Focus on the upcoming match and aim to break the losing streak

　Sec. 33 of the league, Gamba Osaka will play away. In the previous match, it ended in a scoreless draw on a rainy pitch, resulting in a consecutive loss. The players reflect, "When we allow the first goal, the opponent inevitably tightens their defense. In the midst of being countered, we have not been able to surpass it." The most important thing for Tokyo at the moment is to score the first goal. They will switch their mind and body from the previous defeat and focus on the upcoming match, aiming for goals and victory.

　G Osaka, who is currently in 16th place with 36 points, will face them. In the previous match, they had a great victory against Shimizu. Although they couldn't escape from the relegation battle, they have only lost 2 matches from the 19th round on July 28th until now. Not only have they scored the highest 64 points in J1, but they have also had only 2 goalless games, showing their true G Osaka style and trying to turn things around. In this round, DF Iwashita will be suspended, but DF Nakazawa will return from a long-term absence and there will be no change in their playing style.

　Tokyo changed their lineup from the previous match. Ota started in place of Nakamura, who injured his right knee. In addition, Ishikawa, who has injured his right instep, will be on the bench, and Lucas and Hasegawa will play as left and right midfielders, respectively, with Watanabe as the lone striker. The key will be whether they can press the opponent's powerful attack from the front line and midfield, steal the ball with tough defense, and quickly transition to an attacking play. Considering Tokyo's current situation of not scoring in the past two matches, it is also important to see how long they can maintain a clean sheet.

　G Osaka, like Kobe, is expected to fight hard to avoid relegation, but if they get caught up in that, it will be difficult to secure a victory. Yonemoto said, "Regardless of the fact that the opponent is Gamba and that they are fighting for survival, we need to focus on what we can do and not forget our Tokyo style and challenger spirit. We want to show a bold attitude and take the victory." The match started at 14:33 in Tokyo with a kickoff at the packed Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium.

徳永のゴールで先制するも、セットプレーから追いつかれて前半を終える

　The match started with an attack from G Osaka's side, creating a chance. In the 7th minute, G Osaka's central midfielder Kurata passed to Leandro, who had moved to the left side, with a through pass behind Tokyo's defense. Forward Ienaga, who had made a run, took a decisive shot from inside the left area, but Konda made a save. However, Tokyo gradually started to create opportunities by penetrating behind the opponent's high defense and reaching the shooting area. In the 14th minute, Watanabe dropped Konda's kick, and Kajiyama followed up with a through pass behind the defense. Hasegawa's shot, who had made a run, shook the net, but it was offside.

　In a development where both teams try to take control. In the 17th minute, Lucas in the opponent's central area, controlled a middle shot directly from a trap, but it curved to the left. Then, in the 21st minute, the ball was passed from the defense line, Takahashi -> Watanabe dropped the ball, and Ota crossed from the left. Lucas became the decoy in the penalty area, and the ball went to the far side. Tokunaga, who ran in from the outside, perfectly connected with it and pierced the goal net with his right foot, scoring the long-awaited opening goal.

　The Tokyo attack continues. In the 33rd minute, Lucas intercepts the ball in the opponent's territory. He passes it to Watanabe on the front line, cuts back the opposing defender, and takes a shot. However, the shot is blocked and the ball falls into the area. Hasegawa charges forward, creating a clear chance as he faces the goalkeeper one-on-one. But the goalkeeper makes a save with his body, denying the decisive opportunity. Unable to capitalize on the chance and without adding any more goals, they concede a goal in the 37th minute. Endo's sharp free kick is met by Kechang, who dives into the goal area and scores a spectacular diving header. The first half ends in a tie.

Despite taking control in the second half and continuing to attack, they were unable to secure a victory and ended in a draw.

　Tokyo seizes a big chance at the start of the second half. In the 47th minute, Watanabe charges towards the loose ball on the left front line of Tokyo. The opponent's goalkeeper also comes out, but Watanabe wins the sprint with his speed and heads towards the unguarded goal. However, there is no angle, and the shot from the left area hits the crossbar. Lucas in the center follows up on the rebound and takes a decisive shot, but it goes wide to the left. In the 54th minute, Watanabe in the center passes to Hasegawa in the left area corner with a heel pass. Ota takes advantage of his speed to break through the opponent's defense and takes a shot, but it is saved by the goalkeeper.

　In the second half, Tokyo took the initiative and constantly advanced the game in the G Osaka territory. However, in the 62nd minute, G Osaka's substitute midfielder Sasaki took a shot and the ball reached forward Leandro. Although Mori Shige tried to control the ball, it became loose and was taken advantage of by forward Ienaga, resulting in a go-ahead goal. In the 69th minute, Ishikawa replaced Kajiyama and Lucas moved to the attacking midfield position.

　In the 73rd minute, Yonemoto in the center passed to Ishikawa on the right, who quickly advanced. Hasegawa dropped the ball to the left, and Lucas created a decisive opportunity in the penalty area, but the shot went over. In the 76th minute, Lucas made a great side change, and Ishikawa cut inside and took a sharp shot with his left foot, but the goalkeeper made a good save and it resulted in a corner kick. In the 80th minute, Nemanja VUCICEVIC was substituted in, giving even more momentum to the attack.

　Then in the 84th minute, Ota dribbled through the left side and advanced to a close distance to the goal. Vucicevic followed up with a shot from a negative pass. It hit the bar, but Watanabe was there for the rebound and headed it in to equalize. They continued to push for a comeback and in stoppage time, Takahashi made a side change, Ishikawa dropped it with a header in the left area, and Lucas in the center took a precise shot, but it didn't hit. On the contrary, G Osaka created chances from sharp counters, but couldn't convert. As a result, they shared one point.

　【Player Comment】《Watanabe》"Even though we were reversed, we believed in our own strength. It was good that we were able to score an equalizing goal, but it didn't lead to a win, which is disappointing. Personally, I was hungry for a goal and wanted to contribute to the team by showing my strength in my first start in a while. In the scoring scene, the ball came loose in front of me, so I pushed it in with my feelings. However, I also missed a big chance at the start of the second half. The angle was really bad, but I kicked it towards the goal properly... (bitter smile). Also, in the chance in the first half (after 30 minutes), I really wanted Aria to score (laughs). In the end, that's how it is. I think that's the factor that prevented us from winning. We conceded 2 goals in defense, but we were focused and not bad as a team. Today, everyone had a strong desire to win and fought with that in their play."

　"Tokunaga: "Although it wasn't the entire 90 minutes, I think we were able to play our soccer. There were some good parts, but the fact that we conceded 2 goals is a challenge. We have been conceding goals consistently recently, so further adjustments are necessary in that area. As for the goals, Hirokazu provided a good cross and Lukon finished it off in front. I was able to calmly score. As for Gamba Osaka, we understand that they were also fighting to avoid relegation, but I think they were a bit rigid and played defensively. On the other hand, we were able to bring the ball into the shooting range. If we had been able to score there, I think it would have been a game we could have won. There are points to reflect on, but I want to take a positive view of today's match. In the final match, we will be able to play at home, so I want to have a good game, win, and have a game that leads to next season."

　【Coach Popovich's Press Conference Summary】"Hello. I'm worried if your bodies are not cold because it was cold (laughs), but I think it was an exciting and interesting game where your bodies didn't have time to get cold. Both teams showed their strengths and created many dangerous attacking opportunities. We were able to move the ball well and create chances, and I think it is commendable that everyone was able to quickly counterattack when the opponent had the ball. The unfortunate thing is that we couldn't make the most of our chances."

　There were several chances that I think it was more difficult to miss. It's also soccer to miss them, and such things can happen. Today, the opponent was also great, but I feel that we were closer to earning 3 points. I think we were able to show each other a high-quality and interesting match today, and when we fight on the J1 stage next season, I want to show a more interesting, attractive, and attacking soccer than today in Tokyo and Gamba. It's unfortunate that we conceded a goal, but I want to congratulate FW Jang Hyun Soo."

　[Summary of G Osaka Manager Matsumi's Press Conference] "It is the desire of everyone, including the players, that we must win. We struggled to find our rhythm within the opponent's compact defense. We also conceded goals due to our own mistakes. Gradually, our attacking rhythm improved and we caught up to the tie. Our rhythm improved little by little and the switch for attacking was turned on. I think the part where we couldn't score the third goal was the reason we couldn't win today."

　(Lucas entered as the right midfielder today on the left side of the strong points DF Fujiharu and MF Kurata. Did you expect that?) Looking at the starting members, Lucas entered on the right, so I told him that he can also defend and take care of that area. But more than that, I think the relationship between DF Fujiharu and MF Kurata was not good from the start. I thought that if DF Fujiharu could be more aggressive and go forward, it would be a time when the opponent would be chased in defense. But he couldn't go forward easily. That's where Lucas' tactics and experience surpassed. He may feel some parts of it, and it requires the power to overcome and break through. Lucas is a smart player, so I hope he can grow by feeling the tactics, receiving the ball, and timing when the ball comes in."