2010 J-League Opening Match, Win at Home!

　The new season is finally starting. We will face Yokohama F.Marinos in the opening match at our home Ajinomoto. Over the past month and a half of training and camp under the new system, we have aimed to further develop "Moving Football," focusing on positioning and ball movement with greater precision, as well as improving accuracy in both offense and defense. 　YoneMoto has suffered a left knee injury and will be sidelined, but the team's attitude of "let's turn this accident into a positive" remains unchanged. Although the time for everyone to train together was short due to the activities of the Japan national team, we have been preparing to enhance our common understanding as a team and to utilize each individual's strengths under those circumstances. New additions like Morishige and Matsushita have fit into the team without any discomfort, and at the same time, KajiYama and Ishikawa, who were dealing with injuries, are showing steady recovery. Although they will start on the bench this time, they are a reassuring presence for the team. 　On the other hand, Yokohama FM has welcomed new head coach Kazushi KIMURA this season, with the theme of "football that is enjoyable to watch and play," aiming for a top position. The newly transferred MF Shunsuke Nakamura is currently not registered in the J.League, and with DF Kurihara and Matsuda injured, they are in a situation where the squad is not complete. However, in addition to their solid defense, this season they are also characterized by pressing from the front. It will be interesting to see how well Tokyo can utilize their passing game to create chances against Yokohama FM's intense pressing. 　On the other hand, it will be necessary to coordinate and defend as a unit against the attacks centered around Yokohama FM's forwards Watanabe and Sakata. Tokyo has had many scoreless games in their practice matches so far, indicating that their defense is stable. However, they have not won an opening match since 2006, and the players uniformly express their determination to "win and gain momentum." True to those words, the starting lineup for the opening match, which emphasizes competition, features MukuHara at right back and Nagatomo on the left. The center backs will be Morishige and Konno, with Tokunaga and Hanyu as the double defensive midfielders. The side midfielders will be Nakamura and Matsushita, and the two forwards will be Hirayama and Suzuki. 　Yokohama FM also employs young players, with Ogura as center back and Hasegawa as forward. The average age of the starting members is 24 years, younger than Tokyo's 24.55 years. This match, where both teams want to make a good start to the season, began at 14:01 with Tokyo's kickoff in the rain-soaked Ajinomoto.

Missing a big chance right after the start, Yokohama FM is taken over...

　In the first minute right after the start, Matsushita took a free kick from the right side, and Nakamura headed it in front of the goal. The shot hit the bottom left of the post. Morishige reacted to the rebound but couldn't quite get there... In the 5th minute, Nagatomo advanced and delivered a left cross. In the scramble for the loose ball in the area, Hirayama turned and took a shot, but it lacked power and was saved by the goalkeeper. After missing this chance to take the lead, Yokohama FM gradually took control of the ball and began to push forward. In the 7th minute, Yokohama FM's MF Yamase spread the play to the right. A right cross was delivered, but it was cleared without difficulty. The second ball was connected to Yokohama FM, and a long-range shot was taken by holding MF Kanai, but Tokyo blocked it. In the 9th minute, MF Yamase's dribble in the center was not stopped, and MF Kano delivered a sharp right cross. FW Watanabe was in position in the center, creating a familiar opportunity, but Tokyo's DF managed to clear it. In the 11th minute, this time a cross was delivered from Tokyo's right side, and FW Watanabe tried to receive it free just before the area, but he couldn't control it well and failed to finish. Even when Tokyo regained the ball, they couldn't connect passes in front of Yokohama FM's intense press. They were unable to show their style of play. In the 29th minute, they entered the area from a combination between Nakamura and Suzuki, and took a well-timed shot, but it went wide. In the 43rd minute, Mukuara advanced and sent a fast cross to Hirayama in the center. Hirayama headed it back, but Suzuki faced intense marking from the opponent and couldn't receive it. Throughout the first half, Yokohama FM held the initiative, but Tokyo endured without getting frustrated and managed to hold on, going into the second half at 0-0.

Hirayama marks a dramatic winning goal from Ishikawa's pass, securing the opening victory since 2006!

　In the second half, we struggled to create attacking opportunities against Yokohama FM's solid defense. In the 56th minute, we built up from the holding midfielder, with Hanyu passing to Nakamura, who then set up Matsushita coming up from the left. Matsushita aimed for Suzuki at the front, trying to break through to the goal, but a foul occurred in front of the goal, resulting in a free kick for Yokohama FM. In the 58th minute, we launched a quick counter from our own half, with Matsushita dribbling up the left side and passing into the area. Nagatomo made a fierce run, trying to finish, but was tightly marked by the opposing DF Nakazawa. In the 64th minute, we substituted Hanyu for Kajiwara, and in the 69th minute, Nakamura was replaced by Ishikawa. We tried to break through Yokohama FM's press and attack starting from Kajiwara. In the 73rd minute, from a restart, Hirayama received a right cross and brought the ball into the area, but was quickly surrounded by defenders. In the 76th minute, Akamine came on for Suzuki. Immediately after, Hirayama was fouled just outside the right area, earning a free kick. Kajiwara aimed for a volley from Matsushita's kick, but couldn't hit the target. Yokohama FM's energy began to wane, and in the closing stages, both teams exchanged counterattacks. In the 88th minute, Hirayama cut back against the opposing DF in the left area and took a shot, creating a decisive moment, but again failed to hit the target. Both teams held their ground, and just as it seemed the match would end in a draw, in the 3 minutes of stoppage time, Morishige and Kajiwara intercepted the ball low in our half. Nagatomo sent a long ball to Akamine in midfield. Akamine simply spread it to the right. Receiving the pass, Ishikawa picked up speed, dribbling forward and skillfully evading a sliding tackle from the opposing DF, advancing to just outside the area. In response, Akamine drew the opposing DF and ran towards the center, leaving Hirayama free on the outside! Ishikawa calmly delivered the final pass to Hirayama, who coolly slotted it in with his right foot, scoring a goal! Hirayama marked a dramatic winning goal in stoppage time, pulling ahead of Yokohama FM and achieving a victory in the opening match for the first time since 2006! The 2010 season started with a win. 【Player Comments】《Hirayama》 "I wanted to contribute to the team by making our attacking shape function, not just by scoring. Of course, I was always aware of the goal, but in the first half, I couldn't play as I wanted. Yokohama FM, led by DF Nakazawa, was quick and strong in their pressing. I struggled to win one-on-one situations and feel that I still lack strength. However, before the match, we all discussed that 'it’s impossible for everything to go well at the start of the season,' so we aimed to play without rushing. Therefore, I didn't feel frustrated. Regarding the goal, I believe half of it belongs to Ishikawa. Winning today is the biggest achievement. Moving forward, I want to aim for the top and play football that represents Tokyo." 《Ishikawa》 "Today's victory was the result of everyone, including the substitutes, fighting without giving up throughout the match. (In my appearance) I was often connected in midfield with Yokohama FM and had to defend, so I wanted to create more momentum when we regained the ball and set up plays up front. I thought the opponent would tire in the second half, so I aimed to make effective movements then. I believe we created a good flow towards the goal from solid defense. There was also the option to shoot, but I saw Sota's position, so I passed. That shot was by no means easy. That's why I put my feelings into the ball when I passed. I think he finished well, and when Sota scores, the team gets excited. In that sense, I feel I did my job well. However, I think Yokohama FM played better football overall. I want to reflect on that and use it for the next match." 【Coach Jofuku's Press Conference Summary】 "In the rain, many fans came to support us. The opening match is not just for FC Tokyo fans, but also for Yokohama FM fans, so I prepared to have a good match. Last season's opening was bitter for us, so this season, even if we don't score, we must not rush and maintain our defense. If we keep a clean sheet, we can at least earn one point, so we entered the match with a unified mindset. The fact that we ended up with three points is something to celebrate. I think it was really good to share the victory with the fans who have been waiting for it. However, regarding the content, it was not a match where we could do what we wanted. The reason we got three points was primarily because we kept a clean sheet. In last season's opening match, we played a nearly perfect game according to plan until the 44th minute of the first half, but then we conceded a corner from the only time we allowed the opponent into our penalty area, and after that, we fell apart. Football is like that. Even when things don't go well, if the team doesn't collapse, it is entirely possible to get three points. I believe what we built and learned last year was expressed in today's opening match. I want to start from today's victory, make solid corrections from here, and play the football we aim for over the year." 【Yokohama FM Coach Kimura's Press Conference Summary】 "I feel disappointed. Both teams had few shots and few decisive moments. The fact that we were caught on a counter at the end gives the impression that 'the J-League is not easy.' I think it was a baptism. The reason we couldn't create chances was that when the ball reached the front line, the triggers were too quick. The pitch was slippery, but we lacked creativity. We were too eager to get to the opponent's goal, which led to mistakes and prevented us from finishing. In the end, I was filled with regret that we couldn't play our football. The last five minutes felt long, and it was disappointing that we couldn't create many scenes near the opponent's goal. (Returning to the J-League stage after a long time?) I think being on the field is a good thing. I feel I need to enjoy this as a learning experience and switch gears from here.