Intro
What a disappointing finish to the 2019 J league playoffs. I say disappointing as I think so many of us wanted to see Tokushima Vortis reach the J1. Stuart Smith from the J-Talk Extra time podcast (@sushi_football) said it the best in the latest installment, “The J2 needs Tokushima to defeat Shonan and reach the J1.” But as we’ve all come to expect with such a titled playoff structure, Tokushima couldn’t get the second goal that would see them through and the draw kept them in the J2 for 2020.
Match Report
Tokushima made some very nice early runs in the match and were rewarded with the opening goal in the 20th minute by Tokuma Suzuki. Suzukui redirected a headed cross back into the box from a corner kick with a really nice volley. It was a dream start for the visitors as it meant that the game would really open up for them. The playing field was “leveled,” but they still needed a 2nd goal.
In a testament to how good this Vortis side was yesterday, and all year actually, all the post-match highlights were that of Vortis with only one from Shonan. That one being the Temma Matsuda 64th minute equalizer. Matsuda was able to power his way through several Vortis defenders who were attempting to clear the ball from danger. Temma was able to get past them all in a very bullish run and put a shot into the back of the net.
Vortis still had time to grab another goal and they had two great opportunities that were just wide. The final insult to injury for Vortis was their last shot on net in the 4th minute of stoppage time was centimeters wide. It curled the side netting, leading some to believe, including me, they had done the impossible. It was a terrible feeling as a neutral and absolutely gutting for the Vortis fans, players and manager.
THE PLAYOFF SYSTEM IS BROKE AND NEEDS FIXED
So many people have taken to Twitter over the past 3 weeks of this competition to voice their frustration at an absolutely one-sided playoff system that favors not only home teams, but the J1 side facing possible relegation in the final match. Let’s quickly review the obvious problems:
1. Home teams have the advantage of only needing a draw to advance.
2. The J1 side, historically, plays less matches than the J2 side.
I am not sure how this ridiculously corrupt system was created and implemented but it needs to be changed for 2020. Consider that there is no longer a playoff requirement between the second place J3 side and the 21st placed J2 side It was abolished in 2017 and the J1/J2 system needs to follow suit. In fact, that system at least allowed for a home & home series between the competitors.
How the playoff system should be changed:
1. Drop bottom 3 of J1 and promote top 2 of J2 as well as the J2 playoff winner. Scrap the game between the J1 & J2 sides.
2. If option #1 isn’t going to happen then eliminate the rule that allows home teams to advance just for earning a draw. If player safety was the concern for not having the games progress to extra time since these sides have already played at least 43 matches this year, then simply go straight to penalty kicks. This would at least force the home team not to sit back on their laurels while putting tremendous pressure on visiting sides to score 2 goals.
3. They need better scheduling of the playoff matches and make them an important event and not scheduled during the same start times of the J1 & J3 leagues who are closing out their season. It would be great to see these games treated like many of the tiers in English Football with the final being held at a neutral ground.
Conclusion
While you would certainly not take umbrage with seeing the fans from the J1 side crying tears of joy at the fact that their side staved off relegation. I cannot get on-board with seeing the J1 players weeping as if they just won some major trophy. I would assume the tears stemmed from the fact that he’ll be playing on a more lucrative J1 contract in 2020, compared to that of a J2 contract, but that was absolutely classless in my opinion. Full credit for Vortis for holding their heads up in the midst of all that adversity.
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