The long-awaited start of the 2004 season

　The J1 League started in 2004. The first match was against Albirex Niigata. They welcomed a fresh team that was promoted this season and will compete in their first J1 League at the Ajinomoto Stadium. However, this season's J-League is held concurrently with the activities of the Japan national team, so Tokyo will be without Mobata, Konno, and Ishikawa due to their involvement with the U-23 Japan national team. Additionally, Kelly was unable to make it to the bench due to injury.

　In this situation, Niigata's coach, Mr. Hanamichi, said before the match, "I think we both feel lucky." For Niigata, it is lucky to face Tokyo, who is without the U-23 representative team, and for Tokyo, it is lucky to face a team that is playing in J1 for the first time. However, on the other hand, Coach Hanamichi said, "If Kelly is absent, the marking will be dispersed." Also, Coach Hara said, "Niigata has many experienced players. If we let our guard down, they will trip us up." Both teams were cautious of each other.

　A crowd of 35,880 spectators gathered in the stands, and amidst the expectations and passion of many fans from both teams, the match started with Niigata's kickoff.

Overwhelming Niigata with a powerful attacking soccer

　Tokyo's lineup is based on a 4-4-2 formation, with Abe and new signing Lucas as the two forwards, Toda as the right midfielder, and Suzuki as the left midfielder. On the bench, there are Asari, Shiota, Mashima, Wu, and Kajiyama, along with four rookies. However, as shown in the team sheet, Suzuki pushed forward from a high position and launched a fierce attack from the beginning. In the 1st minute, Suzuki received a throw-in, sprinted up the left side, crossed the ball, and Lucas headed it, hitting the crossbar. Tokyo immediately had a decisive chance with their first shot of the season.

　At 6 minutes, Lucas swung to the left side and Toda headed the cross from Kanazawa. At 9 minutes, Suzuki shot from Miyazawa's free kick from the left side in front of the goal. At 11 minutes, Suzuki brought the feed from the DF line to the front of the goal and shot. At 15 minutes, Lucas competed for the long ball and Abe ran in at the end, but was slightly offside.

　18 minutes, 19 minutes, Lucas made a breakthrough from the right area, evaded the defender and created a chance from a ground cross, but the timing was off in the center. Although they couldn't score a goal, they quickly transitioned to attack from intense pressing and advanced the game advantageously by using the field wide with fast passing.

Abe scores a header from a side combination!

　Tokyo, which aggressively attacks with both fullbacks pushing forward, had a chance in the 25th minute when Kanazawa followed up on a loose ball from Kaji's cross on the left side. Kanazawa again pushed forward and sent a cross after Miyazawa connected the play. Abe sprinted into the near post and headed the ball into the goal! A goal-scoring opportunity in the season's first goal scene was created as planned from attacks on both sides.

　Niigata had their first shot in the 30th minute when MF Yamaguchi shot a clear ball from MF Terakawa's cross. However, Niigata was unable to surpass Tokyo's momentum and had no choice but to counterattack. In the 35th minute, Toda headed a cross from Kaji. In the 36th minute, Miyazawa entered the area, passed precisely to Lucas and Abe after a central breakthrough, and Abe took the final shot but the opponent's goalkeeper caught it. In the 44th minute, Toda attempted a header goal from a right-side free kick but failed to hit the target. Despite facing a total of 12 shots in the first half, they entered the second half with a one-point lead.

Despite facing a late comeback from Niigata, they held their defense and secured their fifth consecutive victory in the opening match.

　In the second half, Niigata tries to counterattack to score a goal, but in the 48th minute, Terakawa's shot from the left side is blocked by Jean. Then, Anderson, the defender, takes a free header from a corner kick, but it goes over the goal. In the 51st minute, Tokyo's Lucas from the left side, combined with Abe's pass, passes to Miyazawa, and Toda takes a shot with speed, but it goes over the goal. In the 55th minute, on a counterattack, Miyazawa passes to Abe, who then passes to Lucas, and finally Kaji takes a powerful shot from the right area, but it hits the goalkeeper's face.

　However, in the 60th minute, Niigata substituted MF Suzuki for MF Fabiño. In the immediate 61st minute, Abe had a heading shot from the right side FK to the far side. It seemed to have gone through the goalkeeper's hands and into the goal, but it was blocked by Niigata DF's desperate clearance. After losing this decisive chance, their physical strength gradually began to decline, allowing Niigata to counterattack. In the 73rd minute, Suzuki attacked from a quick counter and allowed a shot, but Doi saved it with one foot. In the 75th minute, Suzuki flew out on Yamaguchi's through pass, but Doi prevented the pinch with a courageous dive. In the 81st minute, Suzuki's shot from the counter was saved by Doi.

　Against Niigata's relentless play, Tokyo started to make mistakes. It was a pattern that had been repeated many times last season, so there was a bad atmosphere. However, Kure, Asari, and Mashima were successively brought in, and they maintained their focus and defended until the end. They secured a solid 3 points. With this, Tokyo has won the opening match of J1 for 5 consecutive years since 2000. Including the J2 in 1999, they have extended their winning streak to 6 matches. They haven't fully unleashed their attacking football yet, but they have shown a glimpse of it and are riding the momentum towards winning the title!

[Player Comments]

"Abbe" "I was able to score a goal in a good form, and I felt good because there was also a record of consecutive wins in the opening game. I was able to maintain a good sense of tension in front of many spectators. I became number 11 from this season, but I want to show my own color. I think I can ride the flow with this, but I want to switch to the next game immediately." "Lucas" "It was the first official game in Japan, but the happiest thing is that the team won and got 3 points. We should have scored more goals while we had the rhythm in the first half... Personally, I felt that I need to defend more firmly and make sure to score when there is a chance. I want to make adjustments and face the next game, but I'm in good condition."

[Summary of Niigata Coach Hanamachi's Press Conference]

"In the first half of the game, we were overwhelmed by the speed of decision-making and passing in the adult and children's soccer. However, although we played a different style of soccer in the first half, in the second half, we reevaluated our own soccer and tried to bring together everything we have done so far. Unfortunately, we couldn't score any goals, but there was a momentum. It would have been great if we could have scored a goal at that time. Tokyo is accustomed to J1 and can play organized soccer. There was a difference in experience between teams that can utilize their preparations in the game and teams that, even though they have made preparations, end up in a panic and can't perform. However, it is important for us to get used to the stage of J1 for the first time. We also got used to it in the first 45 minutes of today's game, so I think it was quite good as preparation for the next game. We want to perform well and achieve good results in the next home game."

[Summary of the Former Coach's Press Conference]

"We needed to score at least one more goal in the first half. We created so many chances, but our lack of finishing and decisiveness showed. If we were in the opposite position and conceded only one goal after being attacked so much, we would have regained our energy in the second half. In the second half, Niigata had Fabinho playing more centrally, and players like Teragawa and Suzuki, who came on as substitutes, were able to receive the ball in the forward line and control the flow of the game. If Abe and Lucas had more time to keep the ball, we could have launched counterattacks. However, Wu and Asari, who came on as substitutes, also performed well and fought hard. Niigata also had many supporters who came to watch the game, and they put up a good fight. We told the players that although this is Niigata's first J1 game, they have experienced players like Yamaguchi, Kuwahara, and Ueno, who have more experience than us, so we need to borrow their strength and not let ourselves be defeated. That's why we entered the game with a strong determination. Regardless of the content, I think it was good that we secured 3 points and kept a clean sheet. We want to make the necessary adjustments and prepare for the next game against Oita."