Approaching the match with a focused mindset

In the previous match, Tokyo defeated Yokohama F.Marinos, one of the contenders for the championship, with a score of 3-0 in the opening match of the 2nd stage. On this day, Tokyo faced Avispa Fukuoka in Hakata. It was a match that they had to approach with caution, as they had started off so well and their opponents were a team that had been struggling in 14th place in the 1st stage. In the stadium, with it being Avispa's home opening match, a large number of supporters unleashed a fierce chorus even before the match, drowning out the support of approximately 1000 fans who had come from Tokyo (so many fans came all the way to Hakata!). For Tokyo, in addition to experiencing the "away" atmosphere after a long time, they also had to battle the scorching heat, which was expected to be the highest of the year (the temperature was 27 degrees, but the humidity of 80% was tough). It was anticipated to be a challenging match.

Amaral scores the opening goal with a powerful attack!

The match quickly turned into a development where "Tokyo attacks" and "Avispa defends" were distinguished. Avispa, based on the bitter experience of the previous 1st stage match (losing to Tokyo 0-2 by being attacked in the space behind the defense line), thoroughly implemented a "secret plan?" of not giving space to Tokyo by keeping the defense line deep and flat with Maeda, who transferred from Tokyo, as the axis, and not aggressively chasing from the front line once the ball is passed to the opponent, but first returning to their own half to form the defense line. This, of course, was a tactic to respond to Tokyo's "fast vertical football" centered around their two top players, compacting the midfield and keeping the defense line deep to deny running space, and counterattacking after winning the ball to "steal Tokyo's advantage". Avispa's attack after winning the ball relied on the high work rate and versatile passing of the left-footed technician Badia, who delivered powerful long shots, to collect the ball and then pass it to the lone striker Montoya, which was a simple approach. However, Tokyo's double defensive midfielders Koike and Asari showed persistent defense in the midfield, and in addition, Kominato prevented Montoya from working effectively with intense man-marking, so Avispa was unable to create any clear opportunities.

In response to this, Tokyo, despite facing tough marking, showed accurate post-play with Amaral in the front line, and TUTO, Masuda, and Seigo Kobayashi were involved. Furthermore, Koike in the defensive midfield, Naito and Fujiyama as fullbacks provided well-timed attacking participation and precise support, allowing them to dominate the ball for about 80% of the time. This "attacking when the opponent retreats" was the biggest challenge that emerged in the 1st stage and had to be overcome in order to fight through the 2nd stage, which will be studied even more. "Not only vertical but also fast development to the sides and improvement of midfield composition." This was a challenge that Coach Okuma often mentioned in the 1st stage, but judging from the development of this day, it seemed to have been considerably improved. The addition of Masuda, who has good ball retention, was naturally a significant factor.

Tokyo gradually begins to seize scoring opportunities. In the 7th minute, a vertical pass from Koike to Naito on the right, who then passes it to Amaral on the front line, and Amaral takes a powerful right-footed shot while turning around! Unfortunately, it was deflected by the goalkeeper's fine save, but it created a good chance from behind. In the following 16th minute, Amaral heads the ball back from a right corner kick, and Sandro drops it to the back where Masuda takes a powerful right-footed shot that hits the goal post and bounces back, and then Koike shoots but narrowly misses to the left. Also, in the 20th minute, TUTO dribbles past one defender on the left side and crosses it to the center, which Amaral shoots directly with his right foot, but it goes over the crossbar. Furthermore, in the 27th minute, TUTO receives a ball that came from the right side and changed to the left side, dribbles past a defender with a chest trap, and rushes towards the goal. He shoots at top speed, but it is blocked by the goalkeeper's fine play. After that, Tokyo continues to create chances with Naito and Masuda, former Antlers duo on the right side, and Fujiyama intercepting sharply on the left side, overwhelming Avispa. Then, in the 38th minute, Fujiyama joins the attack on the left side and passes it to Nakabayashi in the center, Nakabayashi moves to the side with Fujiyama screening, and at the right timing, passes it to Amaral in the center. Amaral quickly shakes off the defender vertically with one touch and takes a powerful left-footed shot! It hits the goalkeeper's foot, shakes the goal net, and Amaral's 7th goal of the season becomes a valuable opening goal.

Afterwards, there were some tense moments, such as when Doi barely managed to save Badea's powerful mid-range shot and it resulted in a corner kick. However, the first half ended with a score of 1-0.

Allowing a last-minute equalizing goal against Avispa's determination and perseverance

Entering the second half, the sky was enveloped in darkness, and despite the time being past 20:00, there was no sign of the heat at the match venue changing. I felt a slight unease when I saw the tired expressions of the players in the halftime locker room, but as the second half began, that unease gradually became more realistic. "The amount of exercise has clearly decreased compared to the first half." Still, five minutes into the second half, TUTO and Masamitsu KOBAYASHI quickly connected on the right side and from a deep penetration, they delivered an exquisite cross, which Amaral jumped and perfectly headed, but it narrowly missed to the left of the goal. This one play would have a significant impact later on.

On the other hand, Avispa regained their confidence after this one play and began to show their determination with the support of the local fans. Like in the first half, Badea was moving around the field and delivering accurate crosses from the side. In the first half, there were no crosses from the side, so it wasn't scary, but attacking from the side can still lead to conceding a goal due to a momentary lapse in concentration, so caution was necessary.

The match, like the first half, saw Tokyo keeping possession of the ball while Avispa continued to defend deep. However, the dynamics changed after Avispa regained possession. In the first half, they focused on the combination play between Badia and Montoya, but in the second half, they started to play the ball to the spaces on both sides and involve the fullbacks in the attack to create a foundation on the sides. Especially on the left side, Hisanaga made sharp movements and dribbles to cut inside, while Miura, the fullback, moved into that space and delivered crosses, adding depth to the attack. On the other hand, although Tokyo controlled the ball, they reduced their vertical runs and the number of scoring opportunities decreased.

Avispa made the attack line thicker by bringing in FW Hattori and forming a two-top in the 29th minute of the second half, and immediately after that, Hisanaga made a decisive volley shot from the center in the 31st minute, gradually seizing the opportunity. Fortunately, the ball hit the post and did not become a goal, but it was clearly a play where Tokyo's defense line lacked concentration. Avispa, who continued to create chances from the side, further showed their last determination in the "super attacking formation" by bringing in FW Eguchi in the 41st minute and forming a three-top. And in stoppage time, when everyone started to believe in Tokyo's victory, a nightmare moment came for Tokyo. Avispa passed the ball from the center to Miura, who had gone up the left side from Badea in the center, and Miura evaded the marker with a sharp cutback and sent a perfect cross to the front of the goal. Eguchi, who had just entered the field, pushed it in with a diving header full of fighting spirit, equalizing in the last minute. Tokyo, who had almost secured the victory, was caught up in a draw, and despite their fatigue and shock, they barely survived the following moments and ended the second half with a 1-1 tie.

Disappointing ending... In the end, it was Amaral, TUTO

Approaching the first half of extra time with renewed determination, both teams fought with their last ounce of strength. Avispa Fukuoka clearly had the upper hand in momentum, but Tokyo remained composed and stuck to their own style of play without being shaken by the situation.

The game suddenly moved. In the 3rd minute, Amaral, who received a pass in the penalty area, immediately rushed forward. The Avispa DF tried to stop him from behind and Amaral fell down, earning a valuable penalty kick. Amaral entrusted this to TUTO (who can aim for the top scorer), and TUTO, who answered to that friendship and expectation, kicked it firmly into the center of the goal, leading the team to a victory with an extra-time goal. The intense and grueling match ended with an anticlimactic ending, but the team has now won two consecutive victories in the opening. In this league where the start dash has a big impact, these two consecutive victories are significant.

[Coach Okuma's Comment]

In the final stages, the defense line, consisting of unfamiliar members, experienced a decrease in energy and physicality, which led to conceding a goal. However, in the future...

It is significant and commendable that we were able to achieve results despite not being able to fight with the same members.

In the future, there will be times when we will have to play in even hotter conditions, so we want to use players who are in good shape so that everyone can participate in the game, not just the 16 players today.