The long-awaited start of the 2004 season

　The 2004 J1 League kicked off. The first match was against Albirex Niigata. The fresh team, newly promoted to J1 League, faced them at their home, Ajinomoto Stadium. However, due to the concurrent activities of the Japan national team, Tokyo was missing players such as Shigetoshi Hasebe, Yuto Nagatomo, and Daiki Iwamasa who were participating in the U-23 Japan national team. Additionally, Kelly was unable to make it to the bench due to injury.

　In this situation, Niigata's coach, Mr. Antomachi, said before the match, "I think we both feel lucky." For Niigata, it is lucky to face Tokyo, who is without the U-23 representative, and for Tokyo, it is lucky to face a team that is playing in J1 for the first time. However, on the other hand, Coach Antomachi said, "If Kelly is absent, the marking will be dispersed." Also, Coach Hara said, "Niigata has many experienced players. If we let our guard down, we will be caught off guard," and both teams were on high alert.

　The stands were packed with 35,880 spectators, and as the game kicked off in Niigata, the expectations and passion of many fans from both teams came together.

Overwhelming Niigata with a powerful attacking soccer

　Tokyo's lineup is based on a 4-4-2 formation with Abe and new addition Lucas as the two top players, Toda on the right MF, and Suzuki on the left. On the bench are Asari, along with Shioda, Mashima, Wu, and Kajiyama, four rookies. However, as shown on the team sheet, Suzuki is attacking from a high position and has been launching a fierce attack since the start. In the first minute, Suzuki received a throw-in and ran up the left side, crossing the ball to Lucas who headed it towards the near post, hitting the crossbar. Tokyo had their first shot of the season and immediately had a decisive chance.

　At 6 minutes, Lucas swung to the left side and Toda headed the cross from Kanazawa. At 9 minutes, Suzuki took a shot from Miyazawa's FK from the left side. At 11 minutes, Suzuki brought the feed from the DF line to the front of the goal and took a shot. At 15 minutes, Lucas competed for a long ball and Abe ran in at the end, but was slightly offside.

　18 minutes, 19 minutes, Lucas made a breakthrough from the right area and created a chance from a ground cross, but the timing was not right in the center. Although they couldn't score a goal, they quickly turned the game around from intense pressing and used the field widely with fast passing, gaining an advantage in the game.

Abe scores a header from the side combination!

　Tokyo, who boldly attacked with both side backs, had a chance at the 25th minute when Kanazawa followed up on a loose cross from Kaji on the left side. Miyazawa connected and Kanazawa once again sent a cross. Abe ran in to meet the ball and headed it into the goal! A goal was scored for the first time this season, just as planned, from attacks on both sides.

　Niigata had their first shot in the 30th minute when MF Terakawa cleared the ball from a cross and MF Yamaguchi took a shot. However, Niigata was unable to surpass Tokyo's momentum and had no choice but to go on the counterattack. In the 35th minute, Toda headed a cross from Kaji, and in the 36th minute, Miyazawa entered the area and passed to Lucas and Abe, but Abe's shot was caught by the opponent's goalkeeper. In the 44th minute, Toda attempted a header from a free kick on the right side, but was unable to hit the target. Despite having a total of 12 shots in the first half, Niigata went into the second half with a 1-0 lead.

Withstand Niigata's late comeback and secure 5th consecutive victory in the opening game

　In the second half, Niigata tries to make a comeback by scoring one goal, but in the 48th minute, Jean blocks Terakawa's shot from the left side. Then, from a corner kick, DF Anderson takes a free header shot, but it goes over the goal. In the 51st minute, Tokyo also has a chance with a pass from Lucas on the left side to Miyazawa, who then passes to Toda for a shot, but it goes over the goal. In the 55th minute, on a counter attack, Miyazawa passes to Abe, who then passes to Lucas, and finally Kaji takes a powerful shot from the right area, but it goes straight to the goalkeeper.

　However, in the 60th minute, Niigata substituted MF Fabiño for MF Suzuki. In the immediate 61st minute, Abe had a heading shot from the far side from a right side FK. It seemed to have gone through the GK's hands and into the goal, but it was blocked by Niigata's desperate clearance. After missing this decisive chance, their physical strength gradually decreased, allowing Niigata to counterattack. In the 73rd minute, Suzuki was able to take a shot from a quick attack, but Tsuchi was able to save it with one foot. In the 75th minute, Suzuki flew out to Yamaguchi's through pass, but Tsuchi was able to prevent the pinch with a brave dive. In the 81st minute, Suzuki's shot from a counterattack was saved by Tsuchi.

　Against Niigata's relentless play, Tokyo also started to make mistakes. It was a pattern that had been repeated many times last season, so there was a bad atmosphere, but Kure, Asari, and Mashima were successively brought in, and they concentrated and defended until the end. They secured a solid 3 points. With this, Tokyo has won 5 consecutive opening games in J1 since 2000. When combined with the 6 consecutive wins in J2 in 1999, they have also extended their record. They have yet to explode with attacking football, but they have shown a glimpse of it and are riding the momentum towards winning the title!

[Player Comments]

"Abe" "I was able to score a goal in a good shape, and I felt good because there was also a record of consecutive wins in the opening game. I was able to maintain a good tension in front of many spectators. I became number 11 this season, but I want to show my own color. I think I can ride the flow with this, but I want to switch to the next game soon." "Lucas" "It was the first official game in Japan, but the most happy thing is that the team won and got 3 points. We should have scored more points while we had a rhythm in the first half... Personally, I felt that I needed to be more solid in defense and be able to score surely when I have a chance. I want to make adjustments and face the next game, but my physical condition is good."

【Niigata・Hantamachi Coach's Press Conference Summary】

"In the first half of the game, we were pushed back by the speed of decision-making and passing in the adult and children's soccer. However, in the first half, we played a different style of soccer, but in the second half, we re-examined our own soccer and tried to bring together everything we have done so far. Unfortunately, we couldn't score any points, but a certain flow came. It would have been great if we could have scored in a good way at that time. Tokyo is used to J1 and can play organized soccer. There was a difference in experience between teams that could use their preparations in the game and teams that couldn't because they were flustered even though they had prepared. However, it is important for us to get used to the stage of J1 for the first time. We were able to get used to it in the first 45 minutes of today's game, and I think it was quite good as a preparation for the next game. Next, we want to perform well at home and get a good result."

[Summary of Former Coach's Press Conference]

"We needed to score at least one more goal in the first half. We created so many chances, but our lack of finishing and final touch showed. If we were in the opposite position, and only conceded one goal after being attacked so much, we would have been able to come back strong in the second half. In the second half, Niigata had Fabiño playing more in the middle, and players like Teragawa and Suzuki, who came on as substitutes, were able to receive the ball in the front and take control of the game. If Abe and Lucas had more time to keep the ball, we could have launched counterattacks. However, our substitutes Wu and Asari were in good form and fought hard. A lot of Niigata supporters came to watch the game, and they put up a good fight as well. We told our players that even though this was Niigata's first J1 game, they have experienced players like Yamaguchi, Kuwahara, and Ueno, who have more experience than us, so we need to play with a strong mentality. That's how we were able to enter the game with a strong mindset. Regardless of the performance, getting 3 points and keeping a clean sheet was a good result. We will make the necessary adjustments and prepare for the next game against Oita."