20 #FC琉球

Intro

Wow! A bit unexpected, but what a wonderful surprise yesterday when FC Ryukyu demolished Ehime FC 6-0 at home. FC Ryukyu scored 6 goals in a match for the second time this season and also took a major chunk out of their goal differential by dropping it down to -4. There is an outside chance, if things break right for Ryukyu in the final 2 matches, that FC Ryukyu could actually finish with a positive goal differential for the first time in 2 years.

Match Highlights

Source: https://www.transfermarkt.com/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3468327

Man of the Match

FC Ryukyu MF Koya Kazama: Koya scored the first hat trick for FC Ryukyu since Yuta Togashi (now at FC Gifu) back in 2017, and added 2 assists to finish with an incredible 5 points. Koya found himself in the right spot, at the just the right times and really needed a game like this to break out of that little funk he found himself in.

Review of the Keys to Victory

1. Hit Ehime with our speed. Likelihood 4. Yes. Koya’s first goal was set up by Kawai out running the Ehime defense.

2. Take Niwa out of the equation. Likelihood 2. He never really factored in this game and Ehime only registered 4 shots on net.

3. Do not switch off. Likelihood 3. FC Ryukyu definitely did not switch off as they kept their foot on the gas for the full 90 minutes.

Takeaways from Match Day 40

1. This was a match where everything clicked, and everything worked to perfection. FC Ryukyu simply dominated Ehime in every category that included a staggering 26 shots, of which 19 were on target. Ryukyu could have easily scored more on a day when it seemed that everyone in the starting 11 was getting on the score sheet.

2.Koizumi’s play was one again phenomenal, and it was his opening goal that provided the early breakthrough for this team. Not really looking forward to see where he signs this offseason, I just hope its for a J1 club in need of central playmaker.

3. There were some visible “sense of relief” moments on many of the faces of the Ryukyu players during this game. In particular, Ren Ikeda broke his 30-game scoreless drought with a thundering header and you could see an enormous weight being lifted off his shoulders in his post goal celebration. These little things near the end of the season matter so much to some players as the small boosts in confidence will carry them heading into 2021.

4. FC Ryukyu tried to get Shinji his goal, but couldn’t. It’s a bit of a shame that Ono couldn’t get on the score card in front of the largest home crowd of the season (3,246) and I really hope he can score one goal on the final home game against Machida Zelvia.

5. Felipe Tavares made his first appearance in over 9 months for the club. We also got some longer looks at Yamaguchi and Hitomi. Tanaka has been red hot as of late so its understandable why Tavares cannot crack the starting 11, but I hope we see a bit more of him before we end the year as I think he could serve a purpose with this team in 2021. Hitomi almost pushed the score line to 7-0 when his ambitious shot from range with the Ehime GK out position, but it bounced off the crossbar. It would be nice to see him get the start up top in the last two games of the year. Yamaguchi almost added an assist, and while he looked good in doing so, I think a majority of that can be attributed to how poorly the Ehime defense played.

6. I am not sure if we witnessed a player voicing his frustrations on social media for the first time here at Ryukyu, but something clearly upset Dany Carvajal before the lineups were released yesterday.

I am slightly concerned about this GK controversy that seems to be materializing in front of us.

Match Day 40 in J2

Source: https://www.transfermarkt.com/j2-league/startseite/wettbewerb/JAP2

The promotion race continues and it was a thrilling weekend of action for the neutral fans who tuned into the games for the top 3 sides. (1) Tokushima Vortis were stymied by (13) JEF UTD Chiba at home. The draw allowed both (2) Avispa Fukuoka and (3) V-Varen Nagasaki to make up some ground on the leaders as both sides won 2-0 on Sunday. I said in the last review, that if the loss to Mito by Vortis was anything more than a little stumble, they could lose out on the title when they travel to Fukuoka to end the season.

Source: https://www.transfermarkt.com/j-league-division-2/tabelle/wettbewerb/JAP2/saison_id/2019

Conclusion

The result, while impressive, also occurred in front of the largest crowd this season which should help boost some ticket sales for next year. More on the sharp increase on season ticket prices in the offseason, but for now, this was a great result for the club and was very enjoyable to watch.

FC Ryukyu have two games remaining in 2020 and will play their final road game when they travel to Mito Hollyhock on Wednesday evening. Now only two points off their 2019 point total, FC Ryukyu have a realistic chance to surpass that total with some positive results over their final slate of games.

“It’s Alright and It’s Coming On” Match Day 40 Preview: (18) FC Ryukyu vs (21) Ehime FC 12/13/20 #FC琉球

Intro

In normal, non CV19 years, a bottom of the table clash would have a little excitement attached to the game as one, or both, teams try to stave off relegation. While that is not the case this year, this game should feature some goals, and heck, it is the prime time game on Sunday afternoon/evening for DAZN, so sit back and enjoy.

Match Day 7: Ehime FC 1-1 FC Ryukyu

These two teams drew 1-1 the last time they met back on Match Day 7 where a goal by Koya in the 69′ minute leveled the match after an earlier deflection just made it past the outstretched arms of Dany Carvajal. FC Ryukyu should have scored many more as they hit the post, crossbar, and side netting on an narrow miss from a Uesato FK. Abe also failed to score on his breakaway, but he really carried this team on his back to that draw as it was his intensity that led directly to the Koya goal.

Last Match Highlights

FC Ryukyu vs Fagiano Okayama (1-1)

*MD 34 Makeup Game Ehime FC vs. Ventforet Kofu (0-2)

Team Previews

FC Ryukyu: When FC Ryukyu began this stretch of four home games in a row, there were some high expectations that they could win all four of these matchups, and their final home game, to close out the 2020 season. Prior to the match with Tokyo Verdy, FC Ryukyu were undefeated in their previous four home games with three wins and one draw. Well, things haven’t worked out as we might’ve hoped.

Things started off great with a 4-0 win over Tokyo Verdy but FC Ryukyu has gone on to lose 2-0 to Kanazawa as well as draw with Fagiano Okayama this past weekend. Granted, FC Ryukyu have been without their talisman, Takuma Abe, for quite some time, and a lot of changes to the lineup created some disjointed attacks in those games. But FC Ryukyu have a shot this week to right the ship when they face Ehime FC as they’ve been one of the worst teams in J2 this year.

I would expect the lineup this week to look much like the lineup we saw against Okayama beginning with Hitomi leading the line up top, and behind him their should be Kawai, Koya, Koizumi, Koki and Uesato. Higuchi may continue to deploy both Yong Jick and Okazaki, in order to get a longer look at Okazaki before 2021, and joining them should be Tanaka and Numata at fullback. At this point, we have to assume that Higuchi prefers Taguchi over Dany Carvajal in net as the recent track record indicates as much.

FC Ryukyu are 4-4-2 over their last 10 matches but the goals seem to occur in bunches as they’ve been shut out in 3 of those games. While Ehime FC do represent a “get right game” for Ryukyu, Ehime surprisingly have a better win rate away from home. It is good news for Ryukyu that Ehime have only shut out their opponent once in their past 15 games as FC Ryukyu prefer to start games fast by grabbing the early lead. But if FC Ryukyu cannot accrue an early lead with the play of their midfield, they will struggle for goals the remainder of the game.

In the last match preview I spoke extensively about FC Ryukyu needing to evaluate the talent in the reserves before the season ends. That was not the case last week as FC Ryukyu opted for trying to accumulate wins and points which means they need to see that mentality through to the end. It is a shame as we’ll have plenty of questions about this squad heading into 2021, combined with a depleted budget from CV-19, thus making roster decisions that much tougher on the management. We may, unfortunately, see the premature departure of some players who could flourish on other teams simply because we decided to improve our standing in a meaningless season instead of preparing for the future.

Ehime FC: Having already fired their manager, Ehime are listless and adrift at the bottom of the table with nothing but future employment left to play for. This team has been much worse this year compared to 2019 and two of their top three leading scorers are on loan from Sanfrecce Hiroshima which doesn’t provide much hope for this side heading into 2021.

Earlier in the season Ehime suffered through a patch of 10 games without a win but that wasn’t the worst as they endured further humiliation when they lost 5 games in a row. It is probably to nonene’s surprise when they moved on from their former manager after such results. If your trying to glean anything positive about this side in the preview, there is their away record – 21 of their 34 points earned on the road – and Ehime have surrendered two fewer goals than FC Ryukyu on the year.

Shockingly, Ehime won three games during the month of November, which represents nearly half of their total wins. In their last five games, Ehime earned victories over Niigata and Mito, followed by a very spirited draw with Omiya where they scored 3 goals inside of 4 minutes. But the goals have since dried up as they’ve been shutout in consecutive matches at home to Kyoto (0-1) and Kofu (0-2).

In a strange turn of events just last night, Ehime opted to release their leading scorer, Koki Arita, which leaves very little in the attack for Ehime outside of Shion Niwa who has scored three goals across the Niigata and Mito games.

Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely that it happens 1- Requires a Miracle for it to happen

1. Hit Ehime with our speed. Likelihood 4. Kawai and Koizumi are set to crush tomorrow as we know all too well about Taishi Nishioka’s inability to cover speedy wingers and midfielders in defense. Kawai has the speed to create acres of space in the Ehime defense and Koizumi needs to pick him out when he sees Kawai breaking around the edge.

2. Take Niwa out of the equation. Likelihood 2. He has been one of their best players the past few rounds, and now with Arita released, he’s the lone attacking threat on goal. He looks the part of a fine a striker, but not one that either Okazaki or Yong Jick cannot handle.

3. Do not switch off. Likelihood 3. While Ehime are not particularly threatening, when they are overlooked, they can strike back in a big way. The perfect examples of this was the recent game against Omiya when they scored 3 goals inside of a few minutes to level the match, as well as the game against Vortis earlier in the year when they hit 4 in a come from behind victory.

Match Prediction

I am feeling slightly more confident than usual this week so I think we see an exciting 3-1 win by FC Ryukyu.

Match Day 40 in J2

(1) Tokushima Vortis will secure promotion with a win over (13) JEF UTD Chiba. And they will win the J2 title if both Avispa Fukuoka and V-Varen Nagasaki lose on on Sunday. (2) Avispa Fukuoka need a lot of help to win the title as that will require Vortis to drop points before they meet, but can Fukuoka can strengthen their promotion push with a win and Nagasaki loss. That will be no easy task for Fukuoka this week as they face a resurgent (6) Kyoto Sanga FC side that has beaten 2 out of the top 3 sides in the table on their way to closing out the season. A win by Nagasaki over (12) Tokyo Verdy, coupled with a loss by Fukuoka, would see them overtake Avispa for the #2 position. It is also the free international broadcast this week.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Khq1RP5FBs

Conclusion

In the past few days Ehime have fired their manager and released their leading scorer, and are probably eagerly anticipating the end of the pain and suffering that 2020 brought them. This is game is a gift wrapped opportunity to grab our 13th win of the season in front of the home crowd. All we need to do is, “get it right back.”

Match Day 7 Report: (17) Ehime FC vs. (21) FC Ryukyu 7/25/20 #FC琉球

Intro

FC Ryukyu traveled to Ehime on Saturday and earned only their third point of the season after a 1-1 draw. Ryukyu remain at the bottom of the J2 table and are still searching for their first win this season. The hard part of all of this is that Ryukyu had several opportunities to get that win, but when shots are just inches wide, it only compounds the growing frustration among the players and staff. In any given season there will always be narrow misses and games that slip away. But when you’re in the midst of a win less drought, desperately seeking a win, those narrow misses have far greater impacts to the squad more than they do the overall standings. Look no further than how Koya Kazama reacted after the final whistle when he brought his hand to his face, and sunk his head into his lap. The effort is there, the results are not. And it is taking a heavy toll on the team.

Match Recap
Man of the Match
Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
Match Day 7 Prediction
Match Day 7 Takeaways
Match Day 7 in J2
Top Goals from Round 7
Conclusion

1. Match Recap

Both teams had great opportunities to win the game, especially FC Ryukyu. The 3 near misses starting with Uesato’s FK inthe 78th minute; Uehara being caught wrong footed from an awkward bounce 8 minutes later, and Yu’s whisker wide miss deep into extra time nearly saw Ryukyu pull this one out.

2. Man of the Match

FC Ryukyu GK Dany Carvajal: The man was playing inspired last night. Possibly due to his drop to the bench for the previous two matches, and was the reason we walked away with a point on Saturday. He made save after save in the opening half that kept us in the game. The goal he did concede was not even his fault as the ball was deflected and changed directions, but he nearly got to it anyways.

3. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

Exploit the Ehime “Brain Farts.” Likelihood 3: The only real “brain fart” I witnessed on Saturday was that of FC Ryukyu on a set piece. After one of our players fell down in an attempt to get the ball back inside the 18-yard box, Ehime were gifted a breakaway on net that led to their only game of the game.

4. Match Day 7 Prediction

I thought we would have gone up there and put on a similar performance we saw the past two rounds. We did not, and it ended 1-1. I predicted 3-1 in favor of Ehime so my overall record now sits at 0-2-5.

5. Match Day 7 Takeaways

1. Shinji Ono started on Saturday but could not finish the game due to an injury to his right knee in the 5^th minute. From what I saw, it doesn’t look good as he was able to put some weight on the leg, but it didn’t look like he could get up to full speed or make any lateral cuts. I would expect a lengthy spell away from the club as he rehabs the knee, and if it is one of the Posterior, Medial, or Lateral ligaments of the knee that was damaged, we may not see Shinji for the remainder of the year. Let’s hope it is not serious.

2. I said in the preview that all I wanted to see was a better performance from the team regardless of the final outcome. And all in all, it was a better performance by Ryukyu. We expected Ehime to have a large number of shots as they are a much better attacking side this season compared to last year, and Ryukyu weathered that storm quite well. It was only the unfortunate set of circumstances on a set piece for Ryukyu that led to the Ehime goal that prevented us from earning our first win.

3. When the team is reeling, and results are waning, you always look for someone in the squad to put the team on their back and pull them up. For me, that is what Abe did on Saturday. There came a point in the match when he looked to take control of the game single handily and do it all himself. However, this is a double-edged sword since sometimes you can lose sight of the larger picture much like missing a player that is wide open on a 2 on 1 situation. But I cannot fault Abe for that as he is our most clinical finisher and he probably scores that goal 9 times out of 10. Unfortunately, we saw the 1 time that he didn’t. But make no mistake, his efforts shortly thereafter set the scene for our equalizer.

4. FC Ryukyu need a better plan for squad rotation heading forward. Uesato, Numata and Abe have played nearly every minute of every game since the restart and they are showing signs of wear and tear. Shinji Ono’s injury will pave the way for some of our younger players to get some playing time but as we’ve seen with Tanaka at RB, maybe we need to put Yamaguchi in at LB to allow Numata some down time. Plus, we need a 3^rd striker from somewhere. Hopefully when the summer transfer window opens up, Ryukyu can sign a few players on loan.

5. I tweeted out prior to the match that I thought this was one of the strongest lineups that FC Ryukyu had put out since the restart. I would’ve liked to see how the pairing of Ono and Abe played out but unfortunately the injury bug bit us and we may never see it. I was shocked to see that we opted to dress 2 defenders (Torikai & Fukui) on Saturday which meant Yamaguchi was dropped from the reserves. While Fukui may not be the greatest defender in the squad, his versatility to play all 4 positions means we could load up on young, fast, and fresh legs on the bench. In that same vein, Higuchi waited way too long to bring on Koizumi at the end; not use his 5^th substitute; and took Koya and Motegi – the pair that scored our only goal – out of the match a little too quickly. Motegi is only 24 and should have the stamina to play the full 90 and he is one of our best players in the attack.

6. Match Day 7 Around J2

https://www.transfermarkt.com/j-league-division-2/startseite/wettbewerb/JAP2

In the much-anticipated match up between Nagasaki and Kyoto, it was Nagasaki getting the better of Kyoto 1-0 which maintains their 4-point lead at the top over Omiya who also won 1-0 on Saturday. Kitakyushu and Fukuoka also won which pushed them farther up the table.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/j-league-division-2/tabelle/wettbewerb/JAP2/saison_id/2019

7. Top Goals from Round 7

1: Akira Toshima from Omiya gets the goal but the whole buildup leading to it, with numerous one touch passes was nice. (1:14)

2: Niigata’s Shion Homma’s rocket shot from outer space (1:00)

3: Daisuke Ishizu of Fukuoka chest down the ball nicely and then delivered a missile. (3:00 mark)

8. Conclusion

We’ve picked a good year to be flailing at the bottom as there is no relegation. But there are problems that require change and a bit of good fortune. The players are pressing hard for that first win and as each defeat and draw pile up, the tension and pressure increase exponentially. It does not matter if Ryukyu win their first game and then go on another 10-game losing streak. All they need right now is the belief that they can win.

“Down in a Hole” Match Day 7 Preview: (19) Ehime FC vs. (22) FC Ryukyu 7/25/20 #FC琉球

Intro

251 days. That is how long it has been since FC Ryukyu last won a competitive football match. That win also happened to come against Ehime FC on the road last year near the end of the season. However, things are much different for both sides as Ehime are much improved while Ryukyu’s current struggle for form has seen their fortunes reversed from last year. We may very well witness another blowout this Saturday barring some major improvements during the layoff between matches for FC Ryukyu.

Weather Forecast
Match Day 6 Recap: FC Ryukyu
Match Day 6 Recap: Ehime FC
Team Previews & Injury Report
Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
Match Day 7 Prediction
Match Day 7 Around J2
Conclusion

1. Weather Forecast

Maybe another wet one with a few showers being called for tomorrow.

2. Match Day 6 Recap: FC Ryukyu

FC Ryukyu controlled large portions of the game, but Renofa Yamaguchi were more clinical in front of goal with their opportunities.

https://fcryukyublog.home.blog/2020/07/20/match-day-6-report-18-renofa-yamaguchi-vs-22-fc-ryukyu-7-18-20-fc%e7%90%89%e7%90%83/

3. Match Day 6 Recap: Ehime FC

Ehime played Kyoto tough though they ended up losing 2-1.

4. Team Previews and Injury Report

Ehime FC. Ehime started fast after the restart by winning 2 games in a row over Tokushima Vortis and Renofa Yamaguchi, and they did so in convincing fashion. They came back from 3 goals down to defeat Vortis 4-3 and then crushed Renofa 3-0 the following week. Since that Renofa match, it has been tough sledding for Ehime.

The goals dried up against stiffer competition but Ehime still performed well during the course of their current 3-game losing streak. Defeats to V-Varen Nagasaki, Fagiano Okayama and Kyoto Sanga FC have derailed the once promising start to their season, though they were a bit unlucky versus Kyoto as they had two late chances to equalize.

FC Ryukyu will see a familiar face in Taishi Nishioka tomorrow and the man has been in bang form since the restart. I believe he has had a hand in 5, if not more, of Ehime’s goals since June. His crosses look deadly and he is scoring goals from inside the opponents 18-yard box with his ability to always find himself in the right place, at the right time. We saw much of the same at the start of last year for Ryukyu by Taishi before his form quickly fell off and he fell out of favor with the current regime. Well he has found a new lease on life and taking every advantage of it.

Ehime get a nice change of pace this week when they welcome in bottom side FC Ryukyu and will look to get back to their winning ways. Nothing stops a losing streak and goalless drought like the worst team in the league visiting your home ground.

Ehime FC Injuries and Suspensions. None to report from their starting 11 or subs they’ve used this season.

FC Ryukyu. Not much to preview. FC Ryukyu have been constantly shuffling their back line and GK in an attempt to stop the bleeding. FC Ryukyu are also struggling for goals at the moment which makes for a lethal combination. While Ryukyu can generate some forward thrust, there is a lack of creativity that seems to stall our attacks once they reach the 18-yard box.

I cannot explain why this phenomenon occurs, only that I hope it goes away soon. Last week I thought the breakout for this side was going to take place. Obviously, it didn’t, and my only hope this week is that the overall performance of the team improves, regardless of the outcome.

FC Ryukyu Injuries and Suspensions: Still no word as to when, or if, Shuto Kawai has returned to training.

5. Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

Maybe I should change the title for this section to, “Keys to Scoring and Not Conceding” for FC Ryukyu.

The Scale: 5- An almost certainty it will occur 4-Fairly-Certain it will happen 3-Somewhat Certain it could happen 2-Very Unlikely it happens 1- Requires a Miracle to happen

1. Exploit the Ehime “Brain Farts.” Likelihood 3: As I mentioned earlier in this article, Ehime have played decent over the course of their past 5 games with the occasional mental lapse and error. The so called “brain fart.” If FC Ryukyu can exploit these, while not making many of their own mistakes, then Ryukyu have a chance at earning a point tomorrow. Make no mistake, FC Ryukyu do not have the firepower to get into a shootout with Ehime so it is imperative we capitalize on any opportunities afforded to us.

6. Match Day 7 Prediction

FC Ryukyu are hemorrhaging an average of 2.6 goals per game over their last 5 and I don’t see that changing tomorrow against Ehime. I believe our hosts will take this one 3-1.

7. Match Day 7 Around J2

This round has some pretty titanic match-ups with 4 teams inside the top 5 squaring off against one another. The biggest one being (1) V-Varen Nagasaki hosting (3) Kyoto Sanga FC.

8. Conclusion

A win sure would be nice as FC Ryukyu currently find themselves “down in a hole” at the bottom of J2. And it is a massive hole they need to dig out of as well. As @J2KantoBites so rightly said on the latest installment of the J-Talk Extra Time podcast, “it is bleak for FC Ryukyu fans when you look at the teams that FC Ryukyu were expected to be surrounded by in the table and there is a realistic possibility that we could finish 15 points behind them come seasons end.”

Nothing to it, but to do it I guess!

“Penultimate Pride Game” Match Day 41 Preview: Ehime FC vs FC Ryukyu 11/16/2019

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.

4 Matches in 8 Days

4 matches in 8 days. FC Ryukyu at home, the Tamagawa Derby, Tokyo Verdy vs Ehime and FC Ryukyu vs Mito Hollyhock in Mito. To all of you who live in mainland, you are lucky to have so much football at your disposal. I saw some amazing football in great venues with great atmospheres this past week. I must admit, the F.C. Tokyo vs Kawasaki Frotnale match was the crown jewel of this adventure, but each match was special.

Saturday July 20^th 2019 FC Ryukyu vs Okayama Fagiano

For those that regularly follow my post on Twitter or have accidentally clicked on my Blog link, you know how this one turned out. FCR had possession, but never scored and Okayama walked all over us.

Sunday July 21^st 2019 FC Tokyo vs Kawasaki Frontale the “Tamagawa Derby”

This match “recharged the soul.” First, I met a great group of guys; Neil, Bob and Matt. All loyal Frontale fans who, just bring it each week and I love their gold chains. Second, I can relate to Neil’s superstitions about where to sit and what to wear, bust most importantly, the order and timing. Third, I honestly thought it would be a bit more “festive” on the way to the pitch but Japanese fans are so respectful. There was no doubt where I was going to sit, the single best experience I’ve had in J1 football with any team was Kawasaki, so it was an easy choice. All eyes on FC Ryukyu, but I’ll turn an eye to our brethren up there when I can.

I entered the stands and wow. The Kawasaki supporters were blasting the FC Tokyo faithful out of the stadium. I think it was 49k maybe more in the Ajinomoto stadium but it was packed and was so uplifting to watch football in that atmosphere. Those that read this and see packed stadiums every week, congrats, those of us that don’t, it is something to behold.

Kawasaki did the job as they beat the home side 3-0 and it wasn’t even that close. Songs, beers, friends and football. It was just awesome.

Saturday July 20^th 2019 Tokyo Verdy vs Ehime FC

Weather suggested it would rain all night so I wore pants. It never rained and felt like 1,000 degrees inside the Ajinomoto on Saturday night. However, I enjoyed some really great football. Verdy went down 2-0 early to Ehime and it looked as if Ehime were going to walk away with the match. But…..Verdy answered with 2 goals of their own and then the eventual winner. The 3-2 score line was enjoyable to watch as a neutral and it was an amazing back and forth game.

Sunday July 21^st 2019 Mito Hollyhock vs FC Ryukyu

First, let me start by saying that the drive through the Japan country side was amazing. I really needed that and it was breathtaking. Second, I met more fans than I expected to thanks to the scheduling of a far away road match for FC Ryukyu fans on a Sunday evening. Third, hats off to Mito supporters and fans; straight class and I am envious at how good you guys do it. The match went as expected in that FC Ryukyu tried but didn’t win. No need to recap the game for those of us that lived it or read the summary anywhere. In closing, I returned home by driving through downtown Tokyo. The tolls were brutal but it was so much fun. I swear, it felt like being on one of the video games I played when I was younger. The music selection I chose in conjunction with the scenery was just surreal.

Whats Next?

FC Ryukyu away vs Niigata, that is what’s next. But not for me. I’ll be enjoying this one from the comfort of my home.

Match Day 3 Recap: FCR 2 – 0 Ehime FC 03/10/2019

Well not the best of weather to draw in the fans but nevertheless FCR was looking to remain perfect on the season and secure a vital 3 points at home vs Ehime FC.

FCR came out in their typical 4-2-3-1 with one noticeable change, absent from the starting lineup and reserves was # 2 Masutani. We must assume he picked up an injury during the last match or training but it is anyone’s guess at this point. Ehime FC elected to switch formations this match and employ a 4-3-3.

Early action saw Ehime attempting to unlock our defense with long through balls that were either headed out or went over the touch line. FCR had a few opportunities early but the attacks fizzled out when FCR was dispossessed near the box. In the 10′ FCR finally broke through by capitalizing on a giveaway to #14 Uejo who made an outstanding run into the box and sent a cross over to #9 Suzuki , who was wide open and would’ve had a brace for the third time in a row, but the cross was deflected slightly by the Ehime defender and the deflection curled around the keeper into the bottom right of the goal. It was very important to score early as it seemed to relax the boys and would mean that Ehime may press a little more than they wanted thus opening themselves up for a counterattack.

The remainder of the half was marked by Carvajal making some nice saves and #7 Nakagawa missing a few golden opportunities to further the FCR lead. At times our defense was getting pulled apart slightly and Ehime had some nice chances on net but one each attempt was sent high or not struck with any power. As expected, Ehime had a lions share of possession with 60% in the first half compared to FCR’s 40%.

The opening minutes of the second half were very pacey and created multiple opportunities for both sides. FCR had two chances early to convert with the most notable from # 5 Tokumoto who just missed. FCR had a bit of a scare in the 51st minute when Ehime broke through our ranks and had that been a better pass to their player, who had to turn the opposite direction instead of hitting him in stride, Ehime may have leveled as he was alone on goal. Carvajal was then called into action in the 54′ to make a a nice save and maintain the FCR lead. Tokumoto sent a couple of dangerous crosses into the box in quick succession shortly thereafter but no one was able to convert either of them into a goal.

In the 75′ minute Tanaka was able to release Suzuki down the middle/left side and Suzuki converted the shot for his J2 league leading 5th goal. Having the 2 goal buffer was very reassuring with just under 15 minutes to play and it also meant the Ehime would have to press if they wished to get back in the game resulting in more scoring opportunities for FCR.

The final nervy moment for FCR was when #10 from Ehime FC, Kamiya, once again bested the FCR defender, #3 Nishioka, and sent a shot into the side netting. The most notable moment after that was the very ambitious effort by #20 Uesato, who tried a long range shot from the halfway line when the Ehime GK was far out from his own goal. Another 12 inches lower and that ball may have gone in but it landed just inside the top netting. The match was a little terse near the end when frustrations boiled over on a very poor challenge from the #10 of Ehime FC on FCR. He kicked out the foot of Nishioka who had possession deep in the Ehime corner and then Nishioka rose up to shove Kamiya. This resulted in both players being yellow carded and hopefully a fine for Kamiya as the replay shows it was a very poor challenge.

At full time FCR 2 – 0 Ehime FC. All 3 points secured and because of the total amount of goals FCR has scored on the season, 9, FCR was once again atop the J2 table.

Some additional game notes: We got our first look at a couple of new faces, at least to me, for FCR this past week. #33 Fukui took over CB duties for Masutani and I must say he looked good. He made a very well timed challenge to stop a Ehime counterattack that could of tied the game and was all over the pitch making plays. He makes a nice pairing with #4 Okazaki and may even press Masutani out of the lineup depending on how the long the latter is dealing with injury. He was noticeably dealing with leg cramps near the end and hopefully his match fitness improves over time as its not even hot in Okinawa yet, wait till summer! We then got to see #13 Kawai come on in place of Uejo and he made some very nice runs down the left side and almost drew a PK near the end that the ref wiped out. Seems like a nice player to bring on late to run at the opposing teams tired defense. #19 Nishikawa and # 19 Ochi also came on late but I didn’t get to see enough of them to make any assessments.

Final Notes about the Match: Ehime ended up controlling the ball for 60% of the match as they intended too but were unable to convert any of their opportunities. There were a few misses and miss hits but Carvajal played exceptionally well. He seems to be in the right place at the right time creating difficult angles for opposing players to navigate. FCR must remain strong at the back if we are to do anything this season. On that note, it wasn’t the best game for Nishioka this week as he was constantly being beat #10 and other players down the left side. A few of those time made for some very tense moments when Ehime was free on net. Ehime focused much of their attack down our left side and if opposing teams continue to target our left side we will need to start dedicating a MF to come back and provide support, thus disrupting our game plan of attack, attack, attack. We will also look to tighten up some of the errant passes in the opponents end and that will surely come in time with the starting 11 of FCR becoming more familiar with one another.

In the end, FCR won and that is the most important thing for this newly promoted J2 team. The “safe zone” to stay in the J2 for the following season the past 5 years has been around 42 points (42-37-43-43-42) and if that is the case this year, FCR are roughly 20% of the way to securing J2 football next season.