Japan tour a sweltering success for Brighton

The second and final game of the Japan Tour of 2024 saw Brighton take on Tokyo Verdy at the National Stadium. It was another sweltering day and once the game had ended with a 4-2 win to the Albion, we could safely say the Seagulls visit to the Land of the Rising Sun had been a sweltering success.

Temperatures reached 30 degrees Celsius in the build up to match and the heat was noticeable even though kick off was 6.30pm local time.

Around 25,000 fans were present and again, Kaoru Mitoma was the star attraction. The Japanese Bullet Train even wore the captain’s armband. What an honour that must have been for him and a real thrill for his fellow countrymen.

Type Verdy into Google and it tells you it means an intelligent, charming man who is often near perfection. Will we all think of Fabian Hurzeler as being verdy by the end of the season? Fingers crossed.

Just like in the 5-1 win over Kashima Antlers, Brighton made another lively start. The walking pace we frequently saw towards the end of Roberto De Zerbi’s reign only occurred when Adam Webster came on in the second half and tiredness began to creep in because of the heat.

The Albion needed just 11 minutes to take the lead. Danny Welbeck picked up a well-placed corner and played a great pass to Jan Paul van Hecke who knocked home.

Verdy’s home ground is in the south of Tokyo, not the National Stadium. They looked determined to make the most of playing the bigger stage, however, and equalised just four minutes later.

A superb eye-of-the-needle through pass put Yudai Kimura in on goal and he made it 1-1 with a quarter hour played.

Verdy provided a sterner test for Brighton through the first half than Kashima had managed four days earlier. Brighton survived a big scare when a shot from a tight angle hit the side netting.

Welbeck had a header saved off the line and new signing Ibrahim Osman shot just wide of the post as the game continued at what was a fast pace for a friendly.

The high humidity meant a drinks break midway through. Whilst the players took on water and whatever other special drinks they have, I marvelled at the technology involved in bringing crystal clear pictures from Tokyo into my lounge.

I watched the game on MyAlbion TV via the internet browser on my LG television. It is all a far cry from when the only football you could watch on TV was the FA Cup final once a year!

Brighton took the lead on 44 minutes with another goal from new signing Yankubu Minteh. What an exciting addition he already looks.

Hurzeler made wholesale changes at the break and it did not take long for the players introduced to make a difference.

The second half was just four minutes old when Simon Adingra put Brighton 3-1 ahead and seemingly cruising the victory.

Fireworks started going off in the 53rd minute, just as they had in the previous game. The pyrotechnics seemed to inspire Verdy and the pulled one back in the 54th minute when Naoki Hayashi was left completely unmarked to head home.

Brighton looked weak at the back at times, something which Hurzeler will need to address. The Seagulls were lucky not to concede from a couple of Verdy breaks, with Jensen Weir showing his potential by cutting off several counters.

Young Killian Cahill took over in goal from Jason Steele on 67 minutes. He must have been pinching himself to be playing in the Japan National Stadium when just two seasons ago, he was on loan at Bognor Regis Town.

Jeremy Sarmiento added his second goal of pre-season on 77 minutes to round off the scoring with the Albion’s fourth of the night.

Verdy thought they had a third with three minutes remaining but it was disallowed for offside by the linesman, meaning Cahill kept a clean sheet in his 23 minutes on the pitch.

With the final whistle came the end of Brighton’s time in Japan. The players have put on a great show and the club will have gained many new friends and supporters. Ultimately, that was what this tour was about, as much as football.

After a long flight home – I know because I have done it – preparations step up a gear with only two weeks to go until the start of the Premier League season.

Queens Park Rangers on Saturday will probably provide a sterner test than either of the Albion’s J-League opponents.

Roll on Loftus Road to see the progress the Albion are making under Hurzeler.

Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony