Intro
Ryukyu face an uphill battle when they travel North to Yamagata this Sunday. To be fair, every game remaining may seem like an uphill battle for a team that has been riddled with injuries and shell-shocked by late goals resulting in crucial points dropped. This games kicks of five (5) tough fixtures in a row for Ryukyu which also happens to coincide with that time of the year when Ryukyu are prone to slumps. A mid season slump feels like a yearly occurrence for the club, usually due to key injuries in the squad, and if Ryukyu were to suffer another slump this season, it would likely be the next to last nail in their relegation coffin.
Weather Forecast & Match Day Info
Traveling fans will have some nice weather to enjoy this weekend.
Click>>>> Match Day 20 Information from Montedio Yamagata
Team Previews
Montedio Yamagata: Montedio Yamagata, like they seem to do every year, started a bit sluggish before embarking on a run of nine (9) games unbeaten that included a streak of five (5) wins in a row. I would love if Ryukyu could pull of a winning streak like that, but for Yamagata, these streaks never really result in promotion. Maybe that will change this year?
Yamagata might have a tough time getting over line now that, like FC Ryukyu, they’ve lost their top scorer for an extended period of time. Yoshiki Fujimoto was on seven (7) goals this season before succumbing to a season ending ACL injury. Like Ryukyu, Yamagata will be heavily invested in the transfer window this summer to try and find a replacement. Unlike Ryukyu, they likely they have the finances and clout to replace their lost striker with a talented player.
Yamagata’s lone loss in the past two months came at the hands of Albirex Niigata last week to the tune of 3-0. They did also lose their Emperors Cup match with Thespakusatsu Gunma in the mid-week 1-3 so perhaps there is the smallest of chances that Yamagata are reeling at the moment. But I think this matchup presents a “get right” game for Montedio to get back on track for the promotion playoff race as Ryukyu have never won at Yamagata. In 2019, an 88th minute goal from Yamagata wiped out an earlier Takuma Abe PK goal. In 2020, Yamagata destroyed Ryukyu 3-0. However, in 2021 it was Ryukyu’s turn to play spoiler as they scored a late goal to end that match in a 2-2 draw.
FC Ryukyu: Ryukyu are coming off a heartbreaking draw at home last Sunday against Tokushima Vortis (3-3) and a mid-week Emperors Cup loss (1-4) to Omiya Ardija. Both games were at home so those fans that did venture out were at least treated to eleven (11) goals inside of a few days. Ryukyu have some serious questions heading into one of their toughest matchups with injuries continually piling up. Luckily, Ryukyu escaped any further damage to players in the EC match with Omiya despite playing some of the regular starters. But then there was the news on Thursday that Yuki Kusano, Ryukyu’s top scorer, will be out three (3) months with a torn MCL. A crushing blow to our hopes and dreams for avoiding relegation.
There will be a new center-back duo playing this match as Yong Jick went off injured during the Vortis match which leaves Ryukyu with just a couple of healthy defenders. The obvious choice would be the Numata/Omori pairing with So Nakagawa in reserve. Omori did play the entire match on Wednesday in an attempt to get him so game experience heading into a brutal run of fixtures for Ryukyu. On the other hand, Nakagawa played sparingly compared to Yusuke Murase who made just his second ever appearance for the club, the other being last year’s Emperors Cup match with Matsumoto Yamaga. It is hard to say if any of the central defenders had a decent game on Wednesday considering we conceded four (4) goals.
It is what it is until players return from injury or we acquire some players in the transfer window next month. Speaking of depth, we got a long look at some of the players that rarely feature for FC Ryukyu against Omiya. Van Luan Pham, the on-loan player from Saigon FC, arguably had the best shift for Ryukyu that night. The defensive mid-fielder more than held his own, was involved in some nice build up plays (though rarely passed to by some of his teammates) and was an absolute spark plug you covet from a central defensive midfielder. I am not sure of how many ‘regulars’ Omiya deployed that match to accurately gauge Pham’s abilities at the J2 level, but I think he did enough to at least warrant dressing for some of the senior matches going forward. This is especially true considering Ryukyu also lost central midfielder, Kazuto Takezawa, to a shoulder injury for the next few weeks.
Unfortunately, many of the other players we would’ve liked to seen play, or liked to see them do something, were not able to during a game largely controlled by Omiya. With Ryukyu’s next five (5) games coming against some tough opponents, does Ryukyu have enough healthy players to garner some results and prevent a mid-season collapse that would all but dash any hopes for avoiding relegation?
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. Concede fewer goals than Yamagata. Likelihood 1. Tough place to be in as a Ryukyu fan these days when you’re team is desperate for results and having to do it shorthanded. Good luck boys.
Kinain’ Ya Around
Ryukyu have only lost once in their last five (5) games, twice in their last eight (8), but there has been too many matches that have ended in draws (4). No doubt this is due to Ryukyu surrendering eight (8) goals after the 75th minute this season. Ryukyu have been outscored 19-10 in the second half of games with the unthinkable stat of conceding four (4) goals in extra time of the second half. Their first half performance is only slightly better with a 16-13 goals conceded to scored ratio, but they’ve also conceded four (4) goals within the allotted extra time of the first half! Killer to Ryukyu, momentum swinging for our opponents. In nineteen (19) games this season Ryukyu have managed only one (1) extra time goal in either half. And perhaps this is why teams really walk all over Ryukyu in the later stages of games.
Round 20 in J2
No top of the table clashes this week but plenty of games with teams next to one another in the standings. The top three sides (Sendai, Niigata, and Yokohama) have extended their point lead to nine (9) at the top and all have games against teams in currently in the mid table. Teams ranked between fourth and fourteenth – separated by just four (4) points – are likely to see the continued churn in that part of the table.
At the bottom, where we as Ryukyu supporters are most concerned, sees (21) Iwate at home to (9) Ventforet Kofu. Iwate have lost thee (3) in a row and have yet to win at home this season with Kofu having drawn their last five (5) matches with four (4) consecutive 1-1 score lines. (20) Omiya Ardija are also at home to (16) Mito Hollyhock. Omiya are coming off two (2) wins and a draw in their last three (3) games, including the Emperors Cup, with Hollyhock suffering three (3) straight losses in all competitions. The round 20 free broadcast on the J.League International YouTube channel will feature (1) Yokohama FC hosting, and wait for it, (14) Tokyo Verdy again. Click>>>> J.League Int’l YouTube Channel.
Conclusion
Ryukyu just have to go out and defeat a team they’ve never beaten, but one they’ve had some limited success against (2 draws) on the road, without their top scorer and a makeshift back line. Drinks on me everyone!
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