We want to break the losing streak and share the joy at home!

　Sec. 14, Urawa Reds, currently ranked 4th in the 2nd stage, will be playing. Tokyo, ranked 6th, has been lacking in performance and has suffered consecutive losses in the past 2 matches. Today, the final match at home, we want to win at all costs and share the joy, as a way to show gratitude for the support from the stands throughout the season. Our goal is to win with FC Tokyo's football. That's all.

　Urawa, on the other hand, achieved runner-up in the Nabisco Cup that was held earlier, but they are currently on a 4-game losing streak in the league. Although their strong performance in the first half of the stage has faded, it goes without saying that both aces Emerson and TUTO should be watched out for, as well as rookie DF Tsuboi who has been selected for the Japanese national team. Their solid defense cannot be underestimated.

　Tokyo continued with rookie Baba as a starter in the previous match. They faced the match without a goalkeeper on the bench. On the other hand, Urawa also did not include a defender on the bench, and both teams showed a strong attacking lineup for this match. The stands, which exceeded 36,000 people, were enveloped in the passion of both teams' supporters, and the kickoff was greeted with great excitement.

Going Out With A Bang

The 14th game of the J.League second stage saw Urawa Reds visit Tokyo Stadium. Urawa, fourth in the table, were mired in a four game losing streak entering the match but, with ace strikers Tuto and Emerson, plus Japan defender Tsuboi, would surely prove difficult opponents.
TOKYO named the same starting eleven as in the previous match, with youngster Baba keeping his position. Interestingly, neither team had a substitute keeper on the bench, a possible indication of the coaches' attacking intent. The raucous crowd of over 36,000 that filled the stadium certainly were hoping for a thrilling game; F.C.TOKYO were aiming for a victory in the last home league game of the year as a "thank you" to their loyal fans for their support over the season. The atmosphere in the stadium reached fever pitch as the home side kicked off on a chilly afternoon in West Tokyo.

Dominating even under intense pressure, creating opportunities...

　Both teams press each other with tremendous force from the kick-off. And less than a minute into the game, Miyazawa picks up the clear ball from Urawa's defender and floats a pass to the front line. Baba breaks free in front of the goal and takes a shot without being marked, but the goalkeeper saves it. Ishikawa shoots the loose ball, but it goes over the bar. Tokyo misses a big chance early in the game. In the 2nd minute, Urawa launches consecutive attacks on Tokyo's goal with three corner kicks following Emerson's breakthrough, indicating that it will be an intense game of clash between the two teams' determination.

　Urawa's DF Tsuboi marked Amaral tightly as a defensive midfielder, while DF Muroi entered the midfield. After that, Tokyo had more possession of the ball, but they couldn't score during the midfield battle. In the 12th minute, Miyazawa took a shot from a free kick in front of the goal, but it was blocked by the opponent's defense. In the 17th minute, Miyazawa passed the ball to Amaral in the front line from a free kick, but he was blocked by the opponent's defense just before the goal area. In the 23rd minute, Ishikawa broke through the defense line behind the DF with Kaji's cross, but narrowly missed. In the 26th minute, Fujiyama intercepted the ball and launched a counterattack, with Baba passing it to the front line. Ishikawa, who had advanced, bypassed the DF with a one-touch and brought the ball to just before the goal area to take a shot. This was a decisive scene, but it did not result in a goal due to the super play by the opponent's GK Yamagishi.

　Urawa played a tough defensive game, even though they were pushed back, they were able to steal the ball and rely on Emerson and TUTO up front for a counterattack. In the 29th minute, MF Hirakawa received a pass from Emerson and took a shot from the left side, but it went over the goal. In the 30th minute, Emerson showed off his individual skills and attempted to break through from the left side, but was unable to shoot due to Shigeki's marking and Fujiyama's cover. In the 34th minute, TUTO received a pass from Emerson and took a shot from the left side of the penalty area, but Tsuchi was able to save it. Although their opportunities were limited, when the ball was passed to the two up front, they showed their fearlessness.

　In the 36th minute, Amaral headed a long throw-in from Kaji for a shot on goal. The goalkeeper made a save, and Kelly followed up on the rebound, shooting from close range, but the goalkeeper saved it again. Once again, a scoring opportunity was blocked. Despite taking 9 shots, they couldn't score and ended the first half with no goals.

Bright Start

The game began at a ferocious pace and, with less than a minute on the clock, TOKYO were presented with a golden chance to take the lead. Miyazawa floated a ball forward to the unmarked Baba who controlled it and shot; the Reds keeper produced a stunning one handed save to deny the youngster his first league goal. Following up, Ishikawa fired the rebound goal ward but saw his first-time effort sail fractionally over the bar. In reply, the Reds then forced three consecutive corners as the opening exchanges lived up to expectations. 
Following this initial flurry the game developed into a midfield battle. 
Tsuboi and Muroi were effectively man-marking Amaral and Kelly respectively and although TOKYO enjoyed the lion's share of possession they lacked penetration. Miyazawa struck a free kick at the wall in the 12th.minute, the same player found Amaral with another free kick in the 17th.minute but the King of Tokyo was crowded off the ball, and Ishikawa was inches away from connecting with a Kaji cross in the 23rd. minute. 
Reds keeper Yamagishi saved his team again in the 26th.minute; Fujiyama intercepted in midfield and fed Baba who found Ishikawa. Ishikawa raced forward to the edge of the area and fired in a low, powerful shot that the keeper somehow turned around the post. 
The Reds seemed content to absorb the midfield pressure and hit at TOKYO on the break. In the 29th.minute Emerson picked out Hirakawa who raced into the area and shot from a tight angle. Soon after the fleet footed Emerson again burst into the area and threatened until crowded out by Moniwa and Fujiyama. Tuto dribbled his way into the TOKYO box in the 34th.minute but failed to find a shot to match his footwork and Doi saved comfortably. The Reds weren't creating many chances but the speed of the twin strikers was a constant threat and TOKYO couldn't afford to relax in defence. 
Another chance presented itself in the 36th.minute as Reds keeper Yamagishi nearly undid his hard work by spilling an innocuous header from Amaral straight at the feet of Kelly; Kelly belted the ball goal ward only for the keeper to stick out a hand and deflect the ball way. TOKYO mustered 9 shots in the first period but it finished 0-0. 

Intensely contested, in a stalemate

　The tough check of Urawa continues in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Jean ran into Miyazawa's free kick and hit a header shot, but it went wide. In the 54th minute, Baba jumped into the goal front from the left side where Miyazawa's cross flowed, but the timing was off. An accident happened here. Amaral injured his foot and had to be substituted, and Fukuda came in the 56th minute.

　Tokyo wants to seize the opportunity from FK and CK obtained from intense marking, but they cannot bring it to a shot. In the 63rd minute, Ishikawa, who received a long cross from Kaji with his back to the goal in the left penalty area, immediately turned around and took a shot, but it went over the goal. Kelly and Miyazawa become the center of dominance with their abundant physicality and keeping technique, but they can't break through with combination plays, relying only on individual breakthroughs. Ishikawa's attempts to exploit the space behind the defense repeatedly result in offside.

　In the midst of rapidly changing offense and defense, in the 82nd minute, a counterattack was initiated by Urawa's Emerson's dribble, and TUTO received a long ball from the left side in the penalty area, and took a decisive shot. However, Jean made a great play to cut it off, and the danger was averted.

　Neither team could take advantage of their chances, and in the 83rd minute, Suzuki was substituted for Baba. Even in the midst of intercepting each other's plays, they steadily created opportunities. In the 85th minute, Jean headed the ball from a free kick, and Fukuda stuck to the loose ball near the goal line, connecting it again with a heading shot by Jean. In the 87th minute, Suzuki aggressively shot the ball into the net after the opponent's defender bounced back Ishikawa's cross. In stoppage time, Suzuki received a pass in the midfield, dribbled past the Japanese national team's defender Yamada, and made an impressive cross. Although none of these resulted in goals, they created a sense of anticipation for a goal and led to extra time.

Same Again

The Reds began the second half in aggressive fashion but it was TOKYO who came closest to taking the lead when Jean headed Miyazawa's free kick narrowly wide in the 52th.minute. Amaral was injured shortly after and made way for Fukuda. The close marking of the Reds defence denied TOKYO any time on the ball and, apart from free kicks and corners, the chances dried up. 
Ishikawa fired over the bar after a neat trap and turn in the 63rd.minute but the Reds back line held firm and TOKYO were repeatedly caught offside. TOKYO were nearly the victims of another swift counter attack in the 82nd.minute as Emerson raced down the right and picked out the unmarked Tuto in the box; Tuto seemed certain to score but a thunderous block from Jean averted the danger. 
Suzuki replaced Baba as the clock ran down and prompted a late burst that saw TOKYO come close to snatching a late winner. Jean had a pair of headers blocked, Suzuki fired over the bar and saw a good cross evade the TOKYO forwards before the referee blew for the ninety minutes and the game moved into extra time. 

A dramatic victory with Fukuda's joyful V goal!

　However, when it entered extra time, it was Urawa who launched a fierce attack at a fast pace. In the 91st minute of the first half of extra time, TUTO ran up the right side and cut back the DF, then entered the penalty area freely. However, the ball he shot from there hit Emerson's hand, and Tokyo escaped danger. In the 4th minute, Hirakawa dribbled and overlapped fiercely, passed Emerson with a one-two and broke through in front of the goal, reversing the Tokyo DF and avoiding a shot. It narrowly missed the left goal, but it was a close call.

　In the 95th minute, Tokyo substituted Sato for Kaji, and Urawa substituted Nagai for MF Fukuda. Both teams showed an aggressive attacking attitude. In the 98th minute, Tokyo's Ishikawa jumped into the goal front to meet Sato's sharp cross, but narrowly missed. In the 99th minute, Tokyo substituted Komine for Ishikawa in response to Urawa's attack with their front three. In the 103rd minute, Fukuda received a long pass from Shigeno, dribbled past the opponent's defenders from right to left inside the penalty area, and took a shot, but the ball went outside the frame. In the 104th minute, Urawa's Yamada attempted a goal from a central free kick, and in the 105th minute, Emerson aimed for a goal again from a free kick, but neither resulted in a score, and the match entered into extra time.

　In the fast-paced offense and defense, in the 108th minute of extra time, Urawa had a big chance. Hirakawa shot from the left side, passing through the Tokyo DF, and shot from the penalty area. Jean blocked it with his body, but Emerson picked up the loose ball and took another shot. However, Doi caught it firmly and the Tokyo DF did not allow a goal with their literal defense. In the 109th minute, Suzuki shook off the Urawa DF chasing him in the midfield and rushed into the space in front of the goal, where Kelly headed in a cross with his left foot. In the 112th minute, Sato put up a perfect cross and Fukuda jumped in front of the goal, but the goal just wouldn't break. They missed another decisive chance today. In the 116th minute, Suzuki ran up the open space from a counter and took a shot. It was cut off by the opposing DF and they were hit with a counter, but Emerson did not allow Shigetani to take a shot with his tough marking. And it happened right after that.

　In the 118th minute, Tokyo earned a free kick when Fukuda, who was trying to compete for a long ball, was fouled. Outside the penalty area, in front of the goal, Miyazawa kicked the ball that hit the post directly. In a moment that took everyone's breath away, Fukuda was the first to react. While the other players were slow to move, he quickly closed in on the loose ball and pushed it into the goal! Unable to capitalize on chances until now, Fukuda, who had been struggling, scored a joyful goal to end the period and secure the victory in extra time. With 2 points earned, Tokyo rose to 4th place in the standings, and they adorned their final home game with a dramatic win.

【Summary of Manager Hara's Press Conference】"We haven't been able to play well in the past two matches, but today, everyone was motivated because it was our final home game. From the beginning, Baba and others created good chances, but we couldn't convert them and it became a tough situation. Fukuda did well in the end. However, in the 90 minutes where we had so many chances, I want us to play with more variation and for other players to score when Amaral or Kelly face tough marking, and make the team capable of scoring."

　It is pleasing that Baba and Suzuki, who were brought in to stimulate the team, as well as Ishikawa, who returned from last week's injury, are showing their abilities, although they are not yet at 100% strength. Miyazawa has shown steady growth throughout the year, and with players like Shigeki Mogi and Akira Kaji, who were not even on the bench at the beginning of the season, the team is shaping up well. I truly believe that this team has potential, so there is nothing to lose in the next match against Kashima, and I want to play soccer like we did in the opening match of this season."

[Urawa Ooft's press conference summary] "First of all, I want to commend the players who showed fighting spirit and fought well until the end of the game. In the first half, our defensive line was stretched out, causing a delay in closing down the opponents and the performance was not good. From that perspective, I think FC Tokyo could have secured a victory in the first half. However, they missed their chances and in the second half, we were able to get back into a good shape and fight. In the end, I think it was an even match. In the extra time, there were some good opportunities for us, but ultimately, they scored a goal against us."

Fukuda " V Goal " Sparks Celebration

Surprisingly, the Reds started extra time strongly and only a handball by Emerson inside the TOKYO area, well spotted by the referee, prevented them taking the game in the first minute of extra time. The TOKYO fans hearts were in their mouths three minutes later as Hirakawa played a neat one two with Emerson, burst into the area and fired fractionally wide of the far post. Sato replaced Kaji for TOKYO; forward Nagai replaced midfielder Fukuda for the Reds as both teams made positive moves to break the deadlock. Sato blazed down the wing immediately and launched a cross that evaded Ishikawa by a whisker. Komine replaced Ishikawa as TOKYO sought to counter the Reds three striker system; Fukuda twisted and turned past a defender in the 103rd.minute but shot wide. The Reds threatened from a pair of free kicks TOKYO conceded in dangerous positions but the defensive wall did its job and the first period of extra time finished goalless. 
The Reds had a clear chance to win the game in the 108th.minute as Hirakawa outpaced the TOKYO defence and seemed a certainty to score until Jean again produced a last ditch tackle of vital importance. The loose ball fell to Emerson but keeper Doi held his shot cleanly. 
As the players tired the game became an end-to-end affair with TOKYO looking most likely to score. Sato again sped down the wing in the 112th.minute and curled in a superb centre that Fukuda ballooned over the bar from the edge of the six-yard box. TOKYO seemed fated not to score and were nearly caught out by another counter attack in the 116th.minute but some spectacular defending by Moniwa prevented Emerson getting his shot on target. 
And then, after nearly two hours, the game was settled in the blink of an eye. A hopeful long ball saw Fukuda barged down just outside the penalty area; Miyazawa, TOKYO's resident free kick taker stepped up and curled a low effort around the wall and against the post. As the ball came back Fukuda reacted the fastest, side footing the rebound into the unguarded goal then whipping off his shirt and hurling it into the crowd behind the goal as the home supporters erupted in wild celebration. Nobody deserved a goal more than Fukuda and his 118th.minute effort, which won the final league home game of the 2002 season and propelled TOKYO to 4th. in the standings, will be long remembered. 


F.C.TOKYO Manager Hara:
" Well, to be honest, the past couple of games we haven't played so well but with this being the last home league game the players were desperate to finish with a win for the fans. If Baba had taken that early chance the game might have been very different. We had to wait a long time for the goal but I was very pleased with Fukuda. We are still not at 100% regarding injuries but the development shown by the players over the past year has been very encouraging: Miyazawa, Kaji, Moniwa and the players who haven't yet made the bench are improving rapidly and this really is a team with possibilities. We are going to Kashima for the last game next weekend and hope to perform as well as we did on the opening day of the season ".

Urawa Reds Manager Ooft:
"Firstly I'd like to praise the players for the tremendous fighting spirit they showed today. In the first half we were poor and Tokyo should really have won the game there but didn't and in the second half we improved and had several chances to take the game but couldn't capitalise on the opportunities we created. In extra time we had chances but TOKYO scored and their goal won the game".