A crucial match to secure 3 points for advancing favorably in the future, welcoming ACL at home

　The first ACL that Tokyo will face this season, the second match of the group stage will be against South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai at home, National Stadium. In the first match, they had a great victory against Brisbane Roar in Australia. Although they will have a tough schedule alongside the league matches, they want to win at home in order to advance in the future stages. Coach Popovic also clearly stated his goal, saying, "We will fight not only as FC Tokyo but also as representatives of Japan. We want to meet the expectations by utilizing the Japanese style of play."

　Today in Tokyo, Yonemoto, who made a substitute appearance in the Nagoya Grampus match, returned to the pitch for the first time in about a year and started the game. He formed a double pivot with Takahashi. Watanabe will be the lone striker, with Ishikawa and Yazu on both sides.

　Ulsan Hyundai, the opponent, has FW Igno, FW Maranhão, MF Kim Sung-yong, MF Lee Ho, DF Kwak Tae-hwi, and MF Yoon Bit-garam, players who have previously experienced the J-League. The main attacking force consists of FW Igno and FW Kim Shin-wook, who stands at 196cm tall. MF Yoon Bit-garam and MF Kim Sung-yong on both sides serve as the starting point, and their speedy and powerful attacks are their strengths.

　It is expected to be a tough battle, but we will fearlessly go after victory with our own soccer. The National Stadium, which is calm and sunny despite the cold wind, started the match with a kickoff in Tokyo at 14:00.

Tokyo Aim For 3 Points In ACL Home Opener

　For their first home game in the Asian Champions League FC Tokyo faced Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea at the National Stadium in Tokyo. Tokyo had beaten Brisbane Roar of Australia 2-0 away in the first match and, despite the demanding schedule as the games were being played in tandem with the J.League, saw the match as a chance to cement their standing in the group. Tokyo manager Popovic was clear about the team's ambitions, "We're not just representing ourselves but the whole country here. We want to play Japanese-style football and answer the expectations".

　After coming on as a substitute in the win over Nagoya in the J.League at the weekend, young midfielder Yonemoto returned to the starting eleven for the first time in nearly a year, taking a place alongside Takahashi in central midfield. Watanabe played as lone striker with Ishikawa and Yazawa on the wings.

　Opponents Ulsan Hyundai fielded a team packed with players experienced in the J.League: forwards Lee Keun-ho and Maranhao, midfielders Kim Seung-yong and Lee Ho, defender Kwak Tae-hwi and midfielder Ienaga had all played their trade in Japan at one time. With an attack led by linchpin Lee Keun-ho, partnered by towering, 1.96m tall forward Kim Shin-wook and supported by Ienaga and Kim Seung-yong on the flanks, the visitors possessed a powerful, speedy strikeforce.

　Although a tough game was expected Tokyo had no reason to be fearful if they could play their own football and aim for a win. The hosts kicked off shortly after 2pm. on a sunny but chilly afternoon.

Showing a solid defense against Ulsan's powerful attack, Tokunaga scores the opening goal from a corner kick!

　At the start of the game, Watanabe took the first shot without hesitation. However, Ulsan also gathered the ball to forward Igno, and in the 5th minute, forward Kim Shin-wook headed the cross from Igno's dribble. In the 11th minute, Ulsan's central midfielder Esteban was dribbled past, and once again, Kim Shin-wook was shot by.

　However, they have been able to withstand the speedy and powerful attacks from Ulsan and gradually started to connect passes and move forward. In the 26th minute, Tokunaga broke through to a high position on the right side and made a fast cross. However, it slipped past Watanabe in front of the goal and Kajiyama in the left area. In the 27th minute, Ulsan's goal kick was brought to a shot by FW Igno, but the defender closed in and Gonda made the catch.

　Tokyo carries the ball forward, but also makes mistakes. In the 32nd minute, Mori Shige → Kajiyama shows intricate passing work, but is quickly intercepted while trying to connect. Against Ulsan FW Igno, who ran into the area, Kaga played a central role in containing him, but couldn't fully steal the ball. He was connected to FW Kim Shin-wook just outside the area, and a final pass was given to right MF Ienaga, but they quickly covered him and didn't let him shoot. In the 35th minute, they earned a left corner kick from Tokunaga's cross. The loose ball falls to the center where Kajiyama is, but Ulsan's DF is also tough and he couldn't control it.

　However, in the 36th minute immediately after, Ishikawa → Kajiyama, who had jumped into the area, snatched a right corner kick. Ishikawa returned this right corner kick to the center with a sharp pass. Although Tokunaga, who received it, could not bring it to a direct shot, he brought it forward and boldly aimed for a loop that was sucked into the upper left corner for a GOAL!! From an unexpected corner kick, Tokunaga achieved the opening goal with a skillful shot, and the game headed into the second half.

Tokyo Thwart Dynamic Ulsan Before Tokunaga Opens The Scoring

　Tokyo made a bold start to the contest, Watanabe registering the first shot soon after kick off. However, the visitors quickly moved the ball forward to Lee Keun-ho and from his cross in the 5th.minute Kim Shin-wook powered a header on target. In the 11th.minute defensive midfielder Estiven dribbled up the field and Kim Shin-wook fired another attempt on goal.

　Tokyo held the pacy Ulsan attack in check and slowly began to assert their passing game, gradually moving the ball nearer to the opposition goal. In the 26th minute, Tokunaga found space down the right and whipped in a flashing cross that narrowly evaded Watanabe and Kajiyama in the center. A minute later, Lee Keun-ho latched onto a goal kick and shot, but a solid defensive block took the pace off the ball and Gonda collected comfortably.

　Tokyo were moving the ball forward more smoothly yet unforced errors began to hamper their progress. In the 32nd minute, Morishige found Kajiyama and Tokyo showed some neat interplay yet lost possession, allowing Ulsan to pour forward in attack. Kaga managed to block Lee Keun-ho's route to goal but was unable to regain the ball and when Kim Shin-wook set up Ienaga inside the area on the right, it took a sharp piece of covering to deny the visitors a clear sight of goal. Tokyo won a corner in the 35th minute as Tokunaga's cross was cleared behind. Ishikawa hoisted the ball into the danger area where it ran loose to Kajiyama, but the Ulsan defense quickly cleared the danger.

　Tokyo won another corner in the 36th minute as Ishikawa played the ball through to Kajiyama inside the Ulsan penalty area. Ishikawa cut the corner back to Tokunaga in a central position outside the Ulsan area; Tokunaga found himself unable to shoot first time, then pushed the ball past a pair of onrushing defenders before producing a delicate and surprising lob that caught the Ulsan keeper off his line and looped gracefully into the net. A moment of unpredictability and fine technique earned Tokyo the lead at half time.

Despite taking the lead again with a splendid goal, we were caught off guard near the end...

　After taking the lead in the second half, Tokyo maintained their defensive focus and moved the ball well to push forward. In response, Ulsan substituted MF Maranhão in the 56th minute, while Tokyo also brought on Hasegawa in place of Yonemoto in the 62nd minute. Both teams tried to bring the rhythm closer through player substitutions. Nevertheless, Tokyo continued to have a period where they couldn't convert their chances into goals, but they launched an offensive.

　In the 68th minute, Watanabe in the center of the area dropped a cross from the right, and Kajiyama immediately threw his body forward to strike a powerful volley. The shot was on target, but the goalkeeper made a great save and it resulted in a corner kick... In the 69th minute, Hayashi came in. However, in the 75th minute, after clearing a corner kick from Ulsan once, the ball passed from Hayashi in our own half to Ishikawa who had moved up front, but the pass did not connect. The ball went to the Ulsan goalkeeper and was quickly kicked into the Tokyo territory. Ulsan MF Kim Sung-yong took advantage of the opportunity and equalized the score.

　Without panicking, they continued to attack with their own style of soccer, and in the 83rd minute, Ishikawa and Hasegawa exchanged passes with a flowing combination play. Hasegawa then made a move towards the center of the area. He attracted the attention of the defenders and passed to Hayabusa on the left. Hayabusa briefly held the ball in the left area before carefully making a minus pass in front of the goal. Kajiyama, who was in position, confidently shot the ball into the top right corner and scored!! Kajiyama's first goal of the season excited the stands. In the midst of a fierce and tough battle, they were able to convert Tokyo-style soccer into a goal and once again take the lead.

　Tokyo, which had been riding on momentum, was caught off guard in an instant. In the 88th minute, a long ball was sent to DF Kwak Tae-hwi from the right side of Ulsan, and FW Maranhão was left free to jump into the right area. And they scored with a loop... Tokyo played their characteristic soccer, moved dynamically, and advanced the game in an advantageous position, always leading. However, it ended in a disappointing draw.

Kajiyama Regains Lead But Late Equaliser Denies Victory

　With a one-goal lead under their belts Tokyo looked more confident in the second half, defending solidly and moving the ball around briskly as they pushed forward. Ulsan responded by replacing Kim Shin-wook with midfielder Maranhao in the 57th.minute, while Tokyo sent on Hasegawa for Yonemoto shortly after. With the changes made both sides set about establishing a rhythm. Tokyo stuttered but still managed to create chances.

　In the 68th minute, Watanabe knocked down a cross from the right and Kajiyama cracked a low, controlled volley that was heading for the corner until the Ulsan keeper produced a fine save. Hanyu replaced Yazawa in the 69th minute. In the 75th minute, Kim Young-kwang, the Ulsan goalkeeper, punched away a Kajiyama corner and Hanyu attempted to pick out Ishikawa. The goalkeeper pounced on the ball and quickly launched it down the field where the Tokyo defense attempted to push up but midfielder Kim Seung-yong found himself onside and finished neatly past Gonda to tie the score.

　Despite conceding Tokyo stayed calm and continued to play a measured game. In the 83rd.minute some fluid passing between Ishikawa and Hasegawa allowed the latter to take the ball inside the Ulsan area in a central position. Hasegawa drew the defence towards himself, then slipped the ball to Hanyu on the left. Hanyu held it up for a moment before rolling it back into Kajiyama's path as he burst inside the area. Kajiyama struck first time, hard and true, and the ball hit the back of the net for a beautifully-worked team goal. Kajiyama's first goal of the season had restored Tokyo's lead and provoked scenes of wild abandon in the stands.

　Tokyo had fashioned a goal good enough to win any game but not this one, unfortunately. In the 88th.minute Ulsan defender Kwak Tae-hwi hoisted a long ball down the right that found substitute Maranhao unmarked and in acres of space. Gonda raced off his line but was helpless as Maranhao lobbed the ball over his head and into the net. Tokyo had largely dominated the game with a lively performance yet were forced to settle for a disappointing draw.

[Player Comment]《Kajiyama》"It's disappointing that we ended in a draw, but I think we were able to achieve the minimum result of 1 point. I felt the strength and high level of technique from Ulsan, but I don't think we lost there, and there was also enjoyment within the toughness. When we were able to avoid their intense pressure and connect passes smoothly, it felt good. We conceded 2 goals, but there were also parts where we were able to proceed at our own pace and gain confidence."

　"Tokunaga" "I was thinking whether to shoot with one touch or trap and then shoot, but in the end, I had no choice but to aim for it. However, the shot was on target. I haven't been able to settle down until I score a goal, even though it has been like this for a while. It would have been better if we could have had more possession and dominated the game today. So I think it was important that we were able to take the lead. I'm tired, but the challenge is how to fight when things don't go well."

　[Summary of Coach Popovic's Press Conference] "First, I need to calm myself down. I'm not angry about today's performance or result, but rather, I'm angry about some players who thought they had won the game before it ended. They took it for granted that we could win... The opponent was a fantastic team. In the first half, they defended well and played a counter-attacking game from interceptions, but in the second half, we played in our own rhythm. However, we conceded a goal from a simple ball thrown in."

　It's a shame that we allowed such a simple goal during a period of time when we were dominating and moving the ball. However, I think we were able to control ourselves against a top-level team in Asia, and I am satisfied with that point and it is a positive thing. But I think we lacked the experience of winning throughout the 90 minutes. We couldn't believe in ourselves until the end. It's a shame that we couldn't believe in ourselves and finish the game with a win."

Players' comments
Kajiyama
"It's disappointing to draw and get the bare minimum of a single point. I felt Ulsan were strong on the ball and technically gifted and even though it was a hard game it was also enjoyable. They came at us with real intensity so when we were able to deflect that and pass the ball around at a quick tempo it felt good. We conceded twice but the way we managed to control the pace of the game will give us confidence".

Tokunaga
"Well, for the goal I was in two minds whether to hit the ball first time or take a touch. After I trapped the ball there was nothing for it but to shoot and it went just where I wanted it to. Recently we just don't seem to be able to calm down until we've scored. Today again if we could have enjoyed more possession and controlled the game more it would have been much better. Scoring first would have been more important then. Of course there's some tiredness but how we play when things aren't going our way is an issue we have to look at".


F.C.Tokyo manager Popovic 
"First of all I think that I have to get a grip of myself. It's not that I'm only angry with the result or the performance but I feel that some players thought the game was won before the final whistle. It seemed like they thought it was all over. Yes, I'm angry. Our opponents today are a very good team. In the first half they defended well, intercepted the ball and counter attacked whereas we controlled the rhythm in the second half. However, playing a thoughtless ball cost us a goal. 
We were playing well and were on top so much it seemed like only a matter of time before we scored a third goal so to concede such a simple goal is very disappointing. Even so, to play against one of the top teams in Asia and control the game for so long is a positive we can take from the match. I think our lack of experience in shutting out the opposition to win tight games showed today. We didn't have the belief that we could hold on and that's disappointing". 

[Summary of Ulsan Hyundai's Kim Gun-hee's Press Conference] "I feel that both teams played a very good game. As we heard beforehand, FC Tokyo has become stronger than last year, and we felt that during the away game. They were strong both organizationally and tactically. Although it ended in a 2-2 draw, Ulsan's condition was not as good as expected, which was unexpected. FC Tokyo's balance between offense and defense has become stable, and the tempo of their attacks has increased. The overlapping on both sides was also trained systematically."

　In the beginning of the first half, I think we were good as a team, but after that, we had difficulties in assembling and breaking through, and we couldn't break through. In the second half, in addition to that, there were physical issues, and we couldn't play our own soccer. We couldn't play the way we wanted 100%, which is disappointing, but I want to praise the players for not giving up until the end and managing to bring it to a draw."

Ulsan Hyundai manager Kim Ho-gon 
"I felt that both teams played a good game today. We had heard that Tokyo were much improved from last year and that's the way it turned out in what was very much an away game for us. My impression was that they were very strong in terms of the system and the tactics. It ended as a 2-2 draw but from Ulsan's point of view our condition hadn't improved as much as we had expected. F.C.Tokyo had a good balance between defence and attack, increased the tempo as they moved forward and the sidebacks looked well-trained in the systematic way they overlapped. 
We played well as a team at the start of the first half but after that we found it difficult to construct moves and break the deadlock. We couldn't open them up. In the second half we seemed to have a problem with our power and weren't allowed to play our game, I felt. We couldn't follow our game plan 100% which was disappointing, but the players fought to the bitter end and earned a draw so I want to praise them for that".