4 Nov 2004(Thu)

It's the final the J.League wanted.

It's the final the sponsor, Yamazaki Nabisco, wanted.

But is it the final FC Tokyo wanted?

Somehow I doubt it.

I know they say the form book goes out of the window for a cup final, but it is hard to ignore the recent results of the two teams heading into Wednesday's Nabisco Cup final at Kokuritsu.

Urawa Reds are on fire, seven points clear at the top of the second-stage table with only four matches remaining. Surely their first stage title is just around the corner.

FC Tokyo, on the other hand, are struggling for goals and for points, which makes them the heavy outsider for the Nabisco Cup showdown.

Still, FC Tokyo and their army of fans can look back on their most recent encounter for some inspiration.

They met in the league at Ajinomoto Stadium on September 23, when Tokyo played superbly and won 1-0.

On that night, the central defensive pairing of Moniwa and Jean were outstanding, keeping out a Reds attack that had scored 21 goals in winning their first five matches of the second stage.

Earlier in the season, Reds had beaten Tokyo 2-1 at Saitama, so there has been little to choose between the teams in the league.

That's in the head-to-head meetings, though.

Since FC Tokyo's victory over Urawa, the capital club's league form has been woeful. In fact they haven't won a league game since then, drawing three and losing two. Maybe they are saving themselves for the big day?

In the same period, Reds have won four times and drawn just once in the league, so there's no doubt which team will enter Wednesday's final with their confidence sky-high.

Urawa also have the experience of the past two seasons, when they have played Kashima Antlers in the Nabisco Cup final.

Antlers won in 2002, but Reds gained revenge last year on a day which will be best remembered for the shock announcement that Hans Ooft would leave at the end of the season.

His replacement, Guido Buchwald, has done a marvellous job so far, and his team is on course to win a treble of league championship, Nabisco Cup and Emperor's Cup.

I hope, for the sake of Tokyo's excellent fans and for the club in general, which is an example for others with substantially more financial resources to follow, that the Blues will match the Reds.

But it would be a big surprise if FC Tokyo could throw the form book out of the window on this occasion.

I tip Reds to win 2-0.

ends