Intro
Still searching for their first home win of the season, FC Ryukyu welcome in a surging Montedio Yamagata team this Saturday evening. Ryukyu failed to earn a point last week against Niigata on the road with the downward trend for limited shots on net continuing. On the other hand, Yamagata ripped Kofu apart 3-1 and looked very good while doing it.
- Weather Forecast
- Match Day 14 Recap; FC Ryukyu
- Match Day 14 Recap: Montedio Yamagata
- Team Previews & Injury Reports
- Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
- Match Day 15 Prediction
- Round 15 in J2
- Conclusion
1. Weather Forecast
Despite the fact that a Super Typhoon is headed for Okinawa, the match conditions seem favorable on Saturday. Hopefully Montedio Yamagata can return safely home after the game.
2. Match Day 14 Recap: FC Ryukyu
3. Match Day 14 Recap: Montedio Yamagata
4. Team Previews & Injury Reports
FC Ryukyu: Ryukyu ended their 5 games in 15 days with a 1-0 loss to Niigata on the road. The went 2W-1D-2L over that span with an even 5 goals scored, 5 goals conceded. There are some tired legs out there for FC Ryukyu and hopefully we will see a return of Abe to lineup tomorrow to provide a much needed boost to the offense. It maybe premature, but we could also see the debut of new signing, Mizuki Ichimaru, with so many injuries and suspensions to the FC Ryukyu mid-field.
FC Ryukyu Injuries & Suspensions: No change from the last installment and no announcements on the condition of Chinen and Motegi. I am beginning to become concerned for these two men as several weeks have passed and there is no indication that either has recovered or they are still dealing with CV-19 symptoms. I am concerned as these are professional athletes, in far better shape than most of us, and that serious damage is being done to their bodies and careers.
Montedio Yamagata: Yamagata are starting to surge after a very rocky patch in which they didn’t win a single game between Rounds 3 and 10. They have turned things around as of late by winning three out of their last four against some very good competition. Outside of their two losses to Kyoto and Gunma, Yamagata are very good defensively as they’ve shut out their opponents on six occasions this season. But Yamagata’s away form should also be noted as they haven’t scored nearly as much on the road as they have at home, and they only have one road win to date.
Montedio Yamagata Injuries & Suspensions: DF Kuriyama ruptured his Achilles tendon earlier this month but since his removal from the lineup due to injury, Yamagata has been winning more frequently.
5. Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely that it happens 1- Requires a Miracle for it to happen
1. Keep the mental mistakes to a minimum. Likelihood 2. This means not putting in rash challenges, taking bad angles to balls and maintaining a razor focus for the entire match.
2. Score from Set Pieces. Likelihood 2. FC Ryukyu are not generating as many shots on net as they have in the past and some of our best opportunities for goals may stem from set pieces. One goal each from the corner and dead ball spot would be amazing and probably allow us to earn our first home win this year.
6. Match Day Prediction
I see Yamagata tilting FC Ryukyu 2-0 tomorrow evening.
7. Round 15 in J2
Two big match-ups on Saturday with (2) Giravanz hosting (10) JEF, and (1) Nagasaki welcoming in (9) Omiya.
8. Conclusion
These two teams drew both times they played last year and it is interesting that the last time they squared off in Okinawa, there was a typhoon that disrupted the game. That won’t be the case this time but there is something odd about Yamagata traveling to Okinawa and bringing a typhoon with them.
With that in mind, it is high time that FC Ryukyu grabs their first win of the year, and Rock’s em’ like a Hurricane (typhoon)!
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