Match Report: FC Tokyo vs. Vissel Kobe (Nabisco Cup Group Stage)

Report

Oh lawd, is that a white circle next to our name?  Oh yes it is.  For what it’s worth I spent my first match in god knows how many matches away from the main supporter’s section; having spent the previous night taking photos at a rock DJ event I decided that my knee wasn’t prepared to handle all the jumping nor was I prepared to lug out my camera.  Instead one of my American friends tagged along with me and we watched from the corner in the shade.

Now I know one of our (few) regular commentors is chomping at the bit to see me report some good news, but let me be blunt: this was no great stunning victory; not even close.  A tale of two halves would be the best way to describe the match.  The first half, which was generally much like most of Tokyo’s other losses this season, was a disaster: blown passes, nothing resembling cohesion at midfield or in the back line, an offense that couldn’t seem to get anything going.  With the crowd urging the team to shoot (and in fact the team failed to get a shot off in the first half), a late attack run likely kept the team from retreating to the locker room under a chorus of boos.  Still, regardless of their offensive struggles, Kobe was for reasons that defy me unable or even unwilling to take advantage of Tokyo’s play.  It seemed very much like the atmosphere of an 0-0 draw.

Fortunately some drama got inserted into the second half from the outset, as former FC Tokyo midfielder Norio Suzuki was substituted for Kenji Baba.  The home crowd suddenly began to boo with a ferocity that I’ve never heard outside of a Tokyo Derby match and continued to do so every time Norio touched the ball.  On a shot of his that sailed far wide, FCT supporters started chanting “Home-run, home-run, No-ri-o!”, which had to have been the funniest chant I’ve heard in a while at J.League matches.  In any case!

The second half was, to put it simply, when Tokyo started playing like they were capable of playing.  Their short passes started working and in general they were finally able to move as they pleased.  Otake’s goal was a thing of beauty, a perfectly-timed pass from Cabore that he slammed into the goal with no hesitation.  It was the kind of goal that the team needs a lot more of.  But of course at it’s Tokyo, no goals were to come and the game ended in a 1-0 victory.  The supporters sang Norio’s old cheer as Kobe walked back to the showers, and I’ve been told that the booing was basically an expression of “We still love you but you left us for another team so we gotta boo you, no hard feelings?”  Oh, Japan.

Anyone paying attention to the lineups will notice a couple big changes on defense; not only was youngster Kenta Mukuhara slotted to replace Nagatomo at sideback, but Konno was dropped down to center back.  Mukuhara played very well and I’d definitely like to see him in the starting lineup sooner or later.  Konno at CB I’m not sure I have a full opinion of as of yet, but a clean sheet does much for the spirit.  Rookie Soutan Tanabe was also in the squad for the game but despite calls from the supporters, Jofuku decided not to give him any playing time.

Following the game, both Otake and Konno were summoned by the supporters for curtain calls (Otake for his goal and Konno following the hero interview).  Both players declined, however, and their postgame comments indicated that they didn’t feel that they had earned such praise with their play, and I would tend to agree.  Jofuku’s comments seem to indicate that the second half was a turning point; I would like to agree with that.  If they can play every half like it was the second half, the fans will finally get to see the Moving Football we were promised at the beginning of the season.  We’ll see if the lessons have stuck in the next match against Jubilo.

As far as the big picture in Group B qualifying, Kashiwa is currently in the lead with 4 points and FCT is tied with Yamagata and Shimizu.  However, “tied”  is somewhat of a misnomer as both of those teams have a game in hand due to the bye system.  Nabisco Cup play resumes in mid-May, with Tokyo visiting JEF Chiba on a weeknight.