FC TOKYO 2-1 SHANGHAI SIPG

Tokyo: A Kota Mizunuma brace helped FC Tokyo to a 2-1 victory over Shanghai SIPG in the AFC Champions League Round of 16 first leg on Tuesday.

After a commanding first-half performance at Tokyo Stadium the hosts opened the scoring two minutes before the interval through midfielder Mizunuma’s free-kick only for Wu Lei to equalise for Shanghai 10 minutes after the restart.

But Tokyo went back in front on 65 minutes when Mizunuma volleyed in his double to give the Japanese side a slender advantage ahead of the second leg in Shanghai next week.

Tokyo got out the blocks quickly and came close inside five minutes when Kento Hashimoto’s ball into the box was chested back by Ryoichi Maeda but the onrushing Mizunuma saw his goalbound effort from 15 yards blocked by defender Fu Huan.

“In this first leg, we knew that if we don’t get three points here we would have a very difficult time when we visit them in Shanghai. So, we went into the game with very strong mentality and were determined to implement our task today,” said FC Tokyo coach Hiroshi Jofuku.

“We gave away a goal, which is a pity. But our players showed what they could do now well for 90 minutes. Because it was 2-1, however, if we give away a goal next and cannot score we wouldn’t be able to advance. So, we’ll prepare for the next game in order to advance to the next round.”

The J.League side then had another chance on 10 minutes after Naotake Hanyu’s centre went all the way through to Takuji Yonemoto at the back post, but goalkeeper Yan Junling was on hand to push his attempt wide.

With Tokyo in almost complete control of the tie, Maeda’s downward header from 10 yards after a Mizunuma cross from the right went narrowly wide of Yan’s left post as Shanghai held on.

But 10 minutes before the interval the visitors could have broken the deadlock when a stretching Kim Ju-young could only divert an inviting free-kick from Argentine Dario Conca over from six yards.

Then in the 43rd minute the home side were awarded a free-kick just outside the penalty area when Brazilian Elkeson blocked Hashimoto’s effort with his hand.

And Mizunuma’s ensuing low drive took a slight nick off team-mate Hideto Takahashi on its way past Yan to give Tokyo a deserved lead.

Shanghai came out with renewed purpose after the restart and levelled things up on 55 minutes when Conca slipped in Lu Wenjun, and although goalkeeper Yota Akimoto denied the frontman from eight yards, Wu was in the right place to knock home the rebound for his fourth of the tournament.

Ten minutes later, though, Tokyo regained their advantage when the unmarked Mizunuma volleyed Yuhei Tokunaga’s cross from the left into the back of the net from eight yards despite the best efforts of custodian Yan.

The visitors pushed for a second equaliser but found it difficult to create clear-cut chances as the stubborn Tokyo backline limited them to two off-target Conca efforts from distance.

And Shanghai captain Wang Shenchao then headed Cai Huikang’s cross over in the dying seconds as the home side closed out the victory.

“It was a good football match. I think Tokyo were a little bit better than we were in the first half. Then in the second half we came back very well and played good football. So, I am very happy with our second half,” said Shanghai coach Sven Goran Eriksson.

“In the first half maybe we could have done a little bit better, but this game goes on for more 90 minutes. So we’ll see what’s happening next Tuesday. Everything can happen and we’ll see.”