Okamoto scores the historic first goal!

The first match of FC Tokyo in J.League Division 2 (J2), which marked the start of a new history, was kicked off under clear skies at Nishigaoka Soccer Stadium, attracting over 3,000 spectators. From the beginning of the match, FC Tokyo's eleven attacked fiercely, showing no signs of pressure from the opening game and home game, and their play felt reassuring. In the 4th minute, a cross ball from Kaga on the right side entered the center, and Okamoto, who ran in, escaped from behind the opponent's defender and unleashed a shot with exquisite control, shaking the goal net. This goal not only became FC Tokyo's first goal, but also a memorable goal as the first goal in J2 as a whole.

"KING OF TOKYO (Amaral)" is alive and well!

Amorao, who has long been called the "King of Tokyo". It is truly remarkable that he showed movements that did not seem like those of a player whose participation was uncertain until just before the opening match. Not only in attack, but also in the front line, he put his body on the line and continued to put pressure on the opposing defenders, showing that he had plenty of stamina. However, Amorao's greatest weapon was undoubtedly his heading ability. The "craftsman" Umayama, who repeatedly delivered accurate crosses with sharp overlaps from the right side, instilled fear in the opponents by having Amorao in the center. In addition, he won all the centering passes from Fuyama's dribbles on the left side, as well as the long and accurate crosses from Almir and Yukihiko Sato, threatening the opponent's goal. He took a total of 7 shots in the first and second halves, and in the 79th minute, he broke free from Sandro's pass and scored the decisive second goal to secure victory. "The King of Tokyo" seems to still have plenty of fight left in him.

Treasure each battle...

In this match, we proved that in addition to the "solid defense" that has been our image since the Tokyo Gas FC era, we also have a strong "offense". In defense, Sandro became the "Tokyo Wall" and repelled any ball. Stopper Komine, who is strong in one-on-one situations, and defensive midfielder Asari, who can contain the opponent's ace with his high defensive ability, were also effective. On the other hand, in the offense, fullbacks Fujiyama and Umeyama created numerous scoring opportunities with their aggressive overlapping runs. Furthermore, with the addition of Almir, who wreaks havoc in the midfield with his astonishing stamina and high technique, and Sato Yukihiko, who creates many chances with his sharp dribbling and direct play, our attacking options have significantly increased, resulting in more decisive chances. Winning the important first match with a score of 2-0 gave the team momentum and confidence, but there are still 35 matches remaining. We must not get carried away. Even in the post-match press conference, Coach Okuma said, "We can't get carried away. I'm not particularly surprised by Sapporo and Kawasaki's defeats. It's natural to have ups and downs in such a long season, and I don't put pressure on the players (regarding losses). Instead, I instruct them to practice our characteristic high-intensity soccer and never give up until the end in every game." He tightened his lips as he made this comment. It is crucial to cherish and fight each match.