Intro
FC Ryukyu play their third mid-week game of the season, but this time it is at home versus JEF United Chiba. FC Ryukyu have lost 3 games in a row in addition to losing 5 out of the last 6. JEF have lost 3 of their past 6 matches with the most recent loss occurring last week at home against Yokohama FC. This is definitely a ‘must win game’ for both sides. A win for FC Ryukyu will not propel them any higher up the table but it will stave off, at least for now, being drug into the relegation scrap. The same could be said about JEF with the notable exception that a win will allow them to leap frog FC Ryukyu in the standings. There is also another aspect to this match for FC Ryukyu. If FC Ryukyu fail to win at home to a lesser opponent, will it finally be the end to Higuchi’s time as manager? We shall see.
Weather Forecast
Looks like a nice forecast but it will be muggy and hot.
JEF United Chiba
On paper and on film these two sides look identical. The same things that plague FC Ryukyu also plague JEF. They lost to Zelvia and Yokohama at home from poor defending on set pieces. They drew away to the surging Vortis side in a game where I saw zero JEF attacking highlights in the second half. The so called, “parking the bus” technique maybe eschewed among some footballing fans but it got the job done that night for a point. They went down very early to FC Gifu on the road, battled back to take the lead and then ultimately let the victory slip away from a late equalizer. However, JEF followed that performance up with a resounding 3-0 win at home versus Fukuoka.
JEF are a side that can beat the teams in and around them in the table and perform decently on the road. They score a majority of their goals from the 2 forwards and if you can eliminate the amount of counter attacks, you can probably choke the life out of the JEF attack. FC Ryukyu also need to be careful on defending set pieces as Funayama has been quite good from them as of late.
FC Ryukyu
FC Ryukyu desperately require a win ahead of 3 matches in a row against top 8 sides and a Vortis side that looks very different from the team FC Ryukyu faced in week 4. FC Ryukyu are surrendering a ridiculous average of 2.40 goals conceded per game over their last 5 matches. They do fare better at home but I fear a quick goal by JEF could really put FC Ryukyu up against it. The disbelief that things are not going their way is creeping in which is only aided by the bad luck they’ve experienced. The deflection in the Mito game and the misses from point blank range versus Niigata in the second half are eroding this team’s confidence. A win here at home against JEF would be the perfect remedy.
Player Injuries
FC Ryukyu: GK #1 Dany Carvajal – No word to what is afflicting the starting GK but assume he’ll be out of this match on a short week. DF #5 Tokumoto – He played about 30 minutes of the last match so maybe we can assume he’ll be starting this game.
JEF United Chiba: MF #6 Tasaka Yusuke – Right ACL injury and is out for 6 months. Has been hurt since beginning of May.
FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory
Normally I would lay out where a team looks vulnerable, where to attack a side, what to watch out for in defense or what type of play to execute. None of that matters when your team is slumping and needs to bust out of it in a big way. FC Ryukyu faced a similar situation a few weeks ago when Tochigi came to town so I am hoping that a short week in which JEF has to travel to Okinawa and deal with the heat will assist FC Ryukyu in grabbing all 3 points at home.
Make no mistake, with the way FC Ryukyu are playing on the road, this is a must win game. FC Gifu and Kagoshima stand out as the remaining winnable home games for FC Ryukyu this season with two games against Yokohama and Verdy that may decide the fate of this team. Nagasaki, Yamagata, Omiya and Kyoto also come to town but these are all top 8 sides that will be vying for promotion. Wins over JEF and the aforementioned Gifu and Kagoshima will add 9 points to our tally and put us roughly 5 points (5 draws) away from relative safety.
There is no doubt that FC Ryukyu can beat a side like JEF and much like the last time these two sides faced each other, it was JEF that was struggling with confidence. FC Ryukyu will need to go out there Wednesday night and execute. It is as simple as that.
Match Prediction
Until FC Ryukyu puts a stop to the hemorrhaging at the back, you’ve to err on the side of caution and predict at least 2 goals from any opponent. While that is a real possibility without Dany Carvajal in net, I think FC Ryukyu win this back and forth, cagey affair, 3-2.
Conclusion
There is so much pressure surrounding this team right now and that doesn’t help the players or the club. FC Ryukyu have never been a side that has changed a manager mid-season, at least not since they’ve entered the J.LEAGUE in 2014, but this isn’t the J3 anymore. FC Ryukyu can get demoted and that would be catastrophic to their hopes and dreams of playing in the J1. This sport, more than most, is very harsh on managers/coaches who do not perform. Rarely do you see mid-season coaching changes in other sports, and keep in mind, when those teams do make a change they do not fear being relegated from the current top level. This is a must win game for Higuchi, if he doesn’t win this game, FC Ryukyu need to consider (and should already be doing so) moving on and finding a suitable replacement that can re-energize this club and keep them in the J2 next season.
See you at the match.
Photos courtesy of FC Ryukyu & J.league
ryukyuarmy.com 