Launch fast attacks from a stable defense and aim for consecutive victories!

　Sec. 8 is an away game against Vissel Kobe. In the past three matches, including the Nabisco Cup, we have had 2 wins and 1 draw, with a solid defense as the foundation. Although the games have been difficult with a one-point difference, the team's condition is improving. Fukunishi also mentioned that he wants to connect good defense to good offense and win to gain momentum. In order to overcome the tough game schedule ahead, we want to win consecutive matches and build momentum.

　Kobe, who returned to J1 this season, is currently in 12th place with 2 wins, 2 draws, and 3 losses. The most notable player to be wary of is FW Yusuke KONDO. He is in his second year on loan from Tokyo and was recently selected as a candidate for the Japanese national team. His play, utilizing his physical strength, to break through the front line with a fierce attack from long balls, is powerful. However, the Tokyo players all say, "We understand his characteristics well. We want to take care and not let him face forward and compete, and we want to defend without losing concentration."

　Tokyo will face the Yokohama FC match with the same top two of Lucas and Wanchope as the previous round. In addition, three Olympic representatives have returned to the team and are adjusting through satellite leagues and practice matches. Although Inoha was excluded from the lineup due to a right shoulder injury, Hirayama and Kajiyama have recovered their condition and made it to the bench. Coach Hara said, "Even without the Olympic representatives, the current team has a good balance, but their strength will be needed at crucial moments," and the player depth is definitely increasing, including the return of Shigenoba.

　Asari said, "I will strive to maintain the balance of defense and want to steal the ball," aiming for a third consecutive clean sheet in defense. Wanchope, who has gradually fit into the attack, and the in-form Lucas will be the starting point to aggressively create many chances. The match started with Kobe's kickoff at 4:03 pm at the sunny Holmes Stadium Kobe.

Despite intense back-and-forth action, the first half ends with a score of 0-0.

　From the start of the match, Kobe attacked with FW Yusuke Kondo and Leandro, but Tokyo calmly responded. In the 6th minute, Lucas connected with an early restart and Wanchope took a shot, but it missed widely. In the 10th minute, Wanchope headed a cross from the left side by Kurisawa, but it didn't meet properly. On the contrary, in the 11th minute, Kobe MF Park used his speed to cut into Tokyo's left side. MF Botti tried to connect with a negative pass in the center, but it also didn't meet properly. In the 16th minute, Kobe's left cross threatened the goal, and Tokyo's DF couldn't clear it, resulting in a scramble. Yusuke Kondo controlled the loose ball and took a shot, but it was saved by Shioda and resulted in a corner kick.

　Tokyo, at first, was confused by the long grass on the pitch, but gradually got used to it and started to take control. In the 19th minute, Lucas -> Ishikawa went up deep on the right side and crossed. The opponent's goalkeeper caught it but Lucas couldn't follow up. In the 25th minute, Inamono jumped from Ishikawa's right corner kick with his head, but it hit the defender and went out for another right corner kick. This time, Wanchope jumped in on the ball kicked by Ishikawa and made a sharp header, but it was saved by the opponent's goalkeeper. In the 27th minute, Kurizawa sent a long through pass from around the halfway line, and Wanchope jumped out at the perfect timing, but he missed the trap and missed the chance.

　Lost the ball in front of Kobe's tough press and suffered a counterattack, but defended well on the final line and didn't concede a goal. In the 34th minute, Lucas passed the ball to Kurisawa on the front line, but Ishikawa was offside. In the 39th minute, Imakawa intercepted a pass in his own half and attempted a dribble breakthrough from a one-two with Lucas, but was fouled by the opponent's defender in the left front of the area, resulting in a free kick. Kurisawa aimed directly, but missed the target. In the 41st minute, Fukunishi entered the left area from Kurisawa's right cross. He cut back the defender and sent a lofted pass to the goal area, which Ishikawa volleyed directly but unfortunately it went wide to the left.

　In the 44th minute, MF Park, who broke through with a long feed from Kobe's left SB Uchiyama, had his CK taken away. A perfect header was struck from the right CK, but Shioda made a great save. On the contrary, they brought it to a counterattack and attacked, but Kanazawa shot wide to the right. Both teams focused on defensive balance and launched attacks, but they did not create any clear chances. As a result, the first half ended with a score of 0-0.

Unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities in the second half, ending in a scoreless draw

　Tokyo, when entering the second half, started to connect passes well and took the initiative. In the 56th minute, Kurisawa put in an early cross from the left side. Although it was cleared once, Fukunishi connected the ball and this time made a left cross. Furthermore, in the 59th minute, Fukunishi stole the ball and received a return from Wanchope, running into the right area. Lucas and Wanchope also crowded the well-aimed cross, but it was cleared by the defender in front of the goal.

　63 minutes, Lucas -> Ishikawa's left cross is contested by Wanchope and the opposing defender in front of the goal, and Lucas, who ran into the loose ball, takes a free shot. It cuts to the left and doesn't go in. Immediately after that, Suzuki Nori is substituted for Ishikawa. In the 65th minute, Wanchope drops Kurizawa's right cross, and Lucas, who is right next to him, takes a shot, but he also fails to hit the target. In the 67th minute, the opposing defender heads away Tokunaga's right cross, Wanchope traps it with his chest and turns forward, but doesn't take a shot...

　Substitute Kajiyama for Fukunishi in the 71st minute. Kobe also brings in MF Miura and launches an attack from a set piece, but it is repelled with concentration. In the 80th minute, Suzuki escapes with a skillful trap from Asari's side change and cuts into the area for a shot. It was a good shot that met perfectly, but unfortunately it went over the bar. At this point, tired Wanchope is replaced by Baba and they push for further attacks. In the 83rd minute, Suzuki and Baba's combination steals a left corner kick. Lucas heads Baba's kick, but it goes wide of the goal.

　In the 86th minute, Kajiyama -> Lucas -> to the right to Kurizawa. Suzuki Nori tries to meet the cross, but it is blocked by the defender and floats. In the 88th minute, from Lucas' post, Kajiyama passes to Suzuki Nori who was free on the left side from the shooting motion, and he immediately takes a shot. It doesn't meet and hits the opponent's defender, resulting in a corner kick. From Baba's left corner kick, Imano jumps in with a header, but he is unable to hit it due to the defender's body. In the end, time is up. In the final stage, Tokyo dominated the ball throughout and attacked, but they were unable to score and the match ended in a scoreless draw.

　【Player Comments】《Fukunishi》"(I played 300 games in J1, but?) It would have been good if we could win... I'm not satisfied because we haven't achieved results. The performance was not good either. In the first half, we were too defensive and couldn't create chances. We weren't completely broken down, but we couldn't break through either, so we thought set plays would be the key... In the second half, we were under attack, but in terms of depth, we still have a long way to go. We want to create depth and also participate in the attack ourselves."《Shioda》"We wanted to win... I think everyone had the same feeling. However, everyone was trying their best to score until the end. In the first half, our passes didn't connect well, but our defense was stable. We just need to score. We want to take the positive aspect of earning 1 point away and review the areas that need improvement to carry it forward to the next game."

　[Summary of Manager Hara's Press Conference] "I watched Kobe's last match, and they are a team with overall momentum. Even though Okubo is suspended for this match, they still have good players like Leandro. The team's defense has been stable recently, but the challenge is how to launch speedy attacks from defense. Wanchope's condition has improved, and sometimes he and Lucas can create opportunities in the center. However, the key is how to take the ball to the finish line from there, or how to deliver crosses. Today, we took too long to create chances and couldn't take shots, or even when we did, they didn't hit the target. That is the challenge. Kobe has been chasing us well from the beginning, and the long grass made it difficult for the ball to roll smoothly, which seemed a bit uncomfortable. However, I still think if we had taken decisive chances first. As for defense, there were some dangerous situations, but Nakano, who is playing as a stopper, was almost perfect. Also, Ashizaki, Fujiyama, Tokunaga, and Kanazawa in the defense line have been performing well. Now, we want to launch good attacks from here and score goals."

　[Kobe Manager Matsuda's Press Conference Summary] "It was a game that we wanted to win because it was a home game, and in the first half, we played a game that allowed us to do that, so it's very disappointing. As a positive, it was the first game where we didn't concede any goals. Until today, we were unable to score despite building up well in the first half, and the whole team couldn't endure it and conceded goals in the end. Of course, the challenge remains to score goals firmly in such a flow, but we were able to progress the game while enduring it. The remaining challenge is how to resolve the lack of finishing ability."