Win the last home game before the league suspension!

　This round, which will be held at the Japan National Stadium, will see a match between JEF United Chiba, currently in 10th place, and Tokyo, who are in 5th place. Although there is a difference in rankings, the points difference is only one. Both teams have not been fortunate enough to win in the last two matches, so they will be looking to seize the opportunity to rise up the rankings with a victory.

　Also, it is already early, in the league matches where an interval is set for the World Cup, today is the last home game in the 7th round before the break. Of course, in order to remain in the championship race and to face the consecutive away matches that follow, I want to decorate the victory comfortably at home, Kokuritsu.

Last Home Game Before World Cup

The opponents for the fifth game of the season, a home game at the National Stadium, were JEF United Ichihara. JEF, lying 10th in the table five places below F.C.TOKYO, but separated by only one point, had failed to win in their previous two games, like their hosts; both teams were keen to return to winning ways.
F.C.TOKYO were equally anxious to post a good result in the final home match before the World Cup break.

Unable to create chances and unable to score goals, instead conceding a goal just before the end of the first half

　From the start of the first half, Tokyo has been taking the ball in high positions and transitioning to attack. In the 2nd minute, a pass from Hoshi to Amaral was offside. In the 6th minute, Seigo Kobayashi stole the ball from the opponent's backline and had a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Unfortunately, he was closed down by the defender and couldn't take a shot, but he didn't miss the opponent's unstable defensive line and showed an attitude of "moving forward".

　At 8 minutes, Chiba MF Masuda took a powerful middle shot, but Doi escaped with a punch to a corner kick. The heading shot from FW Choi from that corner kick went to the right of the goal. However, during this play, the key defender Jean got injured and was forced to be substituted with Osamu Komine in the 13th minute. However, Tokyo, who picked up the second ball well and played in the opponent's territory, showed a variation of attacks from the center, with midfielder Miyazawa sending a strong and fast unexpected through pass to the front of the goal at 18 minutes. Although Hoshi, who received the pass, was offside, they also showed variations in attacks from the center.

　Tokyo fought bravely, but often resorted to fouling to stop the opponent's play, resulting in many free kicks. Using this set piece, Ichihara also turned to attack. In the 27th minute, Choi headed the ball from a free kick. In the following 28th minute, Choi took another shot from a counter attack, but both were saved by Toi. In the 35th minute, Tokyo sent a free kick from the right side of the penalty area to Kelly, who was free in the center, but the shot narrowly missed to the right. It was a decisive moment, but they missed the chance. On the contrary, in the 38th minute, Ichihara MF Abe's free kick from the front of the goal was saved by Toi with one hand. Toi also made a series of fine plays, bouncing back a powerful middle shot from MF Sakamoto in the 43rd minute. However, in the 44th minute just before the end of the first half, Abe sent a perfect ball between the Tokyo defense line and the goalkeeper from a free kick on the left side of Ichihara. DF Chano, who had jumped out to split the Tokyo defense, headed the ball and scored the opening goal. Tokyo carried the burden of being behind at an unfavorable time and entered the second half.

F.C.TOKYO Create But JEF Finish

F.C.TOKYO took the game to JEF straight from the kick off, pushing up the field and harrying a rather shaky looking defence into some mistakes.
Masamitsu Kobayashi had the best early chance as he was clean through with only the keeper to beat, but a last ditch block prevented a certain goal. At the other end keeper Doi punched away a well struck effort from Masuda in the 8th minute with Che Yon Su heading the resulting corner narrowly wide.
F.C.TOKYO suffered a blow in the 13th minute when defensive lynch-pin Jean was forced to leave the field with a strained groin. JEF slowly worked their way back into the match, winning a series of free kicks and threatening on the break. Kelly nearly put F.C.TOKYO ahead from a well-worked free kick in the 35th minute but his shot crept inches wide of the post. Doi kept TOKYO in the game with another stunning one handed save from Abe's well struck free kick in the 38th minute and followed it up with an amazing double save from Sakamoto five minutes later. Despite Doi's heroics JEF finally breached the last line in the 44th minute. Abe swung in a powerful, curling free kick and Chano appeared between Doi and the last defender to head JEF in front on the stroke of half time.

With a goal full of guts, Miyazawa equalizes in his first J1 goal!!

　Ichihara took the initiative from the start of the second half. They played a fast attacking game, utilizing long balls to Cui and taking advantage of the breakthroughs by forward Hayu. In the 48th minute, Hayu broke through the defense line, but Doi came out quickly and made a save. Cui's looping shot from the rebound also missed the goal, resulting in no harm.

　Tokyo quickly transitions to attack from Ichihara's set play, and in the 51st and 53rd minutes, they launch counterattacks. Hoshi frequently crosses from the right side, and Kelly and Amaral threaten Ichihara's goal, but the opposing defenders quickly close in and prevent any shots. However, in the 60th minute, Amaral collapses in the center and earns a corner kick. Miyanosawa's right corner kick is cleared by the opposing defenders and falls outside the penalty area on the right side. Miyanosawa, who rushed in, takes a shot from an impossible angle! The ball pierces the goal net with tremendous force, equalizing the score!!

　Tokyo, whose first goal in J1 by Miyazawa became an equalizer, continued to attack with momentum. In the 64th minute, Amaral headed in a cross from the right, and the opponent's goalkeeper initially caught it. However, Kelly followed up on the loose ball and pushed it into the goal... but unfortunately, it was disallowed due to an offside decision. On the contrary, in the 72nd minute, Chiba MF Muichin aimed directly at the bar with a free kick given just before the penalty area. Nevertheless, Tokyo continued to attack without getting discouraged, with Miyazawa and Hoshi actively aiming for the goal. In the 76th minute, they attempted to score an additional goal by replacing Seigo Kobayashi with FW Matsuda. However, the match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, leading to the third consecutive extra time.

Battling Miyazawa Ties It!

JEF began the second period as they finished the first, knocking long balls towards Che Yon Su and Hanyu; the latter got behind the TOKYO defense in the 48th minute and Doi had to be off his line very sharply to save and then watch as Che lobbed the rebound fractionally over the bar. Hoshi made some headway for F.C.TOKYO down the right, firing in a couple of crosses but the JEF defense contained Amaral and Kelly. In the 60th minute, a typical burst through the middle by Amaral earned F.C.TOKYO a corner on the right; Miyazawa curled the ball in, only for a defender to head the ball straight back to him just outside the area. Instead of crossing, as the JEF defense expected, Miyazawa lashed the ball hard and low to the near post and it beat the keeper's late dive for a stunning equalizer.
Miyazawa's first goal in the J-League revitalized F.C.TOKYO and Amaral nearly put them ahead three minutes later but saw his powerful header athletically stopped by the JEF keeper. Kelly seemed certain to net the rebound but was given offside. F.C.TOKYO attacked positively but JEF proved a threat on the break-Muichin rattled the bar with a drive in the 72nd minute. Young forward Matsuda replaced Masamitsu Kobayashi in the 76th minute. Despite their best efforts neither side conjured a winner and for the third consecutive game F.C.TOKYO were playing extra time.

Despite failing to score additional points, it ended in a draw, but there were also gains

　Entering extra time, Tokyo substituted rookie Oyaji for Hoshi and placed him on the left side half. However, Ichihara also substituted Hayu for Haru and brought in speedy forward Hayashi. Hayashi broke through Tokyo's left side and consecutively gave away corner kicks. But Oyaji was not to be outdone. He challenged the opponent's defense without hesitation and created opportunities from the left side. However, in the 96th minute, Kelly got injured in a fierce contest and Tokyo had no choice but to use their fourth substitution card. Once again, they brought in Maeda, who made his first appearance in the J1 league. Maeda, who entered as a right side half, cut off the opponent's ball from a fierce collision in the 98th minute and then crossed it to Amaral, competing for a goal alongside Oyaji in the harsh conditions.

　Shortly after the start of the second half of extra time, Shimodaira picked up a loose ball in front of the goal and took a powerful mid-range shot. However, the opposing goalkeeper Kushino made a fine play and escaped with a corner kick. After that, there was a frantic development with chances appearing alternately for both teams, but neither had the finishing touch. Then, in the 118th minute, Ichihara's Choi broke through the front line, evaded Komine, and took a decisive shot, but it was blocked by the post and the time was up. The intense 120 minutes ended in a draw with both teams giving their all.

　Although it is only one point, there was also the achievement of showing the ability to recover even if being overtaken, and the rookies such as Oyoku and Atsushi MAEDA were able to compete evenly under tough conditions. However, whether this one point will become a "1" that leads to the future depends on the battles to come. It is a difficult team situation with many injured players, but we must unite and fight together for victory.

[Summary of Manager Hara's Press Conference] "Jean had an accident, which momentarily shook the team, but Kominato did a good job filling in that gap. We were able to utilize the lessons from the Shimizu S-Pulse match and had a good balance in the midfield, effectively circulating the ball. However, our finishing was lacking, and I think if we had scored a goal by around the 30th minute of the first half... On the contrary, we conceded a goal just before halftime, but at halftime, I said, 'It's not over yet, let's go again.' After equalizing in the second half, there was a period where we had the rhythm, so I wanted to score another goal there... Of course, we wanted to earn 3 points, but there were several dangerous situations and moments where the post helped us, and I think the players fought well until the end. Despite injuries and the absence of Jean and Kelly, substitute players like Maeda and Oyoku stepped up well. Including Miyazawa, I think we earned a "point" with the strength of our young players. In the next match against Gamba, Kelly will be suspended, but I want to approach it using these young players who can further grow and utilize energetic players."

All Square

Extra time saw rookie Omata replace Hoshi as halfback; the speedy forward Hayashi replaced Hanyu for JEF and immediately set about his young opponent, winning a corner kick. Omata gave a good account of himself though, as did young midfielder Maeda who made his first appearance after Kelly was stretchered off following a goal mouth melee in the 96th minute. In the second half of extra time Shimotaira thundered in a 30 yard rocket producing a flying save from the JEF keeper - the resulting corner came to naught. Both sides produced some heart-stopping chances but neither were able to finish them off: Che Yon Su surely must have thought he had won the game in the 118th minute as he turned Komine inside out, then beat Doi only to see his shot strike the foot of the post and trickle away.
The final whistle blew soon after and F.C.TOKYO had a solitary point to show for their efforts. Despite falling behind at a crucial time and losing key players to injury, F.C.TOKYO fought hard for two hours and the young players performed creditably in difficult circumstances. The team is struggling with injuries at the moment - the healthy players will have to step up and show their fighting spirit in the remaining games.

Manager Hara :
" Losing Jean early on was a blow but Komine did a very good job for us. I felt the midfield was well balanced and we played the ball around nicely in the first half but couldn't make the breakthrough we needed; we were lax at the free kick but I told the players at half time that the game wasn't over yet by any means. We found our rhythm and equalised-maybe we could have gone on to win the game. There were many close calls and the woodwork saved us but the players fought very well. The young players came on and did well: in effect they earned the point for us today. Kelly is suspended for the Gamba match so they will have another chance to develope their abilities next week ".