2 years since the last match. Secure points in a favorable match against C Osaka.

　The league match of the day, which is held only two days after the Nabisco Cup on the 9th, is a match against C Osaka, who returned to J1 this season. It will be the first match against C Osaka in two years, but the past match record is favorable for Tokyo with 3 wins and 1 loss. In particular, it is a fateful match card that determined C Osaka's relegation to J2 with Amaral's hat-trick in the match of the 2nd stage two years ago, and it was a great victory.

　Both teams are concerned about their fatigue levels due to a tough schedule of three games in the past week. However, Tokyo achieved a resounding victory with four goals in the previous Nabisco Cup match against Sendai, playing an attacking game throughout. The team's atmosphere is excellent. Having lost the previous league match against Verdy, they must avoid consecutive defeats and have high motivation for this game.

　On the other hand, C Osaka won the previous match against Shimizu in a fierce battle with a score of 5-4, achieving their first victory of the season. They want to win this match to continue their momentum in the early stages and aim for consecutive victories. It is expected that they will approach this important match with high motivation, as it also determines their first home victory.

　Tokyo's Jean, who missed the Sendai match three days ago due to accumulated warnings, returned, and although they are without FW Abe who has right knee pain, they have almost the best lineup. Amaral, who has a good compatibility with 6 goals in the past 4 matches against C Osaka, has raised his form with 2 goals in the Sendai match of the Nabisco Cup three days ago, and there are high expectations. On the other hand, C Osaka has made bold player selections, such as inserting FW Nishizawa instead of FW Baron as the partner of U-22 Japan representative FW Okubo, and starting MF Tokushige for the first time instead of veteran Morishima on the bench. Both teams, known for their attacking power, faced off at 3:00 PM.

Unable to score despite overwhelming attacks

　The game started with Tokyo taking the initiative. The attack, following the theory of spreading the ball to the sides from Amaral and Kelly's reliable post play in the center, took control from the beginning. Especially from the right side, Ishikawa and Kaji created chances with their speedy attacks. In the 5th minute, Kaji, who joined the attack, delivered an accurate cross, and Kelly connected with it, but it hit the opponent's defender and was caught by the goalkeeper. In the following 13th minute, Toda connected with Kaji's cross near the goal, but it was also caught by the goalkeeper. In the 14th minute, Kaji once again delivered a cross, connecting with Amaral and Kelly, and finally Miyazawa made a quick shot from the center, but it missed the target.

　On the other hand, C Osaka has been creating chances through the post-play of former Japanese national team forward Nishizawa, with Okubo and Tokushige getting involved. In the 15th minute, Okubo, who was aiming for the back of Tokyo's defensive line, received a through pass and had a one-on-one opportunity, but goalkeeper Doi made a stop. I realized that Okubo's speed should not be underestimated. After that, in the 19th and 24th minutes, Okubo drifted into the left space and took shots, but did not allow a goal.

　C Osaka, except for FW Okubo, occasionally struggled to create chances with MF Perak shooting from the middle range, and repeated a monotonous attack of kicking big balls to the front line of Okubo and Nishizawa because they couldn't keep the ball in the midfield. The game continued at Tokyo's pace, and in the 26th minute, Ishikawa sharply rushed the right side from a counterattack and passed a ground pass to the center, which Toda shot. The ball bounced off the opponent and Toda shot again, but it didn't hit the sweet spot. In the 32nd minute, Ishikawa volleyed a clearance ball from a corner kick, but it went over the bar. In the 34th minute, there was a scramble in front of the goal, and Kaji -> Miyazawa -> Kelly passed the ball, and finally Kelly's shot seemed to go in, but unfortunately it was offside. Furthermore, in the 38th minute, Ishikawa took a middle-range shot, and in the 42nd minute, Kelly shot a technical shot with his right heel from Kanazawa's cross from the left, but couldn't score a goal. On the contrary, towards the end of the first half, C Osaka's MF Tokushige allowed a central breakthrough, and in the end, a free shot was taken in the penalty area, but it went over the bar. In the end, although Tokyo dominated the game, both teams remained scoreless as the first half ended.

FC Osaka, betting on an ultra-offensive formation

　The second half began and C Osaka came at Tokyo fiercely. Like in the first half, Tokyo was inferior to C Osaka in midfield composition, so they quickly gathered the ball to Nishizawa and Okubo in the front line and tried to win with Okubo's breakthrough power, but Tokyo's defenders dealt with it calmly. In the 48th minute, Okubo made a sharp charge and penetrated deep into the penalty area, but it resulted in a corner kick. On the contrary, Tokyo launched a counterattack from a quick attack, and in the 49th minute, Toda -> Kelly -> Kaji passed the ball from the left and took a shot, but the goal was far away.

　In the 52nd minute, Langerak was shot by Perak from the open space in the middle range, and in the following 53rd minute, he was crossed after being broken through on the left side, and a powerful shot was taken from the opposite side, but GK Doi stopped it perfectly. C Osaka, who is gaining momentum, will bring in the mainstay MF Morishima and FW Baron as if to fold here. They have bet on an ultra-attacking formation.

　62 minutes, Baron competes for a long ball from behind and sends it to the goal, where Morishima dives in with a header and takes a shot. The ball lacks power and GK Doi easily catches it, but C Osaka's attacking force becomes more intimidating. After that, Morishima continues to use his abundant mobility to break into the side space and create opportunities, and from there, Nishizawa, Okubo, and others approach Tokyo's goal with intricate passing.

Counterattack with the introduction of Baba, but unable to score a decisive goal, resulting in a draw

　Tokyo, who had been unable to create chances against C Osaka's attacking power, brought in the in-form MF Baba, who has scored in the last two consecutive matches, in the 63rd minute. Immediately after that, Baba, who received a pass on the left side, unleashed a powerful left-footed shot from inside the left penalty area, but the opponent's GK managed to punch it away and prevent a goal. However, the momentum changed with this shot, and the opponent's defense became cautious and dropped back.

　Tokyo, who regained their rhythm, continued in the 65th minute. A pass from Ishikawa on the right side to Miyazawa in the center, and Miyazawa sharply shot, but the opponent's defender barely cleared it with his head. From the resulting left corner kick, Jahn shot a powerful header right in front of the goal, but it hit the goalkeeper and couldn't score. Furthermore, in the 68th minute, Kelly received the ball on the right side and passed an exquisite heel pass to Amaral, who entered to support. Amaral sprinted towards the goal freely and sent a pass to Baba on the left side, but it was cut off by the opponent's defender, missing a scoring opportunity. In the following 70th minute, Baba, who received a pass from Kelly in the center, skillfully evaded the marker with a step and shot a powerful left-footed shot, but it hit the crossbar and couldn't score.

　After that, the Tokyo pace continued with a back and forth battle. In the 79th minute, C Osaka's FW Okubo made a sharp breakthrough from a counterattack and took a powerful shot. The goalkeeper, Doi, made a super save to prevent a goal, but C Osaka regained control from this point. In the 87th minute, they connected passes in front of the goal, and ultimately Baron took a powerful shot from Okubo's last pass, but Doi made another super save and didn't allow a goal. Both teams continued to play aggressively until the end, but the game ended as a scoreless draw.

【Player Comments】《Amaral》"In the first half, we were in control of the game, but in the second half, the opponents increased their attacking players and disrupted our rhythm. However, since it was an away game, it's good that we were able to secure 1 point. I'm happy that I was able to play the full 90 minutes. I'm not at 100% yet, but I think I'm getting closer to that."《Baba》"I thought the first shot went in. I was aiming for a goal in three consecutive games, but unfortunately, I couldn't score."

[Summary of the press conference by Coach Hara] "We had three matches in the past week and were already tired. Yesterday, we got caught in a traffic jam on the highway during our travel and had to wait in the car for over an hour and a half. I had a bad feeling about it. I told the players that even if they weren't feeling well, we must come back with points today, but unfortunately, that prediction came true. Also, the opposing coach, Nishimura, is a close friend since our national team days, and both teams became too determined not to lose, which made the game very tight. The opponents couldn't connect their passes and kept playing long balls, making it difficult for us to press and play our usual style of soccer. However, considering today's performance, I think a draw is fair. The performance was not bad at all. There are areas to improve, but Baba is doing well, and Abe will also be returning, so we want to win the next game against Nagoya."

[Summary of C Osaka Nishimura's press conference] "We wanted to take 3 points today because we haven't won at home. We should be able to have a better development and if we can change sides in the midfield and play one-touch to send good balls forward, I think we could have scored because we have good players in the front line. The challenge is to improve the accuracy in the midfield in the future. It's disappointing that we couldn't win today, but I think it was very good that we kept them at 0 points."