Repaying the debt of the first half, aiming for further consecutive victories at Ajinomoto

　Sec. 5, which had been postponed, will be held. Giravanz Kitakyushu will face off against Ajinomoto at home. In the previous match, Hayabusa scored 2 goals and won 3-0. As a team, they have scored a total of 14 goals in the last 3 matches and have shown a stable game. However, it will be important to secure a victory by creating a 2-0 situation, as it takes time to score additional goals after taking the lead. We want to maintain a running mindset, play a solid game on both offense and defense, take the lead, and then score additional goals.

　The opponent, Kitakyushu, is currently in 8th place with 37 points. In the last 7 matches, they have had 4 draws and 3 losses, but Coach Okuma says, "We are sticking to our own way of playing. We are connecting passes well and our attacking third is strong and threatening."

　In particular, in the first half of the match, we struggled against the press from Kitakyushu's front line and conceded goals by exploiting the gaps in our direct play. After that, we were unable to break down their defensive setup and suffered a defeat. As Konda said, "Kitakyushu thoroughly analyzes their opponents and employs plays that they dislike. They are one of the top teams in the league in terms of unity and team cohesion." Therefore, in this match, it will be important for us to persistently adapt to Kitakyushu's style of play and try to surpass them in each situation.

　It is likely that the ability to make adjustments according to the situation will be tested, but it is a match where we want to show a more aggressive attitude at home and seek revenge for the first half of the season. Ajinomoto Stadium, which became cooler as the night fell. The match started with a kick-off in Tokyo at 19:04.

Tokyo Aim To Extend Winning Streak At Home

Giravanz Kitakyushu were the visitors to Ajinomoto Stadium for a fixture that should have been the fifth of the season. In the previous outing a Hanyu double had earned Tokyo a 3-0 victory, raising the goals scored total to 14 in three games, and showing further proof of the stable approach the side had developed. However, the time taken between scoring the first and second goals confirmed that a two-goal cushion was vital as quickly as possible to ensure the win. The team needed to maintain its awareness of running, allow no gaps for the opposition to exploit, score the first goal and then double the lead.
Kitakyushu lay in 8th place with 37 points at kick off. Despite the side being winless in seven games, having drawn four and lost three, Tokyo manager Kiyoshi Okuma issued a warning, saying, "They're sticking with their playing style. They pass the ball around neatly, are explosive in the final third and carry a real threat". In the reverse fixture earlier in the season Tokyo struggled in the face of the hosts' heavy pressing from the front, then conceded from a fast, direct break in the second half and failed to break down the deep-lying defence in a 1-0 loss. Gonda commented, "We've thoroughly analysed the Kitakyushu team and know what to do to cause them trouble. More than anything it's their strength as a team and their consistency that makes them one of the best in the league". Tokyo would need to surpass Kitakyushu in every department to gain revenge for that earlier defeat; an aggressive, attacking display with the capability to respond to changing circumstances within the game was vital.
Tokyo kicked off shortly after 7pm on a cool autumn evening.

Struggling in the battle of Kitakyushu, unable to seize the opportunity

　In the early stages, both teams tried to break through from their targeted soccer strategies and pressed each other, not allowing the opponent to move freely. In the 4th minute, Mori's feed hit Takahashi, resulting in a counterattack from Kitakyushu. FW Ikegen -> FW Oshima took a shot from the right area, but Gonda escaped with a corner kick. After avoiding the danger, Tokyo gradually took control of the game.

　However, they struggled against Kitakyushu's ball recovery and targeted defense, and they couldn't create any decisive chances. In the 19th minute, Morishige sent a ground ball to the right front line, which passed through the opponent's sliding defender and reached Tokunaga. Tokunaga advanced and crossed the ball, which Lucas headed, but it went over the bar. In the 28th minute, Tanihara entered the area from Tanabe's pass, but he was contested by the defender and couldn't finish.

　Lucas cleared the left CK of Kitakyushu at 35 minutes. Kajiyama → Hanyu brought it to a dynamic counter, Kajiyama → to the right area's Yuzawa. However, there was no angle to shoot, and a last pass was made to the center. However, it was cleared just before it reached Kajiyama and Mukuhara in the center... Although they pushed forward, they couldn't create any scoring opportunities against Kitakyushu's concentrated defense. The first half ended with a scoreless draw.

Kitakyushu Ask Questions As Tokyo Fire Blanks

The opening exchanges were tight, with neither side able to break the deadlock. In the 4th minute, Morishige's through ball bounced off Takahashi, allowing Kitakyushu to counter attack. Ikemoto played in fellow striker Oshima on the right of the Tokyo penalty area and Gonda produced a fine save to divert a low drive narrowly wide of the far post. Following that close escape, Tokyo slowly began to assert themselves.
However, the home side struggled to create clear-cut chances in the face of the visitors’ pressure on the ball and well-organized defence. In the 19th minute, Morishige pushed forward and stroked a pass out to the right wing where a defender mis-timed his attempted sliding interception, gifting Tokunaga a chance to run in behind the Kitakyushu defence. Tokunaga crossed towards the penalty spot where Lucas made a solid connection but directed his header over the bar. Yazawa ran on to Tanabe's through ball inside the Kitakyushu area in the 28th minute but tight marking prevented him getting a shot on goal.
In the 35th minute, Lucas cleared a Kitakyushu corner from the left, allowing Tokyo to counter attack. Yazawa received the ball from Kajiyama and set off down the right wing but was forced wide and into no position to shoot. Yazawa cut the ball back into the middle where once again the Kitakyushu defence reached it before the onrushing Kajiyama and Mukuhara. Despite Tokyo's forward momentum and endeavour, the first half finished scoreless.

Pulling away from Kitakyushu, who fought back with Muhara and Lucas' goals, securing a 4th consecutive victory!

　In the 47th minute of the second half, Kajiyama showed strength on the right area goal line. After keeping the ball, he made a negative pass that was initially intercepted by the opponent, but Taniyama on the right area picked up the loose ball and sent a long ground pass to the center. This pass did not reach Lucas in front of the area, as he had moved back, but Mukuhara, who ran to support, swung his right foot. The ball grazed the defender and found the bottom left corner of the goal!! Mukuhara's decisive and powerful shot gave the team the lead.

　After that, Kitakyushu used player substitutions and continuously launched attacks. They not only launched powerful attacks but also increased the intensity of their defense, causing Tokyo to have moments where their momentum was broken. However, Tokyo remained calm in response to this and also substituted Ishikawa for Tanabe in the 69th minute, aiming for an additional goal.

　In the 75th minute, Mori Shige pushed up the entire team while connecting passes and moved to the right front line. Ishikawa dribbled into the right area, avoiding the inside Hanyu and exchanging passes, and connected to Tanizawa in the central area in front. Tanizawa unexpectedly passed the ball with the sole of his foot to Lucas in front of the goal, and Lucas aimed and shot through the side of the goalkeeper, scoring the second goal! With a flowing direct play, they pushed Kitakyushu away and shut down their subsequent counterattacks. It was a tough game, but they managed to win their fourth consecutive victory by keeping a clean sheet for the third consecutive game.

　【Player Comment】《Mukuhara》"(About the goal) I tried to shoot a controlled shot. It may have been a lucky goal, but the first half was tough, so I think I was able to contribute to the team's strength. However, I am not satisfied with anything other than scoring. Still a long way to go in terms of attack. Especially in the first half, the opponent played with one striker and crowded the midfield, making it difficult to find space. But now, if we can keep a clean sheet, I can fight with the feeling that the attacking unit will score for us."

　"Tanihara" "The first half ended with no goals, but there was no panic. I thought that it would be good if we could win when the 90 minutes were over. We were all saying "Let's calm down and fight" at halftime. Regarding the second goal, I was checking Lukon's movement and position before receiving the ball. I was careful not to be offside and passed the ball."

　[Summary of Manager Okuma's Press Conference] "I had the impression that Kitakyushu would come with a tight and aggressive defense, more like a 4-1-4-1 formation rather than a 4-5-1, to close the spaces. We couldn't break through that in the first half. The boldness and courage to take shots, to dribble and go one step further, and the emotional aspect were lacking. As for the match, it was crucial that Mokuhara's bold shot went in at the start of the second half. However, in the first half as well, we were able to defend well as a team while enduring the opponent's counterattacks. While continuing that defense, we want to fight one game at a time and bring out more aggressiveness from the first half."

　(What adjustments for the second half?) Lucas was being targeted perfectly, and Hayu was moving into space, but couldn't get out behind due to pressure. So instead of just going straight, I told him to come back in from the offside line and create two starting points in the front line. Hayu faithfully played according to that, creating space and relieving pressure, and the passer became free. As a result, we were able to attack from the sides as well."

　[Summary of Kitakyushu and Miura's press conference] "There were scenes of mistakes and missed passes that make you want to cover your eyes, but there were also plays with a very big heart or a strong sense of play. We think we did what we could do against FC Tokyo, which has a solid lineup, stadium, players, and training ground that are all on the same level as J1. It became a very difficult game because we conceded a goal at the start of the second half. However, even in that situation, we found opportunities to equalize. One of the things we have grown is that we were able to create more attacking time while effectively exploiting the psychology that FC Tokyo would have, without looking down, compared to before conceding a goal.

　Even in the remaining 15 minutes, there are players like Ishikawa who are at the level of the Japanese national team, and Tokyo has ideas about the precision and last pass of the final part. We also need to learn how to use the front line and vital areas, as well as how to break through the back of the final line. We must acknowledge the high precision of FC Tokyo while fighting well. In the past three games, the results have not been coming, but I think that being able to fight firmly against teams in the promotion zone while considering both the upcoming matches that need to be considered in the short term and the future of developing the team in the long term will lead to the future. The individual precision of the players is still embarrassing with many plays as professionals, but we must continue to grow step by step while experiencing shame. Today, we will overlook the bad parts and firmly observe their good parts and connect them to the future."

Mukuhara And Lucas' Goals Kill Off Kitakyushu

The game burst into life in the 47th minute. Kajiyama showed his strength by dribbling to the Kitakyushu byline on the right, then attempted to cut the ball back into the middle. It struck a defender and fell to Yazawa, who made the same pass, aiming for Lucas on the edge of the penalty box. A defender's close attentions prevented Lucas from making contact and the ball rolled through towards Mukuhara, some 25 yards from goal. Mukuhara struck a low, first-time drive that Sato, in the visitors' goal, seemed to have covered until it clipped a defender's leg and beat the wrong-footed keeper on his right side. Mukuhara's alertness and sharp reactions had given Tokyo a precious lead.
Kitakyushu responded by making attacking substitutions and tightening their defence, preventing Tokyo from utilising the momentum gained by taking the lead. The side retained its composure though, then replaced Tanabe with Ishikawa in the 69th minute to inject some pace into the search for a second goal.
In the 75th minute Tokyo pressed forward with Morishige playing the ball down the right flank to Ishikawa. Ishikawa cut inside, played a neat one-two with Hanyu that took out a defender, then slid the ball across the face of the penalty area to Yazawa. Yazawa produced a delicate through ball with the sole of his right boot that was as deft as it was unexpected and bypassed the entire Kitakyushu defence line at a stroke, leaving Lucas with the ball at his feet and only Sato to beat. Lucas passed the ball into the corner of the goal with Sato stranded and a sublime team goal had given Tokyo the two-goal cushion they sought. The home side failed to add to their tally in the time that remained, the final whistle blowing on a hard-fought and well-earned 2-0 win, the fourth in a row and the third consecutive clean sheet.


Players' comments
Mukuhara
"I tried to keep the shot down. Perhaps it was a bit of a lucky goal but the first half was hard work so maybe it was a reward for the team. Apart from the goal I wasn't satisfied with my performance. I've still got some way to go in my attacking play. Particularly in the first half the opposition played with a single striker, packed the midfield and we struggled to find space. With the way we're playing right now though, if we can keep a clean sheet then the attack can find ways to score".

Yazawa
"Even though the first half ended 0-0, we weren't getting impatient. If we've won after 90 minutes then that's fine. That's how we see it and at half time the general comment was to keep calm. For our second goal, I was keeping an eye on Lucas' position and movement before the ball was played to me. I played the pass trying to keep him onside".


FC Tokyo manager Kiyoshi Okuma
"I had the impression that Kitakyushu play a system closer to 4-1-4-1 than 4-5-1, close down space and are proactive in defence. We couldn't open them up in the first half today. We seemed to be lacking a little courage to take on shooting opportunities or take an extra step forward in a dribble. In terms of the result, Mukuhara's shot going in at the start of the second half was very important. However, we defended very well today and I hope we can continue with that, then be a little more assertive going forward.
What did we change for the second half? They were firmly targeting Lucas and although Hanyu found some space their pressing was heavy and we couldn't get behind the defence. We told them to stop trying only that and to step back behind the offside line. Hanyu worked diligently, we found some space which relieved the pressure and allowed the player in possession time to make his pass. We had more joy with that than trying to work the wings".

Giravanz Kitakyushu manager Miura
"We made some mistakes that were so bad I could hardly bear to look but at the same time we played with a lot of heart. Everything about FC Tokyo is J1 level: the team, the players, the stadium, the training facilities and against that I felt we did what we are capable of doing at the moment. Conceding so early in the second half made the game very difficult for us. Even so, we did create the chances to have earned an equaliser. If you compare the teams until the time we conceded then we have no reason to be downhearted as we created chances against a team with such a strong mentality as Tokyo, and that's sign of the development of the team.
In the final 15 minutes Tokyo were able to bring on a player of National Team quality in Ishikawa and were able to produce accuracy and ideas in the final pass. Their forwards and the way they play in the vital areas, the ability to open up a defence: these are the things we should be aiming for ourselves. Even though we played a good game, we have to recognize the quality of FC Tokyo. We haven't got the results in the last three games and have to look at the next fixture with a short-term view, while at the same time taking a long-term view of the team's growth. In those circumstances I think we can take a lot of positives for the future from the way we played against one of the sides challenging for promotion. We have to take the individual improvement and the elimination of embarrassing mistakes step by step. We can gloss over the worst parts today and focus on the good ones for the sake of the future".