The 2002 season opens with "attacking soccer", and we are the main characters.

　The long-awaited 2002 J1 League, the opening match will be against Kashima Antlers at home. Tokyo, who will face the J League champions from last season, and will be the first team to have the prestigious opening game at home, has been given a great opportunity to become the "main character". With this opportunity, it is exciting to see how Hiromi HARA, the new coach, will bring his "attacking football" to fruition.

　The starting members were DF= Minoru KOBAYASHI on the right, Jean, Ito, and Shimodaira. MF= Double Volante of Miura and Miyazawa, Sato on the right, Masamitsu KOBAYASHI on the left, and Kelly as the attacking midfielder. FW= Amaral. They kicked off 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 years' 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, in great shape! Each player overwhelms Kashima by utilizing their strengths.

　From the start of the match, both teams played a high-pressure game of soccer. Despite not being able to easily approach the goal, in the 7th minute, Miyazawa took a middle shot and showed a strong attitude against Kashima. Not only that, in the 9th minute, Sato broke free from Miura's one-two pass and took a shot in front of the goal. The ball unfortunately hit the goal post, but they showed their speed in counterattacks and gained momentum.

　And in the 11th minute, after taking the ball in the midfield, Sato received a pass from Kelly and dribbled down the right side, sending a perfect ground cross from a deep position near the end line. Kelly was also closing in from the center, but Seigo Kobayashi ran in from the left behind him and scored between the Kashima DFs! Kobayashi also scored in this manner in last week's training match against Hallelujah, and they were able to take the lead as planned!

　Afterwards, Miura and Miyazawa, the defensive midfielders, continued to be the cornerstone of both offense and defense with their tireless work rate. In the 17th minute, Miyazawa connected with Seigo Kobayashi, and the final pass went to Ito who had been making runs from set pieces. Ito calmly finished the chance, showcasing his quick decision-making skills and securing another goal for the team.

　Assisted by the slow movements of Kashima's mistakes, the game progresses at a steady pace for Tokyo. Kashima attempts to counterattack with Augusto on the left side, but the DF line, led by Julian, responds firmly. In the 41st minute, Suzuki connects with a ball from Augusto and Ogasawara, who was free in the penalty area, takes a shot. It was a decisive chance, but GK Doi makes a fine save! Each player on Tokyo's team is able to demonstrate their individual strengths. In the 44th minute, Amaral passes to the left to Seigo Kobayashi, who then passes to Kelly running into the center. Kelly easily takes the shot and scores! With a direct play that bewilders Kashima's DF, they secure a third goal and end 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 defence 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 centre. 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 defence 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 facing Kashima's counterattack, our aggressive attitude never wavered and we were able to secure the victory!

　In the second half, Tokyo's fighting spirit did not waver. In a one-on-one situation, Seigo Kobayashi aggressively challenged, while Miyazawa aimed for through passes with a wide view. In response to side attacks, Amaral, Kelly, and Miura all joined in with strong attacks by jumping into the goal area. In the 52nd minute, once again, Sato on the left crossed and this time Amaral jumped in the center, and Kobayashi Sei scored with his left foot! Tokyo scores their fourth goal with Kobayashi Sei's involvement in all goals.

　Despite the 4-point difference, there was no sense of relaxation, but from this point on, the physical strength naturally decreased and the line became stretched. Amaral → Fukuda, Sato → rookie Baba were substituted in an attempt to hold on, but in the 79th minute, Kashima took advantage of a momentary gap and scored a goal from a cross by Motoyama, who had just been substituted in. In stoppage time, they also allowed an additional goal from a determined header by DF Akita, who had matched Motoyama's cross, but the time was up. There are certainly challenges, but they were able to achieve a victory in the opening game of the J1 League for the third consecutive year with an overwhelming attacking soccer that made up for them!

　In the first game, a wonderful performance was shown on the pitch that fully expressed the attitude of "this is Tokyo's attacking football", and above all, the transition to "attacking football" based on the "tenacious" and "never give up until the end" football that former coach Kiyoshi OKUMA built until last year, not only pursuing ideals but also feeling a sense of reality. It was a wonderful victory that gave enough expectations for the new season.

[Summary of the press conference by former coach] "Since taking on the role of coach, I have always talked about wanting to play an attacking style of football. But when we actually started, I could feel the players' determination and that gave me the confidence that we can play the kind of football where we go on the attack and quickly recover if we lose the ball. Today, the players did what we have been practicing without fear. I am happy that they responded to what I wanted to do and their attitude. It won't be easy, but I want to continue to show this attitude of playing this kind of football. As for the two goals we conceded, I was expecting them to score, so if I were to give a score for today's game, I would give it a hundred points. The players did really 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 keepers 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 water tight defence; 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.