On the verge of J1's 150th victory, aiming to overcome the disappointment of the previous match with a win at home

　Sec. 15 of the league will be held, welcoming Cerezo Osaka at home. In the previous match against Yokohama FM, we were unable to demonstrate the Tokyo style and ended with only 3 shots, resulting in a defeat. Additionally, Ota, who suffered a right metatarsal bone injury, will be out for a long period. At the same time, Ishikawa is experiencing discomfort in his calf and Shiota has injured his left ankle, so they will be absent from the match to prioritize their recovery. It is a difficult situation, but we will overcome it together as a team and aim for victory by returning to our own style of soccer.

　C Osaka, on the other hand, is currently in 14th place with 17 points. Under the new coach Sergio SOARES, they continue to emphasize an attacking style of soccer this season. The attacking lineup, including midfielders Kiyotake and Kim Bo-kyung, forward Kempes, and Kakitani, is powerful and requires great caution. However, they have scored a total of 17 goals so far, but have conceded 19 goals, resulting in a goal difference of -2.

　Kurashino Sasukatsu aims to play a game where we dominate the ball possession, force C Osaka's attacking line to defend, and maintain our own style of soccer, as Gonda said, "If C Osaka can't find their rhythm, the front line and defense will be separated. It seems that they conceded 4 goals on the counterattack in the Hiroshima match, but we want to stick to our own soccer and value possession of the ball to secure a victory." This match is crucial as we aim to bounce back from the disappointing defeat in the previous round and approach our 150th victory in the J1 League. We want to seize the victory with an aggressive Tokyo-style soccer performance in front of our home crowd.

　Tokyo, Kaga started as a starter for the first time since the ACL Beijing match on April 4th, and Tanabe also made his first appearance since the Hiroshima match on March 31st. And Lucas was appointed as the top, Tokunaga as the right fullback, and Mokuhara on the left. Despite the humidity exceeding 70 percent, the game started with C Osaka's kickoff at 18:04 under comfortable weather conditions.

Take control and defend against C Osaka's scoring opportunities from counterattacks

　Tokyo took the initiative from the beginning of the game by concentrating. In the 2nd minute, Tanabe on the left, Kajiyama in the center, and Yazawa on the right side made a speedy attack. In the 5th minute, Kajiyama broke through the right front line and passed a lobbed ball to Hasegawa who had moved into the area from Tokunaga to Takahashi in the center. In the 12th minute, Tokunaga broke through to a high position from MoriShige's feed and sent a cross. Although they didn't shake the net, they showed a good attacking shape.

　In the 17th minute, Lucas closed in on the opponent's defender and cut inside from the left area. Kajiyama followed up with a pass to the center, but it was cleared for a corner kick. In the 19th minute, Takahashi sent a long pass from his own half. Tanihara made a run to meet it, but couldn't control it at his feet. In the 26th minute, Lucas received a vertical pass from Hasegawa in the center of the area. The ball bounced off his trap and he competed with the opponent's defender, but couldn't capitalize on the loose ball and took a shot from the front of the goal! However, it was blocked by the goalkeeper and the chance was missed...

　After that, C Osaka created a scoring opportunity. In the 30th minute, MF Kim Bogyon broke through the right area from a through pass by the defensive midfielder Ogihara and received a final pass in the center. FW Kakitani made a run into this area, but the timing was slightly off... and they managed to avoid a crisis.

　35 minutes into the game, Tokyo suffered a counterattack from a pass mistake, and C Osaka midfielder Kiyotake passed the ball to midfielder Kim Bo-kyung, who broke free on the right side. In response, Kanda cut off the course and Mori Shige intercepted the ball. It was a decisive moment, but thanks to C Osaka's coordination mistake, they managed to escape with a corner kick. In the 43rd minute, they pushed forward as a team, and Kaga aimed for a powerful low trajectory shot, but the goalkeeper made a save. They earned a corner kick, but from there they quickly suffered a counterattack, with C Osaka forward Kakitani passing to defender Takahashi who had moved up to the left area, and he took a shot from close range, but Kanda made a save!

　Tokyo took the initiative but couldn't break through and fell victim to C Osaka's sharp counterattacks. However, thanks to multiple great saves by Gonda, the first half ended with a scoreless draw.

Hasegawa takes the lead! Lucas secures an additional point and shuts down the counterattack

　C Osaka's momentum increased at the start of the second half. In the 49th minute, Tokyo's corner kick was cleared and effectively countered. In the 56th minute, Tokunaga's cross was cleared, and C Osaka's forward, Kakitani, received it, with Kempes attempting a goal from the left to the center. Then, in the 58th minute, Kajiyama injured his foot and was forced to be substituted. As a result, Yonemoto was brought in as a defensive midfielder. Hasegawa was moved up one line, calmly defending and trying to move forward.

　In the 59th minute, a pass was made to the free MF Kim Bo-kyung in the left area of C Osaka, and they faced a pinch, but they were helped by a mistake. Immediately after in the 60th minute, Tokunaga dribbled towards the center and attacked from the outside right front line to Hasegawa in the right area in front of the penalty arc. He brought it inside and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot! The powerful shot that hit the course was splendidly scored far into the goal, taking the lead.

　C Osaka also counterattacks and the game becomes a close battle. In the 76th minute, Tanizawa sticks to the right side and earns a throw-in. The C Osaka defender clears this right throw-in, but it goes to Takahashi near the right area, who heads it to the center of the box. Tanabe receives it and directly sends a final pass to Lucas, who has slipped behind the defense, and Lucas calmly stabs it into the net, GOAL!!

　C Osaka, who was two points behind, aimed for the back of Tokyo DF in the 86th minute and C Osaka FW Nagai jumped out to meet the long pass, facing Gonda in a one-on-one situation. However, Gonda saved the decisive shot with one foot! In the 88th minute, MF Ogiwara took a shot from a direct free kick. In injury time, FW Kakitani took a shot from the loose ball of a throw-in... and they were threatened until the end, but both shots missed the target. They were also helped by C Osaka's mistakes, but they maintained their aggressiveness in both offense and defense and kept a clean sheet to secure the victory! They achieved their 150th win in J1.

　【Player Comment】《Hasegawa》"Since I couldn't do anything in the previous match, I was thinking of playing aggressively. (Was the goal scored right after changing positions to attacking midfielder?) The job doesn't change much even as an attacking midfielder. I try to be proactive and go forward even when I'm a defensive midfielder. (Was it a shot similar to the one in the ACL Beijing match?) I think it was a better goal than the one in the Beijing match (laughs). Today, we were able to play as a team and create attacking opportunities. Because we had more players forward, we were exposed to counterattacks from C Osaka's front line, but I was able to score first and think positively. I think it's a team victory."

　"Lucas" "C Osaka is also a good team, so it was a game where either team could win. The goal was when Tanabe passed the ball to me at the very edge of offside, and I was able to calmly score. I'm really happy that I was able to score, but what makes me even happier is that we were able to win as a team. However, in the past few games, I haven't been able to take shots myself, but today I had a few chances to shoot. Of course, it's best to score in those situations, but I don't think it was bad."

　[Summary of Coach Popovich's Press Conference] "I think it was a satisfying match for the spectators as both teams played an attractive and offensive style of soccer. Continuing to play such matches will be a factor in attracting more fans and supporters to the stadium. Today, we had a good start to the match, taking control from the beginning and maintaining a high defensive line. We were able to execute what we have been doing so far. However, we conceded counterattacks and allowed the opponents to create several decisive opportunities, which is a fact. This is because we maintain a high defensive line, which leaves a large space behind us. Therefore, the most important thing is how we handle the ball, not losing it. We want to improve in that aspect."

　However, I think that throughout the game, we were superior in terms of combination and quality of play, and we were able to play deserving of victory. If we can fight with this attitude and quality of play, the results will naturally follow. There was a difference in that aspect compared to the Yokohama FM match. In the previous match, there was no content or result, but I told the players that it is important not to repeat that. They themselves should have felt it even without me saying it. We were able to prove that.

　Today, it's not that someone was good, but I want to praise all the players who fought on the pitch. The only thing that leaves a bad taste is Kajiyama's injury. I still don't know his condition, but if we lose him, it will have a big impact on the team. Finally, I would like to thank all the fans and supporters who came to the stadium and gave us a big cheer for 90 minutes. I am grateful for creating such an atmosphere. Today's match was a spectacle with both teams playing worthy of receiving support and cheers."

　[Summary of C Osaka Soares' Press Conference] "It was a very intense game with a lot of movement. The pitch was slippery due to water being sprinkled, but both teams played an evenly matched game with the intention of connecting the ball firmly and with speed. I think we created more clear scoring opportunities than Tokyo, but our finishing lacked precision. As for the conceded goals, the first goal was a very good goal from Tokyo's number 8 player's individual skill. There is also a part to praise him. The second goal by Lucas seemed offside from my position... Despite being a game we could have won, it ended up being a game where we missed out on victory."