We won't treat it as a friendly match, it's a challenge for the final game

　In the previous round, FC Tokyo secured their spot in the final tournament as the top team in Group B. In the final round of the qualifying league, they will face Shimizu S-Pulse. Shimizu also advanced to the next round as the second-place team in the previous round, and the outcome of today's match will not affect their rankings. However, Shimizu is determined with the return of DF Morioka, a candidate for the Japanese national team, in his second match after recovering from an injury, and MF Ito's comeback in today's game.

　Tokyo also wants to give a chance to players who are working hard even if they don't have the opportunity to play in the previous match, as Coach Hara said after the last match. However, there is no "second team" in Tokyo right now. The motivation of substitute players who do not enter the field is also very high. We will continue to fight firmly without intending to make it a meaningless match. We aim for an undefeated record in the qualifying league and go for the win.

　The starting lineup consists of DF Maeda, Komine, Yamao, and Minoru KOBAYASHI on the right. Miyazawa and Marcelo form a double pivot in midfield, with Hoshi on the right and Toda on the left. Wu plays as an attacking midfielder, with Fukuda as the lone striker. On the bench are GK Kondo, MF Suwazono, Sato, FW Amaral, and Matsuda, who all started the kickoff.

Despite fighting with a strong fighting spirit, they conceded a penalty kick and fell behind.

　The DF line is a first-time combination, but they started with a well-coordinated play by putting Shimizu's attack offside early on. And Fukuda, Toda, and Wu press fiercely from the front line, and the game progresses at a high pace.

　Marcelo was fouled in the middle of the opponent's field in the 1st minute, and Miyazawa took a direct shot at this free kick, but the shot was saved by the opponent's goalkeeper. Shimizu also responded with fast passing and tough tackles. In the 6th minute, left midfielder Ota dribbled into the center and passed to the right side with Ito's quick decision-making. Baron headed the cross, but the ball was caught by Doi.

　In the 11th minute, Tokyo had a big chance. From the defensive line, Komine passed the ball to the left side of the front line, and Miyazawa caught up and crossed from near the goal line. Hoshi, who was waiting in the center, took a shot but unfortunately it was saved by the goalkeeper. However, an accident occurred for Tokyo after this. In the 14th minute, Wu jumped out behind the defense to meet Maeda's long pass and collided with goalkeeper Sanada. He hit his head and momentarily fell into a "concussion" state. Wu immediately returned to the field, but Coach Hara later reflected that "Wu was unable to get involved with the ball from this point on."

　After that, Tokyo struggled against Shizuoka's defensive midfielder Ito's passes. In the 17th minute, Koga sprinted down the left side to receive Ito's pass, but Maeda calmly intercepted it. In the 18th minute, Koga attempted to break through with a dribble again, but Marcelo cleared the ball. Tokyo pushed forward with determination and defended well.

　However, in the 22nd minute, Shun Koga of Shimizu once again dribbled into the center from the left side of the penalty area. Yamao, who tried to stop him with his body, was called for a foul, resulting in a penalty kick. Kubo, the forward, scored this penalty kick, and we ended up conceding the first goal.

Conceding an additional goal to Shimizu, who showed a diverse attacking style...

　Energized Shimizu, with the dribbling skills of MF Hiramatsu and Ota shining, gradually neutralizes Tokyo's press. From a free kick obtained from a fierce foul by the opponent in the midfield, Marcelo attempts a goal in the 28th minute, and Hoshi in the 30th minute, but neither can shake the net.

　On the contrary, in the 32nd minute, Baron became the relay point for a long pass from behind, and headed the ball towards the goal. Kuboyama jumped out there. DF Komine competed desperately, but the loop shot that was struck a moment earlier touched GK Doi's hand and went into the goal. With Baron's header as the starting point, Shimizu was deprived of an additional point in the form of their "signature" attack, and went into the second half with a 2-point deficit.

　Tokyo made substitutions in the second half, replacing Kure with Amaral and replacing Hoshi with Suwazono. They adjusted their formation to have Fukuda and Amaral as the two forwards, preparing for a counterattack. With Amaral as the focal point of the frontline, the team was able to settle the ball, as in the first half both fullbacks were unable to push forward. However, in the second half, they actively participated in the attack. In the 51st minute, Maeda advanced to the goal line from Miyazawa's pass and crossed the ball. Although it was cleared by the defense between Toda and Amaral in front of the goal, they showed a promising opportunity.

　However, Shimizu also showed a variety of attacking plays, connecting fast passes, dribbling, and launching long balls to attack the Tokyo goal. In the 53rd minute, Kuboyama entrusted the ball to Ota on the right side, who ran freely into the goal area to create a decisive moment. Although the trap was not successful in taking the shot, Tokyo was saved by the mistake.

Fukuda's goal pays off and brings a small victory, even in defeat!

　59 minutes, Shimizu replaced Ito with MF Suzuki. Tokyo replaced Toda with Sato in the 60th minute. Tokyo, who wants to retaliate somehow, sees that the final line centered around Shimizu and Morio is solid, and in the 65th minute, Maeda takes a middle shot. In the 66th minute, Miyazawa steals the ball with persistent defense in the midfield and passes it to the right for a side change. Sato, who received the ball, dribbles up and crosses, and Amaral heads the ball with a high point of contact, but it narrowly goes over the goal.

　However, they struggled against Shizuoka's well-utilized passes and speedy dribblers such as Suzuki, Hiramatsu, and Ota, during difficult moments. In the 74th minute, Miyazawa aggressively attacked the loose ball in front of the goal from a left corner kick, but was stopped by GK Sanada's fine play.

　In the 83rd minute, Shizuoka substituted DF Petzel with FW Shiozawa, who once again showed his dribbling skills, intensifying the attack and defense. The match became a back-and-forth of counterattacks, but in the midst of it, in the 84th minute, a ball was played to the right side from an aerial battle in front of Shizuoka's goal, and Sato crossed the ball on the ground. The ball reached Fukuda's feet, who calmly kicked it into the goal! It was a goal that showcased the relentless play and goal-hungry attitude of the Sato-Fukuda combination.

　Tokyo desperately tried to score another goal, but in the 88th minute, Komine received his second yellow card and was sent off. Despite their efforts, the match ended with a one-goal difference. Tokyo suffered their first defeat in the qualifying league.

　Fast development continued, and in an exciting game, the players from Tokyo showed both fighting spirit and ambition. However, there are still many challenges to overcome, such as the ability to convert chances, precision in play, and physical fitness.

　This marks the end of the official matches before the World Cup, but it was a defeat that we want to take as a step in the challenge, with each of its challenges and achievements in our hearts.

[Summary of Manager Hara's Press Conference] "In the previous match, Jean, Kelly, and Ito, who had been playing through injuries, were replaced by Marcelo and Wu, young players with high energy. Wu had an accident and couldn't get involved with the ball much in the first half. He has great ability, so I thought he could do more if he recovered. However, it became difficult at halftime, so I decided to bring in Amaral to score a goal. Although the entire backline changed, I think the players who don't usually play did well. There may be some unavoidable things like lack of match fitness, but it's not like we lost because of careless mistakes. We managed to score one goal back, and Fukuda and Amaral have been making their presence felt. Sato also made an assist in this situation, and I think each player grasped what was lacking in the game."

[Summary of Shimizu Zemunovic's press conference] "Today's result does not directly affect the ranking, but it was a very important game where we approached the match with a strong determination to win. From before the game, I demanded that the players approach the game aggressively and with a fighting spirit. As a result, I think it was a good game. In the first half, we were able to create good actions frequently and scored two goals. In the second half, we had many chances to create opportunities but couldn't capitalize on them and conceded a goal. However, I think it was a good experience for the young players. Despite the absence of national team players, both the young and veteran players worked hard and fought together. After the 0-3 loss in the first match against Tokyo, where we were feeling down, the mid-level players led the young players and turned it into a positive energy. We had such achievements."