Finally, on April 29th (Fri, holiday), Tokyo will have its first J-League match at the new Japan National Stadium.
At the National Stadium before the renovation, we have played many official matches since our first year in the J-League. There were memorable super plays and impactful events. Since winning our 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 at the footprints and memories we have left at the previous National Stadium with photos from that time.
Legendary goal from 2006
[Match Information]
2006 J-League Division 1 Sec. 19
FC Tokyo 5-1 Avispa Fukuoka
In August 2006, two league matches were held on Wednesday nights at the Japan National Stadium, making it easy for business people to attend after work.
On August 23, in the 19th round of the J1 League, Avispa Fukuoka faced off against Urawa Reds, with a nostalgic atmosphere in the air. On the bench, newly appointed manager Hisao KURAMATA took command. The previous manager, Garo, had resigned after the team's loss in the 17th round against Urawa Reds, and the team had transitioned to a new system starting on the 15th.
Manager Kuramata, who was a staff member during the era of Manager Kiyoshi Okuma, emphasized quick switching and achieved their first victory in the match against JEF United Chiba in the third round three days ago. The situation of facing Fukuoka in the first match of that year is exactly the same as the 2000 season.
Will the members on the pitch be able to respond to the stands, hoping for the return of the Tokyo whirlwind?
Despite playing two consecutive days and it being summer, the starting lineup remained unchanged from the previous match. While the defense line has undergone major changes since 6 years ago, Ryuji FUJIYAMA was still there as a side back. Satoru ASARI was in the defensive midfield, reminiscent of his days at Tokyo Gas, and it was FUJIYAMA who scored the opening goal in the 5-1 victory.
The flow up until that point was not good. In the 22nd minute of the first half, Fukuoka's Mitsunori Yabuta was sent off. Tokyo gained a numerical advantage, but struggled to attack against the opponent who defended with "common sense". However, in the 35th minute, Lucas brought the ball in smoothly from a throw-in and Fujiyama made an exquisite pass! Although it was a reflection, the ball was picked up and once again hit the opponent and went into the goal.
Although it was close to an own goal, the official record remained unchanged, and at the National Stadium, Fujiyama's first J1 goal, which was a memorable one, was engraved in Tokyo's history as his only goal in the J1 league.
In the second half, Fukuoka took a risk and switched to a 3-4-2 formation, allowing one goal to tie the game temporarily. However, they continued to attack persistently and scored four more goals. The final goal was scored by Yoshiro ABE, who had broken his nose in the previous match and came on as a substitute.
Fujiyama, who got a chance to play in Kuramata Tokyo, said, "I played with the thought of not wasting the given opportunity." It was a hot match that signaled a revival for both the team and the individual.
Text by Katsu Goto (Freelance Writer)
