Match Day Info: 04/13/2019 (H) Tokyo Verdy vs FCR (A) at the Ajinomoto Stadium Kickoff at 14:00
Weather Forecast: Sunny with temperatures around 60 degrees Fahrenheit (24C) at kickoff with slight 5 mph winds. Temperatures will stay near the high 50s low 60s all game and there is a 0% chance of rain at the time of this posting. It seems as if it will be cool but sunny so I’d recommend a light jacket and hat/sunglasses.
FCR will once again travel to the Tokyo area this time to take on Tokyo Verdy at the 49,000 seat Ajinomotoa stadium. Verdy share this stadium with FC Tokyo but don’t bring in nearly the same size of crowds as the J1 tenants. In fact, they are averaging around 4,300 per match but that also includes a home game played at a much smaller venue this past mid-week. FCR are coming off their historic performance against Kashiwa Reysol this past Sunday where they drew 1 all to become the all time J League leader in consecutive undefeated matches at home with 26.
Tokyo Verdy: 16th in J2 with 8 points. 2W2D4L Current Form LDWDL Typical Formation 4-2-3-1
Verdy are a strange team in that they can show flashes of brilliance at certain times but also display a penchant for losing their concentration at critical moments of the game. They responded rather quickly against Tochigi when the visitors were up 1-0 but then let the game slip away with 2 late goals to lose 3-2. They narrowly earned a draw against Tokushima on the road when a later corner was deflected in off the back of one of the Verdy players.
Verdy looked like a totally different team against Kashiwa Reysol two weeks ago as they pounced on the visitors for two early goals and ended up shutting out a good Reysol team 2-0 at home. Verdy then faced off against one of the early table toppers in Mito in the mid-week but this was a lackluster game that ended in a 0-0 draw.
Against J2 League leading Yamagata they nearly pulled off the upset on the road by taking the lead in the 44th minute only to concede in the 60th and 90th minute resulting in a 2-1 loss.
Players to Watch: #11 Ryohei Hayashi FW. He is their leading scored with 4 goals so far this season. He has a very dangerous left foot and has a penchant for heading balls into the back of the net. In the 6 games that I’ve seen his highlights, he moves effortlessly in the box, as well as around and in between the opposing teams’ defenders to create space for himself. He times his runs very well which almost seems to lull the opposing teams’ defenders to sleep before he quickly turns on the speed and gets past them and onto the end of a cross in the box. I feel Okazaki will have his hands full with Hayashi tomorrow.
FCR: 5th in J2 with 15 points. 4W3D1L Current Form WDDLD Typical Formation 4-2-3-1
Emotions are riding high for FCR coming off their historic achievement this past weekend. I believe the late goal against Reysol will bolster their confidence and hopefully push them out to an early lead away from the friendly confines of Okinawa. Uejo’s 4th goal of the season was massive for the club and community but has also propelled him into the joint top 4 scorer in J2 this season. While his two prior goals may have been originally intended as crosses for Suzuki, this last goal left little doubt in anyone’s mind when he smashed it home on the volley.
FCR have failed to win in their last 4 matches but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are experiencing a drop off in performance. They have faced some tough teams over that stretch that includes drawing on the road against the current league leaders Yamagata, coming from behind twice to secure draws at home against Yamaguchi and Kashiwa and the tough loss during the shortened week where they nearly made something of the match against JEF.
FCR Keys to Victory: 1.) Attack the left side of Tokyo Verdy. In the matches I reviewed for this preview they were absolutely terrible down the left side of their defense. This means that either Tanaka, and hopefully a healthy Nishioka, can exploit Verdy with plenty of open space to send crosses into the box. For whatever reason, the Verdy defense down the left cannot organize itself and allows acres of space to opposing teams as well as ample opportunities to send shots and crosses into the dangerous 6-yard box. 2.) Take #11 Hayashi out of the match with good man marking and Verdy will have little to offer in the attack going forward. If FCR can keep a close eye on Hayashi and make life difficult for him then we should have no problem slowing down the Verdy attack.
3.) Dominate the possession and shots on net. The more FCR can pressure Verdy at the back the more chances that their defense will crumble and begin conceding goals. The Verdy defense is not that great but it is imperative FCR get on the front foot, shrug off any slow start and begin attacking. Tomidokoro could have a very nice game here by setting up Suzuki and our defenders with some well placed crosses into the box from the right side.
Match Prediction: I like both teams to score and for FCR to possibly upset the home side. We can expect, with a high degree of certainty anyways, that FCR will start out slow and allow their opponents some early opportunities. Verdy has capitalized on that once this season so it is crucial that FCR bend, but don’t break, on defense and then begin the attack on the Verdy defense.
Well good luck to Hiroaki Ikema, the FC Ryukyu Kanto region supporters and everyone else I haven’t mentioned that intends to show up to this match. Cheer the boys on as loud as you can and bring home the victory.
See you on Monday with the match recap.
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