Continue our soccer and win four consecutive victories without rushing

　Sec. 26 will face Júbilo Iwata at home. In the previous match against Kawasaki, we achieved a tough victory through the perseverance and efforts of all players. In this match, we aim to achieve consecutive victories at Ajinomoto Stadium and strive for our first four-game winning streak of the season. It will be an important match in terms of being a stepping stone to further climb up the rankings.

　Due to the match being held two days after the previous match, there are concerns about physical exhaustion. However, Coach Shirofuku stated, "In the previous match, we fought with 10 players for that amount of time, so there is definitely fatigue. However, the players have the determination to fight in the top group, and they have high motivation, which allows them to cover their physical fatigue." However, in this match, Konno is suspended. In addition, Hanyu and Akamine are also absent due to injuries. As a result, Asari and Kajiyama will form a double pivot in midfield, with Emerson on the left side and Ishikawa on the right side. Additionally, Hirayama will start for the first time since the 21st match against Urawa. They will face the match with Cabore and a two-striker formation.

　Júbilo Iwata, who currently has 26 points and is in 16th place. Although they welcomed new coach Hans OOFT, they have not won a game since the 17th round on July 17th and seem to be struggling. However, their tactics of deploying FW Maeda and FW Elsinho as the starting points for side attacks, with MF Komano and Murai making plays, are well-executed and have the potential to be dangerous when they click. Coach Shirofuku said, "The key is how to prevent them from creating opportunities in the front line and how to take care of the sides." Additionally, although Akamine, who has scored goals in three consecutive matches and is also known as the "Júbilo Killer," will be absent, the team's goal remains the same: to create chances from quick movements and passing in the front line. Even if there are periods when things don't go well, it is important not to lose balance and to persistently fight with a stronger determination than Iwata. Aim for victory!

　The match started at 16:04 with a kick-off in Tokyo at Ajinomoto Stadium on a clear autumn day.

First goal by Cabore! Conceded a goal from a mistake, but...

　Intense exchanges between offense and defense continued from the start. Both teams fought fiercely to win the ball, but neither could create a scoring opportunity. In the 4th minute, Iwata tried to find their rhythm as midfielder Inuzuka took a shot from the left side. In the 12th minute, Tokyo earned a free kick from the right side and Kajiyama sent the ball into the goal area, but the opposing goalkeeper jumped out and caught it directly. Then, Iwata stole a left corner kick from a cross by right midfielder Komano, and defender Chano jumped in with a header from midfielder Murai's kick, but it went over the bar.

　In the 14th minute, Tokyo launched a quick attack from the left side of their own field, with Shigetaka MOBATA passing the ball to Emerson on the left front line. Emerson then sent a through pass to Cabore, who took advantage of his speed to dribble past the opponent's defenders and boldly aimed for the goal after entering the left area. The shot with his left foot found the net on the opposite side! Taking advantage of Cabore's speed, he skillfully scored the opening goal with a shot!

　After that, both teams launched quick attacks and engaged in a counter-attacking battle. In the midst of it, Tokyo created chances by exploiting the flanks with Cabore and Ishikawa. In the 23rd minute, Ishikawa made a run on the right and passed to Emerson. The cross was initially blocked, but he managed to keep possession and deliver a fast and low right cross. Hiraoka jumped in with a header. In the 26th minute, from a left throw-in, Hiraoka and the opposing defender competed on the left front line, and Cabore immediately reacted to the loose ball from the opposing defender's floated pass. He took a volley shot, but both were off target. In the 29th minute, Iwata also launched a quick attack, and the right midfielder Komano, who had advanced forward, crossed the ball, but Mochida cleared it. Immediately after, the ball was thrown into Tokyo's goal area, and the loose ball from the scramble seemed to reach Iwata's forward Maeda in close range of the goal, but Tokyo's defenders covered each other and defended tenaciously.

　In the 33rd minute, we got a free kick in the midfield, and from that momentum, Kajiyama -> Asari -> Kajiyama expanded to the right. Ishikawa broke through on the right side and sent a fast ground cross. Kabore in the center, Hiraoka couldn't connect, but Sasaki, who had moved up in the free kick situation, closed in on the far side and securely scored the second goal. However, in the immediate 34th minute, Ishikawa's back pass was taken by Iwata FW Jiushinho in the area. Shiota jumped out, Nagatomo also tried to hold him back, but he was immediately connected behind and kicked by FW Maeda, who had come up to support, resulting in a goal... We conceded a goal from a mistake and ended the first half with a score of 2-1.

Side attack and goal rush! 4 consecutive wins with the first 5 goals of the season!

　In the early stages of the second half, Iwata dominated the ball and continued to be pushed back. In the 50th minute, Iwata launched a major attack and ultimately had a shot taken by the central midfielder Inuzuka. In the 52nd minute, Nagatomo escaped from a breakthrough by Iwata's left midfielder Murai and resulted in a corner kick. Murai's left corner kick was punched away by Shiota. Inuzuka took another shot from the loose ball, but it went wide. In the 54th minute, Tokyo couldn't clear Iwata's attack and the ball was played inside Tokyo's territory, resulting in a header by forward Jiu Shinho from Komano's right cross, but Shiota caught it in front of him. Without rushing, they defended persistently and in the 55th minute, Otake was substituted for Emerson. They regained their rhythm and created chances from the sides, just like in the first half.

　59 minutes, Ishikawa sprinted up the side and sent a cross that was cleared just before reaching Cabore, but in the 61st minute, Cabore jumped out to a vertical pass from Otake, and crossed. The ball hit Ishikawa's heel as he ran into the center, changing the angle and inducing an own goal by Iwata into the net. They scored their third goal. In the following 69th minute, Hirayama → Cabore dribbled into the area from the left side. They advanced to a close distance to the goal and made a precise pass to Ishikawa, who closed in from the far side to the center. This time, Ishikawa kicked it in perfectly, goal! With a speedy development, Ishikawa and Cabore attacked both sides of Iwata and created scoring opportunities. And with Ishikawa's first goal in the league, they took a three-goal lead.

　In the 70th minute, Suzuki Tatsuya replaced Ishikawa, and in the following 72nd minute, Kanazawa was substituted for Cabore. With Hirayama and Suzuki as the two top players, Kanazawa as the left midfielder, and Otake as the right midfielder, they defended against Iwata's counterattacks while also maintaining an attacking posture. Then, in the 80th minute, Asari sent a long feed from his own territory to the front line, and the opponent's defender cleared the ball while moving back. Suzuki Tatsuya fiercely chased after the ball that flew towards Iwata's goal, shook off the diving goalkeeper, and caught up with it in the right area. Then, calmly feinting past the goalkeeper who had quickly returned, he pierced the shot! Suzuki Tatsuya scored his first goal since transferring and secured the fifth goal to seal the victory.

　Each player took their chances and scored 5 goals from 10 shots, effectively suppressing Iwata's counterattacks until the end of the game. They achieved their first four consecutive victories of the season with a goal rush!

　【Player Comments】《Tatsuya Suzuki》"In the previous match against Kawasaki, we were able to get 3 points in a tough game. If we lose today's match, that victory will mean nothing. That's why I felt that today's match was important. Everyone created a good flow, so I tried to ride that flow and not be passive, and I entered the pitch with the intention of playing forward. The substitute players who came on during the match created an environment that was easy for them to play in, so I want to thank everyone for that. (On the goal) This year, there have been a few situations where I faced the GK one-on-one, but I panicked and missed. So when I got past the GK, I tried to calm down and turn around. I wasn't thinking about passing. As a player, I want to start in the starting lineup, but right now the team is in good shape. I want to do my best to contribute to getting 3 points and do the job I've been given. Tokyo's supporters are passionate, and I'm honestly surprised that so many people have come to the stadium. I've only just transferred here, but if I can be accepted as a Tokyo player with today's goal, I'll be happy."《Asari》"In the first half, I may have been too focused on the sides, which may have left the center thin. In the second half, I tried to make some adjustments and focus on solidifying the center. There was a time in the beginning of the second half where we were pushed back, but the midfield and defense players communicated and talked about how to fill the spaces. And whether to bring the forward players back or push the back line up, we tried to make clear plays. I think that's what led to the high score. If we want to aim for the top, we have to win against teams fighting for the bottom. Sapporo scored 2 goals today and I don't think they're in a bad state at all. Even though it's an away game, I still want to win decisively."

　[Summary of Manager Jofuku's Press Conference] "Three days ago, we had a very tough game and earned 3 points, putting us in a position to enter the top group. Today, the key point was whether we could focus and enter the game with the same intensity as the previous match. Our goal is not just to beat Kawasaki, but to continue training and playing games throughout the year while always being aware of the top group or the top position. We confirmed this once again and made today a fresh start. It was a mentally and physically challenging game, but I think the players fought with concentration. Especially at the beginning of the first half, we were conscious of not disrupting the defensive balance. Even if we had to endure periods of time or were surpassed in possession by the opponent, we approached the game with the consciousness of not allowing our defense to be broken, and eventually confirmed that we could grasp our own rhythm. Although there were goals conceded from mistakes, today we scored goals from chances, so it became a comfortable development. There was also motivation and a sense of speed towards the goal, so in that aspect, the players became more focused as time went on."

　[Summary of Iwata Hans OOFT's press conference] "If you only look at the result without watching the game, it may seem like Tokyo won by 5-1 and Iwata had no chance. However, I am taking a very positive view. Until it became 3-1, there was a chance to catch up. So there was a chance for 60 minutes. However, after the third goal, we pulled back too much, gave the opponent space, and couldn't make physical contact. As a result, the opponent was able to score even after that. I think that was the turning point. Until 60 minutes, we were able to press firmly, go for the ball, and prevent the opponent from playing. However, we have to do that for 90 minutes. And I also have to change the situation and I changed the formation a little, but the field size became larger and we couldn't make it compact. Therefore, we couldn't slow down the game. There were two different situations, but I think the state until it became 3-1 was the best soccer I have seen since I became the coach of Iwata this time. For me, that is the starting point for the future. We have to continue this."