Facing the third match of the season against Kashiwa in just two days

　Sec. 21 of the league, which will be played two days after the Nabisco Cup, will be against Kashiwa Reysol. We will go away. In the Nabisco Sendai match, we achieved victory with the intended game play. Although Coach Popovic is harsh, saying "Even if you can play well in one game, it won't be a savings. If you think it's good, there will be no growth," the players also seemed to have a sense of accomplishment, and each of them intends to continue the good parts of the Sendai match as a base and build on it to achieve victory.

　Kashiwa, on the other hand, is currently in 4th place with 34 points. In the league matches, they have only lost one game out of the 11 matches since the 12th round on May 12th (against Nagoya on Jul 7th). They have also secured a spot in the semifinal round of the Nabisco Cup and are in excellent form. This match will be their third meeting this season, following the Xerox Super Cup and the first half of the league matches. In the previous two matches, Tokyo had control of the game but conceded goals from set plays and individual skills of MF Leandro Domingues and MF Jorginho Wagner, resulting in defeats. This is a match where they want to take revenge and they cannot afford to lose to the same opponent consecutively. They want to show their determination.

　However, Takahashi is suspended for accumulating warnings this round. Therefore, Kaga will be placed as a center back, and Edmilson will make his first league start following the Nabisco Sendai match. Lucas will be on the side, and Kajiyama will also start for the first time since June 23, playing in the top position. Additionally, new signing Nemanja VUCICEVIC will be on the bench for the first time. Kashiwa will use MF Ibaraki alongside MF Otani in the midfield. In place of suspended DF Hashimoto, DF Watanabe will serve as the left fullback. New signing FW Neto Baiano will also be on the bench.

　Cloudy but humid Hitachi Kashiwa Soccer Field. The match started with Kashiwa's kickoff at 19:04.

Kajiyama earns a PK, Lucas calmly scores to take the lead early on!

　Concentrating and entering the game, we established an aggressive attitude and grasped the rhythm. In the 4th minute, Kajiyama picked up the clearance from Edmilson's contest and entered the left area to aim for a goal. In the 9th minute, Kaga advanced to the right front line and sent a cross. However, just before it reached Edmilson, it was cut off by the Kashiwa DF. Immediately after that, in the 10th minute, Ishikawa connected from Morishige's feed, and Kajiyama entered the area from a one-two with Edmilson. Here, they received a foul and obtained a penalty kick. In the 11th minute, Lucas calmly and surely scored this penalty kick, taking the lead in the early stages.

　However, Kashiwa also tried to suppress Tokyo's play with a tough defense, and when they took the ball, they quickly sent it to the front line for a counterattack. In the 18th minute, Kashiwa's FW Kudo was pushed in with fast-paced passing play starting from the post, creating a pinch, but Tokyo's DF defended by putting their bodies on the line. In the 22nd minute, Ishikawa carried the ball from the left side and connected with Edmilson in the left area. However, Edmilson's shot lacked power and went straight to the GK. In the 25th minute, this time Kashiwa's right side MF Leandro Domingues expanded to the left. He took a sharp shot at the free MF Jorginho Wagner who had gone up, but Shibata made the save.

　34 minutes, Kajiyama, who received Hasegawa's vertical pass in front of the area, turned forward and shot a well-aimed middle, but it was saved by the goalkeeper. In the 45th minute, Kajiyama received a foul and earned a free kick from the left sideline. Ishikawa sent a sharp kick, and Edmilson in the right area directly followed up on the ball that was spilled from the opponent's defense, but it went wide. Both teams fiercely fought for the ball and created chances for Kashiwa, but Tokyo maintained a balance of offense and defense and concentration, leading by one goal at halftime.

After being caught up to a tie, Kashiwa managed to withstand a fierce attack despite being at a numerical disadvantage and ended in a draw.

　Kashiwa brought on FW Neto Baiano in the second half. Tokyo gained momentum at the start of the second half and in the 48th minute, Kashiwa's Kajiyama, who had moved up from the left, attempted a goal. However, Tokyo's quick defensive block prevented it and in the 51st minute, the ball sent forward from Kashiwa's free kick was initially intercepted by Tokyo's DF, but due to a miscommunication between Morishige and Shiota, the ball ended up in the area... Kashiwa's FW Neto Baiano took advantage of this and Kudo's shot shook the net. However, it was offside and Tokyo escaped the danger, but this increased Kashiwa's pressure.

　Tokyo was pushed back by targeting the high defensive line and couldn't calm down and connect the ball even if they took it. In the 67th minute, from the flow of Kashiwa's throw-in, Kashiwa's defender Kondo floated the ball to the front line. This ball was easily dropped by FW Neto Baiano with his chest and spectacularly pierced by MF Jorginho Wagner from the left area... and they were caught up to the same score.

　In the 68th minute, Tanizawa was substituted in to try to change the flow, but in the 72nd minute, Kaga received a second warning and was sent off for body-checking Kashiwa FW Kudo, who was trying to jump out into the area. They were forced to play with 10 men. In the 73rd minute, Maruyama, who made his first appearance in the league match, was substituted in for Kajiyama, and in the 77th minute, Watanabe came in for Ishikawa. They tried to tighten their defense and look for opportunities, but in the end, they were exposed to Kashiwa's fierce attacks.

　While concentrating on overcoming consecutive pinches, in the 79th minute, Yonemoto broke through the right side. He sent a decisive last pass to Watanabe in front of the goal, but it was not finished here. Hasegawa followed up with a shot from the middle, resulting in a corner kick. Immediately after, from the flow of this corner kick, Taniyama connected with a right cross in the left area, but... it went wide. After that, receiving Kashiwa's throw-in, the team defended against attacks led by FW Neto Baiano and MF Leandro Domingues, but the cross was blocked by Morishige, and the goal was protected with Shioda at the center until the final whistle. Despite a tough match, they managed to bring it to a draw and took 1 point away.

　【Player Comment】《Kajiyama》"In the first half, I think we were able to achieve our goals to some extent. If we can improve our coordination a little more, I believe we can make decisive passes to the forwards. I want to work on that. However, when the ball goes forward, it feels like we are attacking with the four forwards and the two sides. I want to encourage the participation of the fullbacks in the attack and push the opponent back to achieve results. We want to focus on getting 3 points and make sure we win."

　《Maruyama》"(It was a tough situation to come on as a substitute?) I was originally preparing to replace Kajiyama. Even though we were down to 10 men, I tried to think positively, stay calm, and play as the coach always says, enjoying the game. Since it was a 1-on-1 situation with 10 men, I was conscious of not conceding any goals. I think we were able to communicate with Morishige-san and others in controlling the defensive line, and we managed to hold on until the end. I think it wasn't bad that we ended with a 1-1 draw and took 1 point away. I'm genuinely happy to have made my league debut, but it's important to consider how to make use of it in the future. We need victories to keep up with the top teams. I want to work hard to contribute to that."

　[Coach Popovich's press conference summary] "The players fought well and I think it was a good game. We had a good start to the game and had control. However, as you all saw, the game unfolded in the way it did. This is not criticism, but rather a reflection on how today's game was for the football world. I would like to think about it together with all of you. Going back to the game, I think we were in control. There were moments when the opponent stopped us with fouls, but we were able to play without losing ourselves."

　Tokyo players never played rough until the end, and they organized themselves and fought calmly. Even with one less player, they persevered and endured patiently. There were moments when they were passed around, but I want to say well done for continuing to stop with their bodies and running as long as they had the stamina. I want the people who watched this match to feel it. We believe that we were able to do what we should do collectively and show Tokyo-style soccer."

　[Summary of Kashiwa NELSINHO's press conference] "It was a very competitive game from the start. In the first half, there were emotional moments where we were reacting to the opponent's approach and style, and we couldn't control the game well. So at halftime, I talked to the players and told them not to get involved in the opponent's provocations or fights. I asked them to control their emotions and not to aim for passes that would immediately lead to a goal after winning the ball. I wanted us to move the ball more and create a rhythm."

　In the second half, the players regained control of the game and created many chances from possession and counterattacks. There were some mistakes in front of the goal, but overall, we were able to play in an organized manner in the second half. If we end with the last atmosphere, there will be a feeling of regret for a draw, but we have experienced many times that 1 point in the end can make a difference. So, we want to value today's 1 point."