2002 Season Opening, with "attacking football", we will take the lead

　The long-awaited 2002 J1 League opening match will see Kashima Antlers coming to our home. Facing last season's J League champions, and being the first among other teams to host the prestigious opening game at home, Tokyo has been given a significant opportunity to become the "main character". With this chance, we are excited to see how the "attacking football" advocated by new manager Hiromi HARA will bear fruit.

　The starting members are DF = from the right, Minoru KOBAYASHI, Jaan, Ito, and Shimohira. MF = Miura and Miyazawa as double defensive midfielders, with Sato on the right, Seigo KOBAYASHI on the left, and Kelly in the attacking midfield. FW = Amaral. They approached the kickoff with the same formation as last year.

Thrilling Football Highlights Opening Day Victory Over Champions!

After a long, long wait the 2002 J-League season finally arrived with the first game against last year's champions Kashima Antlers providing a stern test for the much-trumpeted attacking football of new manager Hiromi Hara. Expectation reached fever pitch as the new season kicked off in brilliant sunshine at a packed Tokyo Stadium.

Masamitsu KOBAYASHI is in great form! Each player is utilizing their strengths to overwhelm Kashima.

　From the start of the match, both teams displayed a high-pressure style of football. With neither side able to easily approach the goal, in the 7th minute, Miyazawa took a long-range shot, showing a determination not to back down against Kashima. Moreover, in the 9th minute, Sato broke free from a one-two pass with Miura, getting open in front of the goal for a shot. The ball unfortunately hit the goalpost, but they showcased sharpness in their quick counterattack, gaining momentum.

　Then, in the 11th minute, after winning the ball in midfield, Sato received a pass from Kelly and sprinted down the right side, sending a perfectly placed ground cross from a deep position near the end line. Kelly was also closing in from the center, but Seigo KOBAYASHI made a run from behind him, finding space between the Kashima defenders to score a goal! Seigo KOBAYASHI had also scored in this manner during last week's training match against Hallelujah, successfully executing the planned play to take the lead!

　After that, the defensive midfielders Miura and Miyazawa continued to be the foundation of both offense and defense with their tireless work rate. In the 17th minute, Miyazawa connected with Masamitsu KOBAYASHI, and the final pass went to Ito, who had moved up from a set piece. Ito calmly finished this, securing an additional goal in a series of plays that showcased quick decision-making.

　Thanks to the mistakes of the sluggish Kashima, the match progressed at Tokyo's pace throughout. Kashima attempted to counterattack centered around Augusto on the left side, but the DF line led by Jaan responded firmly. In the 41st minute, Kashima connected a ball from Augusto to forward Suzuki, and Ogawa, who was free in the penalty area, took a shot. It was a critical moment, but GK Doi made a fine save! Tokyo showcased the abilities of each player. In the 44th minute, Amaral passed to Seigo Kobayashi on the left, and finally, Kelly, who ran into the center, received the ball and easily took a shot that found the back of the net! With a direct play that bewildered Kashima's DF, they secured the decisive third goal and ended the first half.

Masamitsu Kobayashi Shines as Tokyo Run Riot!

The game began at a frantic pace as both teams battled for the upper hand in midfield. Neither were able to impose themselves until the 9th minute when Miura and Sato played a neat one-two, allowing the latter to run on unmarked and thunder a shot against the corner of post and bar; suddenly F. C. Tokyo had found their rhythm.
They took the lead 2 minutes later as Kelly set the sparkling Sato away down the right side. His low cross provoked a leisurely discussion among the Antlers defense as to who should clear it and Masamitsu Kobayashi raced in to flick the ball past the disgusted keeper.
The Antlers had no answer to the power and hard work of Miura and Miyazawa in midfield with the latter instrumental in the second goal just 6 minutes later. He picked out Masamitsu Kobayashi whose perfectly timed pass put Ito through inside the box. Ito kept his cool and deftly beat the goalie for a 2-0 lead.
The sluggish Antlers were struggling all over the field and their sporadic attacks, led by Augusto, were repelled by the Tokyo back line with the formidable Jean at the center. In the 41st minute Suzuki slipped the ball to Ogasawara whose cracking shot was superbly tipped over by Doi at full stretch. A crucial save, it proved, as two minutes later the Antlers defense again stopped to admire F. C. Tokyo's marvelous approach work, leaving Kelly with the simplest of tap-ins from Masamitsu Kobayashi's cross. The first half ended 3-0 and the F. C. Tokyo players left the field to a standing ovation.

Despite being countered by Kashima, the offensive stance remains strong, culminating in a victory!

　Tokyo's fighting spirit did not wane in the second half. In a one-on-one situation, Seigo KOBAYASHI actively took on the challenge, while Miyazawa aimed for a through pass with a wide view. In response to the side attack, Amaral, Kelly, and then Miura all made runs into the box, creating a robust offensive play. In the 52nd minute, once again, Sato from the left delivered a cross, and this time Amaral jumped in the center, with the loose ball being picked up by Seigo KOBAYASHI with his left foot! With Seigo KOBAYASHI's involvement in all the goals, Tokyo secured their fourth point.

　Even with a four-goal difference, there was no sense of relaxation, but from this point on, the players' movement noticeably decreased, and the lines became stretched. Amaral was substituted for Fukuda, and Sato was replaced by rookie Baba in an attempt to hold on, but in the 79th minute, they were caught off guard by Kashima, and a cross from Motoyama was finished by substitute forward Hiraise. In stoppage time, they allowed an additional goal from a header by defender Akita, who connected with another cross from Motoyama, but the match ended there. While there are certainly challenges, they celebrated their third consecutive opening match victory in the J1 League with an attacking style of football that more than compensated for those issues!

　In the first match, a wonderful display of "this is Tokyo's attacking soccer" was fully evident on the pitch. Above all, it was felt that the transition to "attacking soccer" was based on the "tenacious" and "never give up" style that former coach Kiyoshi OKUMA built until last year, not just chasing ideals but also reflecting a sense of reality. It was a fantastic victory that instilled great expectations for the new season.

[Summary of Coach Hara's Press Conference] "Since taking on the role of coach, I have always wanted to play attacking football. However, after actually starting, I felt the players' dedication, and at that moment, I was reassured that we could play a style where we attack, and even if we lose the ball, we can quickly regain it. Today, the players executed what we practiced without fear. I am happy that they responded to what I am trying to do, and I appreciate their attitude. It is not easy, but I want to continue to promote this style of football. Regarding the two goals conceded, I thought we would concede at times, so if I had to rate today's game, I would give it a perfect score. The players really did well."

Antlers Fightback But Tokyo Claim Stunning Victory!

Even with a three goal lead Tokyo didn't ease up in the second half, pressuring the Antlers right across the park, and Masamitsu Kobayashi reaped more reward for his splendid contribution to the game when he smashed a loose ball through the Antlers keeper's legs in the 52nd minute to make it 4-0.
At last Tokyo began to show signs of fatigue and Amaral and Sato were replaced by Fukuda and Baba respectively. A few chinks appeared in the hitherto watertight defense; Hirase headed in Motoyama's cross after 79 minutes and in the 89th minute Akita gave the visitors a late consolation with another header. The final whistle blew for a memorable 4-2 win, the third consecutive year F. C. Tokyo have won the opening game.
The tenacity instilled under former manager Kiyoshi Okuma still remains; new manager Hiromi Hara's vision of attacking football has been welded to it and the results were clear to all - a breathtaking display of fluent, attractive football and solid defending. Expectations for the season are sky high.

Manager Hara: Well, as manager I preach attacking football and sometimes you have to put your money where your mouth is. Today the players brought everything we had worked on in training to the game and applied it without fear. It's not an easy thing to do-forget the late goals we conceded, I'd give this performance full marks. The players did very, very well.