The second day of the American expedition marked the first day of the tournament.

In the first match of the group stage of the 2016 Generation adidas Cup Premier Division, we faced the Mexican powerhouse PUMAS.

Before the match, Coach Tadashi NAKAMURA commented, "The Mexican team has high skills and is tenacious. Let's not just play the match, but compete seriously. Let's challenge ourselves in terms of ball contests and quality."
The tournament, which is played in two halves of 35 minutes each, kicked off at 12:00 local time. [First Half]
The match kicks off with a shot from Kobayashi (Miki) in the first minute. In response to Tokyo's intense pressure from the front line, the physically stronger PUMAS aims for the goal with power and momentum.
Especially during set plays, they will increase their intensity and respond by putting their bodies on the line against the diving PUMAS.
Tokyo, gradually being pushed back, is utilizing the space on the sides to look for opportunities to attack.
In the 14th minute, Tokyo was unable to apply pressure on the ball holder, allowing the ball to be carried to the goal area, where a powerful volley shot was taken but narrowly missed the goal.
Tokyo was under pressure for a while, but after 20 minutes, Imamura and Kobayashi (Miki) combined for a shot, and Hara reacted to the rebound, but it was ruled offside.
The match changed in the 22nd minute when Kobayashi (Miki) turned to face forward while free in midfield and made a through pass to Hara, who had gotten free from the opposing defense. Hara easily scored in a one-on-one against the goalkeeper to take the lead. It became a valuable goal during the time they were being pushed back.
Tokyo gradually began to grasp the sense of distance with their opponents, increasing the number of ball recoveries and interceptions in each situation.
In the 28th minute, Kobayashi (Makoto), who had repeatedly won the ball in midfield, transitioned to attack and created a chance, showcasing the characteristics of each player.
Tokyo regained their rhythm on their own and went into halftime with a score of 1-0.

【Halftime】
Coach Nakamura said, "Always think ahead while playing, ensure everyone attacks and defends, and pay attention to the clever play unique to Mexico."

【Second Half】
Starting from the beginning of the second half, Tokyo, gaining rhythm and controlling the ball, swiftly navigates the strong pressure and power of the PUMAS defense with quick decisions and movements.
As time passed, PUMAS increased their play intensity, creating several chances by getting close to the goal, but Tokyo did not allow them to take a shot.
In the 19th and 21st minutes, although PUMAS took decisive shots, GK Takase made big saves to prevent the goal.
◈However, from the resulting corner kick, we were pushed back in a scramble and conceded the equalizer.
In the 26th minute, a free kick was awarded from the side position. Although it was initially cleared, the loose ball was picked up again, and finally, we allowed a turnaround.
Tokyo, which had conceded goals consecutively from the most threatening set plays, then saw both teams increase their intensity, leading to a tight match.
Then, in the 33rd minute, Arakawa earned a free kick on the left side of the goal, and Shinada, who was appointed captain for this tournament, scored a magnificent free kick that hit the post, equalizing the score. After that, they continued to aim for the goal until the end, but did not score, ending the second half in a 2-2 draw.

In the event of a tie, according to the tournament regulations, the winner will be decided by a penalty shootout, with Tokyo taking the second turn.
Tokyo scored by everyone, and goalkeeper Takase stopped the second and fourth players of PUMAS, securing the victory. They captured 2 points in the first match of the group stage.
(Note: 1 point is awarded at the time of a draw. An additional point is given to the winner of the penalty shootout.)

Coach Tadashi NAKAMURA Post-Match Comments
"(Regarding the start of the match) I thought it would take time for the players to get used to the pitch and the atmosphere around them. Once the players in the midfield were able to face forward, the number of attacks increased, and one of them resulted in a goal.
I think if we had made it 2-0 in the second half, it would have been Tokyo's game, but the opponent is strong. We stopped moving and couldn't hold on, allowing a comeback. It was good that we became more aggressive, including substitutions, which led to the goal from the free kick. I also think it was great that everyone confidently scored in the penalty shootout. Demonstrating the uniqueness of F.C. TOKYO against opponents from around the world, we will continue to engage in serious matches on American soil.
The next match will be on the 20th at 12:00 against COLORADO RAPIDS. (Kick-off at 26:00 Japan time on the 21st)