Aiming for 4 consecutive victories based on stable defense!

In the 19th section of the league, we will face Cerezo Osaka away. In the previous section, we scored 4 goals and achieved our first 3 consecutive wins of the season. Not only do we want to maintain this momentum, but the players also have a strong desire to "improve even more than now" (Yoshimoto). Yoshimoto continues, "In the previous section, there were moments when we were countered after scoring 4 goals. We want to make adjustments and improvements in those details," and we will approach this section while further enhancing the team's maturity.

However, Tokyo avoided playing with injured Hayu. Higashi started for the first time since the 13th round against Tokushima in the league. Ishikawa also made the list for the first time since the April 2nd Nabisco Cup match against Sendai. Coach Massimo said, "First of all, we want to continue with an organized defense that doesn't give the opponent space, and aim for four consecutive victories based on stable defense."

Cerezo Osaka, who are currently in 16th place with 18 points, will face Ariajasuru HASEGAWA as their new coach in June, while FW Yoichiro KAKITANI has transferred to Switzerland's FC Basel. After the league resumed, they have had 2 draws and 3 losses without a victory, so it can be said that they are struggling. In this match, MF Ariajasuru HASEGAWA will make his first start after the league resumed. On the team sheet, it appears to be a 4-3-3 formation, but they will approach the game with a double pivot of MF Yamaguchi and HASEGAWA, FW Minamino as the attacking midfielder, and FW Sugimoto and MF Kusunoki on the wings.

The typhoon, which seemed to have settled down for now, started just before the match and heavy winds and rain began to fall. However, although there is humidity, the temperature is not particularly high. Above all, it is a match where C Osaka, aiming for their first victory in 8 matches at home, will strive to take 3 points without being passive.

The match started with Cerezo Osaka's kickoff at 19:04.

DF line concentrates on defense, and it's scoreless going into the second half

First, in the opening 3 minutes, Tokyo's Muto, who received a left throw-in, was brought down while trying to move forward, resulting in a FK from just outside the left area. Yamamoto took this FK with a strong kick, aiming towards the goal, but it was blocked by the opposing GK.

After that, the attack and defense continued to go back and forth, and in the 14th minute, Tokyo launched an attack. Edu, who had broken through on the right front line, passed the ball back, and East tried to make a move, but at this point, Cerezo Osaka counterattacked and stole the ball. They couldn't stop MF Kusukami's dribble, and from the pass exchange in the front line, FW Sugimoto, who had moved from the right to the center, took a shooting position. It was blocked, but the loose ball was connected, and FW Forlan in the left area in front of the goal evaded the Tokyo DF and took a shot. It narrowly missed the top of the bar.

In the 18th minute, Yonemoto from the opponent's team made a powerful left-footed shot. It hit the right post after being touched by the opponent's GK. Kawano tried to follow up on the rebound, but it was cleared for a corner kick.

20 minutes have passed, and Tokyo has tried to break the situation several times from the middle, but they couldn't create a coordinated attacking shape, possibly due to the influence of the wind.
The game developed into a situation where Cerezo Osaka's counterattack was intercepted in the middle. However, the defense line was able to withstand the pressure. As time passed without creating clear scoring opportunities. Edu and Kono created a rhythm of attack in the front line, but Cerezo Osaka had the upper hand in ball possession and momentum. Nevertheless, they did not allow any goals with their persistent defense.

In the 39th minute, Muto dribbled a long distance. He advanced to the right area and passed it further to the east on the outside. To the far side, Kono returned the ball on the ground, but... it was off target and Cerezo Osaka escaped with a corner kick... In the following 43rd minute, Edu pushed forward on the left front line and passed the ball back. Kono let it through and Ota crossed it directly. However, it did not reach the east side of the right area.

In the early stages, we struggled to create attacking opportunities, but Yonemoto played a key role and gradually Edu, Kawano, and others found their rhythm. However, Cerezo Osaka also had good coordination between their midfielders Kusunoki and forwards Minamino and Sugimoto, and there were a few moments where we were pushed back. But our defense remained focused and held strong, and the score remained 0-0 going into the second half.

Putting their body on the line until the end, not allowing any goals

In the second half, both teams lacked a decisive touch. In the 62nd minute, Cerezo Osaka's passing and coordination allowed MF Takahiro HASEGAWA to enter the left corner area, but Tokyo intercepted the negative pass sent to the center. Edu on the left front line tried to make a final pass to Muto who had moved up in the center, but it was narrowly avoided and resulted in a corner kick.

Immediately after the 63rd minute, Ota's left CK. Near Takahashi rushed in where it fell sharply and headed, but it was only slightly touched and remained with another left CK. Tokyo has been taking good care of the opponent's counterattack in defense after 65 minutes have passed, but the position of the steal is too low and they have been unable to effectively connect to the front line.

70 minutes, Cerezo Osaka took the ball from their own half and FW Sugimoto on the right side took a shot, but Gonda caught it in front. In the 75th minute, Mita replaced Kono and stayed as the attacking midfielder. In the 79th minute, Edu on the right side accurately assessed the situation and sent a ball to change the side to Muto on the left front line, but Muto failed to control the ball and missed the chance.

80 minutes have passed. The ball is not being connected in the front, and gradually being pushed back. We want to calmly read the flow and avoid conceding a goal. Immediately after that, Cerezo Osaka FW Minamino dribbles a long distance from the midfield. He brings it to the right area and gets into a shooting position, but Morishige calmly responds. He stretches his leg and blocks it. In the 82nd minute, Cerezo Osaka quickly connects from the right side, and MF Kim in the center faces forward and unleashes a high-precision shot with speed, but it just goes over the bar.

83 minutes, Hirayama is substituted for Edu. 85 minutes, FK from the left area outside the opponent's field, near the touchline. From Ota's kick, Hirayama jumped in front of the goal but couldn't finish the header, and the ball floated to the GK.

In the 89th minute, C Osaka broke through the Tokyo DF's defense on the right side, and N. Nagai was about to create a decisive opportunity by facing forward... but the Tokyo DF threw themselves and cleared the ball, avoiding danger. Mita connected from this clearance and received a foul in the midfield, but played on. Hirayama tried to break through the front line. Hirayama was surrounded by the opposing DF, but Mita, who followed fiercely from behind, headed the ball forward. He passed it to Muto in the right area... but at the last moment, he was blocked and couldn't finish the play...

In the latter half, C Osaka's aggressive attack pushed us back. However, we did not allow any goals. We tried to score from a counterattack, but both teams defended well until the end and did not allow any goals. The game ended in a scoreless draw, and we only managed to earn 1 point away from home.

[Player Comments]
《Morishige》
"After playing, I felt that C Osaka is a high-quality opponent. Although they are ranked lower, the level of each individual is top class. I think it's natural that we struggled. However, I think we can be confident that we were able to keep such opponents from scoring. Instead of just looking at the superficial aspect of "drawing against a lower-ranked opponent," being able to defend well against a good team gives us confidence. Of course, there were also areas for improvement. However, that happens in every game. We want to reflect on it properly and make corrections, and move on to the next game."

"Our defensive approach often starts from the front, so it was difficult to maintain an attacking mindset. I think it was tough for the forward players. However, we were able to launch a few counterattacks. The team became a bit too defensive overall. We need to make some adjustments and try to be more proactive in our attacks."

[Summary of Coach Massimo FICCADENTI's Press Conference]
"It was a very difficult game under special weather and ground conditions. The team was able to create chances and did not allow the opponents to play as they wanted, which was fantastic. The dedication and team spirit were particularly good. I think Cerezo Osaka, the opponent, is going through a difficult period now, but they are a team with great quality. It is highly commendable that we fought until the end against such opponents. I believe that this kind of battle always leads to the growth of the players, so I think they did really well today."

[C Osaka Marco PEZZAIUOLI Coach Press Conference]
"We are in the relegation zone, but today we played against a top team. However, as you all saw, the difference in rankings was not felt during the game. Tokyo had scoring opportunities in the first half, but we also had 4 or 5 close chances. The team fought compactly throughout the 90 minutes and did not give the opponent many chances. However, we were unlucky and couldn't score a goal. I think the team worked well for the full 90 minutes, but we couldn't capitalize on the chances we had."