By Pearse McLaughlin
An own goal by Yoshio Koizumi and a deflected strike by super sub-Ryoma Watanabe fired FC Tokyo to a comfortable opening day victory over Urawa Red Diamonds.
FC Tokyo boss, Albert Puig Ortoneda has changed slightly from his usual 4-3-3 formation and has gone with 4-1-2-3. Albert Puig Ortoneda has handed full debuts to two of his six new signings. Those are Kei Kozumi who joined from Sagan Tosu and new right winger, Teruhito Nakagawa who joined from last season’s champions Yokohama FM.
Urawa line up as you’d expect them to be under manager, Maciej Skorza in the 4-2-3-1 formation. He hands his full debut to new signing Marius Hoibraten who joined from Bodo/Glimt partners Alexander Scholz at the back. Red’s boss is also got the welcome bonus of being able to have Bryan Linssen back in the fold and he leads the line today.
It has been a scrappy opening half hour of the game which has been littered with stoppages due to constant fouls. This had led to bookings for FC Tokyo’s Keigo Higashi who may find himself lucky to have received two yellows in the opening half an hour. Urawa Red Diamonds have received two yellow cards of their own with last season’s top goal scorer David Moberg Karlsson and the well-travelled club captain Hiroki Sakai also cautioned.
First half chance of the game came on the half hour mark as the ball broke to FC Tokyo’s left back Kashifu Bangunagande at the back post following a delivery which saw a rasping half volley caught quite comfortably by Shusaku Nishikawa.
On the 38th minute saw the first major opportunity of the game and it fell the way of the Red Devils. It all started with the keeper’s kick out which was pinged out to Yoshio Kozumi who gathers the ball in brilliantly on his chest inside his own half before brilliantly driving forward about 40 yards beating 3 players before sliding the ball through to Tomoaki Okubo who took a touch before passing the ball through to Bryan Linssen who saw his effort brilliantly saved low down by Jakub Slowik. The ball was destined for the bottom left-hand corner if it wasn’t for the brilliance of the polish goalkeeper. The flag eventually goes up, but had it gone in I think it would have stood after a VAR check as the returning Linssen who is only starting his 3rd game for Urawa Red Diamonds was level.
The first half saw the game remain a stalemate and this was the result last time out at the Ajinomoto Stadium. It certainly has been a rusty start to the game for both sides. A half that has been littered by fouls and failed to get any rhythm into each other’s play but hopefully that changes in the second half as both sides will start to be a bit more expansive.
Half time substitution for the home side as Keigo Higashi makes way for Shuto Abe as he was walking a tight rope in terms of taking an early bath.
A mere 4 minutes into the second half saw debut boy, Teruhito Nakagawa rattle the crossbar with a thunderous strike on his weaker left foot. Great initial hold up play by last season’s top goal scorer FC Tokyo Adailton who chests the ball before knocking it out wide to the marauding left back Kashifu Bangunagande who picked out the late run into the box by Teruhito Nakagawa but saw his effort bounce back out of the crossbar.
Breakthrough for FC Tokyo on the 66th minute and its courtesy of a freak own goal by Yoshio Koizumi as the ball smashed off his thigh and onto his face before squirming into the bottom left-hand corner. An unfortunate own goal but the goal had been coming for the home side as they have looked the most threatening since the restart. It was great initial play down the left-hand side by super sub Shuto Abe who broke the lines brilliantly by underlapping Kashifu Bangunagande, showing great composure by getting to the by-line and chopping inside before firing in a low cross in at the near post which caused havoc. 1-0 FC Tokyo.
With 15 minutes left to play FC Tokyo have doubled their lead courtesy of Ryoma Watanabe’s deflected effort. It all came from a throw in from the right-hand side as Hotaka Nakamura finds the bustling forward Adailton who takes the ball in brilliantly on his chest before picking out his fellow compatriot Diego Oliveira who turns his man brilliantly before sliding an inch perfect pass for Ryoma Watanabe to strike first time. His effort is deflected in off the sliding Hiroki Nakai and in doing so has wrong footed his keeper. 2-0 FC Tokyo. Surely that’s game and dusted.
All over here at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo as we saw Albert Puig Ortoneda’s side run out comfortable 2-0 winners over Urawa Red Diamonds. After a tight first half affair between the two sides, it would see substitutions be vital for the home side as it helped FC Tokyo gain that impetuous to go on and claim victory. Special shoutout to super subs Ryoma Watanabe and Shuto Abe who I felt offered another dimension to gas’s attack. Man of the match went to FC Tokyo’s Kuryu Matsuki. Thoroughly deserved award for the young midfielder who showed maturity in his play, and he did both the dirty side of the game as well as maintaining possession for his side. Bright future for the young man.
FC Tokyo will be looking to follow up their victory here with an away trip to Kashima Reysol next Sunday. Next up for Urawa Red Diamonds is an away trip next Saturday to Kevin Muscat’s Yokohama FM. Trips don’t come much harder than this facing last season’s champions Yokohama FM especially after losing their opening game here against FC Tokyo.
FC Tokyo: Slowik, Nakamura, Kimoto, Henrique, Bangunagande (Nagatomo 69’), Higashi (Abe 46’), Koizumi, Matsuki, Nakagawa (Watanabe 69’), Oliveira (Perotti 87’), Adailton (Tsukagawa 80’). Subs not used: Nozawa, Tawaratsumida.
Urawa Red Diamonds: Nishikawa, Sakai (Ohata 81’), Scholz, Hoibraten, Akimoto, Ito, Iwao, Karlsson (Matsuzaki 56’), Koizumi (Sekine 70’), Okubo, Linssen (Koroki 70’). Subs not used: Suzuki, Inukai, Shibato.
Match Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
Referee: Hiroki Kasahara
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