SAITAMA — Urawa Reds manager Volker Finke warned he intends to turn Saitama Stadium into a fortress after his side beat FC Tokyo 3-1 on Saturday to collect its first points of the J. League season.
Reds had not won a home league match since August going into the game against the capital city team, but a fifth-minute opener from Yuki Abe looked like setting the record straight as Urawa charged out of the blocks.
An own-goal from Keisuke Tsuboi less than 10 minutes later threatened to cloud the issue, but Edmilson restored the home side's lead early in the second half before Robson Ponte made the game safe five minutes before the end.