A crucial match that cannot be lost in order to keep up with the top teams

Sec. 13 of the league will be the last match before a one-month break, facing Kashima Antlers away. In the previous match against Shimizu, we scored 2 goals and achieved a clean sheet victory for the first time since the Kawasaki match on 4/27. Following the Nabisco Niigata match, we have achieved two consecutive victories in official matches. Despite the situation where players like Kaga, Hasegawa, and Ishikawa are not available, we want to fight together as a team and aim for victory in order to keep up with the top teams.

Kashima, on the other hand, currently has 6 wins, 4 draws, and 2 losses. Toninho CEREZO, the coach, returned this season. With the addition of FW Davi, they have overcome last season's "slump". They have also secured a spot in the final round of the Nabisco tournament. Although their number of victories against Tokyo remains the same, they have accumulated points by demonstrating their strength in matches and persistently avoiding defeat. In particular, the duo of FW Davi and FW Osako is a threat, so it is crucial to prevent them from creating opportunities in the front line.

Tokyo, there are no changes in the starting lineup from the previous match. In the league matches against Kashima, we have not been able to achieve victory for 6 consecutive matches since 2009, but it is important above all not to be overwhelmed by the atmosphere of the away game without fear. Coach Popovic also said, "We suffered a big defeat in the away game last season, but it is a good opportunity to show growth from that defeat as motivation. I want to ask the players for a strong mentality and fighting spirit without fearing the opponent, and seize the victory." The match started with Kashima's kickoff at 17:05 at Kashima Soccer Stadium.

Make the most of scoring opportunities and lead by 2 points at halftime

The game started moving from the beginning of the first half. Kashima, who started attacking immediately, was calmly responded by the defense. Then, in the 7th minute, Lucas from the left side dribbled and advanced, avoiding Kashima MF Ogasawara in the center. He tried to exchange passes with Li in the area, but Li's lob was cut by the opponent's DF. However, Li quickly reacted to the loose ball from the melee. He broke through the line, saw the movement of Kashima GK, and skillfully put the ball into the net for a goal.

The game was progressing with Tokyo's pace, wanting to take the lead, but the flow remained with Kashima. They lost the ball many times in front of the opponent's intense press and were pushed back. However, they did not panic and defended persistently at the backline, gradually creating scenes of quick transitions to attack. In the 35th minute, they launched a counterattack, with Li dribbling up the center and passing to the right to the free-running Yonemoto. He took a shot just before the penalty area, but it was blocked by the Kashima defender.

In the 44th minute, Lee and Dong exchanged passes on the left side. Dong briefly kept the ball, Lee removed the opponent's mark and received the pass again, and sent a pass to Watanabe who was free on the inside. Watanabe controlled the ball and made a powerful shot, scoring an additional goal in the bottom left corner. Throughout the first half, Kashima continued to be pushed back, but they effectively capitalized on scoring opportunities and ended the game with an ideal match development, leading by two goals.

Unable to stop Kashima's momentum, a frustrating comeback loss

The game continues to move from the start of the second half. In the 47th minute, a through pass from Kashima FW Davi bypassed the offside line and was received by FW Osako, creating a one-on-one scene with Gonda and resulting in a goal. Furthermore, in the 56th minute, a pass was connected from Kashima's throw-in to MF Endo, who broke through the right area. Gonda also tried to come forward to respond to this, but was evaded, and a right cross skimmed past Hyun Soo JANG and went into the net. The own goal resulted in the second goal being conceded, equalizing the score.

Tokyo, who wants to switch to attack, substituted Tanabe for Li in the 65th minute. To enter the top position. However, Kashima's momentum continues. Immediately after the substitution, Tanabe tried to take the ball in front of the area, but it was taken away by Kashima FW Osako, and immediately escaped to the front of the goal, resulting in the third goal. Tokyo, who wants to catch up, in the 78th minute, a pass to the front line spilled into the right area, and here East jumps out and shoots at an early timing while competing with the DF, but fails to hit and goes straight to the GK.

In the 79th minute, Ota's left cross passed through the near side and fell to Watanabe in the far side, but he couldn't finish it and the ball went to the goalkeeper. In the 43rd minute, Lucas and Tanabe were replaced by Hirayama and Hayashi. In injury time, Hayashi broke through from the left side and ran into the area, taking a well-aimed shot. However, it was saved by the opponent's goalkeeper and escaped as a corner kick. The game ended like this. They couldn't fully utilize the 2-goal lead they had in the first half. It was a frustrating comeback loss.


[Player Comments]
"Mori Shige"
"In the first half, we were able to demonstrate what we have been working on this season. In the second half, all of our weaknesses this season were exposed. It felt like we became a completely different team between the first and second halves. It's possible that our game plan before the second half was unclear. Of course, we wanted to score a third and fourth goal, but there should have been a way to use the opponent's forward movement to our advantage. It may have been necessary for us to control the ball and play with a bit more composure."

(The matchup with Kashima FW Neta LAVI was impressive and ultimately we didn't let them score?) I've been saying "Neta LAVI" all along, but I wanted to contain Kashima's top two, including FW Rui OSAKO. I feel really ashamed as a defender because I was beaten by a player I was cautious of.


《East》
"We started the game by scoring the opening goal and took a 2-0 lead in the first half. It would have been great if we could have maintained that lead in the second half, but we ended up being reversed in a way that has been repeated many times this season, and it became a very wasteful game. In the second half, our defensive line dropped too much, and we couldn't press the two Kashima forwards. Everything ended up being a chase. (Did you become an attacking midfielder in the middle of the second half?) I was thinking of making more attempts and aiming for a goal. I had my own chances, but in the end, I couldn't take them, so that's my own challenge."

(Looking back on the battle so far) I joined to win the championship, and I haven't given up on it yet, but I still need to win. I really wanted to win today. I'm very frustrated. (I will soon join the Japan national team) This is not the end, and I want to continue to be selected from here by appealing through practice. First, I want to make those around me understand my play and do my best to show my strengths."


[Coach's Press Conference Summary]
"I think we showed a different side in the first half and the second half. In the first half, we were able to control the game well and prevent the opponent from creating scoring opportunities. We were able to do what we wanted to do. At halftime, we talked about going for the next goal, but the start of the second half created an atmosphere as if we were in a break period. Kashima also aggressively attacked, so we became passive. We made mistakes, but regarding the consecutive goals we conceded, I think Kashima played well."

In such a game, it is meaningless if we don't continue to show what we have been doing, and we have repeated this several times before, but in order to win such a game, we must continue to believe in ourselves. In the second half, the distance between the players became distant, and it is a point of reflection that we couldn't fight together as a team. I would like to congratulate Kashima, who has the power to turn the game around in the first 15-20 minutes of the second half.

(Reason for replacing Lee?) In the first half, we were able to put good pressure on the opponent's last line and midfield, but in the second half, there was none of that. If the front line does not put pressure on the ball holder, the last line will also stretch and cause the vital area to be empty, which was exploited by the opponent. The first half showed very good defense. However, I think there was fatigue in the second half, and the defense in that area became loose, so I made a substitution. I think there were improvements from there. Hayashi and Keigo both had decisive chances, but they couldn't make the most of them. I think that's why we ended up with this result."


《Kashima - Toninho CEREZO coach》
"We knew that the opponent would increase their physicality and put pressure on us, as they didn't have a midweek match. However, we also made mistakes and conceded two goals. Especially after the second goal, the opponent organized their defense, which made it difficult for us to showcase our technical skills and ball possession. They quickly closed down the spaces, so we couldn't use them effectively. As you all felt, we started resorting to long balls, but the timing was off and it became a vicious cycle where we couldn't win the second balls."

I was watching the game with the hope that they would maintain that score until halftime. Normally, one might think that shouting at halftime would be enough, but I believe in the players and their potential to turn the game around. Although 45 minutes may seem short, it is enough time for a comeback. I also worked to boost the spirits of the players who were feeling down after conceding the second goal. In the second half, we played to win and played to win soccer. I think the players executed it well.

At around 2 minutes into the start, when we scored the first goal, I became confident that we could turn the game around, and I think the players' efforts led to the victory. Even in consecutive matches, if we have the support at home, we can run 1m or 2m, and I think that contributed to the victory. All the players are going towards the goal, and Tokyo, who plays a high-paced game with various movements and free runs, it was very good that we were able to sustain not only our technique but also our physical fitness and win the game in the middle of the week.

Defending Tokyo's attack requires both physical stamina and mental effort, and I am satisfied that the players were able to maintain their power and play such good soccer in the second half without getting tired. I hope we can continue this and make further improvements."