Tag: Kofu

(22) FC Ryukyu vs (6) Ventforet Kofu #FC琉球

Intro

Finally some momentum. And this game will be a real test to see how far Ryukyu have progressed as Ventforet Kofu are undefeated in their last four (4) with only one (1) loss in their last eight (8). Kofu, and their fans, definitely come to town with three points on their mind, and why shouldn’t they? They’ve experienced nothing but success against Ryukyu in the past three seasons and now face a Ryukyu side in the midst of a relegation battle. Ryukyu, on the other hand, have done something remarkable by winning two in a row thanks to two clean sheets. Can Ryukyu do the unthinkable and win three games in a row?

Weather Forecast & Match Day Info

Not a bad forecast for it being the height of rainy season in Okinawa.

Click>>>> Match Day 17 Information from FC Ryukyu

Team Previews

FC Ryukyu: For those of you expecting (hoping) FC Ryukyu will win their third game in a row, let me offer this stat. Since they entered the J2 in 2019, Ryukyu have only won three (3) games in a row twice. And yes, you guessed it, those were during the fast start years of 2019 and 2021. Outside of those fast start seasons, and well into the season since that is where we are at the moment, FC Ryukyu have a record of 0-1-6 following a two (2) game winning streak. Not great. But then again, we are in some unchartered territory these days so anything is possible.

If they hope to reverse that trend then they will have to do it against a side in which they’ve only notched one (1) win in the six (6) matches they’ve played. Granted, that lone win did come at home – where this game will be played – but was also inside the early part of last season when FC Ryukyu were beating everyone. A third win in a row largely depends on Ryukyu executing a repeat performance of the last two weeks.

The fact is we need Kusano, Kiyotake, and Ikeda to get into a rhythm as we cannot rely solely on Kusano scoring each match to see out wins because that has happened on several occasions this season, only to be let down by the defending in the end. We need others to step up, especially when we are razor thin at CB these days, so we can continue to take some pressure off the defense. But who? Tanaka cannot fire in crosses from his current position on the bench; we rarely win set pieces – or corners – in dangerous areas; and we rarely get our two central defenders involved on set pieces inside the opposition’s box. I think we need to rethink how we attack teams in order to put us into advantageous situations and not simply rely on luck to see us through. The only thing we have to lose is J2 next year, which should be enough to make us as dangerous as a cornered animal.

Ventforet Kofu: Kofu started the season slow with only one (1) win their opening eight (8) fixtures. Where have I seen that before? Never mind. They then embarked on a four (4) game winning streak that propelled them into the sixth spot of the table. A position, despite some recent wobbles, they still maintain as of match day 17.

Kofu have two (2) wins, two (2) draws, and one (1) loss in the past five (5) matches with wins over Verdy and Gunma; draws with Tochigi and Renofa; and the lone loss suffered at the hands of Mito Hollyhock. One thing that immediately jumps out about this Kofu side is their speed up top and relentless pursuit of rebounds in the box. That kind of makes them a forward leaning side that are extremely vulnerable at the back, which, seems to be the team’s Achilles’ heel at the moment.

Kofu had several moments where they were hitting their opponents on either counter attacks or straight from the center of the pitch with long breakaways. But they also looked extremely poor when playing it out from the back with a bevy of costly turnovers, or simply allowing the opposition to exploit their weakest position in the team. There is no doubt that Ryukyu must respect the speed of Kofu in the attack, but not fear it, because the Ryukyu attack needs to find away to create havoc within the Kofu back line that could lead to turnovers and goals. That also means Ryukyu players in the starting eleven that may not enjoy tracking back in games really need to this game. And since the Kofu attack seems to come in multiple waves, Ryukyu cannot be caught ball watching the initial shot as the on-rushing attackers from Kofu will certainly be there to pounce on any rebound.

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. Take the game to Kofu. Likelihood 3. No frills or messing about here just dictate the terms of play inside the Kofu 18-yard box. We are keen to own loads of possession, yet do very little with it. Change that. Take risks, create chances, ask questions in dangerous areas and let’s see what happens. Otherwise, it is more of the same old drab that got us to where we are right now.

2. Someone steps up in central defense. Likelihood 2. We looked so good to start the season with Nakagawa and Omori in central defense, but that denigrated into something completely different as the season wore on. Perhaps Nakagawa is injured, but we cannot gamble by throwing Makito Uehara to the wolves and think he’ll be OK out there. Yong Jick had a great game last week, but we need consistent performances out of the senior man in defense, not just a singular good game. Ryukyu will have to contend with loads of speed and counter attacks from Kofu, which means defending has to be a total team effort, and we better have the horses out there on Saturday to do it.

Kinain’ Ya Around For Whom the Bell Tolls

Kina gets a bit of a reprieve as he was absent for last weeks win as he will be for this weeks match with Kofu after succumbing to CV-19. However, it still seems that Kina can do no wrong. How he is still here is beyond me. Sure, he was in charge when we won our second game of the season, in week 15! But was it just me or did the entire club enjoy a relaxed, worry free environment last week to earn their third win?

Now humor me as we venture down this loosely cobbled path of logic. We all know that sometimes clubs can experience a bit of a ‘bounce’ when there is a managerial change. Ryukyu saw this last year when we switched from Higuchi to Kina, and we are witnessing it right now with FC Gifu and to some extent, Omiya Ardija when they added Hiromi Hara as head of the Omiya Football headquarters. In the games following these moves, each club experienced a change in fortunes. Some were brief, and some are still going, but how important were those changes for the clubs this season?

In the case of Omiya, it pulled them off the bottom of the table. Something Ryukyu desperately need to do these days. And right now, Ryukyu are in the midst of the slightest of ‘bounces’ with head coach Kazuki Karanuki taking over duties in Kina’s stead. How huge would it be for Ryukyu if we had two, even three (possibly serving as coach for Omiya with such a quick turnaround in fixtures) games with wins and or points? The change may only be temporary, and the bounce brief, but it could be enough to pull us up a little bit and provide vindication that a change in manager is needed. This is especially true if Ryukyu go straight back into the trash bin upon Kina’s return. Just saying, think about it.

Round 17 in J2

We all know that the real excitement in any season is watching how the relegation battle plays out, bit of recency bias down here these days for sure, and not just the boring promotion race (though I do miss that dearly) where a couple of teams pull far away from the pack. The sheer look of disappointment and frustration written across many teams, coaches and their fan’s faces make the battle for survival all the better. However, I should mention that there is a very nice top of the table tilt between (3) Albirex Niigata and (2) Yokohama FC this week that could see those teams swap positions or YFC extend their lead to six (6) points in the automatic promotion zone.

With that out of the way, let’s take a look at those teams struggling at the foot of the table. (19) Tochigi SC, who haven’t won in nine (9) games, travel to (11) Tokushima Vortis. Vortis are coming of consecutive losses (1 in J2, 1 in the Levain Cup), are looking to rebound, and are the best defensive side in the table based on goals allowed while Tochigi is one of the worst scoring sides in J2. (20) Omiya Ardija host (1) Vegalta Sendai after losing to Iwate in the midweek while down their starting GK. Omiya will have played two (2) games inside of a week when Ryukyu come to town so perhaps they rest some players (aka rollover) in order to prepare for the all important 6-pointer with FC Ryukyu next Wednesday. Perhaps Ryukyu does the same this week??

Then there is (21) Iwate Grulla Morioka, who usurped FC Ryukyu in the standings with their 1-0 win on the road at Omiya on Wednesday and who travel to (17) FC Mito Hollyhock. Prior to that victory Iwate were on a seven (7) game losing streak and now they face a Mito side who has won (3) out of their last six (6) games. Omiya and Ryukyu have the toughest path to points this week with Tochigi a close second, followed by Iwate who looked far better against Omiya than they have in recent weeks. But that’s just it, teams down here always seem to look good against each other, which needs to be taken with a grain of salt when jumping to conclusions for any side at the bottom.

The free broadcast this week will feature (8) Blaublitz Akita hosting (9) Tokyo Verdy. This will be Verdy’s fourth appearance on the free broadcast this month, with still two (2) more to go. Perhaps Verdy can make it three consecutive losses in a row on the channel. Click>>>> J.League Int’l YouTube.

Conclusion

I am glad we won our first home game of the season last week as weekly blog entries felt more like obituaries than posts in recent months. But now we need do something different, and that is to win a third game in a row deep into a season marked by strife and setbacks. I’ll be there, the Ryukyu Army will be there, will you join us in spirit?

Match Day 10 Recap: (2) FC Ryukyu vs (7) Ventforet Kofu 4/25/21 #FC琉球

Photo Credit: @cafedecampnou

Intro

Ryukyu shook off their first loss of the season by defeating Ventforet Kofu for the first time in the team’s history 2-0 on Sunday evening. A late, some might say controversial, goal by Ren Ikeda in the 90th minute was all that Ryukyu needed to see out the three points. The win keeps FC Ryukyu three points above Kyoto in the automatic promotion slot while also restoring some of the confidence that may have been lost at Machida.

  1. Match Highlights
  2. Man of the Match
  3. Review of the Keys to Victory
  4. Prediction
  5. Talking Points
  6. Round 10 in J2
  7. Conclusion

1. Match Day Highlights

2. Man of the Match

FC Ryukyu Mid Fielder Kazumasa Uesato: Kaz was one of Ryukyu’s better passing players and it was his initiative to try a long distance chip over the Kofu goal keeper that led to the Ikeda goal on the ensuing corner kick.

3. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Defend the left, but watch the right on quick counters. Likelihood 3. Yes. Ryukyu seemed aware of how Kofu prefers to break down their opponents, and though Kofu had many cracks at the Ryukyu goal from the left, Ryukyu held firm.

2. Take the attack of life support and give it a jolt with a defibrillator. Likelihood 2. Sort of. It was much better than the last effort but still lacks punch.

3. Play like you’re the second-best team in the league, because you are. Likelihood 3. Indeed. Ryukyu put in a much better shift this weekend compared to the midweek at Machida. The defense was back in fine form and they secured their 6th clean sheet of the season.

4. Prediction

I tipped Kofu to take this game 2-1 and I am happy to take the L this round. Season Record 5-1-4.

5. Talking Points from Match Day 10

1. Dodging some bullets. Kofu had 3 clear cut chances to take the lead in the first half and Ryukyu were a bit lucky to escape that half level. Kofu’s first shot from a corner kick just happened to be directly at Koya Kazama who was in the right place at the right time to prevent a goal. I don’t think Taguchi would’ve been able to get down to that low hard shot headed for the corner. Ryukyu then got pulled apart on some quick passes by Kofu which allowed a free look on net for the Kofu attacker who luckily sent it right towards Taguchi. The third chance was a corner kick where the Kofu attacker either missed timed his jump, or was just slightly out of position, for which he had a free header at the Ryukyu back post.

2. Limited shots on net. Ryukyu have been getting by with limited shots on target while playing some stout defense. It didn’t work out at Zelvia and when they run into tougher competition that can light up the scoreboard, they will need to do more. Ryukyu had 1 shot on target in the first half, and it was a good one from Shintaro Shimizu, but only managed 3 total shots in the second half, all of which occurred in a span of 30 seconds. The Uesato long distance chip, the initial header from the corner kick from the chip and the rebound shot from Ikeda for the goal. Otherwise, there was roughly 51 minutes of zero shots on goal by Ryukyu in the second half.

3. Ryukyu responded well to their first loss. It was a much better performance as a whole as the passing was better and Ikeda played a much better game compared to the one at Zelvia. It won’t always be pretty when Ryukyu need to exorcise some ghosts of years past and the win was hugely significant for their promotion hopes. At lease we have seen how Ryukyu can respond in the face of adversity to avoid some of those long losing streaks we’ve become accustomed to here in Okinawa.

4. A matter of opinion on whether or not you feel Okazaki interfered with Okanishi on the Ikeda goal. I think we’ve all see similar plays called as a foul, and while it may sound a bit bias, I didn’t think there was much there from Okazaki to warrant a call. It almost seemed as if the Kofu keeper was playing for the foul instead of the ball. The ugly scenes that unfolded after the goal were not good as the entire Kofu bench surrounded the linesman in a last ditch effort to reverse the goal and the referee was always going to issue a yellow card to the Kofu keeper who was probably posturing to add more time inside of extra time.

6. Round 10 in J2

Albirex Niigata maintained their grip on the top slot by beating Ehime FC 2-0 in the lone Saturday game. Kyoto Sanga FC continues to put some distance between themselves and 4th placed Iwata with a 2-0 win at Renofa. Iwata, Nagasaki and Kofu all suffered some set backs this round while Zelvia and Akita bagged some nice wins.

Transfermarkt

7. Conclusion

Ryukyu move on to face SC Sagamihara this weekend before a massive 6-point tilt with Kyoto the following Wednesday. Often times teams may overlook their next opponent knowing that the following opponent is much tougher with match having more at stake. Ryukyu cannot afford to overlook SC Sagamihara this week as a wobble there will pile on even more pressure for Ryukyu against Kyoto. It was great to see Ryukyu get back to the brand of football that has given them the most success this season, but there is still room for improvement as they near the quarter mark of the season.

Match Day 10 Preview: (2) FC Ryukyu vs (6) Ventforet Kofu 4/25/21 #FC琉球

Intro

The big thing on everyone’s mind this weekend is how will FC Ryukyu respond to their first loss of the season. Ryukyu’s 8 game undefeated streak was snapped this past Wednesday at Machida with an uninspiring performance where the offense went missing for long stretches of time. Kofu enter Round 10 with a 3 game undefeated streak following a win in the midweek and two previous draws and have had their way with Ryukyu every single time. FC Ryukyu have never earned a single point off of Kofu in the four matches they have played in the J2.

  1. Weather Forecast & Match Day Info
  2. Previous Match Highlights
  3. Team Previews
    • FC Ryukyu
    • Ventforet Kofu
  4. Keys to Victory
  5. Prediction
  6. Round 10 in J2
  7. Conclusion

1. Weather Forecast & Match Day Information from FC Ryukyu

Favorable weather is in the forecast as the typhoon that was milling about Okinawa on Friday and Saturday has now moved on.

With the surge of COVID-19 cases in Japan, and a modified State of Emergency here in Okinawa, clubs, including FC Ryukyu, as well as those in the hardest hit areas of Japan, are not allowing visiting fans into games, and possibly no fans at all in some areas. News of “playing behind closed doors” for many of the clubs in the Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo has been floating around the Japanese media today and it looks as if this is where the entire J-League is heading. Be safe and do your part to limit the spread of CV-19 at any match you intend to attend.

Click>>> Match Day 10 Information from FC Ryukyu

2. Previous Match Highlights

FC Machida Zelvia 3-0 FC Ryukyu
Ventforet Kofu 2-0 SC Sagamihara

3. Team Previews

FC Ryukyu: Wednesday’s game was a let down for many of the Ryukyu faithful as it was such a steep drop off in performance by Ryukyu when compared to their first 8 games. There were breakdowns in passing, attacks and communication all over the pitch which led to the drubbing at the hands of Zelvia. Basically, nothing worked all night. Ryukyu has relied heavily on defense and the strength of their goalkeeping throughout the year but when that too failed, Ryukyu were done in.

We’ve discussed on several occasions for how Ryukyu utilize crosses from the fullbacks and midfielders to score goals. Though they tried mightily do conduct the same tactic at Zelvia, Zelvia was able to sure up the back line with up to 5 defenders at a time which restricted the runs of any of the Ryukyu attackers. It didn’t help that some runs weren’t even being made to get onto the end of crosses by Ryukyu, and it also didn’t help that when they did make these runs they were often missed by the player in possession. There were far to many lateral and backwards passes on Wednesday with no real thrust made on net by the offense.

Higuchi kept the same lineup from the win over Verdy the previous weekend but did use all 5 substitutes in an attempt to change up the flow of the game. Obviously it didn’t pay off and now Higuchi and Ryukyu are faced with enacting some sort of squad rotation for the Kofu match as some players looked tired at the end of the Machida game. It starts near the top as Kazaki Nakagawa has finally featured for the first time all season and with a drop in the play from Ikeda this week, it might be a good time to see what Nakagawa can add to the attack from the start of a game.

There shouldn’t be any changes to the back four though Numata could definitely use a breather. That means Higuchi should deviate from his normal stance of dressing 4 forwards, Abe, Uehara, Akamine and Shimizu, and consider dressing Motegi (MF) and possibly Reo Yamashita (LB) to spell the tired legs of our players. Ryukyu gambled at Zelvia by sticking with the lineup they’ve played all season and it simply didn’t pay off. Now they need to adjust slightly in the short time between games so as to avoid fatigue, burnout and risk of injury to some of the senior players in the squad.

In any event, what is needed is a massive injection of offense. Abe continues to execute the hold up play that makes him a vital cog in the Ryukyu offense, but isn’t getting the service a striker of his quality deserves. Kofu has scored 6 goals over their last 3 games and while the defense and Taguchi need to regain a bit of the confidence that was lost this past round, the offense needs to switch on and carry the load for Ryukyu this game.

Ventforet Kofu: Kofu enter this round on a slight upward trajectory compared to Ryukyu who are attempting to arrest their recent slide in the midweek. Kofu have an impressive four wins from four over Ryukyu in their recent history. Kofu was the side that ended Ryukyu’s home undefeated streak in 2019 and have outscored Ryukyu 10-3 in all the games played between the two sides.

Kofu started the year fast by drawing once and then winning three in a row. Then they ran into some tougher competition in Machida Zelvia and V-Varen Nagasaki where they lost twice in a row. They got back on track with two consecutive draws with Giravanz Kitakyushu and Matsumoto Yamaga FC before grabbing their first win in a month when they beat SC Sagamihara on Wednesday.

Kofu faced many of the same problems that Ryukyu did in their match with Machida with their attack being completely snuffed out. They allowed a quick goal to Nagasaki before pulling one back on a nice back post set piece but after ringing the post a few times, Kofu allowed Nagasaki to score from a set piece near the end of the game. Kofu took the lead over Kitakyushu on a fast break where Izumisawa rounded the keeper but returned the favor to Kitakyushu by allowing them to execute their own fast break leading to the equalizer. Kofu came close a few times to netting the winner but either hit the post or narrowly missed the target from close range.

In the rain soaked match at Yamaga, Kofu found themselves down early but equalized in the 16th minute and followed it up with another excellent back post header from a set piece. They then added a third goal just four minutes later. Everything was looking good while leading 3-1 but some panicky defending led to a Yamaga goal and then it was Kofu’s turn to have their keeper rounded on a fast break where Kunimoto Suzuki grabbed his third goal of the game which resulted in a draw. The two first half goals by Kofu were all they needed to swipe aside Sagamihara in the midweek.

While the box scores may indicate Kofu have turned a corner and are headed in the right direction, if we take a close look at the last five games there is a bit of pattern that may boost Ryukyu’s chances. The losses were suffered at the hands of two teams currently in the top half of the table with each of the draws were come from behind where Kofu allowed their opponents back into the match. SC Sagamihara sit near the bottom of the table so that is in line with the results that Kofu have achieved to date. But the script for this match reads much like the past match at Zelvia for Ryukyu so it may provide a little confidence to Kofu.

4. 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. Defend the left, but watch the right on quick counters. Likelihood 3. A vast majority of Kofu’s attacks flow through the left side of their offense, primarily Izumisawa. He has orchestrated many of the crosses, or has taken part in the build up play, that have led to Kofu’s goals. When on the counter attack Kofu streak quickly down the right so Numata is going to have fitness test on Sunday if Kofu breakout of any Ryukyu press. It will also require the CBs and MFs to keep a close eye on their marks as those players drift towards the back post, when Kofu is in possession down the left, as this is their signature goal these days.

2. Take the attack of life support and give it a jolt with a defibrillator. Likelihood 2. Ryukyu have scored 4 goals in their last 4 games but have been shutout twice in that time. We really need to get Abe firing again and that means better passing in the attacking end and acting like more of a threat across all three attacking lanes. Perhaps Nakagawa can breathe some life into the side, especially as the Ryukyu last line of defense was so easily penetrated last round.

3. Play like you’re the second-best team in the league, because you are. Likelihood 3. It’s all about confidence right now. May have lost it for a bit but it is time to regain that swagger that netted us five wins in a row and eight games undefeated. Let’s brush off the recent loss and get back to winning football.

5. Prediction

Considering that Kofu haven’t scored less than 2 goals in any game against Ryukyu but just once, and with their recent goal scoring outbursts, coupled with Ryukyu’s goal scoring drought and overall poor record against Kofu, it is hard to tip Ryukyu as winners this week. Hoping for a better outcome but not making the same mistake I did in the midweek to a similar type of opponent. Kofu win 2-1. Season Record 5-1-3.

6. Round 10 in J2

Times Listed are in JST

The lone Saturday game should be a good one. (1) Albirex Niigata, fresh off their last minute equalizer, travel to a resurgent (16) Ehime FC who haven’t lost since their managerial change. (3) Kyoto Sanga, (4) Jubilo Iwata and (5) Zweigen Kanazawa, and to some extent, (6) Ventforet Kofu have favorable matchups to exploit the promotion race.

It will be (22) Matsumoto Yamaga FC hosting (13) Thespakusatsu Gunma on the free J-League broadcast this round.

Click>>> LIVE | Matsumoto Yamaga F.C. vs Thespakusatsu Gunma | Matchweek 10 | 2021 | J2 LEAGUE – YouTube

7. Conclusion

As Ryukyu near the quarter mark of the season there are still some questions for which we need answers. Mainly, can the offense get going? As noted earlier it will be interesting to see how Ryukyu respond to their first setback of the season against a team that has always had the better of Ryukyu, so let’s hope for a positive response on Sunday.

Match Day 31 Recap: (6) Ventforet Kofu vs (18) FC Ryukyu 11/4/20 #FC琉球

Intro

The fourth consecutive loss in a row to Ventforet Kofu was a bitter pill to swallow last night. The fact that many of the top teams show little respect to FC Ryukyu, and why should they, by playing “second stringers,” coupled with our inability to produce any results against these weakened squads, is tough to deal with as a fan.

Ryukyu survived an early barrage (and by that I mean Dany Carvajal) from Kofu but ultimately, the deciding goal in the second half came off a deflection from both Yong Jick and Suzuki (befitting of this team I guess). After the Kofu goal, FC Ryukyu pressed hard but the closest they would come to an equalizer was a shot off the wood work by Numata.

Match Day 31 Highlights

Source:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmjubrtPJr8
Source: https://www.transfermarkt.com/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3467933

Man of the Match

FC Ryukyu: Dany Carvajal. Dany was far and away our best player last night and once again rose to the challenge put in front of him. He was pressed into service very early on and made three nice saves to keep the score level. He got a bit of luck when a shot rifled past him and hit the post but was not so lucky when a series of deflections, which he got his toe too as well, made it into the net. His play has really elevated since that random benching 3 games ago and is so crucial if FC Ryukyu wish to surpass their point tally from 2019.

Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Have some early Success. Likelihood 3. Indeed we did as we frustrated Kofu’s attack early and created a few chances of our own outside of the large spells of possession by Kofu in the first half.

2. Ruffle the Feathers of Kofu. Likelihood 2. There were some visible cracks but no major breaks in the emotions of Kofu. Dudu got a little worked up in the second half and it was refreshing to see the referee wave off Dudu’s dive near the end of the match.

3. Catch Kofu Napping. Likelihood 4. We did not as some of the players that Kofu started yesterday were of the reserve caliber which meant they were giving it their all to impress the manager.

4. Score from Dead Ball Set Pieces. Likelihood 2. Well we didn’t score so it is a big no for this one. Though Ryukyu did have plenty of opportunities to score from set pieces yesterday.

Match Day 31 Prediction

I said 2-0 to Kofu so I have to be somewhat pleased that it didn’t reach that score line but still disappointed that FC Ryukyu did not get their first ever point against Kofu.

Match Day 31 Takeaways

1. The play of Yong Jick. There were the inexcusable turnovers in our own end in the early part of the game when Kofu was pressing hard for a goal and dominating the possession. And then there was the lackadaisical effort throughout much of the match when it came to putting in challenges and then recovering back to his spot after he missed the challenge and was out of position. I started to hone in on Yong Jick after I saw him gingerly jogging back to the box after he whiffed on a challenge and then so many more incidents like that came to light.

It is not fair to Dany to have to endure Yong Jick playing in front of him, and not fair to this team with 10 other players giving it their all. Talent can get you so far in this game, but so can effort. The perfect example is Tanaka who never played RB in his life and has transformed himself into an integral part of this team within a short span by simply giving maximum effort.

I hope these remaining 11 games are the last we see of a player who is solely relying on name brand recognition to maintain employment.

2. Koizumi’s introduction late in the game swung the momentum in the direction of Ryukyu. Maybe Higuchi realized that Kofu were going to press us early and that Koizumi’s fresh legs would take advantage of some tired Kofu legs late on. Whatever the case, Koizumi was electric on the ball and should have been apart of the first substation in the 62’ minute instead of the 77′ with so little time left to play and assert his influence.

3. Tanaka made a welcome return to the lineup. It is good to see one of our better players get some limited action so he can get back to full match fitness for a brutal November slate of games.

4. Kawai is struggling for form. There is no way to sugar coat this, he hasn’t looked like the player we saw last year or even at the start of the season back in February. It is possible that he doesn’t fully trust his body after a lengthy spell away with an ankle injury but whatever the case, we are not seeing that sudden burst and blistering pace we’ve become accustomed too from Kawai. It maybe time to start Motegi at LM, but seeing how Motegi didn’t even feature last night, I am starting to believe the effects of CV19 are lingering on for this talented player.

Match Day 31 in J2

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

V-Varen Nagasaki was unable to make up any ground on leaders Tokushima and Fukuoka as all 3 of the tops sides won this Wednesday.

Source: https://www.transfermarkt.com/j-league-division-2/tabelle/wettbewerb/JAP2/saison_id/2019
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEwv98wqfj4
  • For all you international readers, check the J-League International Channel in a few days for all the goals of Round 31 in J2.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmQp6ZaAejJKKkXc_Y_lh1A

Conclusion

Ventforet Kofu have now become the fourth team this year to defeat FC Ryukyu twice, joining JEF UTD Chiba, Albirex Niigata, and Montedio Yamagata. I thought that FC Ryukyu had a good shot at earning at least a point yesterday, and nearly did if not for thee woodwork, but those are the breaks sometimes. Time to shrug this one off and regroup for the match against 21st place, Renofa Yamaguchi, this Sunday so as to avoid Renofa becoming the fifth team this year to defeat FC Ryukyu twice.

“Head Games” Match Day 31 Preview: (6) Ventforet Kofu vs. (18) FC Ryukyu 11/4/20 #FC琉球

Intro

Here we are once again, nearly a full year removed, from FC Ryukyu trying to derail Ventforet Kofu’s promotion dreams once more. The last time FC Ryukyu tried to accomplish this feat, we had to do so with a severely depleted squad after having already secured our place in the table safe from relegation and ended up losing 2-0. But things are a little different these days. Kofu do not possess nearly the same firepower they had last year when Utaka was leading the line. FC Ryukyu have retained the services of many of their quality players, who for the most part, are relatively healthy and match fit. And then there is rigors of the reshuffling of the schedule due to CV19. I take no joy in playing the role of spoiler, as I’d much rather be looking down at teams in the table, but you make the best of what you got.

Match Day 30 Recap: Ventforet Kofu vs Tochigi SC (0-0)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kQsjfb1nVM

Match Day 30 Recap: FC Ryukyu vs Omiya Ardija (3-0)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbt-yVbtPhA

Team Previews

Ventforet Kofu: Kofu enter match day 31 having won 3 out of their previous 5 games that included victories over Kitakyushu, Tokushima and Zelvia. Their only loss came at the hands of Gunma while they played to a 0-0 draw against Tochigi SC this past weekend. Kofu are rounding into form at just the right time after having suffered a winless spell of 7 games during the months of September and October. They will need to continue their strong play as they currently sit 13 points outside of the top two promotion spots, but the upcoming schedule sets up well for Kofu.

Over the next four rounds, Kofu will play teams in the bottom half of the table starting with FC Ryukyu this Wednesday followed by Omiya, Mito and then Ehime before facing Iwata, Kyoto and Yamagata in quick succession this month. 12 points from these next four games would provide a massive boost to their promotion ambitions and set them up nicely to gain ground at the expense of those teams around them in the table later.

FC Ryukyu: Fresh off a 3-0 road victory over Omiya, FC Ryukyu will look to continue their momentum against 6th place Ventforet Kofu. In their previous 3 meetings with Kofu, FC Ryukyu have suffered three defeats while being outscored 9-3. While FC Ryukyu have got back to winning ways of late, 3 wins in their last 4 matches, Kofu will be a stiff test on a short week with a lot of travel mixed in for FC Ryukyu.

Abe continues his march to the J2 Golden boot with a pair of goals this past round brining his season total to 13. Good enough for 3rd overall and 6 behind leader Peter Utaka of Kyoto Sanga FC. Abe has been a rock for Ryukyu this season as he has featured in 28 out of the 30 games the club has played this year. He rarely seems to tire and continues to display his ability to create time and space for shots.

Koya Kazama also seems to be in good form by following up his goal against Kyoto Sanga FC with 2 assists against Omiya. Both Koya and Abe will need to be on point this week as Ryukyu have always had a difficult time penetrating the Kofu back line.

Outside of our top two scorers Abe and Koya, FC Ryukyu will need to energize the remaining mid-filed combinations of Ikeda, Kawai, Koizumi and Motegi. In the case of Motegi, he has yet to score or provide an assist, since his return from COVID-19. I hope he is no longer experiencing the effects of the disease but he has been used primarily as a substitute since his return in September. He could provide a much needed boost to the attack if/when he gets back to his pre-CV19 form.

Last week’s paring of Yong Jick and Suzuki at CB worked well enough to shut down the Omiya attack though Omiya was able to get several dangerous shots off through the middle of the defense last week. It was only due to the excellent play of Dany Carvajal that none of those shots found the back of the net.

Finally, Keita Tanaka was able to return to the bench this round as an unused substitute and in his place, Makito Uehara scored his first ever goal for the club. As I’ve said on several occasions, he is a raw talent that needs match experience and coaching in order to develop into a top player for this club. Personally, I feel he is better suited at CDM than RB with his size/speed combination.

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

Let’s state the obvious first.

-Kofu’s strengths, both in the attack and defense, line up well with the weaknesses of FC Ryukyu.

1. Have some early Success. Likelihood 3. While a goal or two would be nice, success could come in the form of creating quality chances, challenging the Kofu goalie with well aimed shots, or stifling the Kofu attack. We’ve seen what happens to the Ryukyu attack if it cannot find any shooting lanes or generate any real pressure and momentum early. It simply stalls out. This maybe the only time that I advocate trying some shots from distance as Kofu can defend decently in and around their box. And no, I am not talking about the Yong Jick postage stamp shot from 50 yards out.

2. Ruffle the Feathers of Kofu. Likelihood 2. As far as I could tell in their highlights, Kofu plays with much more visible emotion than most sides. This could work in favor of Ryukyu if they are able to take advantage of any misfires and mistakes from Kofu. Remember, Kofu is in the midst of a promotion push whereas Ryukyu have nothing but pride left to play for in 2020. Though I wish the roles were reversed, it is what it is at this point.  The easiest thing to do is to frustrate a side, who is under massive pressure to win, by getting under their skin. I’d deploy Chinen or Suzuki in place of Yong Jick to mark Dudu, and while not aiming to hurt the player, put in a few hard fouls to get him off his game. Even a Tanaka “professional foul” would work as Dudu seems like a player to react and lash out to that type of treatment. You could always swap out a defender later at the expense of disrupting the engine of the Kofu attack by getting him off his game.

3. Catch Kofu Napping. Likelihood 4. Kofu are one of those sides that seem to play down or up to the level of their competition. The most recent loss to Gunma indicates as much. FC Ryukyu must be clinical on whatever opportunities are afforded to them on Wednesday as this could force Kofu’s hand to press for the equalizer or winner late on and really open things up.

4. Score from Dead Ball Set Pieces. Likelihood 2. Kofu are very adept at seeing out low scoring affairs since they’ve only scored more than 2 goals this season on 4 occasions and yet sit 6th in the table. This game could very well be decided by a set piece and hopefully FC Ryukyu can convert one or two of them for goals.

Match Day 31 Prediction

There are a handful of teams in J2 that always seem to have FC Ryukyu’s number. In the 3 meetings with Kofu; FC Ryukyu surrendered a 2 goal lead for a 5-2 loss; closed out 2019 with a less than full squad resulting in a 2-0 loss; and scored their only goal against Kofu this year from the penalty spot. It’s hard to see FC Ryukyu getting over their woes against Kofu this year and this one is likely to end 2-0 in favor of the hosts.

Round 31 in J2

Tokushima Vortis hosting Jubilo highlights this round and it will also be the free YouTube broadcast on the J-League International YouTube channel.

Source:https://www.transfermarkt.com/j-league-division-2/startseite/wettbewerb/JAP2
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsqUUwnU0c0

Conclusion

There can be no doubt that Kofu are a stronger side compared to FC Ryukyu as their record and place in the table highlight that very point. When facing a strong side on the road, after a rigorous season filled with ridiculous amounts of travel in very short succession, the match is no longer a test of strength, but rather a test of wits.

So, how can FC Ryukyu overcome some of the issues that have tormented them in their previous three games against Kofu and achieve their first every victory over their opponent? Well for that, I’ll reference the Cooper Color Code of the Combat Mindset.

Source: https://kravmagamindset.wordpress.com/2018/05/30/coopers-color-code-and-the-combat-mindset/#:~:text=Cooper’s%20original%20code%20consisted%20of,to%20include%20Gray%20and%20Black.

Both Ryukyu and Kofu will start out in the YELLOW state at kickoff but Ryukyu need to propel Kofu into the RED and then BLACK categories, skipping over ORANGE quickly, by thwarting Kofu’s attack and agitating some of their more emotional players. Think stuff like this doesn’t occur in sports? Just think about how well Diego Costa would frustrate many of the Arsenal players during his time at Chelsea. It emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence, and is an area I think Ryukyu could exploit.

As I stated earlier, Kofu have it all to lose while FC Ryukyu do not have nearly as much at stake on Wednesday night. It is time that we play some “Head Games” with Kofu instead of trying to match them strength for strength.

Come on Boys!

Match Day 11 Review: (18) FC Ryukyu vs. (7) Ventforet Kofu 8/12/20 #FC琉球

Intro

Have you ever let a soda/pop/cola sit out for a long time and then tried to drink it? It lost its carbonation or fizz right? The same thing could be said about FC Ryukyu’s attack on Wednesday. Kofu Manager, Akira Ito, made a gamble when he left many of his best players at home and it simply paid off. FC Ryukyu were denied their first home win of the season by once again failing to fire in front of goal.

  1. Match Recap
  2. Man of the Match
  3. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
  4. Match Day Prediction
  5. Match Day 11 Takeaways
  6. Round 11 in J2
  7. Top Goals from Round 11
  8. Conclusion

1. Match Recap

2. Man of the Match

Ventforet Kofu Akira Ito: Dude gambled on a less than full strength lineup and got the win.

3. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Own the Flanks. Likelihood 4: Not even close. Kofu defended well, learned their lessons from previous matches and we failed to break them down.

2. Defend set pieces with some tenacity. Likelihood 2: Nope! Kofu’s first goal came from a CK.

4. Match Day Prediction

I said 2-1 to Ryukyu, could’ve been, but it was 2-1 Kofu. 1-2-8.

5. Match Day 11 Takeaways

  1. I often wondered why we couldn’t pick Yong Jick out on CK/Set Pieces but it is not a matter of bad delivery. Oh no sir. It is a case of pure desire, or the lack there of. Watching him on set pieces on both ends of the pitch it is obvious that he either gives zero effort, or is incapable of joining in on the fray. This “Gentle Giant” is becoming more of a liability more than an asset.
  2. FC Ryukyu struggled to break down the Kofu defense. The trend of pulling up and out on the attack continued and resulted in a lackluster 7 shots on Wednesday. Only 1 of those registered on goal and that was Abe’s PK. Whatever the formation, these guys need a sense of aggressiveness instilled in them., and some creativity to break down the opposition’s defense. Higuchi even stated as much in the post match magazine for FC Ryukyu.

6. Round 11 in J2

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

Not much to update as not many changed position but there were some exciting matches that came down to some last minute goals.

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

7. Best Goals Round 11

There were some nice ones in this lot. But there can only be 3. And good thing as there are ads every 3 minutes in this video.

#1 Omiya’s Oyama from waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay downtown. (1:08)

#2 Junihino for Kyoto with a quick turn and perfectly weighted chip from distance. (0:00)

#3 Jubilo’s Ito with his own long-range effort.

8. Conclusion

Well, not much else to add. Regroup and move on. See you soon.

“Turn ‘Em Loose” Match Day 11 Preview: (17) FC Ryukyu vs. (8) Ventforet Kofu 8/12/20 #FC琉球

Intro

FC Ryukyu will host their third mid-week match of the season tomorrow when they welcome in Ventforet Kofu. If you recall, it was Kofu who ended FC Ryukyu’s 36 game home unbeaten run last year and then defeated us 2-0 at their place on the final day of the 2019 season. Both teams enter the match with winning streaks with each looking to get their first home (FC Ryukyu), and first road (Kofu), win of the season. One note, this game will be played behind “closed doors” as the CV-19 virus continues to rage here in Okinawa.

  1. Weather Report
  2. Match Day 10 Recap: FC Ryukyu
  3. Match Day 10 Recap: Ventforet Kofu
  4. Team Previews & Injury Report
  5. Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
  6. Match Prediction
  7. Match Day 11 in J2
  8. Conclusion

1. Weather Report

A very pleasant evening to watch football. Too bad there will be no fans there to enjoy it.

2. Match Day 10 Recap: FC Ryukyu

https://fcryukyublog.home.blog/2020/08/10/match-day-10-review-16-tokyo-verdy-vs-17-fc-ryukyu-8-8-20-fc%e7%90%89%e7%90%83/

3. Match Day 10 Recap: Ventforet Kofu

4. Team Previews & Injury Report

The 2020 debut of everyone’s favorite Big Board

FC Ryukyu: The boys showed some grit and determination last week against Verdy where they were able to earn a win thanks in part to a foolish penalty in the box by a Verdy defender late in the game. Ryukyu had plenty of chances to take the lead in this game with the most notable being the Ren Ikeda header that hit the post from a corner kick.

FC Ryukyu made a switch back to the 4-1-4-1 after sustaining injuries to Ono and Koki in addition to Shunsuke Motegi testing positive for CV-19. The change really allows FC Ryukyu to develop forward thrust but they need to be better with their finishing. Oddly enough, Higuchi opted to bring only two attacking players with him last week in Kawai and Uehara as he dressed three defenders that went as unused substitutes. Perhaps he is giving a break to Koizumi for the short week where he can maximize his speed but that is Ryukyu’s only other healthy mid fielder in the reserves at the moment.

Abe started the match a bit off his game as he was guilty of several missed passes and turnovers but quickly turned things around in the second half. Another player displaying excellent work rates and skill is Keita Tanaka who has been simply on fire after his switch to Right Back.

After two matches as a substitute, I think we may see Kawai make his first start since the opening round back in February. It is time Higuchi allows Kawai, Koizumi and Ikeda to start together for the first time all year. And by that I mean, “to turn ’em loose” on the opposition. But with five games in fifteen days for Ryukyu it is anyone’s guess as to how Higuchi will rotate the squad.

FC Ryukyu Injuries & Suspensions: Lengthy spells on the sidelines for Shinji Ono and Koki Kazama who are dealing with injuries to their knees as well as Okazaki who tore a tendon in his leg. No indication that Motegi or Chinen have been cleared to resume training after their positive CV19 tests.

Ventforet Kofu: The best way I can sum up Kofu is that you know what you’re going to get every time. They will have their peaks and valleys that include some beautiful goals and breakdowns at the back. They seemed to display a penchant for this last year before finally turning it on late in the season for the playoff push.

They completely came apart against Verdy last month, which happened to be the last time they lost, before defeating Omiya and JEF at home the following weeks. They have since gone on to draw against Mito, Yamaguchi, and Fukuoka. Their most recent three games were without one of their most important players, Dudu, who did not feature. To be honest, they should’ve lost to Mito but were saved by an incorrect offside call before finally surrendering the equalizer shortly thereafter.

A majority of the goals that Kofu scored the past six matches stemmed from set pieces or broken plays resulting in favorable rebounds. That is not to say they didn’t score any goals from open play but that is what stuck out to me when watching their highlights. In defense, the trend seems to be exposing the back three defenders when the two wing backs/mid fielders fail to track back or mark players properly thus leaving gaping holes for attackers to exploit. It often results with a look of confusion on the faces of the defenders, rather than anger, as they cannot fathom how things transpired to lead to an opponents goal.

While I fully expect Kofu to come to Okinawa and curl the back of our net once, maybe twice, they can get caught out in the counter attack by the speed of the Ryukyu players.

Ventforet Kofu Injuries & Suspensions: There are no injuries to any of the starters or players that have featured this season though strangely enough Dudu hasn’t made an appearance the past three games for Kofu. There is no word that he is dealing with an injury and this same phenomenon happened last year leading up to the final match day of the year against Ryukyu before he made a miraculous recovery and appearance.

5. Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

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

1. Own the Flanks. Likelihood 4: Ryukyu need to get the edges of the Kofu defense and follow it up with quality runs into open spaces from the central mid fielders. There is plenty of open space between the Kofu defenders when you stretch them laterally as the wingers/outside mid fielders for Kofu are not great at defending or closing down attackers. That should allow some space and time for Tanaka, Numata, Kawai, and Koya to deliver some quality crosses into the box.

2. Defend set pieces with some tenacity. Likelihood 2: Kofu are lethal on corner kicks and from dead ball kicks. Ryukyu need solid performances out of the two CBs and two full backs tomorrow. We really need Yong Jick and Suzuki to shut down all runs into the middle by getting to the ball first and we need not let our guard down on any short corners/low crosses.

6. Match Prediction

Kofu has drawn and lost their two Wednesday matches this year. Both of those were also away games whereas FC Ryukyu have drawn at home both times they’ve played on a Wednesday against far better competition. Factor in the short week and associated travel for Kofu and I can see FC Ryukyu pulling this one out 2-1.

7. Match Day 11 in J2

(2) Omiya Ardija hosting (6) Jubilo Iwata features two teams inside the top 6 as most of the other games pit top teams against those in the middle and bottom of the table. The (3) Giravanz Kitakyushu versus (11) Zweigen Kanazawa could be a feisty one as well. In any case, if you are a neutral, there is a solid 3 hours of football for you on Wednesday if you can manage to flip back forth with the three staggered kickoff times in this round.

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

8. Conclusion

FC Ryukyu are in the first meat grinder session of the new J2 2020 schedule with matches every three days for the next two weeks. These weeks will definitely test the depth of the squad and the skill of the coaching staff to rotate players as Ryukyu are dealing with several key injuries and CV-19 suspensions. There has been no indication that Ryukyu will dip into the summer transfer market for reinforcements, or recall Ramon from his loan spell at Gainare Tottori, so they are simply going to have to make do with what they got and hope to avoid any future injuries or suspensions due to CV-19.

On that note, I hope that many of you continue to take precautions as you go about your daily lives and continue to do your part in stopping the spread of CV-19. While it is easy to become overwhelmed in these times, especially when the prefecture you live in decides to reopen schools during the largest amount of infections to date; I for one am glad that we can take a break from all the stress and enjoy a game we love. Stay safe.

And…………………..

Go get it boys!

J1/J2 Playoffs Round 1: Match Recaps 12/01/2019

Intro

The first round of the J1/J2 playoffs concluded this past Sunday with both Montedio Yamagata and Tokushima Vortis advancing to the second round. This was contrary to my predictions of Kofu and Omiya advancing, but anybody that regularly reads my blog knows that my match predictions are not that accurate.

For those relatively unfamiliar with the J1/J2 playoff system, it heavily favors the home side in any match. The home side merely has to earn a draw to advance, and as Jordy Buijs so accurately said in his postgame interview, it requires the away team to score at least 2 goals which is never an easy task. With that in mind, it is easy to see why the away team must come out on the front foot and try and score early and often. And why the home team never is out of the match despite a goal disadvantage. A draw is as good as a win in this format. With that, below is a brief summary of the matches and a look ahead to the second round.

#3 Omiya Ardija vs #6 Montedio Yamagata

Omiya entered the match having lost only 3 times at home all season while conceding only 2 goals to their opponents during their last 5 home games. Montedio on the other hand, lost 4 out of the final 10 road games and were conceding at nearly the same rate they were scoring as the visitors. However, there were some visible cracks to the Omiya side as they had only scored 1 goal from open play, the other being an own goal, over their final 3 matches. Meaning, the Omiya attack had dried up and was failing to fire at the worst possible time.

As noted in the introduction, Montedio came out strong and were generating a majority of the goal scoring chances. You wouldn’t know that from the limited highlights on DAZN but Montedio looked like they were going to crack the Omiya defense early. In fact, they should’ve received a dead ball kick from just outside the 18-yard box when the Omiya defender blocked a shot with his arm. However, the call wasn’t given and the half ended with a 0-0 scoreline. What seemed interesting about this half was that Simovic was creating all sorts of problems for the Monetedio defenders but he was not paired up top with Delgado. In fact, Delgado came on in place of Simovic after half time since Simovic had picked up a yellow card. Maybe that was a smart move on behalf of the Omiya manager, Takagi, as we’ll see later from the Kofu match.

Both sides traded some goal scoring chances for the first 25 minutes before the real fireworks took place. I couldn’t tell from the replay if it was #23 or #27 who sent the cross in from a CK but in any case, the cross ended up being sent to the back of the net by #18 of Omiya, Ippei Shinozuka, for an own goal. Now, Omiya, specifically Delgado, began to argue that it was a clear-cut case of off sides. However, the refereeing crew got the call correct in that the Montedio FW didn’t make contact with the ball as it was entering the net or interfere with play. In fact, he did really well to lay off it and let the ball roll past the keeper. Delgado was visibly upset that the offside call wasn’t given and then stupidly bumped into the referee. The ref was then forced to issue a yellow card and this was probably not what Takagi was hoping for when he made the early substitution for Simovic. However, Omiya still had 15 minutes plus stoppage time to level the match and advance.

Unfortunately for Omiya that goal would never come and instead they were shell-shocked from a second goal by Montedio 9 minutes later.  A perfectly weighted and placed cross from Yanagi to the deep corner of the box found Yamada who then headed the cross back across the mouth of goal where Yamagishi had made a nice run between the Omiya defenders. Yamagishi slotted home the second goal for Yamagata and it was visible across the faces of most of the Omiya players that they had could offer no response to get back in the match.

Final Score Montedio Yamagata 2-0 Omiya Ardija.

Yamagata are marching on to face Tokushima while Omiya were left pondering where it all went so wrong. Omiya were earmarked by many to not only be promoted to J1 at the start of the season, but to advance through these playoffs and face the 16th placed J1 side in 2 weeks. Well that isn’t going to happen and after reading a lot of the Twitter posts from the Omiya supporters, it seems that it is time to clean house and start anew for 2020.

Jefferson Baiano informing the Omiya crowd of their chances at advancing. BTW, this is act is considered unsportsmanlike, incurs a fine and suspension in the NFL.

#4 Tokushima Vortis vs #5 Ventforet Kofu

This was billed as the most enticing match up of the opening playoff fixtures as it pitted two very strong sides against one another. Each had overwhelming strengths when it came to winning at home, or on the road in the case of Kofu, as well as scoring goals and preventing their opponent from scoring. In the match preview I had picked Kofu to advance because I am a strong proponent for those teams that have displayed the ability to win against tougher opponents on the road. Maybe that is my inner NFL fan emerging but it is a key factor come playoff time and I certainly thought Kofu could do the job this Sunday.

This was a feisty affair with both sides committing bookable, and hard, offenses early and often. However, it was Kofu that was picking up the yellow cards as none of the Vortis players were booked. As an outsider, it looked a bit harsh that the referee was only issuing the cards to Kofu as Vortis were certainly guilty of a yellow card on one occasion. Kofu had picked up an astounding 3 yellow cards in the first half while Vortis received none. The one booking that never came was when Allano was brought down by a high boot to his upper legs after rounding the Vortis player. I cannot recall what Allano was booked for earlier but his complaint to the referee seemed to indicate that he did the same, or less, to receive his yellow and why shouldn’t the Vortis player receive the same treatment. In any event Kofu were toeing a fine line when it came to fouls as 3 players are sitting on yellow cards before half time.

Much as one would expect, Kofu had to press early in order to overcome what seems to be the invisible, but very present, 1 goal deficit even before they kickoff. However, it was Vortis who struck first from a well taken shout by Jordy Buijs in the 37th minute. Jordy had found some space between the Kofu defense and turned a cross into the upper right corner of the goal just past Kawata. Kawata, who made a spectacular save just a few minutes earlier, could do absolutely nothing on the play. It was strange watching Tokushima celebrate the 1 goal advantage as if they had just scored deep into extra time, but this is what you get in the current construct of the playoff system. It now meant that Kofu are now required to score 2 goals in order to advance.

Kofu were able to respond, and respond rather quickly, from a Peter Utaka goal just 2 minutes later. He received the pass and as he did, the ball bounced up a little and he was able to strike it with his right foot and put some swerve and dip on the shot. Kajikawa was forced to rise to parry the shot over the net but he accidentally swatted the ball into the goal instead of out of danger as he initially intended. This type of response can motivate teams to go on a win but for Kofu, it was not meant to be.

Allano picked up his second yellow card, which obviously would lead to a red card and sending off, for a very poor challenge just after kickoff in the second half. I blame the Kofu manager, Ito, for not substituting Allano at half time. It was obvious to anyone watching the game on Sunday that Allano was angling for a second booking from his rash challenges all half. In fact, he committed a challenge in the first half after his booking and the calls from the home crowd for another card were loud and noticeable. I blame Ito as he should’ve seen that this particular referee was not averse to pulling out the yellow card for his side while keeping it in his pocket for Vortis. He should’ve also noticed that Allano was not making smart decisions at the point of challenges and he should have given his side a chance to advance instead of facing long odds to score when down to 10 men.

Kofu did all they could to go for the second goal but it was never going to happen. Tokushima are advancing and will now host Montedio while Kofu’s season ends in bitter disappointment.

Final score Tokushima Vortis 1-1 Ventforet Kofu

Jordy Buijs Quotes: “1, when we score 1 goal they need to score 2 and it is not easy to score 2 goals on us. 2, We had 3 advantages today, 2 before the start of the game; our home crowd and the point that we only needed a draw to advance. They gave us another when they had a man sent off.” About as accurate as you can get with the post game interview.

Tokushima Vortis vs Montedio Yamagata 12/08/2019

These sides drew 1 all at Tokushima in May with Yamagata getting a 3-1 win over Vortis in late July. Tokushima are entering this match with serous amounts of momentum on their side while Montedio have to be buoyed by their performance this past Sunday against Omiya. There was a strong showing by the Yamagata supporters this past match and I hope they can bring the same amount of people, and intensity, to Tokushima as their boys will certainly need all the support they can get against a very tough, very determined Vortis side.

J1/J2 Playoffs Round 1 Preview: (4) Tokushima Vortis vs (5) Ventforet Kofu

Intro

The second installment of the J1/J2 playoff preview looks at the match up between Tokushima Vortis and Ventforet Kofu. This is probably the tastier of the two matchups this round as both teams enter this game in good form, unlike the other matchup between Omiya and Montedio. These are two evenly matched sides with some firepower to light up the scoreboards and this should be a very entertaining match to watch as a neutral.

Tokushima Home Record vs Kofu Away Record

Both sides hold a nearly identical record when it comes to wins, draws, losses, goals scored and goals conceded when comparing Tokushima’s home record and Kofu’s away form. I guess that favors Kofu more than it does Tokushima as this means Kofu are well suited to grab wins on the road. It was pointed out to me that if the match were to end in a tie, the victory goes to the home team. No shootouts and no extra .5 for any away goals. That means if Kofu wishes to advance, they must walk away with the victory on Sunday.

In 22 away matches this year, Kofu has achieved that feat 50% of the time. They have drawn 5 times and lost 6 times but the fact that they won over half their matches on the road speaks volumes for their chances at advancing to the next round. Over their past 5 road games, Kofu has won 3 and lost 2 and conceded 7 goals in all competitions. One of those was an emperor’s cup match and they may not have been playing their strongest lineup so if we removed that result, and only counted J2 fixtures, they would’ve had 4 wins while only conceding 5 goals over that span.

On the other side, Tokushima also hold an impressive home record. They won over half of their matches while only losing 5 out of 23 games this season. One of those losses was very recently but it was to newly promoted Yokohama FC to the tune of 1-0. The other occurred way back in August to none other than Kofu. This means that Tokushima have only lost two times at home over the past 4 months. They’ve been shutout at home on 4 occasions, 5 when counting the emperor’s cup, and have scored multiple goals 9 times at home. They’ve conceded multiple goals only 5 times at home while shutting out their opponents 6 times.

Over the past 5 games at home Tokushima have won 4 times and lost once as previously mentioned. During that span they’ve maintained a 3:1 ratio for goals scored to goals conceded. While offense can win games, defense wins championships and if Tokushima wish to advance to the next round, they’ll need to blunt the Kofu attack on Sunday.

Previous Meetings this Season

Match Day 20 June 15th 2019: Ventforet Kofu 0-1 Tokushima Vortis. Ken Iwao scored in the 11th minute off a punched clearance by Kofu goal keeper Kawata, that came right to him inside the 18-yard box. His point-blank shot on the volley went screaming past Kawata for a 1-0 lead that Tokushima wouldn’t relinquish. Kofu had some goal scoring chances but nothing materialized.

Match Day 27 August 10th 2019: Tokushima Vortis 0-2 Ventforet Kofu. Kofu returned the favor 2 months later when they went to Tokushima and dug out a 2-goal victory. Utaka opened the scoring in the 19th minute when his power and pace where on full display. He pushed the ball past the Vortis defender, beat him with speed to create a shooting lane and then powered a shot past the Tokushima goal keeper. Vortis had a nice opportunity to tie the match in the 73rd minute but the Kofu Keeper made a equally nice save. Finally, Uchida added an extra time goal to seal the game.

Leading Scorers

Tokushima Vortis
Ventforet Kofu

Player Injuries

Tokushima Vortis: FW #15 Takeru Kashimoto fractured his ankle against Yokohama FC and is out. He has chipped in 6 points this season for Vortis but hasn’t been on the score sheet since late June.

Ventforet Kofu: None listed but I know that a couple of their leading scorers were recently cut to include; Yusuke Tanaka (3pts), Shigeru Yokotani (7pts) and Koichi Sato (5pts). Dudu was also on the bench last week agaisnt FC Ryukyu meaning he is back to full health.

Match Prediction

Here are the facts:

1. Ventforet Kofu have won 4 in a row coming into this match while only conceding once.

2. Kofu are unbeaten in 11 out of their last 12 matches.

3. Since late July, Kofu have only lost 4 times in the J2 league.

4. While Kofu started hot this year, and were near the top of the table, they’ve hovered between the 5th and 8th spot for most of the season.

5. Tokushima Vortis had a 12-game unbeaten streak prior to their loss against Yokohama FC 2 weeks ago.

6. Vortis have only lost once in their past 15 games and those 36 points saw them rise from 12th in the table on August 10th, to 4th by the end of the season.

7. Vortis have shout out their opponent at home 6 times this season. Kofu have been shut out only 3 times this season as the away side, with their last shutout occurring back on July 20th on Match Day 23.

8. Vortis have scored multiple goals at home this season 9 times. Kofu have scored multiple goals on the road 10 times this season.  One of those was against Tokushima.

9. Kofu have earned 7 points off the playoff contenders on the road this season by defeating Vortis and Yamagata while drawing with Omiya. Tokushima have only earned 1 point off these same opponents at home having lost to Omiya and Kofu while earning a draw against Yamagata.

10. Kofu have beaten Tokushima at home 2-0.

Really no way to separate these teams. This will be a heavyweight, blow for blow, knock down, dragged out fight to the very end. Most people see the surging Vortis squad as the front runner to win the playoff bracket and take on whoever finishes 16th in J1. I think, we could see an upset on Sunday because of how good Kofu has been on the road.

Let me explain. In the National Football League in America, there are playoffs at the end of the year, similar to what we ‘ll see these next 3 weeks. In that sport, successful playoff teams are those that have proven they can win tough games on the road. In fact, you must be able to win on the road as only 2 teams have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. There are plenty of instances where the road team, obviously a lower seeded side, pulls off the upset and wins. I feel that this will happen on Sunday.

I think my dark horse to win this playoff and achieve J1 promotion is Kofu. I think they can defeat Tokushima on Sunday and then go on the road to defeat Omiya, or, if it were truly in their favor, defeat Yamagata at home before traveling to the J1 16th placed team with promotion/relegation on the line. Kofu were very sluggish against FC Ryukyu this past weekend and FC Ryukyu dominated the possession battle and goal scoring opportunities, but Kofu capitalized when it mattered most. If Kofu can weather the Tokushima attack and strike them on the counter, where they are so lethal, Kofu will march on to the second round.

Ventforet Kofu 2-1 Tokushima Vortis.  

Conclusion

Getting my popcorn ready as they say for this one. Nothing more needs to be said. Tune in and enjoy.  

“Spoiler Alert” Match Day 42 Preview: Ventforet Kofu vs FC Ryukyu 11/24/2019

Intro

We have finally made it to the end. 42 match days compressed into 40 weeks of the J2 season. Reflecting back, it is hard to escape the fact that at one point I thought that the end, and safety from relegation, couldn’t come to soon enough. But now, I wish the season wouldn’t end. This is probably the case for every side not facing promotion or relegation and is the life I’ll need to adjust to for the foreseeable future.

The last match day of the 2019 season means the world to Kofu, yet very little more than a moral victory for FC Ryukyu. If you recall back on match day 19, it was Kofu that ended FC Ryukyu’s home undefeated streak. And they did so in very convincing fashion with a 5-2 victory. They say revenge is best served cold. Well, it will be cold in Kofu on Sunday and taking the wind out of the Kofu promotion sails would be oh so rewarding.

Kofu Weather

Hard to tell. My app says decent temperatures with rain while others say really cold. I’m going, so I’m dressing warm and couldn’t care less about the conditions. Let’s get it on!

Previous Meeting: Match Day 19 06/22/19 FC Ryukyu 2-5 Ventforet Kofu

FC Ryukyu stormed out to a 2 goal lead before Kofu came barnstorming back. Kofu pegged a goal back just before halftime and it was all they needed to begin the comeback. A Kofu goal just after the start of the second half was followed up by a Utaka goal 6 minutes later and then a 4th 7 minutes after that. Kofu added an injury time goal to push the score to 5-2 and the 36 game home-unbeaten streak ended with not much more than a thud.

Ventforet Kofu

A win and they are in the promotion playoffs. Anything less and they may need some help. This side has the fire power, the defense and the determination to make life hell for FC Ryukyu on Sunday and could very easily walk all over us and straight into the playoff rounds. This Kofu side thrives on the counter attacks and they almost beg the opposition to break themselves against a very stingy defense by forcing their opponent to throw everything they have at a side that has surrendered the 5th fewest goals in all of J2.

Let’s be clear, this Kofu side isn’t invincible but it is the type of squad that has absolutely steam rolled FC Ryukyu in the run in of the J2 season. Kashiwa, Kyoto, Omiya, Vortis and even Verdy have absolutely destroyed FC Ryukyu and left for them for dead. So, let’s look at Kofu’s last few games and see if we can uncover any cracks.

Record over 5 games 3W1D1L, while going L-D-W-W-W in order. Tokyo Verdy absolutely took it to Kofu and probably frustrated them at every turn during their game. Damn DAZN doesn’t have highlights over 4 games old so all I had was YouTube but that was plenty. That recipe for disaster for Kofu was on full display and I hope FC Ryukyu took note and can repeat what Verdy did that day.

Kofu escaped with a draw against Kagoshima the following week when one of their players, #4 Yamamoto, made an insanely stupid challenge and was rightfully sent off with a straight red card. Kofu had an absolute gem of a goal by #25 Mori, but were pegged back after the R/C. Kagoshima had their chances but never capitalized and so the game ended 1-1.

Kofu went on to win 3 straight games against Kyoto, Fukuoka and FC Gifu. Against Kyoto they scored in the 81st minute on a counter and then saved a PK shortly thereafter. The easily brushed aside Fukuoka and Gifu by a margin of 2 goals in each game.

I said we would look for cracks and there are a few but I’ll save them for the keys to victory.

FC Ryukyu

Undefeated in their past 6 road games, FC Ryukyu stroll into Kofu with only one thing on their mind, revenge. There is nothing else at stake for FC Ryukyu as they cannot move any higher in the table, barring an 8-goal swing between FC Ryukyu and Tokyo Verdy, and promotion/relegation is off the table.  Therefore, all that is left is revenge. Revenge for the 5-2 dismantling at home the last time these 2 teams met.

Though FC Ryukyu are undefeated in their past 6 road games, the home record tells a different story and one that cannot be discredited headed into the final match day of 2019. Blown apart for 3 straight losses with a massive goal differential, the road-shockingly-has become the “safe place” for FC Ryukyu at the end of the season.

FC Ryukyu will face their toughest test away from home since the Tokushima match where they lost 6-1. Kofu are a formidable side that has surrendered only half of the total amount of goals FC Ryukyu have all year. They have speed and pace and Kofu will press our back-line into making foolish decisions and rash challenges. FC Ryukyu do have one advantage though, and that is they don’t have to play with any pressure whereas Kofu have it all to do on Sunday as they need a win. A draw may see them slip out of the top 6 and miss the playoffs all together\ so they will be gunning for a win.

FC Ryukyu should see the return of Uejo to the lineup and this is extremely important heading into the final match day. I think Uehara’s height and skill up top combined with Uejo’s knack for scoring goals, Kawai’s speed and Koya’s maturity, could prove to be the difference. I am on the fence on whether or not a return to the lineup of Nishioka will improve the defending as Song Sun’s speed may help to counter the Kofu counter attacks. Unfortunately, Song Sun cannot match the strength of Utaka but his only purpose should be to prevent Utaka from breaking free on the FC Ryukyu net.  

Player Injuries

Ventforet Kofu: FW #10 Dudu. Torn hamstring for one of the leading scorers for Kofu but he hasn’t featured for them in over 2 months. No timeline for his return and it would be a surprise to see him out there this weekend.

FC Ryukyu: Nishioka’s injury situation is muddled as he is well past the 3-week mark for return so we’ll once again have to wait about 2 hours prior to kickoff to see what lineup Higuchi has chosen and who has made the reserves.

Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Play within in yourselves. This is surely going to be a charged atmosphere around the stadium as many of the Kofu faithful are fully expecting a win and berth into the playoffs. This means there is going to be a rather large crowd on hand despite the calls for inclement weather. FC Ryukyu would do well to play relaxed, don’t force passes into tight windows with low probability of success that can start a Kofu counter and most importantly, do not chase the game. Allow the opportunities to come to them through the actions of their opponent trying to crack the game open.

2. Frustrate Kofu and make them deal with the mounting pressure of trying to score. There are times in sports where you can see frustration all over the faces of the players on the superior side when having little success against a lesser opponent. Every missed shot, errant pass and giveaway tomorrow will draw looks of frustration and anger from the Kofu players as many expect them to completely wipe the floor with FC Ryukyu. The longer the game draws on where these two teams are tied, or even in the unlikeliest of situations where Kofu is trailing, will only increase the tension and pressure on Kofu team and make it very hard to score.

3. Park the Bus. An absolute cowardly and cheap way for lesser sides to earn points against stronger opponents. But not so fast, there is a compelling reason for this notion. Kofu are excellent on the counter and are set up well to run into yards of free space on the breaks, but they lack creativity when attempting to break down sides with numerous defenders in the area. So that means the FC Ryukyu defense, and it’s defending mid-fielders, should not push so deep into the attack. Defend, delay and wait for reinforcements to arrive that can support our back line. Trust me, FC Ryukyu has plenty of speed to hit back at Kofu on the counter and score a goal of their own. 

4. Need to score. You could file this in the “no kidding” column but Kofu’s goal keeper, Kawata, has been outstanding as of late and has made some spectacular saves these past few weeks. Weak shots will not test this keeper. FC Ryukyu will need Uehara and Uejo to be in top form on Sunday if they are to have nay chance of ruining Kofu’s promotion aspirations.

Match Day 42 Prediction

Kofu has it all to do and can light up the scoreboard with the best of them. Knowing the massive uphill battle FC Ryukyu face on Sunday, I’d leave Kofu a happy man having been able to celebrate a single goal by FC Ryukyu. 4-1 Kofu.

Important Fixtures around J2 on Match Day 42

Kashiwa Reysol have already won the J2 title so that just leaves the battles for the second automatic promotion position, the remaining 3 spots for the promotion playoffs and of course, the final relegation slot. Plenty of drama on the final match day and that makes this weekend really great for the neutral fan.

Omiya have the much tougher draw facing a tougher opponent on the road. Two consecutive draws against Tochigi and Niigata have seen Omiya drop out of the number 2 spot and these two sides drew 0-0 the last time they met. Yokohama FC are undefeated in their last 4 matches and haven’t lost at home in 8 games. Ehime FC haven’t won on the road in over 3 months and haven’t earned a point on the road in over a month and a half.

from the JLeague website

There is a lot to unpack for the 5 teams jockeying for the final 3 playoff spots. Yamagata, Tokushima and Kofu all have the favorable draws at home against lesser opponents. Kyoto requires Kashiwa to be in cruise control and not really care about a result while also needing help from FC Ryukyu. Mito need the most help and face the toughest draw when they welcome Okayama, the team directly below them in the standings, this weekend.

Kagoshima haven’t won on the road since late August but do have 2 draws during that time. Fukuoka have lost 3 straight, but have won 2 out of their previous 3 at home recently. Tochigi SC have earned 9 points from their past 7 games but they are undefeated in their last 3 games (2 wins and draw). The most recent win came on the road against Nagasaki. JEF have only won 3 games since August but two of them were at home. They are undefeated in their last two home games (1 win and 1 draw). Machida are in real trouble as they face the toughest opponent, who themselves, is looking to lock in their playoff seed.

 Match Day Information

Conclusion

We have come to the end of the 2019 season. It has been a great season for the club considering both their successes and failures. They faced several uphill battles; smallest operating budget in J2, terrible weather at a majority of their home games and of course, the transferring of several talented players out of the club. We should all take a moment on Sunday to celebrate these men and their achievements regardless of the outcome against Kofu.

There is no doubt that Kofu are a much stronger side looking to book their ticket at a chance of playing J1 football in 2020. It reminds me of the time when FC Ryukyu wanted to win the J3 championship at home against Thespakusatsu Gunma. We all know how that ended and FC Ryukyu wouldn’t be denied that day. We may see that exact same scenario this Sunday.

Regardless, I am not there in Kofu needing a win by FC Ryukyu, rather, I am there to send the boys off this season and thank them for a wonderful year full of great memories. I implore all that read this or retweet this to come to Kofu on Sunday – despite the terrible weather forecast- and enjoy the 2019 FC Ryukyu side one last time. Chances are we will not see some of these players in 2020 and they deserve the very best from their supporters.

Good Luck to FC Ryukyu, save travels for anyone making the journey and most importantly; let’s have that magical feeling we all experienced in Omiya one more time!