Challenge boldly even away, and achieve the first victory in Nabisco!

　The second match of the Nabisco Cup qualifying league was played away against Júbilo Iwata. In the previous match against Shimizu, we were able to connect passes and attack until the opponent's goal, but we couldn't score. On the contrary, we suffered a defeat due to the opponent's skillful game management and their decisive power at crucial moments. As Coach Satoshi said, "I want to make the team unbeaten in the league matches. In that sense, we will approach the away game with a stronger determination." We want to challenge boldly and do whatever it takes to achieve our first victory in the Nabisco Cup.

　Iwata, on the other hand, suffered a defeat in the opening match, but has had two impressive victories in the last two matches. Under the guidance of coach Atsushi UCHIYAMA, the team's concept and individual roles have been well established, following last season. In the previous match, they achieved victory by launching quick attacks. It is important to pay close attention to the speed of new signings, forward Ban and midfielder Nishi. In addition, while we want to exploit the spaces on the sides against Iwata's 3-5-2 formation, coach Hiroshi JOFUKU is cautious, saying "Iwata has its own strengths, which is why they have chosen the 3-5-2 formation, so it won't be easy to create spaces."

　Tokyo changed the starting lineup from the Shimizu match. In particular, Otake started for Ishikawa, who injured his leg. Otake said, "There are players like Yamamoto from Iwata and rookies who are playing in the game, so I don't think it's surprising to start. However, if I start, I have to prioritize getting the team's rhythm. I want to play easily where I should and give my all from the beginning." Coach Jofuku said, "Players who have been given a chance and produced results have emerged, and everyone's motivation, including the substitutes, is high." We hope for the emergence of new members.

　In terms of game control, Iwata is as skillful as Shimizu, but they want to stay calm and extend "their own time" without rushing. In addition, they want to aim for victory by actively challenging to break through Iwata's strong midfield and solid defense. The match started exactly at 2:00 PM with the kickoff in Tokyo at Yamaha Stadium.

Despite creating scoring opportunities, both teams ended the first half without any goals

　The game progressed with a fast exchange of offense and defense from the start. Both teams quickly moved forward from focused defense, fiercely contested, but neither created decisive chances. However, as time passed, Tokyo launched side attacks to exploit the space of the Iwata DF and gained momentum. In the 21st minute, Cabore received a cross from Tokunaga on the right side, but Akamine's shot was offside. In the 24th minute, Kajiyama passed to Cabore in the center, who sprinted up the left side. He bypassed the opponent's DF and crossed, but it didn't reach Akamine who jumped in from the far side. Kajiyama picked up the ball that escaped to the opposite side and crossed again, but the opponent's DF cleared it.

　27 minutes, Kanazawa on the left side sends a long ball to the front line, and Akamine, who cleverly slipped behind the opponent's defense, receives it and shoots directly. He couldn't find the target. In the 33rd minute, Cabore drops the ball on the right side of the opponent's field, and Otake dribbles and passes it through to Cabore, who runs into the area again. Cabore stretches his leg to catch the pass from behind and shoots forward. It was a decisive chance, but it was blocked by the opponent's goalkeeper's great save.

　At the 38th minute, quickly transitioning from the opponent's corner kick, Tokunaga dribbles from their own half to the front of Iwata's goal. He takes a daring shot from just outside the box, but it is also blocked by the goalkeeper. On the contrary, at the 44th minute, Iwata launches a quick counterattack, with midfielder Ota drawing Tokyo's defenders towards the goal and providing a final pass to forward Bandai, who came in from the right. Bandai takes a decisive shot, but it is saved by Shioda, avoiding a dangerous situation. Throughout the match, both teams defended well and the first half ended scoreless.

With 2 goals from Akamine, they quickly pulled away and achieved their first victory away at Iwata

　The second half also saw intense exchanges of offense and defense, but the momentum was with Tokyo. In the 52nd minute, Akamine → Cabore → Otake made a dash into the right area from the right side. They bravely took a shot, but the goalkeeper made a save. Then, in the 53rd minute, Otake dribbled out of the right area from Emerson's pass and delivered a sharp ground cross in front of the goal. Cabore was unable to get past it, but it reached Akamine on the left side. Unable to shoot directly with his feet, he didn't give up and redirected the ball into the goal, taking the lead.

　In the 59th minute, Kawaguchi was substituted for Emerson. As Iwata chased after a goal and launched a fierce counterattack, Kawaguchi, with his abundant physicality, got involved in both offense and defense by getting involved with the ball. In the 65th minute, he tenaciously stole the opponent's ball and dribbled up, taking a shot. Although it narrowly missed above the frame, it brought momentum to the team. Then, in the 66th minute, he stole the ball on the left side, Kawaguchi dribbled up and crossed the ball in front of the goal, and Ohata dropped it to Cabore with a header on the opposite side. Cabore couldn't make a shot, but he persistently stretched his leg to connect while being surrounded and in an unstable position. Akamine reacted to this and kicked it into the unguarded goal, scoring the second goal.

　Iwata also started to counterattack. In the 74th minute, FW Nakayama and MF Namiha were simultaneously substituted. FW Nakayama energetically moved around the front line, while MF Namiha settled the ball in the midfield and spread effective passes to the left and right, leading the attack. With these two veteran players, the momentum began to shift towards Iwata. However, Tokyo also substituted Nagatomo and Hirayama for the visibly tired Cabore and Akamine. They maintained their attacking posture until the end. In the final stages, Iwata threw the ball into the goal area and tried to score, but the team remained united, concentrated, and suppressed the counterattack, securing a 2-0 victory! They achieved their first victory in the Nabisco Cup and obtained their first 3 points at Yamaha Stadium.

　【Player Comments】《Akamine》"Since we lost the first match, it would have been tough to lose again. I really wanted to win. It was my first start, and I was glad to be able to score and achieve results as a team. For the first goal, I think the pass came in too close to my feet, so I couldn't shoot directly... I don't remember much (laughs). The second goal came to a good spot, and since there were no players from Iwata around, it was just a matter of finishing. (Did you hear Coach Jofuku's instructions during the match?) That was because the opponent had three at the back, and I was instructed to mark the holding midfielder. That area was getting loose. (You are doing well in the Nabisco Cup, continuing from last season?) That was just by chance. However, I think being given the opportunity and responding with a goal will lead to the next step. In the end, my legs cramped up." 《Otake》"I was nervous for my first start, and in the beginning, I felt like I was out of breath and my body wasn't moving. But gradually I got used to it, and I think I became more relaxed mentally. Today, I thought there would be space on the sides since Iwata had three at the back, and our forwards are good at making runs behind the defense, so when I had the ball and faced forward, I focused on passing into the space behind and also making runs myself. The first goal came from a good pass from Emerson. In the play before that, I shot with my right foot, so the opponent must have thought I would shoot again... So instead of shooting, I looked inside and saw Shingo-san, so I sent a cross. In the second half, I was able to play calmly and started to see my surroundings better. I was also able to think about how to move in a way that would trouble the opponent. (There were plays where you won the ball without being overpowered, right?) The opponent probably thinks I'm weak because I'm small. I thought if I went in hard, I could win. I wasn't thinking about pacing myself for 90 minutes. From the middle of the second half, I felt like my legs were going to cramp, and I thought about substituting, but I was able to continue until the end. The longer I play, the more I can do the plays I want, so I was happy about that. However, I still need to improve my stamina, and at the start and end of today, I couldn't get involved with the ball. I think I need to get more involved and create rhythm."

　【Summary of Coach Jofuku's Press Conference】 "We approached the match with the intention of being cautious of Iwata's passing football and quick movements, trying to minimize their strengths while showcasing our own. At first, I think we were a bit stiff and may have kicked the ball too much. However, our start to the match is not usually very good, so I believe we ended up playing it safe. As the game progressed, it settled down, and I think we were able to play an even game in the first half. In the second half, the opponent may have had slightly better possession in the midfield, but I believe we were able to utilize the speed when we got near the goal, reflecting on our previous match. I felt that if we could carry the ball into the attacking third, there was a possibility of scoring. It was good that we were able to score from such developments. In the second half, we faced a bit of a crisis when they started to throw the ball in, but until then, I think we managed to play a solid game without being too broken down. (What is your evaluation of starting player Otake?) Among the players who made their first start today, I think he had a significant impact, and in terms of putting out players who can perform in daily practice, I believe he did the same things he usually does in training. (It's your first victory at Yamaha Stadium, right?) I just learned that now. In any case, we aimed to become a team that does not lose consecutively, and I sent the players out with that strong will. I think the players fought with a strong mindset. I was not aware that it was our first victory."

　[Summary of the press conference by Atsushi UCHIYAMA, coach of Jubilo Iwata] "From the start, if we could have created time properly around the defensive midfield, the game would have settled down, but we couldn't do that, and we ended up playing a back-and-forth style of football. It would have been good to score the first goal, but in the end, we conceded in that manner. At the end, when Namai came in and distributed the ball from the midfield, we were able to create time, push up the back line, and play compact football. I felt various things, and this game raised issues for the future. By quickly understanding that we had three players in midfield against the opponent's two, if we had calmly created time, and moved a little more to maintain possession of the ball, the back line would have pushed up, and the whole team would have become compact and able to attack. However, there were times when the receivers didn't move, or there were mistakes, and we lost the ball to the opponent. There were many situations where we were caught out on the sides, but the way we lost the ball beforehand was poor. The way we lost the ball was bad, and since we weren't compact, we couldn't push up, which allowed the opponent to target the space behind our three-back line. In terms of unity between offense and defense, we couldn't create time properly in midfield during attacks, and since we weren't compact, it affected our defense. If we move properly by 2 or 3 meters and engage with the ball, it will move quickly. We need players who can embody that kind of football. When Namai and Nakayama came in, we were able to do that, but instead of relying on them indefinitely, we need to address these issues to return to being a strong Jubilo. Today, I felt those things, and it was a good game for reflection. If we can create time properly in midfield, even if the opponent is sitting back, we can draw them out and break through, but we must enhance the structural strength of the midfield, including the defensive midfield and sides, and work on creating the game."