Sagan Tosu were defeated on Sunday evening away at Ajinomoto Stadium despite a good display by Fernando Torres’ side. After a good first half by the visitors, with several chances to get an early lead, Sagan Tosu were reduced to ten man. Hideto Takahashi was sent-off on 61’ after consecutive bookings in two minutes, but the team kept on fighting hard for an opener.

Finally the deadlock was broken two minutes before the end with an own goal by Hashimuri. Fernando Torres could equalise with a superb header, but substitute Gael scored the second for the local side after a fast-paced counterattack. The next fixture is scheduled for Wednesday the 13th (11:00 CET) away vs Kashiwa Reysol in J-League Cup contest.

A Great atmosphere welcomed the J-League game at Ajinomoto Stadium. The local side claimed the posession from the early start, creating the first chances, but soon Sagan Tosu replied approaching to goal through a combination on the box between Torres and Kanazaki.

The Torres’ song could be heard clarly from the stands while the visitors increased their attempts to goal with an assist served from a header by Torres to Korean attacker Dong-Geon Cho, but Hayashi deflected the effort.

The second half started with the same 22 mames of the first 45 minutes. The first chances were from the local side, as keeper Okubo denied twice the shots on the right post, specially blocking a drive by Higachi from close range.

Sagan Tosu were reduced to 10 men on minute 61’ when Hideto Takahashi was sent-off. Two bookings in a two-minute spell forced Sagan Tosu to face the final stage of the game. Subtitute Spaniard Isaac Cuenca came onto the pitch replacing Kanazaki, his first ever appearance in J-League. Both Torres and Cuenca led the attacking efforts from Sagantinos, but they conceded an own goal (Hashimuri) one minute before the end of the game.

Torres with a header could equalise for a valuable point, but the effort flew out near the crossbar only for a whisker. Jael finished a fast-paced counterattack leading the local side to a 2-0 win


- Match stats:

Tokyo FC: Hayashi; Morishige, Jang Hyun-Soo, Ogawa, Muroya, Takahagi (Omori 81’), Hashimoto, Higashi, Kubo, Nagai (Tagawa 16’ (Gael 66’)), Oliveira.

Sagan Tosu: Okubo; Takahashi, Fujita, Mitsumaru, Hara (Toyoda 90’); Y. Takahashi, H. Takahashi, Matsuoka, Kanazaki, Dong-Geon Cho (Cho 76’), Torres.

Bookings: Torres 67’, Muroya 83’, H. Takahashi 58’ y 61’.

Goals:

1-0 (89’) Hashimuri (OG).
2-0 (90’) Jael.