This season's start is a challenge to Asia!

Prior to the J.League, the AFC Champions League 2016 has begun. Tokyo entered the competition from the playoffs and faced Chonburi FC (Thailand). This match not only marks the start of Tokyo's season, but also the beginning of the J.League's Asian challenge.

Tokyo, which welcomed new coach Shiroyuki this season, has new signings Akimoto, Komano, Hudson, Mizunuma, and Abe in the starting lineup. The formation is a 4-4-2 with Maeda and Abe as the two forwards. Mizunuma on the right side, and Higashi on the left. Yonemoto and Hudson form a double pivot in midfield. Chonburi also lines up in a 4-4-2 formation.

The wind is a little strong, but the harsh coldness of the past few days is not felt at Tokyo Stadium. In pursuit of victory only, the match aiming for the ACL main tournament started at 19:30 with the kickoff in Chonburi.

Tokyo Challenge Asia In 2016 Opening Game

F.C.TOKYO kicked off the new season with an AFC Champions League playoff game against Chonburi FC of Thailand. Not only was the game the first competitive match of the season for Tokyo but the first appearance of a J.League club in the tournament this year. Newly appointed manager Hiroshi Jofuku named five of the new signings to his starting eleven: Akimoto, Komano, Ha Daesung, Mizunuma and Abe. Abe partnered Maeda in attack while Mizunuma played on the right of midfield and Higashi on the left. Yonemoto and Ha Daesung filled the central midfield positions in a 4-4-2 formation. Chonburi also lined up in a 4-4-2. Despite the fairly strong wind Tokyo Stadium felt less chilly than the recent bitterly cold weather. Only a win was an acceptable result from the game as Tokyo aimed to make the group stage of the AFC Champions League. Chonburi FC kicked off shortly after 7:30pm.

Show a dynamic battle and a furious goal rush

Immediately after the start of the match: We took the opponent's ball and moved forward, playing mostly in the opponent's half.

6 minutes: Right corner kick obtained. Kicker Mizunuma's kick was contested by the nearby Mori Shige and the opposing defender tried to clear it, but it hit the feet of the previous Chonburi defender and went into the net. They took the lead with an own goal by Chonburi.

9 minutes: East creates an opportunity on the left side and Mizunuma, who has moved forward on the left front, keeps the ball. Mizunuma carefully times his pass back to Abe, who enters the area. Abe shakes off the opponent's defender with a fake and then strikes the ball with his right foot to score a goal!! Abe scores his first goal in Tokyo with a swift follow-up. They secure an additional goal early in the game and then maintain a safe game flow. Even when Chonburi has possession of the ball, they press forward and midfield to consistently regain possession and launch quick counterattacks from there.
 

34 minutes: Tokunaga on the right side of his own field → Mizunuma skillfully passes to the front right line while being surrounded by the opponent's DF. Tokunaga overlaps here and advances further into space. From a high position, he sends a ground cross aimed precisely at the center. East then forcefully stabs it with his right foot!
Expanded the lead in the first half with a dynamic and cohesive battle.

Dynamic Tokyo Surge Into Early Lead

Tokyo set the pattern for the game straight from the kick off by winning possession and moving forward into the Chonburi half. 6th.minute: Tokyo won a corner on the right and Mizunuma swung the ball in to the near post. Morishige and a Chonburi defender both went for the ball but failed to make contact; the ball struck a defender on the shin and deflected into the goal. Tokyo took the lead thanks to an own goal. 9th.minute: Higashi prompted a move down the left before finding Mizunuma in the channel. Mizunuma took the ball to the byline then played it back to Abe inside the Chonburi area. Abe faked past a defender and drove the ball hard and low inside the near post. Abe's first goal for Tokyo had given the side a two-goal cushion with less that 10 minutes on the clock. The home side then played a steady game, pressing hard to regain the ball when possession was lost and attempting to hit the visitors on the break. 34th.minute: Tokunaga found Mizunuma inside the Tokyo half on the right. Although surrounded by opposition players Mizunuma jinked past one and then chipped the ball over another as Tokunaga raced forward on the overlap. Tokunaga slid a low ball into the Chonburi box that Higashi met on the run and drove hard inside the near post. A thrilling, dynamic move had extended the lead to three. 3-0 was the score at half time.

Recorded the highest score in club history, now heading to the ACL

54 minutes: Morishige sends a long feed from the defensive line to the front line. In response, Higashi, who received the ball behind the opponent's left area, dribbles to attract the opponent's defender and makes a last pass to Maeda, who has moved up in the center. Maeda shoots freely and GOAL!!

55 minutes: East on the left side → Komano overlapped and advanced with dribble, left cross. In response to this, Yonemoto, who ran into the left area, headed the ball. The shot that pierced the course was sucked into the net over the opponent's goalkeeper's head.

56 minutes: Kono is substituted for Higashi and is placed on the left side as is.

62 minutes: From Hudson's development, Tokunaga advances. From there, Mizunuma on the left jumps out in front of the opponent's defender, jumps and scores with his right foot, marking his first goal in Tokyo. Immediately after this, Hashimoto is substituted for Abe, and the formation is changed to 4-3-3. Hudson as the anchor, Hashimoto on the right inside half, and Yonemoto on the left. Maeda in the center of the front line, Kono on the right, and Mizunuma on the left.

72 minutes: Yonemoto → Mizunuma on the left side carries the ball forward with momentum and crosses. Kawano jumps into the center of the area and pushes it in with his left foot.

76 minutes: Hanyu replaces Mizunuma as the inside half, and Hashimoto moves to the forward position.

84th minute: Yonemoto connects Komano's clearance and passes it to Hudson in the center, who then entrusts it to Hanyu on the right. Hudson advances into the area. Maeda crosses the ball to the right front line and runs towards it, while Hanyu provides a through pass to Hudson. However, just before crossing, the opponent's defender slides and the ball goes towards Chonburi's goal. In additional time, Kono runs into the area after receiving Yonemoto's through pass and is fouled, earning a penalty kick. He scores it himself, securing the 9th goal, and the game ends.

They overwhelmed Chonburi with a club record score of 9-0 and secured their spot in the ACL group stage.

※Please refer to the FC Tokyo official mobile site for post-match comments from players and coaches.

Record Score Takes Tokyo Into ACL

54th.minute: Morishige hoisted a long ball over the top of the Chonburi defence as Higashi darted between their centre backs. Higashi took the ball down coolly, neatly sidestepped a charging defender then rolled the ball towards Maeda near the penalty spot. Maeda stroked a low, first-time shot inside the near post for another goal. 55th.minute: Higashi took the ball down the left, then fed the overlapping Komano. Komano lifted a cross into the box that Yonemoto met on the run and his looping header arced gracefully over the Chonburi keeper and into the far corner. 56th.minute: Kawano replaced Higashi, taking the same position on the left of midfield. 62nd.minute: Ha Daesung moved the ball out to Tokunaga who raced down the right and hoisted a towering cross towards the far post. The ball sailed over the head of one defender and Mizunuma darted inside another before clipping a jumping volley first-time inside the near post. It was his first goal for the club. Following the goal Tokyo replaced Abe with Hashimoto and switched to a 4-3-3 formation. Ha Daesung played as midfield anchor with Hashimoto on his right and Yonemoto on his left. Maeda played in the centre of the front three with Kawano on his right and Mizunuma on the left. 72nd.minute: Yonemoto found Mizunuma down the left. Mizunuma took the ball forward before spearing a cross into the box to meet Kawano's run from deep. Kawano reached the ball before the advancing keeper and prodded it into the net. 76th.minute: Hanyu replaced Mizunuma and took a position as inside half with Hashimoto moving into the front line. 84th.minute: Yonemoto picked up a Komano clearance and moved the ball on to Ha Daesung who found Hanyu on the right. Hanyu attempted to roll a pass through to Ha but a Chonburi defender stretched out a leg and diverted the ball past his own keeper. Deep in additional time Yonemoto hit a through pass that bisected the Chonburi defence and set Kawano free inside the penalty area. Kawano went down under a clumsy challenge and the referee pointed to the spot. Kawano took the penalty himself, drilling the ball low into the left corner. It was the 9th. and final goal as the full time whistle blew shortly after. Tokyo had set a club record with a crushing 9-0 victory and qualified for the ACL group stage.