The final away game of the season, aiming for victory against Kashiwa

League Sec. 33 faced Kashiwa Reysol away. Tokyo struggled against Shonan's momentum and determination in the previous match, but with goals from Hyun Soo JANG and Nemanja VUCICEVIC, they achieved a comeback victory. With this win after 3 games, they maintain 7th place. There is regret in not being able to decisively convert scoring opportunities and conceding goals, but they will gradually make adjustments and aim for consecutive victories. Coach Ranko POPOVIC said, "We had a great victory against Kashiwa in March, but time has passed since then. We must show a higher quality and further growth than that match," and they will strive for victory with all their might.

Kashiwa, who faced Nagoya in the previous match, conceded a goal in stoppage time in the second half and lost 2-3, dropping to 12th place. They have not won in the last three matches, but in this home final match, they will aim for their first victory in four matches and play aggressively. Also, they need to be careful of Kudo's scoring ability, who has recorded 18 goals, tied for 3rd place in the goal ranking. Despite suffering from injuries to players like MF Leandro Domingues in the previous match, they should show determination and fighting spirit.

The cumulative record of league matches is 9 wins, 3 draws, and 9 losses, making it even. The key point is the battle on both sides. Both teams want to maintain a high position on the side and take advantage of the game from the defensive coordination. As the sun sets and it gets colder, the match started at 17:03 with a kickoff in Tokyo at the Hitachi Kashiwa Soccer Stadium.

Just before the end of the first half, we conceded multiple goals, just as Kashiwa had planned...

From the start, Tokyo passes the ball rhythmically and launches attacks. Tokyo takes the first shot. In the 4th minute, Ota crosses the ball to the center from a free kick obtained on the left side, but Mita, who picked up the clearance, fails to hit the target with a bold attempt. Tokyo continues to press forward and in the 6th minute, Hasegawa switches the play to Ota on the left side. Ota advances to a high position and tries to find Lucas in the penalty area, but it doesn't result in a goal.

The game progresses at a Tokyo pace, but in the 17th minute, they receive a counterattack from Kashiwa. Tokyo tries to hold back in their own half, but the game continues despite a foul-like play, and the ball is quickly sent to the left front line, where a free cross is made. In the end, Morishige calmly handles it and escapes with a corner kick, defending well. However, in the 38th minute, a cross from the right side hits Hasegawa's hand in the penalty area, resulting in a handball decision. Kashiwa's forward Tanaka converts this penalty kick and takes the lead. Immediately after conceding the goal, in the 42nd minute, Tokyo's Hasegawa steals a misplaced pass from the opponent's midfielder and quickly passes it to forward Watanabe. He tries to break through, but is fouled, earning a free kick from just outside the left area. Ota takes a direct shot at goal, but the shot bounces in front of the goalkeeper and slightly curves to the right.

At the end of the first half, which seemed to be ending as it is, in the first half stoppage time. Kashiwa FW Kudo pressed against Jang Hyun Soo, who tried to move up from the DF line. Both players fell in a tangled manner as they were approached from behind, but this was judged as a foul by Jang Hyun Soo and another penalty kick was given. Kashiwa FW Tanaka scored this penalty kick again and extended the lead, ending the first half.

Never give up until the end and launch a counterattack, but Ishikawa's retaliation is not enough...

In the second half, Takahashi was substituted for Mita. Takahashi was placed as a center back and faced the counterattack in a 3-back formation. However, in the 46th minute, Kashiwa threw a long ball from their own half to the right front line. Takahashi responded to it and passed it back to Gonda. He tried to clear it directly, but it ended up going to Kudo, the Kashiwa forward right in front of him, and he smoothly put it into the empty goal, resulting in the third goal being conceded. It became a difficult situation where an additional goal was allowed to the opponent due to a mistake.

Tokyo, who continue to attack without giving up, launched an exquisite lofted pass to Lucas, who had run behind the defense line, in the 52nd minute. However, he was brought down by the opponent's defender and won a free kick in the center of the area. Ota aimed for this free kick, but it hit the right post and couldn't score. In the 58th minute, Ishikawa was substituted for Watanabe. Tokyo strengthened their offensive by placing Lucas at the top. In the 61st minute, Hasegawa made a vertical pass to Lucas in the center of the area. He touched it forward with one touch, allowing Azuma to break through, but the timing was slightly off and he couldn't finish it.

Tokyo, who continued to attack, made a floating pass to the front line in the 83rd minute, and Yonemoto followed it. Ishikawa broke free and touched the ball before the opponent's goalkeeper who had come out in front, scoring a goal despite the collision. Tokyo continued to take risks and attack, but immediately after, Kashiwa's defender Yamazaki broke through the side and allowed forward Tanaka to score a spectacular volley, completing a hat-trick. In the end, the game ended without any changes. Tokyo suffered a heavy defeat this season with the largest point difference.



[Player Comments]
《Ariajasuru HASEGAWA》
"Until we conceded a goal, I think both teams were playing well. We were able to showcase what we have been working on and create a good momentum from the start. It was painful to concede a goal at that point. My handball was careless and unnecessary. Still, if we could have ended the first half with a score of 0-1... there is also a feeling of regret. We ended up conceding goals in a disappointing manner."

"Naohiro ISHIKAWA"
"There are various games and flows throughout the season, but I'm really disappointed that we couldn't produce results today. Since it was a shadow play, I tried to create chances closer to the goal than usual. I was also conscious of breaking through behind the scenes and playing near Lucas. I think I was able to calmly negotiate with Kashiwa's final line and draw out the ball for the goal. The pass from player Yonemoto was also good. Next, I want to show the determination that Tokyo has built up at Ajinomoto Stadium."


[Coach Popovich's Press Conference Summary]
"I think it was a very bitter game. However, the team performed well from the start, and I think we were able to control the game against Reysol and play our style. The result ended up like this, but our players gave their all on the pitch until the end, and I want to say they did well. (What was the turning point in the match?) I don't want to say anything about the turning point of the match here. All I can say is that our players gave their all until the end. They showed what they have done on the pitch. I think I have done what I can in the part that I can influence. The rest, please watch the game today and write about it."


[Summary of Kashiwa NELSINHO's press conference]
"I think it was a game where we built up step by step from the beginning to grab the victory today. Thanks to the players who continued to respond firmly to the opponent's high-quality fluid attackers in defense and actively challenged the ball for 90 minutes without being broken, we were able to execute effective counterattacks as planned. In possession, we moved the ball from side to side to move and lure the opponent, creating space and then launching attacks. I think Reysol's play was the trigger for scoring two goals from penalties. After that, we took advantage of the advantage of two goals and continued to play solidly without changing what we were doing until the end. I think we were able to play a very high-quality game."