Finally, on April 29th (Fri, holiday), Tokyo will play its first J-League match at the new Japan National Stadium.
At the old National Stadium, we have played many official matches since the first year of J-League membership. There have been memorable super plays and impactful events. Since achieving the long-awaited title, Tokyo has won all titles at the National Stadium, symbolizing the deep connection between Tokyo and the National Stadium.
Our National Stadium.
Before taking a new step at the National Stadium, let's look back on the footprints and memories that have been left at the previous National Stadium, along with photos from that time.
Hat-trick in the 2008 Derby
[Match Information]
2008 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup / Group B 6th Round
FC Tokyo 4-2 Tokyo Verdy
The 2008 season of the Yamazaki Nabisco Cup continued with a series of unpredictable developments. The qualifying groups were closely contested, and the advancement to the final tournament was carried over until the final match against Verdy.
Going back to May 6th, in the first match at Ajinomoto Stadium against Verdy in the fourth round of the qualifying group, Kenta Mukuhara, making his professional debut, along with Hideki Sahara, successfully kept Verdy's offense in check and achieved a shutout victory.
On the other hand, in this final match, Hitoshi SHIOTA, who has been guarding the goal so far, had a fever. SAWARA was suspended. And standing in front of the Verdy goal was his former comrade Yoichi DOI... There were various stories and encounters, and the excitement and expectations were inevitably rising.
The second "Tokyo Derby" is an away game at the National Stadium.
The score changes early in the first half. Although conceding a goal in the 11th minute, Yohei KAJIYAMA sends a long pass behind Verdy's defense line in the 16th minute, and Kabore scores a looping shot over the opponent's goalkeeper to equalize. However, in the 19th minute, a powerful free kick from FUKKI from about 35 meters is scored, allowing Verdy to take the lead again.
Still, Tokyo attacked without hesitation. In the intense battle, they earned a corner kick in the 43rd minute of the first half. From Mokuhara's bold overlap, Hirayama headed the ball into the net from Hanyu's kick.
Tokyo, which gained momentum by ending the first half in a tie, started the second half with Cabore breaking through the right side and sending a ground cross. Hiraoka managed to slide and push it in despite losing his balance.
The stands heated up with this Hirayama's comeback goal. Pressed by the cheers, they did not lose their attitude of "going for another goal" throughout the second half.
In the 31st minute of the second half, after another side breakthrough by Kabore, a corner kick is won. The kicker is Naohiro ISHIKAWA. Naohiro's kick is sent perfectly like a thread to the feet of Hiraoka near the goal, and he heads it in to score the fourth goal. With Hiraoka's first professional hat-trick, Verdy pulls away.
On this day when he secured a spot in the final tournament, Sota HIRAYAMA, known as the "National Hero," made a significant impact. His dynamic performance, which united the pitch and the stands, may have been the culmination of turning National into a home ground despite being treated as an away team.
Text by Yū Fujiwara (Freelance Writer)
