Facing the top-ranked Urawa, how much of what we have built up can we bring to the table?

　Sec. 15 will face Urawa Reds and go away. Although they suffered a frustrating defeat in the Nabisco Oita match, they need to quickly switch their mindset due to the consecutive matches in just two days. At the same time, it is a match where they want to grasp the feeling of how far Tokyo's soccer can go in a match against the top team. Coach Jofuku stated his aim, saying, "We want to concentrate on giving our all with our current strength and have no regrets in the battle." Considering the consecutive matches, the lineup was changed again from the Oita match, and they will face the league Chiba match with the same starting lineup as before. In addition, following the Oita match, Kawaguchi entered the bench and Koyama also made his first bench appearance of the season.

　Urawa, who is currently in first place, has been on a losing streak in the last five matches, including the Nabisco Cup. In addition, MF Mitsudomoe, who returned in the previous round, is once again absent, and it can be said that they are in a difficult situation. However, Coach Jofuku said, "We are still in first place despite being targeted by all teams. We have high individual abilities and the potential to improve as a team in the future." In this round, FW Tanaka Tatsu will start in the league for the first time, and MF Torio will be used as a defensive midfielder. FW Edmilson and MF Ponte also have the ability to break through situations individually, so tough defense will be required throughout the 90 minutes.

　In the attack, the key is whether Urawa can connect passes and exploit the side spaces and the back of the defense while defending with a back three in order to win in their own style. Tokyo, who will fight with the away pressure turned into energy (Coach Jofuku), is also expected to play a heated game. The match started at 19:04 with Tokyo's kickoff at Saitama Stadium 2002, where the hot and humid weather continues from the daytime.

Early painful goal, allowing Urawa to gain momentum

　2 minutes, Emerson -> Kanazawa went up to the left and crossed, Hirayama dropped it and Hayabusa shot directly. It missed above the frame, but it was Tokyo who took the first shot early on. However, in the 3rd minute, Urawa FW Edmilson broke through Tokyo's right side and sent a minus pass to the front of the goal. FW Tatsuya Tanaka ran in, but just missed it, and it seemed like the danger was avoided. However, in the next play, MF Hirakawa from Urawa sent a ball behind Tokyo's DF, and FW Tatsuya Tanaka broke through. Tokyo's DF couldn't catch him, and this time Edmilson from Urawa scored a solid goal, giving up the lead early on...

　At 6 minutes, Cabore used his speed to break through into the area, but there was no foul despite the sliding tackle from the Urawa DF. After that, Urawa completely took control of the rhythm. They struggled against the movements of FW Tatsuya TANAKA, and were pushed back. Tokyo tried to attack by connecting passes when they regained possession, but they were unable to move forward against Urawa's press.

　Still, they tried to counterattack with their own soccer, and in the 28th minute, Hirayama sprinted through the Urawa defense after winning a loose ball in the midfield. He tried to cut back and shoot in front of the area, but couldn't get a clean shot as he was closed down by a defender. In the 29th minute, Kajiyama dribbled past an opponent and advanced. He was fouled and won a free kick slightly to the left inside the Urawa half. However, Kajiyama's shot missed to the left. In the 32nd minute, Hanyu received a return pass from Hayashi after a throw-in from the right, and Hanyu crossed the ball. Hirayama tried to jump and score, but the goalkeeper caught the ball.

　In the 34th minute, Kajiyama expanded to the right. Tokunaga went up and sent a direct cross, earning a corner kick. However, Hayu's right corner kick was cleared. In the 39th minute, Tokunaga and Konno attacked the area and tried to pick up the loose ball for a shot. However, there were few decisive moments... In the 44th minute, from Emerson's right corner kick, Konno headed the ball but hit the post... Unable to convert the few chances into goals, they ended the first half with a one-point lead.

Despite dominating possession in the second half, we were unable to break through Urawa's solid defense...

　In the second half, Urawa made substitutions with FW Nagai and MF Umezaki replacing FW Tanaka in the 54th minute and MF Ponte, who had injured his leg, in the 57th minute. However, as time passed, Urawa's pace slowed down and Tokyo began to dominate possession. In the 61st minute, Inomata, Kajiyama, Emerson, and Kanazawa connected passes, with Cabore and Emerson making runs into the area, but they were unable to finish against the crowded Urawa defense. In the 62nd minute, Emerson played a through pass to Hirayama, who was left unmarked on the right side. He took a shot from the dribble, but it went wide, missing a decisive opportunity.

　Substitute Kawaguchi for Cabore in the 67th minute. He tried to grasp the rhythm by moving into the space behind the opponent's defense. In the 71st minute, Hayu caught up with the side change from left to right and connected to Tokunaga. Tokunaga's cross was headed decisively by Kawaguchi, but it was saved by the opponent's goalkeeper with one hand... Next, Hayu, who broke through on the right front line, sent a sharp cross, but Kawaguchi couldn't finish it. In the 74th minute, Hayu, who had bypassed Emerson and the offside line, sent a sharp right cross parallel to the goal. Kawaguchi in the far post tried to finish it, but the shot went wide. In the following 75th minute, Emerson was fouled and obtained a free kick in the center of Urawa's territory. However, Tokunaga's shot missed the target.

　78 minutes, Tokunaga aimed for a clear shot from the right side. Even though Imakawa tried to follow up on the goalkeeper's save, he was blocked by the Urawa defenders and couldn't capitalize on the opportunity. In the 88th minute, Urawa's long pass allowed Nagai to break through and score the second goal, sealing our fate... In the end, we couldn't break through Urawa's defensive line and suffered a defeat with no goals. It was a tough match where we also felt the difference in finishing ability.

　【Player Comments】《Imano》"It was painful to concede a goal early in the game. We expected the opponent to attack from behind, but we couldn't stop it. However, we were able to make adjustments after conceding the goal, and I had a feeling that the momentum would change if we scored one goal. In the first half, if I had scored a header... We need to come up with more attacking strategies to score goals."《Kawaguchi》"There was a decisive header opportunity, and I wanted to score... I was instructed to go out into space and keep the ball, and also to defend when I entered the game. The opponent was also tired, so I wanted to make the most of the opportunity to play. It's not enough to say 'close'. In the first half, the opponent came out desperately and we couldn't move forward, but in the second half, we were able to pass the ball around. I was conscious of the need to attack from the sides at some point. I think it's important to switch mentally as well."

　[Summary of Manager Shirofuku's Press Conference] "The most painful thing was that we conceded a goal before our defenders and midfielders could organize themselves against Urawa's forward Tanaka, who came on as a substitute. We wanted to turn the game around while playing our style of football, but we were not given much time to play the actual game, and our players were frustrated. I think it was because we conceded the goal first. I don't know how much actual playing time there was, but we wanted to play the game as close to 90 minutes as possible. In that sense, today's loss is really disappointing. (What was the intention behind substituting players Kawaguchi and Ishikawa?) It was to control the ball, build up play, change the side of attack, and break down the opponent. I think we were able to do that in our build-up play. However, even though we had opportunities, we couldn't exploit the space behind the opponent's wing-backs. Cabore was also physically exhausted, so we brought in Kawaguchi, who is good at finding space in that area. As for Ishikawa, he has good finishing ability, so we brought him in with the expectation that he would make something happen if given a chance. However, I think he had limited time."

　[Summary of Urawa Engels' press conference] "We started off with a very good rhythm and scored early. We were able to pass and keep the ball well, and the first half was almost perfect. It would have been easier if we had scored another goal. The second half was a longer period of defending, but everyone concentrated, fought, and moved well, and the game was decided by Nagai's second goal. The points to reflect on are that we could have kept the ball a little more in the second half, and it would have been easier if we had scored a second goal in the first half. Although we had a losing streak, it was very important that we won without conceding any goals today. I am grateful to the players and supporters. (Why did you leave out FW Takahara from the starting lineup?) It's not because he's in bad shape, but because FW Tanaka Tatsu is in good shape. The combination with FW Edmilson is also good. (Will MF Toriio continue to play in the midfield?) He is a player who can influence the team in the central position. Both in his play and his voice. He did well today."