The 2016 Meiji Yasuda J3 League, which started in March, is now entering its 24th round.

14th place with 5 wins, 7 draws, and 11 losses, totaling 22 points so far.
This week's opponent Y.S.C.C. Yokohama has 4 wins, 4 draws, 15 losses, with 16 points, ranking 16th.
In the previous match, we dominated the game but couldn't score and lost 0-1 from a counterattack resulting in a penalty kick.
Tokyo's starting eleven, who do not want to lose to the same opponent as their losing streak in the league, have chosen GK Stephen MARTIN.
The DF line consists of players from right to left: Yanagi, Hasunokawa, Okazaki, and Ogawa, with teenagers also lining up this match.
MF has NOZAWA and SUZUKI lined up in the defensive midfield position, and in the second row, from right to left, there are Mizunuma, Ikuchi, and KOBAYASHI. In the forward line, Insoo YU is included.
YS Yokohama also lines up in the same 4-5-1 formation as Tokyo, with FC Tokyo Academy graduate Moriyama standing in goal.
The temperature rose up to 31.9℃ and the kickoff of YS Yokohama started under strong sunshine.

[First Half]

Both teams showed a quiet start.
As time went on, Tokyo held onto the ball and pushed it into the YS Yokohama's territory, but they were unable to score.
YS Yokohama utilizes the space inside the Tokyo field simply and launches attacks through counters and short counters.
Tokyo's first chance came at the 3rd minute, YANAGI broke through the right side and put a cross from GRANDER into the near side. Insoo YU jumped in, but the defender blocked it.
In the following 4 minutes, Insoo YU shoots after a chance created by PACHAME, but the goalkeeper punches it.
In the 7th minute, when the ball is held in the center, Insoo YU runs behind the defense.
When connected to Mizunuma on the right side with this as a decoy, the cross is matched to Insoo on the far side, but the header shot is blocked.
Kobayashi aims for this loose ball with a jumping volley, but it hits the post and is absorbed by the goalkeeper's arms.
Although they continue to possess the ball, they are unable to make effective vertical passes and break down the opponent's defense.
YS Yokohama changed their system to 4-1-4-1 around the 10th minute, leaving one forward and forming a defensive block in their own half.
From there, they launch counters, but the Tokyo defense does not give the opponent a chance with aggressive interceptions and quick transitions between offense and defense.
Tokyo continues to break through the opposing defense, but time passes without being able to score.
30 minutes, Mizunuma who received the ball on the right side, crossed it to Insoo YU who jumped freely in front of the goal, but the header couldn't meet the ball.
Tokyo had 8 shots in the first half but failed to score, and the first half ended with a scoreless draw.
 

【Halftime】
Coach Nakamura's comment
"We are being aggressive."
Multiply the number of players against crosses. Also, be aware of reacting to loose balls.
To manage the risk during offensive plays in defense.
Let's continue working hard together.
 

【Second half】
The second half started with Tokyo's kickoff. Tokyo substituted Okanishi for Ogawa and positioned Yanagi on the left side and Okanishi as the right SB.
YS Yokohama aggressively attacked in the beginning, but around the 50th minute, Tokyo regained composure and started to dominate with strong defense.
Among them, Okaniwa and Mizunuma on the right side are actively starting to grasp the attacking rhythm.
Then they score the opening goal with an attack from that right side.
63 minutes, Okaniwa on the right side sends a vertical pass to Insoo YU, who immediately connects it to Mizunuma, who then delivers a sharp cross.
Insoo YU scores the opening goal with a soft cross to the center as the ball flows to the left side and is picked up by the defense.
Furthermore, in the 68th minute, as Tokyo gains momentum, Yanagi receives the ball in the central midfield, lifts his head, and sends a long pass to Insoo YU who has run behind the opponent's defensive line.
Insoo YU calmly finishes the one-on-one with the GK from the dribble to make it 2-0.
Tokyo, which continued to strengthen its offensive mainly on the right side, connected to Suzuki, who became free on the far side, with Mizunuma in the 69th minute and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot, but it hit the left side of the frame.
In the 74th minute, Okaniwa broke free on the right side and dribbled into the back of the field, surprising everyone with a shot aimed at the near post, but it went wide of the goal.
At the 79th minute, the cross from Mizunuma, who received the ball on the right side from Nozawa in the center, was deflected once, but Mizunuma picked up the loose ball again and launched a one-on-one attack vertically.
He wins this one-on-one and crosses it, but it doesn't connect inside.
At the 84th minute, YANAGI intercepted the ball in the center of their own half after a counterattack and passed it to YUINSU who took the ball on the right side.
He dribbles from the side and connects with Hiraoka, who entered from the left side.
Hiraoka cuts in and takes a shot, but it is blocked by the defender.
Despite not being able to score a third goal, the Tokyo defense remained focused until the end of the game.
Won the 6th victory with a score of 2-0.

Thank you very much for your passionate support for FC Tokyo U-23.
Thank you for your continued warm support.

[Summary and Comments from Coach Nakamura's Press Conference]
First of all, I would like to express my gratitude for the many supporters who came to the home game.
And I think it was great that we were able to share the victory of 2-0 together.
We approached the game with the feeling that we couldn't afford to lose to each other, considering that both teams were ranked lower.
In the previous match, we were disappointed with our performance, so we decided to start over from the basics and focus on the game. We were conscious of this from the training.
I think the players were very conscious and took the initiative in terms of ball control, transitions, and other fundamental aspects compared to the previous match.
However, we struggled to score goals and tried to increase the number of players entering the box, as well as their awareness to make runs. We also aimed to improve our ideas and quality in front of the goal, not only from crosses but also through combinations.
I think this result was achieved because they entered the goal area with such awareness until the end in the hot weather and created goals.
However, I told the players that since J3 will have a two-week break from now on, we should unite as a team and focus on the Levain Cup. I also mentioned that some members of this group will be on the bench, so let's switch gears and do our best starting tomorrow."
 

[Player Comments]

《Willow》
"In the first half, the pace was slow, and although I had a few chances to cross, the quality was poor, and I couldn't create a flow for the team."
In the second half, I think it was good that we actively aimed for shots, aimed for goals, and achieved results in the form of assists.
(In the second half, the members and positions changed, but?) I think we were able to defend firmly and concentrate without any particular awareness, regardless of which player was on the field, without changing our own play.
(What about the assist?) When I had the ball and looked up, I made eye contact with Insoo YU and he signaled with his hand, saying "I want it here." I think I was able to send the pass exactly where he wanted.
(Although FC Tokyo's starting lineup was 20 years old), I was the highest in the backline (in the second half). I fought with the consciousness of not letting the opponent score a goal until the end, calling out to myself.
The visible results in the match, such as my own assist today, and the results of scoring and assisting in the next match and the match after that, I hope to continue to focus on those results.
 

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