Dortmund wrap up pre-season tour of Japan with 1-0 win over FC Tokyo

Despite a relatively tame first-half showing, BVB largely looked like a much improved side tonight a week on from their narrow defeat to Cerezo Osaka.

Photo: Masashi Hara/Getty Images.

Borussia Dortmund rounded off their 2026 pre-season tour of Japan with a 1-0 win over FC Tokyo today. A solitary second-half goal from Fábio Silva was enough for Niko Kovač's men to leave the Land of the Rising Sun on a high.

Dortmund enjoyed over 75% possession in the opening quarter, but managed to create only one clear chance in that spell. Carney Chukwumeka fed Fábio Silva who tested Kim Seung-Gyu as the rain started to pour. 

Niko Kovač's side were dealt a blow when Chukwumeka was forced off with a suspected knee issue. That preceded an inswinging cross-come-shot from Maxi Beier which also needed stopping by the Korean goalkeeper.

Such was the monsoon-like conditions, play was halted for 15 minutes. The game resumed with FC Tokyo threatening from long-range strikes. Ultimately, the half ended scoreless despite a late Hashimoto header sailing wide.

After a quick turnaround at the break, Tokyo made four half-time alterations. BVB stayed the same and it eventually payed off in the 54th-minute when Fábio Silva found space in the box to swivel and curl inside the far post.

Kovač rang the changes – eight in total – with 30 minutes remaining as Jobe Bellingham got another shot on target. At the other end, FC Tokyo's Teruhito Nakagawa couldn't get the better of Drewes after some tidy link-up play.

BVB almost doubled their lead when Luca Reggiani struck the base of the upright. Tokyo had a late penalty appeal waved away much to Dortmund's relief, who depart Japan with a win before facing Arsenal in London next Saturday.