SAITAMA — Urawa Reds striker Tatsuya Tanaka gave national team manager Takeshi Okada food for thought as he helped his side get back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over FC Tokyo on Saturday night.
Tanaka turned in a lively performance in his first league appearance since April, setting up strike partner Edmilson for the opening goal just four minutes in, before making way for Yuichiro Nagai as he succumbed to a thigh problem early in the second half.
With Japan's strikers misfiring in World Cup qualifying matches, the 25-year-old staked his claim for a place with Reds manager Gert Engels dropping Naohiro Takahara for the first time this season.