Verdy 0 - 0 FC Tokyo 0 - 0 City of Tokyo

Go On My Son!!! Super Kazuki Super `Keeper!!

0-0 was the final score yesterday at a busy Ajinomoto with over 28,000 supporters in for the first clash of the Tokyo clubs since 2008. Another shedload of free crap given away on entry including pikachu hats, flags and a chance to have pictures taken with the Yellow man himself.  I now have a flag, a pikachu hat and a photo of myself with the yellow man. One of the benefits of going along to the ground as opposed to watching on TV.
Also, as it turned out we got to meet up with some old friends from the On The Gas site and spent a good hour catching up before the game. Lumped into this hour was an interview with Tokyo MX TV.  Maybe we were on TV yesterday, I don`t know. It was all very nice and another reminder of why football in Japan is great. Two teams who supposedly hate each other, though the fans intermingle before the game without even a hint of aggro. We sat down drank a couple of beers together and (albeit half heartedly) wished each other good luck for the game and off we went.
The game kicked off and straight away FC Tokyo picked up where you`d expect given that Kawakatsu had put Taira Inoue in the line up....to be fair though he wasn`t at centre forward, Hirashige fresh from his debut strike against Tosu had taken that role with Goal Machine Hiramoto dropping to the bench. Inoue was operating at right midfield and did a reasonable job. Nothing spectacular but reasonable. Nice one Taira.
FC Tokyo were on top for the first 15 minutes but then as if someone flicked a switch the game was turned on it`s head. FC Tokyo suddenly stumbled when the ball was coming, their passing went to pot and as their confidence drained the frustration both in the stands and on the pitch grew visibly. Kawano and Hirashige were looking bright with Hirashige twice being sent clear only to be caught out by a lack of pace. Hirashige was to leave the field in the 28th minute with what looked like hamstring trouble, Goal Machine coming on in his place. For the 20 minutes before half time and 10 minutes after Verdy looked like the team most likely to break the deadlock with a number of half chances though the FC Tokyo keeper wasn`t REALLY tested.
FC Tokyo`s frustration came to a head with the sending off of Brazillan striker Cesar fifteen or so minutes into the second half. He had been booked in the first half for leading with his elbow and clattering Tsuchiya in the process, but his second yellow was poorer than poor. I was sitting probably 80 or 90 yards away from the incident and as soon as the play stopped I thought "DIVE". The ref agreed and off went Cesar for "simulation" or in laymans terms being a soft, cheating, slimy twat. Significantly, there was next to no protest from the Red and Blue on the pitch and from their bench. It was a piss poor piece of play. At this point, I really thought we would go on and win it but that`s not what Tokyo Verdy are all about. Instead of turning the screw on 10 men Verdy were to be pegged back into their own half for the remainder and it was Doi who was by far the busier of the two keepers by the end. Doi finished the game on a stretcher; though not from the incessant boo-ing every time he touched the ball. He looked to be in some trouble after jumping for a high ball in his box. Seemingly he landed badly and things aren`t looking good for the veteran stopper. Goal Machine was to become Goal Stopping Machine for the last two minutes, donning the goalie gloves as Kawkatsu had already used his three subs. FC Tokyo were unable to assert any pressure on him and Hiramoto finished the game as did both other goalkeepers with a clean sheet.
At the final whistle the FC Tokyo end erupted in a chorus of boo-ing and whistling. Seemingly, they are not happy campers in the Red and Blue half of the city. We aren`t happy campers either but I think Verdy fans have been accustomed to mediocrity for that much longer than FC Tokyo. Pre-season, FC Tokyo were most people`s solid bet to steamroller the division and finish with record points. Whilst, they still remain one of the favourites for promotion, talk of the ease of winning the league and just having to turn up is definately off. Expectation is the most dangerous thing at a football club. At the start of 2010, Verdy were happy to still be in business and as such when the club started with four straight losses there was a definate "sho ga nai" feeling amongst the supporters. 2010 turned out to be an encouraging season and therefore when the club started 2011 with new owners and new players, expectations have risen leading to more frustration that things aren`t going to plan.

Tokyo Zero

Transfer that feeling to FC Tokyo, a team who have spent virtually their whole life in J1 and they are in a perilous position. Expected to batter all comers, it`s a no-win situation. If they win 5-0 it`s expected and if they lose it`s a disgrace. I`ve a feeling many FC Tokyo supporters are currently re-thinking their evaluation of the level of play in J2. To be sure there is some junk in the league but there are also very much more than the three teams who came down who will be fighting for a top three position. FC Tokyo will be there or there abouts come the end of the season though hopefully they`ll continue to play like they did yesterday against Verdy and we can all look forward to another great day out at Ajinomoto Stadium in 2012!! First point in the bag, let`s hope we can get another between now and December...Onwards and Upwards The Boys Mince On!!