Heavenly Mountain!

With only 5 games left in the season, the intense dead heat for the championship and J1 promotion continues in the J2 league. At this point, 1st place Kawasaki Frontale has 63 points, 2nd place Tokyo has 58 points, and 3rd place Oita has 54 points. The long-awaited J1 promotion (1st and 2nd place automatically promoted) is now narrowed down to these 3 teams. Tokyo, with their goal for the season being "J2 Champions (winning the championship) & J1 promotion", faced off against 1st place Kawasaki Frontale in a crucial match. In order for Tokyo to keep their hopes for the championship alive, they need to win this match at all costs (3 points for a win = 58 + 3 = 61 points), and reduce the point difference with 1st place Kawasaki Frontale (63 points) to "2". In the next match, Kawasaki Frontale will face strong team Sapporo away, while Tokyo will face bottom-ranked Kofu at home. If Tokyo wins this match, they will have a great advantage in the next match and could potentially jump to 1st place. On the other hand, if Tokyo loses this match and 3rd place Oita wins (3 points for a win = 54 + 3 = 57 points), the point difference with Oita will be reduced to "1", and it will not be easy for Tokyo to secure 2nd place for J1 promotion, let alone the championship. Tokyo, who is currently in a "slump" with 3 consecutive losses due to fatigue from playing in both the Nabisco Cup and league matches, the absence of their ace Amaral due to injury, or the pressure of promotion, must win this crucial match and ride the upward momentum. In any case, there is no doubt that this match is the "climbing mountain" that will determine the fate of this season, and all that is left is to aim for victory.

Impressive performance!

The expression of the players who entered the enemy territory, Todoroki, which is the venue for the decisive battle, was different from usual. There was no sign of "anxiety" or "tension" on their faces, only "determination and fighting spirit" were evident. The loud support of the fans who always warmly support them also motivated the players. On this day, the support from the "goal end" that took their usual position was hotter and more powerful than anywhere else. The approximately 13,000 Kawasaki F fans who filled the venue turned against the enemy, while the approximately 150 "goal end" supporters were fiercely agitated. The continuous chorus that started before the match surpassed that of the home team and took over Todoroki. With the best ground condition and a clear blue sky without a single cloud, the stage for the decisive battle was set, and the "life-or-death struggle" began with intense cheering in the background.

Tokyo was the first to make a move. On this day, Kagami and Okuhara, who started as "secret weapons," immediately showed their skills. Kagami, who had been expected to be the key player in the attack since the start of the season but had not performed well, had a great performance with 2 goals and 1 assist in the 2nd round of the Nabisco Cup (vs. Ichihara, 6/19), but since then his performance had declined and he had not played for 13 games since the Niigata match on August 1st. On the other hand, Okuhara, who wore the number 10 jersey, injured his back before the start of the season and focused entirely on rehabilitation during the first half, making his official debut just one month ago on September 25th, and has only played 3 games this season. The two players who were selected for this decisive battle lived up to the high expectations. Tokyo, with its strong determination and spirit, attacked fiercely from the beginning. In the past two matches, Tokyo had struggled to create a foundation in the front line without Amaral, and lacked depth and rhythm in their attacks. However, Kagami successfully fulfilled that role. Kagami made good use of his long reach and demonstrated stable post play in the front line. By creating a foundation in a high position in the front line, Yukihiko on the right side and Okuhara on the left side were able to fully utilize their speed and make runs into the spaces on both sides. In the 2nd minute, Yukihiko received the ball on the right side, and Okuhara immediately dashed into the space in the front line in perfect coordination. When Yukihiko played a pinpoint 50-meter pass to Okuhara, he volleyed the ball with his right foot after one bounce and scored the opening goal. The selection of these two players was a great success right from the start.

A great game worthy of being called "The Battle of the Gods"!

With an early opening goal that further stirred the "goal area" behind them, Tokyo continued to press forward. With Kagawa's post play and Okahara's sharp runs, the increase in passing options in the front line allowed Almir to showcase his midfield organization. On the other hand, although it seemed that Kawasaki F would lose their rhythm due to an early goal, they proved to be the top team. Without being overwhelmed by Tokyo's momentum, they firmly executed their own style of football. The Brazilian duo of TUTO and Tinga, known as the number one top two in J2, served as the focal point in the front line, while playmaker Katsura and the tricky side midfielders Nagahashi and Kuno created a diverse range of attacks. Particularly, Nagahashi on the right side excelled in speed and technique, and there had been many patterns where they were broken down from this side. In the 7th minute, a superb cross from Nagahashi found TUTO free in the center for a header. However, the shot hit the crossbar and was saved. Gradually, Kawasaki F began to pick up the pace. In the 14th minute, once again, Nagahashi broke through on the right side and returned the ball to the center, connecting with TUTO and Tinga, leading to a shot from Tinga. Sandro desperately extended his foot, and while the ball deflected and soared, Katsura headed it in to equalize. The match returned to square one, but Tokyo, needing to win, repeatedly launched fierce attacks down the left side with Fujiyama → Almir → Okahara, and on the right side with Umeyama → Yukihiko → Kaburaki. Kawasaki F also responded with sharp runs from both sides by Nagahashi and Kuno, and precise passing work from Katsura, TUTO, and Tinga in the center. The match turned into a fierce back-and-forth with quick transitions between offense and defense. The deadlock was broken in the 36th minute. On the left side, Tinga persistently attempted to dribble through, and the Tokyo defense could not hold back and committed a foul. From about 30 meters out with no angle for the free kick, Kuno, known for his powerful shots, took the kick. Kuno unleashed a sharp shot with a curve that soared over the head of goalkeeper Suzuki, who never expected a direct shot, and pierced the goal net. For Tokyo, who absolutely needed to win, this was a very unpleasant development. However, Tokyo did not panic that day. In the 43rd minute, Yukihiko on the right side persisted and returned the ball to the center, where Kagawa made a feint and turned to shoot! The ball found the left corner of the goal, equalizing the score. Tokyo equalized at a very good time, and just as it seemed the first half would end like this, Kawasaki F's Tinga seized the opportunity and broke through for a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. However, the shot hit the left post and did not result in a goal. It was a match that demanded full concentration at every moment, truly a good game worthy of a "mountain of heaven."

Kawasaki Frontale falls to the determination of their opponent, unable to escape the "quagmire"...

Tokyo, which caught up just before the end of the first half and connected its hopes in the second half, dashed fiercely as soon as the second half began. Yukihiko not only made chances with aggressive breakthroughs on the right side, but also took more shots than ever before, and Almir also flew out to the front line and created decisive chances with flexible technique. However, they just couldn't score the third goal. On the contrary, Kawasaki F added a goal from a few chances in the 15th minute of the second half. Nagahashi, who didn't come up much in the second half on the right side, took advantage of a momentary gap in Tokyo's midfield defense and cut into the center, delivering a sharp ball to Tingga in front of the goal. Tingga passed through a narrow space with TUTO and a sharp one-two, and shot with his left foot! GK Suzuki, who couldn't see the course in the melee, couldn't move a step and gave away an additional goal. Kawasaki F, riding the momentum, turned to a fierce attack to stop Tokyo's breath, and Tokyo, who couldn't afford to lose, also attacked desperately. In the 28th minute of the second half, Okamoto had a scoring opportunity from Umayama's cross, and in the following 30th minute, Yukihiko had a scoring opportunity from Fujiyama's dribble, but both were blocked by the opponent's GK's offense and defense. In the 31st minute, Kagami headed freely from the right corner kick, and it seemed to have gone in, but it was cleared by the opponent's DF at the last moment. From the remaining 10 minutes, Sandro was brought up to the front line and Yamao, a defender, was brought in as a forward, entrusting hope to a desperate power play, but in the end, they couldn't break through Kawasaki F's wall without losing concentration until the end and suffered a close defeat. Tokyo (= at that time Tokyo Gas FC) had its dream of J-League promotion shattered two years ago, and last year, Kawasaki F took away the championship at the last minute. Having been made to taste the bitter cup twice, they raised the banner of "Overthrow Tokyo!" and finally did not give Tokyo a single victory this season. The determination and mental strength that grew as many tears were shed and pressures of promotion were experienced have come alive here.

Tokyo, who suffered their first four consecutive defeats of the season, may be feeling the pressure for the first time. Just below them, Oita in third place is closing in with a difference of only "1" win. There is no turning back now. With only four matches left, they have no choice but to change their mindset and approach the next game. And they have no choice but to win all of them.

【FC Tokyo Player Warning】

56th minute... Kagami (1→2)

64th minute... Yukihiko SATO (0→1)

*Warning for Player '2' <as of the end of the 32nd round>

Osamu UMEYAMA, Sandro, Kensuke KAGAMI