Mid-season turnaround, a crucial match that cannot be lost

　Halfway through the league season. Facing Vissel Kobe at the Japan National Stadium in the 18th round, which is also the second round of matches against each opponent. After the break, we have achieved 2 consecutive victories following 3 draws in the last 5 matches, and our form is improving. Especially in defense, we have shown stable strength with 4 consecutive matches without conceding a goal. This is not only due to the resilience of the defense line, but also a significant factor is the awareness of the entire team to defend systematically from the front. In terms of attack, we also have a good momentum with 4 goals against Yokohama FM in the previous round, but Coach Hara emphasized, "We must be cautious in this kind of match. Anything can happen in football." Ishikawa, who had a right foot contusion, has recovered remarkably and will start in the same 4-5-1 formation as the previous round. It should be noted that Jean will achieve his 100th appearance in the J1 League in this match.

　Kobe, on the other hand, is currently struggling in 18th place with 11 points. Even in the 5 matches after welcoming new coach Pavel, they have had 2 draws and 3 losses without a victory. However, former coach Hara analyzed, "The performance is not bad at all, just lacking luck. If things start to turn around in a positive direction, they are not a team in last place." In the attack, midfielder Atsuhiro MIURA, who has moved up to the attacking midfield position, has been showing bold plays from long shots and accurate kicks. Additionally, forward Hirase has been in good form with 3 goals in the 5 matches since the restart. The first key point will be to prevent them from playing freely. Kobe's defensive lineup is shown as a 4-back formation on the team sheet, but DF Hojel and DF Park in the midfield, with MF Saeki in the center and DF Kitamoto and Kawamoto as the stoppers in the backline, form a 3-back formation. Tokyo's hope lies in how they can attack quickly, exploit the spaces on the sides, and break through.

　Kobe should have a desperate determination of "we can't afford to lose anymore". Instead of being passive, they should bring their fighting spirit to the forefront and aim for a 3rd consecutive victory. This is an important match to connect to the second half of August in a good way. The Japan National Stadium, which has a good compatibility with a record of 13 undefeated matches in the past, was affected by an earthquake that struck the Kanto region in the evening of this day, causing JR lines to stop operating. Therefore, the game start time was changed from the original 18:33 to a 27-minute delay at 19:00 kickoff. In the midst of this accident, the match started with Kobe's kickoff.

Second Half Of Season Opens With Vital Game

F.C.TOKYO took on Vissel Kobe at the National Stadium in the 18th. game of the season. With three draws followed by two wins and four consecutive clean sheets since the League restart the team's fortunes had improved considerably. This refound frugality was not only due to defensive quality but also a systematic organisation that allowed the team to defend from the front. The attack was flourishing, having plundered four goals in the demolition of defending champions Yokohama F Marinos in the previous game. TOKYO manager Hara urged caution though, "We have to be careful in a game like today's as you never know what's going to happen in football". Ishikawa had made a rapid recovery from a badly bruised ankle and the starting eleven remained unchanged from the previous week in a 4-5-1 formation. The game marked Jean's 100th. appearance for the club. 
Vissel were propping up the table at kick off with a mere 11 points. Although winless in 5 games under new manager Pavel Rehak, TOKYO's Hara was wary of dismissing his opponents, "They haven't played badly at all; they just haven't had the luck. If they can turn things around they won't be a lower ranked team for long". The addition of midfielder Atsuhiro Miura, with his excellent vision, passing ability and powerful shooting had strengthened the team. Forward Hirase had scored three in five games and was in good form. TOKYO would need to prevent the experienced striker from enjoying any space or freedom of movement. Vissel lined up with Saeki, Kitamoto and Komoto as a back three with Roger and Park in midfield. 
Vissel were already fighting for their J1 existence and couldn't afford to lose more games. TOKYO hadn't lost to Kobe in the previous 13 meetings and had a favourable record at the National Stadium. The home side was determined to produce a winning performance and enter the break in a positive manner. The Tokyo area was struck by an earthquake in late afternoon that caused the supension of train services and the kick off was pushed back by 27 minutes. The visitors got the ball rolling at 7pm. on a balmy summer's evening. 

Kobe dominates but concedes the first goal from a counterattack

　Tokyo aggressively attacked from the start. In the 1st minute, there was a chance for a right corner kick. Lucas headed Kurisawa's kick, but missed the target. In the 4th minute, Kajiyama connected from a right throw-in and Kaji broke through to the end line on the right side. He sent a low cross, but Kurisawa's shot missed to the left, missing the chance to take the lead. In the 9th minute, Kurisawa and Kajiyama connected from Kanazawa's left cross, and Ishikawa shot from the post of Lucas, who had circled inside. They created a chance with flowing teamwork, but the shot didn't hit and the goalkeeper caught it. In the 17th minute, Toda was fouled on the left side of the opponent's field and won a free kick. Jean jumped in for Kurisawa's kick, but the ball was slightly too long.

　Kobe, who defends firmly with Sugawara in the defensive midfield, Park on the right side, and Hojer on the left, was surpassed by Tokyo's fast passing and movement, and Tokyo created many chances. In the 20th minute, Kajiyama took a good shot from a free kick. In the 24th minute, starting from Kajiyama, Kanazawa spread out to the left and right, and shot in the center, but it went to the right of the goal. Amidst the difficulty of converting chances into goals, something happened in the 25th minute. They took the ball in their own half, and Kajiyama made a long through pass to the left side. Toda attacked, but the cross was blocked by the defender, and the opponent's goalkeeper caught the loose ball. Hojer, on the left side of Kobe, immediately received it and made a long pass to the front line. Kurihara broke through the back of the Tokyo defenders who had raised their line and faced Doi one-on-one. He calmly scored and conceded a goal. From Kobe's splendid counterattack, they allowed the opening goal.

　Still, in the remaining 15 minutes of the first half, Kobe came close to scoring through set plays. In the 31st minute, Kaji made a breakthrough and won a corner kick on the right. In the 33rd minute, Toda was fouled and won a free kick in the left area. In the 36th minute, Kanazawa attacked up to the left end line and crossed with a high ball. The opponent's goalkeeper touched it and Kajiyama followed up, hitting a volley, but it went to the left of the goal. In the 38th minute, Lucas and Kajiyama exchanged passes directly, and Kaji, who ran into the center, took a well-aimed shot, but the opponent's defender blocked it. In the 42nd minute, Jean aimed for a free kick obtained from Kurizawa's foul, but he couldn't score against Kobe's defenders who defended with their bodies, and they ended the first half trailing by one goal.

TOKYO Dominate But Fall Behind

TOKYO began in aggressive mood, winning a corner with their first foray forward. Lucas met Kurisawa's ball but failed to hit the target. The first real chance fell to Kurisawa in the 4th. minute. Kajiyama neatly played Kaji in on the right near the corner flag; Kaji raced to the byline and pulled the ball back to Kurisawa who scuffed his shot wide of the left post. In the 9th. minute a slick passing move set up Ishikawa on the edge of the area; Kakegawa, in the Vissel goal, held Ishikawa's shot comfortably. In the 17th. minute Toda won a free kick on the left and Kurisawa curled a tempting ball to the far post that Jean missed by a whisker. 
Sugawara in defensive midfield, Park on the right and Roger on the left formed a solid defensive line but TOKYO's rapid passing and movement created chances. Kajiyama fired in a free kick in the 20th. minute and another neat passing display set up Kanazawa for an attempt on goal in the 24th. minute. The home side seemed in command when disaster struck in the 25th. minute. Kajiyama played a long feed down the left for Toda to chase. Toda took on a defender and crossed, his effort striking a defender and falling to Kakegawa. Kakegawa bowled the ball out to Roger who immediately hoicked it forward for Kurihara to chase. Kurihara outpaced the TOKYO defence and slipped the ball past the advancing Doi to give his side an unlikely lead. 
TOKYO maintained their bombardment of the Vissel goal with a series of free kicks and corners but were unable to fashion a clear sight of goal. In the 36th. minute Kanazawa skipped to the byline and floated in a cross that Kakegawa punched unconvincingly clear. The loose ball fell to Kajiyama whose downward volley ballooned fractionally the wrong side of the post. TOKYO increased the pressure as half time approached but the Vissel defenders flung themselves in front of efforts from Kaji and Jean and the period ended 0-1. 

Tadashi BABA's brilliant goal equalizes the score, but it ends in a draw

　Tokyo's advantage remains unchanged even in the second half. They dominated the midfield and launched wave-like attacks from the sides. However, they lacked accuracy in crosses and shots, and couldn't finish. At the beginning of the second half, Ishikawa and Kajiyama took consecutive shots inside the box, but were blocked by Kobe's defenders. In the 48th minute, Kajiyama took a middle shot, and in the 52nd minute, he received a pass from Lucas and turned to shoot in front of the goal, but it slightly went to the right. On the other hand, Kobe took the lead and tightened their defense even more. In response to this flow, Bamba and Suzuki Nori were substituted for Kurisawa and Ishikawa at the same time. They took a gamble.

　Tokyo, which has gained momentum with this, created many chances from set plays. In the 58th minute, Suzuki Nori aimed for a goal with a powerful free kick from a position without an angle on the right side. However, it bounced and was saved by the goalkeeper. In the 59th minute, there was a wave-like attack. After connecting the loose ball well, Kajiyama took a shot that missed the timing of the opponent's defender in front of the penalty area, but it hit the opponent's defender and then the post, not a goal... However, in the 64th minute, Baba in the center exchanged passes with Kajiyama, slightly drifted to the left, but before completely bypassing the opponent's defender, he took a shot after cutting inside. The ball curved and went into the bottom right corner. Baba's technique shone as he scored a goal for the second consecutive game, equalizing the score!

　Using the space in front of the Kobe DF team, BABA and Kajiyama actively attacked and created chances. In the 66th minute, Toda's left cross → BABA on the right returned the ball, and Lucas jumped into the cross from Kaji. They created a wide development, but the timing was slightly off. In the 79th minute, Miura was substituted for Kanazawa. Imano tried to attack the side with a formation with Imano as the left side back. In the 89th minute, Miura connected from Kaji's long throw, and Kaji took a powerful shot. Kajiyama also closed in on the goal, but they couldn't score an additional point against Kobe's determined defense. In the final moments, Nori Suzuki aimed for a free kick from just outside the penalty arc and created an opportunity, but in the end, out of the 20 shots, only BABA's goal was scored, resulting in a 1-1 draw. However, considering the development that went as planned for Kobe, we want to take it positively that we took 1 point. We will face the second half of the season starting in August, having successfully passed the 6 consecutive games in July with 2 wins and 4 draws without a loss.

　【Player Comments】《Baba》"The goal went as planned. I cut inside and switched to my right foot to put a curve on it. I've missed a lot of strong shots before, and that's not like me. Today, I was able to calmly score a goal. I've been able to play as I imagined recently, and my feet are feeling good with the ball."《Kurisawa》"(There was a chance to shoot from Akaji's cross at the start, but) the ball was faster than expected, and I couldn't close in. I'm reflecting on the fact that I need to score in those situations. When there is space, I can attack freely, but when the opponent's defenders pull back, the accuracy of crosses and the thickness in the middle become necessary. I feel the lack of that. I wish I could have put in a shot from the front of the goal like Yuta... I want to make it a habit to aim for shots from that position as well."《Akaji》"We need to turn these kinds of matches into wins, but it was good that we were able to settle for a draw at the very least. Today, I may have been too conscious of connecting, connecting. There are still challenges in our attacks when the opponent pulls back."

　[Summary of Manager Hara's Press Conference] "Kobe has been conceding a lot of goals recently, but when you watch the games, they have been playing well and have been unlucky in their defeats. The performance was not bad at all. However, we could predict that they would come and defend their goal strongly today. So, we tried to move the ball simply, break through the sides, or attack while effectively utilizing Lucas in the center. The goal conceded in the first half was a result of a counterattack during our attack. Shigetani also tried to catch the offside, and Doi might have been able to come forward, but he dropped back. Due to that goal, Kobe further strengthened their defense in front of the goal. At halftime, I talked about turning this kind of game around. However, Kurisawa was marked man-to-man by Kobe's midfielder Saeki and looked tired. Ishikawa's condition was good after his injury, but he wasn't in top form. So, I decided to bring in Baba and Nori Suzuki at once to take a gamble. Actually, the flow changed when they came in, and Baba scored a wonderful goal. There was another chance to score one more goal, but Kaji attacked well but the cross went astray, and Nori Suzuki also escaped into the cross instead of going further inside. We wanted to take 3 points, but we couldn't finish it off as Kobe came desperately. We need to solve the problem there, including the accuracy of our shots. In the 6-game series, we had 2 wins and 4 draws, but I think we could have won the other 2 games. However, the players came together and overcame a difficult period. Including Imano, 4 players were selected for the Japanese national team, and I think the team is definitely growing. Kajiyama also has the option to play in the midfield. We still need to improve the quality of our attack, but I want to effectively utilize Imano and Kajiyama and enable the whole team to have a dynamic attack. We have a break until August 20th, but we will train well and do our best to turn games like today into 3 points and catch up with top teams like Kashima and Gamba."

　[Summary of Coach Wada's press conference (attended as a substitute due to Manager Pavel's disciplinary action)] "I think we had a good start as a team. Before the game, we made sure to create a solid defense and talked about making the most of counterattacks, even if chances were limited. We were able to score the opening goal according to that plan. After that, I think the whole team came together and played the way we wanted to. In the second half, our defensive line was too deep overall, and although we gave instructions from the bench, we were equalized. Tokyo continued to launch fierce attacks, but the players had a strong determination not to lose. Of course, we wanted to score another goal and secure the win, but we want to take the draw in a positive light. We want to appreciate not losing in the first game of the second half. During the break period, we want to regroup the team and prepare for the games in August."

Baba Bags A Beauty But... 

TOKYO began the second period as they had finished the first: controlling the ball in midfield and penetrating the Vissel defence along the wings. However, the quality of the final ball was lacking and despite almost total domination a clear scoring opportunity failed to materialise. Kajiyama came closest in the 50th. minute following some sterling work by Lucas but his snatched shot from the edge of the area flew wide. Vissel's defensive resolve was high and in the 55th. minute TOKYO made a double substitution, bringing on Baba and last week's hero Suzuki, in an attempt to conjure an equaliser. 
The move breathed fresh life into TOKYO's attack and the chances flowed. In the 58th. minute Suzuki hammered a long range free kick on goal that Kakegawa fumbled but no TOKYO player could reach the loose ball and the Vissel defence cleared their lines. In the 59th. minute Kajiyama saw his well-struck effort clip the heels of a defender, wrong-footing Kakegawa who looked on with relief as the ball bobbled against the post and away. TOKYO finally made the breakthrough in the 64th. minute. Baba and Kajiyama exchanged passes in midfield, Baba receiving the ball back some 20 metres from goal on the left of the penalty area. He cut inside a defender and curled a drive across the face of the goal and inside the right post. Baba's exemplary technique had found the net for the second game in a row. 
Vissel withdrew even further into their defensive shell, allowing Baba and Kajiyama to use the space in front of the defence almost at will. In the 66th. minute Toda and Baba attempted to stretch the Vissel defence with deep crosses but Lucas failed to connect with Kaji's shot-cum-cross. In the 79th. minute Miura replaced Kanazawa with Konno switching to left side back. In the 89th. minute Kaji blasted a shot against the Vissel defence but Kajiyama was unable to capitalise on the loose ball. Suzuki blasted the final chance of the game, a free kick some 28 yards from goal, into the defensive wall and the contest finished 1-1. Vissel seemed satisfied with the point they earned from a solid defensive performance. TOKYO finished the hectic July schedule with a W2 D4 record and turned their attention to the 19th. game at the end of August, following yet another month-long break for international commitments. 


Players' comments
Baba:
"The goal was just what I was aiming for: cut back inside, hit it with my right foot and curl the ball inside the far post. I've been shooting at full power until now and missing often but today's effort was much better. I picked my spot and placed the shot rather than hammering it. I'm able to play exactly as I'm visualising things at the moment and I feel in good form".

Kurisawa:
"Kaji's ball came to me faster than I expected and I couldn't hit it cleanly. I really have to bury chances like that. We had plenty of space to attack in today but when teams defend deeply we need more accurate crosses and more players in the box. I really felt we were lacking that today. I wish I could have pulled off a shot like Yuta's ( Baba ); I have to try to shoot from that position as well".

Kaji:
"We should win games like that today but at least we were able to get a draw. Maybe we concentrated too much on passing the ball around. We still have a problem when our opponents defend very deeply".


F.C.TOKYO manager Hara 
"Kobe have conceded goals and lost a few games recently but they haven't played badly, they've just been unlucky. We knew they would attempt to lock up their defence today and planned to play a simple game using the wings and Lucas' ability to hold the ball up in a central position. They caught us on a counter attack; Moniwa was trying to play Kurihara offside and I thought Doi would come out of his goal but he stayed back. That goal allowed them to defend even more deeply. Kurisawa was being man-marked by Saeki and was tiring while Ishikawa was far from his best today after that knock in last week's game. So we sent Baba and Suzuki on together to change things around and Baba scored a great goal. We had our chances to win the game after that but the crossing needed a little more patience and accuracy. Vissel were defending as though their lives depended on it. We got two wins and four draws out of the six games but we should have won two more of those. Still, the squad has a great spirit and we overcame the difficult period we were having. We've also had four players selected for the National Team which is further proof that we're making progress. Kajiyama had another great game today and his partnership with Konno is so important in allowing us to attack dynamically. We still need more creativity in attack, though. We have a break until August 20th. now and we're going to work hard in training to win games like today's and move ourselves up towards the right end of the table". 

Vissel spokesperson:
"The team played well from the start today. Our plan was to defend strongly and take our chances, however few they might be. We achieved our aims in the first half but defended too deeply after TOKYO equalized. We're very pleased not to have lost the first game of the second half of the season and will be working hard in training to improve after the break".