Match Day Info: 03/10/2019 (H) FCR vs Ehime FC (A) at the Tapic Stadium (Okinawa Comprehensive Park) Kickoff at 1600.
Weather Forecast: Rain throughout the day with a slight break near kickoff. Expect overcast skies and intermittent showers throughout the match. Temperature will be in the high 60s (Fahrenheit) with 15mph winds expected. So bring a rain jacket and umbrella if you’re sitting in Sections A or S and you don’t want to get wet.
Ehime FC 7th place in J2 at time of blog. W1 D1 L0. Typical Formation 3-4-2-1.
The last two matches for Ehime were both at home and it’s really a tale of a bit of bad luck and bit of good luck for Ehime during those games. First vs JEF United Chiba they were unlucky to be awarded a PK for an absolutely blatant handball in the box and therefore that match ended in a 0-0 draw. Agaisnt Tokyo Verdy they were lucky not concede late in the match when Tokyo Verdy hit the post twice.
As a whole this team seems to be improving over the course of the first two games. Wild, errant shots on net declined and they began to enjoy large chunks of possession vs Verdy.
Ehime FC Players to monitor: #8 Naganuma RMF. Very quick player who can create and take chances very well. We cannot give him a ton of time and space in our end or else he will make life very difficult for FCR tomorrow. #10 Kamiya LFW. Improved from the first match to the second where he was constantly getting free to run across the front of the box and take shot on net. #19 Fujimoto LMF. Scored the only goal on the season for Ehime FC with a very nice take. He held off the Verdy CB very well and powered to the center of the box and then drilled one past the keeper.
FCR 3rd Place in J2. W2 L0 D0. Formation 4-2-3-1
We will once again look to capitalize on any Ehime FC mistakes as we did our last two opponents. Last week we found a serious weakness in Omiya’s left side since about 75% of the chances we created throughout the match came from that side. We will once again need strong play from #11 Tanaka on the right, leading J2 goal scorer #9 Suzuki, with #7 Nakagawa creating chances and #5 Tokumoto stopping counter attacks down our left side.
Prediction: I don’t really do these nor know where to begin since this is the inaugural J2 season for FCR. The bottom line is FCR needs to continue their fast start in the league before the grind of the J2 and all its fixtures catch up to us. Since it seems both teams favor a counterattacking style, this game may see long spells of possession by either side in the middle third of the pitch resulting in not much else other than time wasting. Hopefully FCR can continue their attacking ways and break through the Ehime FC defense early and convert one or two chances. A 0-0 draw is just as likely as a 2-1 outcome so I’ll go with the latter since goals are fun.
FCR desperately needs to secure full home points early in the season so let’s cheer them on and stay dry. See you at the match in Section A!
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