This weekend was the 30th anniversary of the J.League and the celebrations were kicked-off in style after Shuhei Tokumoto bagged himself a goal and an assist as FC Tokyo edged out Tamagawa Clasico rivals Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 at the National Stadium in Tokyo on Friday.
Playing at the National Stadium instead of their usual Ajinomoto Stadium as part of the league’s anniversary weekend, FC Tokyo took the lead after just 12 minutes. Having received a cross from the opposite flank, left-back Tokumoto fired off a stunning strike with his weaker foot that went straight into the far top corner, much to the despair of Kawasaki goalie Naoto Kamifukumoto.
Tokumoto then turned from scorer to creator in the 25th minute, latching onto a Diego Oliveira ball before teeing up Shuto Abe who doubled FC Tokyo’s lead.
Kawasaki tried their best in chasing the game, with Taisei Miyashiro coming close before succeeding in halving the deficit in the 39th minute. Tatsuki Seto managed to find Miyashiro in the area before the latter quickly pulled the trigger, the ball taking a slight deflection before making its way into Kamifukumoto’s goal.
Despite this brief glimmer of hope, Kawasaki’s chances of salvaging something from the game took a massive dent in the 52nd minute following Yasuto Wakizaka’s red card for a foul on Teruhito Nakagawa.
Both sides came close to adding more into the scoreline, but in the end FC Tokyo managed to hang on for all three points.
This weekend’s celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the J.League culminates on Sunday, with Kashima Antlers taking on Nagoya Grampus at the National Stadium in the replay of the first-ever J.League match to be played.