By Pearse McLaughlin
FC Tokyo defeat the 10 men of Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 to claim bragging rights here at the Japan National Stadium in the Tamagawa Clasico. This is a monumental victory for FC Tokyo as the grab their first win over their fiercest rivals in five years.
FC Tokyo manager, Albert Puig Ortoneda has made six changes from the side that got drubbed last time out by Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 5-1 away from home. There’s been no change in formation as Albert Puig Ortoneda keeps his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation. Incomes Yuto Nagatomo, Yasuki Kimoto, Shuhei Tokumoto, Keigo Higashi, Teruhito Nakagawa, and Diego Oliveira to replace Henrique Trevisan, Kashif Bangnagande, Soma Anzai, Kuryu Matsuki, Adailton, and Perotti.
Kawasaki Frontale manager, Toru Oniki has made just the one personnel change and has also kept the same 4-3-3 formation that was successful last time out at home as they beat Sagan Tosu by the solitary goal. Incomes Kyohei Noborizato to replace Kota Takai in what remains a consistent line-up by Toru Oniki.
Breakthrough on the 12th minute courtesy of Shuhei Tokumoto as he doesn’t only open his account in J-League 1 but also scores his first goal for FC Tokyo. Talk about picking your moment to open your account in the Tamagawa Clasico against Kawasaki Frontale. An unlikely goal scorer but what a goal! Shuhei Tokumoto looked as if he was shaping up to cross from the left flank but chopped inside his man and arrowed a right footed effort straight into the top right-hand corner. Unsavable! A goal that will be remembered for a long time. 1-0 FC Tokyo.
On the 25th minute and it’s Shuto Abe who scores on his historic 100th appearance in the J-League 1. Man of the moment Shuhei Tokumoto turns provider this time as he fizzed in a low dangerous ball that caused havoc and Shuto Abe was on hand to slide the ball into the back of the net from inside the six-yard box. Absolute terrific start to the game by the home side. Kawasaki Frontale look rattled. 2-0 FC Tokyo.
First opportunity of the game of note from Kawasaki Frontale comes on the 37th minute courtesy of Taisei Miyashiro. Taisei Miyashiro squandered a golden opportunity to get his side a foothold back in the game after the he found himself one-on-one with Jakub Slowik but panicked and lashed a left footed half volley straight at the goalkeeper. Massive let off from the home side.
A mere two minutes later, Tatsuki Seko found himself in acres of space in the middle of the park drove forward with the ball before delivering a defence splitting path to Taisei Miyashiro found himself in the left-hand channel in between Yuto Nagatomo and Yasuki Kimoto, the latter he faced up before shifting the ball out of his feet and onto his right foot and curled it beyond Jakub Slowik. A terrific curling effort into the side netting of the right-hand corner and in doing so makes up for his miss 120 seconds ago. 2-1 game on!
FC Tokyo led 2-1 at the break in this derby match between Kawasaki Frontale and thoroughly deserve their lead in a half the dominated for large spells. But Taisei Miyashiro’s goal 10 minutes before the interval has given Kawasaki Frontale renewed hope they can grab something from this game in the second half. Set up for a blockbuster second half.
Massive turning point in the game on the 52nd minute as a quick VAR check has seen Yasuto Wakizaka shown a straight red card after review. He did get a toe on the ball initially but the force and where he caught Ryoma Watanabe right above the left knee with studs showing gave the officials no other option but to produce the red card. Correct call. An uphill battle now for Kawasaki Frontale as not only do they trail but have now lost their captain.
It is FC Tokyo who claim all three points here at the Japan National Stadium here in Tokyo as their two first half goals where enough to see them hang on against a spirited 10 men of Kawasaki Frontale. Kawasaki Frontale lost their skipper 5 minutes into the second half and looked like the most likely team to score next but a resolute defensive performance from FC Tokyo saw them hang onto their lead in this derby match.
Next up for FC Tokyo in J-League 1 is a tough away trip to face Kashima Antlers on Saturday the 20th of May where they will fancy their chances in making it back-to-back wins.
Next up for Kawasaki Frontale in J-League 1 is an away trip to face bottom of the table Yokohama FC in what should be a game they should be winning and the perfect game to try and return to winning ways.
The attendance here at the Japan National Stadium is a whopping 56,705 which is a new record for the Tamagawa Clasico.
FC Tokyo: Jakub Slowik, Yuto Nagatomo, Yasuki Kimoto, Masato Morishige, Shuhei Tokumoto, Keigo Higashi, Kei Koizumi, Teruhito Nakagawa (Kashif Bangnagande 88’), Shuto Abe, Ryoma Watanabe (Koki Tsukagawa 73’), Diego Oliveira (Adailton 60’). Subs not used: Perotti, Kota Tawaratsumida, Taishi Nozawa, Trevisan.
Kawasaki Frontale: Naoto Kamifukumoto, Miki Yamane, Takuma Ominami (Kazuya Yamamura 90+7’), Shintaro Kurumaya, Kyohei Noborizato, Yasuto Wakizaka, Joao Schmidt (Shin Yamada 82’), Tatsuki Seko (Ryota Oshima 59’), Akihiro Ienega (Kento Tachibanada 75’), Taisei Miyashiro (Yu Kobayashi 75’), Marcinho (Daiya Tono 59’). Subs not used: Jung Sung-Ryong.
Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
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