2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Match Day 9 Preview: Tokyo Verdy vs FCR

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See you on Monday with the match recap.

Match Day 8 Preview: FCR vs Kashiwa Reysol

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Match Day 7 Preview: JEF United Chiba vs FCR

Match Day Info: 04/03/2019 (H) JEF United Chiba vs FCR (A) at the Fukuda Denshi Arena Chiba Kickoff at 1900

Weather Forecast: Temperatures will be in the high 40s with no rain expected and only a slight 8-10 mph wind all match. It will be cold so dress accordingly.

The JEF Chiba United team that enters this match versus FCR is very different than the one who started the season with consecutive losses. They fired their manager after the Mito match and replaced him with Atsuhiko Ejiri who has since breathed some life back into this once proud club.

JEF United Chiba: 19^th in J2 with 6 points. 1W3D2L. Current Form LLDDW

Earlier formations saw JEF in a 4-2-3-1 but Ejiri favors more of a 3-4-3 or 3-2-4-1 and is basically throwing all he can at the opponents to cover what should be considered a lackluster back line for Chiba.

The early run of fixtures for JEF this season witnessed awful play from their back line which largely put JEF at a disadvantage in these matches. There was also a lack of confidence when things didn’t seem to go their way but all that has changed with the new manager. In the short time since Ejiri has taken over at JEF, you can see a change in the style of play by JEF on the field and they are slowly beginning to regain their confidence. This is slightly worrying because in last weeks match preview I eluded to the notion that FCR was facing two opponents in a row who seemed to be in a bit of downward trajectory. I would argue now that this is not the case with JEF and FCR is going to face a very cagey opponent on the road who is playing as if there is nothing to lose.

I assume that expectations were very high for JEF and its players and so was the pressure to perform at the start of the season and you could see that in the way the team was performing. Now, they seem to be playing with a mentality of an animal backed into a corner who is forced to fight its way out of danger. They have slowly begun to regain their confidence beginning with the Mito match in Match Day 4. Despite this being the last game under the old regime, they played much better and were only done in by a very late goal. Whether it was known to the players at that time, that no matter what this was going to be the last game in charge by the out going manager or the players simply thought things couldn’t get much worse, JEF played with a real spring in their step.

JEF switched formations against Kyoto the following week by dropping a defender in exchange for another mid field player. This immediately paid dividends for JEF as it allowed them to create and take better chances on net. However, the defensive woes that plagued JEF early on still exist and allowed for Kyoto to jump out to the early lead. JEF was able to equalize late and nearly pulled it out at the end before almost conceding the victory to Kyoto in stoppage time.

JEF’s most recent match on the road versus Fukuoka saw them achieve victory for the first time all season where Ejiri once again favored a 3-person back line. JEFs attack must’ve been too much for Fukuoka who only had 2 shots and 2 corners all game. The game was a stalemate until the 80^th minute when #25 Yusuke Chajima beautifully struck a free kick that went around the Fukuoka wall and stunned the keeper, who didn’t move from his spot.

Players to Watch: There is no one player that truly stands out from this team and on the season JEF has scored 6 total goals from 6 different players. The entire front line that featured in JEF’s 4^th and 5^th matches were dropped in favor of some players who haven’t started since match day 3. Whether the manager viewed the upcoming fixtures against FCR and Kanazawa as much stiffer tests and therefore decided to rest his players against Fukuoko, or he was having to deal with injury, I think FCR can reasonably expect a more attack minded club on Wednesday night with fresh legs.

FC Ryukyu: 1^st in J2 14 points. 4W2D0L Current Form WWWDD Typical Formation 4-2-3-1

FCR once again found themselves in a tough match requiring some late game heroics by #9 Koji Suzuki to earn a point at home, keeping the undefeated streak intact, and maintain their grip on the top spot in J2.

The game was definitely there for the taking but the ball just didn’t bounce FCRs way this match. Carvajal made a costly mistake early in the second half that occurs from time to time but he recovered quite well after that to save a tie for FCR late. #14 Uejo had a wide-open opportunity on net that was blocked by a Renofa defender in the 66^th minute that could have leveled the match and possibly led to things turning out differently for FCR.

FCR subbed out Tanaka, Uejo and Tomidokoro in the match in what I am assuming is a move to conserve some energy for these players with the fixtures piling up quickly this week. #13 Kawai came on in place of Tanaka and proved to be the difference maker when his well-placed cross found the head of Koji Suzuki who then equalized for FCR in the 88^th minute. Carvajal was called into action one last time with a nice save in the 90^th minute and the game ended in a draw.

FCR created plenty of chances in the match and it was an encouraging sign for the club moving forward. When teams challenge FCR with a heavy focus on attack, it allows space and movement for the FCR midfield and attack going forward. When teams play a more defensive minded style that overloads the midfield, FCR struggles to break out and create chances. We will see how Yasuhiro Higuchi approaches this match up and what lineup he favors on such a short week in which FCR has traveled to the mainland.

Keys to FCR Victory: 1. Pressure the back line of JEF and force them into making mistakes. The back line of JEF has seen several variations and player combinations in the early part of the season. At times they seem disorganized and lack communication with each other that has allowed opponents to get in behind for chances on net. If JEF plays with the back 3 line and 3 to 5 attacking players up front I would expect FCR to have plenty of chances on net.

2. FCR scores first. The JEF stadium is always packed with their supporters and I expect Wednesday night to be no different. As mentioned earlier, the team is slowly regaining confidence and their first win at home this season would be very uplifting for the club and their supporters. An early goal or more importantly, the first goal of the game, by FCR could help in several ways. It could quiet the JEF crowd and then make them grow restless with their squad, it may induce a sense of urgency on part of JEF to equalize quickly thus opening them up for quick counters by FCR and finally, it could calm the FCR nerves on the road in a tough atmosphere. Playing with a lead on the road is a lot easier than playing from behind and will certainly help relax the team.

3. Continue the attacking ways for FCR. Our best defense is our offense. We need whoever is occupying the CAM role to start forward thrusts at the JEF defense. Suzuki showed that he can finish if he is provided service while making runs into the box and the FCR FWD will require plenty of service in this match. FCR needs to create as many opportunities as they can with their attacking Mid Fielders and Striker as the weakest link the JEF team is the back line.

Match Prediction: Well as I stated in the Renofa Match Recap, if you can predict the lineup with better accuracy than me, I’ll make a charitable donation to an organization of your choosing in your name. There is one caveat, all submissions must be posted to this blog prior to 11 am Wednesday morning.

My predicted Lineup:

GK: Carvajal

LB/RB: Tokumoto & Jumpei Arai

CB: Koji Fukui & Shogo Nishikawa

CDM: Uesato & Komatsu

LMF: Ochi

RMF: Kawai

CAM: Uejo

FWD: Wada

Reserves: Ishii, Suzuki, Nishioka, Okazaki, Tanaka, Tomidokoro, Kazama

Well I am looking forward to mid-week football for FCR, granted it isn’t the Asian Champions League, but one day it will be. Please tune into DAZN if you subscribe or head somewhere to watch this match. I believe it will be a very pacey, end to end match, with opportunities by both sides that hopefully sees FCR emerge victorious. This match also has special meaning to me because it was one year ago that my son was born on April 3^rd and I hope that adds a bit of luck for FCR, after all, he was born in the year they won J3 League!

Photo credit goes to @pipu_ryukyu: ヤマキタ@FC琉球専用アカウント

Match Day 6 Preview: FCR vs Renofa Yamaguchi FC

Match Day Info: 03/30/2019 (H) FCR vs Renofa Yamaguchi FC (A) at the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium (Okinawa Comprehensive Park) Kickoff at 1800.

This week’s match-up pits table toppers FCR vs bottom of the table Renofa Yamaguchi FC. The last time these two teams met was during the 2015 J3 season where Renofa beat FCR three times, outscoring the Bengara Boys 11-3, during their march to the J3 title. However, that is in the past and these are two different teams in the 2019 J2 season.

Overall Series Record: Renfoa Yamaguchi FC W3D0L0 – FCR W0D0L3

Weather Forecast: The rain should subside in the early morning giving way to partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the low 70s (22 degrees Celsius) for kickoff. There will be a 10-13 mph wind during the entirety of the match so bring a light jacket. There is only a 5% chance for rain during the game but having lived here for so long, the weather could change quickly so be prepared.

Renofa Yamaguchi FC: 21^st in J2; W1D0L4 Current Form: LLWLL Typical Formation 4-1-2-3

The start of the 2019 J2 season saw Renofa lose a hard-fought battle, 2-1, against Kashiwa Reysol at home. Renofa created several chances that game and from the limited highlights I saw on YouTube, it looked to be a very pacey end to end match. I am not sure of the circumstances surrounding the change at GK after this match but Renofa opted to drop #17 Yoshimitsu for #33 Yamada. To be honest, I didn’t see much justification for this so we have to assume that Yoshimitsu got hurt or has been outperformed on the training ground by Yamada.

Yamada’s first start against Kofu is one he would like to forget. He had two howlers that led to two goals for Kofu. The first was at the 2^nd minute mark of the game when he was casually attempting to clear the ball from his own end and was closed down by Utaka of Kofu. Yamada really took his sweet time attempting to make this clearance and it allowed Yutaka to make up ground and deflect the ball into the back of the net. Kofu scored shortly thereafter when the two CBs were ripped apart by Utaka who then rounded Yamada and slotted it home. Yamada’s second blunder was similar to his first, he was attempting a clearance, was closed down by the Kofu player, slipped and sent the ball directly to a Kofu player on the edge of the box who easily shot past him and the Renofa player on the goal line. Kofu would score one more time, on what could’ve been called a hand ball, but it didn’t matter as the game was already out of reach for Renofa.

Match day 3 saw Renofa playing in their second consecutive match with a 5-2 score line, but this time they would be on the better end of the outcome against JEF United. JEF United didn’t do itself any favors at home as their GK had his own blunder that led to a Renofa goal and that was quickly followed by a JEF player being sent off for a very poor challenge. However, it took Renofa 33 minutes to add to their score line despite the man advantage. JEF was able to pull within 1 goal of Renofa before an 88^th minute corner kick by JEF quickly went the other direction and Renofa scored. The play was one of those ones where JEF had committed so many men forward in hopes of tying the match but got caught on the break with their goalie way out of position because most of the JEF outfield players where in the box for the corner. The Renofa player took a long shot from just over the halfway line that bounced off the post and rolled back to the waiting Renfoa player who tapped it in. Renofa would score one more time at the feet of #4 Takai who scored a brace on the day.

Versus Ehime on Match Day 4 all the action took place in the first half. All 3 goals scored by both sides occurred within the first 36 minutes where Renofa conceded the first two on a PK and a breakdown at the back. Renofa’s goal was also a breakdown at the back by Ehime but other than that, there was not much in this game.

Finally, Renofa’s most recent match versus Tochigi was the first game this season that Renofa was unable to score. Tochigi capitalized on the 3^rd PK given up by Renofa this season and that was is it as far as goals for this match. Renofa did make one major change to their lineup this game in that they dropped the Center Back pairing of #15 Doston & #13 Kusumoto in exchange for #49 Kikuchi & #2 Tsuboi. Doston and Kusumoto have been brutal all year and they were constantly being beat and exposed down the middle so it was obvious that the coach needed to make a change. While Renofa didn’t concede a goal from open play during the match, the CBs performed only slightly better than the original pair. There were a couple of occasions where the Tochigi forwards were able to get behind the Renofa CBs but nothing came of these opportunities.

Renofa Yamaguchi Players to Watch:

#24: Keita Yamahita FW. Leading goal scorer for Renofa with 3 so far this season. He had a brace against Kofu as well as one against JEF but he also moves very well in and around the 18-yard box. He’s probably the one-man FCR needs to mark throughout the match.

#4 Kazumi Takai MF: Second leading scorer on the team with 2. These goals came at the end of the match versus JEF so I wouldn’t read too much into it other than the man can finish when called upon.

#19 Masato Kudo FW. Has one goal so far this season and it was against Ehime. Kudo has started the last 3 matches and adds a nice attacking element to the Renofa front 3. He takes quality shots on net so FCR will need to keep a close eye on him in and around the box.

#7 Paulo Junichi Tanaka MF. Seems to be one of their best play-makers and also takes quality shots on net.

#33 Genki Yamada GK. Genki was wearing a knee brace or his knee or it was heavily taped this past match. If that is the case this week it is safe to assume his movement will be hindered and FCR needs to test him early and often. Hard shots that require him to get low may prove very beneficial to FCR.

#15 Doston & #13 Takumi Kusumoto CB. If one, or both, of these guys are in then FCR should feast. Their play was so bad over the first 4 matches that there had to be wholesale changes at the back with both being swapped out. Again, if they are in, then there will be goals.

FC Ryukyu: 1^st in J2; W4D1L0 Current Form: WWWWD Typical Formation 4-2-3-1

FCR comes in to this match as the overall leader in J2. They were able to earn a hard-fought point on the road against Yamagata while contending with harsh weather and long travel. FCR did not score from open play that match but rather relied on a twice taken PK by #9 Suzuki for their loan goal. Yamagata was able to equalize at the end of the match in the 88^th minute in what could be called a busted play where the ball took several awkward bounces and deflections before it fell right on the head of a rising Yamagata player in the 6 yard box.

The prior 5 matches for FCR is really a tale of two teams. In the first 3 matches FCR scored 9 goals and their movement was excellent. Teams were finding life difficult handling the FCR thrust forward and it allowed the team many open running lanes and passing lanes. The last two matches however, the attacking prowess FCR once displayed has taken a back seat to a more controlled, defensive minded approach.

I don’t believe this was a tactical change on the part of FCR but rather just the way the past two opponents execute their game plan. Tokushima enjoys large spells of possession and Yamagata severely limits the amount of opportunities for their opponent. Both of those teams really crowded the MF and made it difficult for FCR to navigate out of that traffic and towards the net. This is not going to be the case with Renofa as there was nothing in the tape that I saw that indicates this team can stop the attack of FCR.

FCR Keys to Victory: 1. An absolutely unrelenting, unforgiving attack straight at the back line of Renofa. This game sets up very well for #9 Suzuki to feast in front of goal. However, that will require the FCR MF combination of #11 Tanaka, #14 Uejo and #10 Tomidokoro finding open passing lanes to set Suzuki free as well as provide quality service to the FCR striker. This can be done as the CBs are the weakest part of the Renofa defense. Renofa also concedes a lot of PKs because their defenders are out of position and are forced to make rash challenges to stop the pressure. Quick movements in the box by FCR could also prove fruitful.

2. Test the Renofa GK. I mentioned earlier that he may have an injury that could limit his lateral and/or vertical movement. Anyone who has played sports knows that there are some injuries you can play through but you will be limited physically and sometimes mentally out of fear of making the injury worse during the game. Press him every time he has the ball as he’s displayed his penchant for making bad decisions as well as turning the ball over way to easy.

Game Prediction: If FCR can control the pace of the game and continually test the Renofa GK then there is no reason FCR cannot win this game. FCR enters a very tough stretch of fixtures in a rather short period of time this week as they will play 3 matches within 8 days that includes traveling during the mid-week. This means the FCR manager must make a few tough calls in these games because the depth and talent of the FCR squad are sure to be tested this week.

I wrote earlier this week about sometimes getting ahead of yourself or setting expectations too high when viewing the fixture list. It is perfectly acceptable to do this as a fan because it’s just what we do, but for the club it is a very different story. As Ben Maxwell from “The J-Talk Podcast” (@JTalkPod) so rightly pointed out this past week,” the J2 is a marathon and not a sprint,” and therefore FCR cannot afford a trip-up this early that leads to them pressing for points and looking up to see that half the table has leaped over them in a matter of weeks. FCR probably has noticed that they are playing the bottom two teams in succession followed by the overall second place team in Kashiwa Reysol. The fixture lineup couldn’t be better but it will require not falling victim to the early “trap games” and then the titanic fixture next weekend.

Often there are times in sports when a far superior team falls victim to a lesser team because there is a much stronger team on the horizon. This is considered a “trap game.” This could occur because the powerful team has either overlooked or played down to the level of their competition and in the case of FCR, there are 2 such matches preceding the Kashiwa match. FCR needs to view each match separately and not as a combination of all three. It is critical that FCR continue to win points this early in the season and not concern themselves with the overall standings in J2.

Hopefully FCR can jump out to a big enough lead against Renofa and be able to rest certain key players. I have little doubt that there will be lineup changes over the first 2 matches because all 11 players cannot play all 3 matches. It comes down to a matter of where FCR thinks they can get maximum points versus their opponent. One strategy would be to target the Renofa and JEF matches and then rest players against Kashiwa so as not to risk injury. The other is to rest against JEF and come back with the same lineup against Kashiwa. Either works and it truly depends on the manager. As a side note, while JEF is bottom of the table and in turmoil with the recent managerial change, they could also bust out in a big way by taking advantage of the short week fixture at home against FCR. JEF had a lot of fight in their last match despite losing and I wouldn’t view them as “cellar dwellers” all season.

In closing, I want FCR to come out and pummel Renofa at home for the above reasons as well as because it would represent another historic moment for this club. 25 matches unbeaten at home is such an honor and would mean so much to FCR and its supporters. As always, I’ll be in the north end of the stadium right next to the England Flag so stop on over and say hi. See you at the #fortressryukyu!

Match Day 5 Recap: Montedio Yamagata 1 – 1 FCR 3/24/2019

FC Ryukyu was chasing history this week when they traveled to the Yamagata Prefecture to take on Montedio. Unfortunately, history will have to wait as the boys were able to earn a draw against a tough Yamagata side in less than ideal footballing conditions. Let’s not take anything away from the result because it is still positive points earned on the road in the early part the season that will pay dividends later this season. Also, it leaves FCR at the top of the J2 table when the other teams around them stumbled this weekend.

As mentioned above, the weather in Yamagata was around 40 degrees at kickoff with some wind and that’s pretty cold for a football match. For the first 15 minutes, FCR looked very sluggish while giving away the ball far too easily from bad passes. On the other hand, Yamagata looked up for it and created all the early chances in the match. I wrote in the match preview that #9 from Yamagata, Jefferson Baiano, would create all sorts of problems for the FCR back line and therefor it was Okazaki who drew the marking duties. While Okazaki performed admirably in the first half by keeping Baiano off the score sheet, it was evident that Baiano’s power would be too much for the two FCR center backs to handle all game.

FCRs first chance of the match came in the 18^th minute when Uesato found Nishioka on a cross from a corner kick but the ball took a weird bounce that seemed to surprise Nishioka and thus he couldn’t generate any power or accuracy for the header. A cheap giveaway by Montedio in the 21^st minute led to a long over the top ball from Uesato that was able to pick out the run of Suzuki. He initially split the two Yamagata CBs but his first touch took him out wide left and left him with a bad angle to shoot. He looked like he may have been fouled on the play but he was just losing his balance as his shot ultimately hit the side netting. Just one minute later, Yamagata was allowed to get one of their long balls over the top through to Baiano who overpowered Okazaki on his way to the net. Thankfully, he scuffed the shot and it rolled harmlessly wide to the right of Carvajal and over the touch line.

The remainder of the first half saw two more chances of note for FCR. First, Masutani was able to pick out Tokumoto on a very long cross from the FCR end. The Yamagata defender misjudged the ball in the air and this led to an opportunity for FCR. Tokumoto was all alone on his run into the left side of the Montedio box but instead of carrying the ball deep into the box, he opted to pass early back across the box and it was nearly intercepted by Yamagata. He was able to get the ball back but his cross was dealt with by Montedio. The second chance came from #6, Kazama, who had a ball fall to him near the top right part of the Yamagata 16-yard box but because of the bounce it took, he was only able to attempt a chip over the keeper that found the top netting.

FCR started the second half much better than the first and the game seemed to open up to both sides. Each side created a couple of chances in the first 15 minutes of the half but none threatened the goal. In the 62^nd minute, Tomidokoro was able to draw a foul in the box that gave FCR a PK. Before I go into the details surrounding the PK, I’ll admit that I didn’t see much in play that led to this being called a PK. The replays were not great from DAZN but I assume the Yamagata defender either pushed Tomidokoro from behind or took his feet out from underneath him, but I couldn’t see either. While I am a massive fan of FCR and it would be easy to simply not care since it ultimately led to my team being awarded a PK, I have to rightfully admit that it may not have been a penalty.

Things then took an interesting turn for both teams once Suzuki lined up over the ball. Suzuki’s attempt was a low shot just to the right of the keeper that the Yamagata goalie was able to stop. However, the goal keeper was yellow carded for coming off of his line too early and FCR was allowed to retake the kick. That call may have also been a bit harsh because I assume the referee could make that same call on 99% of all PKs taken but I’ve rarely seen it awarded. The ensuing chess match between Suzuki and the Yamagata goal keeper saw Suzuki shooting at the same spot, albeit a little harder, while the Yamagata keeper dove in the opposite direction. FCR 1-0.

This was the 5^th time in 5 matches that FCR was able to score first. Naturally, the match really opened up at this point and there were several chances by both sides. Baiano almost tied the game on a nice cross but his header went high over the bar. Kawai, who came on in place of Tomidokoro, miss hit a wide-open opportunity and then Uejo attempted a weak shot from the right side despite being sprung loose on a nice pass from Suzuki.

The last 7 minutes of the match were by far the most intense and saw Yamagata tie the match in the 87^th minute. A nice cross by #4 Miki wasn’t properly dealt with and a deflection came to Baiano, whose header bounced off the bar, and fell right to a Yamagata player, who was emerging from the carnage in front of Carvajal, who then calmly headed it into the back of the net. It was heartbreaking to concede a goal that late but that was the theme this weekend in the J2 were there were so many late goals that either sunk or saved a team.

Now, no one could fault FCR if they wished to secure the draw and see out the rest of the match by packing their own box and sending long clearances down range. To their credit, FCR never let up and they continued their attacking style of play that led to some of their best chances of the game.

In the 90^th minute Nishioka should’ve passed to a streaking Suzuki but he opted to shoot. Kawai had a chance in the 91^st minute but he could get any power behind his shot. Tanaka picked out #19, Ochi, whose header from a difficult angle surprised everyone when it hit the cross bar. Of course, these FCR chances came at a cost as Yamagata was able to create few of their own. The nerviest moment in stoppage time was a low hard shot on net by Montedio that was blocked and cleared out of danger. The final play of the match saw FCR streaking down the pitch on a counter attack with a serious man advantage but Suzuki took the shot himself and maybe missed Nishioka on his right who could’ve run free into the box and possibly passed to it someone who found themselves wide open. However, the Suzuki shot sailed high and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

There a few takeaways from the match that I noticed. First, FCR started very slow and their bad passing allowed far too many opportunities for Yamagata. I am not sure if it was the cold temperatures, the long travel or a combination of both but thank goodness this was the farthest trip East FCR will have to make all season barring any ridiculous scheduling for the Emperor’s Cup. Second, FCR did well to limit the amount of free kicks and corners by Yamagata but it was ultimately a free kick that once again was the undoing of FCR. Third, Baiano was a handful for the FCR defense and players with similar build and disposition will cause problems throughout the season for FCR. Fourth, Yamagata really attacked our left side today and was exploiting the lackluster performance on defense by Tokumoto. Tokumoto was rounded far too easily by the Yamagata mid fielders on several occasions and this led to multiple chances for the home team. Fifth, despite FCR having 59% possession on the day, a majority of that was in the FCR end. FCR, as predicted by me, created very few opportunities from open play and couldn’t exploit any of them for a goal. While this was to be expected from their opponent, it is a worrying a trend I see emerging. Yamagata really crowded the MF and FCR lacked any creativity to unlock Yamagata defense. On a much lighter note, the last thing I noticed was that Keita Tanaka is really good at employing the so called “dark arts” of football. Dark Arts are considered to be deception, diving and professional fouls and I enjoy watching him work every week. I say this because he was almost booked for simulation when he was able to make it look as if he was dragged down in the box but the referee saw Tanaka hook the arm of the Yamagata defender and bring him down on tip of him.

In closing, nothing but praise for a job well done by FCR who were able to get positive points on the road against a tough opponent in harsh weather conditions. It is easy to be critical of FCR for making mistakes but this is the path of a newly promoted team who has been consistently asserting themselves over stronger competition this season. There will be struggles for sure, but with those struggles comes experience, and it is better to be at the top of the table earning points than starring up at it from the bottom wondering where and when you will earn the points needed to stave off relegation.

Match Day 5 Preview: Montedio Yamagata vs FCR

Match Day Info: 03/24/2019 (H) Montedio Yamagata vs FCR (A) at the ND Soft Stadium (Tendo, Yamagata Prefecture) Kickoff at 1400

Well here we are folks, FC Ryukyu on the road in the Yamagata prefecture chasing history. This will be a tough test for FCR this week as they face a very good squad in Montedio and have to do so in less than optimal conditions.

Weather Forecast: The forecast calls for snow earlier in the day followed by 40-degree temperatures with a 13 mph wind at kickoff. The weather will get colder throughout the game and there is a 40% chance of snow, so if you’re planning on attending, bundle up with warm clothes.

For those of you that don’t know, FCR is on the verge of completing an historic first for the J League. FCR would be the first team ever to win 5 consecutive matches after being promoted. Teams that have come close to this record, 4 wins in a row, have also gone on to be promoted to the next tier in Japanese football in a short time. However, this Yamagata squad will present a very difficult challenge to FCR this week and when you factor in very cold conditions on the road, FCR has a large number of obstacles to overcome.

Yamagata Montedio: 5^th in J2 W3D0L1; Recent Form: LWWW. Formation: 3-4-2-1.

The start of the season saw Montedio play their first 3 matches on the road. They lost their opening match to FC Gifu 2-0 and then have gone on to win all three of their matches and shutting out their opponents each time in those games. The past few weeks have seen Yamagata severely limit the opportunities of their opponent and that is worrying trend for an FCR side that has conceded a majority of possession to their opponents the past few weeks.

Against Gifu they almost jumped out to an early lead but were unlucky when they hit the post. Early in the second half the Gifu GK made a fine save when he was called into action by a well taken shot from #4 Kai Miki. Montedio made two costly mistakes shortly thereafter when they were playing it out from the back as well as losing possession in their own half that resulted in two goals for FC Gifu.

Yamagata was able to convert two set pieces for goals on the road against Yokohama FC on a day in which it seemed, at least from some highlights, that Yokohama had a majority of the possession and chances. However, two well placed set pieces by #4 Miki found #11 Sakano resulting in two goals. The first took a deflection off the Yokohama defender but the second was a very clean header in the box.

Montedio’s match against Machida Zelvia was their third consecutive match away from home. Side note, I have enjoyed watching the promoted teams of Zweigen Kanazawa, Renofa Yamaguchi, Machida Zelvia, Oita Trinita and Tochigi throughout the years as promoted J3 clubs, but that discussion is for a later time. Yamagata almost got on the scoreboard inside the first 2 minutes when #4 Miki once again delivered a dangerous ball into the box that #13 Shuhei Otsuki steered just wide of the net. A breakdown at the back by Machida, followed by yet another dangerous cross by #4 Miki, resulted in the first goal by #6 Takumi Yamada in the 20^th minute. Early in the second half, Yamagata almost scored from a corner and should’ve been awarded a PK for the defenders use of his hand and arm while on the touchline. Montedio’s second goal came off of a nice little play where #14 Takuya Honda was able to control a cross with two little flicks of his right boot, followed by #6 Tatsuhiro Sakamato running past the sleeping Zelvia defenders and then slipping it past the GK ,who was probably expecting his defenders to deal with that softly hit ball in the box. Yamagata’s third and final goal, unsurprisingly, came from a corner kick delivered by #4 Miki that found #9 Jefferson Baiano at the edge of the 6-yard box after a deflection. Baiano then delivered a very powerful header past the keeper.

Montedio finally had their first home game of the season against Omiya Ardija on match day 4. Yamagata once again found themselves in a position to take an early lead when #9 Baiano’s hold up play resulted in #10 Haruya Ide taking a very nice shot in which the Omiya GK had to make a quality save. The only goal of the game came from a PK when #9 Baiano overpowered the Omiya defenders and was dragged down inside the box with the ball. He converted the PK despite the Omiya GK getting his hands on it as it squeezed underneath him into the net. Omiya nearly tied the game during extra time in the first half but Yamagata were saved when the Ardija FW hit the post after rounding the keeper on a deflection. Omiya had two more chances on net late but it was the fine save by #21 Masatoshi Kushibiki off an Omiya header that secured the victory for Yamagata.

The worrying trend, at least from my vantage point, is that Yamagata only allows a few opportunities for their opponent to strike. FC Gifu was able to convert cheap giveaways into goals but Yokohoma FC were very wasteful with their opportunities considering they had the most chances of any of the teams I watched vs Yamagata. Machida Zelvia’s attack went missing for long periods of time and simply fell asleep the remainder of the match. Omiya had 3, maybe 3.5 chances but only really tested the keeper twice.

Players to Watch from Montedio Yamagata: #4 MF Kai Miki: Has a very nice shot but most importantly, he is top quality on set pieces. He delivers very nice, and very dangerous, set pieces and corners. #11 FW Toyofumi Sakano, scored both of Yamagata’s goals against Yokohama from set pieces provided by Miki. #9 Jefferson Baiano: Powerful FW that has scored in consecutive matches.

FC Ryukyu: 1^st Place in J2; W4L0D0. Recent Form: WWWW. Formation 4-2-3-1.

The local lads are riding high and carrying some serious momentum into their 5^th match of the season. FCR’s most recent victory saw them having to dig out a hard earned three points from a tough Tokushima Vortis side at home. Every week of the J2 season presents a new challenge to FCR but their early string of victories, and the manner in which they won them, has to be instilling a sense of confidence so desperately required for newly promoted sides.

FCR welcomed back both Masutani and Tomidokoro to the starting lineup last week and it was great to see them out there in the Bengara Red and Gold. Both looked a little rusty from their time away and it’s great they got that out of their system heading into a tough match up this week. I haven’t received any updates as to the status of Uejo after he was subbed off early in the second half against Tokushima from what looked to be a foot injury stemming from a scuffed shot.

Keys to FCR Victory: Really only two things can be said: 1.) FCR must maximize the limited opportunities Yamagata allows and 2.), FCR cannot not give up too many set pieces and corners. Unfortunately, FC Ryukyu’s’ style of play naturally tends to invite pressure by giving up set pieces and corners at the rapid rate. For those of us that have been following FCR all year it is evident that set pieces have been our Achilles heel. #4 Miki from Yamagata is lethal from set pieces and corners and I fear that when you combine #9 Baiano’s power in the box, it may be too much for FCR to handle.

Maybe the key to unlocking Yamagata should be changing the FCR lineup slightly to a 4-3-2-1 formation whereas FCR starts Fukui and Okazaki at center back so we have height, speed and power to deal with Yamagata’s height and power, and then FCR inserts another CDMF that can stop attacks as well as begin counter attacks. I doubt this will happen but will check the starting lineups, like all of you, at about 40 minutes prior to kick off to see how FCR is set up.

If there is a slight weakness to the Yamagata Side it may be their central defenders because it seems that the chances most sides got against Yamagata came from that area. This means #9 Suzuki must make hard runs against these two and then ask very tough questions of the Montedio goal keeper with well-aimed shots on net. The Yamagata GK hasn’t been asked to do much the past couple of weeks so FCR must be surgical when in the Montedio box. We have scored the most goals so far in J2 and if FCR hope to achieve a favorable result against Yamagata on the road, this trend will certainly need to continue.

Game Prediction: As evidenced by my last few entries I am not great at game predictions. As was the case for the last two matches, FCR has surprised me along with their opponents. With that in mind, I offer the following tiers of results for this match up.

Tier 4 Catastrophic Failure: FCR is absolutely demolished on the road from set pieces and the goal margin is greater than 2 in favor of Yamagata.

Tier 3 Respectable Result: FCR loses the match by only 1 goal. This could come in any form and would demonstrate resolve on the part of FCR as well as adding to their steep learning curve of the J2.

Tier 2 Favorable Outcome: FCR draws this match with any score line. Positive points on the road in a tough setting against a tough team is always great. Possibly sets up another historic moment for FCR the following week.

Tier 1 Historic Moment: FCR wins and sets a new J League record, massive for the club and community of Okinawa, enough said.

That’s it for Match Day 5. Come on BOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Match Day 4 Recap: FCR 2 – 1 Tokushima Vortis 3/16/2019

FC Ryukyu did not disappoint the 3,500 fans with their performance on a very cool Saturday night at the Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium. The result has once again thrust FCR to the top of the J2 table, prior to the remainder of the J2 matches today, but more importantly it has moved FCR one step closer to remaining in the J2 for the 2020 season.

FCR came out in their typical 4-2-3-1 formation and we welcomed back Masutani and Tomidokoro to the starting lineup. It was a very nice gesture by Nakagawa to say thank you to the fans and good bye prior to the match but it can’t be understated that his presence will be sorely missed throughout the season.

As expected, Tokushima got off to a fast start in their 3-4-3 formation, which lasted 2/3 of the first half. The opening 15 minutes provided a few moments of action when Tomidokoro was gifted a free shot on net by Vortis in the 7th minute when their goal keeper slipped on a free kick, however, Tomidokoro hit the post. Vortis had a tremendous opportunity in the 16^th minute to take the lead but Okazaki made a well-timed slide tackle in the 6-yard box preventing an open shot on net. In the 30^th minute Vortis almost took the lead again when they hit the post but after that the momentum swung in the direction of FCR.

FCR broke the deadlock in the 34^th minute with another opening Uejo goal. Initially I thought it was a lovely little chip over the head of the keeper but after watching several replays, I see he was once again trying to send a cross into the 6-yard box similar to his goal against Ehime last week. I don’t care though as it put FCR up 1-0 heading into half time and it was a vital goal.

Vortis started out fast again in the second half and they were able to equalize in the 47^th minute from a set piece. FCR defends well against the run of open play but seems to struggle from set pieces this season. This is something they can fix on the training ground but we’ll have to watch closely all year to see if they improve. It seemed inevitable that Vortis was going to score from a set piece in this game since FCR conceded 9 corner kicks and 16 free kicks throughout the match.

Both teams had some opportunities and chances from then on but it was FCR that again broke the deadlock in the 75^th minute and went ahead. Kawai was able to get around the left side of the defense and take a hard shot on net that led to a rebound off the keeper followed by the thunderous tap in by Nishioka. He was visibly excited to score and it all but made up for his poor performance last week vs Ehime, as evidenced by his celebration.

The remaining 15 minutes of the match were very intense and Carvajal made some nice saves to see out the FCR victory.

Some Key Takeaways from the Match: 1.) I mentioned in the preview that we needed to apply pressure to Vortis when they are playing out from the back and it nearly paid off when Yu was gifted a golden opportunity early on that we couldn’t convert. 2.) As expected, we had to weather the early Vortis storm and it resulted in FCR scoring in the 34^th minute. 3.) I wrote that FCR needed to use speed to get cause problems to the Vortis defense down the left side, and it was Kawai who provided the much needed change of pace and attacking down the Vortis left side that resulted in the winning goal. 4.) Uejo seems to have hurt his foot when he scuffed a shot late in the first half and needed to be subbed off early in the second half. Let’s hope for a speedy recovery for this rapidly developing player. 5.) Kawai needs to use his speed more when taking on the opposing players. There were a few times when he had possession that he could’ve drawn some fouls or at least made life difficult for Vortis but he opted to pull up and pass. In the end it didn’t matter because he made it count when FCR needed the breakthrough. 6.) What may go unnoticed in this match, since he didn’t score, was the hold up play and passing in the box by Suzuki. The effort he put in to constantly battle the Vortis Center Backs and gain possession for FCR was outstanding. On a day where he only got free for a few shots it was his hold play and passing that set Kawai free down the left side for the winning play.

Well, that’s it from me as I head out on holiday. FC Ryukyu has a chance at writing their name into the J League history books next week on the road against Yamagata if they win. A fifth victory in a row by a newly promoted side will be the first time that feat has ever been accomplished in the J League. Teams that have had similar starts to their season as FCR have gone on to be promoted to the next league rather quickly a majority of the time; but before we get ahead of ourselves, please keep in mind that Yamagata will present the hardest challenge yet for the early FCR season. This will be no easy match for FCR so I hope a lot of FC Ryukyu fans on the main island of Japan show up to support our boys. Later!