ホームでの勝利を追い求め、昇格の可能性を自らの手で

　リーグ第35節が開催、水戸ホーリーホックをホームにて迎え撃つ。前節は出場停止や負傷のアクシデントを全員で乗り越え、アウェイで価値ある勝利をもぎ取った。勝ち点を68に積み上げ、4位札幌との差を9とし、昇格に向けて大きく前進を果たしたといえるだろう。 　先に開始される他カードの結果によっては、東京が引き分け以上で3位以内が確定する可能性があったが、それはかなわず。しかし自らの手で昇格をつかむために、集中してただ勝利をめざす一戦だ。今節は森重が警告累積のため出場停止。また今野も引き続き日本代表の活動で不在に。そのためセンターバックには徳永を起用。ジェイド ノースと初のコンビを組むことに。また石川が前節に続き先発に名を連ねることになった。 　対する水戸は、現在勝ち点39で15位だが、今季は震災や台風の影響を受けながらも苦境を乗り越える力強さを見せている。直近の9試合では4勝4分1敗。前・後半終了間際の得点も多く、最後まであきらめない粘り強さもある。今節はMF島田が出場停止。また、ここまで中心選手としてチームをけん引してきたFW鈴木はベンチスタートとなったが、大熊監督が「若い選手一人ひとりもチームとしても成長している」と警戒するように、勢いに乗らせてしまうと怖い相手でもある。 　リズムをつかませないためには、東京も粘り強いプレーが必要。攻守に集中して勝ち切りたい。汗ばむほどの快晴だった昼間から日が落ち始め、曇り出した味スタ。試合は16時4分に水戸のキックオフでスタートした。

Tokyo Aim For Home Win To Possibly Clinch Promotion

Mito Hollyhock were the visitors to Ajinomoto Stadium for the 35th.game of the season. In their previous outing Tokyo had overcome injuries and suspensions to dispatch Shonan Bellmare, a win that lifted the side to 68 points, 9 ahead of fourth placed Sapporo and within sight of promotion. 
Depending on the results of games being played before theirs, Tokyo could theoretically achieve promotion with a draw; however, to regain J1 status by their own efforts the side needed to focus on beating Mito. Morishige was suspended and Konno away on National Team duty. Tokunaga started at centre back alongside Jade North, the first time the two had been paired together. Ishikawa made the starting eleven for the second consecutive game. 
Opponents Mito lay in 15th.place at kick off with 39 points. The team had shown admirable character to overcome the effects of the earthquake and typhoons, and had posted an impressive W4 D4 L1 record over the previous nine games. The number of goals scored late in both halves of matches was further testament to the never-say-die spirit within the team. Influential midfielder Shimada was suspended, while veteran striker and team leader Suzuki started on the bench. Tokyo manager Okuma issued a warning against allowing them any opportunity to gain momentum during the match, "Their young players and the team as a whole are developing". Tokyo would need a focused display in both defence and attack and a gritty performance to overcome the visitors. 
The warm and sunny weather at lunchtime had given way to grey clouds by the time Mito kicked off shortly after 4pm. 

早いテンポで進むが、スコアレスで前半を終える

　序盤から東京はテンポのよいパスワークで水戸ゴールに迫るが、正確性を欠いた。反対に水戸に切り替えの早い攻撃を仕掛けられ、フィニッシュに持ち込まれるシーンも。5分には水戸の前線までつながれワンツーから、右エリアのFW岡本がシュート。7分には水戸・左エリアすぐ手前からのFKからMF村田に直接狙われる。 　12分には谷澤→オーバーラップした椋原のマイナスのパスから、梶山が左45度からグラウンダーで狙うが、勢いがなかった。その直後には水戸のカウンターを受け、左サイドバック尾本が高い位置まで上がりクロス。右エリアのFW小池に枠内シュートを放たれたが、権田がセーブする。17分には中村が右サイドでDFに競り勝ち、エリア内にドリブル突破。狙い澄ましたグラウンダーのパスを中央へ送り、谷澤がダイレクトで合わせたが…枠外に。 　一進一退の展開となる中、27分には谷澤の右クロスから、ルーカスがシュートするがGKのセーブに阻まれ…。攻め込みながらも精度を欠いてゴールには至らず。40分頃には水戸のセットプレーの流れが続き、押し込まれたが、そこで決して慌てず。守備ではジェイドノース、徳永も連係を図ってバランスを崩さずに戦い、スコアレスで前半を終了した。

Fast-paced First Half Ends Scoreless 

The first half began at a brisk tempo, with Tokyo moving the ball around at pace and drawing close to the Mito goal, although a certain accuracy was lacking. The visitors equally briskly turned defence into attack and managed to finish their forays forward with an attempt on goal. In the 5th.minute Mito moved forward, played a one-two and striker Okamoto drove a shot across goal from the right of the Tokyo area. In the 7th.minute midfielder Murata stroked a direct free kick over the wall and the bar. 
In the 12th.minute Yazawa played the ball forward to the overlapping Mukuhara but Kajiyama's low shot from the resulting cross lacked the power to trouble Homma in the Mito goal. The visitors counter attacked immediately, side back Omoto taking the ball down the left and crossing; forward Koike managed a shot from the right of the Tokyo area but Gonda comfortably held his effort. Nakamura bulled his way past a defender in the 17th.minute and drove a low cross in to the near post where Yazawa met the ball with a first-time shot on the run but was unable to keep his attempt down. 
The game continued to ebb and flow. In the 27th.minute Yazawa skipped down the right and crossed yet once again Lucas' shot failed to trouble Homma. Mito threatened briefly from a series of set plays as the first half drew to a close but Tokunaga and Jade North linked comfortably in defence and dealt with the danger tidily. The first period finished 0-0. 

高橋のヘッドで先制！　セザーの2試合連続弾で昇格に王手

　気持ちを新たに切り替えて臨んだ後半。立ち上がりの48分に羽生を起点とし、梶山、谷澤がゴール前に攻め込む。一度は水戸にクリアされるが、こぼれに詰めた高橋がミドルを放ち、CKを得る。49分、この右CKを石川が蹴り、ニアに飛び込んだ高橋がヘッドを振り抜き、ボールは逆サイドのネットにイン！　後半の早い時間にセットプレーから待望の先制を果たした。

　これで勢いに乗ると、54分にはジェイド ノースが左前線まで駆け上がり、厳しいプレスをかけてボールを奪い、羽生→椋原の連係から石川が決定的なシュートを放つが、GKに阻まれる。水戸は59分に2トップを交代し、FW鈴木とFW常盤がイン。東京も68分には羽生に代えてロベルト セザーを投入。徐々に動きが落ちてきた水戸に対して、さらにスピーディな攻撃を仕掛けて勝負しようとした。

　主導権を握って攻め込むものの追加点が奪えない時間が続き、反対に74分には水戸・FW鈴木が前線でボールを収めて落とし、中央から上がったMFロメロ フランクにシュート体勢に入られたが、ヒットしきれず枠外に。77分には水戸・右MF小池がエリアに鋭いパスを送られ、FW常盤、後ろのMF小澤とつながれたが、素早いカバーで抑え切った。

　そして迎えた79分、ルーカスが前線への浮き球のパス。これにセザーが猛スピードで追いつき、右エリアから強烈なシュートを突き刺し、2点目をゲット！　セザーの2試合連続弾で水戸を突き放すと、85分には水戸MFロメロ フランクが二度目の警告を受け、退場に。10人になった水戸の反撃を許さずにタイムアップ。攻守に集中した戦いをみせ味スタで勝利！　この結果、勝ち点を71に積み上げ、昇格に王手をかけることになった。

　【選手コメント】《高橋》「勝利はピッチの中で我慢した結果。非常によかったと思う。前節は出場停止だったが、こういう大事な試合にチームの31人全員がピッチに立ちたいと思っているはず。11人しか先発できない中で、出れらない選手の気持ちも背負って、責任をもって戦おうとした。その中で先制点は大きかったのではないか。(昇格が目前だが）目の前の試合に向き合い、勝利をめざすという意味では何も変わらない。一戦ごとに課題と向き合い、少しでも成長していきたい」

　《ロベルト セザー》「ゴールはルーコンから良いパスが来たし、自分でも良いシュートだったと思う。途中出場が続いているが、与えられた時間で結果を残すことが大事だと思っている。今後もさらに得点したいが、何よりチームの勝利のために戦っていきたい」

　【大熊監督の会見要旨】「今日も試合出場以外のメンバーは小平で練習をしてから味スタに来た。ケガや警告累積などで選手が変わる中、多少チグハグな面が出てもこれまでにやってきたサッカーを我慢しながら続けることによって、後半のリズムなり交代選手に繋ぐことができたと思う。今日も今季を象徴するように苦しんだし、5連戦で立ち止まったときの難しさが集約されたような試合だった。ただ、焦りがあった時期もあったが、今は守備の強い選手や攻撃ができる選手など、お互いの信頼関係ができ、我慢がきくようになった。それによりチームも個人としても恐さが与えられるようになった。それが勝利に繋がったと思う。開幕から変わらないことだが、天皇杯と残されたリーグ戦を1試合ごとにしっかりと戦っていきたい。

　(前半は酷いサッカーだったが後半はペースアップできたが、守備が要因か？）前半については、その通りだと思う。攻守は裏腹だが、攻撃の部分では流動性のあるポジショニングをとらなければ、相手の嫌がることはできない。今季取り組んできたことは、まずマイボールにしてから攻撃の良いポジションをとろうということ。奪いにいって繋ぐところまでを守備として考えてきた。一人ひとりの焦りやポジショニングが悪いと、チームとしてボールを奪うことができなくなる。今日の後半は原点に立ち返り、ルーカスが相手のボランチを消したり、自分たちのサッカーができたかと思う。今後は90分間をとおしてそれができるようにしなければいけない」

　【水戸・柱谷監督の会見要旨】「終始FC東京のゲームだった。我々の選手も本当によく走って頑張っていたが、やはり力の差を感じた。我々が下手ということではなく、FC東京が上手かった。素晴らしい選手が揃っていて素晴らしいゲーム。我々としては目一杯戦った結果で仕方がない。天皇杯がすぐにあるので切り替えて頑張りたい。今日は全体的にコンパクトにして、残り30分間ぐらいまで0対0で進めたかった。FC東京に対してまともに戦ってもなかなか勝てない。引かされるのも仕方がないので、前からプレスにいき、ボールを引っ掛けられたら…と考えていた。またFW鈴木が前節のゲームで足を痛め、90分間は無理だろうと。接戦に持ち込んで残りの30分で勝負をかけようということでベンチに入れた。(FW鈴木が入ってからプレスアップできたが、精神的なプラス面があったか？）それもあったが、やはり起点ができて時間を作れるので、前への推進力と2列目からの飛び出しができる。ただ先発させた場合、どこまで持つか分からないし、ケガが大きくなる可能性もあった。彼自身は出場したがっていたが、私の判断で残り30分で勝負しようと。全体でそういう意思統一をした」

Goals From Takahashi And Cesar Take Tokyo To the Brink Of Promotion

The home side looked to make a fresh start in the second half and were soon on the attack. Hanyu was the instigator of a move in the 48th.minute that saw Yazawa and Kajiyama push forward into threatening positions in front of the Mito goal. The ball was cleared initially but only as far as Takahashi, whose shot from middle range was blocked out for a corner. Ishikawa stroked the corner in to the near post where Takahashi's late run took him ahead of a defender and a downward, glancing header beat Homma and nestled inside the far post. Tokyo had broken the deadlock with a perfectly timed and executed set play. 
Buoyed by the goal Tokyo plunged forward again, Jade North making a surging run forward in the 54th.minute. He lost the ball under heavy pressure but Hanyu quickly scooped it up and Ishikawa cracked a shot on target that drew a save from Homma. Mito responded by replacing their forward pairing with Suzuki and Tokiwa in the 59th.minute, while Roberto Cesar appeared for Hanyu shortly after. With Mito's work rate beginning to decline the injection of pace provided by Cesar was an attempt to seal the win. 
Despite being firmly in control of the game Tokyo struggled to conjure a decisive second goal and endured a nervous moment in the 74th.minute as Suzuki's knockdown narrowly evaded marauding Mito midfielder Romero. In the 77th.minute Mito midfielder Koike stroked a tempting ball into the Tokyo area where Tokiwa and midfielder Ozawa exchanged passes, but the Tokyo defence quickly regrouped to smother the danger. 
Then, in the 79th.minute Lucas lofted a pass over the Mito backline, and Cesar gave chase at full speed, reaching the ball before the flagging defenders could cover. Cesar unleashed a ferocious volley that flashed past Homma almost before the keeper could react, and Tokyo had a two-goal cushion. In the 85th.minute Mito midfielder Romero received his second yellow card of the game and trudged disconsolately from the field. Despite being two goals down and a man short, the visitors battled gamely on but it was an uphill struggle and Tokyo were able to comfortably run down the clock. The final whistle blew on a 2-0 win that took Tokyo to the very brink of promotion. 


Players' comments 
Takahashi 
"That's great result and we earned it by our patience during the game. I was suspended last week and I know that all 31 players in the squad want to play in an important game like this; only 11 can start though, so I was conscious of my responsibility to those who weren't selected today. Scoring first was very important. 
Promotion is close? We're focusing on winning the next game we have to play and nothing has changed there. We're aiming to deal with the issues each game brings and improve to whatever extent we can". 

Roberto Cesar 
"I got a great pass from Lucas and it was a pretty good shot, even if I say so myself. I've been coming on as a substitute and I feel it's important to make an impact on the result in the time I have on the field. I want to score even more goals and contribute to the team winning". 


F.C.Tokyo manager Kiyoshi Okuma 
"Once again today we practiced at Kodaira with all the squad except for the starting eleven before we came to Ajinomoto Stadium. We've suffered from changing line ups caused by injuries and suspensions but managed to persevere and play our own game and today I felt the substitutions had a positive effect on altering the rhythm in the second half. Yet again the game could be seen as encapsulating all the difficulties we've had over the season, like the stretch of five games that recently finished. However, even though we were hasty at times, I felt the mutual trust of the defence and attack was there and we were patient. Moreover I thought the players felt the pressure and that drove them on to getting the win. We want to carry on taking the games as they come, the Emperor's Cup match on Wednesday night and the league game next week, just the way we have since the start of the season. 
The first half performance was poor but the pace increased in the second. Was that down to the defence? I think that's right about the first half. Attack and defence are exact opposites in that if you don't have fluidity of positioning in attack then you won't be able to hurt your opponent. One thing we've been working on this year is our positioning in attack after we win the ball. We've been looking at defence from when we go out to win the ball to the connecting pass after we do regain possession. If a player is impatient or has poor positioning then it prevents us from winning the ball back as a team. In the second half today we went back to basics and Lucas marked the opposition defensive midfielder out of the game. We want to work to make sure we can do that for 90 minutes in the next game". 

Mito manager Hashiratani 
"It was Tokyo's game from first to last. Our lads ran hard and worked hard but I really felt the difference in quality out there today. It wasn't that we were bad but Tokyo were very good. There were a lot of excellent players on the field and it was a good game. We gave it our best and the result can't be helped. The Emperor's Cup game is up next so we want to bounce back and be ready for that. Today we had wanted to keep a compact formation and hold them to 0-0 for at least the first hour or so. Even if we play flat-out it's still difficult for us to beat Tokyo. We felt there was nothing to be gained from sitting back so if we pressed from the front we might be able to win the ball and do something with it. Also, Suzuki picked up a knock in the last game and playing the full 90 minutes was impossible today. Our plan was to keep it close and then send him on for the last 30 minutes. 
After he went on our pressure increased. Was that a psychological bonus? Yes, I think so. He was able to hold the ball up and allow our midfielders to push forward. If we'd started with him we'd have no idea how long he could last and there was the possibility that he could exacerbate the injury. He wanted to start but it was my decision to hold him back for the last 30 minutes".