Stadium Hopping in Japan: 3 matches in 4 days!

It has been an enjoyable past few days where I got to experience different football stadiums throughout Japan. While I have only visited four stadiums outside of Okinawa, each one has been a great experience that has created lasting memories. In this entry I will cover the Shiranami Stadium where Kagoshima United FC play, the Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium for Kawasaki Frontale and finally the NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium where I witnessed Yokohama F Marinos play a recent Levain Cup match.

Also, please see the excellent blog by Lost In Football, lostinfootballjapan.com (@LiFJapan) for more reading on visiting stadiums throughout Japan. These are very good reads for someone who has’t attend a match outside of their home stadium.

Outside the main entrance at Kagoshima’s Shiranami Stadium.

I think the Shiranami stadium has one of the best backdrops in all of football. Sakurajima, an active volcano here in Japan, sits directly behind the stadium and when you are watching Kagoshima on DAZN it is readily visible, or if you are in attendance, you can get a great photo of Sakurajima in the background.

There are many similarities between the way Kagoshima and FC Ryukyu set up the outsides and insides of their respective stadiums. I suppose that makes sense since both are newly promoted teams with smaller operating budgets compared to the more seasoned clubs of J1 & J2. For instance, there are a large number of food vendors contained to one side of the stadium, usually the main entrance, and limited vendors inside the grounds. FC Ryukyu does have a food and beverage vendor inside the A Section of their stadium that services both home and away fans, but the Shiranami stadium does not. This made it cumbersome when wanting to grab water, soda, beer or food on that hot day because you were forced, as an away fan, to walk a great distance to the vendors away from your entry gate. There was also the issue that there was no hand soap in the bathrooms at the stadium. This is something that I’ve brought to the attention of FC Ryukyu since it is a minor health issue when there are food vendors using those facilities and not washing their hands and then proceed to serve food items.

Inside the stadium we were greeted with some nice local Shochu samples and a very raucous home support section. Shiranami stadium is another one of those track & field/football pitch combinations but the high vantage point we had in the away section provided a nice view. It was really hot during the match and I assume like FC Ryukyu, Kagoshima will be playing their matches during the summer months at much later start times. If not, that could make for a difficult atmosphere for visiting teams not accustomed to such heat. Even though FC Ryukyu lost 1-0, it was a great experience overall and one I look forward to attending in the future.

View from the away team supporter section at Kagoshima.

The next match I was able to attend was the Asian Champions League Group Stage match between Kawasaki Frontale and Ulsan during the mid-week. Ulsan was the last team I got to see in this competition last year when I traveled to their stadium and saw them play Shanghai SIPG. The scenes surrounding the Todoroki Stadium was great as there were flags flying off of light poles and nearly everyone was dressed in the Blue and Black of Kawasaki. I bought this ticket directly from the J League website and it was actually quite easy. There was a little information you are required to fill out but they accept foreign credit cards and the ticket was waiting for me at the Will Call.

View looking back from the way I walked to the stadium. Food and Drink vendors. Nagasaki pork burger was great!

View as I walk to Will Call to pick up ticket outside the Kawasaki Stadium.

It was a little tough navigating where my seat was since I had never been to this stadium, but unlike most stadiums where there was open seating, this time you were assigned an actual seat number. A gentleman was kind enough to direct me to my seat and it was ideally situated between the home supporters’ section and the back of the goal. The people sitting in my vicinity were great, and especially more so after I showed them some of the pictures of me in all my FC Ryukyu regalia, and they enjoyed the fact that I had traveled so far to support their club.

The game was awesome for a neutral as there were 3 first half goals followed by some late game drama that saw Kawasaki end the match with a draw. Ultimately it may have knocked them out of the ACL and that’s a shame since they are the current champions of Japan.

The sights and sounds emanating from the supporter’s section were top notch. I heard many of the same songs that the FC Ryukyu supporter section sings during a match and when there are so many voices singing loudly in unison it really enhances the overall atmosphere. Since this was the first time that I’ve seen a J1 Team in the flesh, it will be very hard for me not to keep an eye on their standing and highlights for the remainder of my time here in Japan.

I concluded my 3^rd match in 4 days with the Levain Cup Group Stage Match between Yokoham F Marinos and Shonan Bellmare at the NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium. This was not the main ground that Yokohoma play in and I wonder if its by design since mid-week matches maybe more sparsely attended than those on the weekend. Therefore, if you have less seats to fill, the stadium looks fuller. Only 5,100 people attended this game but the stadium felt full. Navigating to the stadium proved a bit troublesome for me and is something I feel needs to be fixed prior to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. I am unfamiliar with the Japanese rail and bus system and there were times where I was confused on where to go and how to avoid major delays. The last leg included taking a bus and it was the most difficult part, because unlike the trains that were listed on Google by platform, I had no idea what line to stand in to grab the numbered bus I needed to get to the grounds. It was just by chance that a bus pulled up that was heading directly to the stadium and I made it just in time for kickoff.

I also purchased this ticket via the J League website and unlike the ACL match where I had to pick the ticket up, this was delivered electronically as a “QR” code to my phone. However, it didn’t indicate which entrance I needed so I wasted a little time “gate hopping” until I found the right one. Again, if you’re more familiar with the stadium and seating then this may not be the case, but for the neutral outsider whose only language is English, it was slightly challenging.

I could not have asked for a better seat though as I was only 3 rows up from the pitch and this smaller venue was not a track & field/ football pitch combination. I really love that feeling of being so close to the action and though there wasn’t a ton of space between each seat, it was a spectacular view. The Yokohoma support section was in full voice throughout the match and they sounded great. Shonan also had a large contingent of supporters show up and it was great to watch the match inside the match between each supporters’ section. Whenever Shonan could be heard, usually during a break in the signing of Yokohama, or when there was a break in the match, the Yokohama supporters would immediately spring into action and break out in song so as to drown out the noise emanating from the other supporters.

Shonan Bellmare supporters showing up in full force for a little local derby.

The match was special for me as well as I was hoping to catch a glimpse of both Park and Nakagawa, former FC Ryukyu players now with Yokohama, but neither appeared in the match. Park is out with a nasty injury to his orbital bone and Nakagawa was an unused substitute on the day. I thought there were going to be more goals as neither teams’ defense looked particularly effective yet most of the chances that either side created were wasted on the day. Marinos did pull out the victory after they converted a saved PK but it wasn’t the goal fest I was hoping to see.

I did get to see Nakagawa and give him a shout, that included FC Ryukyu being mixed in, and he smiled, waved and went about his business. It was nice to see the tradition of Marinos fans where they raise some umbrellas after the team wins and sing some song that I am unfamiliar with. The people sitting around me must’ve wondered what the hell I was doing but I didn’t really care. Those same people were friendly throughout the match and very gracious in allowing a large American to move past them to his seat. I really loved the small stadium as well as the proximity of the fans to the pitch. I really hope that this is what FC Ryukyu is planning for their new stadium in Naha in the future. A 15,000-seat stadium with no track would be so welcoming and ideal for the club.

Former FC Ryukyu man, Nakagawa. You can see one of the umbrellas carried by the players after the match.

There are not too many negative things I can say about any of the stadiums I visited this past week outside of the lack of hand soap at both Kagoshima and Yokohama. But after using the public transit system restrooms during my travels, I see this is a systemic problem out here. I would also add, that at no time as an away fan, did I ever feel threatened or concerned for my safety during the match. This speaks highly of the Japanese people as there is absolutely no place in football for violence among the fans inside, outside or surrounding the stadium. The fact that most home fans are glad to see away supporters show up, especially from great distances like Okinawa, is why I try to reciprocate the same inviting and welcoming experience when I see away fans visit Okinawa.

I would encourage anyone as both a supporter of a J league side or as a neutral to attend a match away from your home stadium. It is great to see a game in another town as well as experience a little bit of the culture depending on the time you allotted. I hope to get to a few more matches this year and will certainly write about my experiences and provide some photographs.

Match Day 10 Recap: Derby Day! Kagoshima United FC 1-0 FCR 4/21/2019

The comeback kids unfortunately could not do it again this weekend against Kagoshima United FC in the newly touted “Western Japan Derby.” FCR failed to score for only the second time all season and it was a particularly hard loss for FCR as at the start of the match Kagoshima was at the foot of the table and had failed to score in their previous 7 matches. As I eluded to in the match preview, I felt that the Kagoshima goalless drought was due to end against FCR but I wholeheartedly believed that FCR would walk away from that match with all 3 points. However, as we all know now, that just didn’t happen.

Masutani got the start once more in the RB position due to a lingering injury to Nishioka. I still have no idea as to the mechanism of the injury or the length of time he’s expected to miss but, in any case, it seems Masutani has reacquainted himself with his former RB/LB position and is performing very admirably. Kawai also got the start over Uejo but more on that later.

The game started out very fast for both teams with each having an early opportunity to grab the lead. FCR nearly scored after Kawai won the ball back in the Kagoshima end but Tanaka wasn’t able to get a boot on the ball from the Suzuki pass. Not sure if Tanaka should’ve attempted to head that ball but the height of the ball was awkward in that it was too low for a header, unless he dove at it, and too high to take a touch or strike in stride. Kagoshima quickly followed that up with a chance of their own where a very dangerous cross from the right went straight through our defense and across the mouth of the goal. Luckily, no Kagoshima players were able to get on the end of that ball.

FCR had a Suzuki goal disallowed for an off-sides call in the 8^th minute and the replay angle doesn’t really lend itself well for me to say that the call was correct or incorrect by the linesman. Kagoshima had two chances to score shortly thereafter but their first shot was right at Carvajal and the second header by Nildo sailed over the bar. It was then FCRs chance when in the 33^rd minute Masutani had the first of two really good chances to give FCR the lead. His first shot went straight at the keeper after having acres of space down the right and making a penetrating run into the Kagoshima box. The second made the Kagoshima dive for a save in the 42^nd minute but he may have done well to pass the ball instead of shooting in that situation. The only other notable first half moment was that Tanaka was subbed off for Uejo and I couldn’t tell if it was from injury or the FCR game plan wasn’t working. Regardless, having bumped into Tanka at the airport he said he is OK so we’ll see this Saturday if that holds true.

The second half started out with a bang when one of the rarest plays in football occurred. The Kagoshima goal keeper spilled an easy save and as the FCR players where crashing into the box, one of the Kagoshima defenders touched the ball with his foot and sent the ball back to the GK. This is known as a “back pass” and the infraction results in a free kick for the opposition from the spot where the foul was committed. Uesato lined up just outside the 6-yard box while all 11 of Kagoshima’s players were spread across the width of the goal. Unfortunately his shot was saved by the large blue wall that rolled out of the goal like a wave crashing on shore. I couldn’t tell if he was trying to get elevation on the shot but failed to achieve it because of the distance and angle was too great, or he was hoping to find a seam in all that carnage. I was under the impression that he should’ve aimed as high as he could and struck the ball with as much power as he could muster. I know I wouldn’t want to put my face or head in front of a rocket shot from that distance but oh well, chance wasted and the score remained 0-0.

Suzuki had one more decent chance on net for FCR but Kagoshima started to generate some momentum near the end and they were able to score in the 92^nd minute in stoppage time to secure the 1-0 victory. It was a huge win for the club and their supporters as it has been a long time since that side achieved a favorable result. On the other hand, it left all the FCR supporters who traveled to the match completely dejected and in disbelief that we got nothing out of that game. In games where the FCR opponent was near or at the bottom of the table in J2, they have failed to achieve any victory and in fact have lost twice in those games. You have to be able to beat the teams beneath you and not play to the level of your opponent if you want to succeed in this league. FCR has two favorable match ups on the horizon before they get into a very rough stretch of fixtures with some very good opponents.

There are some troubling signs emerging for FCR from this match and it doesn’t bode well for the team moving forward. FCR has only managed to score 5 goals over their last 6 games compared to the 11 they notched in their first four matches of the season. They have also conceded 7 goals during this stretch resulting in 4 ties and 2 losses. FCR has lost the momentum they had at the start of the season and they need to find it quickly before we join Kagoshima down there at the bottom as the honeymoon period is officially over for FCR in the J2.

FCR has also not found a sustainable solution to the void created by the Nakagawa transfer. Uejo and Tomidokoro, while excellent players in their own right, are not who we need orchestrating the FCR attack. FCR is relying on crosses and attacks from the wings with players like Tokumoto and now Masutani to generate some chances but we need a CAM who can penetrate and unlock the central defense of opponents. This will allow Suzuki to find space in the defense and make those free runs into the box where he can get onto the end of passes instead of hoping for a well-placed cross from the flanks. We want our attacking forwards to be taking the majority of chances on net and not the guys who are designed to provide them the service. The only options I see is either pushing Tanaka into the CAM role and allowing Uejo and Tomidokoro to play out wide or give Koizumi the start and see what he can do up there. If he doesn’t work out, we could always make the change at half time and bring on Uejo. It is also telling that we are bringing on Uejo late in games vice having him start. Either the injury is not fully healed and therefore he can only push himself for a limited time or this is the manager’s strategy. Personally, bringing on Kawai late with his speed and reckless abandonment is far better than giving him the start but the manager has to account for injuries that his players are dealing with and that we have no knowledge on or about as fans.

Well, I am going to go enjoy some mid-week Asian Champions League and Levain Cup games while in Tokyo so if you’re in the area, I’ll be at the Kawasaki ACL match on Tuesday and the Yokohama F Marinos match on Wednesday. Later!

Have to admit, it is one of the best backdrops to a stadium in the J League!

Derby Day! Match Day 10 Preview: Kagoshima United FC vs FCR

Match Day Info: 04/21/2019 (H) Kagoshima United FC vs FCR (A) at the Shiranami Stadium Kickoff at 1300

Weather Forecast: partly cloudy with temperatures around 76 degrees (25C) with a 0% chance of rain. Should be great weather for football.

This week’s match up features the two J3 promoted teams from last season in what some – mainly me – are billing as the “Western Japan derby.” Here are my reasons why this could be considered a derby day: 1.) There is plenty of history between these two squads coming out of the J3, 2.) FCRs old manager is now the current manager of Kagoshima, 3.) Even though these teams are in different prefectures, they are not that far away from each other geographically (see the photo), and finally, 4.) Because there are so many great derby’s featuring two teams with the color scheme of red and blue. For example, Arsenal and Tottenham, AC Milan and Inter Milan and of course Manchester United and Manchester City. While we are a long way off from being considered in the same breath as those previously mentioned, it is good for both teams and their fans to develop a but of a rivalry that will enhance the match-ups each season. Now onto the preview.

Kagoshima United FC: 22^nd in J2 with 4 points, 1W1D7L Current Form LLLLL

Typical Formation: They employed a 4-1-4-1 for a long time but switched to a 4-2-3-1 this past week.

Often there are times in sports where a team will experience a poor run of results that seems to have no end in sight. It usually starts out with a few unlucky breaks in matches and then begins to morph into something much worse. You’ll start to see the wind taken out of the teams sails with every missed opportunity and every goal conceded and then players will start exhibiting disbelief and heads will begin to drop. I believe Kagoshima is in one of these slides right now but if you just looked at the box scores you wouldn’t see the whole picture.

Kagoshima hasn’t scored in 7 weeks, since match day 2, but they have come so close on several occasions. Things are just not breaking Kagoshima’s way and that has led them down the path to the bottom of the J2 table. The matches against Machida and Mito can simply be summed up as unlucky. They nearly equalized against Machida late but the ball wouldn’t drop for them and then only lost to Mito on an own goal.

Kanazawa really thrashed them at home 3-0 and this is probably the first match this season where you could see the doubt, frustration and disbelief starting to appear in the Kagoshima demeanor on the pitch. The late second goal by Omiya the following week really crushed the spirits of the Kagoshima squad as almost all of their heads were hung and the players just stopped in place with that bewildered look of “when will it stop?”

Last week’s match against Renofa had so much on the line for both teams as each found themselves at the bottom of the table. I am going to assume that the pressure was immense for both squads but more so for Kagoshima as everyone expected them and FCR to be in this very same position at the start of the season. For Renofa it’s a little different because many still believe this is a good team that will rebound at some point and begin their climb up the table. This was definitely a match that Kagoshima felt they could have won and they nearly did just that.

The switch to a 4-2-3-1 saw an increased amount of chances for Kagoshima and they were certainly testing the Renofa GK. #10 Rei Yonezawa had an excellent opportunity on a break away to end the goal drought and allow Kagoshima to play with an advantage for the first time in quite some time. However, his shot was stopped by the Renofa GK and then you could see the disbelief all over his face. Of course, the inevitable happened where very late in the game the Kagoshima GK switched off for a moment and didn’t secure the ball properly and it slipped out of his hands as he was sliding inside the 18-yard box. A Renofa player controlled the ball and shot it past the sliding Kagoshima defenders to take a 1-0 lead with only about 1-minute left in regulation. The goal was massive for both sides as you could see relief in the Renofa player’s and more of the same disbelief in Kagoshima. Kagoshima had two very late chances with one nearly dropping, but once again, they were unlucky.

Players to Watch: #10 FW Rei Yonezawa is a nice playmaker for Kagoshima and if he is given time and space, he can test Carvajal. #32 MF Taku Ushinohama has created some nice shots on net in the few games I watched. #13 GK Ahn Joon Soo, I assume he is the preferred GK for Kagoshima as he slid right back into the lineup after the Kanazawa match up. He seems to have lapses in judgement and concentration which has directly contributed to two goals this season.

FCR 6^th in J2 with 16 points, 4W4D1L Current Form DDLDD Typical Formation 4-2-3-1

FCR is coming of yet another emotional, late point grabbing performance this season. They were able to secure the draw against Tokyo Verdy from a very late goal by Uesato despite looking like the better squad on the day. FCR has conceded first half goals their past 3 matches and has been forced to play “catch-up” which is a far cry from the start of the season where FCR was scoring first and forcing the other teams into that role. While the performances by FCR have been commendable as of late, it is high time that they get back to wining ways and beat an opponent lacking confidence on the road this week.

Keys to FCR Victory: 1.) Play relaxed as the home squad has all the pressure in the world on their shoulders. An early goal will be a dagger through the heart of that team and FCR must be ruthless. 2.) FCR must maintain their composure in what could be a very feisty affair. I expect Kagoshima to throw everything they have at FCR in hopes of ending their scoring drought and possibly earning a point on the day. FCR should just focus on their game plan, create opportunities up front and stifle the Kagoshima attack.

3.) Attack. FCR needs to continue their attacking ways and test the Kagoshima GK. I’ve mentioned that he can be a bit lackadaisical at times and that means FCR should just bombard him with shots. I do not know who has traveled with the squad but lets hope the boys are well rested with the extra day and the tired legs we saw last week are just a distant memory. 4.) Do not breathe life into the Kagoshima squad, crush it! A first goal will be massive for Kagoshima so FCR must not allow that to happen.

Match Prediction: Well nothing solves a scoring drought like a match against FCR. While that may seem a bit harsh to say, FCR has only kept one clean sheet all season and if you think about our style of play the past few seasons, we score as well as concede a lot of goals. Granted this is a different team now but it’s very likely that FCR allows a goal here. With that in mind I think FCR could leave Kagoshima with all 3 points by a 2-goal margin.

Well, I am looking forward to attending my second road match of the season and cannot wait to get to the stadium on Sunday and meet everyone who traveled to the game.

Match Day 9 Recap: Tokyo Verdy 1 – 1 FCR 4/13/2019

Well the “comeback kids” did it again this past weekend, and they did it in style. FCR was able to earn a draw against Tokyo Verdy at the Ajinomoto stadium behind a thunderous Uesato volley in the 95^th minute in stoppage time. The 1-1 result ultimately dropped FCR to 6^th in the J2 table at the weeks end but it is another vital point earned away from home for this newly promoted side.

Unlike the previous 8 matches FCR has played this season, the boys came out of the gate flying to open the match. FCR controlled a lot of the play and created several early chances. Masutani had a very nice shot on net but unfortunately it was directly at the Verdy GK. Tomidokoro was almost able to convert a header from a Tokumoto cross but the Verdy GK was once again up to the task. FCR’s best opportunity of the first half came when Keita Tanaka was set free in the right part of the Verdy 18-yard box and had a wide-open shot on net. If you recall, he converted a similar situation against Omiya by placing it low and hard back across the keeper but this time Tanaka opted for power that sent the shot high and wide of goal. 9 times out of 10 Tanaka will convert these opportunities but it just wasn’t the case today.

Verdy quickly responded with two chances of their own around the 32^nd and 39^th minute. A Verdy cross found a wide open #19 Junki Koike on the edge of the FCR 6-yard box who miss judged the bounce of the ball on the volley and sent it over the net. It didn’t matter though as Verdy would convert their next chance when a very penetrating run by Verdy went undefended, followed by a clever back heel to set up Kota Watanabe’s 39^th minute goal. FCR looked lazy tracking back on defense and there were a few notable mistakes on the play. First, the FCR midfield afforded too much space and time to Verdy and when Kawai finally stepped up to challenge the Verdy player, he over committed and created a gap in the defense. The second one was when Fukui turned his back to the on rushing player assuming that he had defensive help in support and the Verdy player let rip with a very nice shot, through a wide-open shooting lane, that went past Carvajal to the right and into the back of the net.

The second half ended with Verdy up 1-0 but FCR was creating all the chances, however, they weren’t able to convert any of them. These things happen from time to time so it would be interesting to see how FCR would respond in the second half.

Things didn’t start out so great for FCR as they were allowing Verdy to dictate the flow of the game and nearly found themselves down 2-0 when Fukui made an unsuccessful rash challenge that sent #11 Hayashi free on goal with only Carvajal to beat. You knew the Verdy striker was going to attempt to round the keeper after Carvajal closed down the distance and you also knew it was one of those plays where if the FCR GK miss times the challenge, its surely a PK and possibly a sending off. Well, there was a PK following the Carvajal challenge as he brought down Hiyashi in the box but it was only a yellow card and Carvajal took the worst of it as he was bleeding profusely from his nose. Carvajal was able to continue and eventually ended up saving the PK to keep FCR in the match.

Danny has been a revelation for FCR back there this season and, in my humble opinion, is battling with Koji Suzuki for FCR MVP. I wish there were more shutouts for him but he is always in the right spot at the right time and you cannot fault the GK when the defenders in front of him don’t’ close down players to prevent shots.

FCR almost conceded another goal to Verdy shortly after the penalty kick, but once again Carvajal stepped up to block the shot with his chest and keep the score line at 1-0. Outside of a Tomidokoro chance that went harmlessly wide, there wasn’t much for FCR until stoppage time.

During stoppage time FCR would create 3 notable chances to tie the match. First, #28 Yoshio Koizumi sent a screamer on goal that went just wide of the post. Shortly thereafter Koji Suzuki had a chance to equalize but his attempted volley sailed over the bar. However, it was the FCR captain Uesato, who achieved the breakthrough for FCR in the 95^th minute. There was a lot of extra time this half due to the Carvajal injury and that really helped FCR out as they were building a lot momentum leading up the goal.

Uesato was able to hit the ball first time after a Kawai shot was deflected by the Verdy defense, and then the clearance landed in front of Uesato, who hit it with power and placement past the diving Verdy GK. You could see how much the goal meant for Uesato ,and for FCR, but even more so for the FCR fans. You could hear our supporters cheering very loudly on the television and the place where I was watching the match erupted. It was a great moment and one I am glad to have shared with some new FCR fans.

The match would end 1-1 and push FCR up to 4^th before the final results of the J2 were registered for the week’s matches.

Match Takeaways: 1.) FCR ended up with 54% possession on the day and dominated a lot of the open play. They were attacking the right side of the Verdy defense early, as I suggested as a key to success in the preview article, but the goal would ultimately come from the left side. In fact, they started attacking more down the left in the second half. FCR would also register 21 shots on the day with 14 of them on net. Nice to see these statistics from FCR and the goals will start falling eventually if they keep it up.

2.) It seems Higuchi is opting to start Kawai and then bring Uejo on in the second half of matches. Kawai definitely has speed to burn, and it can trouble the opposing team’s defenders, but Kawai needs to develop better ball control. There were a few times when he lost control in developing situations for FCR that would derail our attack.

3.) FCR needs more work on the training ground for their set pieces. FCR had a lot of corner kicks in the first half and none of them amounted to any real chances. They were either too low and easily cleared by the Verdy defense or were unable to pick out any FCR players in the box. It is vital to the success of this team this season to start converting some of these CKs and the FKs just outside the 18-yard box.

4.) #28 Yoshio Koizumi had a good 20 minutes of play near the end of the match and it will be interesting to see if he is preferred to Kawai next week versus Kagoshima. He created a few chances in stoppage time and generally looked good on the ball during his first run out. He also isn’t afraid to shoot and nearly notched the tying goal for FCR. I’d like to see more of him before I get too far ahead of myself and suggest that he could be the potential Nakagawa replacement that FCR has been missing these past 5 weeks. Let’s also not forget FCR has another blossoming talent in Uejo and hopefully he’s match fit for a full 90 minutes next week.

5.) The overall depth of our back line is surely to be tested for the next few matches until Nishioka returns. Tokumoto looks tired and his crosses don’t nearly have the same height or venom compared to earlier in the season. FCR needs reliable reinforcements back there that can spell our starting 4 defenders because they are one injury away from having to answer some very though questions.

Well, I really enjoyed watching the match with some new friends and fans of FCR, especially Shimabukuro. I will see all of you later this week with the Match Day 10 preview.

Match Day 9 Preview: Tokyo Verdy vs FCR

Match Day Info: 04/13/2019 (H) Tokyo Verdy vs FCR (A) at the Ajinomoto Stadium Kickoff at 14:00

Weather Forecast: Sunny with temperatures around 60 degrees Fahrenheit (24C) at kickoff with slight 5 mph winds. Temperatures will stay near the high 50s low 60s all game and there is a 0% chance of rain at the time of this posting. It seems as if it will be cool but sunny so I’d recommend a light jacket and hat/sunglasses.

FCR will once again travel to the Tokyo area this time to take on Tokyo Verdy at the 49,000 seat Ajinomotoa stadium. Verdy share this stadium with FC Tokyo but don’t bring in nearly the same size of crowds as the J1 tenants. In fact, they are averaging around 4,300 per match but that also includes a home game played at a much smaller venue this past mid-week. FCR are coming off their historic performance against Kashiwa Reysol this past Sunday where they drew 1 all to become the all time J League leader in consecutive undefeated matches at home with 26.

Tokyo Verdy: 16^th in J2 with 8 points. 2W2D4L Current Form LDWDL Typical Formation 4-2-3-1

Verdy are a strange team in that they can show flashes of brilliance at certain times but also display a penchant for losing their concentration at critical moments of the game. They responded rather quickly against Tochigi when the visitors were up 1-0 but then let the game slip away with 2 late goals to lose 3-2. They narrowly earned a draw against Tokushima on the road when a later corner was deflected in off the back of one of the Verdy players.

Verdy looked like a totally different team against Kashiwa Reysol two weeks ago as they pounced on the visitors for two early goals and ended up shutting out a good Reysol team 2-0 at home. Verdy then faced off against one of the early table toppers in Mito in the mid-week but this was a lackluster game that ended in a 0-0 draw.

Against J2 League leading Yamagata they nearly pulled off the upset on the road by taking the lead in the 44^th minute only to concede in the 60^th and 90^th minute resulting in a 2-1 loss.

Players to Watch: #11 Ryohei Hayashi FW. He is their leading scored with 4 goals so far this season. He has a very dangerous left foot and has a penchant for heading balls into the back of the net. In the 6 games that I’ve seen his highlights, he moves effortlessly in the box, as well as around and in between the opposing teams’ defenders to create space for himself. He times his runs very well which almost seems to lull the opposing teams’ defenders to sleep before he quickly turns on the speed and gets past them and onto the end of a cross in the box. I feel Okazaki will have his hands full with Hayashi tomorrow.

FCR: 5^th in J2 with 15 points. 4W3D1L Current Form WDDLD Typical Formation 4-2-3-1

Emotions are riding high for FCR coming off their historic achievement this past weekend. I believe the late goal against Reysol will bolster their confidence and hopefully push them out to an early lead away from the friendly confines of Okinawa. Uejo’s 4^th goal of the season was massive for the club and community but has also propelled him into the joint top 4 scorer in J2 this season. While his two prior goals may have been originally intended as crosses for Suzuki, this last goal left little doubt in anyone’s mind when he smashed it home on the volley.

FCR have failed to win in their last 4 matches but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are experiencing a drop off in performance. They have faced some tough teams over that stretch that includes drawing on the road against the current league leaders Yamagata, coming from behind twice to secure draws at home against Yamaguchi and Kashiwa and the tough loss during the shortened week where they nearly made something of the match against JEF.

FCR Keys to Victory: 1.) Attack the left side of Tokyo Verdy. In the matches I reviewed for this preview they were absolutely terrible down the left side of their defense. This means that either Tanaka, and hopefully a healthy Nishioka, can exploit Verdy with plenty of open space to send crosses into the box. For whatever reason, the Verdy defense down the left cannot organize itself and allows acres of space to opposing teams as well as ample opportunities to send shots and crosses into the dangerous 6-yard box. 2.) Take #11 Hayashi out of the match with good man marking and Verdy will have little to offer in the attack going forward. If FCR can keep a close eye on Hayashi and make life difficult for him then we should have no problem slowing down the Verdy attack.

3.) Dominate the possession and shots on net. The more FCR can pressure Verdy at the back the more chances that their defense will crumble and begin conceding goals. The Verdy defense is not that great but it is imperative FCR get on the front foot, shrug off any slow start and begin attacking. Tomidokoro could have a very nice game here by setting up Suzuki and our defenders with some well placed crosses into the box from the right side.

Match Prediction: I like both teams to score and for FCR to possibly upset the home side. We can expect, with a high degree of certainty anyways, that FCR will start out slow and allow their opponents some early opportunities. Verdy has capitalized on that once this season so it is crucial that FCR bend, but don’t break, on defense and then begin the attack on the Verdy defense.

Well good luck to Hiroaki Ikema, the FC Ryukyu Kanto region supporters and everyone else I haven’t mentioned that intends to show up to this match. Cheer the boys on as loud as you can and bring home the victory.

See you on Monday with the match recap.

So Now What?

Now that FCR has achieved the record of 26 consecutive home matches without defeat, the question becomes, what is next for this club? The question itself is vague in that “next” could mean so many things to different people. For example, next could refer to another J League or club record set by FCR, or it could simply refer to the future challenges facing FCR this season. For this entry, next will refer to the remaining fixtures for FCR this season and more importantly, identifying the potential pitfalls and opportunities in the schedule.

While it is very easy to get caught up in the romantic notion that FCR could somehow achieve the unthinkable and find themselves in contention for a J2 title or promotion to J1, the reality is much different. FCR needs a new stadium and practice facility in order to get a J1 license and they are a ways away from that point. The focus for FCR this season, as it always should have been even after their fast start, is to remain in the J2 for next year and establish a larger fan base for the future. I am sure many of you are tired of hearing me promoting this view point, but with no real chance for promotion to J1 coupled with the fact that we are the new boys on the block, this should be the benchmark for a successful season for FCR this year.

With that in mind let us now take a deeper look at the remaining fixtures for FCR broken down into 5 categories. The first category will include match days 8 & 9, second will see match day 11 though 20, third will start with match day 21 and end with match day 30, fourth category is match day 31 through 40 and the fifth and final category is match days 41 & 42. There may have been a better way to break these up but this breakdown will suit some of the points I make throughout this entry. As a side note, I will revisit the remaining fixtures for FCR throughout the season because the fortunes of teams are also likely to change over the course of the season. Teams that are at or near the top or bottom may no longer find themselves in those same spots later in the season with injuries also likely affecting a team’s performance and standing.

Season to Date:

Through 8 games this year FCR has seen a fast start of 4 wins from 4 followed by 3 draws and a defeat in their last 4 matches. The early part of the schedule has also been kind to FCR since they’ve just wrapped the first series of 3 games in 8 days with only minor injuries to the club as well as having already traveled to their farthest North (or east depending on your perspective) away match this season in Yamagata. This cannot be taken for granted as FCR will be spending many hours in the air this year and will be far and away the team that travels the most in all of the J League.

Category 1: Match Days 8 & 9.

FCR sit on 15 points from 8 matches and are roughly 1/3 of the way to what should be considered a relative safe amount of points to avoid relegation (42/43). They are the top goal scoring team in J2 and sit mid table when it comes to the amount of goals they’ve conceded compared to the rest of the teams. First up is Tokyo Verdy FC. Verdy are a strange side right now as it seems they “play to the level of their competition.” What I mean by that is they’ve lost to teams that are in the bottom half of the table and have beaten or drawn with sides in the top half. Verdy are also much stronger at home then on the road so this will be a real test for FCR. A point from this fixture would be massive for FCR. Next up is Kagoshima.

Our fellow J3 promoted side hasn’t fared as well as FCR this year in the J2. They haven’t won since the opening day, they have failed to score in their last 6 matches and are at the bottom of the table. However, one could make the argument that FCR maybe just the remedy that Kagoshma need to end their goal scoring drought as FCR have only kept one clean sheet all season. Regardless, this is a match that FCR must go and win on the road to further distance themselves from the drop zone. Kagoshima are ripe for the picking and anything less than 3 points from this match should be considered a failure. I say that because both these teams were pegged as the likely drop candidates at the start of the season and with one of them failing to fire, FCR must be lethal and put them to the sword early and often.

If FCR come away with 3-6 points from these two fixtures we will be sitting very pretty heading into the J2 grind. For this entry lets assume FCR go 1-1 in these two fixtures and sit on 18 points heading into match day 11.

Category 2: Match Days 11-20

As of this writing, this part of the schedule sees FCR play 3 teams in the top 6 of the table all at home. That is Mito, Kanazawa and Kofu. FCR only plays 2 teams in the bottom 6 of the table in Gifu and Nagasaki and they are both on the road. That means FCR plays 5 matches against the middle part of the table with 2 of those at home compared to 3 on the road.

First, FCR welcome Zelvia on match day 11 and their current away form is 1 win from 4. This is shaping up as a winnable game for FCR and one has to believe that there could be some revenge narrative to this game for Suzuki. Assuming that he’ll be up for this game, FCR need to take maximum points against an opponent that doesn’t travel well. Traveling to FC Gifu the following week sees FCR play a team that on paper looks strong at home with 2 wins and 2 draws from 4 matches, but those numbers are deceiving. FC Gifu hasn’t won since the 9^th of March and have only scored once since that victory. This is another team in flux that FCR needs to target for maximum points. Mito come to town the following week and they are a team, at least early on it seems, that travels well. Mito haven’t lost on the road at all this season. Some pundits, like Stuart @sushi_football, claim that Mito are one of those sides that start very fast and taper off as the season drags on. This is match day 13 and could still be considered early in the season so therefor I am going to argue that FCR and Mito play to a hard-fought draw.

The next run of fixtures for FCR goes as follows: Okayama away, Nigata at home, Yokohama away, Kanazawa home, Kyoto away, Kofu at home and end with Nagasaki on the road. These matches are getting tougher and tougher to predict the farther out we get, but I am going to assume that FCR goes through a long spell of matches without a win, draws against Yokohama on the road and ends this category with a win on the road versus Nagasaki. That means FCR could taste their first home defeat since 2017 as well as suffer through a 7-game win-less streak starting with the Mito match. The Nagasaki match will prove crucial to the overall success for FCR this year if that Nagasaki squad cannot bounce back from their slow start and/or have a managerial change mid-season. That is a game to target for FCR because the upcoming 3^rd category has an absolutely brutal run of fixtures for FCR.

So that would be a total of 11 points earned for FCR in this part of the season bringing their predicted total up to 29.

Category 3: Match Days 21-30

Before FCR can even get into this run of fixtures they first need to compete in the Emperors Cup on July 3^rd. The Emperors cup has always been an enigma for me since I always wanted to see a larger J League Club come visit Okinawa but it was never the case. Thanks to Alan over at the @JSoccerMagazine, I was able to understand the scheduling process of the JFL for this tournament. While at the J3 level it was totally fine to target some of these games and start the regular lineup but I believe this will prove costly for FCR this season if they go this route. The J2 is the most important competition for FCR right now and the FCR squad is not large enough to support a “cup run” in any form this year. This was evident the last 2 weeks by having Masutani start at RB while the starting RB, Nishioka, recovers from injury. Depth is key for games outside of the J League and FCR just doesn’t have that right now but that shouldn’t matter. The Emperors Cup game comes 4 days after Nagasaki and 2 days before match day 21 against Tochigi. If we consider that FCR has to play Nagasaki and Yamaguchi (Emperors Cup Opening Round Fixture) on the road I hope the team stays on mainland and doesn’t travel back. However, the traveling squad isn’t nearly the size of the team here in Okinawa with all the reserves, since roughly only 16 players travel to away matches. That means FCR may start some of the regulars in the Emperors Cup. I wish they would just brush this competition off for this season by starting a bunch of reserves and focus on the J2 season. Time will tell I guess.

Apologies for my lengthy view on the Emperors Cup but I think it was slightly necessary to set the stage for this run of fixtures. This is about the “make or break” time for teams with championship aspirations and those who don’t want to be scratching and clawing for desperately needed points near the end. This part of the season is where the table will start to solidify with the stronger teams moving closer to the “North Pole” of the table and weaker sides stating to get dragged closer to the “South Pole.”

If FCR remains solely focused on the J2 season then I think they can string together a couple of wins starting with match day 20 though match day 22. I believe FCR can beat both Tochigi and Okayama at home in consecutive weeks. A draw is the most likely result against Mito as now they’ve hit the half way point of the season and could be experiencing a drop off in play. FCR will have another spate of 3 games in 8 days beginning with Nigata away, followed by JEF at home and then ending on the road versus Reysol. I think we may lose all 3 of those in a row. However, FCR should bounce back nicely with consecutive wins at home against Nagasaki and Yokohama, then experience a slight wobble against Tokushima on the road with a loss and finally earn a draw at home to a possibly revitalized FC Gifu.

14 points from 30 sees the predicted FCR total rise to 43! Benchmark achieved.

Category 4: Match Day 31-40

Assuming FCR can achieve the mark of relative safety at this point in the season, now would be a good time to allow some of the younger players on the squad to get some J2 experience. This is a very ambitious prediction because there is still almost 1/3 of the J2 season left but nothing that FCR has done so far should indicate that they will be needing to fight for points near the end. If not by this time in the season, then hopefully shortly thereafter, FCR should secure J2 football for 2020.

Considering this part of the season doesn’t begin until September 7^th, a slew of things is likely to have occurred to all sides in the form of injures, transfers or terrible runs of play. But seeing how we are basing everything on the first 8 matches of the young season, we’ll continue as if things are the same.

The slate is as follows: Kagoshima at home, Kanazawa away, Yamagata at home, Zelvia and Fukuoka on the road, Tokyo Verdy at home, Tochigi away, Omiya at Home, Yamaguchi away and closes out with Kyoto at home.

I just want to talk about some notable fixtures in there for a moment. The Kagoshima match at home on match day 31 could be vital to both squads. Depending on their fortunes, either team could be viewing this match as way to stave off relegation and send the other into the drop zone. FCRs remaining fixtures for the season are not kind and that makes early season points so massive for the club. FCR ends the season against Omiya, Yamaguchi, Kyoto, Ehime and Kofu. FCR will also most likely be facing rejuvenated squads in Omiya and Yamaguchi and the early season success FCR had against those teams may be reversed later.

Assuming all is perfect up to this point, FCR could take 10 points from these games bringing the predicted total to 53.

Category 5: Match Day 41 & 42

At this point, we cannot say with any certainty that FCR has not sustained any major injuries to key players, sold some key players in a transfer window, advanced in the Emperors Cup to the point of playing 2-3 extra fixtures or earned the absolute minimum points to survive. With that in mind the most likely last chance at 3 points will occur on match day 41 against Ehime on the road. FCR play their final two matches of the 2019 J2 season on the road and this could be their last best chance at 3 points. I say that only in the event that Kofu is involved in the promotion battle for J1. Kofu could be battling for the number 2 spot in the J2 table for automatic promotion or jockeying for position in spots 3-6 for the promotion playoffs. Outside of Kofu having already secured promotion for 2020, this will be no easy game. If FCR survival came down to this match, well I am glad I will be there in attendance.

Predicted Season Total of 56. 15W 11D 16L slightly under .500 record, mid table, possibly top half of table.

While this was a fun little experiment there is absolutely no way of predicting what the J2 season has in store. Certainly no one thought FCR would have achieved this much success at this point in the season and there is so much more drama that needs to occur this year.

FCR are a good squad and have a very nice balance of players. They could certainly use some reinforcements in the transfer window but that will largely depend on revenue accrued throughout the season. FCR will also remain competitive in matches all season and will surprise us from time to time with their results, both good and bad but that’s to be expected of a team playing together for the first time in their first J2 season. The simple answer for FCR this year is to achieve maximum points from the teams you should beat, take points from the tougher sides when possible and don’t lose focus by playing down to an inferior opponent’s level resulting in dropped points. Remember, FCR cannot sprint up to the J1 as there are many actions that need to occur before that can happen. A successful, enjoyable season to grow the club and fan base is the goal.

Match Day 8 Recap: FCR 1 – 1 Kashiwa Reysol 4/7/2019

It was a memorable day for FCR this past weekend as they were able to secure a draw against a very tough opponent in Kashiwa Reysol and become the first club in the history of the J League to remain unbeaten at home for 26 consecutive matches. The historic moment was also witnessed by one of the largest crowds on record for an FCR match, 7,913, and I hope this is the catalyst that continues to bring more and more fans to the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium. Not even the rain near the end of the match, despite me telling you in the preview that it wouldn’t rain, could dampen the spirits of the Ryukyu faithful who braved the early heat to witness history. It was a truly remarkable scene at the stadium.

FCR came out in their typical 4-2-3-1 that saw Tomidokoro start at CAM, Uesato returning to his CDMF position, Masutani again filling in for the injured Nishioka and Kawai getting his first start of the season at LMF. Despite my wishes for Reysol to rest key players with their mid-week tilt in the Levain Cup, they came out in full-force.

The match started out pretty much as expected with Reysol getting on the front foot and ultimately getting out in front. I stated in the match preview that I was hoping it would be FCR that got out to an early lead with a fast start but this wasn’t to be the case. A misdirection set piece was once again the undoing of FCR. In the 3rd minute, #9 Cristiano for Reysol sent a short, head level heighted cross into the box, that was able to be headed backwards in front of goal from the onrushing Reysol player and would land at the feet of #19 Gabriel that tapped it just over the outstretched arms of Carvajal who was tracking back across net. This type of misdirection header has caught FCR a couple of times this season. I cannot tell if it is a lack of concentration on our part by not tracking the runs of the opposing teams until the completion of the play or it is just one of those things that happens from time to time in football. Regardless, FCR found themselves down 1-0 for the second consecutive match and would now need to dig themselves out of this hole.

Reysol would keep up the pressure against FCR where in the 12^th minute a long range knuckle ball effort from Reysol really tested Carvajal. FCR had an opportunity to level in the 17^th minute when Masutani made a nice play on a ball inside the box by basically securing the ball and then jumping straight up in the air with it trapped between his feet over the Reysol defender. His pass found a wide-open Okazaki after he landed but unfortunately his shot sailed high over the bar. In the 31^st minute #18 Segawa was set free on net after splitting our central defenders but Carvajal was able to get a hand to the shot and parry it away from danger.

The remainder of the first half saw two more chances for FCR to level with the most notable coming from Tanaka. He tested one of the Japanese National Team Keepers in #23 Nakamura with a well-aimed shot to the top left corner of goal that Nakumara was able to get his hands on and maintain the 1-0 Reysol lead at half time.

FCR pretty much took over the possession battle in the second half as they began to press for the equalizer. Tomidokoro put a very hard shot on net from a Suzuki cross that was only saved because it was right at the keeper from that short of distance. Had that shot been placed anywhere to the left or right of Nakamura the match could’ve ended differently. The final nervy moment of the match for Carvajal came in the 64^th minute when Cristiano sent a dangerous shot across goal that Carvajal was able to push wide past the net.

The breakthrough for FCR occurred in the 82^nd minute when a Tokumoto cross found a wide open Uejo just outside the 6-yard box. It was one of those in between crosses where Uejo wasn’t going to commit to heading the ball and it was too high to be trapped at his feet followed by an attempt on net. Instead, Uejo struck it first time at waist level into the upper right side of goal to bring FCR level with about 7 minutes and stoppage time to play. The cross was well placed by Tokumoto but Uejo still had so much to do with it and the youngster responded tremendously well in the situation by stunning the Reysol keeper.

There were a few more opportunities for FCR near the end but they just couldn’t get the second past Nakamura and the match would end 1 all. The celebration began in the stands shortly thereafter and it was great to see the FCR staff put up a graphic on the screen indicating that FCR had set a new J League record. The team was also kind enough to walk around the entire stadium as well as come to the stands to thank the fans.

Takeaways from Match Day 8: 1.) FCR continued the trend of starting off slow and allowing their opponent to take several early chances, which ultimately cost them on the day. I am not sure if this is by design so our manager and team can see the expected shape and movement of the opponent or it just how FCR operates at the moment. 2.) To echo what Stuart, from @sushi_football, said on the @JTalkPod this week, FCR responded very well after coming off a tough road defeat and then face a very good opponent in Reysol. The lessons learned against JEF as well as the way FCR responded that match definitely paid dividends against Reysol this past week. This should definitely boost the confidence levels of the team that will hopefully see them win some tightly contested matches later this year.

3.) Carvajal was the real hero this match as his play both early on and later in the match afforded FCR the ability to level the game. He was under siege early on and it looked as if Reysol was going to add to their lead. Thankfully, Carvajal answered the call time and time again against the Reysol attack. 4.) FCR maybe lacking some depth at RB/LB if Masutani is forced to play there with the injury to Nishioka. The games are starting to pile up and injuries are due to occur throughout the season so it stands to reason that we will need to replace guys from time to time. However, sliding the starting CB over to a position he may have occupied during his early days at FCR won’t allow him to get the much-needed rest he deserves. It also means that we cannot rotate Okazaki or Fukui and risk not having a healthy back line for long stretches of the season. If possible, FCR needs to either activate and play some of the defenders on the roster so as to gain the necessary match experience at this level, or strengthen the squad in the transfer window and add some depth if the younger players are not the immediate answer.

5.) The fact that FCR was once again able to control the tempo of the match and create opportunities while down a goal bodes very well for the season. The way they responded against Reysol, a team that many pundits tipped to be the J2 winners this season, means that no matter the opponent, FCR will not be over-matched. Of course this depends heavily on the fitness levels and health of our players but for the time being, FCR has displayed the ability to go hunting for goals and has shown that they can respond under pressure.

FC Ryuyku’s next two matches are on the road against Tokyo Verdy and Kagoshima. Verdy are a much stronger team at home compared to the road as their record indicates. It will be a feisty affair that I hope FCR can see out for positive points. Kagoshima are a different story as they haven’t won since the opening day and have failed to score in their last 6 matches. Kagoshima now find themselves at the foot of the table and this is shaping up as a must win game for FCR in order to put some distance between them and the relegation zone. Until then, a big thank you to everyone that attended the match this past weekend as it was truly spectacular and I look forward to seeing you all again in a few weeks.

Match Day 8 Preview: FCR vs Kashiwa Reysol

Match Day Info: 04/07/2019 (H) FCR vs Kashiwa Reysol (A) at the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium (Comprehensive Park) Kickoff at 1600.

Weather Forecast: Excellent! Temperatures will be in the high 70s (25C) at kickoff and pretty much remain constant throughout the entire match. It is expected to be slightly overcast with a 5mph wind. If you are sitting in Section A, I strongly encourage bringing a hat and or sunglasses for when the sun breaks through the clouds as you’ll be looking directly into the sun.

Match Day 8 sees former J1 club, Kashiwa Reysol, make their first ever visit to the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium. Match Day 8 is a culmination of 3 games in 8 days for both sides with each club entering the match from different perspectives. FCR lost its mid-week tilt against JEF United Chiba 1-0 while Kashiwa easily brushed aside V. Varen Nagasaki 3-0. This match will feature the #3 & #4 teams in J2 and was one I earmarked as a potential “thigh rubber” a few weeks back. This should be a very enjoyable match to watch so I hope to see a lot of people out there as I expect the Reysol fans to show in large numbers today.

Kashiwa Reysol: 3^rd in J2 with 15 points. 5W0D2L. Current Form WWLLW. Typical Formation 4-2-3-1.

Kashiwa required late goals against both Nigata and Kyoto to secure victory and they didn’t look particularly threatening in either case. Their loss to Okayama the following week at home could’ve turned out markedly different if any of the 3 shots that rattled the posts or crossbar had gone in, but ultimately, they allowed Okayama to hang around and push a late goal past them.

#26 Olunga for Reysol made his return to the lineup against Tokyo Verdy, a team which lost in the promotion/relegation playoffs last season to Jubilo Iwata. Verdy came out on the front foot and shell-shocked Reysol with 2 quick goals that were only 2 minutes apart in the first half. Reysol created a few more chances that match but they were not able to recover from the quick Verdy start or put one past the Verdy Keeper near the end of the game.

Against V.Varen Nagasaki, the other J1 cub that was relegated to J2 from last season, they looked much more lethal. The score line ended 3-0 in favor of Reysol but it could have ended much worse for Nagasaki as there was an offside goal called back for Reysol as well as several near misses that could’ve seen a score line closer to 6-0.

Players to Watch: #9 Cristiano FW. I can recall the first time I saw Reysol playing while living here in Japan was an Asian Champions League match back in 2015. Cristiano featured on that squad and ultimately that side made it to the quarterfinal of the ACL. My how the mighty have fallen and Reysol’s tumble out of the J1 should probably serve as a cautionary tale for many J League organizations. But back to Cristiano, he is the key play maker on Reysol. He is able to take part in both the build up of plays as well as finish plays off by putting well aimed shots on net. FCR would do well to know where he is at during all times.

#26 Olunga FW. He is a very tall, very powerful striker that will cause problems all day for FCR. As we’ve seen against other powerful strikers this season, think Baiano from Yamagata, FCR has a tough time dealing with their speed and power. I hope Okazaki and whoever else is at CB for FCR are well rested as this will certainly be a test. Olunga is 6’3” (1.90m) and he can rise really well for headers on set pieces so this will also challenge the FCR defense. Granted, his brace against Nagasaki saw some woeful defending by the guests and Olunga was able to freely roam the box and was unmarked on his headed goal.

#18 Yusuke Segawa MF. Segawa makes very nice runs in and around the 18-yard box and is an excellent complimentary piece to the aforementioned attackers for Reysol. He is powerful in his own right and will test both Tokumoto and Nishioka down the flanks all game. He has one goal on the season but has registered 24 shots in all competitions.

FCR: 4^th in J2 with 14 points. 4W2D1L. Current Form WWDDL. Typical Formation 4-2-3-1.

FCR is coming off their first loss this season after their mid-week match against JEF. The game featured several changes to the FCR lineup with the notable switch to RB for Masutani. FCR was unlucky to convert some of the chances they had for a goal but it was an encouraging performance by the boys on the road.

Considering this is the 3^rd game in 8 days for FCR there may be some lineup changes for this match as well. Uesato didn’t feature this past game and I hope it wasn’t due to injury. We will absolutely need him out there today to command the midfield for FCR. Tomidokoro and Uejo came off early against JEF so I fully expect to see them in the starting lineup today. I do not know if we will see both Suzuki and Tanaka start as they both played the full 90 minutes on Wednesday.

Keys to FCR Victory: 1.) Shock and Awe approach. If FCR can get out to an early lead it maybe all they need against Reysol. All of Reysol games this season have featured them either winning by shutting out their opponent or losing by failing to score. There is one exception but I am not counting the Levain Cup matches. In games that Reysol lost, they were unable to unlock the opponents defense and lacked a bit of creativity. An early lead could prove massive for FCR.

2.) FCR must play within themselves. If they are facing a deficit, FCR needs to approach the match in similar fashion to JEF. Reysol is not the best defending team, as some of their score-lines would suggest, and opponents have been able to get in behind the back line and create problems for Reysol. Depending on the FCR injures and lineup, Kawai’s speed down the flanks could prove troubling for Reysol and it will be interesting to see how we employ him this match.

3.) Full team effort on defense. Reysol has some serious firepower in Olunga, Cristiano and Segawa and while it is impossible to cover all 3 at any one moment, FCR would do well to have their MFs drop back in support of the Left and Right defensive backs. Tokumoto and Nishioka will be tested and we can certainly assume that Okazaki and either Fukui or Masutani will be dealing with Olunga which leaves Cristanio open as the CAM. Strong defensive play through the middle of the pitch will be key for FCR and we will need to limit the number of crosses into the box as Olunga’s height may prove too much for our CBs.

Game Prediction: Unlike some of Reysol’s previous matches in J2, I don’t believe this one will be a shutout and I see both teams scoring on the day. FCR may get lucky and see Reysol rest some of their notable players due to an approaching mid-week fixture in the Levain Cup but we will have to wait and see. Reysol has played two more games than FCR this season with the Levain competition and the only other time Reysol made wholesale changes to their lineup was the first round of the Levain competition back in early March. Personally, I’d love to see a player like Cristiano, who has featured in every minute of Reysol’s past few matches, take a rest today but again, we’ll have to wait and see.

I hope that the FCR faithful and Okinawa community show up in full force for this match as I fully expect the Reysol fans to turn up in large numbers. This will make for a great footballing atmosphere and exciting match. See you all out there!

FCR & Me: What it means to be a fan of the team.

A friend asked me to provide some reasons as to why FCR is great, I ended up going much deeper, but I hope that anyone who reads this appreciates my responses.

Alright, so you asked me for my opinion as to what has happened to make FCR so good, so here it goes.

FCR started out brutally in their fist year in J2 (2014). FCR finished W8D10L15 with a goal differential of -19 and it was just bad football in terrible temperatures. Some matches would finish with score lines of 7-1 against Zelvia or getting pounded 6-0 by the under-22 J League team which was just embarrassing. 2015 was slightly better but it was truly the year of 2016 that was a turning point for FCR.

2016 began what I would call the “Ryukyu Renaissance.” We had key elements on the squad; Tanaka, Park and Tomidokoro coupled with the managerial change from Noshirio Satsukawa to Kim Jong-Song that really began the drive up and out of the J3.

FCR would finish with a winning record and a positive goal difference. Granted it was 46 scored and 46 conceded for a goal difference of 0 but for the first time ever, FCR became competitive and the matches became meaningful. There was even one point in the season where FCR had a chance to go top of the table for the first time in their history against a strong Akita side. FCR was awarded a very late penalty, in the 3^rd minute of stoppage time which meant the PK would be the last play, and Tanaka stepped up to the spot as the leading FCR goal scorer on the season. Unfortunately, his shot was saved as he really didn’t get any power behind it and the game ended in a draw. I was so distraught from the loss that I couldn’t leave my seat in section S as I just couldn’t believe what happened considering we almost were top of the table for a day. My friends thought it was funny but this is what it means to be a true fan, you feel every loss and relish every win, you are as much a part of the team as the players and management and if FCR wants to achieve the lofty heights of J1 and the Asian Champions League, then they better start to plant and nurture these feelings for their fans.

2017 was the year that we started the push to the J2 but J3 teams failed to notice that FCR was for real, and that they were to be taken seriously. Everything was positive for the boys that year; winning record, positive goal differential and better performances on the pitch. FCR still made mistakes but these were lessons that needed to be learned if they wanted to succeed. FCR would also start to set the standard for performances at home as the undefeated at home streak began in September and is still intact to this day. One side note, Tomidokoro was just on another level that year, his FKs and goals were breathtaking. If you haven’t seen them then you need to Google these games. At the very least, Google the September 30 2017 match.

2018, nothing more needs to be said. Here are some things the “Bengara Boys” achieved that season. Scored 70 goals resulting in a +30-goal difference, dropped points in only 6 games the entire season, didn’t lose a single match at home all year. Early on there were some struggles on defense, most notably when we drew against the Tottori and Osaka after conceding late goals in what was largely considered statement games. I’m sure my cursing and ranting in English played no part in FCRs success that year but strangely enough the boys went on a tear after I lost my cool.

There was a point in the 2018 season in which the boys were just unbeatable, I mean, watching them week in and week out you could see that this was a team of destiny and no one was stopping them on their journey. Literally, as an FCR fan, you could sit down to watch a match and know the boys were going to score, and win. They lost at then end of April that year and wouldn’t lose again until mid-September. The just demolished everybody along the way to the J3 title.

November 3^rd 2018. This is one of the most special days in FCR history. It is the culmination of hard work by the team, excellent front office and coaching management and of course commitment by the fans. 8,500 Okinawans showed up to witness history. I must add this, with all due respect to the Golden Kings and their impressive achievements, football is the world sport and it is massive here in Asia compared to basketball. There is the Asian Champions League, not on par but just as important, as the UEFA Champions League, and I’ve personally attended several of these games in Korea to know that football is king here in Asia.

Back to the date of immortality, the boys came out firing and nothing that Thespa could do would stop FCR from lifting the J3 trophy that day. I recall watching that match with friends and just stating that I hoped that FCR would score early, which they did, as well as score often, which they also accomplished. The match was out of reach by the 70^th minute and it was an amazing feeling to watch the team you love, with the community of people you love, win a very important match and lift a very important trophy. I cried, I will not lie, it was an emotional moment because so much that I’ve already written about was tied into this one single glorious moment. The heartaches, the heat, the bad football, the almost moments of glory and the bitter defeats, all of it led up to the J3 Championship. But, if you are satisfied here, then you are mistaken, there is always more to achieve. I think sometimes that those of us who’ve played sports, at any level, feel that we can never be complacent and always need to achieve more and never appreciate all that we have right now. At the end of the day this is FCR and not some psychoanalysis by me so the bottom line is trophies and glory mean everything and I am along for the ride.

Finally, to your initial question as to what makes FCR great. First, the owner of this team deserves so much credit for his actions and patience. He has witnessed this team achieve unbelievable heights with unbelievable low attendance levels. Please, I implore all of Okinawa, come watch this beautiful football team in a great stadium with great people. If Okinawa doesn’t show up now to support FCR, you may as you’ve always suspected, be relegated to an afterthought by the people of “mainland” Japan.

Second, the players are amazing and should be treated as such. I have never once seen an FCR player out in town but you better believe if I have that opportunity that not only will I thank them, I’ll serenade them with my own special chant. People of Okinawa, these are professional athletes and human beings, give them your support, recognize their achievements and lift them up because they will do so much for you in return. I hope to see an FCR player out in town one day.

Third reason is the fans of FCR. Hiroaki is an example to us all and was so deserving of the honor to touch and lift the J3 trophy this past season. The man is the spirit and soul of this team and is someone I am so honored to call my friend. I’m grateful his English is far better than my Japanese and he bleeds Bengara Blood like no one on island. There are also the loyal fans that show up each and every week including the road games like our FCR family in Kanto! The Ryukyu Girls, wow do I miss them. Besides their obvious beauty they are very approachable and nice women who are very passionate about FCR and made every match great – bring them back! This team has such a massive opportunity to solidify itself amongst all Okinawan’s, here and abroad, and we need all of you to get behind the boys.

Finally, and the most special reason to me is this; we are all FCR. Put aside all of our differences that others may say exist or try to create, I am here standing shoulder to shoulder with my entire Okinawa family for one cause and that is FCR. I may only speak a little Japanese but I have been woven into the fabric of Okinawa society for 10 years and I want nothing but the best for everyone here and that means having a top-notch football squad. FCR has provided so many memorable moments in my life but here are a few for the readers. 1.) Watching them lift the Okinawa prefectural tournament trophy with my daughter and getting to take part in the team photo was awesome, 2.) 90 minutes of pure intensity in which we almost went top of the table versus Akita on a PK, 3.) watching the boys draw against Oita (almost won BTW) on the road on a televised game on Sky Sports back in 2016 at Camp Nou with Hiroaki (pre-DAZN) was outstanding followed by 4.), watching the inaugural 2017 game at the same bar and FCR earning a draw was also awesome. 5.) Tailgating with my American friends in the parking lot, 5.) Players autographs and meeting the heroes of Okinawa, 6.) the current winning streak the boys are keeping intact started on my birthday, 7.) my son – who was a miracle for my wife and I – was born in the same season that FCR became J3 Champions, 8.) The J3 Championship, 9.) The road match versus Omiya was out of this world and crazy I was so lucky to be there, and finally 10.) for every new memory and experience that is out there, join me, join us as FCR, you won’t regret it.

Match Day 7 Recap: JEF United Chiba 1 – 0 FCR 4/3/2019

Well it was inevitable that FCR would have to lose at some point this season. I don’t think any of us believed they could go 42 games unbeaten but they way they approached the match should leave us all feeling very encouraged moving forward.

On a crisp night in Chiba in which FCR had 51% possession, it was JEF who would emerge victorious with 1-0 win. As I mentioned in the match preview, it was a cagey affair that saw Koji Suzuki often involved in a few shoving matches throughout the game. FCR almost took the lead in the 13^th minute when Masutani rose for a header that went over the JEF goal keeper and clanged off the crossbar. FCR had a few more chances that half but were done in by the nice movement of JEF in the 18-yard box just 10 minutes before half time.

Carvajal was called into action several times leading up the goal and he responded very well to each challenge. The JEF goal was a combination of nice passes and the FCR defenders not matching the runs of the attacking JEF players. Therefore, there was nothing Carvajal could’ve done to stop the shot. Fukui and Okazaki got crossed up near the top the box by Fukui’s missed challenge on the JEF player which meant that Okazaki had to track back to cover the space Fukui would have occupied. This also resulted in Masuatani, who was playing out of position at RB this match, to move a little closer to the CBs and narrow the FCR defense on the play. A quick pass to the left side of the box found a wide open JEF player, that Masuatani failed to track, who then sent a dangerous pass across goal that found #11 Hisato Sato, whose run was also not tracked by Okazaki because he himself was attempting to recover after the JEF play had pulled our central defenders apart. Truth be told, you could just feel that a JEF goal was coming as they started to increase the pressure on FCR after FCR had started so well.

FCR created some chances in the second half most notably from the play of Kawai who I pegged, albeit incorrectly, to start the mach. He made some nice passes and almost made something of his chance in the 80^th minute but unfortunately the ball sailed over the top of goal. Could Kawai have passed it? Possibly, but we’ll never know. The match ended 1-0 and you could see that it meant so much for the JEF players who were seeking their first home win of the season.

Key Takeaways from the match for FCR: 1.) It was very encouraging to see that the atmosphere and occasion were not too big for FCR. What I mean by this is that FCR did not looked over-matched and didn’t “chase” the game as so many teams do when they are overwhelmed by their surroundings. FCR executed all well-organized attack across the front and it was far more balanced this match than the previous 6.

2.) FCR made some changes to the back line and personally I think this was a mistake on a short week. This is merely my opinion but I felt that on a short week it may have been better to keep the same back 6 we’ve played all season since it was a road game on a short week. The players swapped into the lineup probably got very little time to prepare with one another and forcing Masutani out wide, a position he may have played when he first came to FCR years ago, proved damaging. If this were a home game on a short week the change may have made sense because the squad could’ve had time to gel prior to the match and not concern themselves with traveling. I hope we have a better long-term solution when Nishioka is out of the lineup because like all players, Masutani will need his rest at some point.

3.) Suzuki was a beast out there and I am not sure what occurred during his time with Zelvia against JEF but he definitely wanted a piece of the JEF players. I appreciated his edge and I know it kept FCR competitive throughout the match. I hope he’s out there for Reysol on Sunday.

4.) I am slightly concerned with the lineup choices for this match only because I don’t think we went all in or all out for the match. It was certain that some players had to be rested but FCR could’ve either targeted this match for 3 points or attempted to hold out for a draw. I am concerned because so many of our guys played a full 90 minutes and they will only have 3 days to recover for the Reysol match. Just my opinion but we should’ve gone all in vs JEF and rested some weary legs versus Reysol. It will be interesting to see how our attacking players respond this Sunday.

5.) Kawai is developing into a nice player. He plays with a bit of controlled, reckless, abandonment. His speed frightens teams and his movement is excellent in and around the box. I’d like to see him get more playing time in order to gain confidence and accuracy in his shot placement, but I also see his value in coming on late and running at tired defenses.

6.) Yu Tomidokoro is getting his power back. His FK takes are getting better each game as he regains the strength he lost due to injury as well as his confidence. We will be celebrating one of his patented FK goals very soon.

7) Be encouraged FCR fans, be very encouraged by the team’s performance. Yes, it was a loss, but it was by no means and embarrassing loss. FCR was involved in the entire game and created several chances late on. Know that, when needed, FCR can drive forward and create opportunities with their players and attacking mind set. Trust me, you’d rather have that feeling than one of knowing your team offers nothing going forward and that a 1 goal deficit could prove fatal for your squad.

That’s it for this week’s recap. I’ll post the match preview vs Reysol on Saturday and see you all on Sunday!