Change the team composition and aim for 3 points away!

The previous match against Kawasaki was a bitter defeat. We couldn't achieve our first victory of the season, and it's undeniable that the team's situation is difficult. In order to change this momentum, a victory is definitely required. The players calmly analyze the match against Kawasaki, saying, "The factor was conceding a goal from a mistake, but after conceding the first goal, we fell apart ourselves." Coach Massimo also reflects, "It becomes difficult to win if something is missing, such as the way the team plays, running, the intensity of the ball, and not making mistakes... So we must not forget our priorities." In order to correct these things, it becomes important for each individual to return to the essence of soccer, such as the intensity of the ball and running, and demonstrate a fighting spirit. We consider how to fight during the time when things are not going well for the team as a challenge, and we approach this match by raising the common awareness on the pitch.

Tokyo appoints Yoshimoto as CB. They also change the composition of the forward line and midfield, with Nozawa as the anchor. Yonemoto and Mita are the inside halves.
And the front line consists of Edu and Muto as the two top players. They will face the game with Kawano playing as an attacking midfielder. It should be noted that there are five youth academy graduates in the starting lineup.

On the other hand, Shimizu is currently in 15th place with 4 points. Since their victory in the opening match against Nagoya, Shimizu has suffered 2 losses and 1 draw, indicating that they have not been able to fully demonstrate their true strength. However, Coach Massimo describes Shimizu as having aggressiveness and being well-organized with high individual abilities. This season, they will launch attacks utilizing the height of FW Nagasawa as the top, with new addition FW Novakovic as the center axis, and the speed and breakthrough power of FW Omae, DF Ishige, and FW Takagi. It seems that they have been experimenting with the midfield composition so far, but MF Ryohei and Takeuchi have emerged. At the same time, MF Honda and DF Ikeda, who have been dealing with injuries, are gradually improving their condition, and if they are all available, they will boast a deep player roster.

In response to this, Tokyo should be in trouble if they allow the away team to take the lead. Against Shimizu's attacking lineup with height and speed, they want to prevent conceding goals by clearly defining the combination and roles of Morishige and Yoshimoto, and fight tenaciously as a team. They aim to overcome Shimizu's powerful attack, make the most of their chances, and strive to secure 3 points away from home.

Despite the strong wind, the match started at 15:05 with Tokyo's kickoff at Nihonbashi, where the spring weather is pleasant.

Despite conceding the first goal, Kawano scored just before the end of the first half, making it 1-1 at halftime.

The match started with 5 minutes, and there were scenes where the passes did not connect due to the strong wind. In the midst of that, the pass from Yonemoto to Nozawa in their own half did not come together. MoriShige tried to make the ball his own in the area, but was fiercely pressed from behind by Shimizu FW Omae... The ball that spilled behind MoriShige was stabbed by Shimizu FW Nagasawa, and they already conceded the first goal.

15 minutes have passed. We struggled with the start of the game and conceded an early goal. However, we are not giving up and trying to regroup. Muto, who drifted to the right side, creates space and connects with Kawano, who broke through behind the defense. Kawano dribbles into a high position on the right area and sends a decisive final pass to Edu, who is waiting in the far area... but the ball flowed in the wrong direction and didn't connect... After that, the game has been back and forth.

At the 24th minute, Yonemoto was fouled and a free kick was awarded from the right side. Ota sent the ball forward, but all high balls were cleared. From here, Shimizu launched a powerful counterattack, with Omae on the right side passing to Takagi in the center, who was left unmarked... but his trap was off and Ota persistently prevented him from finishing. In the 25th minute, Tokyo quickly switched play from Mita's pass, and Muto made a run into the left area. With no angle for a shot, Mita made a run to intercept between Muto and the right-sided Edu, and made the final pass there. Mita attempted a shot, but it was blocked by the Shimizu DF...

30 minutes have passed and both teams are making speedy attacks despite some mistakes. Tokyo is creating decisive opportunities through players like Muto and Kohno, but they are unable to capitalize on them. At the 40th minute, intense play continues and the pitch is becoming rough. In the midst of this, it appeared that Yonemoto in Tokyo's own half was fouled, but play continues. Tokyo is caught off guard during a momentary pause and Shimizu connects, with DF Yoshida being left free on the right area. A shot is taken from here, but it is saved by Gonda.

The equalizing goal came in the 44th minute. Mutoh, just outside the right area, took a powerful shot. It was blocked by Shimizu's goalkeeper with one hand, but Kawano, in the middle area in front, followed up with a shot. The ball rolled into the bottom right corner, slipping through the opponent's defense and the goalkeeper's side, and it's a goal!! Tokyo conceded an early goal, but both teams launched fast attacks and the game became intense. Shimizu also created chances, but Tokyo counterattacked through Mita, Mutoh, and others. Just before the end of the first half, Kawano scored to level the game and set up for a decisive second half.

The team came together and achieved their first victory in the league!

In the second half, at the 49th minute, Edu committed a foul in the midfield due to excessive force and gave a free kick to Shimizu. Shimizu fed the ball into the area. Ota, who was competing for a long ball, received a handball foul decision... and Shimizu was awarded a penalty kick. MoriShige, who protested against this decision, received a warning for dissent, his fourth overall. He will be suspended for the next match. However, Shimizu's forward, Omae, took the penalty kick to the left, but Gonda made a magnificent save!!! With this big save, the game is in Tokyo's favor.

In the 57th minute, Muto received a strong foul slightly to the right inside the opponent's territory and won a free kick. From here, Ota sent a kick to the front line, and Morishige jumped in perfectly and headed the ball with a high contact point! The ball floated a bit and found the net, successfully turning the game around. Leading 2-1.

60 minutes have passed, and Gonda's great play saves us from a decisive pinch in the second half. Morishige takes advantage of a set piece opportunity and successfully takes the lead. The game continued with both teams attacking each other. In the 64th minute, Shimizu substitutes Takeuchi, the defensive midfielder, with Takagi Yoshiaki as the right midfielder. They strengthen their attacking line and start a counterattack.

In the 72nd minute, Tōkyō substituted in Edu for Kōno, who scored a valuable equalizing goal, and placed him as an inside half. Mita then moved to the attacking midfielder position. Furthermore, in the 75th minute, Hirayama replaced Edu, who had played with abundant energy both in attack and defense. After that, there were many interruptions in the flow of the game due to Shizuoka's counterattacks and intense plays, and it cannot be said that the rhythm was fully grasped. However, Tōkyō concentrated on defending against Shizuoka's attacks and aimed for additional goals.

In the 82nd minute, Yoshimoto bounced back the kick from the opponent's goalkeeper and made it my ball into the opponent's territory. From Higashi's pass, Muto broke through to the right front line and crossed to the center with a ground cross. It didn't reach Hirayama in front of the goal, but Yonemoto, who closed in from the far side, calmly shot the ball into the net on the opposite side, scoring an additional point. With this, it becomes 3-1.

Shimizu's PK at the start of the second half was saved by Gonda. After surviving the crisis, Morishige scored the go-ahead goal from a free kick. They continued to defend against the counterattack without losing focus, and in the final stages, Yonemoto scored the third goal to put Shimizu in the lead from the combination of Higashi and Muto. The team came together and achieved their first victory in the league!

[Player Comment]
《Gonda》
"Even though I stopped the penalty kick, it was still a tie. I know from our previous battles that just changing the flow is not enough. The important thing is the result. Today's victory was thanks to the field players who surpassed that. We conceded the first goal and couldn't settle down afterwards. Shimizu, who took the lead, also dropped back, so we should have been able to possess the ball and attract the rhythm. Not being able to create the rhythm there is a point of reflection. Yoshimoto bounced it back, picked up the second ball in the midfield, and Mita and Muto were running around. The individual efforts brought us the victory. But I think we could have easily attracted the victory as a team. I am sincerely happy about our first victory in the league, and it was great that five players from the youth team, including Shimizu, and six players in total (MF Ryohei = FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa alumni) were on the pitch and we were able to produce results. Many players have left the team after being promoted to the top, but I think it is also thanks to the people who have supported and valued the youth team that we were able to achieve these results. I think this is a step towards meeting those expectations."

《Yoshimoto》
"There are many points to reflect on, but I think it was good that we were able to fight together and achieve results. It was the first time I stood on the same pitch as Gonda. I realized that only after Gonda told me (laughs). It was tough today too, but Mita said, 'When it's tough, let's definitely do it as youth players.' I thought, 'He has grown' (laughs). We are all teammates, and I don't have the feeling of distinguishing ourselves from others by saying 'because we are youth players,' but of course, I thought to myself, 'I have to do it.' I tried my best to do what I could, and I kept talking from the beginning to the end. I wanted to create an atmosphere where everyone could discuss and unite their arrows. We conceded a goal early in the game, but I think we have become a team that can turn the game around no matter who is on the field. The Nabisco Cup is coming up soon, and I want to continue preparing myself. I think this is where I make my own challenge, and as a team, I want to keep winning and riding the momentum."

[Summary of Massimo FICCADENTI's press conference]
"I had the impression that the opponent was a very well-organized team, and that turned out to be true. After we conceded a goal, the situation became difficult, but the players' attitude was amazing, and they managed to equalize and turn the game around to a 1-1 draw. The players approached the game with a great feeling. It was very good that the players continued to maintain control by pressing the opponent and not allowing them to do what they wanted. In the first three games of the season, we had been giving away the flow of the game due to our own mistakes, and it had ended in disappointing results, so we had been waiting for a victory for a long time. I want to congratulate the players for their excellent play and celebrate this victory."

[Summary of Shimizu Afshin Ghotbi's Press Conference]
"I think the players brought energy to the game in a very good way. We were creating situations where we could have scored even though we were playing well. However, we conceded a goal on the counterattack and we could have gone into halftime with a lead. In the second half, there was a crucial period for us, including a penalty kick, but we missed the penalty and the momentum changed. The time when the opponent scored the equalizing goal and when we missed the penalty was the turning point of the game. The players lost concentration and the atmosphere in the stadium also changed."