A crucial match that we want to win by advancing at our own pace

Entering the 33rd section of the league, we faced Ventforet Kofu away. In the previous section, we took the lead but were pushed back by Niigata and suffered our first comeback loss of the season. Coach Massimo reflects, "We have often been pointed out for motivation and mental issues, but we can't blame it all on that. We need to review everything, including physical, technical, and tactical aspects." Still, he continues, "We have a responsibility to respond to the support of so many fans and supporters who came to see us. We must show on the pitch what we ourselves want and where we are heading." And so, we headed towards this week's training.

In place of Takahashi, who is suspended due to accumulated warnings, Kajiyama will start as the anchor for the first time this season. This will be his first appearance since the Sendai match on October 5th. In addition, Higashi will be deployed in the midfield and Nakajima will be in the front line. Nozawa will be on the bench, and they will approach the game with a new combination.

Kofu, who is currently in 13th place, has 39 points. After 2 draws, they achieved 3 consecutive wins and secured their place in J1 next season. They eliminate space with patient defense and have a low shot rate against. MF Mizuno is starting in the lineup, playing on the side. DF Hatao is on the bench. They want to suppress the sharp attacks starting from the side by FW Ishihara, Abe, Morita, and advance to victory in their own rhythm.

At the same time, Tokyo has been conceding goals in the last 6 matches, so it will be important to take care of counterattacks initiated by Kofu FW Ishihara and Takuma ABE and how thoroughly we can do it. We want to maintain the compactness of our formation, prolong our own time, and respond to the situation.

In the morning, there was heavy rain, but it cleared up at Yamanashi Chuginkan Stadium. Despite this time of year, the cold weather is not too harsh. The match started with Kofu's kickoff at 17:04.

Unable to create effective chances... Go into halftime with a scoreless draw

3 minutes into the game. There was a battle for the ball, but Morishige fouled Kofu FW Morita who was trying to receive a long ball. A free kick is given from just outside the right area. From here, MF Mizuno takes a direct shot, but it is blocked by the Tokyo DF wall. From this momentum, we were pushed back into our own half and attacked on the left side by Tokyo, but Kajiyama and then Kono covered well and prevented Kofu's side attack as planned.

In the 11th minute, DF Morishige → Ota's horizontal pass was cut off by the Kofu FW Ishihara, who broke into the area. Ota turned back and lifted a right cross, and FW Abe Takuma calmly made a direct pass to the center. MF Marquinhos Parana, who had advanced in attack, took a shot, but it went over the bar and avoided danger.

At the 15-minute mark... we entered the game firmly, and in the early stages, there was a back-and-forth of pressing, but small mistakes and gaps began to appear, and during this time, Kofu's dominance slightly surpassed. At the same time, Kofu's midfielders, Takumi ABE and Mizuno, were unable to launch effective attacks against the 5-back defense line.

27 minutes, Kofu's right MF Mizuno cuts back Ota and brings it inside with a precise cross. FW Morita jumps in at the far post, just inches away, and Yoshimoto was facing him, but he persistently shoots a header. However, it narrowly misses to the left and no harm is done. Immediately after, the ball is stolen in midfield and quickly sent to Kofu's front line. If FW Ishihara had escaped in front of the goal, it would have been a decisive pinch, but Yonemoto slides back with all his might! Escaping with a throw-in.

After that, gradually Tokyo also connected passes and created opportunities, but on the contrary, they suffered counterattacks from mistakes, wide developments, and set plays, and were brought to scoring opportunities. They were helped by Kofu's missed shots, but the number of chances was overwhelmingly in favor of Kofu.

In the first half, thanks in part to Kofu's lack of precision, they did not concede any goals, but they allowed many chances from speedy ball movement and crosses. On the other hand, Tokyo tried to connect passes and create time, but they couldn't synchronize their timing and ended up making mistakes. Despite Kofu's defensive strategy of pulling back and closing spaces in their own half, Tokyo was unable to create any effective opportunities and the first half ended.

The concentration in defense never wavered, but the game ended with no goals...

Entering the second half, 49 minutes. Kofu FW Ishihara uses his speed and allows a breakthrough to the right front line. The cross to the center is not passed to FW Morita, and Kajiyama cuts it off. On the contrary, Tokyo also brings it to a counterattack, and finally, a pass is made to Nakajima who went up the right side, but Kofu DF quickly returns and surrounds him, blocking the shot.

In the 54th minute, Kofu's left area FW Ishihara cut back against Yoshimoto and advanced. FW Abe Takuma cut inside and received a direct pass, making a last pass to FW Morita in the far area. Kofu's front line of three players created a decisive opportunity, but in the end, the timing was slightly off and Tokyo escaped the danger... In the 55th minute, Kofu substituted FW Cristiano for FW Morita.

In the second half, they started with momentum and tried to approach the Kofu goal, but couldn't break through. As time passed, there were more opportunities for Kofu to launch aggressive attacks. In the 61st minute, Watanabe replaced Nakajima. Furthermore, in the 66th minute, Hayashi was substituted for Higashi and sent onto the pitch.

68 minutes, from the flow of a left throw-in, Yonemoto and Kono in front of the area persistently pick up the loose ball and connect it finely, and finally Ota crosses from the left. The ball flowed to the far side without being touched by the jumping Kofu GK Ogi, but it grazed Watanabe and crossed the line, Kofu ball...

In the 75th minute, the ball was stolen while attacking, and Tokyo was unable to stop Kofu's counterattack. Kofu FW Cristiano broke free on the right front line... Yoshimoto chased after him and made a sliding tackle in the penalty area! It escaped as a corner kick!! After that, Tokyo gradually started to possess the ball and began to push Kofu back as spaces opened up. However, Kofu's concentration and quick transitions remained consistent. The flow of the game was back and forth.

In the 79th minute, Nozawa replaced Kono! Kajiyama and the defensive midfielder formed a lineup with Yonehara and Hanyu on both sides. In the 84th minute, Cristiano, the forward on the left side of Kofu, passed behind the defender. Abe Takuma broke through to the left area and crossed it back to the center. The ball crossed in front of the goal and flowed to the right area, where it was pressed by Kofu forward Ishihara and a shot was taken, but Gonda made a save. Unable to intercept the ball against Kofu's wide development, they were shaken and pushed in. Nevertheless, the final line, with Yoshimoto at the center, defended with their bodies.

In the second half, we gradually tried to possess the ball and aim for the goal, but we couldn't bring it to a shot until the end in front of Kofu's solid defense. The concentration in defense did not waver, but we couldn't score. This season's match against Kofu ended in a draw both at home and away.

[Player Comments]
《Kajiyama》
"Kofu was our final home game, and we knew they would come to fight. We also played with determination. However, we couldn't secure the victory."
（It was my first start of the season, but?)
After recovering from a major injury, I had a few muscle strains. However, I have been able to practice well recently. With Takahashi's suspension and the chance coming today, I was thinking of giving my all to what I have been working on. The team tactics have not changed, so I wanted to contribute by playing as much as I could there. I think I was able to defend firmly as planned, but when it comes to scoring, I still felt that it would be difficult without taking some risks at the end. Even if I lost the ball in the front line, I wish I could have played more boldly. Today, many fans and supporters came, and I definitely want to win the next game in response to their support throughout the year. We all want to go for 3 points."

《Yoshimoto》
"I had more time with the ball and there were times when I could showcase what I had been practicing. We were able to keep the goals against to zero in defense, but Kofu's defense was also solid and we couldn't break through. It would have been great if we could have all gone for goals and won with a strong 1 point... In terms of scoring, we also needed to build up from the back. I have regrets that I couldn't contribute in that sense."
（What about the sliding tackle on Cristiano, the forward for Kofu?）
I was confident that I could get the ball, so I slid. I don't think it was a special play because it's my job. We made adjustments and regrouped from the previous match, and there were times when we were able to play our own soccer, but next time, I want to play a game that is recognized by others and win."

[Summary of Massimo FICCADENTI's press conference]
"Kofu tried to eliminate spaces and counterattack. In the second half, there were times when the opponent took control, but we also saw many scenes where we eliminated the opponent's strengths and carried the ball to the attacking zone with possession. We lacked the quality in the last 20 meters towards the goal, such as one-twos or dribbling to cut in. Nakajima started today, and I am very satisfied with him. He is an interesting player. Also, I am happy that Kajiyama has returned because he allows us to circulate the ball. I don't think there is any easy game. Even looking at the results of other matches today, it was not something that could be predicted."

[Kofu - Hiroshi JOFUKU Coach's Press Conference Summary]
"Although I was a little out of today's game, three years ago I played against C Osaka in the spring camp and suffered a 5-0 defeat in a game that was like playing against adults and children. Two years ago, when I played against Tokyo, it was a game where I couldn't win even after playing 10 times. Today, we were able to have a game that made me want to play again. I am really happy to see their growth, and because we have built something together, I strongly wanted to get 3 points today. However, we ended up with only 1 point, so of course there is reflection, but today's game was about getting results as proof of their growth, regardless of whether there was a ceremony or not."