Can they avoid consecutive losses? Match against bottom-ranked Gamba Osaka

Tokyo, which dropped to 5th place after losing to Kashima in the previous match. In addition to the ranking, they definitely want to avoid consecutive losses in the league. On the other hand, Gamba Osaka, who has not won a single game until this match. However, they have young power and strength with players like MF Inamoto, FW Kojima, and DF Miyamoto, who are candidates for the Olympic generation. In addition, injuries have started to occur in the regular lineup, including Kina, and Tokyo is also filled with anxiety. How much organizational strength can they demonstrate against Gamba, who will come with their backs against the wall? The outcome is important, but the content of the match will also have an impact on future battles.

Running out of breath in the rain battle!?

岡元, who started in place of Kobayashi in the previous match, made his J1 debut today as a starting left midfielder. On the bench, there were Kaburaki, who also made his J1 debut, and Kanno, who returned after missing four matches. The weather at the National Stadium was chilly and rainy, in contrast to the previous day's good weather. Both teams aggressively pressed each other in the midfield. Early in the match, TUTO took a shot from a one-two with Yukihiko. Gamba also had their chances, with Vita aiming for a direct free kick and Kojima taking a long-range shot, but they couldn't convert them into goals. Gamba built their attacks through the energetic Vita, who linked up with the technically skilled midfielders Yamaguchi and Futagawa, and from there, they created opportunities for Matsumiwa. Arai, the left full-back, also joined the attack against the quick-moving Kojima, but his intentions were easy to read, and Tokyo calmly dealt with it. On the other hand, Tokyo's attacks were effectively dealt with by Gamba's defensive midfielder Inamoto and the defensive line, who dropped back. In the 40th minute, Kaburaki was substituted for Okamoto, who couldn't quite find his rhythm, but the flow of the game remained the same. Both teams failed to create any significant chances and the first half ended.

First time this season, 3 goals conceded in 90 minutes! No success in team attack either.

The game started in the second half. In the 49th minute, Yamaguchi took a short right corner kick from Nikawa's dribble breakthrough. In the cross that followed, Inamoto jumped in and scored a header. Tokyo couldn't keep up with the marking and once again conceded a goal from a set piece. Gamba, riding the momentum, dominated the ball. Taking advantage of Tokyo's attempt to switch to attack, they quickly attacked wide. However, in the 61st minute, GK Doi caught the ball that was lifted in front of the goal and quickly kicked it to the front line, seeing that the opponent's defensive line was shallow. Tuto, who competed with the opponent's defender, persisted and connected, and Amalao, who picked up the ball, skillfully dribbled past DF Miyamoto with a brilliant feint and scored a spectacular goal with his left foot! Tokyo equalized with a swift counterattack.

In the 64th minute immediately after that, Gamba's Koijima, who dribbled up, did not try to connect the ball that Asari cut off forcibly, but brought it to a corner kick. This aim was successful, and Koijima headed the ball kicked by Yamaguchi from the left, losing the second goal again from a set play. It's tough for the player himself to concede a goal immediately after equalizing. After that, Asano was replaced by Koike, and Kamiya was replaced by Asari. In a "super attacking formation" with Yukihiko, Kaburagi, and Kamiya as the two top players and five players in the front line, they entered a counterattack posture, but Gamba calmly responded by changing the midfield to a square with Vitao and Inamoto as a double defensive midfield due to Yukihiko entering the center. On the contrary, Tokyo became more aggressive, and in the 83rd minute, Koijima, who jumped out just offside, was easily scored by Vitao. Sandro was also moved up to the midfield, and Tokyo tried to counterattack, but in the 86th minute, Sandro's shot just went over the goal. Asano and Amaral also actively aimed for the goal, but they relied solely on individual skills. There were many scenes where TUTO and Kaburagi overlapped, and they ended up with a lack of combination as the time was up.

The task is clear. Switch your mindset and move on!

Gamba, who cannot be said to have done a great job, conceded 3 goals. It should be a lesson that they couldn't compete with Tokyo's organizational strength, conceding 2 goals from set plays. "It was a game that clearly showed the parts that work and the parts that don't work at the J1 level. In the parts that work, I think we need to somehow build the team. I feel a lack of strength in the midfield, and there are also parts where we can't take advantage of the two top players because there is no passer, but I don't think we will make big changes in the lineup, mainly using combinations of players who have been playing together for a relatively long time. It was also a game where I realized that this way of playing is good," reflects Coach Okuma calmly. As we approach the middle of the 1st stage, injuries and fatigue are a concern, but we want to approach the future without forgetting the challenger spirit.

"Coach Hayano's comment"

"Today, the defensive challenge was to first control the counterattacks of Amaral and TUTO as the two top players. In the attack, we proceeded by developing the offense around Matsumi as the axis, and I think that faithfully fulfilling that led to this result. Until now, we couldn't score points easily in set plays, but today we scored two goals and the momentum changed significantly. In the past, there were times when the players became poor in the second half, but today there was a desire to attack while holding the ball. CB Asahina was used unexpectedly (in place of the injured Dambury), but there were parts where he was helped by Tokyo's system. I think his strengths were brought out by increasing the focus on Amaral. I am very happy with the victory, but the situation has not improved, and we need to firmly grasp the current situation and approach the next game with the intention of turning it around."

"Coach Okuma's comment"

"There was no time to pause on the front line, and when we pulled back, we couldn't create enough time to assemble. With Kina's injury, the lack of strength in the midfield, including the defensive midfield, was exposed. We need to consider this as a future challenge and think about the members and how to fight. We have spent a considerable amount of time practicing defensive set plays, but in J1, the accuracy of free kicks and crosses when left free is still high. At the same time, there are few players who can give instructions on what the situation is around them, and they are doing their best to mark their own players. I think this is leading to goals against us. We are always careful to be able to communicate with each other, but I think the cause is that we haven't been able to do it in a timely manner yet."