The first game was held at Sanfrecce Hiroshima's new stadium, where the opening game of the J1 soccer team will be held, with over 26,000 fans in attendance.
On the 10th, a preseason match between Sanfrecce and Gamba Osaka was held at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima in Hiroshima City, the first match since the venue opened on February 1st.
Tickets sold out in advance, and many people arrived as soon as the gates opened at 10 a.m., enjoying the immersive feeling that only a soccer-only stadium can offer, with the closest distance from the seats to the pitch being 8 meters long.
In the third minute of the second half, Sanfrecce's Pierros Sotiliou scored the first goal in the new stadium with a header, and performed a bow performance named after the team's name, which wowed the venue filled with 26,418 spectators. did.
Sanfrecce then conceded two points and lost 1-2, but Coach Skibbe had all 20 players on the bench play, saying, ``I want as many players as possible to experience the atmosphere of the new stadium.''
Toshihiro Aoyama, a 21st year Sanfrecce player who was a starting pitcher and played in the first half, said, ``I was concentrating on the game, but my thoughts overflowed and it was emotional.I'm happy to open a new page in Hiroshima's soccer history.'' I was there.
A woman in her 20s who visited from Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, said, ``I was looking forward to the introduction of the players on the big screen, so I was happy to be able to watch it because it was so powerful.I want to go to all the games.'' I did.
The first official game at the new stadium will be the J1 opening game on February 23rd, when Sanfrecce will face Urawa Reds.