GAME RESULTGame Result

Sec. 3 2012/4/04 (Wed)
Audience 31,256 people 
Weather: Sunny, Temperature 15.0 degrees, Humidity % 
Referee: MOZAFFARI Assistant Referee: ALINEZHADIAN/ Fourth Official:

ACL Sec. 3

Beijing Workers Stadium

FC Tokyo

1-1

Match Finished

First Half1-1

Second Half0-0

Beijing Guoan

FC Tokyo Beijing Guoan
44 minutes: Ariajasuru HASEGAWA Scorer 10 minutes: Wan Shao Long
10 minutes Kenichi KAGA → Hyun Soo JANG
60 minutes Naotake HANYU → Lucas
72 minutes Tatsuya YAZAWA → Sotan TANABE
Player Substitution 59 minutes Wanchanchin → Maojientin
59 minutes Andrija KaljeroBic → Reynaldo
75 minutes Wanshaoron → Chang Shinshin
5 Shoot 9
6 GK 2
3 CK 8
20 Direct Free Kick 19
4 Indirect Free Kick 0
0 Offside 3
0 PK 1
' 10 Hideto TAKAHASHI
' 87 Ariajasuru HASEGAWA
Warning ' 37 Shuyunron
' 39 Yuyan
Exit
FC Tokyo Starting Lineup
GK 20 Shuichi GONDA
DF 5 Kenichi KAGA
DF 6 Kosuke OTA
DF 3 Masato MORISHIGE
DF 2 Yuhei TOKUNAGA
MF 18 Naohiro ISHIKAWA
MF 8 Ariajasuru HASEGAWA
MF 22 Naotake HANYU
MF 4 Hideto TAKAHASHI
MF 39 Tatsuya YAZAWA
FW 11 Kazuma WATANABE
FC TokyoSubstitute
GK 1 Hitoshi SHIOTA
DF 30 Hyun Soo JANG
DF 33 Kenta MUKUHARA
MF 27 Sotan TANABE
MF 7 Takuji YONEMOTO
FW 49 Lucas
FW 13 Sota HIRAYAMA
Beijing Guoan Starting Lineup
GK 12 Housen
DF 4 Choutin
DF 13 Shuyunron
DF 25 Jaocho
DF 3 Yu Yan
MF 39 Piaochong
MF 6 Julian
MF 19 Wanshaoron
MF 5 Dalmatitch
MF 7 One Chance In
FW 15 Andrija Kaljevic
Beijing Guoan Substitute
GK 36 Baishao Lei
DF 20 Chanshinshin
DF 18 Lunch
MF 10 Chancey Cho
MF 21 Chu Yi Fan
FW 33 Mao Jientin
FW 37 Reinaldo

[Player/Coach Comments]

We aim for victory as one team, even in the midst of tough consecutive away games.


ACL Group Stage Matchday 3 will be played away against Beijing Guoan. In the previous match, Ulsan Hyundai was held to a frustrating draw in stoppage time, but they still maintain the top spot in the group with a goal difference advantage over Ulsan. Coach Ranko POPOVIC stated, "As a team representing Japan, we have prepared everything to show the appropriate football." This match against Beijing, halfway through the group stage, will be played away, but considering the tough schedule ahead, we aim to take 3 points and return to Japan.

 Beijing Guoan, on the other hand, has only 1 point after 2 matches. As mentioned by coach Jaime Pacheco in the press conference the day before, "If we lose, our ACL will be over." Depending on the result of today's match against Tokyo, it will become difficult for them to advance to the next round, so they will come into this match with great determination. They will aim long balls towards Serbian top scorer of the 2011 season, FW Kaluderovic, while MF Piao Cheng and Wang Xiaolong will use their speed to break through from the second line, making the passing and marking in the DF line crucial.

 Tokyo's Hasegawa, who was suspended for the league Hiroshima match, returns to the starting lineup as a midfielder. Watanabe will take the top spot in place of Lucas, and the team will face the match with this formation. Morishige said, "Losing to Hiroshima doesn't change what we have to do. We want to play the same attacking and passing football that we have been working on so far in the Beijing match," and while there is a challenge of not scoring, it is important for the team to stay focused and fight together.

 In order to face the approximately 30,000 Beijing supporters and the approximately 300 fans who will travel from Tokyo while facing restrictions on movement and support, coach Ranko POPOVIC has vowed to "prove our strength and play a style of soccer that drags them onto our own turf," and wants to fight with a strong mentality until the end, even in a completely away situation. The match started at exactly 8:00 PM Tokyo kickoff time at the Beijing Workers' Stadium.


Tokyo United For Stern Test In Beijing


 For the 3rd game of the ACL group stage, Tokyo faced Beijing Guoan from China. Tokyo had previously conceded a late goal in their last match and were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw against Ulsan Hyundai, but still maintained their top spot in the group on goal difference. Tokyo manager Popovic stated, "As representatives of Japan, we have thoroughly prepared to perform in an appropriate manner." With this match marking the midpoint of the competition and considering the busy future schedule, Tokyo aimed to win and bring back three points home with them.

 Opponents Beijing Guoan had a single point to show for their two games to date. As manager Jaime Pacheco acknowledged, "If we lose then the ACL is over for us". With their chances for advancement to the next round dependent on the result it was expected that the team would be thoroughly prepared for the fixture. With 2011 Serbian League top scorer Kaluderovic as target man supported by speedy midfielders Piao Cheng and Wang Xiaolong, the key to defending for Tokyo would lie in handing over marking duties.

 Hasegawa returned from suspension for the Hiroshima game to take a place in central midfield while Watanabe replaced Lucas as lone striker. Morishige commented, "We may have lost to Hiroshima but we aren't going to change the way we play. We want to play against Beijing the same way as in the other games; attacking football, passing football, everything we've worked on so far".

 Amongst the 30,000 Beijing supporters were 300 hardy Tokyo fans who had traveled to support the team despite heavy restrictions on their movement and activity inside the stadium. Tokyo manager Popovic vowed that the team would show proof of its strength, like a sumo wrestler on the dohyo. Strong nerves were called for in a most intimidating atmosphere for the team to show its attacking intent until the final whistle. The game kicked off at exactly 8pm in the Workers Stadium.

Despite conceding a penalty, Hasegawa's precise shot finds the back of the net, equalizing the score.


 Beijing launches an attack with the loud support of many supporters. In the 6th minute, Kaga injures his leg and goes off the pitch for treatment. In Kaga's absence, Takahashi brings down an opponent in a close call and gives away a penalty in the 10th minute. This is converted by Beijing FW Wang Xiaolong, giving them an early lead. Shortly after, Jang Hyun Soo moves to center back. Tokyo wants to mount a counterattack, but they are unable to connect passes due to the tight marking and fouls from the opponents.

 At 18 minutes, Watanabe, who had jumped out to the front line, avoided the opponent's sliding and aimed for the goal with a shot from outside the right area, but it went wide. At 21 minutes, Hayato Hasegawa passed vertically to Hayabusa, who then passed it directly to the right. Tokunaga overlapped and sent a cross, but it didn't reach Watanabe in front of the goal. At 34 minutes, the opponent cleared the feed to the front line. Picking up the second ball in a position to the right, Ishikawa dribbled into the middle and took a shot, but it didn't hit well and was saved by the goalkeeper. Under intense pressure in the midfield, they lost the ball in a bad position and were repeatedly countered.

 After 40 minutes, Tokyo gradually takes control as fatigue sets in. Then, in the 44th minute, they push forward from a right throw-in, initially cleared but then passed to Tokunaga, who plays a direct pass to Ishikawa in the center. Ishikawa takes a step forward and lays it off, where Aria makes a run and powerfully strikes the ball into the net with his left foot, equalizing the score. They continue to attack using both sides and create chances from corner kicks, but the first half ends with the score tied.


Tokyo Fall Behind To Penalty But Hasegawa Grabs Equaliser


 Roared on by the vast crowd, Beijing attacked from the start. In the 6th minute, Tokyo defender Kaga suffered a leg injury and was forced to leave the field to receive extensive treatment. In the 10th minute, with Kaga still off the pitch, Tokyo's Takahashi was judged to have fouled a Beijing player and the referee pointed to the spot. Forward Wang Xiaolong beat Gonda with the penalty and Tokyo found themselves a goal down. Jang then replaced Kaga at center back. Tokyo attempted a fightback but were stymied by some tight marking that continually bordered on foul play, preventing them from playing their passing game.

 In the 18th minute, Watanabe successfully avoided an opponent's sliding tackle, broke into the Beijing area on the right, and attempted to float a shot into the net. The ball narrowly missed. In the 21st minute, Hasegawa passed the ball straight up the field, Hanyu laid it off to Tokunaga on the right wing with a first-time touch, and the Tokyo full back drove a cross into the penalty area that just missed Watanabe. In the 34th minute, Ishikawa took advantage of a poor clearance, cut inside from the right, and took a shot. However, he failed to strike the ball cleanly and it was an easy save for the keeper. Tokyo struggled against intense midfield pressure, frequently losing possession in unfavorable positions and inviting counter attacks.

 Beijing gradually began to tire from around the 40th minute, allowing Tokyo to slowly gain control of the game. From a throw in on the right in the 40th minute, Tokyo launched the ball into the Beijing area; the ball was cleared and Tokunaga moved it inside to Ishikawa. Ishikawa took a step inside and touched the ball into Hasegawa's path as he stormed forward from midfield. Hasegawa lined up his shot and stroked the ball into the net, giving Tokyo an equalizer on the stroke of halftime. The visitors threatened again as they made full use of the width of the pitch to force a corner. The set play came to nothing and the first period ended all square.


In the end, we managed to withstand the opponent's fierce attack and earn 1 point away from home.


 In the second half, both teams engaged in a back-and-forth battle. In the 46th minute, Watanabe took a strong shot from just outside the box, but the GK caught it. In the 50th minute, Beijing made a dribble into the box, but our team's persistent defense held strong. In the 51st minute, Ota cleared a free kick from the right side, avoiding a throw-in. In the 56th minute, Ota and Tanizawa combined on the left side, with Ota making a run up the side and sending in a sharp early cross. Ishikawa made a perfect jump near the goal, but his close-range shot was blocked by the opposing GK's quick reaction.

 In the 58th minute, there was a fierce battle for the ball in the midfield and Hayabusa was fouled, causing the game to be temporarily suspended. Lucas was substituted in due to a knee injury. In the 70th minute, Beijing took advantage of a Tokyo pass mistake and launched a counterattack. However, Gonda easily caught the long-range shot. Both teams were often interrupted by fouls, but Tokyo did not give up and continued to defend fiercely. In the 71st minute, Ishikawa fought hard in front of the goal and created a chance with Lucas, but they were unable to finish it.

 Substituted Tanabe for Tanabe in the 72nd minute. However, the development of turning passive against the opponent's tenacity. In the 78th minute, a dribble shot was taken behind the left side DF, but it was saved by Kanda and turned into a CK. In the 82nd minute, it was controlled from the opponent's FK and a shot towards the frame was taken, but Kanda saved it. On the contrary, in the 85th minute, Tokunaga rushed into the right area from the pass exchange between Tanabe and Hasegawa. He competed with the opponent's DF and brought it to a shot, but it was saved by the GK. After that, the opponent's fierce attack was defended by the team as a whole and the whistle was blown. It ended in a draw.


Tokyo Withstand Late Onslaught To Earn Point


 The game ebbed and flowed as the second half began. In the 46th minute Watanabe fired in a fierce drive from outside the penalty area that the Beijing keeper caught while at the other end in the 50th minute the Tokyo defence smothered the danger after a Beijing player dribbled into the area. Ota cleared a free kick out for a throw in with a commanding header in the 51st minute. Ota and Yazawa combined neatly down the left in the 56th minute with the former taking the ball forward and firing an early cross in to the near post. Ishikawa had anticipated the ball and moved smartly onto it, shooting from close range and drawing a fine reaction save from the keeper.

 In the 58th minute, Hanyu suffered a knee injury in a midfield battle for the ball and the game was stopped while he received treatment. He was unable to continue and Lucas took his place in the front line. Tokyo lost possession in the 70th minute, allowing Beijing to counter attack. A Beijing player shot from distance and Gonda collected the ball comfortably. The flow of the game was increasingly interrupted by fouls by both teams but Tokyo showed grit and defended intensely. Ishikawa showed great persistence to retain possession in front of the Beijing goal in the 71st minute and found Lucas but Tokyo couldn't manage to fashion a shooting opportunity.

 Tanabe replaced Yazawa in the 72nd minute. In the face of Beijing's aggressive persistence, Tokyo gradually became passive and it took a smart save from Gonda to deny Beijing in the 78th minute as the hosts got in behind their defence. Gonda made another good stop in the 82nd minute following a free kick on the left on the penalty area. In the 85th minute, Tanabe and Hasegawa exchanged passes and slipped the ball to Tokunaga who burst into the Beijing area, battled to hold off a defender and got a shot away. The Beijing keeper was equal to the challenge and the score remained 1-1. Beijing flung themselves forward in an attempt to snatch a late winner but the Tokyo defence showed concentration and resilience to deny the hosts. The final whistle blew on a hard-fought draw.

[Player Comments]《Masaru HASEGAWA》"I could clearly see the course for the goal. It was just a matter of hitting it and I didn't put much power into it. I was able to aim calmly for the course. Beijing put pressure on us from the start and we didn't know what would happen away from home, including the penalty kick. We were mentally prepared for that, but looking back, there were things we could have done better in the second half. Still, it was a big deal to get one point as a result in this away atmosphere and with the referee's decisions, especially with so many fans coming from Japan. Of course we wanted to win, but it's also important not to lose in games like this. I think it was a game that will lead to the next one, and we definitely want to crush it at home."

 "Ishikawa" "Frustrating! We couldn't play the soccer we aimed for, and we couldn't express our own soccer. We want to be able to play solidly in terms of content and development at the next home game. By experiencing this kind of game, we can grow by fighting tough. However, we really wanted to win... (to the fans who came to support us) it was very encouraging. There were about 300 people, but it felt like our bond deepened somehow... We really wanted to show that through our results, but we couldn't. At the next home game, we want to do our best so that the fans can be happy."

 [Summary of Coach Popovich's Press Conference] "Today, we came to play football, but I don't think we were able to play football. We tried to play football, but I think the opponent's rough play was noticeable, and I can't understand the judgment on that rough play. Some players were injured today, and it was a miracle that we had 11 players until the end. I think it was that kind of game. You can see the damage and scars on the players' bodies in the photos, so please check the photos. I want to say that the players did very well. Even in this situation, we continued to do what we have been doing until the end."


Players' comments
Hasegawa
"For the goal, I could see where I wanted to put the ball clearly and it was just a question of making a good contact with the ball. I didn't put a lot of power into the shot, I just tried to keep calm and place it. Beijing piled on the pressure straight from the start and in away games you don't know what's going to happen, including things like the penalty that was given against us. We had to prepare ourselves mentally for the game as well. In the second half when they were on top I felt there was more I could have done and that's something I have to reflect on. A lot of our fans came from Japan to support us and in such an away atmosphere and amid the refereeing decisions getting a point here is a good result. Of course we wanted to win but not losing these kinds of games is important. I think this experience will stand us in good stead in the future. We want to give them a good hiding in the return game at home".

Ishikawa
"Frustrating. We couldn't play the kind of football we wanted to and we weren't able to express ourselves on the pitch. In the next match at home we want to put in a better performance and play a better game. These kind of games are a good experience and having to dig deep will make us stronger in the future. However, we really wanted to win today for the fans who made the trip here. About 300 of them came and I feel that the bonds between us have grown even stronger. We wanted to win for them and will do our best to give them something to cheer about in the next match".


FC Tokyo manager Popovic
"Well, we came here today to play football but I'm afraid what we got wasn't football at all. We wanted to play but what stood out was rough play from our opponents and I can't understand the referee's decisions regarding it at all. Some of our players were injured today and it's a miracle that we ended the game with 11 men on the field. That's what kind of game it was. If you look at the photographs you can see what I mean about the injuries and damage our players were subjected to during the game. Our players were magnificent today for the way they continued to try to play the way we have been under such circumstances".


[Beijing Guoan, Jaime Pacheco's press conference summary]"Good evening everyone. The players showed a fantastic performance. What I want is to end up winning. As for the game, we were able to control the attack and take the lead. Towards the end of the first half, we showed that we lacked international experience. We had a chance for a penalty kick at the end of the first half, but unfortunately we couldn't take it. To be honest, I am not satisfied with the result. However, we gave our all and were able to make good decisions in certain situations. I think we can praise the confidence and attitude towards the game."


Beijing manager Jaime Pacheco
"Good evening everyone. Our players produced a great performance today. I'd asked them to fight to the bitter end to get the win. I felt we seized the initiative and controlled the game, particularly in attack. I felt we showed a lack of international experience towards the end of the first half. We also had a good shout for a penalty that wasn't given and that was disappointing. To be honest, I can't say I'm happy with the result. Having said that though, I felt the team played to the full extent of their capability and the decision-making was good. I think I can praise the team for the confidence they showed and the way in which they accounted for themselves".