match Match Schedule & Results

[Reserves]
GK: 16. Takuro Baba
DF: 23. Masaki Koizumi
MF: 11. Toshiki Yuasa, 29. Yuji Wakasa
FW: -

○Match Digest
J Youth Cup 2011 Sec. 19 J League Youth Championship Preliminary League, A Group, 3rd Match.
The opponent was Kashima Antlers Youth, who handed us a bitter defeat in the summer Club Youth Championship Kanto Tournament Final.
Today in Kashima, the weather was a bit cool, making it the best condition for playing soccer.
The match kicked off at 2 PM at the Kashima Antlers Clubhouse Ground under an autumn sky.

Before the match, Coach Kuramata addressed the team, reminding them that they had already lost to this opponent once this year. However, given the current team situation, results are more important than content. With the goal of advancing to the final tournament, he urged the players to fully leverage their strengths and focus on playing result-oriented soccer!

From the start of the match, both teams showed their full determination, engaging in fierce battles for every ball.
With intense pressing from high positions, the ball did not settle, and neither team was able to advance the ball effectively to the front line.
8 minutes: The first clear chance came to Tokyo. Iwata reacted to a long ball sent forward from CB Kobayashi. He trapped it once but couldn’t control it well and it hit an opponent. However, the ball bounced like a pinball and hit Iwata again, rolling into the open space behind the defensive line. Iwata picked up the ball and dribbled forward, calmly finishing a one-on-one with the goalkeeper to take the lead! Tokyo brilliantly capitalized on their first big chance. Iwata, returning from injury and starting for the first time in a while, immediately made an impact and exploded with joy.
10 minutes: Fukamori received a throw-in from Yoshida on the left side and quickly turned. With excellent body control, it seemed like a sudden chance, but unfortunately, it was judged a foul.
Kashima, having conceded the first goal, showed no signs of panic. They calmed the game with slow ball circulation and gradually pressed forward with their specialty, accurate long passes.
However, the center-back duo Ishihara and Kobayashi calmly responded. With defense a step ahead of the opponent, they did not allow easy entry into the penalty area. Frustrated, the opponent took a long shot from outside the area, but Fukamori and Nihei on both sides quickly returned to apply pressure, allowing Tani to make an easy save. Although the opponent circulated the ball and pushed Tokyo back into their own half, Tokyo created momentum from their defense.
20': Yoshida, who overlapped on the left side, received the ball but was quickly surrounded by the opponent's defense. After tenaciously holding the ball, he made a brilliant turn to break free but was fouled by having his leg caught. Nozawa sent this free kick into the area, and although Fukumori, Iwata, and Amos all ran in, the goalkeeper caught it.
23rd minute: Yoshida dove headfirst to secure the loose ball from a contested goal kick, gaining possession for his team. The opponent fouled by going for the ball with their foot, resulting in another free kick from a similar position. Fukamori sent the ball into the penalty area, and although Iwata skillfully positioned himself in front of the goalkeeper to receive it, the opposing defender cleared it at the last moment. Nevertheless, FC Tokyo created a chance from the set piece through their tenacious and focused defense.
31 minutes: Fukimori received a throw-in on the right side, held off the opponent to draw them in, and passed back to Iwata. Iwata sent a cross in front of the goal, but it went a bit too far to the far post. However, Amos, who ran in, returned it directly, and Nozawa, in an excellent position, tapped it in with his left foot for an additional goal! Tokyo’s eleven players shared the joy together, capitalizing on a rare chance through brilliant teamwork.
38 minutes: Amos received a throw-in on the right side and dribbled toward the center, dragging the opposing defender with him. Feinting a shot, he passed the ball to the left side, where Nihei came running in and unleashed a powerful long-range shot! However, it went well wide of the goal.
The opponent tried to create chances by using a physically strong lone striker as a focal point, but focused defense centered on Kobayashi snuffed out those opportunities. However, the defenders committed many fouls due to aggressive charges. As a result, the opponent was able to launch dangerous scenes by directly sending the ball into the area from free kicks.
44 minutes: Once again, a chance is created from a set piece. Yamaguchi receives the ball in the center of the pitch and is charged from behind, earning a free kick. With a quick restart, the ball is sent in front of the goal, where Iwata challenges the goalkeeper and the ball spills loose. Amos closes in on the ball but is stopped by the goalkeeper's defense.
Taking a 2-goal lead, they head into the halftime break.

50 minutes: In the second half, Tokyo continues to build attacks starting from Iwata's hold-up play. From Iwata's control, the ball is switched to Fukumori on the right side. Nihei, contesting in the center, attempts a volley shot from Fukumori's precise cross, but it fails to hit the target.
53': The ball was tenaciously followed up from a free kick rebound, resulting in a conceded goal. 2-1.
54': From the kickoff, Nihei received the ball on the left side and started dribbling. He skillfully got past one opponent after another and took a middle-range shot from the center. Although it missed the target, captain Yamaguchi applauded the spirited play, boosting the team's morale.
Conceding a goal at an unfortunate time, Kashima gained momentum. However, Tokyo's defense, full of determination, repeatedly repelled the ball. Kamoike, starting for the first time in a while, covered with abundant stamina and neutralized the opponent's momentum.
55 minutes: Yoshida received the ball on the left side and broke through with a one-two pass with Nozawa. Receiving the return pass, Yoshida directly crossed the ball to the center, perfectly matched by Iwata who trapped it. He tried to shoot from an excellent position right in front of the goal, but unfortunately the whistle blew for handball. The great chance was missed.
Although the opponent kept possession of the ball, Fukumori and Nihei on both sides applied relentless defensive pressure, making it difficult for the ball to be easily played inside.
61 minutes: Hashimoto was brought on to replace Nihei. Hashimoto had just returned from the national team's expedition to Thailand, but showed no signs of fatigue. His introduction at this crucial time helped calm the game with his smooth ball handling and control.
64': A corner kick from the right side. Iwata connects with the ball from Fukumori, but the opponent clears it with a header, leading to another corner kick. On the second corner, Nozawa goes for a diving header but it veers to the right.
75': Reioka is brought on to replace Amos.
80': Tokyo has been enduring with calm defense despite the opponent launching long balls. However, during a contest from a long ball inside the area, a foul is called and a penalty kick is awarded. Tani saves it once, but unfortunately, a retake is ordered. This time, the opponent scores, leveling the match.
87 minutes: Kawakami was brought on to replace Fukumori.
Tokyo must win to advance to the Final Round on their own merit. Even after that, the entire team kept their heads up, continuing to aim for the go-ahead goal while applying intense pressure on the opponent.
They carried the ball into the penalty area multiple times from long balls, but mercilessly, the whistle blew before they could shake the net.
At the sound of the whistle, most of the players collapsed onto the pitch.

After the intense 90 minutes, the crowd honors the eleven who expressed their passion for this match on the pitch by singing "You’ll Never Walk Alone" from the stands.
The third-year students, who are the pillars of this team, still have two important Premier League matches remaining.
I want them to switch their mindset and channel the frustration from this match into staying in the Premier League.
Thank you very much to everyone who came from afar to support us today as well.