Nishi-Gaoka, which is packed to capacity

Last year, Sapporo.D lost in the J1 promotion playoffs and started this season in J2. The "New Okada Sapporo" team, aiming for a long-awaited return to J1, has finally arrived in Tokyo. The number of spectators who flocked to the venue to see the highly talked about team exceeded 6,000, and the stands were packed to the point of standing room only. The number of media personnel, including TV broadcasts, also reached a record high this season, and the field was overflowing with cameras, pushing Nishigaoka to its limit. Naturally, the "support battle in the goal end" also heated up more than usual. In previous home games, Tokyo's "goal end" has overwhelmed the away team in terms of numbers and sense, but the Sapporo "goal end" gathered for this match was comparable in numbers to Tokyo, and their well-organized support made it feel like "experienced J-League supporters", creating an intense and equal support battle. The venue was at its peak, and at 1pm, the kickoff whistle blew.

2 minutes into the game, Kobayashi scores the first goal!

The players cannot help but be excited by this large crowd. Right from the start of the match, both teams launched fierce attacks without observing each other. In the 2nd minute, Tokyo was pressured, and Almir cut the ball in front of their own goal, then made a high-speed solo run of about 50 meters, delivering a superb through pass to Kobayashi, who timed his run perfectly. Kobayashi then scored the opening goal with a direct shot. However, just five minutes later, they were easily breached in the center, allowing a quick equalizer. The game developed into a thrilling back-and-forth battle. Tokyo built their game around Almir, who ran around the field energetically. Almir became the focal point of the attack with his sharp dribbling, ball retention in midfield, and accurate passing. On the right side, Kobayashi brought a unique rhythm, while Fujiyama showed sharp overlaps on the left side, creating a robust attack. Up front, Okamoto fought hard with fierce determination and physical play, while Kaburaki utilized his speed to time his runs behind the opponent's shallow defensive line, creating chances. On the other hand, Sapporo's new foreign player Asis and veteran Tanada maintained possession in midfield to create rhythm, while the young ace Yoshihara and powerful Fukagawa formed a two-top that threatened the goal.

Go Kaburaki's first official goal becomes the winning point in the final round!

In the 25th minute, Go KABURAKI broke through the opponent's defense after receiving a vertical pass from Komine, and unleashed a powerful shot from about 20 meters following a brilliant feint with quick steps. This goal put Tokyo back in the lead by one point. KABURAKI, who is originally a highly skilled player, has not yet shown his true potential this season, and if he returns to his original form, the team's strength will significantly increase, so we hope this goal will be a turning point. After that, both teams created decisive chances, but the defense held firm and prevented any goals. Tokyo's Sandro repelled attacks with overwhelming strength and height, while Komine cleared a shot that was almost a goal with an overhead kick. Sapporo, led by former Japan national team player Natsuka, also did not allow any additional goals. In the second half, Sapporo showed their determination, outpacing Tokyo in terms of movement and taking control of the game. However, despite being pushed back significantly, Tokyo maintained their balance until the end and did not concede any goals. After the match, Coach Okuma stated, 'In the last few matches, we often conceded goals in the second half after taking the lead, but today we maintained our balance until the end and held on well.' This victory at home since the opening match marks a long-awaited second consecutive win, and we hope to ride this momentum into a real wave of success.