"Direct confrontation" with G Osaka, supported by home

Facing Gamba Osaka in the 7th round of the 2nd stage. We will confront them at home, Ajinomoto Stadium. In the previous round, we struggled against Kofu's solid defense, but we managed to secure a victory by attacking from the sides with stable passing and scoring a goal by Takahashi. At the same time, we kept a clean sheet and achieved consecutive wins. This is a crucial match where we aim for victory in a new battle, building on the confidence and momentum we have gained, with the goal of achieving a 3rd consecutive win.

However, Higashi is absent from this match due to an ankle injury. The team is still struggling with a series of injuries, but Kono will be starting as an attacking midfielder. The defensive line remains the same as the previous match. In the midfield, Takahashi will be the anchor, with Yonemoto and Hanyu as the inside halves. Nathan BURNS and Maeda will form the front two in a 4-3-3 formation.

G Osaka's 2nd stage is currently in 8th place with 9 points. The point difference with Tokyo is only 1, and the annual ranking is 4 points behind. In the last 4 matches, they have won 1 and drawn 3, with FW Usami leading the team along with GK Higashiguchi, DF Fujiharu, DF Niwa, DF Yonekura, and MF Kurata, who have produced many Japanese national team players. In this match, all 6 of them will start, with FW Patric leading the front line, MF Kurata in the attacking midfield, FW Usami on the left side, and MF Abe on the right. Including MF Endo and MF Konno, they are a team with the power of the top class in the J-League.

It is expected to be a difficult battle, but the home game against G Osaka has never been defeated in 11 games since 2002, and it is also a chance to push G Osaka away. It is a match that tests the overall strength of the team, but we want to show perseverance and use all our strength, and respond without being shaken by accidents. It started raining like a shower before the game, but with the support of 37,978 people, we aim for victory in a united battle.

The rain intensified and the humidity became more intense, and the match started with a kickoff in Tokyo at 18:04.

Showed a passionate battle in both offense and defense, and took the lead with Yonemoto's first goal of the season!

Showed a spirited fight from the beginning and launched quick attacks. In the 2nd minute, Matsuda changed the side from the left of their own field and sent a long ground ball to the central space in the front line. Nathan BURNS was running in response to it, but narrowly missed and was caught by the opponent GK. Gamba Osaka also had a high awareness of shooting, and in the 4th and 5th minutes, FW Usami consecutively took shots from the middle. However, they responded calmly without panicking. They stole the ball with organized pressing and turned it into an attack. They obtained consecutive set-piece chances after the 10th minute. In the 13th minute, a FK near the left area. Matsuda played it short, and Morishige took a shot with no spin, but it was saved by the Gamba Osaka GK at the last moment, resulting in a CK.

Gradually, G Osaka's ball possession was increasing, but in the 15th minute, Matsuda cleared the opponent's ball in their own half. Nathan Burns created space on the right side and connected with Hayashi in front. Hayashi quickly passed the ball to the space on the right front line. Nathan Burns caught up with it, dribbled past the G Osaka defender, cut back, and passed through the opponent's defense to the center of the area. Yonemoto, who had run into the goal area, neatly finished with his right foot, GOAL!! Tokyo also connected passes at a fast tempo, and Yonemoto scored his first goal of the season, taking the lead!

In the 19th minute, a pass from the right side of G Osaka to forward Usami in the center, who then connected with midfielder Endo, and passed it to forward Patrick on the right front line. Usami in the area took a shot after receiving a pass, but Enomoto made a save and it resulted in a corner kick. G Osaka had a few shots afterwards, but they didn't create any clear chances. On the other hand, in the 31st minute, Tokyo cut off the opponent's ball in a high position, and Maeda in the center passed it to Kono on the right. Kono took a well-aimed soft shot from near the right area, but it hit the bar. In additional time, Nathan Burns on the right front line received a decisive ground cross from Hayashi on the right side of the midfield and sent it to the goal. However, Maeda in the far position couldn't react in time. Although they couldn't capitalize on the chance for an additional goal, they maintained a one-goal lead and ended the first half.

Despite being equalized, a splendid counterattack was launched and Anton BURNS took the lead!

After halftime, Tokunaga is forced to make a substitution due to an accident. As a result, Yoshimoto is brought in as a center-back. Maruyama moves to the left full-back position to start the second half. However, in the 47th minute, G Osaka's forward Usami makes a long side change to the right side. This allows the overlapping right full-back Yonekura to be left unmarked, and he crosses the ball with a header. Forward Patrick, who ran towards the center of the goal, shoots in front of Morishige. He scores, resulting in a goal against us. We are equalized early in the second half.

Still, immediately aiming for a lead, in the 49th minute, Maeda on the left dribbled into the left area and brought the ball. The shot he took, avoiding the opponent's defender, was saved by the opponent's goalkeeper. He took another direct shot with the loose ball, but it missed the target. In the 51st minute, Mita was substituted for Kono. Tokyo changed their formation to a 4-4-2 with Mita and Hanyu as side midfielders. Tokyo, gaining momentum, immediately had Mita on the left area boldly aiming for a goal. Although it was blocked by the opponent's defender, Maruyama on the left side followed up on the loose ball and took a direct shot. However, he couldn't shake the net.

54 minutes, G Osaka's left side cut in by FW Usami's shot was saved by Enomoto. The ball that spilled into the right area was reacted by G Osaka FW Patrick, but Yoshimoto entered to cover with a sliding tackle. Both teams are attacking each other, aiming to take the lead. In the 58th minute, they intercepted a vertical pass in the opponent's center and launched a counterattack from their own territory. Morishige dropped the ball to Nathan Burns in front, and Yonemoto rushed towards the goal with a powerful dribble in the center. He attracted the opponent's DF and passed to Hayashi, who went up on the right. Maeda was running in front, attracting the opponent's DF in front of the goal, and Hayashi accurately assessed the situation and made a soft cross to the far side. Nathan Burns hit a diving header and GOAL!! A successful counterattack with excellent coordination resulted in taking the lead.

After that, the opponent made a counterattack by substituting MF Omori and FW Akamine in the 73rd minute, and FW Lins in the 84th minute. There were also scenes where they were pushed back, but Tokyo exerted concentration mainly on the defense and did not allow any goals. In the 86th minute, G Osaka's left SB Fujiharu attacked, but Matsuda escaped with a CK. From this left CK, a minus pass was given and a shot was taken by FW Usami in front of the left area, but Enomoto caught it in front. In the final stage, both teams became more fatigued and the game became prolonged, but Tokyo managed to withstand the counterattack by creating time in the front line. In additional time, Morishige was judged to have held down G Osaka's DF Iwashita with a foul, giving a FK just before the left area, and G Osaka's MF Endo directly aimed for it but missed the frame to the upper right, avoiding a pinch, and the time was up. They achieved victory with perseverance and utilizing individual characteristics, extending their unbeaten record against G Osaka at home to 12 games, while also achieving a 3-game winning streak.

[Player Comments]
"Nathan Burns"
"I was able to make my first start at home and I was really into it. Personally, I thought the match against G Osaka was a "big game". I'm really happy that I was able to contribute with assists and goals in a match like this, and above all, I'm really happy about the team's victory. My tactical understanding and our teamwork have been improving as time goes by. In that process, we were able to take the lead, and regarding the second goal, Yonehara carried the ball vertically and Hayashi sent me a good ball. It's also challenging to go into the penalty box because I have to defend, but as a striker, I was able to properly connect and score today."

《Yone Moto》
"I absolutely wanted to win at home. We were able to grasp victory and I think we were able to demonstrate our team's strength."
(About scoring)
I saw it as a challenge to increase the opportunities to go forward and have been conscious of it in my daily life. I also wanted to score a goal soon. The second goal was also scored from a powerful counterattack, and we were able to score a goal with good coordination that matched everyone's image. I want to continue playing like today and win more consecutive games."

[Summary of Massimo FICCADENTI's press conference]
"We were able to play as planned while connecting the ball firmly behind. I don't think there were any particularly dangerous scenes in the first half. After the score became tied, there were many scenes where the front line was isolated, so we changed to a 4-4-2 formation. It was a risk, but we were able to respond properly. It has been about 1 year and 8 months since I came to Tokyo, but I want to praise the players who have made significant improvements in every aspect. I am happy that over 37,000 people came to the stadium today. We play for them, and we cannot play in an empty stadium. They devote their passion and contribute to the team's momentum."
(Was the counter for the winning goal as planned?)
I think many players rushed up to the front line, and there I saw the team's spirit. It was a perfect counter with Yonemoto's pass, Hanyu's cross, Maeda's decoy movement, and Nathan Burns' goal. We were able to execute this kind of counter attack several times since the previous match, but regardless of whether we scored or not, I think it is worth evaluating the team's spirit that was visible in such scenes.
(Nathan BURNS has adapted quite well to the team, hasn't he?)
After joining for a month and a half, he has been making efforts to understand the team's desired movements and gradually fitting in. What he is conveying to the players is to defend as 11 and attack as 11. It doesn't mean everyone should push forward into the area, but rather to participate in the attack. I am satisfied with Nathan BURNS' play and I think he will improve even more with continued training."

[G Osaka Manager Kenta HASEGAWA Press Conference Summary]
"We lost as we were supposed to lose. There were moments when we lost concentration and conceded goals, and we couldn't capitalize on the chances after equalizing. The risk management for Tokyo's weapon, the counterattack, was weak. In the scene of conceding the goal, both defensive midfielders pushed forward, and the risk management of both fullbacks was also weak. If we lose after doing what we should do, there's no help for it, but we were defeated in an area that we assumed we wouldn't be. That's where the weakness is showing. There are 10 more league matches left, but we want to switch gears properly. There are also areas where we have improved, so we will continue to pursue the ability to finish chances."
(What is your impression of Tokyo without Muto, who has been absent since the opening match?)
I felt that Maeda's post-play was effective and served as the starting point of the attack. Tokyo players had a quick start and effectively pressed. Nathan BURNS has also become accustomed to Japanese soccer, and there were several scenes where he was beaten by his dribbling."