(16) FC Ryukyu vs (22) FC Mito Hollyhock #FC琉球

Intro

FC Ryukyu are fresh off their first win of the season and looking to double that win total when last placed FC Mito Hollyhock travel to Okinawa on Saturday. Ryukyu had to battle back twice from deficits at Renofa Yamaguchi last week but hopefully that performance has calmed some nerves of the fans as well as steeled the reserve of the Ryukyu players. Mito enter the match in the midst of a four game winless streak which makes this a bit of a trap game for Ryukyu who may be feeling their oats after their last win.

Weather Forecast & Match Day Info

The forecast calls for partly covered skies with little chance of rain. That is banking on the fact that a pretty nasty storm front clears out on Friday. We all know how weather works down here in Okinawa so prepare for the worst and enjoy better conditions if they should occur. Or just drink more to forget about how terrible the weather (hopefully not the match) actually is while you’re standing outside.

Click>>>> Match Day 05 Information from FC Ryukyu

Team Previews

FC Ryukyu: That first win should provide a little sense of relief, as well as some boost in confidence, for Ryukyu heading into match day 5. We all wanted to see a Ryukyu performance indicative of their first game last Saturday, obviously not the previous two rounds, and we got just that last week. Now it is time to build on that momentum from the Renofa match and notch another win in what could be Ryukyu’s first home victory of the season.

Last week it was the ‘old guard’ of FC Ryukyu that pulled them through so perhaps we need a bit more of that this game. Abe’s goal from a corner was spectacular; Kiyotake’s header looked accidental (but we’ll take it); and Ryunosuke Noda’s first goal in over a year and half was a well taken shot from a breakaway. Speaking of Kiyotake, he had an interesting game last week in that he scored the equalizer, assisted on the winner, but was a bit off the mark for parts of the match. He nearly allowed Renofa to take control of the game when he sent a misguided pass directly across the top of the Ryukyu box and onto the foot of a Renofa attacker. Luckily Taguchi was up to the task and parried it away from danger thus keeping the one goal deficit in tact.

Heading into this matchup it is anyone’s guess as to who Kina will start as Ryukyu have been pretty consistent on rotating players in and out of the starting eleven all season. Ikeda returned last week from a one week absence, Yu Tomidokoro seems to have secured one of the starting CM roles over Kazuto Takezawa, Abe and Kiyotake both started, Yuki Omoto made his first start at RB, and Rio Omori has gone missing the past two weeks thus allowing Yong-Jick a return to the bench. It is great to have all these options but it likely leaves the side a little unsettled. Perhaps Kina is deploying a strategy of forcing players to earn the starting role each week compared to that of his predecessor who based it solely on name brand recognition, which is a good thing. What isn’t a good thing is needing the offense to get going and shifting many players around who cannot get into any sort of rhythm. I guess we’ll see this week.

Hopefully we see a return of Keita Tanaka at RB this match as he was seen at practice throughout the week but there is no telling how is rehabilitation from last season’s injury is progressing, or if he is ready to go. If he does play, I would expect a limited appearance until he gets back up to match fitness. One player that Ryukyu will definitely be without for the extended future is Sittichok Paso who will be joining the U-23 Thailand national team for the Dubai Cup in the U.A.E. Personally, I think Ryukyu are wasting a great opportunity to capitalize on having a Thai player in the squad when it comes to marketing and actual playing time. We need to find a better way to incorporate him or else we shouldn’t be wasting his, or our, time by rostering and failing to market a player like Paso.

FC Mito Hollyhock: Here is the tale of the tape so far: (1) Mito have suffered two defeats by a score line of 2-3 and have only managed a single point from their first four matches. (2) Mito can be prone to both fast starts, 4 of their 5 goals have come within the first 15 minutes of games, as well as lackluster finishes, 6 of the 8 goals conceded have occurred in the second half. That is the reality facing Ryukyu on Saturday.

Mito’s season was delayed by a week due to a CV-19 outbreak at Oita so they opened their campaign during week 2 at home to Sendai. Mito controlled the majority of play to open the game and their efforts were rewarded with an early goal before a handball/PK wiped out that lead in the 32nd minute. Sendai went ahead in the 74th minute but Mito quickly equalized two minutes later when Kazuma Takai took the most direct route ever seen inside the box to put it into the top of the net. However, Mito switched off near the end by conceding a goal in the 3rd minute of stoppage time. Against Akita the following week both sides traded numerous chances before some nervy run of play from both teams saw Akita score the eventual winner.

Mito played Oita in the midweek to make up for the previously postponed round 1 and once again they looked the better side to start the match. Mito opened the scoring in the 7th minute from a good nice run of play but, in keeping with Mito’s luck to date, Oita equalized from a very nicely taken shot inside the first half. Finally, and probably the most deflating performance to date, was Mito’s 2-3 loss at Yokohama FC where they surrendered a two goal lead in that loss.

Mito’s most lethal player is Kosuke Kinoshita, who joined from the Urawa Reds this offseason, and who has two goals and one assist this season. Mito has only defeated Ryukyu twice in the short span of their time together in J2 with their most recent win occurring at Ryukyu back on matchday 25 last year when Ryukyu were beginning their too often predictable mid-season collapse.

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. Weather the early Mito storm. Likelihood 2. There is no doubt that Mito start matches very fast as indicated by their goals scored/conceded ratio mentioned in the team preview section. Mito are very adept at hitting teams on the counter attack, which means Ryukyu need to survive the first 15 minutes of this match in order to take control of the game. Easier said than done for Ryukyu as this exact type of pressure caused us to concede early in the game last week at Renofa.

2. Harass Mito inside the box. Likelihood 3. A preponderance of Mito’s conceded goals have occurred in and around the 6-yard box. Ryukyu need to put more quality shots on net to cause some chaos and confusion in the Mito defense as well as inject some better crosses into the attacking players who should find space to operate on Saturday.

J2 Round 05

A couple of tilts at the top of the table this week with (5) Fagiano Okayama looking to rebound from a heavy defeat at Zelvia when they host league leaders (1) Yokohama FC, with (2) FC Machida Zelvia traveling to face (3) Tokyo Verdy in a bit of a derby match. Most of the other games this round see a lot of teams in the bottom third of the table squaring off in order to jockey for positioning. There is the lone, albeit odd, Monday afternoon kickoff this week between (13) Roasso Kumamoto and (14) V-Varen Nagasaki.

The free J-League International YouTube broadcast this week will feature (12) Albirex Niigata at home against (12) Ventforet Kofu and the link can be found below the picture.

Click>>>> J-League Int’l YouTube Channel

Conclusion

So it is kind of a big weekend for both the club and the supporters. First, it is Jin-Beno Day (the official mascot of Ryukyu) and there are a ton of giveaways and special seating at the stadium. Who doesn’t love J-League mascots? Second, Yu Tomidokoro, aka Mr. Ryukyu, celebrates 250 matches in his J-League career along with Yuki Omoto celebrating his 100th game in which commemorative plaques and towels are available for purchase. Third, a win here for Ryukyu could be a nice launching pad to further success along with an uplifting first home win for the fans.

But finally, and most importantly, this is the first match of the season that I will be able to attend in person. So brace yourself Okinawa, the Commander of the Ryukyu Army is inbound!

Match Day 7 Preview: (7) FC Mito Hollyhock vs (2) FC Ryukyu 4/11/21 #FC琉球

Intro

FC Ryukyu had their winning streak stopped at 5 last weekend but will look to overcome that minor wobble when they travel to FC Mito Hollyhock on Sunday. Ryukyu own a good record against Mito having defeated this opponent three out of four times since joining the J2. The last time these two sides faced off it was in the 3rd coldest game ever recorded in the J-League last December and it was also the last win of the season for FC Ryukyu. Ryukyu’s lone loss to Mito occurred in 2019, also at Mito, when FC Ryukyu were forced to start their third choice keeper with an injury to Dany Carvajal and loan restrictions for Ishii. It is time to see how FC Ryukyu respond to their first, albeit minor, set back of 2021.

Weather Forecast & Match Info
Match Day 6 Recaps
Team Previews
- FC Mito Hollyhock
- FC Ryukyu
Keys to Victory
Prediction
Match Day 7 in J2
Conclusion

1. Weather Forecast & Match Day Information from Mito

I don’t think it can get any better.

Click >>> Match Day 7 Information from FC Mito Hollyhock

2. Match Day 6 Recaps

Tokyo Verdy 2-1 FC Mito Hollyhock

FC Ryukyu 0-0 Omiya Ardija

3. Team Previews

FC Mito Hollyhock: Mito have an even split of three games won, three games lost, this year. They fare slightly better at home owning a 2-1 win/loss record while outscoring their opponents 7-2 at the K’s Denki stadium. They have gone 3-2 over their last 5 games with big consecutive 3-0 wins over FC Machida Zelvia and Matsumoto Yamaga FC. But they also lost their most recent game to Tokyo Verdy 2-1 on the road.

While I was watching the recent highlights of Mito, I found myself asking the question; Are they a better defending team than last year, or have they just been lucky? Last season Mito had the dubious honor of being the highest scoring team, as well as the fourth worst at conceding goals (Something I’ve seen from Ryukyu in my time down here that’s for sure). From what I saw in the highlights, the defense hasn’t really improved all that much. They can be caught out of position, prone to turnovers, guilty of making mental mistakes and just all-around sloppy play. They have survived mostly on luck based on how many shots I saw from their opponents hitting the woodwork or narrowly missing the mark.

Speaking of luck, Mito jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over Zelvia thanks in part to a fluke goal that was originally a cross which ended up being caught up in the wind, and another being a clearance from the Zelvia keeper – that really shouldn’t have been put that high into the air in that wind – which ended up putting Mito on the quick break to score just before halftime of that game. Granted, the Mito player had it all still to do when he had the ball at his feet but it should have never come to that.

Against Verdy Mito surrendered an early first half goal (2′) before looking the dominant team in the first half controlling all the momentum, scoring the equalizer, but couldn’t find the go ahead goal heading into halftime. Then Verdy took control of the game in the second half and bagged the eventual winner in the 73rd minute.

The player to watch out for on Sunday is their captain and forward, #9 Masato Nakayama. He is on a hot streak as of late having scored 4 goals and adding 1 assist in his past 4 games. While Mito’s overall play reminds me a lot of Ryukyu the past two seasons, Nakayama reminds me a lot of Abe as they play a similar style of football and Nakayama can also provide support to the attack with his work rate and holdup play.

FC Ryukyu: Though their 5-game winning streak was snapped last week, Ryukyu are still undefeated sitting second in the table and are one of the best defensive sides in the J2 this year. The resurgence of Okazaki, and emergence of Chinen, coupled with Taguchi playing some of the best football he’s ever played, make Ryukyu a formidable opponent. Yes, we’d all love to see them score like they did in 2020, but I don’t think that is their style of play this season.

There haven’t been any games this year where Ryukyu have gone out and dominated the possession and chances like they did in 2020. They are more comfortable allowing the game to come to them in a bend-don’t-break sort of way and if required, ratchet up the pressure when they fall behind like they did at JEF United Chiba. However, I am not sure that would’ve worked this past round against Omiya had Ryukyu fallen behind as Ryukyu generated very little in the way of chances and accurate shots in the second half of that game.

Ryukyu have relied heavily on crosses into the box from the right and left sides, but when they miss on those chances, and are frustrated by large numbers of defenders in and around the box, their momentum bogs down. Ryukyu had plenty of chances to take the lead in the first half last week but missed the mark on every single one. Hopefully their aim is better this week as we’ve seen Mito take advantage of similar sides when those sides fail to capitalize on golden opportunities.

Of all the games to date, this one stands out as the one where Abe could do the most damage. Abe’s ability to create space in the box, as well as his ability to find open attackers just outside of it, should see our talisman get on the score sheet often on Sunday. There is no defender from Mito that can corral Abe so he just needs the accurate service from the other attacking players to turn him loose.

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. Chinen wins the battle over Nakayama. Likelihood 4. For those of you out there that love a good battle between a dominant CB and an in form FWD who are coming off some of their best games, then look no further than what is in store this week. Chinen has proven to be Higuchi’s choice for man-marking the opponent’s striker as he has the speed, power and most importantly, temperament to handle the task. Chinen has yet to face a forward like Nakayama this season, though he did briefly late against Nagasaki, so this will be his first full test of 2021. For his part, Nakayama has been in top form and is a seasoned veteran who can find the weaknesses of any young defender. This should be the “game within a game” to watch on Sunday.

2. Let it rip. Likelihood 3. FC Ryukyu cannot expect to leave this game with all 3 points if they don’t take more shots on net. Omiya executed their game plan well but I cannot see Mito being able to do the same at the back. FC Ryukyu need to increase their shot count, and accuracy of said shots, and then pounce on the loose balls when Mito defenders are caught flat footed.

5. Prediction

FC Ryukyu have averaged 2 goals scored on the road this season. Mito have yet to be shutout this year. Mito may own a far superior goal differential at home compared to on the road this year but I feel FC Ryukyu edge FC Mito Hollyhock 2-1 this round. Season Record 3-1-2.

6. Match Day 7 in J2

Both (1) Albirex Niigata and (2) FC Ryukyu have interesting road tests against (16) Montedio Yamagata and (7) FC Mito Hollyhock. (3) Zweigen Kanazawa will look to close the gap between them and the top two sides when they host (21) JEF United Chiba who are coming of two consecutive 2-1 losses. Elsewhere, (14) V-Varen Nagasaki are looking to shrug of their sluggish start by bagging their second win in a row over (13) Thespakusatsu Gunma who sit just one spot above them in the table. (11) FC Machida Zelvia versus (4) Kyoto Sanga FC has some early table jockeying for position implications.

The entire free J-League International YouTube broadcast schedule for April is listed below. Click the link to get to the channel.

Click>> > J-League International – YouTube

7. Conclusion

FC Ryukyu have shut Mito out on two occasions and have shutout their opponents three times in 2021. But no J2 team has been able to shutout Mito this season. Much like how FC Ryukyu have been exorcising some ghosts of years’ past, Mito is probably wanting to do the same this week. In 2019 it was FC Ryukyu who handed Mito their first loss that year, that despite recording 8 clean sheets while only surrendering 5 goals in the previous 12 games. Is it time for Mito to extract some revenge by handing FC Ryukyu their first loss of 2021? Or, is it time we see FC Ryukyu rise to the occasion to remain undefeated through their first seven games? Guess we’ll find out on Sunday.

Match Day 41 Report: (11) Mito Hollyhock vs (14) FC Ryukyu 12/16/20 #FC琉球

Intro

There was a bit of history made last night:

-Yasuhiro Higuchi notched his 150^th victory

-This was the 3^rd coldest game ever played in the J-League at -3.1 degrees Celsius (if I interpreted that right). The second coldest was also played last night between Matsumoto Yamaga FC and Tokyo Verdy (-3.3C).

-FC Ryukyu achieved 50 points for the first time ever in J2

Match Day Highlights

Source: https://www.transfermarkt.com/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3468328

Man of the Match

FC Ryukyu MF Shuto Kawai: Kawai was a handful for the Mito defense last night and his efforts were rewarded with his 4th goal of the campaign. It was also one of the best goals FC Ryukyu has scored this year as Kawai managed to skirt it around and through the Mito defense.

Review of the Keys to Victory

Let’s just get some guys the playing time they need before 2021. Likelihood 2. Chinen, Yamaguchi, Ichimaru, Hitomi, and Tavares all featured last night. In some cases, it probably wasn’t enough, but the fact that they played is all that matters.

Match Day Takeaways

1. Koya and Ren stayed red hot last night, despite the slow start for FC Ryukyu. FC Ryukyu endured an opening 25 minute barrage by Mito before switching things up tactically, and taking control of the game. It was Koya, who won the ball in a dangerous area, that set up Kawai. An then there was Ren adding the second goal, more on that later. All of them continued the momentum they built up against Ehime FC last week with Koya now accumulating 6 points in the past 2 matches, while Ren has scored in back to back games for the first time all season.

2. Koizumi didn’t make the score sheet, but was the unsung hero for this team. His performance last night shows you the type of player he is, and the influence he can have on the game, despite not scoring. He broke up so much of Mito’s possession in defense, it disrupted the Mito attack and prevented them from getting into a rhythm.

3. I said we needed to see more of the players who haven’t featured heavily in the lineup this season, and we got just a bit yesterday. Ichimaru is an interesting player as he has never really stood out for this team, but there are places on a team for role players. Tavares had very little time to make an impact and Yamaguchi flashed his speed, but nothing else. Hitomi won a nice aerial battle, but wasn’t given any opportunities to score.

4. Ren Ikeda goes at it all by himself. And scored a spectacular goal. Ren received his pass from Koki at about 30-yards from goal, and then took it all the way down inside the 18-yard box, all the while surrounded by 7 Mito defenders. He then put a nice curled shot past the outreached arms of the goalie to seal the victory. See the photo below. (Thanks @iritettsu40 for the photo)

Match Day 41 in J2

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

Both Tokushima Vortis and Avispa Fukuoka achieved promotion to the J1 last night. Congratulations to them and their fans. Unfortunately, it is commiserations for V-Varen Nagasaki as their promotion dreams come to an end.

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

Conclusion

Given the travel and weather, this was a surprising result for the boys. Albeit, a welcome one, and also special one for Higuchi. There is only one game left in this turbulent season, so those that can attend, please do (Safely!). And for those that cannot, for what ever reason, please tune in and enjoy this team one final time, as this will be the last time that all of them are together.

“You Get What You Give” Match Day 41 Preview: (10) Mito Hollyhock vs (17) FC Ryukyu 12/16/20 #FC琉球

Intro

FC Ryukyu got the better of Mito Hollyhock the last time these two sides met on Match Day 20. Koizumi scored a spectacular goal to open the game, but Mito responded with two of their own before Shinya Uehara’s late game heroics won it for FC Ryukyu in stoppage time.

Match Day 20: FC Ryukyu 3-2 Mito Hollyhock

It is unfortunate that this game will not feature two of the top scorers for each side as Mito’s Yamaguchi is out with a knee injury, and Takuma Abe hasn’t been seen in weeks. This will be Mito’s final home game of the year and they will certainly want to send the fans home with something special in the form of a victory.

Previous Match Highlights

FC Ryukyu vs Ehime FC (6-0)

Mito Hollyhock vs Machida Zelvia (0-1)

Team Previews

Mito Hollyhock: Mito seem to be one of those good, but not great, squads in J2. They’ve made some brief appearances inside the top 10 of the league table this year, but have not been able to put forth any consistent efforts to push higher than 9th. The fact that they lost Kazuma Yamaguchi, their leading goal scorer, to a devastating knee injury, meant they have had a lot of wind taken out of their sails.

Mito went 2-1-2 in their last five games with some notable wins, as well as forgettable losses. They surrendered the lead on two occasions to Giravanz Kitakyushu and Ehime FC resulting in a draw and a loss. Then followed that up with two hard earned victories over Jubilo Iwata and Tokushima Vortis.

Perhaps it was the emotional and physical toll from those two matches that saw Mito lose 1-0 to Machida Zelvia this past weekend. The Iwata game was played in some poor conditions with each team fighting hard to the end. Then there was the game against Vortis where Mito left everything on the pitch that included saving a potential game tying PK.

Unfortunately, Mito came out flat against Zelvia, who pounced on all the early opportunities resulting in a first half goal for the hosts. But make no mistake, Mito are the leading goal scoring team in J2, sitting on 67 goals scored, and can be relentless in the attack despite missing their talisman.

They also own one of the poorest goals against record, tied with FC Ryukyu at 60, so they are prone to breakdowns at the back. These are two fairly even matched sides, as indicated by the table below, so a slight advantage has to be given to the home side on a short week.

FC Ryukyu: While FC Ryukyu have enjoyed success against Mito at home, on the road is a completely different story. When FC Ryukyu traveled to Ibaraki last summer, it was with a depleted squad that saw our 3rd choice GK, Inose, making his debut due to an injury to Dany, and Ishii’s loan restrictions for playing against his parent club.

FC Ryukyu were soundly beat 3-1 that day, but that followed an earlier 1-0 win for FC Ryukyu in early 2019. That win by Ryukyu also came during a time when Mito was one of the best defensive sides in J2, allowing the fewest goals scored. So what should we look expect in the return match this year?

Against Ehime, FC FC Ryukyu saw the return of some players who had gone missing for quite some time. Namely, defenders Felipe Tavares, and Tetsuya Chinen. On the other hand, we still have no clue as to the disappearance of Takuma Abe and Shinya Uehara.

FC Ryukyu have managed to get by with Ren Ikeda, Takuya Hitomi, and even Yoshio Koizumi up top, and we should expect a similar set up tomorrow. Hitomi needs to see the pitch a lot the next few rounds as that will shape the management’s decisions regarding adding a striker in the offseason.

The midfield seems to be settled with Uesato, Koki, Koya, Kawai and Koizumi but we need to realize that one, or more, of those players will not be on the roster come 2021. Yamaguchi needs a solid performance and it would be nice to see Motegi return to the bench with a shot at a possible substitute appearance. These next 180 minutes will determine the fate of many players and we are running out of time to get a look at them.

In that same vein, FC Ryukyu need to get a longer look at Felipe Tavares, Tatsuya Chinen, and Makito Uehara. Seeing how two of them play the same position as Keita Tanaka, that may not be possible. I wish Higuchi would give Makito a shot at playing CDM next to Uesato for a few minutes, as he could learn from the veteran in some low pressure situations to end the season. As far as Chinen is concerned, he could be our 3rd, if not 1st, choice CB in 2021 and needs some reps these next two games.

The notion of knowing that we are just 2 points shy of our 2019 point total may cloud our judgement for getting some extended looks at the aforementioned players. But Higuchi literally has nothing to lose by playing these guys.

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. Normally this section outlines how FC Ryukyu could exploit their opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. But considering that wins are more hollow than substantive these days, let’s just get some guys the playing time they need before 2021. Likelihood 2.

Match Prediction

I wouldn’t fault FC Ryukyu if they came out a little sluggish tomorrow considering the travel, and that the game will be played in near freezing temperatures. It is their last road game of the year, and much like Ehime FC last week, they may just want to get out of there and get back home as quickly as possible. With that in mind, this game has the potential to be a back-and-forth affair ending in a 2-2 score line.

Match Day 41 in J2

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

A win for (1) Tokushima Vortis over (15) Omiya Ardija seals promotion. (2) Avispa Fukuoka will need to win against (21) Ehime FC, and hope for a Vortis loss to keep their title hopes alive. (3) V-Varen Nagasaki draw the toughest opponent in round 41, as they host (4) Ventforet Kofu.

It doesn’t look like there is a free broadcast for the J2 in the midweek as the J-League International YouTube channel has opted for a J1 game instead.

Conclusion

I have come to enjoy several mid-week games this year, but hopefully we will be returning to a sense of normality with the fixture list in 2021. Ryukyu have played a total of 15 mid-week games in 2020, with 5 of their last 6 occurring on the road. I always hoped we’d see FC Ryukyu playing in December, but that was for the promotion playoffs, not match day 41.

Ryukyu will end their 2020 season road slate with this final trip North to Ibaraki, but they haven’t played in temperatures this cold since a game in Yamagata some 20 months ago. And though a win would be enjoyable, I guess “you get what you give” in these times.

FC Ryukyu Week in Review #FC琉球

Intro

2 wins from 2 for FC Ryukyu this past week. First, they earned a come-from-behind victory over Mito Hollyhock 3-2 this past weekend and then followed that up with a 6-1 drubbing over Matsumoto Yamaga on the road.

FC Ryukyu have now scored a total of 16 goals over their last 4 games and this comes as quite shock considering they never exceeded more than 2 goals in any game prior to round 18 this season. As I mentioned in an earlier post, much of this could be due to the amount of fixtures J2 teams are required to play coupled with the facts that fatigue and the realization of failed promotion hopes starting to take hold.

Match Day 20 Recap: FC Ryukyu vs Mito Hollyhock

Grit, determination and a bit of luck. Probably the best way to sum this one up as FC Ryukyu went ahead early from a beautifully taken Koizumi goal, only to concede 2 goals from Mito in the second half. Then the late game specialist in Shinya Uehara made his presence known with two goals deep into the game (87’&93′) to tilt the match in favor of Ryukyu. Fans of FC Ryukyu, and followers of this blog, will know that Uehara has this uncanny ability to come on late and turn things around for Ryukyu but also can go missing for stretches when the team needs him the most. Luckily for FC Ryukyu, he came up big again.

Match Day 20 Takeaways

1. This team is always going to be a ‘work in progress’ with the constant roster churn each season but we see glimpses of what it wanted to be at the start of the season, and what it could’ve been if things played out differently this year. If we could only put it all together at one time to make a serious run, it would have been something as the team has talent, experience, and the ability to win; but they have never matched talent with opportunity or luck this year.

2. Koizumi has moved from a relative unknown name to someone who is appearing on the radars of much larger clubs. What he offers in the attack has far surpassed the days of Nakagawa and he is one of, if not the most, dynamic players in J2 this year.

Match Day 21 Recap: Matsumoto Yamaga vs. FC Ryukyu

FC Ryukyu continued their winning ways by traveling North and completely decimating Yamaga 6-1 in front of their fans. FC Ryukyu enjoyed so much possession and freedom of movement I often wondered during the match if the Matsumoto manager had watched any film on Ryukyu this year. It didn’t matter as Ryukyu had space, time, and precision passing to completely tear the Matsumoto defense to shreds on way to their second highest goal tally all time for the club. It was also the second highest margin of victory and goals scored for FC Ryukyu in J2 since the Omiya match the week prior.

Match Day 21 Takeaways

1. Many points to get to but let’s start with the obvious. Keita Tanaka is far and away the comeback player of the year for FC Ryukyu as he has completely transformed himself into an absolute stud at RB. He scored his first goal of the season, after chipping in another assist this game, when he found himself all alone on net and sent an absolute screamer from close range into the top corner. He has been simply magnificent at RB this year and is a treat to watch each week.

2. Takuma Abe reached double digit goals for only the second time in his career in the J-League and I said at the start of the season that he may score between 14-16 goals this year. He looks primed to absolutely smash that total.

3. Dany Carvajal with the poker face after swatting a clear goal from Yamaga out of the net was great. Thank goodness for no VAR down here in J2.

4. FC Ryukyu reduced their goal differential by half (!) with that victory and are now back down in the single digits for the first time in a very long time (-5).

5. Koizumi’s destruction of J2 defense continued with a goal and an assist on Wednesday. I enjoy watching him, but hate tweeting and writing about him as you cannot help but feel that he is on to bigger and better things next year. Just not at FC Ryukyu and that is completely justified. He is a massive talent and deserves a bigger stage to shine and I my only wish is that it isn’t on a bench of some middling J2 side, or J1 team. I would love to see him go to Europe and gets a chance to test his mettle against some of the best talent in the world. I’d would also be great to see him play for the Samurai one day as it would be a nice feather in the cap for this club and I think he has the talent to do it. He just needs a stronger CV than FC Ryukyu can offer at the moment and that is something we Ryukyu fans have become accustomed too these past few years.

J2 After Match Day 21

FC Ryukyu never rose above 18th place despite their two wins this week but the reduction in their goal differential could prove vital if they continue to pile up the positive results.

The recent slip up by Giravanz has allowed Tokushima Vortis and Nagasaki to close the point gap with Fukuoka shooting up the table in recent weeks. Omiya’s fall may not have been unexpected to some, though it is shocking to see them fall so far for a team that was near the top early on this year.

Half way done and plenty of drama left here before we crown the champ and send one more up to J1.

Looking Ahead

Ryukyu return home this Sunday to face a struggling JEF UTD Chiba side with Nagasaki and Fukuoka squaring off at the top.

Conclusion

It has been a party for the FC Ryukyu faithful this past week, but there is plenty of work still to be done. Ryukyu are getting healthy, despite some injuries to the back line, and are playing better than we’ve seen in a long time which has made watching them oh so enjoyable these past two rounds. But September has always been a favorable month for the club and one can only hope they end the month on a strong note.

“I need You, You, You” Match Day 20 Preview and Match Day 19 Recap #FC琉球

Intro

I will be taking this blog in a different direction over the next few months with the crammed J-League fixture schedule as I will no longer provide a bi-weekly entry, but instead a single entry comprising both a recap from the previous round, and a preview for their upcoming fixture.

This will mean that I’ll need to trim down on the amount of sections per respective entry so as to keep it manageable, and easily consumable for all of you. I hope you’ll continue your patronship of this blog and feel free to provide any input on the new format in the comments section.

Match Day 19 Recap: FC Ryukyu
Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu
Match Day 19 Takeaways
Match Day 19 Recap: Mito Hollyhock
Match Day 20 Team Previews & Injury Reports
Keys to Victory
Match Day 20 Prediction
Match Day 20 in J2 & Table
Conclusion

1. Match Day 19 Recap: FC Ryukyu

2. Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

Whatever we did last week, let’s do it again! Likelihood 3. Didn’t happen as Kyoto had large spells of possession and dozens of shots.

2. Koizumi in the CAM Role. Likelihood 5. Did happen but he wasn’t able to unlock Kyoto’s defense and was ultimately substituted.

3. Match Day 19 Takeaways

1. FC Ryukyu were under siege the entire match against Kyoto. The overall box score indicates an near 3 to 1 domination from Kyoto in the shots, and shots on target category. Though the amount of possession for either side looks equal, it was Kyoto who was peppering Dany with shots all night.

2. There was some heroic defending on the part of FC Ryukyu against Kyoto. Fc Ryukyu managed to block many of the shots Kyoto took and Dany Carvajal played really well in net, where he was making save after save. Though this was a positive for FC Ryukyu, it could have been slightly reduced if some of the poor decision in the central parts of the pitch were avoided. This included, costly turnovers and wayward passes.

3. Ryukyu never really threatened the Kyoto net as the trend for an overall low number of total shots, and accurate shots, continues for the offense.

4. Match Day 19 Recap Mito Hollyhock

5. Match Day 20 Team Previews & Injury Reports

FC Ryukyu. That nice run of form FC Ryukyu experienced between the end of July and August has but been forgotten as Ryukyu have lost 5 out of their last 6 and while being outscored 9 to 12 during that span. The 5-0 drubbing of Omiya stands out as an anomaly between the defeats to Yamagata and Zelvia, which are only compounded by the 1 goal losses to Niigata, Kanazawa, and most recently Kyoto Sanga.

But hopefully things are picking up for the club as they have seen the return of several players from injury and suspension the past few rounds as they are desperate for healthy, fresh legs in all areas of the pitch.

FC Ryukyu have experimented with several combinations in both the attack and defense in an attempt to generate some sort of rhythm, but with so many fixtures and injuries, this seems to be an unrealistic goal for many clubs in 2020.

Abe has been superb up top and he is on the verge of cracking double-digit goals for the first time in over 5 seasons. Koizumi continues to show the J-League what an immense talent he is and I hope that he continues his career arc at FC Ryukyu for just a little longer. The right and left mid fielders seem to be on constant rotations and Ryukyu really only play well when Higuchi correctly starts those who have the “hot hand.”

In defense the picture is much bleaker. FC Ryukyu have never been known as superior defensive team and things have continually spiraled out of control this year with all the combinations Higuchi has introduced. With one exception that is. Tanaka has been a revelation at RB and there is no other player in the squad that can match his work rate, tenacity, and skill other than Abe.

Unfortunately, Yong Jick is not the answer at CB, Suzuki is prone to mistakes as a raw prospect, you know what Fukui will provide each week in the reserve role and Chinen needs more matches to get back to full fitness. Numata provides a nice element to the attack but is often seen out of position when closing down attackers and ceding too many dangerous crosses into the box.

This is the basic state of the team as we enter one of the busiest stretches of games for FC Ryukyu. But all is not doom and gloom. FC Ryukyu have several prospects worth monitoring with Uehara in particular offering some glimpses of the player he could be.

FC Ryukyu Injures & Suspensions. We are still awaiting the return of Shinji Ono and Koki Kazama, but we’ve added DF Suzuki to the injured list as he tore one of his abductor muscles in his leg.

Mito Hollyhock. Someone on Twitter this past weekend commented that Mito are strange side in that they are one of the league leaders in both goals scored, and goals surrendered. This should be a familiar notion to many of us Ryukyu fans as this was exactly who FC Ryukyu were from the 2016 to 2017 seasons. This is far different from the 2019 Mito side that was one of the best defensive units in the league.

Mito have only lost once over their last five games where they had an impressive victory over Tokushima Vortis on the road. Mito are loaded with goal scoring talent up top featuring Kashima Antler’s on loan Kazuma Yamaguchi who has scored 8 goals and provided 6 assists which must put him near the top of the league leaders in total points. Forward Masato Nakayama has contributed 6 goals and 2 assists to go along with Pitbull’s 5.

It must simply be a case of being so top heavy in the attack, that Mito fail to recover in time in defense. In any case, teams like this, despite impressive goals scored tally, always provide a bit of hope to their opponents as they are prone to conceding often with their current set up. However, FC Ryukyu are not as well equipped as Mito to get into a shootout with the visitors this weekend.

Mito Hollyhock Injuries & Suspensions. MF Yuichi Hirano injured his Right MCL and will miss this match.

6. 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

Slow down the Mito attack. Likelihood 2. FC Ryukyu have been ceding massive amounts of shots the past few rounds while not really increasing their own shot totals. if they wish to earn a point from this round. They’ll need to blunt the Mito attack before it even gets going.
Take more shots. Likelihood 3. This may seem mundane but FC Ryukyu have seen quite a dip in their overall shots the past month. I am not suggesting they take some wasted long range efforts, but rather take more chances in and around the 18-yard box.

7. Match Day 20 Prediction

I think this will be a bit of shootout with the game ending in a 2-2 draw.

8. Match Day 20 in J2 and Standings

Nothing really stands out except some interesting kickoff times this weekend.

9. Conclusion

It should be an exciting night for football here in Okinawa and I am looking forward to FC Ryukyu getting back to their winning ways. While I wouldn’t consider these teams to be evenly matched, both possess the ability to score goals and concede a fair amount which should make for an enticing match.

Enjoy the long weekend for those living in Japan and stay safe as there maybe some lightening here tonight in Okinawa during the game.

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.

“Ch,Ch,Ch, Changes” Match Day 23 Report: Mito Hollyhock 3-1 FCR 7/21/2019

Intro

FC Ryukyu suffered their second defeat in a row, and their fourth in their past 5 games, but it still left them 14^th in the table. Getting any sort of positive result against Mito was always going to be a tall ask of the traveling FC Ryukyu side but was made even more difficult when FC Ryukyu were forced to make a drastic change at GK. One must assume that an injury/illness to the incumbent, Carvajal, kept him off the roster in addition to Ishii being unable to play against his parent club who loaned him to FC Ryukyu this season. That meant that 3^rd choice keeper, Inose Kosuke, would get the start for FC Ryukyu.

First Half

Despite the weather report from Saturday, the rain held off and it was a crisp evening in Mito. Mito wasted no time getting in behind our central defenders and tested Inose early in the 2^nd minute but Inose made a fine save from the well taken shot. Mito continued their fast start when in the 4^th minute a FK required Inose to be called into action once more. FCR had a chance early as well when Kazama found himself with acres of space to operate, along with several FCR attackers in the area, but he opted to shoot and sent the ball wide of the mark. FCR looked good in the attack but it was ultimately Mito would get on the score sheet first when a header from a cross was deflected into the back of the net. There wasn’t much Inose could do from the lucky deflection but nonetheless, FCR were down early on the road to a superior opponent.

Mito doubled their lead from another header later in the first half. On the play, there seemed to be a little confusion between the FCR defenders as there was a large gap that Shichi Takaaki was able to exploit and hammer home the second goal of the night. FCR had a chance to get one score back when a turnover by Mito saw Ochi with a free run and look on net. However, Ochi’s shot from the top of the box was right at the keeper at a decent height that made for an easy save. He had the whole goal to work with and he could have gone low and hard to the opposite side or top shelf that probably would’ve resulted in a score. Regardless, FCR went into half time down 2-0 and it looked very worrying for the guests despite there incredible 61/39% possession over Mito.

Second Half

Higuchi made an immediate change when he brought Uejo on in place of Ochi to start the second half. Uejo’s presence made an immediate impact for FC Ryukyu as he was using his speed to get on to the end of long passes and was making some very dangerous runs at the Mito net. FC Ryukyu grabbed a goal in the 56^th minute from a very nice header from Masutani on a corner kick but it turned out to be the only score of the game for FCR. The game had a frantic pace after the Masutani goal and turned into a dangerous game of chicken between the teams to see who would blink first. Ultimately it was FCR as they allowed Mito to score off a turnover where Ogawa Koki chested the ball down nicely and then calmly blasted it past Inose for a 3-1 Mito advantage.

FCR would have a few more chances from FKs but nothing close to the opportunities they enjoyed in the first half. FC Ryukyu ended the match with 61% possession but was out shot 16/11 where Mito put 11 of those shots on net compared to the FCR 7. It was a day marked by turnovers and mental errors.

Man of the Match

DF #7 SHICHI Takaaki Mito Hollyhock. Played a solid game from his FB position. Directly contributed to 2 of Mito’s goals when it was his header that was redirected by Kurokawa for the first Mito score and his header for the second. Exploited the FC Ryukyu defenders on set pieces in the box and offered up some fine efforts on FKs and in defense.

Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu.

There was only one and it was for everyone to win their individual battles. Some did, some did not. This is a team sport and the team did not get the job done on Sunday. FAIL.

Match Day 23 Takeaways

1. I have never played football at a high level. I played baseball through college and have watched multiple sports all my life. Therefore, while I cannot accurately define the tactics and individual assignments of players in every match, I can determine when there are mental errors and sloppy play. In my experience, these items are directly associated with coaching. For example, I counted 20 FC Ryukyu turnovers and 16 incidents of mental errors during Sunday’s match. I did not count plays where FCR players were attempting to get a pass through to an attacker in the opponent’s end. Turnovers were scored as: heavy first touches that got away from an FC Ryukyu player, not knowing where the opposing teams’ defenders/players where when in possession and then being dispossessed, passes directly at opposing players with no FC Ryukyu player within 3 meters of where the ball ended up, and needlessly kicking the ball out of bounds. Mental errors were categorized as: failing to recognize, and then pass to, open FCR attackers near the opponents 18-yard box, wasteful FK opportunities, failing to kick the ball out of bounds to prevent an attack by opting to pass/round the Mito player which resulted in a turnover or CK, and finally, losing control of the ball while in possession from either a lack of hubris or heavy touch. None of these things are irreversible, in fact, all can be coached, reinforced and practiced over and over again so as to be reduced in a given match. Turnovers and the occasional mental mistake are always going to happen in any match, I am merely advocating a reduction in the overall number through coaching and mentoring.

2. There were some interesting managerial decisions this past weekend that I believe deserve a deeper look. First, FC Ryukyu were forced into some lineup changes due to injuries and loan regulations but that isn’t the real story. I do not speak Japanese and I am not a member of the team to know why Higuchi opts to bring Uejo off the bench every match instead of starting the talented youngster, but his impact is undeniable. His presence opened the match up for FC Ryukyu that ultimately allowed Masutani to score from a set piece. Unless there is some evidence to suggest Uejo cannot sustain a full 90 minutes, I have no idea why the second leading scorer on our team sees limited action each week. Second, FCR had plenty of opportunities to do something from set pieces yet nothing materialized. Yu is probably the best FK taker in the squad yet he has been afforded limited opportunities on set pieces. Not much more to add here. Finally, why did Higuchi wait until the 1^st minute of stoppage time to make the 3^rd and final sub for FC Ryukyu despite being down by 2 goals with a little over a quarter of the match to play? This one baffled me since he should’ve subbed on fresh legs to run at the tired Mito defenders and allow the new player time to adjust to the game and possibly make a play or two. Instead, I think Kim Song Sun touched the ball once, maybe twice, in the limited action of stoppage time. This seemed like a useless gesture to get a player some game time despite having another talented player in Koizumi on the bench.

3. Higuchi’s managerial style. It seems that opponents are able to make in-game adjustments that Higuchi cannot either see or respond too quickly enough and therefore but this side at a disadvantage. FC Ryukyu have talented players, but are we getting the most out of them? Are we executing the same game plan every week when it is necessary to adjust, and tailor, the lineup and tactics? The most talented players for FC Ryukyu are up front and they are the ones that need to be taking the high priority shots each week. Are we doing enough to set them up for success?

4. Confidence. No doubt that the boys needs a confidence boosting result, and they need it quickly. A positive result (win) against Niigata next week would go a long way to boosting this sides confidence. Hopefully, we’ll see Nishioka, Kawai, Yu and Uejo taking on the Niigata defenders in and around the box and playing like they did some weeks ago.

Conclusion

FC Ryukyu are nearing a point where they will have no other choice but to change or risk falling into a relegation battle and possibly out of the J2. FC Ryukyu currently sit 8 points clear of the relegation zone but that is only a matter of 3 results not going their way. Consider that FC Ryukyu have conceded 20 goals in their past 8 matches and are averaging nearly 3.00 goals conceded each week over their past 5 games. Change could occur in many forms; change in tactics, change in personnel selected for the starting 11, change with some transfers into the club or a managerial change. FC Ryukyu haven’t won on the road since Omiya, 106 days ago, so why not play as if you have nothing to lose next week versus Niigata. We’ve seen how Kagoshima, FC Gifu, Renofa, and JEF Chiba did when they employed those tactics against FCR.

“Augean Task” Match Day 23 Preview: Mito Hollyhock vs. FC Ryukyu 7/21/2019

Weather Forecast: What did you expect? It seems the rainy season is either in full swing or just ending in mainland Japan so it will be another rainy, wet, terrible day to watch football. Thank goodness its on the road and not at home. Pack your towel, FC Ryukyu poncho and a change of clothes for your long commute back home if you plan on attending.

FC Ryukyu heads to the Ibaraki Prefecture this Sunday evening to take on 5^th placed Mito Hollyhock in what seems to be a logistical nightmare for any traveling FC Ryukyu fans. Thank you very much J. LEAGUE scheduler for this one (the last train to depart Mito for Tokyo leaves at 1800). In their first matchup this season, FC Ryukyu got the better of a strong Mito side 1-0 at home but the fortunes of both teams have changed since that evening in May. FC Ryukyu’s recent form has been below par seeing that they’ve only won once in their past 5 matches and are conceding almost 3 goals a match. Mito, has also seen their once formidable defense that started so strongly this season begin to develop several cracks. This could largely be attributed to the departure of CB ITO Makito to Yokohama F Marinos in June, and since then, Mito have conceded nearly the same amount of goals they did during their previous 18 matches.

The statistics paint a very bleak picture for FC Ryukyu but that seems to be the case most weeks outside of the teams directly below FC Ryukyu in the table. Mito have only lost once at home all season where they own an impressive 0.70 goals against average. FC Ryukyu’s road struggles are well documented and now that FC Ryukyu are conceding 2.00 goals on average on the road, this seems like a tall ask to get any sort of favorable outcome tomorrow night for FCR. FC Ryukyu faced a similar challenge when Mito visited them at home earlier this year but FC Ryukyu are a different side at home and they’ve only had one positive performance in their last 5 road matches.

Mito Hollyhock

Mito are coming off a win that was preceded by 3 straight draws and a loss. Mito couldn’t quite breakdown the strong defensive side in Yamagata and suffered a 1-0 loss. Mito followed that up with a disappointing draw at home to Yokohama FC after Yokohama went down to 10 men early in the match and then allowed Yokohama to equalize later in the match despite the advantage.

Mito then had games on the road versus Kyoto and Kanazawa in which they went up early, conceded two goals and then fought back to earn draws. They ended this 5-game stretch with a rather impressive performance at home against Nagasaki but nearly gifted the visitors a draw at the end by allowing Nagasaki a couple of close chances.

Mito still retains a lot of the same traits we saw at the beginning of the season that made them so successful. They don’t chase games despite being behind on the scoreboard and rely heavily on a stout defense to keep them in many of their matches. As mentioned earlier, the defense is developing cracks and can be gotten at with quality set pieces but for the most part, the 4-4-2 set up Mito employs will make life very difficult for FC Ryukyu. As we’ve seen throughout this season, FC Ryukyu lacks a bit of creativity to break down sides who use this formation.

FC Ryukyu

FC Ryukyu have won only once in the past 2 months and are really struggling to arrest their slide down the J2 table. FC Ryukyu may not break out of this funk until later this month when they host JEF Chiba United at home on a Wednesday night because we can not assume that FC Ryukyu will gain any positive points on the road despite the quality of their opponent. We really need to see some signs of life from the boys over the next 2 weeks in their consecutive road games as it would prove massive for their hopes of staying in the J2 next season. Like many sides below them in the table that have a month with a nice stretch of favorable games, FC Ryukyu’s doesn’t occur until October and there are no guarantees that those opponents will be in the same form they are in now when we face them.

FC Ryukyu’s recent match against Okayama was very disappointing and FCR really struggled to create any opportunities up front. I believe they only had one shot on net, and that was the Uesato FK on the final play of stoppage time, but someone mentioned that DAZN said we had 2. Regardless, that is not what you expect from a team that strives to be on the attack and hunting for goals. The careless turnovers and lack of quality passing really deflated the FCR attack in the opponent’s half and FCR lacked creativity near the 18-yard box. Too many times it seemed as if the FCR midfielders would pull up and pass back instead of pressing the attack or trying to run past the defenders. I am not sure if that is attributed to fatigue, lack of speed or lack of anyone else in the attack making any runs or movements that would entice a pass from one of our players.

FC Ryukyu are at a point where an uplifting performance maybe the spark that ignites a nice run of games as well as put some distance between them and the bottom of the table. It is now 140 days and 9 matches since FC Ryukyu last won on the road.

Injuries

FC Ryukyu: Tokumoto-Still delaing with an MCL injury he picked up recovering from a soft tissue ankle injury. Another few weeks away from returning to the lineup.

Mito Hollyhock: Unknown, the website I usually use is now saying I am restricted from accessing that info and I am not sure where else to look.

Keys to an FC Ryukyu Victory

1. Only one. Someone has to step up, put this team on their back and have one of their best performances of the season to see out an FC Ryukyu victory. Koji Suzuki and Dany have done so much this year but what I am referring to is someone like Kawai, Yu, Kazama, Uejo, Tanaka, Wada or Uesato who just takes the game over. Someone needs to be aggressive in both the attack and defense, motivates the players around him by example so they will perform at their very best, is surgical with his passing to unlock the defense and is lethal in front of goal. If FC Ryukyu gets that type of Herculean performance out of someone tomorrow, we may very well see this side right the ship and get back on track. If we don’t, the beatings will most likely continue until moral improves.

Match Prediction

Mito 2-1. Impossible to predict positive FC Ryukyu outcomes on the road until something changes.

Conclusion

This game, as well as the remaining road matches for FC Ryukyu, comes down to every man doing their part to win their individual battles. Mito are not invincible and are possibly slowing down after their blazing start to the season. But at the same time, FC Ryukyu are struggling for form and are looking for someone to step up and lead them out of this dark period and back into the light. Who will that be?

“Snake Charmers” Match Day 13 Review: FCR 1-0 Mito Hollyhock

FC Ryukyu was able to extend their J League Record home unbeaten streak to 28 in front of a crowd just shy of 4,000 against the top team in J2, Mito Hollyhock, this past Saturday at the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium. It was also a historic day as it marked the 350th match for Uesato as well as handed Mito it’s first loss of the season. As I mentioned in the match day preview, both teams were on a very different glide path; Mito were soaring while FC Ryukyu were tumbling down the table, and if FCR wanted to keep the record intact, a top-class performance would be required.

Mito came into the match having never surrendered more than one goal in any of the matches that they actually conceded a goal. They were undefeated and simply choked the life out of the oppositions teams attack. FCR, on the other hand, have yet to score more than one goal in a match since match day 6 against Renofa. Considering that FCR rarely keep a clean sheet – only one all season – the task of scoring two goals against the best defensive team in the league seemed a tall ask for the fledgling FCR attack.

FCR have started out matches fast ever since the Tokyo Verdy in match day 9 and look to control a lion’s share of the possession each week. In past matches the possession is maintained in our own half as the attack tries to break out and make its way down field. FCR are very good at maintaining possession and they usually execute this quite well. there is, however, one glaring problem. FCR cannot translate all this possession into goals. There are quality opportunities and shots on net but FCR haven’t put up a crooked number on the score board in quite some time.

FCR started out very fast against Mito and wanted that early goal that this team is so very accustomed to scoring. Again, this suites FCRs playing style as they want to force the opponent into making mistakes and start chasing the match. Mito are not the type of team that need to chase games as evidenced by their record so if FCR wanted to really open up the opponents on the day, then they would need that second goal.

FCR achieved a breakthrough in the 8^th minute when a perfectly weighted and placed cross from Tokumoto found a wide-open Koji Suzkuki who buried a bullet header for his J2 league leading 9^th goal. First, the set-up play and cross are exactly what FCR need more of in future matches; feed Koji “The Shredder” Suzuki and let him punish the opponent. Second, Suzuki’s header was top class. He could have chosen to send it straight into the net but instead opted for a powerful header low, that would bounce, into the right side of the goal that gave the keeper no chance. Finally, the fact that FCR scored first against Mito really buoyed the spirits of the boys and breathed some much-needed confidence into the squad.

FCR nearly doubled their lead when Suzuki was open in front of net on a low cross as he attempted a toe poke but it was deflected over the top of the net by the defender. It was a nice piece of defending by Mito but that would have been something to see a second goal that early by FCR.

Mito had a few chances of their own in the first half as FCR will always invite pressure and opportunities for the opponent to score. Danny Carvajal was there once again to answer the call and keep FCR relevant in matches as he has done so many times this year. Danny was able to save two good chances in the 16th and 26th minutes by Mito that would have leveled the match for the opponent and make life very difficult for FCR.

The first half would end with FCR leading 1-0 but they were definitely on the front foot.

The second half started out in similar fashion to the first with FCR creating a lot of chances. FCR were not able to unlock the Mito defensive wall and as every fan probably felt, there would eventually be a shift in momentum for Mito.

Mito have never really had to stretch themselves to chase a match, with the exception of match day 4 when they got a late equalizer against JEF in the 92^nd minute and therefore, Mito rarely panics. Why should they? They have the best defensive record in the league. When the Mito attack started to pressure FCR beginning in the 75^th minute, surely this was going to be the time when the FCR defense would collapse and allow a goal. However, that wasn’t the case, the FCR defense proved to be resilient yesterday and for only the second time all season, FCR shut out an opponent.

Prior to the change of momentum by Mito, FCR nearly doubled their lead late in the second half when Tokumoto made a very nice penetrating run near the 18-yard box after a turnover but his shot hit the post. This meant that the Ryukyu faithful would have to see out a very nerve-racking 20 minutes for the very elusive 5^th win of the season.

Key Takeaways: 1) FCR set pieces need an overhaul. FCR attempted too many short corners early that fooled no one. Also, Suzuki earned FCR a nice FK in a dangerous area in the first half but it was Uesato, not Tomidokoro, who took the kick. Yu is someone who teams cannot easily game plan for on set pieces with his ability to shoot or pass, unlike Uesato, who everyone who reviews any FCR game film knows will always opt to shoot. It is terrible how the coaches have used Tomidokoro this year on set pieces and since FCR are no longer generating multiple goals from open play, it is time they allowed Yu his opportunity.

2) The FCR attack. FCR has not been able to find a suitable replacement for Nakagawa in the CAM role and instead of changing their formation to suit the strengths of the players, they’ve opted to alter the strategy for who will finish off attacks in the opposition’s end. Here is a typical FCR set up play. First, we start with a pass from one of our central defenders to one of our defensive or holding mid fielders. Next, either of those players will look to get the ball to Tomidokoro or Tanaka who will then get the ball to either Suzuki or the CAM in the central areas. Third, our attacking forwards will pass back to either of the Left or Right Mid Fielders who will look for an on rushing RWB/LWB in the form of Tokumoto or Masutani. The last two players have taken a lot of the “quality” shots on net the past few weeks but are not the players we want finishing off plays. I can only hope this is a temporary solution to our CAM problem.

3) FCR have failed to score multiple times in a game for 7 weeks in a row. Maybe this could be taken with a huge grain of salt as Mito were the best defensive team in J2 but FCR needs to be scoring multiple goals against opponents near them in the table to secure the vital points to keep them in J2 next season.

In closing, this was HUGE win for the club this weekend. Many, including yours truly, tipped FCR to lose and see the streak come to an end. FCR has a very strange way of both playing up and down to the level of competition each week. FCRs record against teams at the bottom half of the table as of this writing is 3 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses with those losses occurring against teams that were at or near the foot of the table. Against opponents in the top half of the table, FCR have earned 2 wins and 3 draws, 2 of which, were on the road in tough conditions.

It is hard to make any sense of the FCR season to date after their blazing start and subsequent stagnation. I truly believe we are looking at the real FCR team, based on current squad and system, for the foreseeable future. This team, and Higuchi’s system of 4-2-3-1, requires a CAM that can strike fear in opponents with his ability to score or assist and FCR need to find that in the next transfer window. For now, let us all revel in this massive win and then prepare for a tough road match against Okayama.