would not be an easy fight due to suspensions and the absence of national team players. We cannot increase or decrease the number of players from the current 27. From here, the true strength of the team and the club will be tested, and the 27 players must do what they need to do together. I want to positively explore better preparations and fight in the upcoming matches." 【G Osaka Coach Nishino's Press Conference Summary】"Both teams worked hard, and it was a closely contested game. We struggled to find our pace and tempo against Tokyo's pressing, but we gradually grasped the overall flow from the second half. In the first half, we were not cautious, but we tried to create rhythm by valuing passing exchanges. However, we were pressed and struggled without being given time or space. It would be good if we could create a rhythm like in the second half, but the midfield and forward players do not blend, which has become a current issue. We are considering casting and changing the positioning and shape of the forward players, but it has not been settled. I think that is the reason for the lack of balance. However, everyone is trying to maintain their style without wavering. I feel that we are far from our original shape and flow, but I want to connect the points we have earned to the next match."