2019

Intro

With almost nothing but pride on the line, FC Ryukyu will square off against Ehime FC this weekend. Neither team can advance much higher than 2 spots in the table if they win their final 2 matches and both should probably focus on getting some match day experience for those players in the reserve that have rarely featured all season. But who knows? This is the J2, and anything could happen out there tomorrow.

Weather Forecast

Looks like great weather for those that are traveling to Matsuyama City tomorrow.

Last Meeting: Match Day 3 3/10/2019 FC Ryukyu 2-0 Ehime FC

Koji Suzuki scored his 5^th goal of the season while Uejo added his second goal in as many games. FC Ryukyu dominated the game and won 2-0 on a blustery, overcast day in March at the Tapista.

Ehime FC

Ehime FC look very similar to FC Ryukyu at times. They can have some defensive lapses and have had trouble finishing in front of goal. While it is true that some of their opportunities the past 5 weeks were unlucky, many of their shots were right at the opposing goal keeper. Ehime have been shut-out in 4 of their last 5 matches while conceding several set pieces along the way. There was also the strange phenomenon during these games where their goal keeper, Okamoto, would be out of position and invite the super long shots from just behind, or inside, the half way line. In fact, Okamoto conceded 2 goals from long distance against Yamagata when you would assume that one was already one too many. There hasn’t been anymore of these shots against Ehime recently and I can only assume that the coaching staff addressed this issue on the training ground.

Ehime do not have many standout players on the roster but there are two of note. First, DF #39, Shimokawa can provide some nice service to the attacking players from his LWB position. On the receiving end is usually, MF #7 Kondo, who has some very nice burst and pace to get on the end of passes/crosses. Other than that, no one really jumped off the screen as someone who FC Ryukyu should be concerned with tomorrow.

FC Ryukyu

It has been quite a run-in to end the season for FC Ryukyu where they have some traded their road struggles for struggles at home. FC Ryukyu were unable to win, or draw, any of their three remaining home games this season. A bit strange considering this was the side that set the J League home-undefeated record this season. But there is no time to dwell on the past as FC Ryukyu finish the 2019 campaign with road games against Ehime and Kofu, and are in really good form on the road at the moment.

In fact, FC Ryukyu are undefeated in their last 5 road games with wins over Tochigi, Yamaguchi, Fukuoka and added draws against Machida and Kanazawa. These are all sides in and around FC Ryukyu in the table and therefore lends some hope that FC Ryukyu will be able to secure one more win before the season ends against a similar side in Ehime.

While a win would be great, the true goal would be to get some playing time for the younger players in the reserves. There are 2 meaningless games remaining this season. And I say meaningless as FC Ryukyu face neither relegation nor promotion in 2019. They can only advance 2 spots higher in the table and really need to see what they have in the squad for the 2020 season. 10/15/20 minute “run-outs” will not allow for an accurate assessment of these players talents as they may see very little of the ball during these appearances. It is better to give them 60-75 minute appearances to see what they can do. As much as I’d like a win, I’d rather see these players develop thus providing some rudder steer to the management prior to the upcoming transfer window this off-season.

Injuries

FC Ryukyu: As noted from the past weeks, FC Ryukyu will be without Carvajal, Torikai and Shinji Ono. Kawai was carted off last match so I have no idea if he is healthy enough for this match.

Ehime FC: Ehime have been without Yoshida Makito since August and he had chipped in 3 goals and 1 assist prior to his injury. More importantly, Ehime will be without the services of their starting RWB, Naganuma, who is on U-22 duty for the Japan National Team. Naganuma has provided 5 assists this season so this should further hinder the Ehime attack tomorrow.

Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

Much like Tochigi and Yamaguchi, there is no secret to beating sides around you, and below you, in the table.

1. Finish in front of goal. Ehime has an issue with this and has been shut-out in nearly half (19) of their games this season. A one goal lead maybe enough but a 2-goal lead could put it out of reach. Though Ehime have scored 2 goals or more on the same number of occasions this season. Their recent form is more telling I believe.

2. Work hard for set pieces. Ehime struggles defending set pieces and are prone to giving up the occasional PK with questionable defending. Press the back line and work the outside channels with speed to get in behind their defense.

Match Day 41 Prediction

2-2 Draw. This could be an emotional day for Ehime as it is their last home game of the season against an evenly matched opponent. At least their will be goals.

MATCH DAY 41 VIEWING PARTIES IN OKINAWA

Match Day 41 Information

http://www.ehimefc.com/game/game1813.html. Lots of good information, and in English as well, for the traveling fans. Stadium access, parking, taxi/bus and a lot more. Quite impressive I must say.

Conclusion

We are nearly done with the 2019 season and it has been an exciting, up and down season for FC Ryukyu with very high highs, and very low lows. As previously stated, this match represents FC Ryukyu’s best chance at securing one more win this season but is also an opportunity for them to sacrifice points for match day experience for their reserves. In either case, I will be looking forward to the match tomorrow like many of you so good luck, and I’ll see you next week in Kofu.

“One More Time” Match Day 40 Preview: FC Ryukyu vs Kyoto Sanga FC 11/10/2019

Intro

FC Ryukyu will play their last home game of the 2019 J2 campaign this weekend against Kyoto Sanga. Ryukyu find themselves in the middle part of the table after a late season surge propelled them out of the relegation scrap. Kyoto, on the other hand, find themselves tumbling out of the promotion playoffs and the recent loss to Kofu sees them just underneath them in the overall standings. Kyoto need a win and FC Ryukyu would like to end the home slate with a win. It should be an exciting match.

WEATHER FORECAST

Perfect weather to end the 2019 season at home.

Kyoto Sanga FC

I feel that Kyoto really miss their veteran defender Ishibitsu as Kyoto’s defense has become their Achilles heel of late. Too often this side allows opponents to overtake them near the end of games or provides the opportunities to their opponents to even the score. Kyoto nearly allowed Ehime to win late and were then caught flat footed against Renofa when they were complaining to the referee about a foul. They looked really good against Yokohama FC after switching to a 4-3-3 but were decimated by Niigata 3-1 the following week. Finally, they lost to Kofu with a late goal in the 82’.

Kyoto are by no means a bad team, rather, they are just struggling for consistency against sides they should have beaten. All the pieces of their lethal attack are still in place but they are struggling for form at the back. The loss to Kofu was suprising since Kyoto hadn’t lost at home since match day 7. An impressive run of 15 games unbeaten. On the road, it is a very differnt story for Kyoto. They have won 3 times, drawn once and lost 6 times in their past 10 matches. In fact, they have lost 6 out of their last 7 road games.

There is only 9 possible points remaining this season and with matches against FC Ryukyu, JEF and the Reysol; Kyoto desperately need these 3 against Ryukyu. They really do not want to wait until the final match day to try and sneak back into the promotion playoffs against a Reysol side who may be vying for the title that day.

FC Ryukyu

FC Ryukyu have earned 4 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses over their past 10 games. The 15-point surge provided a much-needed boost out of the relegation scrap and into the comfort zone for J2 football in 2020. The tandem of Kawai and Uejo have been absolutely phenomenal over this stretch. I think FC Ryukyu have found their attacking LM for the future in Kawai and we can only hope that Uejo is signed to a long-term deal. Truth be told, I think we’d all be happy to see him depart for a much larger club as the ascending talent needs to shine on the big stage. Until then, let us enjoy both of these players talents and the goals they create.

While there were no major changes to Ryukyu lineup stemming from the Torikai injury at RB, FC Ryukyu may see the return of Nishioka to the lineup on Sunday if he is back to full health. It must be said that Uehara has filled in admirably and it hasn’t been a huge drop off from in defending as some may have expected.

Seeing that this is the final home game of the campaign, I hope FC Ryukyu end the season on a high note. While there has been a massive shift in the fortunes of this team when playing on the road, the home form has suffered to the tune of 3 wins, 1 draw and 6 losses in their past 10 home games. Though Kyoto are struggling for form, they are by no means a wounded animal that we can easily put out of their misery. It will take a total team effort on the part of FC Ryukyu this Sunday to bring home the win on Match Day 40.

Injuries

FC Ryukyu: Carvajal, Shinji and Torikai all out for the season. May see the return of Nishioka to the lineup this week if he has recovered and performed in practice.

Kyoto Sanga: DF, Ishibitsu is done for the season.

Keys to VICTORY FOR FC Ryukyu on Match Day 40

1. Pester the Kyoto defense with speed. Ryukyu can overwhelm the Kyoto back line with both Uejo and Kawai which should open up some space for Yamada and Koya to operate.

2. Be mindful of the Kyoto counter attack. It seems that Kyoto are set up really well their blend of power and speed in their attack and can really make life difficult for opponents when countering. They have scored several goals over the course of the past 5 matches in this manner and could easily bag a few more on Sunday if FC Ryukyu are caught napping.

Match Day 40 Prediction

Kyoto Sanga 3-1 over FC Ryukyu. I believe we will see a final curtain call for Uejo but the Kyoto attack against our back line may be too much for us to overcome.

Match Day 40 Information on FC Ryukyu website

http://fcryukyu.com/news/21608/

Games of Note on Match Day 40

Tokushima Vortis vs. Yokohama FC seems to be the top draw this weekend with both teams in the heart of the promotion playoffs.

All 3 of the bottom sides face strong competition and an FC Gifu loss will se them relegated to the J3.

Conclusion

It seems these two sides are evenly matches when it comes to the recent 10 games played at home/road. They both own identical records for those 10 games. Something has to give this weekend and I hope to see our boys come out on top.

I recall way back in March, when this team was firing on all cylinders, that the end of the season seemed so very far away. Well now it feels like it got here way too quickly. There are only 3 matches remaining this season and only 1 of those is a home game. I am sad that I will be unable to attend the final home game of the season but I am so happy to have enjoyed so many great memories at the Tapista this season.

I hope there is great weather and greater football this Sunday to help generate more season ticket holders for the 2020 season. Enjoy it everyone as it is well over 100 days before we see this side play at home again.

“Fountains of Youth” Match Day 39 Preview: Renofa Yamaguchi FC vs. FC Ryukyu 11/03/2019

Intro

FC Ryukyu enter match day 39 after suffering a 3-2 home defeat to Omiya Ardija. Despite the loss, FC Ryukyu looked very good in the match and it was a shame that the second largest crowd we’ve had all season, couldn’t see the side pull out a positive result. Renofa Yamaguchi enter match day 39 undefeated in their last 5 and looking to end the season on a positive note. It seems Renofa is finally earning points as many suspected they would’ve to start the season. It matters not, as they are too far from the promotion playoffs to get into the conversation. FC Ryukyu on the other hand, have secured themselves J2 football in 2020 thanks in large part to Kagoshima United FCs win over FC Gifu mid-week.

Yamaguchi Weather Forecast

Renofa Yamaguchi

As mentioned earlier, Renofa re undefeated in their last 5 games. 4 of those matches were against teams near the bottom of the table but they did have a nice 1-0 win over Kyoto on the road a few weeks ago. Renofa easily swept aside Fukuoka 2-0 and followed that up with a 1-1 draw against FC Gifu where Yamaguchi scored very late to break the hearts of the FC Gifu fans in attendance. They played surprisingly well against Kyoto and really choked out their opponents attack in that match. They then somehow allowed Kagoshima to dictate large parts of their match in which it ended in a goalless draw. Finally, Renofa defeated JEF 3-2 due the JEF Goal Keeper having another famous “JEF Howler” that proved to be the difference in the score line.

Really hard to scout a team that plays to the level of their coemption each week. This means they will play well against tougher sides but allow those beneath them in the table to stay in matches with a chance to defeat Renofa. I guess that’s the very definition of a mid-table side.

FC Ryukyu

FC Ryukyu are guaranteed J2 2020 football as they are 13 clear of the bottom 2 sides, Tochigi and FC Gifu, with only 4 games, and 12 possible points, remaining. FC Ryukyu should take a hard look at their reserves over the next 4 weeks to see what they have before entering the J League window transfer window in a few weeks. This will require some hard decisions and I am not sure the club is going to execute all of the following but here are my suggestions.

First, with Dany hurt and Ishii on loan from Mito, it is time we Inose and Tsumita playing time. Chances are that one of them is likely #2 in 2020. Match day experience will go a long way for goalies. Second, we need to get starting time for all the non-loan players in the side and that includes those that haven’t dressed in a match this season. There is no where to go for FC Ryukyu this year. We will likely finish around 15-17 in the table and while position is nice, it is not important. Instead, focus on trying to win the last home match against Kyoto next week and end the season in Okinawa on a high note for the fans and community.

But back to the matter at hand. We need to see more of Kim Song Sun, Kozumi, Ramon, Sanches and Gibo during the remaining fixtures. They have appeared periodically and then disappeared for even longer stretches of time.

Injuries

FC Ryukyu: Several; Dany, Shinji Ono and Torikai are all done for the season.

Renofa Yamaguchi FC: Reporting none of any significance.

FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

1. A win is nice, but I’d rather see players who rarely dress for FC Ryukyu feature in the squad this week.

2. Play your game. There is no secret to beating Yamaguchi.

Match Day 39 Prediction

Yamaguchi 2-1

Important Fixtures in J2 for Match Day 39

Seeing how I published the blog late this week, there were already some big games that took place. Omiya defeated Reysol, Mito beat Yamagata and FC Gifu are truly done with a 7-0 defeat to Vortis.

Conclusion

The season is winding down and while there is always pride to play for in the final games of the season, it is important to get those players who rarely feature the all-important match day experience. This will aide in lining up transfers for 2020 and allow the club to see the strengths and weaknesses of their bench. I will not be able to watch the game as I am traveling and unable to access DAZN so the match day report will based solely on the highlights I can watch on YouTube. Good luck to all that travel to Yamaguchi.

“Stemming the Orange Tide” Match Day 38 Preview: FC Ryukyu vs Omiya Ardija 10/27/2019

Intro

Fresh off their second consecutive road win, FC Ryukyu welcome 4^th placed Omiya Ardija to town on Sunday. Omiya, after having bested Verdy, Nagasaki and Mito, were shocked at home by Tokushima Vortis this past weekend. These two sides first met back on match day 2 where FC Ryukyu defeated Omiya 4-3. My how the fortunes of both sides have changed since then. FC Ryukyu would go on to win 2 more in a row, in addition to drawing 2 in a row, before they began their downward slide in the J2 table. Omiya on the other hand, weathered a slow start to the season and eventually rose into the promotion zone and are flirting with automatic promotion to the J1. I seriously doubt that FC Ryukyu will once again catch Omiya off-guard and this is will be another tough test against a formidable opponent at home for FC Ryukyu.

Weather Forecast

Cool temperatures with overcast skies and slight chance of rain. It will be a little windy so I’d bring the sunblock to prevent any windburn to your face if your sitting up high in the stands.

Recap of Match Day 2: 03/02/2019 Omiya Ardija 3-4 FC Ryukyu

On a cool, crisp, March afternoon in Saitama, FC Ryukyu had one of their most convincing wins and signature matches all season. A beautifully taken shot from Tanaka, a Koji Suzuki brace capped with Satoki Uejo opening his scoring account for the 2019 season gave FC Ryukyu 4 goals. Dany made some spectacular saves, especially late on, and Kazaki Nakagawa was the true star with 3 assists.

The scoring began with the Tanaka opener, followed by the equalizer from Omiya after Delgado redirected a shot over Carvajal. Then FC Ryukyu busted out for 3 straight goals in the opening 16 minutes of the second half to jump out to a 4-1 lead. Omiya were awarded a very late PK and then scored on quick counter in the first minute of stoppage time to bring the game to a 4-3. Dany made a great diving save to parry a shot away from danger later on and FC Ryukyu would hold on to win. A win that nobody saw coming.

There are many bittersweet memories from this match. First, it was a testament to Nakagawa’s skill and those 3 assists saw him as the top assist provider in J2 well after he departed for Yokohama F Marinos 2 weeks later. Second, Koji was happy and scoring at will and third, Uejo’s emergence was bubbling to the surface. Finally, it would ultimately take FC Ryukyu 16 more matches before they would win again on the road this season. For Omiya, they would respond with a win the following week, wobble slightly against Yamagata the next and then go on a run of 16 unbeaten that has since propelled them into the promotion battle. Oh, what could’ve been for this Ryukyu side. A side that since this Omiya match has seen no less than 6 changes to the starting lineup. Whereas Omiya has seen less than half of that total. It was one of the best footballing experiences I’ve had all season.

Omiya Ardija

Pace, Power and Height pretty much sum up Omiya at the moment. Omiya displayed a penchant for hitting teams on the counter over their last 5 games and they can quickly break out of their own end and into the opponent’s end with just a few passes. They can send long balls over the top that allow the attacking 3 to run underneath them bringing them past the oppositions defense and free on goal. Omiya were also lethal from set pieces, corner kicks in particular, where their height and power prove to be too much for opposing defenders. They can also press teams that attempt to play it out form the back if they feel this is a weakness of the opposition. They pressed Nagasaki in this manner and it resulted in a goal after a cheap giveaway in the Nagasaki end.

Even though Mito jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over Omiya, Ardija was able to fight back and score 3 goals against a team that doesn’t conceded many goals to begin with. They had some slight trouble against Verdy before converting 2 corner kicks to win 2-0 and they really made Nagasaki look like an average side in a convincing 3-0 victory. They were nearly beaten at the end by Yokohama FC when Yokohama hit the crossbar, but walked away with an important point on the road against a promotion seeking side. The only outlier in the past 5 games was the recent loss to Tokushima Vortis.

It was a back and forth contest between the 2 sides with Vortis opening the scoring from a play that seemed to catch Omiya flat footed. Omiya responded with a counter attack goal before Vortis once scored from a busted play after Omiya failed to clear. Omiya responded with a headed goal on a set piece but Vortis got the best of them at the end with a 3^rd goal.

All in all, Omiya represent a difficult challenge for FC Ryukyu this Sunday. Omiya surely want to continue their promotion push, and they may have revenge on the mind, after FC Ryukyu walked into their home ground and put 4 past them in convincing fashion earlier this year.

FC Ryukyu

FC Ryukyu responded really well after losing 5-1 to Tokyo Verdy at home by defeating Tochigi SC on the road 2-0. Two really well taken goals by Uejo, one with his left foot and one with his right foot, has put FC Ryukyu on 43 points, which is roughly 13 points clear of the drop zone. Though FC Ryukyu started the Tochigi match sluggish, they really turned it on in the last 25 minutes and Tochigi had no response. FC Ryukyu have now won 2 in a row on the road and are undefeated in their last 4 road matches. Quite a turnaround from a few months ago when FC Ryukyu were struggling mightily on the road and losing at home.

There was some shifting of the FC Ryukyu lineup this past week with Shinji Ono and Yu Tomidokoro being dropped for Shuto Kawai and Koki Kazama. However, FC Ryukyu face a real selection crisis this week as they will be without both their Right Backs, Torikai and Nishioka, who have both succumbed to injuries. Torikai picked up his ankle injury early in the first half against Tochigi, requiring Uehara to fill in at RB, and the injury will see him miss the remainder of the 2019 season. And possibly the start of the 2020 season as he rehabs a dislocated ligament. Nishioka suffered an ankle injury in training and he is scheduled to miss at least the next 3 matches. Which begs the question, who will FC Ryukyu start this Sunday at RB?

Though Uehara filled in admirably, he is certainly not the solution over the next 3 matches. Outside of Tokumoto, Okazaki and Fukui, FC Ryukyu have only 2 defenders with any match day experience this season. One of those, Arai, only featured for a few minutes on the very first match of the season. There has been no word on whether or not Shogo Nishikawa, the only other FC Ryukyu defender to feature in a match this year, has suffered an injury or is healthy enough to start. In either event, we will need both of them to be healthy and in the lineup on Sunday. That is, unless newly acquired Daniel Sanches is finally ready to make his debut? It’s really anybody’s guess at this point as to what Higuchi will do to fill the void at RB in Ryukyu the lineup.

Player Injuries

FC Ryukyu: Will be without both starting RBs in Torikai and Nishioka.

Omiya Ardija: No one significant to the starting 11. Two defenders who were hurt earlier in the season is all that is reported.

Keys to FC Ryukyu Victory

1. Start fast and build a multiple goal lead. This worked the last time these two sides met and almost worked for Mito a few weeks ago. Granted Mito ended up losing and this a far different lineup for FC Ryukyu. Ryukyu really do not lineup well against Omiya with their speed up top, height at the back and ability to score from counters and set pieces. There will be goals tomorrow for sure, just hope we have more than Omiya do at the end.

2. Do not concede many set pieces. This is especially true of corner kicks where Omiya’s tree trunks; Delgado and Simovic, will certainly overpower their man marking.

3. Pick your poison. If we play out from the back, I expect heavy pressing by Omiya that forces Ryukyu into making mistakes and costly turnovers. If we attempt to play high up the pitch, we risk over exposing the makeshift back 4 of Ryukyu to the speed of the Omiya counter attack. No easy choice.

4. Win the battle down our defensive right side and we may win the game. I’d expect a heavy dose of crosses and attacks emanating from our right side, the Omiya left, against whoever is asked to fill in at RB on Sunday for Ryukyu. We will need some defensive help over the top from one of the Mid Fielders for the Ryukyu RB and this could mean large stretches of little possession for Ryukyu on Sunday.

5. Clean up the garbage in the box on both ends. Don’t allow needless shots on our goal from shots that are blocked or saved. On the flip side, Omiya has a hard time cleaning up the garbage in front of their own goal and conceded a couple of goals from this spot. Somehow Omiya concedes goals, loses matches and has small defensive lapses. This is the smallest of cracks in their armor but an exploitable one.

The Contrarian Approach: Start Kawai, Koizumi and Ramon and attack Omiya with speed early and often. Start Daniel Sanches and Okazaki at CB and have Fukui slide out wide to the Right.

Match Day 38 Prediction

The numbers indicate that Omiya is on a tear with 10 to 5 goals scored/conceded ratio over the course of their last 5 matches. Ryukyu haven’t scored nearly as many but they have kept a clean sheet in 3 of those matches. 2-1 Omiya would be considered a respectable score line on Sunday.

Link to Match Day Info on FC Ryukyu Website: http://fcryukyu.com/news/21400/

Plenty of useful info and the page can be translated into English. There are maps for free parking with shuttles to the match and a schedule of events for the match day.

Important Fixtures on Match Day 38

Conclusion

It looks as if the club is expecting a larger than usual traveling contingent of fans for this one and has adjusted the seating accordingly. This maybe due to the pre-match festivities where Bando will conduct one of his retirement ceremonies and the popular MONGOL800 band will perform just before kickoff. With that said, its probably best to get there early if you want a seat in the covered section. The club’s president, Mr. Subaru Mikami, tweeted that he’d like for the overall attendance numbers to hit 100,000 for the season and I think there will be a strong showing on Sunday somewhere in the vicinity of 7,000 to get us close to the mark.

But I am not there for the pre-match pomp and circumstance. I am there to watch my team one last time at home before I depart for a lengthy spell away from Okinawa. I will still be able to see the boys close out the season at Kofu but I want to enjoy all that has been at home this season. The drama, the thrills, the let downs, the come-backs and of course enjoying matches with all of my fellow FC Ryukyu fans and the players. With safety all but guaranteed for next season, I want to see the boys play loose, relaxed and carefree on Sunday. Omiya has more at stake than FC Ryukyu since we no longer need to hunt for results to ensure safety. FC Ryukyu are simply playing for pride, playing the role of spoiler against sides seeking promotion, but most importantly, playing for Okinawa and all the fans of this club.

So join me on the walk down the Bengara Boulevard and into Fortress Ryukyu one last time this season. Give em hell boys and make us proud. You always do!

“FINISH HIM” Match Day 37 Preview: Tochigi SC vs FC Ryukyu 10/20/2019

Intro

Should I start with something motivating? Something inspiring and uplifting to raise our spirits? Or, should we just simply get down to business?

Weather Forecast

REVIEW OF MATCH DAY 21 7/6/2019: FC RYUKYU 3-0 TOCHIGI SC

FC Ryukyu were seeking t end their 3 game losing streak at home and did so with a 3-0 victory over Tochigi SC. Goals from Koji Suzuki, Nihioka and Ochi gave us all 3 points and at the time, at least lessened the goals scored/conceded differential for the team. That has since become a moot point as Ryukyu have conceded the most goals all season in J2 but do not have the worst differential (21). That honor currently belongs to Kagoshima United FC with a -30 this year.

Tochigi SC

1-2-2 during their last 5 games. An even 7/7 split for goals scored and conceded during that span. The 7 goals scored represent roughly ¼ of all the goals scored by Tochigi SC this season.

It would be foolish to assume that FC Ryukyu are simply going to walk in to Tochigi, kick the doors down, and bring home all 3 points. Tochigi SC, like an enemy without an avenue of escape, are a cornered animal prepared to fight to the death. This is a very dangerous prospect for any team that faces a side with a zero-sum outlook.

Against the sides seeking to avoid relegation, Tochigi went 1W2L with an even 5 goals scored and 5 goals conceded. One would then assume that against much better clubs, Vortis and Kyoto, Tochigi were sure to fail. Not the case, in fact, Tochigi rose to the occasion and drew with both Kyoto and Vortis.

Tochigi, similar to may teams at the bottom of J2, offer the same strengths and weaknesses of the clubs around them in the table. Here are the facts: The defense and Goal Keeper can be beat, the offense can produce nothing, and opponents can take home all 3 points when visiting Tochigi. Question is, can FC Ryukyu do the impossible and win 2 in a row on the road?

FC Ryukyu

FC Ryukyu followed up an impressive run of 5 games unbeaten- one of those being only their 2^nd road win all season – with a less than spectacular 5-1 drubbing at home against Tokyo Verdy. Ryukyu have played some rather unspectacular games this season but the Verdy match ranks near the top when it comes to losses.

Though FC Ryukyu never really looked out of sorts in the last match, they never could find the back of the net to make a difference. Shinji’s presence on CK sand counters is noticeable as he hasn’t lost his touch nor his ability to unlock defenses. Problem was, FC Ryukyu couldn’t finish and often shots were right at the Verdy keeper.

FC Ryukyu will need to be clinical in front of goal tomorrow in order to put the pressure on Tochigi. As with last week, a win tomorrow would all but seal the deal for FC Ryukyu for staying in the J2 for 2020.

Injuries & Suspensions

FC Ryukyu: Listing none and not sure of any suspensions due to yellow card accumulation.

Tochigi SC: GK #50 Yoo Hyun, who was the starting Tochigi SC goal keeper all year, is out with a fractured tibia. He has been out of the lineup since but 2nd choice goal keeper, Shuhei Kawata has filled in admirably.

Keys to FC Ryukyu Victory

1. Defend Set Pieces. Maybe Tochigi’s only chance at besting us this weekend is from CKs and FKs.

2. Finish in front of goal. Don’t fire directly at the opposing GK, placement and power tomorrow please boys.

3. Pay attention on defense and don’t get caught flat footed on long balls over the top.

4. Exploit Tochigi SCs reserve goal keeper. He has started the last 2 matches and only surrendered 2 goals of the course of those games. Rather impressive considering he faced Tokushima and Kofu in that stretch. But, he is the backup and not the starter so he could be prone to some mistakes along the way.

Match Day Prediction

0-1 for Tochigi is possible and so is 1-0 FC Ryukyu.

Notable games in the J2 for Match Day 37

Conclusion

No time to be cute or tinker with the lineup. This is a must win game for both Tochigi SC and FC Ryukyu. Tochigi want out of the bottom 2 and FC Ryukyu want to be able to relax the remainder of the season, get some younger players into the lineup to gain some valuable match experience, and see what they have before the winter transfer window opens.

This will be no easy cake walk for either side and it will come down to some key match-ups on defense for both sides. Tochigi will look to shut down Uejo and force a narrow Ryukyu attack through the middle while looking to exploit the FC Ryukyu back line on counters and set pieces. For their part, FC Ryukyu need some creativity near the 18-yard box and to remain focused throughout the full 90 by playing total team defense.

Safe travels to all that are attending the match and lets get the job done boys.

“Verdy. Vidi. Vici.” Match Day 36 Preview: FC Ryukyu vs. Tokyo Verdy 10/12/2019

Intro

Normally I’d begin with some words about each side and what the outlook is for FC Ryukyu but I’d be wrong in not wishing all those affected by the typhoon slamming into mainland Japan. Stay safe, and I wish you the best from all of us here in Okinawa.

Now, down to business. FC Ryukyu come into match day 36 riding a 5-game unbeaten streak. A feat, which many us haven’t seen since the start of the season, that has propelled FC Ryukyu out of the danger zone and into a place many would consider “respectable” for a first year J2 club. Well, to hell with them I say! FC Ryukyu are all about breaking norms so keep pressing boys and aim higher. Never be content with the status quo.

Weather Forecast

Windy. 15 mph (24KMH) expected throughout the match.

Previous Meeting Recap

A very nice back and forth game during Match Day 9 where FC Ryukyu conceded in the first half, followed by Dany making an amazing PK save after bloodying his nose and ending with a Uesato cracking one-timer in the very depths of stoppage time to equalize. Tokyo Verdy 1-1 FC Ryukyu.

Tokyo Verdy

Tokyo Verdy enter this weekends fixture having lost 3 in a row. Something they have not done all season. When Verdy lost 2 in a row, they usually responded with a win or a draw so this is somewhat of an uncharted territory for the visitors. I am not quite sure what has happened to this once proud club, considering I was there in July when they fought back against Ehime and looked good in the process. Maybe a combination of transfers out or injures? The notable loss was that of FW Hayashi to Zelvia but he’s been replaced by #11 Paraiba and #31 Klebinho, who are both forces to be reckoned with and ones that will certainly test the FC Ryukyu back line.

Verdy went 1W1D3L in their last 5 matches. Paraiba had a bit of a coming out party when he announced his presence with authority against Yamaguchi where he contributed on all 4 Verdy goals that day. Verdy would’ve entered match day 36 riding a 4-game losing streak if it wasn’t for Niigata wasting golden opportunities in the last few minutes of their game that ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw.

The current losing streak began with a 2-0 loss to Omiya where Verdy surrendered 2 goals from set pieces. Verdy then ran into the Kashiwa Reysol buzz saw losing 3-0 and culminating the losing steak with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Okayama.

FC Ryukyu

The 5-game unbeaten streak, with 2 of them being wins, speaks volumes for how this team has recovered from what looked to be a lost cause a few months ago. Sitting at 40 points and 11 points clear of the drop, FC Ryukyu need to see out a few more fixtures -albeit winnable or at the very least with opportunities to earn a draw – and they will be playing J2 football in 2020. The line is set at match day 38 if nothing changes from now until then.

This is not to say the side should relax and set the cruise controls. On the contrary, they need to press onward for a strong finish to drive up attendance while simultaneously getting a look at some of the youth we have in the reserves. A win, coupled with a loss by the bottom 3 this weekend, who all have much tougher match-ups than FC Ryukyu, would pretty much seal it and we can then all breathe a sigh of relief.

Injuries and/or Suspensions

FC Ryukyu: Possibly without the services of Shinji Ono following an ankle injury he picked up last week against Avispa Fukuoka.

Tokyo Verdy: Could be without one of their top scorers in Leonardo who was listed as injured with no timetable for return.

Keys to FC Ryukyu Victory

1. Score from Corner Kicks. Easier said then done. I can appreciate your sentiments as FC Ryukyu have been lackluster from corners all season. However, Verdy surrendered at least 4 goals in their last 5 games from corner kicks so if we can get multiple chances, maybe we can crack that egg.

2, Hammer Verdy on the counter attack. This one requires some speed being in the FC Ryukyu lineup but Verdy have real trouble defending quick counter attacks. Kawai, Kozumi, Uejo, Ramon could all feast on these. Is Higuchi watching the same tape I am to see this vulnerability?

Match Prediction

Not the same Tokyo Verdy squad and a chance to win, do I? Or do I do the reverse psychology thing and predict an unfavorable outcome resulting in an actual favorable outcome? Don’t be scared right? FC Ryukyu 2-1 Tokyo Verdy.

Important Match Day 36 Fixtures in J2

Conclusion

There has been some noise and distraction from the proposed new FC Ryukyu stadium presser at the end of the week but let’s put all that behind us and focus on Verdy. The players cannot build the stadium, only the club and its management along with whatever businesses and investors bought stake in the club. If they fail us, so be it. The players have been the one constant all season and they have responded admirably to some serious adversity. Boys, bring it home, give Okinawa something memorable these last 3 home matches. Love Ya.

“Pest Control” Match Day 35 Preview: Avispa Fukuoka vs FC Ryukyu 10/5/2019

Intro

Avispa Fukuoka and FC Ryukyu square off this weekend in a crucial, 6-point relegation match at the bottom of the J2 table. It was FC Ryukyu who got the better of Avispa the last time these two teams met when they opened the J2 season in February. But this is a very different FC Ryukyu team who is traveling for the second week in a row and who has yet to earn a win on the road in quite some time.

Fukuoka’s lineup from that opening fixture has remained largely intact with the exception of an occasional injury or player being dropping to the bench. Whereas Ryukyu have made 5 changes to the starting lineup that bested Fukuoka 3-1 to start the season. Avispa enter match day 35 having secured 7 points from their previous 5 fixtures with FC Ryukyu bringing a 4-game unbeaten streak to the Kyushu prefecture. Only 2 points, and 2 positions in the table separate these two sides so this is going to be a massive bottom of the table tilt on Saturday.

Weather Forecast

The weather looks great with little prospect of rain.

Avispa Fukuoka

Avispa went 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses over the course of their last five fixtures. Their win against Ehime FC was quite impressive and seemed to be sparked by a spectacular save by their foreign goal keeper Serantes. Fukuoka scored 3 of the best goals I saw from them in the review and looked like a team that was getting ready to storm back up the table and out of the relegation scrap. However, they followed the Ehime victory with a 1-0 loss to Nagasaki. In a game where Fukuoka had a majority of chances, Nagasaki caught the Avispa back line napping with a surgical pass to Hirota Goya who scored his 18^th goal of the season.

Fukuoka rebounded nicely to win 1-0 on the road against another opponent seeking to get out of the relegation zone, Tochigi SC. Fukuoka where then lucky to earn a late draw against Okayama after on-loan FC Ryukyu defender, Masutani, fouled a Fukuoka attacker in the box and gave Avispa a PK to tie the match. Avispa’s most recent match against Renofa Yamaguchi ended 2-0 in favor of Renofa despite another highlight reel save by Serantes.

On paper and on film, FC Ryukyu and Avispa Fukuoka look like two very similar teams. Each have a strong goal keeper and both have questions in defense. Both teams can score some beautiful goals while also suffering through patches of goalless games and little creativity. Fukuoka, like FC Ryukyu, are prone to some mental mistakes with the occasional lapse of concentration at the back that can allow opponents to get on the front foot. The only real difference I see between the sides is that while FC Ryukyu have suffered some heavy defeats with score lines of +4 goals conceded, Fukuoka have not. However, Fukuoka have been shut out in many more matches this season than FC Ryukyu.

FC Ryukyu

FC Ryukyu are in the midst of their longest winning streak since the one they opened the season with that included 4 straight wins and 2 draws. Unbeaten in 4 and looking to separate themselves from the bottom 4, FC Ryukyu are desperate for a positive result on the road this weekend. It is no secret that FC Ryukyu own one of the worst, if not the worst, road records in J2 this season. 1 win, 5 draws, 8 points out of a possible 48 and no wins since match day 2 way back in March. Despite all of that, things are looking up for FC Ryukyu on the road.

FC Ryukyu have drawn their last 2 matches on the road that includes a come from behind draw at Kanazawa. While we all would’ve loved to see FC Ryukyu take all 3 points last week at 19^th placed Zelvia, an improvement in the road form is a welcoming sign heading into the last 2 months of the season. Keep in mind that FC Ryukyu play only 3 out of the final 8 matches at home so road points are massive. One reason for the new found success should be attributed to the change in the FC Ryukyu lineup. Shinji’s presence in the deep lying mid field, coupled with the presence of Koya Kazama in the attack, has provided the much-needed structure Ryukyu were missing during their rough stretch of games this summer. With that said, FC Ryukyu will need both of these players, along with Uejo, Koizumi, Kawai and Ramon, to be firing on all cylinders this weekend to secure all 3 points.

Injuries/Suspensions

Avispa Fukuoka will be with out #16 MF, Ishizu Daisuke this weekend as he tore his Right ACL back in early July. I do not know of any suspended players for Fukuoka this weekend.

FC Ryukyu are reporting no injuries or suspensions this week.

FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

1. Exploit Avispa’s weakness at defending passes that emanate from the deep lying Mid Fielders. A majority of the goals I witnessed Fukuka concede for this review were of this nature. This was also a strength of FC Ryukyu against Renofa and Kanazawa but one which they failed to employ successfully against Zelvia. Shinji, Yu, Uesato, Koya and even Tokumoto and Torikai can all unlock the Fukuoka defense with precision passing through the central defense of Avispa.

2. Pressure the Fukuoka back line with quick passes in and around the top of the box. Avispa seem very disorganized at the back and often get caught ball watching. This often leads to opposing attackers being left alone and unmarked in the 18-yard box. This sets up well for the Ryukyu if they make quality runs and can find the open spaces between the Fukuoka defenders.

3. Finish off drives. Fukuoka have one of the best goal keepers in J2 in Serantes. The goal keepers’ performance this season is a large reason why Fukuoka are not farther down the table. Ryukyu will need to be clinical in front of goal even if they get behind the Fukuoka defense as this man has proven to be a stalwart in net.

4. Defend against Fukuoka’s tendency to attack down their right side. A majority of the attacks for Avispa in the 5 matches I watched were down the right side. The play that worked the best seemed to be the one where; their RWB would cross a pass over the immediate defender and CB; thus leaving the remaining CB to cover the run of the Fukuoka striker; and leave a slight gap at the top of the box for the CAM to pick up the ball and have a free look on net. Knowing that, it would require Uesato or Ono to track back and cover the top of the box to prevent any dangerous shots on net.

Match Prediction

I feel another 1-1 draw is on the horizon.

Interesting Facts

J2 Match Day 35 Fixtures of Note

Conclusion

These two evenly matched sides are producing some solid results in the short term that should help their long term prospects of staying in the J2 for 2020. Avispa are no slouches and could easily run the score up on Ryukyu tomorrow if the Okinawa side starts slow and never gets going.

However, a win is close to coming and it will feel like such a relief for this side when it does. But the sooner the better. Starting last week against Machida, FC Ryukyu’s next 4 road fixtures include; Avispa, Tochigi, Yamaguchi and Ehime. Certainly, a win can be found in there somewhere along with enough points to reach safety if FC Ryukyu can maintain their current form. Safe travels for all the FC Ryukyu fans heading to Fukuoka this Saturday and good luck to the boys.

“Something has to Give! (?)” Match Day 34 Preview: Machida Zelvia vs FC Ryukyu 9/29/2019

Intro

Something has to give. Literally. These two teams each bring an interesting dynamic/aspect to this match. Zelvia have only amassed 2 wins at home all season while FC Ryukyu have only won once on the road. If ever there was a match that FC Ryukyu could break this ridiculous streak, you’d figure this could be the one. But hold on folks, teams target FC Ryukyu match-ups as wins whenever they visit and they have every right too. I am sure the Machida faithful are targeting this game as one in which they can break their unlucky streak of not having won at home since match day 6, which is about 6 calendar months ago. This is definitely not your typical “immovable object against an unstoppable force” scenario as neither of these sides are a juggernaut in any one area of the game but hopefully it is FC Ryukyu that snaps their unfortunate streak while pushing themselves slightly higher in the table at the expense of Machida Zelvia.

Weather Forecast

Mostly cloudy with 25% chance of rain and slight breeze. Comfortable.

Machida Zelvia

Zelvia’s unfortunate situation at home this season is their problem and not FC Ryukyu’s. Zelvia have either failed to score against their opponent at home, or have lost the lead later in matches 12 out of 16 times this season (75%). In fact, they’ve only come back twice to earn a favorable result (draw) at home. FC Ryukyu displayed a “never give up” attitude versus Yamagata and if Zelvia switch off for any bit of time tomorrow then FC Ryukyu will make them pay for that transgression.

Machida’s last 5 results are: 3-0 win against Okayama on the road, 1-1 draws at home to JEF Chiba UTD and Omiya followed by an 0-2 loss to Kyoto away from home and a 0-0 draw with Yokohama at home. It is hard to make heads or tails of this team when you see those results. On one hand, they’ve achieved some nice results against sides above them in the table. On the other, they’ve failed to score the past few weeks and do not present a massive challenge to any opponent.

Prior to the Okayama win, Zelvia didn’t win for roughly 2 months. A streak that many FC Ryukyu fans can relate to. However, FC Ryukyu were at least scoring goals in their defeats. Zelvia have been shutout in 14 of their 33 games this season compared to that of FC Ryukyu who’ve only been blanked 6 times. You know, as I am writing this, I recall that Yamagata had inverse numbers compared to FC Ryukyu and that game ended very differently than I thought it would, perhaps I should stop here and move on.

FC Ryukyu

FC Ryukyu have emerged from a rough stretch of games that saw them only win 1 out of 9 games but now they have gone 3 games in a row with out a loss. A feat they haven’t been able to repeat since that remarkable run of games to begin the season. FC Ryukyu are 8 points clear of the drop zone and a win tomorrow, plus a loss by Tochigi to Ehime, would put Ryukyu 11 points clear with 8 games remaining. Meaning they would only need to see out 4 more matches at the current point total to guarantee safety.

I have harped on safety and staying in J2 all season and for some of you this may seem very pessimistic. I can understand, but the first year of any promoted team must always be about survival. Especially when you are a small club with limited resources. To FC Ryukyu’s credit, they have been able to scout, employ and sell some very talented players to their advantage the past few years. Hopefully they will become a “buyer” of talent compared to a “seller” in the future but for now, its Zelvia and Match Day 34. FC Ryukyu have a chance to send an opponent, who is near drowning, further down to the bottom of the table while simultaneously saving themselves and securing their survival.

That analogy may come across as brutal or harsh but it is simply reality. We fight for survival every day and the sport of football is no different. 3 points away from home would be massive and can be achieved with some quality play. Shinji is starting to come into his own back there and our attack looks so much more lethal than it has the past 5 months, give or take. Our defense has been our weakest link all season and there is no indications that will change for this match which means it is so important that our attack finish off drives with goals that can provide some breathing space to our back line and GK, whoever that is this weekend.

Player Injuries/Suspensions

Machida Zelvia: Not sure as the site I usually utilize is blocked while I am writing this entry from the Marriott resort here in Okinawa. Oh well, wouldn’t matter much anyways.

FC Ryukyu: The side should see the return of #20 Uesato at CDM after having served his 1 match ban for accumulating 5 yellow cards. The more concerning issue is that of GK Dany Carvajal and his health. He was absent from the Yamagata match and I hope for a speedy recovery and return to the FC Ryukyu lineup.

FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

1. Play the exact same way against Zelvia as you did against Yamagata. Yamagata is a much more superior team than Zelvia but the road form factor has to be taken into account. With that said, demonstrate some poise, tact and tenacity like we did last week and a win is almost guaranteed.

2. Continue those penetrating runs by our attacking players coupled with the near precision passes emanating from the central midfield and/or wing backs. Yamada opened the scoring on one of these types of plays last week and FC Ryukyu nearly connected on 3 of these that could have led to more goals against Yamagata. Whatever has changed inside the club tactically has been for the better so continue to hammer these passes and good things will follow.

Match Prediction

A 2-1 FC Ryukyu loss is the likeliest of outcomes based on the form and statistics of both sides this season. But I am going the opposite direction and say that this game ends 1-1 with FC Ryukyu netting a late equalizer.

Conclusion

Though Zelvia have earned 14 of their 33 points this season at home compared to just 7 of 36 from FC Ryukyu on the road, this match presents a tremendous opportunity for FC Ryukyu to right the ship. This is one of 3, 6-point, swing matches facing FC Ryukyu over the next 4 weeks. We are in the crunch time period for teams to assert or save themselves with only 9 matches remaining and the points matter so much more now. I wish everyone safe travels who intend on traveling to see FC Ryukyu and leave you all with this sentiment.

It has been 183 days and 28 match days since Machida Zelvia last won at home. It has been 210 days and 32 match days since FC Ryukyu last won away from home. Something has to give (CHANGE!!).

How freaking awesome was this! Miss this dude. Sorry I cannot recall who showed me this on twitter or I’d give credit to them.

“Climbing the Big Blue Mountain” Match Day 33 Preview: FC Ryukyu versus Montedio Yamagata 9/21/2019

Intro

We may very well be seeing a new 2020 J1 side this weekend in Yamagata and hats off to them as they’ve been impressive so far this season. It is often said in American Football that offense wins games but defense wins championships, well folks, Yamagata is the perfect example of this expression. Joint leaders for the fewest goals surrendered this season and they’ve shut out their opponents in 5 out of their last 10 matches. Good for them and congratulations are in order. So let me ask this question, why can’t FC Ryukyu play the role of spoiler this weekend? 10 points from bottom may force a conservative posture but in a match in which we are probably huge underdogs, why not go for the gusto?

Weather Forecast

Pre-match Typhoon conditions. HAHAHAHAHAHA. If I said rain, wind and an overall terrible forecast would you be shocked? Great, all of that and more. Hardcore fans unite, all else, you are very much welcome and I’ll bring a towel for you. I cannot see them playing this game in these winds! Has to be rescheduled.

Montedio Yamagata

Where to start. Well for one, this is not the same FC Ryukyu team that was coming off 4 straight wins and a draw and was top of the table when these two teams last faced each other in March. Second, Yamagata has surged back up the table after many had written them off after selling one of their talisman strikers. A smothering defense, which we saw in match day 6, is still there and now it is paying huge dividends when it matters most.

I was going to dedicate a whole paragraph to summarizing how good Yamagata have been but only one sentence is needed. Yamagata has shut out their opponent in 16 of 32 matches this season. Let that marinate or sink in for a moment. Half of their games have been shutouts. Care to guess how many FC Ryukyu have on the docket? 3. 3 out of 32.

4 shutouts in 5, 2 wins in 2 against two top 3 sides and a hunger for J1 football is what is coming to town this Saturday. We have seen something similar to this before when FC Ryukyu surged to the top of the J3 table last season so temper your expectations tomorrow night. Of course, anything can happen on any given day but for all intents and purpose, the Yamagata Steam Roller is headed south and is unlikely to be stopped.

FC Ryukyu

It is not all gloom and doom for the outlook tomorrow. FC Ryukyu have secured 4 points from the last 2 matches and one of those points was on the road. Even though I have seen, or watched, every FC Ryukyu game this season, the team we run out tomorrow is so different from the one that started the year. The “feel good” atmosphere that once existed early on denigrated into a horrible realization of hubris, then one of slight hope, culminating with the realization that we can be in the J2 next year thanks in large part to the efforts of Uejo and the new signings.

Answering the call and the critics, Uejo is asserting himself as a man amongst boys. Higuchi may have been correct earlier this year when he refused to play this emerging talent, because, he knew we required his services later on due to the expected loss of Koji and Nakagawa. Time will tell, I guess.

Injuries

Montedio Yamagata & FC Ryukyu have no significant injuries to report. However, FC Ryukyu will be without the services of Uesato tomorrow as he will serve a suspension for accumulating too many yellow cards.

FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

1. Reckless Abandonment.

Match Prediction

FC Ryukyu are barely in the same country code, let alone zip code, when it comes to a team of Yamagata’s quality. Screw it, go for gusto. 3/4/5/6-0 losses have occurred so that type of result against this type of opponent wouldn’t be shocking. I’d rather watch the boys give it their all with no restraints. With that said, Yamagata 3-0 and I don’t even care.

Conclusion

4 home games remain people. There are those of us that attend matches and read this blog and those that do not. So, I am appealing to all of you to bring someone to the game from the do not section above. This island, this country, needs FC Ryukyu as much as the club needs them for J2/J1 football. A sports franchise is asserting itself on the island of Okinawa, which, in my experience, is often considered a distant and segregated element of Japanese society. Let’s help all of Okinawa by putting one finger up (your choice on the finger) to all those that oppose, hate, discriminate, and fear anything Okinawa this weekend. Remember, the FC Ryukyu Army is coming for you, we show no mercy, grant no quarter and we never tire.

“Branch Breakers”Match Day 32: Zweigen Kanazawa vs. FC Ryukyu 9/14/2019

Intro

Welcome Back! I apologize for the lengthy gap but we all have commitments outside of FC Ryukyu right?. Anyways, in the time that I’ve been gone we’ve seen FCR lose twice and then win an all-important 6-point match against Kagoshima at home. The win brings FC Ryukyu within 8 points of the relative “safety zone” of 42 points that I’ve been touting the past few weeks. But make no mistake, those are going to be the toughest 8 points FC Ryukyu need to earn all season. This is a tall task for FC Ryukyu as they play 7 of their remaining games this season on the road.

Weather Forecast

Absolutely gorgeous. See the picture below.

Zweigen Kanazawa

Kanazawa come into this match having lost their last 2 matches in a row. Prior to these losses they had reeled off 6 straight matches without a defeat. An accomplishment FC Ryukyu haven’t achieved since their opening 6 matches of the season. When these two sides last met three months ago at the Tapista, FC Ryukyu earned a draw off the back of a Koji Suzuki 69’ minute goal (tears) after conceding an early goal to Zweigen. Zweigen are certainly looking to avenge that draw and aide their chances of promotion by moving within 3 points of the playoff zone with a win over FC Ryukyu. And as we all know as FC Ryukyu fans, targeting a win against FC Ryukyu when they visit your stadium is very bankable these days.

In Kanazawa’s last 5 matches they earned 3-2 wins over Machida and Niigata; a 2-1 victory over FC Gifu; and then suffered 2-1 and 3-1 defeats to Kagoshima and Mito. The run of sloppy play for Zweigen really began in the Niigata match where they were awarded their second PK in as many matches but also surrendered 2 PK opportunities to Niigata. Fortunately for Zweigen, Niigata were unable to score on the very late PK attempt by Leonardo that would’ve tied the game. Probably due to the ridiculously slow and elongated run up to the ball by Leonardo that was followed up by a rather poor shot on net.

Despite escaping the Niigta match with a win, the run of poor play by Kanazawa was just beginning. Please note, that when I mention poor play, it is not to the degree or scenes we’ve witnessed from FC Ryukyu the past few months. I am simply stating that things have become a little undone for Zweigen the past few weeks. This offers the smallest glimmer of hope for the traveling FC Ryukyu side who have been awful on the road all season but this is not an easy match by any means.

Kanazawa lost 2-1 to Kagoshima after taking an early 1-0 lead and though they were tied with Mito at one point, they never really looked on the front foot for much of the match. What better way to break out of a 2-game losing streak than by welcoming a side that boasts the worst away record in J2.

FC Ryukyu

Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. FC Ryukyu have only earned 6 points from a total of 42 possible points on the road this season. They haven’t earned a positive result on the road since a draw against Kyoto way back in June. FC Ryukyu have lost 9 out of their last 10 road games and suffered some heavy defeats along the way. And the most worrying sign heading into the last quarter of the season,, it has been 195 days since FC Ryukyu last won on the road. With so many road games ahead of FC Ryukyu, and the fact that we need to take our destiny into our own hands and not rely on our opponents losing beneath us, FC Ryukyu desperately need some points on the road.

There have been some sweeping changes to the FC Ryukyu lineup the past few weeks. Some good and some interesting. Most notably are the changes to the defense and mid-field. Torikai has replaced Nishioka at RB and Shinji Ono has slotted in next to Uesato in the CDM role to sure up, or provide direction, to the back line. Also, Uejo has moved into the CAM role behind the newly acquired striker, Yamada. The lineup produced the 2-1 victory over Kagoshima so I’ll reserve judgement for after this match. I hope to see the return of Kawai to the reserves as I feel his speed, along with Ramon’s, could really trouble defenses later on in games.

Team Injuries

Zweigen Kanazawa: #24 DF Hasegawa Takumi looks to have torn his ACL late in August and may be one of the reasons why Zweigen has conceded so many goals the last 2 matches.

FC Ryukyu: None.

Keys to FC Ryukyu Victory

1. Maintain a steady presence at the back. The last road game saw FC Ryukyu come apart rather quickly after taking an early 1-0 lead. 6 straight goals from Vortis was inexcusable but these things happen from time to time. Mark the runs of opposing attackers, clear the garbage from the front of the net and for god’s sake, close players down near the edge of the box.

2. Minimize the mental mistakes. We could insert this one every week but I haven’t been able to watch the team the last few weeks to know if they’ve overcome the numerous mistakes from games past so we’ll leave this one right where it is.

3. Cover the back line. Hopefully we can prevent long balls over the top that catch Fukui and Okazaki out and force them into rash challenges or mistakes. This means FC Ryukyu in turn need to play a bit of long ball themselves and allow players with speed to run underneath the passes. I hope that either, or both, Uesato or Shinji sit a little deeper and try to pick apart the Zweigen defense from afar while not allowing them to break against our back line.

4. Exploit the confusion and poor run of form in the Zweigen back line. Kanazawa often conceded some rather soft goals due to confusion and the best way to attack that is with speed. Does FC Ryukyu have enough speed in the lineup to round the Zweigen defenders that will create some space and time for Uejo and Yamada to shoot?

Match Prediction

Much like the last time I wrote a preview article when FC Ryukyu were on the road, I cannot sit here and say that FC Ryukyu will come out on top this week because the away record speaks volumes. I, along with all of you, would love to be pleasantly surprised at an FC Ryukyu victory and/or draw at this point. There is a chance that could occur tomorrow but I have said that way too many times to believe it anymore so we’ll go with a 3-1 defeat. The prediction aligns with the average amount of goals that FC Ryukyu score and concede during road games this season.

Conclusion

11 matches remain in the J2 season. FC Ryukyu will need to earn at least 8 more points to feel relatively comfortable about their chances of avoiding relegation. They will need to earn these 8 points from 7 road matches against some pretty strong sides. It is both as simple and as difficult as that. Good luck to all that attend and to FC Ryukyu, we need it.