Fight with confidence and determination that we can do it even without the presence of representatives

The 4th Round of the Emperor's Cup will be held at NACK5 Stadium Omiya, featuring a match between Omiya Ardija. In the previous league match, they suffered a defeat as C Osaka FW Kakitani took advantage of a momentary gap and scored a goal in the final moments through a counterattack, causing them to lose the chance to secure a spot within the top 3 for ACL qualification. With only the Emperor's Cup title remaining and considering the possibility of qualifying for ACL next season, the players are approaching this 4th Round with a determination to win.

In addition to Morishige, Takahashi, and Gonda, who were selected as members of the Japan national team's European expedition, Chang Hyun Soo, who was additionally called up to the South Korea national team, is absent. Therefore, in the Emperor's Cup 3rd round, Shioda is placed as the goalkeeper, and Kaga and Maruyama are placed as center-backs. There were concerns about the impact of the injury from the previous match, but Yonemoto also starts in the lineup, along with Hasegawa in the defensive midfield. Mita and Higashi are on both sides, and Lucas is in the attacking midfield position.

Omiya, who faced G Osaka (J2) in the Emperor's Cup 3rd Round, won after a penalty shootout. However, they have not been able to seize the opportunity to rise up, with 8 consecutive losses in the league and only 1 win in between, followed by another 7 consecutive losses. In this match, DF Suzuki, who was also a member of Tokyo, started as a forward in place of suspended FW Zlatan. In addition, DF Neil was absent due to being called up to the Australian national team, and DF Kikuchi was absent due to injury, resulting in 4 changes to the starting lineup from the league matches.

Originally a solid defensive team with sharpness on the counter, Omiya. This season, they had a big victory of 5-2 in the away game here at NACK5, but they were temporarily reversed by Omiya's side attack. They were also sunk by a one-shot from a cross at home Ajinomoto. This match is unlikely to be an easy battle, but still, "I want to show that we can achieve results with attractive and attacking football," said Coach Ranko POPOVIC.

GK Shioda shows his enthusiasm, saying, "The most important thing is to advance in any way possible. The team members may change, but I have 100% trust in my teammates and will concentrate on fighting for victory." Surrounded by an atmosphere that feels like Tokyo's home ground, thanks to the chorus of "You'll never walk alone" from the Tokyo fans and supporters who filled the away stand, the match kicked off in Omiya at 19:03.

Seizing the initiative, Hikaru MITA takes the lead with a Super Goal in the first half stoppage time!

Tokyo, which aggressively attacks from the start, had Watanabe with a shot in the 2nd minute and Lucas with a shot in the 3rd minute. In the 10th minute, the ball was passed from Lucas to Tokunaga, who advanced deep on the right side. Despite competing with the opponent, Tokunaga showed strength and passed to Watanabe in the right area. From here, he took a decisive shot with his right foot, but it narrowly missed to the left of the goal.

Tokyo seemed to have grasped the flow in the 12th minute, but when a lateral pass in the opponent's territory was intercepted by Omiya MF Watanabe, a long ball was played behind the defensive line from the right side, and FW Suzuki broke free and faced off against Shioda in a one-on-one situation. A decisive opportunity was created, but Shioda bravely came forward and made a save with his whole body!

In the 18th minute, a long ball was played behind the defense line, and MF Watanabe crossed from a deep position on the right side. FW Novakovic, who was waiting in the center, headed the shot, but it went over the crossbar. Tokyo is able to create opportunities to dominate the ball in the midfield and bring it to the finish, but there are also moments when they are chilled by the sharpness of Omiya's counterattacks that are occasionally launched.
 

At the end of the first half, when it seemed like the score would remain 0-0, Mita aggressively pressed and caused a mistake by the opponent's defense. From a deep throw-in on the right side, Lucas in the corner of the right area kept the ball and passed it to Mita who supported from the outside. Then, Mita controlled the ball with one touch, took it inside, and struck a controlled left-footed shot into the far side of the net! They scored a valuable opening goal and went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.

Tokyo's soccer, which is synchronized with offense and defense, Watanabe and Ota scored additional points and won

At halftime, coach Ranko POPOVIC said, "It is important to have a strong mentality and concentration, and not to show any weaknesses. The way we start the second half is crucial." In the second half, the team followed his words by displaying strength in defense, pressing from the front, and maintaining the same coordinated passing as in the first half in the attack. As a result, they successfully dominated the game from the beginning of the second half. Then, Tokyo scored a long-awaited additional goal.

54 minutes, Lucas, Mita, and Watanabe connect on the right side and break through to the center, but the decisive ground pass does not connect. Once again, it becomes Omiya's ball, but Yonemoto, who regained possession on the left side of the enemy's field, brings it inside and delivers an exquisite last pass to Watanabe, who starts moving towards the opponent's center back. From this delicate trap, he swings his left foot and scores a goal! The score is now 2-0.

A big chance comes in the 67th minute. A pinpoint pass from Hasegawa in the midfield finds Lucas, who breaks into the area with his right foot outside pass. He faces the opponent's goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation. However, Lucas falls in a collision with GK Kitano, but no foul is given. In the 70th minute, Lucas, Ota, and Watanabe quickly pass the ball, completely breaking down the left side. Finally, Watanabe enters the area, but cannot bring it to a finish.
And in the 82nd minute of the second half, Watanabe was fouled and earned a free kick from just outside the area in the center. Tokyo players stood in front of the six-man wall, with Ota and Higashi on the ball. After Higashi's feint, Ota's well-aimed left-footed kick curved and was sucked into the top right corner of the goal. With Ota's 4th goal of the season from a free kick, the score became 3-0, and this sealed the game.

In the second half injury time, Hiramatsu, who made his first official appearance since March 31, 2010, came on as a substitute and received a big cheer from the stands. The team stayed focused until the end without losing concentration and won the match without conceding a goal, securing a spot in the quarterfinals which will be held on 12/22.

[Player Comments]
≪Shioda≫
"The knockout tournament format may have brought out everyone's feelings today. We were able to concentrate for the full 90 minutes, and each individual had a strong determination and a desire not to lose, which led to the team's organization. I think this kind of victory gives the team confidence and will definitely carry over to the league matches. We will continue to work hard to achieve that."
 
≪Mita≫
"(Regarding the goal scene) There was a similar situation before, and at that time I chose to pass, so if there is a similar situation again, I was thinking of taking a shot. The shot itself didn't go in at all during today's pre-match practice... But when I took the shot, it went in only once. That was the image I had. (Even though the national team players were absent, did you want to prove your strength by winning?) Exactly, I think it was good that we were able to prove the depth and strength of Tokyo's players."
 

[Coach Popovich's Press Conference Summary]
"A very profound game for me. I think our players showed very good play and attitude. I enjoyed this kind of soccer myself, and above all, I think there is meaning in the play that did not make us feel the absence of four representative players in this game, and the result we achieved."

I think I was able to prove that these past two years were not in vain. I'm glad that I was able to achieve what I've been saying since I took office. I am also grateful to the fans and supporters. I am enjoying my work in Tokyo and I want to continue together until New Year's Day. I have been saying that I want to create an FC Tokyo family on every occasion. I think you can understand it by watching today's game, but both the players on the pitch and the fans and supporters have a sense of unity, and I feel that it is a very good family.

There is still the rest of the season, so I hope to achieve filling the stadium at home games and I hope you all enjoy the soccer that the players show.

[Summary of Omiya Ogura's Press Conference]
"The start of the first half was difficult with some moments of stiffness, but we were able to play the game at our own pace from the middle. However, we conceded a goal from a mistake that should not have happened in the stoppage time of the first half. In the second half, we were able to do what we wanted despite being behind. But then we conceded another goal from a counterattack."

Rather than taking risks and attacking, there was a feeling that the players who were on the field could do it, so we continued as it was. In the end, we attacked, but we conceded a goal from a free kick and lost the game. Since it is a tournament, it is not about losing by a certain score, but it is disappointing to lose. It is regrettable that we couldn't win despite having so many supporters.