This season's start is a challenge to Asia!

The AFC Champions League 2016 kicks off ahead of the J.League. Tokyo will participate from the playoffs and face Chonburi FC (Thailand). This match not only marks the start of Tokyo's season but also the beginning of the J.League's challenge in Asia.

This season, Tokyo welcomes new coach Jofuku, with new additions Akimoto, Komano, Ha DAESUNG, Mizunuma, and Abe also in the starting lineup. The formation features Maeda and Abe as the two strikers. Mizunuma is on the right side, and Higashi is on the left. Yonemoto and Ha DAESUNG form a double pivot in a 4-4-2 formation. Chonburi's formation is also 4-4-2.

Although the wind is a bit strong, the severe cold of the past few days is not felt at Tokyo Stadium. A match that seeks only victory in pursuit of the ACL main tournament started at 19:30 with a kickoff from Chonburi.

Tokyo Challenge Asia In 2016 Opening Game

F.C. TOKYO kicked off the new season with an AFC Champions League playoff game against Chonburi FC of Thailand. Not only was the game the first competitive match of the season for Tokyo but the first appearance of a J.League club in the tournament this year. Newly appointed manager Hiroshi Jofuku named five of the new signings to his starting eleven: Akimoto, Komano, Ha Daesung, Mizunuma and Abe. Abe partnered Maeda in attack while Mizunuma played on the right of midfield and Higashi on the left. Yonemoto and Ha Daesung filled the central midfield positions in a 4-4-2 formation. Chonburi also lined up in a 4-4-2. Despite the fairly strong wind, Tokyo Stadium felt less chilly than the recent bitterly cold weather. Only a win was an acceptable result from the game as Tokyo aimed to make the group stage of the AFC Champions League. Chonburi FC kicked off shortly after 7:30pm.

Showcasing a dynamic battle, a torrent of goals

Immediately after the match started: Took the opponent's ball and advanced forward, playing almost entirely in the opponent's territory.

6 minutes: A right corner kick was awarded. The kicker Mizunuma's kick was cleared by the opposing DF who competed with Morishige at the near post, but it hit the foot of the previous Chonburi DF and went into the net. The opening goal was scored by an own goal from Chonburi.

9 minutes: Higashi created a play on the left side, and Mizunuma, who broke forward on the left, maintained possession. Assessing the timing, he passed back to Abe, who entered the area. With a feint, he shook off the opposing defender and struck with his right foot into the goal!! Abe scored his first goal in Tokyo with a quick follow-up. They secured an additional goal early on, and from then on, the match was handled without any danger. Even when Chonburi had the ball, they pressed in the front line and midfield, winning back the ball every time, and launched quick counterattacks from there.
 

34 minutes: Tokunaga on the right side of his own half passes to Mizunuma, who skillfully evades the opposing defenders while being surrounded and sends a pass to the right flank. Here, Tokunaga overlaps and advances into space. From a high position, he delivers a precise ground cross to the center. Higashi powerfully strikes it with his right foot!
They expanded their lead and finished the first half with a dynamic and cohesive battle.

Dynamic Tokyo Surge Into Early Lead

Tokyo set the pattern for the game straight from the kick off by winning possession and moving forward into the Chonburi half. 6th minute: Tokyo won a corner on the right and Mizunuma swung the ball in to the near post. Morishige and a Chonburi defender both went for the ball but failed to make contact; the ball struck a defender on the shin and deflected into the goal. Tokyo took the lead thanks to an own goal. 9th minute: Higashi prompted a move down the left before finding Mizunuma in the channel. Mizunuma took the ball to the byline then played it back to Abe inside the Chonburi area. Abe faked past a defender and drove the ball hard and low inside the near post. Abe's first goal for Tokyo had given the side a two-goal cushion with less than 10 minutes on the clock. The home side then played a steady game, pressing hard to regain the ball when possession was lost and attempting to hit the visitors on the break. 34th minute: Tokunaga found Mizunuma inside the Tokyo half on the right. Although surrounded by opposition players Mizunuma jinked past one and then chipped the ball over another as Tokunaga raced forward on the overlap. Tokunaga slid a low ball into the Chonburi box that Higashi met on the run and drove hard inside the near post. A thrilling, dynamic move had extended the lead to three. 3-0 was the score at half time.

Setting a record for the highest score in club history, heading to the ACL

54 minutes: Morishige sends a long feed from the defensive line to the front. In response, Higashi receives the ball in the opponent's back left area, drawing the opposing defenders with his dribble, and makes a final pass to Maeda, who moves up the center. Maeda shoots freely and scores!!

55 minutes: Higashi on the left side → Komano, who overlapped, advanced with a dribble and delivered a left cross. In response, Yonemoto, who ran into the left area, headed the ball. The shot that found its way into the course soared over the opposing goalkeeper's head and into the net.

56 minutes: Kono is substituted in for Higashi, directly entering the left side.

62 minutes: From Ha DAESUNG's play, Tokunaga advanced. From there, Mizunuma on the left jumped in front of the opponent's defender to meet the right cross with his right foot, marking his first goal in Tokyo as well. Immediately after this, Hashimoto was brought in for Abe, changing the formation to 4-3-3. Ha DAESUNG as the anchor, Hashimoto on the right inside half, and Yonemoto on the left. Up front, Maeda in the center, Kono on the right, and Mizunuma on the left.

72 minutes: Yonemoto → Mizunuma on the left side surged forward and made a cross. Kawano jumped into the center of the area and pushed it in with his left foot.

76 minutes: Hanyu comes in as an inside half for Mizunuma, and Hashimoto moves to FW.

84 minutes: Komano's clearance was connected by Yonemoto, and Ha DAESUNG in the center passed to Hanyu on the right front and advanced into the area himself. Maeda crossed and ran to the right front line, and Hanyu made a through pass to Ha DAESUNG. However, just before it reached him, an opposing defender slid in and the ball went towards the Chonburi goal. In stoppage time, Kono, who ran into the area to match Yonemoto's through pass, was fouled and won a penalty kick. He converted it himself, scoring the ninth goal, and the match ended.

Overwhelmed Chonburi with a club record score of 9 to 0, securing advancement to the ACL group stage.

For post-match comments from players and coaches, please visit the official FC Tokyo mobile site.

Record Score Takes Tokyo Into ACL

54th minute: Morishige hoisted a long ball over the top of the Chonburi defense as Higashi darted between their center backs. Higashi took the ball down coolly, neatly sidestepped a charging defender then rolled the ball towards Maeda near the penalty spot. Maeda stroked a low, first-time shot inside the near post for another goal. 55th minute: Higashi took the ball down the left, then fed the overlapping Komano. Komano lifted a cross into the box that Yonemoto met on the run and his looping header arced gracefully over the Chonburi keeper and into the far corner. 56th minute: Kawano replaced Higashi, taking the same position on the left of midfield. 62nd minute: Ha Daesung moved the ball out to Tokunaga who raced down the right and hoisted a towering cross towards the far post. The ball sailed over the head of one defender and Mizunuma darted inside another before clipping a jumping volley first-time inside the near post. It was his first goal for the club. Following the goal Tokyo replaced Abe with Hashimoto and switched to a 4-3-3 formation. Ha Daesung played as midfield anchor with Hashimoto on his right and Yonemoto on his left. Maeda played in the center of the front three with Kawano on his right and Mizunuma on the left. 72nd minute: Yonemoto found Mizunuma down the left. Mizunuma took the ball forward before spearing a cross into the box to meet Kawano's run from deep. Kawano reached the ball before the advancing keeper and prodded it into the net. 76th minute: Hanyu replaced Mizunuma and took a position as inside half with Hashimoto moving into the front line. 84th minute: Yonemoto picked up a Komano clearance and moved the ball on to Ha Daesung who found Hanyu on the right. Hanyu attempted to roll a pass through to Ha but a Chonburi defender stretched out a leg and diverted the ball past his own keeper. Deep in additional time Yonemoto hit a through pass that bisected the Chonburi defense and set Kawano free inside the penalty area. Kawano went down under a clumsy challenge and the referee pointed to the spot. Kawano took the penalty himself, drilling the ball low into the left corner. It was the 9th and final goal as the full time whistle blew shortly after. Tokyo had set a club record with a crushing 9-0 victory and qualified for the ACL group stage.