Facing off against Tosu, who fought hard last season, aiming for a third consecutive home win in the league

　The league match has completed one-third of the schedule, and in Sec. 12, Sagan Tosu will face off at home. On 5/16, in the away match against ACL Ulsan, they took control but failed to convert their chances and suffered a defeat. However, Coach Ranko POPOVIC said, "The important thing is to give it our all. If we lose as a result, there is no need to be discouraged," and immediately shifted focus to the league match.

　The opponent Tosu, currently in 7th place with 4 wins, 5 draws, and 2 losses, has a 1 point difference with Tokyo. Last season, they were also a tough opponent in J2, with their never-give-up attitude and tenacity. This season, they have sharpened their attack centered around FW Toyoda, using the hard work of all players as their weapon, and their team maturity has also increased. Moreover, in the match against Iwata in the Nabisco Cup held on the 16th, they showed their strength in winning the battle for goals.

　Ota, who missed the Ulsan match, is still not in good condition and unable to play. On the other hand, Ishikawa, who injured his left knee in the Sapporo match, returned to the bench in a "lighter than expected" condition. In the defense line, Tokunaga was used as a center back, just like in the Ulsan match. Jang Hyun Soo played as the right full-back, and Mokuhara on the left. In the midfield, Takahashi and Yonemoto formed a double pivot, with Tanizawa and Hasegawa on the left and right wings respectively. Lucas played as the striker, with Kajiyama in the attacking midfield position.

　It's going to be a tough game, but we aim for a league three consecutive wins by calmly avoiding the press from Tosu's front line and playing our own soccer. We want to grab 3 points at home without losing in the consecutive matches. The weather at Ajinomoto Stadium is comfortable with clouds, and the match started at 15:04 with Tosu's kickoff.

Sagan Tosu gains momentum and concedes the first goal towards the end of the first half

　Entering the game calmly, we created a decisive chance in the early stages. In the 12th minute, Hasegawa in the central area competed with the opponent's defender for Morishige's feed, and Takahashi jumped out to take a decisive shot at the ball that spilled into the right area... but it missed to the left. However, in the 16th minute, a pass from Lucas in the opponent's half did not connect, and we quickly suffered a counterattack. Against a precise early cross from the Tosu right side, MF Kan flew out to the center of the goal, creating a decisive opportunity, but the shot went wide.

　Tokyo made mistakes in front of Tosu's press, and chances were created on the counter in the 18th and 20th minutes. However, they defended without panicking, waited for a counterattack, and in the 23rd minute, Yawata → Mukuhara broke through the left front line. He cut inside and sent a negative pass to the goalmouth, where Kajiyama in the left area made a direct shot. However, the shot was blocked by the post in the lower left corner... They couldn't take advantage of the chance.

　As time passed, Tokyo began to dominate the ball, but they struggled to create effective attacking plays against Tosu's defensive block. On the contrary, in the 43rd minute, they lost the ball in the opponent's half and suffered a counterattack from Tosu. Tosu's DF line passed the ball through MF Fujita, and MF Kane dribbled up the center. They couldn't stop this. After covering a long distance and running freely into the right area, MF Mizunuma received the final pass. Without hesitation, he swung his right foot and scored a spectacular shot that pierced the net...

　In the 44th minute, Tanizawa jumped out to the center of the area after connecting a pass and Lucas followed up on the ball he dropped after reversing. However, his close-range shot was blocked... They ended the first half with a one-point deficit.

Substitute player Watanabe scores a hat-trick! Dramatic victory with a huge comeback!!

　Despite conceding the first goal, we continued to play our own style of football in the second half and launched an offensive by connecting passes. However, we made a mistake when trying to push forward. As a result, in the 54th minute, Watani and Ishikawa were substituted for Tanizawa and Hyun Soo JANG. Watani took the top position and Lucas moved to the side. Hasegawa played as a defensive midfielder, Tokunaga played as a right full-back, and Takahashi moved to center-back, forming a counterattack strategy.

　However, in the 59th minute immediately after that, the opponent's MF Hayasaka of Tosu Chuo expanded to the right without being able to connect in the opponent's territory. He was attacked by MF Mizunuma and a precise right cross was put in. In response to this, Kanda jumped out but couldn't touch it. Tosu FW Toyoda jumped in and pushed his whole body in... We conceded the second goal.

　However, in the 68th minute, Tokyo made a substitution, replacing Yonemoto with Kono on the side. Lucas took the center position, and Kajiyama covered the midfield, successfully gaining control of the game. In the 75th minute, Hasegawa and Ishikawa exchanged passes on the left side, and Ishikawa made a final pass to Watanabe, who had just barely stayed onside on the right area. Despite being in a difficult position, Watanabe confidently scored a goal into the net on the opposite side, GOAL!!

　Closing the gap to one point, the mood in the stands intensifies as they push Sagan Tosu. In the 81st minute, Lucas near the left touchline receives a throw-in from Murahara. He turns around and sends a lofted cross into the box. Far post, Tokunaga jumps in and flicks the ball back, and Watanabe reacts to it. He manages to push it in with his body and equalizes the score!

　In the 87th minute, we stole the ball in our own half, Kajiyama carried it forward and launched a counterattack, earning a free kick from the right side due to a foul on Watanabe. Ishikawa quickly sent a kick to the goalmouth, and the opponent's defender's clearance hit Watanabe in the face and was sucked into the net, scoring the go-ahead goal! Taking advantage of throw-ins and set-piece opportunities, Watanabe marked a hat-trick and achieved a third consecutive league victory.

　【Player Comment】《Watanabe》"I wanted to win, but I didn't expect to score three goals as a substitute... I'm surprised myself. It's my first hat-trick in the Emperor's Cup in my first year as a professional, but it's the first time in the league. When I came on as a substitute, I tried to push forward by moving forward and having Lincoln move to the second row. We were losing, so I tried to take the initiative from the front in defense as well. No matter what the situation, I'm thinking about what I can do for the team. I believe that if I can fully exert my strength even from the middle, I can contribute to the team, and I think I was able to do that today."

　"[Ishikawa] "It was an exciting game for me to be on the pitch. When we conceded the second goal, I looked at the stands and thought everyone might leave... but it was reassuring to see them cheering for us. I didn't want a draw, I wanted to find a way to win. I think it was good that I was able to fulfill that role along with Watanabe. We want to continue playing our football and keep creating a sense of unity with the supporters, and win together."

　[Coach Popovich's press conference summary] "I am satisfied not only with the result, but also with how we got there. Tosu is a disciplined team, and everyone has a sense of responsibility. In the first 15 minutes, we couldn't control the pace and the opponent played aggressively. However, after that, we also created scoring opportunities with our own style of play, but we couldn't capitalize on them. The important thing is that even after being down by two goals, we didn't blindly kick the ball and didn't change what we should do. I think the fact that we continued to believe in and play connected football, passing the ball, was a major factor in the result."

　I dare say that it was a game that showed something for Japanese football. It showed how we won against any opponent and played our own style of football. Even when faced with a strong defense, we had the ability to break through. And we were able to exploit the weaknesses of our opponents and turn it into a victory. I believe it was a game where we were able to prove something for Japanese football.

　From the beginning of the season, we have been saying that we want to play attractive football and win, but we were able to give the best gift to the fans and supporters who have come to support us in the ACL and league matches so far. Today, we were able to repay them in a good way with the support of many people. Today, I want to say "football won". Both teams played a football game full of charm, to the point where they exhausted their emotions while watching, and I think it was a game where Tosu and Tokyo showed their strengths.

　[Summary of Tosu Coach Yin's Press Conference] "I apologize for the disappointing outcome, despite the fact that many people came all the way to Tokyo to support us and give us strength. After scoring two goals in a good flow as a team, we ended up losing in a comeback, unable to connect the flow of the game. However, the players fought hard and showed a fight against Tokyo that was equal to or even better than them. I think that deserves praise. Taking this result as a lesson, we want to prepare well and make use of it in the next game."