[Reserve]
GK:16 Kazunaga Takase
DF:
MF:
FW:22 Ryoichi IMAMURA

○Match Report
【Challenge to the next stage】
Day 3 of the 41st Japan Club Youth Soccer Championship (U-18).
Despite the change in kickoff time on the morning of the match due to bad weather, the team continues to prepare without losing focus.
Tokyo, which is the only team in the group to have achieved two consecutive victories, has secured a spot in the group stage.
The opponent Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 in this match must win in order to advance to the knockout stage, so they will come with high motivation.
Yesterday, Tokyo made sure to train and rest, striving to recover their condition, and they aim for a third consecutive victory in this match.
Coach Sato sent the players onto the pitch again before the game, saying, "The outcome lies in the details. Let's fight for 80 minutes according to our own standards. Defense will be crucial in terms of stealing and erasing. Let's get into the game firmly."

【First Half】
The first half began with Kyoto's kickoff, and Kyoto took control of the ball. However, Tokyo maintained the initiative.
Kyoto attacks with a careful build-up, including the GK.
In response to this, Tokyo uses a pressing strategy that starts with the two top players, Hara and Kobayashi (Miki), to steal the freedom of the opponents by pressuring them from the front line and not allowing them to enter their own territory.
The first chance is from a corner kick.
6 minutes, Hideta crosses a right corner kick to Yokoyama's head, but the opponent's defense blocks near the goal line.
In the 11th minute, Kyoto sends a left corner kick to the far side, but Daimoto, who is starting for the first time in this tournament, calmly punches it away.
14 minutes, 21 minutes and threatened with a goal from the right side, but the defense responded and did not concede a goal.
At the 28th minute, Hinata chased after a long ball kicked deep into the left penalty area, and when he changed his body position, he was fouled by the opponent and won a penalty kick.
Hiroshi (Miki) calmly kicks it to the left and takes the lead.
Tokyo, which does not give up the initiative, sent a long ball deep into the left side in the 33rd minute, and Sakaguchi ran in to cross it negatively.
Kobayashi (Miki) aims with his left foot near the goal, but is blocked by the GK's excellent defense.
The additional point was taken in the closing moments of the first half, at the 40th minute.
KOBAYASHI (Shin) passed the ball to Okaniwa, who made a run into the right side. He then dribbled vertically and supplied a low cross towards the near post.
Despite a difficult position, Hara manages to score with a header, leading the first half with a score of 2-0.

【Halftime】
Coach Sato
"In the second half, the opponent will come at us with a lot of power. Instead of just receiving it, let's go at them with the mindset of covering them. Let's not forget that we are leading by 2 points and let's enter the second half with focus."

【Second half】
Kyoto tries to maintain an advantage in ball possession, just like in the first half, but Tokyo increases their possession rate by substituting four players.
Kobayashi (Miki) and Sugiyama limit the opponent's passing route on the front line, while Terayama and Hirakawa aggressively approach the ball that has entered the midfield.
Furthermore, not conceding aerial dominance to Shinohara, they repeatedly challenge and cover, not allowing the opponent to create opportunities.
When Tokyo takes the ball, they alternate between quickly attacking vertically and slowly connecting plays, while progressing the game by evading the opponent's press with short passes.
In the 64th minute, Kobayashi (Minoru) was replaced by Kubo to bring about a change.
70 minutes, Kobayashi (Minoru) chases after the ball sent to the left back. The opponent's defender tries to block, but Kobayashi (Minoru) skillfully exchanges and steals the ball, then passes it to Kubo.
The opponent's defender blocks the shot from deep inside the left PA, which was taken by Sugiyama who came to support.
Kubo picks up this loose ball and tries to dribble, but he crosses the line and it becomes a goal kick.
In the 72nd minute, Sugiyama dribbles in from the left and Kubo runs behind. He passes it to Yokoyama, who came in from the right, but the shot is saved by the goalkeeper.
Kyoto also comes in the 76th minute with a powerful middle shot from the center, but Omoto saves it by diving to the right.
Tokyo, who did not lose concentration until the end and did not allow any dangerous situations to be created by bringing their defense together and not giving any freedom, finished the game and won.
Finished the group stage with 3 consecutive victories.

After receiving this result, we have secured first place in the group stage and advanced to the round of 16.

Thank you very much for your warm support to the players today.
Continuing, we kindly ask for your passionate support for FC Tokyo U-18.

【Other Matches】
Matsumoto Yamaga FC U-18 (0 points) 0 - 3 FC Machida Zelvia Youth (4 points)

※Photos other than the ones shown below are also posted on the official mobile site.
For more information, please click here http://fctokyo.sportsinfo.jp