Finally, on Apr 29 (Fri, Holiday), Tokyo will play its first J-League match at the new Japan National Stadium.
At the National Stadium before renovation, we have played many official matches since our first year in the J.League. There were memorable super plays and impactful events. Since achieving our long-awaited title, Tokyo has won all titles at the National Stadium, symbolizing the deep connection between Tokyo and the National Stadium.
Our National.
Before taking a new step at the National Stadium, let's look back at the footprints and memories left at the previous National Stadium with photos from that time.
Hat-trick in the 2008 Derby
【Match Information】
2008 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup / Group B Sec. 6
FC Tokyo 4-2 Verdy
The 2008 Yamazaki Nabisco Cup season was filled with ups and downs. The qualifying group was tight, and the final round was postponed until the Verdy match in the final round.
On May 6th, going back to the first match at Ajinomoto Stadium against Verdy in the 4th round of the qualifying group, Kenta Mukuhara, making his professional debut, along with Hideki Sahara, held off Verdy's attacks and achieved a shutout victory.
On the other hand, in this final match, Hitoshi SHIOTA, who has been guarding the goal so far, has a fever. Sasaki is suspended. And standing in the way of Verdy's goal is former teammate Yoichi DOI... There are various stories and encounters, and the excitement and expectations are inevitably rising.
The second "Tokyo Derby" will be an away game at the National Stadium.
The score changes early in the first half. Although conceding a goal in the 11th minute, Yohei KAJIYAMA sends a long pass behind Verdy's defense line in the 16th minute, and Kabore scores a looping shot over the opponent's goalkeeper to equalize. However, in the 19th minute, a powerful free kick from FUKKI from about 35 meters is scored, allowing Verdy to take the lead again.
Still, Tokyo did not hesitate to attack. In the heated battle, they welcomed the 43rd minute of the first half. From Mokuhara's bold overlap, they earned a corner kick, and Hirayama Sota shook the net with a header from Hanyu Naotake's kick.
Tokyo, which gained momentum by ending the first half in a tie, started the second half with Cabore breaking through the right side and sending a ground cross. Hiraoka managed to slide and push it in despite losing his balance.
The stands heated up with this Hirayama's comeback goal. Pressed by the cheers, they did not lose their attitude of "going for another goal" throughout the second half.
In the 31st minute of the second half, after another side breakthrough by Kabore, a corner kick is won. The kicker is Naohiro ISHIKAWA. Naohiro's kick is sent perfectly like a thread to the feet of Hiraoka near the goal, and he heads it in to score the fourth goal. With Hiraoka's first professional hat-trick, Verdy pulls away.
On this day when he secured a spot in the final tournament, Sota HIRAYAMA, known as the "National Hero," made a significant impact. His dynamic performance, which united the pitch and the stands, may have been the culmination of turning National into a home ground despite being treated as an away team.
Text by Yū Fujiwara (Freelance Writer)
