A crucial match for securing 3 points at home in order to advance in the ACL and gain an advantage for the future.

　FC Tokyo's first ACL of the season will face South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai at home National Stadium. In the first match, they had a great victory against Brisbane Roar in Australia. Although they will have a tough schedule alongside the league matches, they aim to win at home in order to advance to the next stage. Coach Ranko POPOVIC also stated, "We will not only represent FC Tokyo, but also Japan. We want to meet expectations by playing in a Japanese style."

　Today, Tokyo will face Nagoya in the league, with Yonemoto returning to the starting lineup for the first time in about a year as a substitute. He will form a double pivot with Takahashi. Watanabe will lead the attack, with Ishikawa and Taniyama on either side.

　Ulsan Hyundai, on the other hand, has a lineup of players who have previously played in the J-League, including FW Igno, FW Maranhão, MF Kim Sun-yong, MF Lee Ho, DF Kwak Tae-hwi, and MF Kim Chang-soo. The main attacking force consists of FW Igno and the 196cm tall FW Kim Shin-wook. The wingers, MF Kim Chang-soo and MF Kim Sun-yong, provide the speed and power for their dynamic attacks.

　It is expected to be a tough battle, but we will fearlessly go for victory with our own soccer. The National Stadium is still calm and sunny, although the wind is still cold. The match started at 2pm with a kickoff in Tokyo.

Tokyo Aim For 3 Points In ACL Home Opener

　For their first home game in the Asian Champions League, FC Tokyo faced Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea at the National Stadium in Tokyo. Tokyo had beaten Brisbane Roar of Australia 2-0 away in the first match and, despite the demanding schedule as the games were being played in tandem with the J.League, saw the match as a chance to cement their standing in the group. Tokyo manager Popovic was clear about the team's ambitions, "We're not just representing ourselves but the whole country here. We want to play Japanese-style football and answer the expectations".

　After coming on as a substitute in the win over Nagoya in the J.League at the weekend, young midfielder Yonemoto returned to the starting eleven for the first time in nearly a year, taking a place alongside Takahashi in central midfield. Watanabe played as a lone striker with Ishikawa and Yazawa on the wings.

　Opponents Ulsan Hyundai fielded a team packed with players experienced in the J.League: forwards Lee Keun-ho and Maranhao, midfielders Kim Seung-yong and Lee Ho, defender Kwak Tae-hwi and midfielder Ienaga had all played their trade in Japan at one time. With an attack led by linchpin Lee Keun-ho, partnered by towering, 1.96m tall forward Kim Shin-wook and supported by Ienaga and Kim Seung-yong on the flanks, the visitors possessed a powerful, speedy strikeforce.

　Although a tough game was expected, Tokyo had no reason to be fearful if they could play their own football and aim for a win. The hosts kicked off shortly after 2pm on a sunny but chilly afternoon.

Showed a solid defense against Ulsan's powerful attack, and Tokunaga scored the opening goal from a corner kick!

　In the first minute, Watanabe took the first shot without hesitation and entered the game. However, Ulsan also collected the ball with FW Igno, and in the 5th minute, FW Kim Shin-wook headed the cross from FW Igno's dribble. In the 11th minute, Ulsan's midfielder MF Esteban dribbled up and once again FW Kim Shin-wook took a shot.

　However, they were able to defend well against Ulsan's speedy and powerful attacks, and gradually increased the scenes of connecting passes and moving forward. In the 26th minute, Tokunaga broke through to a high position on the right side and made a fast cross. However, Watanabe in front of the goal and Kajiyama in the left area were able to slip through... In the 27th minute, Ulsan's goal kick was received by FW Igno, who was able to bring the ball to a shot, but the DF closed in tightly and Gonda made the catch.

　Tokyo tried to move forward, but also made mistakes. In the 32nd minute, Mori Shige → Kajiyama showed a delicate pass work from the starting point, but was quickly taken away while connecting and was aimed at the back. Against Ulsan FW Igno, who ran into the area, Kaga was the center of the defense, but could not completely steal the ball. It was connected to FW Kim Shin-wook in front of the area, and a final pass was given to right MF Ienaga, but he quickly covered and did not allow a shot. In the 35th minute, they earned a left CK from Tokunaga's cross. The ball from Ishikawa's kick went to the center where Kajiyama was, but Ulsan's DF was also tough and he couldn't control it.

　However, in the 36th minute, Kajiyama, who had jumped into the area, snatched the right CK from Ishikawa. Ishikawa then returned the ball to the center with a sharp pass. Although Tokunaga couldn't shoot directly, he brought the ball forward and boldly aimed for the top left corner, despite being closed down by the defenders, and GOAL!! Unexpectedly, Tokunaga's skillful shot from the CK gave them the lead, and they headed into the second half.

Tokyo Thwart Dynamic Ulsan Before Tokunaga Opens The Scoring

　Tokyo made a bold start to the contest, Watanabe registering the first shot soon after kick off. However, the visitors quickly moved the ball forward to Lee Keun-ho and from his cross in the 5th minute Kim Shin-wook powered a header on target. In the 11th minute defensive midfielder Estiven dribbled up the field and Kim Shin-wook fired another attempt on goal.

　Tokyo held the pacy Ulsan attack in check and slowly began to assert their passing game, gradually moving the ball nearer to the opposition goal. In the 26th minute, Tokunaga found space down the right and whipped in a flashing cross that narrowly evaded Watanabe and Kajiyama in the center. A minute later, Lee Keun-ho latched onto a goal kick and shot, but a solid defensive block took the pace off the ball and Gonda collected comfortably.

　Tokyo were moving the ball forward more smoothly yet unforced errors began to hamper their progress. In the 32nd minute, Morishige found Kajiyama and Tokyo showed some neat interplay yet lost possession, allowing Ulsan to pour forward in attack. Kaga managed to block Lee Keun-ho's route to goal but was unable to regain the ball and when Kim Shin-wook set up Ienaga inside the area on the right, it took a sharp piece of covering to deny the visitors a clear sight of goal. Tokyo won a corner in the 35th minute as Tokunaga's cross was cleared behind. Ishikawa hoisted the ball into the danger area where it ran loose to Kajiyama, but the Ulsan defense quickly cleared the danger.

　Tokyo won another corner in the 36th minute as Ishikawa played the ball through to Kajiyama inside the Ulsan penalty area. Ishikawa cut the corner back to Tokunaga in a central position outside the Ulsan area; Tokunaga found himself unable to shoot first time, then pushed the ball past a pair of onrushing defenders before producing a delicate and surprising lob that caught the Ulsan keeper off his line and looped gracefully into the net. A moment of unpredictability and fine technique earned Tokyo the lead at half time.

After taking the lead again with a splendid goal, we were caught off guard just before the end...

　After taking the lead in the second half, Tokyo maintained their defensive focus and moved the ball well to push forward. In response, Ulsan substituted MF Maranhão in the 56th minute, while Tokyo brought on Hasegawa for Yonemoto in the 62nd minute. Both teams used player substitutions to try and bring their rhythm back. However, Tokyo continued to struggle to score, but kept up their offensive pressure.

　In the 68th minute, Watanabe dropped a cross from the right and Kajiyama immediately threw his body out for a powerful volley. The shot was on target, but it was saved by the GK and went out for a corner kick... In the 69th minute, Hayashi came in. However, in the 75th minute, after clearing a corner kick from Ulsan, the ball was passed to Ishikawa who was running towards the front line. But the pass did not connect and the ball was kicked into Tokyo's territory by Ulsan's GK. Ulsan's MF Kim Sun-yong took advantage of the space left behind by Tokyo's push and equalized the score.

　Without panicking, we continued to attack with our own style of soccer, and in the 83rd minute, Ishikawa and Masaru HASEGAWA exchanged passes with a flowing pass work, and Masaru HASEGAWA made a run towards the center of the area. He drew the defender and passed to Hayato HASEGAWA on the left. Hayato HASEGAWA briefly held the ball in the left area before carefully passing it to the front of the goal. Kajiyama, who was in position, scored a precise shot into the top right corner, igniting the stands with his first goal of the season. In the midst of a tough and intense battle, we were able to score from a typical Tokyo-style soccer play and once again take the lead.

　Tokyo, who had been gaining momentum, was caught off guard in an instant. In the 88th minute, a long ball was sent to DF Kuatehi from the right side of Ulsan, and FW Maranyon was left free to jump into the right area. And they conceded a goal with a loop... Tokyo played their characteristic soccer, dominated the game and always took the lead, but unfortunately ended up with a draw.

Kajiyama Regains Lead But Late Equaliser Denies Victory

　With a one-goal lead under their belts Tokyo looked more confident in the second half, defending solidly and moving the ball around briskly as they pushed forward. Ulsan responded by replacing Kim Shin-wook with MF Maranhao in the 57th.minute, while Tokyo sent on MF Hasegawa for MF Yonemoto shortly after. With the changes made both sides set about establishing a rhythm. Tokyo stuttered but still managed to create chances.

　In the 68th minute, Watanabe knocked down a cross from the right and Kajiyama cracked a low, controlled volley that was heading for the corner until the Ulsan goalkeeper produced a fine save. Hanyu replaced Yazawa in the 69th minute. In the 75th minute, Kim Young-kwang, the Ulsan goalkeeper, punched away a Kajiyama corner and Hanyu attempted to pick out Ishikawa. The goalkeeper pounced on the ball and quickly launched it down the field where the Tokyo defence attempted to push up but midfielder Kim Seung-yong found himself onside and finished neatly past Gonda to tie the score.

　Despite conceding, Tokyo stayed calm and continued to play a measured game. In the 83rd minute, some fluid passing between Ishikawa and Hasegawa allowed the latter to take the ball inside the Ulsan area in a central position. Hasegawa drew the defense towards himself, then slipped the ball to Hanyu on the left. Hanyu held it up for a moment before rolling it back into Kajiyama's path as he burst inside the area. Kajiyama struck first time, hard and true, and the ball hit the back of the net for a beautifully-worked team goal. Kajiyama's first goal of the season had restored Tokyo's lead and provoked scenes of wild abandon in the stands.

　Tokyo had fashioned a goal good enough to win any game but not this one, unfortunately. In the 88th minute, Ulsan defender Kwak Tae-hwi hoisted a long ball down the right that found substitute Maranhao unmarked and in acres of space. Gonda raced off his line but was helpless as Maranhao lobbed the ball over his head and into the net. Tokyo had largely dominated the game with a lively performance yet were forced to settle for a disappointing draw.

[Player Comments]《Pedro》"It's a shame that we ended up with a draw, but I think we were able to achieve the minimum result of one point. I felt the strength and skill of Ulsan, but I don't think we ever lost to them. There was also some fun in the intensity. When we were able to avoid their attacks and connect passes at a good tempo, it felt good. We conceded two goals, but there were also moments where we were able to play at our own pace and gain confidence."

　"Tokunaga" "As for the goal... while I was thinking whether to shoot with one touch or trap and then shoot, I ended up having no choice but to aim for it. However, the shot was on target. Recently, I haven't been able to calm down until I score one point. It would have been better if we could have dominated the game with more possession today. I think it was a big advantage to be able to take the lead. I am tired, but the challenge is how to fight when things don't go well."

　[Coach Popovich's Press Conference Summary]"First of all, I need to calm myself down. I'm not angry about today's performance or result, but I'm angry about some players who thought they had already won before the game ended. They were thinking that we could win easily... and that makes me angry. The opponent was a great team. In the first half, they played defensively and countered from interceptions, but in the second half, we played in our own rhythm. However, we conceded a goal from a simple ball being thrown in."

　It's a shame that we allowed such a simple goal during a period of time when we were dominating and moving the ball, to the point where we were wondering when the third goal would come. Still, I think we were able to control ourselves against a top-level team in Asia, and I'm satisfied with that and it's a positive thing, but I think we lacked the experience of winning throughout the 90 minutes. We couldn't believe in ourselves until the end. It's a shame that we couldn't believe in ourselves and finish the game with a win."

Players' comments
Kajiyama
"It's disappointing to draw and get the bare minimum of a single point. I felt Ulsan were strong on the ball and technically gifted and even though it was a hard game it was also enjoyable. They came at us with real intensity so when we were able to deflect that and pass the ball around at a quick tempo it felt good. We conceded twice but the way we managed to control the pace of the game will give us confidence".

Tokunaga
"Well, for the goal I was in two minds whether to hit the ball first time or take a touch. After I trapped the ball there was nothing for it but to shoot and it went just where I wanted it to. Recently we just don't seem to be able to calm down until we've scored. Today again if we could have enjoyed more possession and controlled the game more it would have been much better. Scoring first would have been more important then. Of course there's some tiredness but how we play when things aren't going our way is an issue we have to look at".


FC Tokyo manager Popovic
"First of all, I think that I have to get a grip of myself. It's not that I'm only angry with the result or the performance, but I feel that some players thought the game was won before the final whistle. It seemed like they thought it was all over. Yes, I'm angry. Our opponents today are a very good team. In the first half, they defended well, intercepted the ball, and counterattacked, whereas we controlled the rhythm in the second half. However, playing a thoughtless ball cost us a goal.
We were playing well and were on top for so long that it seemed like only a matter of time before we scored a third goal, so to concede such a simple goal is very disappointing. Even so, to play against one of the top teams in Asia and control the game for so long is a positive we can take from the match. I think our lack of experience in shutting out the opposition to win tight games showed today. We didn't have the belief that we could hold on, and that's disappointing".

[Ulsan Hyundai Kim Ho-gon's Press Conference Summary]"Both teams played a very good game. As we heard beforehand, FC Tokyo has become stronger than last year, and we felt that during the away game. They were strong both organizationally and tactically. Although it ended in a 2-2 draw, Ulsan's condition was not as good as expected. FC Tokyo's balance between offense and defense has become stable, and their attacking tempo has increased. The overlapping on both sides was also well-trained and organized."

　In the beginning of the first half, I think we were good as a team, but after that, we had difficulty in organizing and breaking through, and we couldn't break through. In the second half, there were also physical problems, and we couldn't play our own soccer. We couldn't play the way we wanted to 100%, which is disappointing, but I want to praise the players for not giving up until the end and being able to bring it to a draw."

Ulsan Hyundai manager Kim Ho-gon
"I felt that both teams played a good game today. We had heard that Tokyo were much improved from last year and that's the way it turned out in what was very much an away game for us. My impression was that they were very strong in terms of the system and the tactics. It ended as a 2-2 draw but from Ulsan's point of view our condition hadn't improved as much as we had expected. FC Tokyo had a good balance between defence and attack, increased the tempo as they moved forward and the sidebacks looked well-trained in the systematic way they overlapped.
We played well as a team at the start of the first half but after that we found it difficult to construct moves and break the deadlock. We couldn't open them up. In the second half we seemed to have a problem with our power and weren't allowed to play our game, I felt. We couldn't follow our game plan 100% which was disappointing, but the players fought to the bitter end and earned a draw so I want to praise them for that".