2019

Intro

Not the sort of performance you were hoping for coming off of 5 games unbeaten by FC Ryukyu but nonetheless, the side suffered another heavy defeat, this time in front of the home crowd of 4,800 on Saturday. The loss, while infuriating, does not put FC Ryukyu in any worse of position than they started match day 36. While that may sound encouraging, it seems the team took a big step backwards on Saturday night with that performance and I hope its simply a one-off rather than indicative of future performances.

Match Recap

When you are pasted 5-1 at home there is not much to report on, however, I am sure it was enjoyable for both the neutral and casual football fan with all those goals. The overall sense I gleaned form the match was that FC Ryukyu were not able to capitalize on their opportunities whereas Tokyo Verdy did just that. Verdy’s first goal came in the 25^th minute of the first half but FC Ryukyu had lenty chances of their own and were never outmatched by the Verdy defense. Again, it was just poor finishing in front of goal that sunk this side on Saturday. Yu flashed just high of the goal and then in typical fashion of matches like this one, Verdy hit us on a counter for a 2-0 lead.

Most of Verdy’s goals this past Saturday followed a very distinct pattern. Verdy were able to pull apart our defense with quick, accurate passes back across the pitch to change the direction of attack. FC Ryukyu could simply not recover in time to defend against the open attacker which lead to wide open looks on net. The second Verdy goal saw Torikai getting caught flat footed on a run by a Verdy attacker followed with a long over the top ball that Koike was able to get underneath and rip past our defense for a breakaway on Dany. The second Verdy goal was followed in quick succession by a 3^rd when once again, the Ryukyu defense was caught out and though Dany may have done better to get a hand to it and deflect it away from goal, the ball went slightly underneath his arm and into the bottom left corner of goal.

FC Ryukyu came out strong to start the second half and Uejo scored one of the goals of the year from a shot from distance. It was the type of shot that left the Verdy Goal Keeper completely stunned and immobilized as he assumed it was going high over the bar. Instead, the ball had so much dip on it, it went over the keeper and just inside the cross bar where it bounced off the crossbar and into the bottom of the net. Simply amazing. Uejo also had another opportunity from distance that tested the Verdy keeper and he made an awkward save on it to basically chest it out of bounds so I assume there was some swerve and dip on that shot from Uejo as well.

While that gave a flicker of hope for the home crowd, that flame was extinguished very quickly by a Verdy goal 4 minutes later on a counter attack and the fifth in the 69^th minute. The match ended 5-1 and there isn’t much more to recap.

Starting Lineups & Subs for Match Day 36. Courtesy of the J League website.

Lots of red on the right (wrong!) side. Courtesy of the J League website.

Man of the Match

#19 MF Junki Kokie of Tokyo Verdy. Bagged a hat-trick and was devastating to the Ryukyu defense.

Review of FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory for Match Day 36

1. Score from Corner Kicks. FAIL. Obviously since our only goal was from the open run of play by Uejo. However, FC Ryukyu looked better on corner kicks with deliveries from both Koya and Shinji. Their delivery is far better than I have seen on these normal set pieces and hopefully FC Ryukyu will be able to grab a goal or two from a CK in the near future.

2. Hammer Verdy on the Counter Attack. PASS. Uejo’s goal began with a Verdy giveaway in their end and FC Ryukyu were able to hit them on the break. The irony is, Verdy were more aggressive and more lethal in their counter attacks all night.

Match Day 36 Prediction

Of course, predict a FC Ryukyu 2-1 victory and get rewarded with a 5-1 drubbing.

Match Day 36 Takeaways

1. The defensive performance was particularly poor on Saturday and watching Verdy pull us apart on what seemed to be “training ground practice stuff” was hard to watch. Ryukyu defenders were often caught flat footed and Verdy were able to exploit that with deep runs past our defenders and onto long over the top balls. Ryukyu didn’t have the speed to match Verdy and this resulted in several breakaways and free looks on net. Also, the Ryukyu defenders would pinch in and leave our flanks exposed to runs, passes and crosses. Verdy showed the rest of the league how to quickly and repeatedly unlock our defense so this needs to be addressed in the near term before we see out the season with 6 straight losses.

2. Tokumotu did his bet, the combo of Pariaba and Klebinho were too much for one man to handle. In fact, he wasn’t getting much help over the top. It was a good battle to watch but we need some better defending from our mid fielders.

Match Day 36 around J2

The typhoon forced some matches to be abandoned or rescheduled and there were some interesting results this past extended match day 36 weekend.

*Still a ton to play for the top 9 sides in the table. Courtesy of J League website.*

Coming down to a photo finish at the bottom. Courtesy of J League website.

Conclusion

Best to erase this loss from everyone’s memory and move on. FC Ryukyu have 2 home game remaining against Omiya and Kyoto and hopefully we’ll be able to celebrate this sides one last time at home with a win but it looks like a long shot at this point. However, we could, and should, be celebrating some FC Ryukyu road wins the remainder of the campaign. FC Ryukyu are on the road this Sunday against Tochigi SC in a very winnable game that would once again seal safety for the boys.

“Verdy. Vidi. Vici.” Match Day 36 Preview: FC Ryukyu vs. Tokyo Verdy 10/12/2019

Intro

Normally I’d begin with some words about each side and what the outlook is for FC Ryukyu but I’d be wrong in not wishing all those affected by the typhoon slamming into mainland Japan. Stay safe, and I wish you the best from all of us here in Okinawa.

Now, down to business. FC Ryukyu come into match day 36 riding a 5-game unbeaten streak. A feat, which many us haven’t seen since the start of the season, that has propelled FC Ryukyu out of the danger zone and into a place many would consider “respectable” for a first year J2 club. Well, to hell with them I say! FC Ryukyu are all about breaking norms so keep pressing boys and aim higher. Never be content with the status quo.

Weather Forecast

Windy. 15 mph (24KMH) expected throughout the match.

Previous Meeting Recap

A very nice back and forth game during Match Day 9 where FC Ryukyu conceded in the first half, followed by Dany making an amazing PK save after bloodying his nose and ending with a Uesato cracking one-timer in the very depths of stoppage time to equalize. Tokyo Verdy 1-1 FC Ryukyu.

Tokyo Verdy

Tokyo Verdy enter this weekends fixture having lost 3 in a row. Something they have not done all season. When Verdy lost 2 in a row, they usually responded with a win or a draw so this is somewhat of an uncharted territory for the visitors. I am not quite sure what has happened to this once proud club, considering I was there in July when they fought back against Ehime and looked good in the process. Maybe a combination of transfers out or injures? The notable loss was that of FW Hayashi to Zelvia but he’s been replaced by #11 Paraiba and #31 Klebinho, who are both forces to be reckoned with and ones that will certainly test the FC Ryukyu back line.

Verdy went 1W1D3L in their last 5 matches. Paraiba had a bit of a coming out party when he announced his presence with authority against Yamaguchi where he contributed on all 4 Verdy goals that day. Verdy would’ve entered match day 36 riding a 4-game losing streak if it wasn’t for Niigata wasting golden opportunities in the last few minutes of their game that ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw.

The current losing streak began with a 2-0 loss to Omiya where Verdy surrendered 2 goals from set pieces. Verdy then ran into the Kashiwa Reysol buzz saw losing 3-0 and culminating the losing steak with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Okayama.

FC Ryukyu

The 5-game unbeaten streak, with 2 of them being wins, speaks volumes for how this team has recovered from what looked to be a lost cause a few months ago. Sitting at 40 points and 11 points clear of the drop, FC Ryukyu need to see out a few more fixtures -albeit winnable or at the very least with opportunities to earn a draw – and they will be playing J2 football in 2020. The line is set at match day 38 if nothing changes from now until then.

This is not to say the side should relax and set the cruise controls. On the contrary, they need to press onward for a strong finish to drive up attendance while simultaneously getting a look at some of the youth we have in the reserves. A win, coupled with a loss by the bottom 3 this weekend, who all have much tougher match-ups than FC Ryukyu, would pretty much seal it and we can then all breathe a sigh of relief.

Injuries and/or Suspensions

FC Ryukyu: Possibly without the services of Shinji Ono following an ankle injury he picked up last week against Avispa Fukuoka.

Tokyo Verdy: Could be without one of their top scorers in Leonardo who was listed as injured with no timetable for return.

Keys to FC Ryukyu Victory

1. Score from Corner Kicks. Easier said then done. I can appreciate your sentiments as FC Ryukyu have been lackluster from corners all season. However, Verdy surrendered at least 4 goals in their last 5 games from corner kicks so if we can get multiple chances, maybe we can crack that egg.

2, Hammer Verdy on the counter attack. This one requires some speed being in the FC Ryukyu lineup but Verdy have real trouble defending quick counter attacks. Kawai, Kozumi, Uejo, Ramon could all feast on these. Is Higuchi watching the same tape I am to see this vulnerability?

Match Prediction

Not the same Tokyo Verdy squad and a chance to win, do I? Or do I do the reverse psychology thing and predict an unfavorable outcome resulting in an actual favorable outcome? Don’t be scared right? FC Ryukyu 2-1 Tokyo Verdy.

Important Match Day 36 Fixtures in J2

Conclusion

There has been some noise and distraction from the proposed new FC Ryukyu stadium presser at the end of the week but let’s put all that behind us and focus on Verdy. The players cannot build the stadium, only the club and its management along with whatever businesses and investors bought stake in the club. If they fail us, so be it. The players have been the one constant all season and they have responded admirably to some serious adversity. Boys, bring it home, give Okinawa something memorable these last 3 home matches. Love Ya.

“Lordy, Lordy, Look who’s at 40!” Match Day 35 Report: Avispa Fukuoka 0-1 FC Ryukyu 10/5/2019

Intro

It took 217 days and 2 hours but FC Ryukyu have finally won their second road game this season. FC Ryukyu sealed the win via a 90^th minute goal by none other than Uehara. Uehara has scored some huge goals for the club this campaign, and his latest helped put to bed one of the longest winless runs by any J2 side away from home this season. However, the job isn’t done and FC Ryukyu need to see out the upcoming fixtures to guarantee their safety.

Match Recap

FC Ryukyu came out quickly and controlled a majority of the play in the opening 20 minutes of the first half. The only problem was the FC Ryukyu attack couldn’t break down the Avispa back line and often our attacks would stall out near the top of the 18-yard box. Then the momentum swung in the direction of Fukuoka beginning in the 23^rd minute.

Fukuoka really enjoyed acres of space with plenty of time down our right side, their left and had four attempts from there within 7 or 8 minutes. They nearly opened the scoring had it not been for the cross being slightly behind the Fukuoka attacker, who was alone on goal. The give-and-go passes Fukuoka were executing in this stretch really opened up the shooting lanes and Ryukyu were lucky that the shots were either miss hit or off target. Fukuoka were also a bit lucky in this half to not have a player sent off.

Their forward #9, Yang Donghyen was lucky not be carded after a heated exchange with the referee. Yang was lucky the referee showed tremendous restraint because technically this infraction warranted a yellow card. Yang was also involved in a horribly timed challenge in the opening minutes that should’ve seen his first yellow card. Regardless, the game proceeded on and Dany Carvajal was called into action to maintain the 0-0 score line.

Dany made 2 really nice saves within a span of 2 minutes to keep the score level. The first save included a save from the initial shot and then recovery to collect a deflection that was heading in for an own goal. The second, was one of his best this season when Fukuoka once again had a free look on net and despite Dany diving in the opposite direction, he got an arm to the shot to deflect it out of bounds for a corner kick. The half would end 0-0 thanks to this man.

Much how the first half ended with Fukuoka on the front foot, the second half started the same way. Tokumoto had a great opportunity to put FC Ryukyu in front when he was left wide open down the left side and alone in the box with only the keeper to beat in the 61st minute. It seems Tokumoto opted for power over placement with the shot and the hard struck ball went straight into the side netting. Though Ryukyu failed to score at that moment, it resulted in a shift of momentum back in Ryukyu’s direction.

The introduction of Koizumi quickly saw an uptick in chances for Ryukyu. Ryukyu were flashing in front of goal but couldn’t get anything on net or past Serantes, who had already made a tremendous first half save on Koya. Uejo was fouled inside the box but a call by ref never came so the game headed into the last 10 minutes plus stoppage time.

Right after Uehara came on in the 80th minute, Yamada had a free look on net from the left side. However, his shot, much like Tokumoto’s, missed and the score remained level. It wasn’t until the 89^th minute when a Fukuoka player mishandled a clearance with his hand leading to an FC Ryukyu free kick deep in Fukuoka territory.

The free kick was unspectacular but when Fukuoka attempted to clear it from danger, it fell to Kazama who recycled the ball back into the box where there players from both sides everywhere. After the ball took a few deflections, it landed at the feet of Uehara who was alone near the 6-yard box and sent a low screamer to the bottom right corner of the Avispa goal past the diving Serantes. Ryukyu would now need to see out the remaining stoppage time in order to achieve their first victory on the road in well over 7 months. Luckily there was only 3 nervy minutes of stoppage time though Fukuoka never really threatened the Ryukyu goal and then bedlam ensued, at least from where I was watching the match.

Man of the Match

Dany Carvajal GK FC Ryukyu. Dany recorded his second shutout in consecutive weeks and was one of the main reasons why FC Ryukyu were able to walk away from Fukuoka with all 3 points. There were 2 highlight reel saves that everyone should watch for validation of Dany’s performance on Saturday.

Review of the FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

1. Exploit Avispa’s weakness at defending passes emanating from our deep lying MF. FAIL. FC Ryukyu attempted only a handful of these and none were on the mark. Avispa really packed it in at the back and made life difficult for the FC Ryukyu attack.

2. Pressure the Avispa back line with quick passes. FAIL. FC Ryukyu just couldn’t unlock the stingy Avispa defense on Saturday. The Ryukyu attack would often become to narrow and bog down near the top of the box. There were too many attempts at dribbling through the defenders instead of passing around them this past week.

3. Finish off drives with goals. FAIL/PASS. FC Ryukyu were never really able to finish off drives due to the fact that they only had 3 opportunities in front of the Avispa goal. The lone goal came from a recycled set piece near then end of the match.

4. Defend against Fukouka’s tendency to attack down their right side, FC Ryukyu’s left side. PASS. But only because Fukuoka found fertile hunting grounds down the left side of the Ryukyu defense. All of Fukuoka’s quality chances started down our left and you could see Fukuoka attempting to send a long cross into the box with the intent of having the striker head it back across goal or back out to waiting attacker in 6/18-yard box. Luckily for FC Ryukyu, Fukuoka were never able to capitalize on any of these attempts.

Match Day Prediction

I predicted 1-1 and was once again proven wrong. However, Fukuoka had their opportunities and nearly got on the score sheet on Saturday but all we care about is the 3 points.

Match Day 35 Takeaways

1. A Win, finally! This was a huge boost to the clubs hopes of staying in the J2 for next season and it has put some serious pressure on the teams below them in the bottom 3. It was nice to see Ryukyu break a ridiculously long win-less streak on the road and hopefully this will propel them throughout the rest of the season.

2. FC Ryukyu may have lost Shinji Ono to an ankle injury after the mid-fielder picked up a knock on his ankle late in the first half. The injury was severe enough to warrant a half time substitution by Higuchi and Shinji was seen with a large ice bag taped to his ankle on the bench.

3. It seems Highuchi is content with bringing on Kazama for Shinji and Uehara for one of the FC Ryukyu attackers in recent matches. And why not, as it has proven fruitful. This means FC Ryukyu only have 1 opportunity per game, to bring on an attacking player such as Kawai, Ramon – if match fit- or even Koizumi. It also means that FC Ryukyu cannot get a good look at their younger players with such limited opportunities late in games. At some point, FC Ryukyu will be safe from relegation and need to start seeing what they have in the reserves for the 2020 season because this will greatly influence their approach to transfers this off-season. Personally, I’d like to see what the attacking line of Uejo, Kawai, Koizumi and Koya could produce before 2 of those players return home. I think we can all assume with a great deal of confidence, that FC Ryukyu are likely to lose Uejo to a J1 or larger club this off-season and therefore, the club really needs to take a hard look at their prospects with the remaining games this season.

Match Day 35 around the J2 League

About 10 teams still vying for promotion to J1 with 7 matches remaining. From the J League website.

Different story down at the bottom with FC Gifu in real trouble, Tochigi looking to drag Kagoshima down, who, are trying to avoid relegation in their first J2 season. J League website.

Conclusion

It felt really good to watch FC Ryukyu finally earn all 3 points on the road. The experience was made even more memorable, as I was able to watch the match in the company of several FC Ryukyu fans at a public viewing party. I have attended a couple of these events throughout the season, along with some away matches, and they have felt more like funerals vice a party atmosphere. But all of that is in the past and FC Ryukyu sit at 40 points with a chance to end the season on a high note. Though we sit 10 points shy of the halfway mark in the table (11th place), it is not out of the realm of possibilities for FC Ryukyu to claw their way back up to the top half of the table. There is no doubt that the club have generated some serious momentum following a run of 5 games unbeaten and with a little more luck, we could find ourselves in a part of the table that we haven’t seen for some time.

“Pest Control” Match Day 35 Preview: Avispa Fukuoka vs FC Ryukyu 10/5/2019

Intro

Avispa Fukuoka and FC Ryukyu square off this weekend in a crucial, 6-point relegation match at the bottom of the J2 table. It was FC Ryukyu who got the better of Avispa the last time these two teams met when they opened the J2 season in February. But this is a very different FC Ryukyu team who is traveling for the second week in a row and who has yet to earn a win on the road in quite some time.

Fukuoka’s lineup from that opening fixture has remained largely intact with the exception of an occasional injury or player being dropping to the bench. Whereas Ryukyu have made 5 changes to the starting lineup that bested Fukuoka 3-1 to start the season. Avispa enter match day 35 having secured 7 points from their previous 5 fixtures with FC Ryukyu bringing a 4-game unbeaten streak to the Kyushu prefecture. Only 2 points, and 2 positions in the table separate these two sides so this is going to be a massive bottom of the table tilt on Saturday.

Weather Forecast

The weather looks great with little prospect of rain.

Avispa Fukuoka

Avispa went 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses over the course of their last five fixtures. Their win against Ehime FC was quite impressive and seemed to be sparked by a spectacular save by their foreign goal keeper Serantes. Fukuoka scored 3 of the best goals I saw from them in the review and looked like a team that was getting ready to storm back up the table and out of the relegation scrap. However, they followed the Ehime victory with a 1-0 loss to Nagasaki. In a game where Fukuoka had a majority of chances, Nagasaki caught the Avispa back line napping with a surgical pass to Hirota Goya who scored his 18^th goal of the season.

Fukuoka rebounded nicely to win 1-0 on the road against another opponent seeking to get out of the relegation zone, Tochigi SC. Fukuoka where then lucky to earn a late draw against Okayama after on-loan FC Ryukyu defender, Masutani, fouled a Fukuoka attacker in the box and gave Avispa a PK to tie the match. Avispa’s most recent match against Renofa Yamaguchi ended 2-0 in favor of Renofa despite another highlight reel save by Serantes.

On paper and on film, FC Ryukyu and Avispa Fukuoka look like two very similar teams. Each have a strong goal keeper and both have questions in defense. Both teams can score some beautiful goals while also suffering through patches of goalless games and little creativity. Fukuoka, like FC Ryukyu, are prone to some mental mistakes with the occasional lapse of concentration at the back that can allow opponents to get on the front foot. The only real difference I see between the sides is that while FC Ryukyu have suffered some heavy defeats with score lines of +4 goals conceded, Fukuoka have not. However, Fukuoka have been shut out in many more matches this season than FC Ryukyu.

FC Ryukyu

FC Ryukyu are in the midst of their longest winning streak since the one they opened the season with that included 4 straight wins and 2 draws. Unbeaten in 4 and looking to separate themselves from the bottom 4, FC Ryukyu are desperate for a positive result on the road this weekend. It is no secret that FC Ryukyu own one of the worst, if not the worst, road records in J2 this season. 1 win, 5 draws, 8 points out of a possible 48 and no wins since match day 2 way back in March. Despite all of that, things are looking up for FC Ryukyu on the road.

FC Ryukyu have drawn their last 2 matches on the road that includes a come from behind draw at Kanazawa. While we all would’ve loved to see FC Ryukyu take all 3 points last week at 19^th placed Zelvia, an improvement in the road form is a welcoming sign heading into the last 2 months of the season. Keep in mind that FC Ryukyu play only 3 out of the final 8 matches at home so road points are massive. One reason for the new found success should be attributed to the change in the FC Ryukyu lineup. Shinji’s presence in the deep lying mid field, coupled with the presence of Koya Kazama in the attack, has provided the much-needed structure Ryukyu were missing during their rough stretch of games this summer. With that said, FC Ryukyu will need both of these players, along with Uejo, Koizumi, Kawai and Ramon, to be firing on all cylinders this weekend to secure all 3 points.

Injuries/Suspensions

Avispa Fukuoka will be with out #16 MF, Ishizu Daisuke this weekend as he tore his Right ACL back in early July. I do not know of any suspended players for Fukuoka this weekend.

FC Ryukyu are reporting no injuries or suspensions this week.

FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

1. Exploit Avispa’s weakness at defending passes that emanate from the deep lying Mid Fielders. A majority of the goals I witnessed Fukuka concede for this review were of this nature. This was also a strength of FC Ryukyu against Renofa and Kanazawa but one which they failed to employ successfully against Zelvia. Shinji, Yu, Uesato, Koya and even Tokumoto and Torikai can all unlock the Fukuoka defense with precision passing through the central defense of Avispa.

2. Pressure the Fukuoka back line with quick passes in and around the top of the box. Avispa seem very disorganized at the back and often get caught ball watching. This often leads to opposing attackers being left alone and unmarked in the 18-yard box. This sets up well for the Ryukyu if they make quality runs and can find the open spaces between the Fukuoka defenders.

3. Finish off drives. Fukuoka have one of the best goal keepers in J2 in Serantes. The goal keepers’ performance this season is a large reason why Fukuoka are not farther down the table. Ryukyu will need to be clinical in front of goal even if they get behind the Fukuoka defense as this man has proven to be a stalwart in net.

4. Defend against Fukuoka’s tendency to attack down their right side. A majority of the attacks for Avispa in the 5 matches I watched were down the right side. The play that worked the best seemed to be the one where; their RWB would cross a pass over the immediate defender and CB; thus leaving the remaining CB to cover the run of the Fukuoka striker; and leave a slight gap at the top of the box for the CAM to pick up the ball and have a free look on net. Knowing that, it would require Uesato or Ono to track back and cover the top of the box to prevent any dangerous shots on net.

Match Prediction

I feel another 1-1 draw is on the horizon.

Interesting Facts

J2 Match Day 35 Fixtures of Note

Conclusion

These two evenly matched sides are producing some solid results in the short term that should help their long term prospects of staying in the J2 for 2020. Avispa are no slouches and could easily run the score up on Ryukyu tomorrow if the Okinawa side starts slow and never gets going.

However, a win is close to coming and it will feel like such a relief for this side when it does. But the sooner the better. Starting last week against Machida, FC Ryukyu’s next 4 road fixtures include; Avispa, Tochigi, Yamaguchi and Ehime. Certainly, a win can be found in there somewhere along with enough points to reach safety if FC Ryukyu can maintain their current form. Safe travels for all the FC Ryukyu fans heading to Fukuoka this Saturday and good luck to the boys.

“Status Quo Intact” Match Day 34 Report: Machida Zelvia 0-0 FC Ryukyu 9/29/2019

And the streaks continue! Machida Zelvia are still without a win at home and FC Ryukyu are still without a win on the road since March. Impressive or Depressing?

There really is not much to summarize from the 0-0 draw that played out this past Sunday. Both Zelvia and Ryukyu looked dominant during parts of the match and it really was a game of missed opportunities by both sides. Zelvia created some trouble for our back line and their best chance rang off the post. Ryukyu’s best chance came off a header where Uejo went horizontal on a shot that ended up being saved by the keeper. Had he struck the ball down there is a chance it could of crept by the keeper on the bounce but it’s hard to criticize a guy who’s making a tremendous effort from that height, with little prep time for where he wants to place the shot.

Man of the Match

Dany Carvajal. The FC Ryukyu GK kept a clean sheet for the 4^th time this season and the draw extended FC Ryukyu’s current unbeaten run to 4 games. Dany made some quality saves throughout the game and is large reason why FC Ryukyu were able to secure a point on the road. His good form will be key to the club’s success in the coming weeks.

Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Play the match exactly as you did against Yamagata. FAIL. FC Ryukyu failed to score against an inferior opponent on the road as has been the case many times this season. They created some opportunities but should’ve really departed Tokyo on Sunday with all 3 points.

2. Continue the penetrating runs and precision passing from our deep lying MFs. FAIL. Didn’t see much of this at all during the match. This could be attributed to Zelvia anticipating this type of play by Ryukyu and defending against it, or, FC Ryukyu not wanting to get caught on the counter. Either way, it was shame as the FC Ryukyu bench has some speed that can exploit defenses and is necessary for each game going forward.

Match Prediction

I said 1-1 and it ended 0-0. Not much else to say on that.

Key Takeaways from Match Day 34

1. FC Ryukyu are unbeaten in 4 and this their longest unbeaten run since the start of the season. That is huge as most of us were probably anticipating fits and spurts for points going forward. Mainly in the form of the occasional win but every little bit helps. But yeah, a win on the road would be oh so nice.

2. It almost felt if either side were playing “not to lose” this past Sunday despite some of the near misses. The Kazama substitution for Shinji – which is what has occurred nearly every match to date- seemed like Higuchi never really wanted to go for the win and expose himself or our defense. Kazama is one of the Ryukyu CDM and with Koizumi starting, and both Ramon and Kawai match fit, why not put in an extra attacker and try to get something out of this match?

3. Neither side was luckier than the other on Sunday. Zelvia hit the post and Ryukyu nearly won the match on the last play when a header from a CK was just wide of the Zelvia left post. Guess what I am trying to say is that both sides will fell as if they let 3 points slip away on Sunday.

Conclusion

FC Ryukyu’s October schedule includes an away match to 18^th placed Fukuoka this week, followed by a home game against Tokyo Verdy (13^th place), a trip to 21^st placed Tochigi SC and then their next to last home game this season against promotion seeking side Omiya Ardija. On one hand, there are plenty of revenge game narratives this month as FC Ryukyu beat 3 out of the 4 sides they face this month as well as earned a late game draw against Verdy from a spectacular Uesato shot. On the other, there is also plenty of opportunity for FC Ryukyu to solidify their place in the J2 for 2020 with some favorable results. 5 points from the 4 matches would put FC Ryukyu at 42 points which has been touted as the magic number this year. Of course, as you all know by now, all that needs to happen is for FC Ryukyu to win a game or two on the road.

Photo Credits

Cover: William Gallagher from the FC Ryukyu Kanto Area Foreign Supporters Group

Dany Carvajal from JLeague website

“Hard Days Knight” Match Day 33 Report: FC Ryukyu 3-3 Montedio Yamagata 9/23/2019

Intro

FC Ryukyu engineered a thrilling comeback against #2, Montedio Yamagata, this past Monday that also propelled FC Ryukyu back up to 15^th place in the J2 table. The draw also keeps FC Ryukyu 8 points clear of the drop zone with 9 games remaining. It was a vital point considering that many results in the league did not go FC Ryukyu’s way this past weekend. Draws by Fukuoka, Chiba and Zelvia, coupled together with a Tochigi victory over Kagoshima resulted in FC Ryukyu dropping to 18^th in the table at the time of kickoff. While many, including this author, didn’t give FC Ryukyu much of a chance at earning a positive result in the match, it was encouraging to see the side play much better than they did in the previous month.

First Half

The opening 15 minutes of the match saw FC Ryukyu and Yamagata trading chances but Yamagata’s were far more accurate than those of FC Ryukyu. Ishii, who started in place of the injured Dany Carvajal, was called into action twice in the first 11 minutes. On the flip side, Uejo’s two shots from distance, where way off target and never troubled the Yamagata keeper. In the 30^th minute, FC Ryukyu achieved a breakthrough when they opened the scoring from on-loan striker, Hiroto Yamada.

Considering that Yamagata had shut out their opponent in half of their games this season, this was a significant goal. Hiroto got on the end of a long through ball by Yuya Torikai following a darting run through the Yamagata central defense. He then took a nice touch on the ball inside the 18-yard box, dragging the ball back across the defender while simultaneously pulling the Yamagata goal keeper out farther to cut down the shooting angle. Yamada then shot back across Kushibiki, who had all his weight on his right side, and Kushibiki could only extend an arm to the shot which deflected into the right corner of the goal.

The remaining 15 minutes or so of the half saw a surge in opportunities for Yamagata as they attempted to quickly equalize. Neither side would score despite Yu’s shot hitting the post in the 41^st minute. The half would end FC Ryukyu 1, Yamagata Montedio 0.

Second Half

FC Ryukyu started quickly and nearly doubled their lead in the 47^th minute when Koya was able to round the keeper but had his shot stopped by a diving defender. In fact, Koya had 2 more chances over the next 10 minutes to increase our lead but they were either blocked or saved. Yamagata then equalized in the 56^th minute which proved to be one of the top goals scored in J2 for this round. The shot, similar to the one that Yamada scored, saw Ishii going one way when it was drilled in the opposite direction making it difficult for any GK to recover and then stop. Despite this goal, FC Ryukyu didn’t play like a side that was 13 spots below Yamagata in the table and in fact, they controlled large parts of the game and looked composed when countering the Yamagata attack. However, the real fireworks would occur in the last 15 minutes of this match.

“The Fireworks Show“

The “show,” got started in the 74^th minute when Fukui rose for a cross on the Ryukyu net and his extended arm deflected the ball out of bounds. There was no initial call for handball on the pitch by the referee, but after some Yamagata calls for appeal and conferring by the officials, a PK was awarded. FC Ryukyu were very lucky to escape with just a PK call going against them considering that Fukui was already sitting on a Yellow Card. This game would’ve ended a lot differently had Fukui been shown his second yellow reducing FC Ryukyu to 10 men. Jefferson Biano stepped up and drilled the PK home for a 2-1 Yamagata lead. Yamagata then added to their lead from an Own Goal after another botched play by a FC Ryukyu center back. This time it was Okazaki’s turn to go sliding into a cross, that Ishii could’ve collected, but instead was redirected into the back of the net. Whether it was a lack of communication on the part of Ishii, or recognition of time, space and distance by Okazaki, it was 3-1 Yamagata with only 9 minutes and stoppage time remaining in the game.

It was now time for Shinya Uehara, who came on just 1 minute prior to the own goal, to make his presence felt for FC Ryukyu. FC Ryukyu were awarded a corner kick in the 83rd minute. On the ensuing cross, Uehara rode for a header and was fouled badly in the box. FC Ryukyu were awarded a PK, to which Koki Kazama stepped up and scored. If you recall from their previous meeting, FC Ryukyu were awarded a PK that Kushibiki first saved, then was yellow carded for coming off his line too quickly, and then Koji Suzuki scored on the second attempt. Whether or not that weighed heavily on the mind of Kushibiki, or he simply guessed wrong, he was sent the wrong direction by Koki who sent the shot home with some authority.

Just as it seemed as if this game where going to end 3-2 in favor of Yamagata, Yamada controlled nicely placed cross that he was able to pass to a waiting Uehara near the top of the box. Uehara then sent a blistering shot on net that just tucked inside the right post providing FC Ryukyu the 91^st minute equalizer. Another one of those unbelievable moments as Yamagata had only surrendered 3 goals in a match twice all season, compared to the 8 times of FC Ryukyu. FC Ryukyu had one last chance to win the match when a rebound almost fell to a wide open Uejo in the box but he was a bit off balance and the ball bounced off his foot. Final score, FC Ryukyu 3-3 Montedio Yamagata.

Men of the Match

Normally this section is reserved for one individual but there were 3 standout performances on the night. First there is the FC Ryukyu goal keeper, Ishii. Despite the fact that FC Ryukyu conceded 3 goals, only 1 was from open play. The other 2 were a PK and an Own Goal. Ishii really played an excellent game and kept FC Ryukyu in this match up to the point where his central defenders let him down. He was making save after save and really frustrated the Yamagata attack on Monday night.

Hirota Yamada is credited with a goal and assist on Monday. It was his opening goal that allowed FC Ryukyu to play a little more relaxed while forcing Yamagata into an attacking style of play. It was also his crucial controlling of a cross and then subsequent assist to Uehara that gave FC Ryukyu the equalizer.

Shinya Uehara scored his second game tying goal in as many games. If you recall, he also earned the equalizer against Kanazawa on the road in round 32. Uehara was also the player who earned the late PK for FC Ryukyu when he was fouled rising to meet a cross.

Review of the Keys to Victory for FC Ryukyu

1. Play with Reckless Abandonment: PASS, though, maybe not in the intended manner. FC Ryukyu displayed composure the entire match and actually forced Yamagata to play outside of their comfort zone. They often looked more physical than Yamagata and this may have surprised their opponents. The only part that was truly reckless was that of our defense.

Match Day Prediction

Yamagata 3-0. I truly enjoy getting these predictions wrong when it is a favorable outcome for FC Ryukyu and truly despise when I get them correct with less than favorable results. I am happy in this case.

Match Day 33 Takeaways

1. Let’s start with the bad. The central back pairing of Okazaki and Fukui was hard to watch on Monday. Fukui made a mistimed challenge in the 8^th minute that resulted in a wide-open look on net for Yamagata requiring a tremendous save by Ishii. Fukui’s 36^th minute challenge resulted in a yellow card and was one he shouldn’t have attempted. He then came out on another mistimed challenge that saw the Yamagata attacker pass the ball by him and into an open shooting lane that Yamagata was able to capitalize on for the score. He then committed an overt handball that he was very lucky not be carded on resulting in a PK for Yamagata. Okazaki committed the own goal and all the problems that have existed for the FC Ryukyu defense were on full display Monday. Teams are able to moves and pass seamlessly in and around our defenders. This is just the reality we live in for the remainder of this season and one that I hope is changed for next year.

2. The good. This lineup has really gelled nicely. It was very encouraging to watch midfielders making long passes to on rushing attackers and there will certainly be goals later on if they keep this up. Despite being on the receiving end of some heavy losses this season, FC Ryukyu looked very composed and very relaxed against a superior opponent. This is extremely important heading into a stretch of games where favorable results mean everything for this side. Just to reiterate, this side looks markedly better than the last few times I’ve seen them play and with a much more balanced and purposeful attack.

3. More of the good. Koya Kazama put in a phenomenal shift and it is easy to see why a seasoned J2 player like that is crucial to the success of FC Ryukyu this season. I’d love if we were able to keep him for next season.

4. We will end with the ugly. The Yamagata Striker, Shuhei Otsuki, was committing some ugly fouls early on that could’ve resulted in a yellow card. He was often seen leading with his arm/elbow into headers and then committed a blatant red card foul in the 59th minute. Granted, Shuhei looked as if he was fouled by the Ryukyu players but he then kicked Yuya Torikai in the groin area, right in front of the referee. The referee then awarded yellow cards to both players. This was a disgusting act and one that I hope doesn’t go unpunished by the league.

Conclusion

FC Ryukyu head into a stretch of 3 games out of 4 on the road. This would normally be concerning considering the FC Ryukyu road form, but there were a lot of encouraging signs from this side the past 3 weeks. FC Ryukyu have earned 5 points from a possible 9 and kept themselves out of the J2 basement. Also, the road games are against 19^th placed Zelvia, 18^th Fukuoka and 21^st Tochigi. The lone home game is against Tokyo Verdy and therefore all of these fixtures could, and should, be considered winnable for FC Ryukyu. If they grab wins and draws then we can all relax heading into the last 5 rounds of the J2 season.

Player Photos and Game Recap are from the JLeague website. jleague.jp/en/match

Cover photo courteous of @tidashokudo

“Climbing the Big Blue Mountain” Match Day 33 Preview: FC Ryukyu versus Montedio Yamagata 9/21/2019

Intro

We may very well be seeing a new 2020 J1 side this weekend in Yamagata and hats off to them as they’ve been impressive so far this season. It is often said in American Football that offense wins games but defense wins championships, well folks, Yamagata is the perfect example of this expression. Joint leaders for the fewest goals surrendered this season and they’ve shut out their opponents in 5 out of their last 10 matches. Good for them and congratulations are in order. So let me ask this question, why can’t FC Ryukyu play the role of spoiler this weekend? 10 points from bottom may force a conservative posture but in a match in which we are probably huge underdogs, why not go for the gusto?

Weather Forecast

Pre-match Typhoon conditions. HAHAHAHAHAHA. If I said rain, wind and an overall terrible forecast would you be shocked? Great, all of that and more. Hardcore fans unite, all else, you are very much welcome and I’ll bring a towel for you. I cannot see them playing this game in these winds! Has to be rescheduled.

Montedio Yamagata

Where to start. Well for one, this is not the same FC Ryukyu team that was coming off 4 straight wins and a draw and was top of the table when these two teams last faced each other in March. Second, Yamagata has surged back up the table after many had written them off after selling one of their talisman strikers. A smothering defense, which we saw in match day 6, is still there and now it is paying huge dividends when it matters most.

I was going to dedicate a whole paragraph to summarizing how good Yamagata have been but only one sentence is needed. Yamagata has shut out their opponent in 16 of 32 matches this season. Let that marinate or sink in for a moment. Half of their games have been shutouts. Care to guess how many FC Ryukyu have on the docket? 3. 3 out of 32.

4 shutouts in 5, 2 wins in 2 against two top 3 sides and a hunger for J1 football is what is coming to town this Saturday. We have seen something similar to this before when FC Ryukyu surged to the top of the J3 table last season so temper your expectations tomorrow night. Of course, anything can happen on any given day but for all intents and purpose, the Yamagata Steam Roller is headed south and is unlikely to be stopped.

FC Ryukyu

It is not all gloom and doom for the outlook tomorrow. FC Ryukyu have secured 4 points from the last 2 matches and one of those points was on the road. Even though I have seen, or watched, every FC Ryukyu game this season, the team we run out tomorrow is so different from the one that started the year. The “feel good” atmosphere that once existed early on denigrated into a horrible realization of hubris, then one of slight hope, culminating with the realization that we can be in the J2 next year thanks in large part to the efforts of Uejo and the new signings.

Answering the call and the critics, Uejo is asserting himself as a man amongst boys. Higuchi may have been correct earlier this year when he refused to play this emerging talent, because, he knew we required his services later on due to the expected loss of Koji and Nakagawa. Time will tell, I guess.

Injuries

Montedio Yamagata & FC Ryukyu have no significant injuries to report. However, FC Ryukyu will be without the services of Uesato tomorrow as he will serve a suspension for accumulating too many yellow cards.

FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

1. Reckless Abandonment.

Match Prediction

FC Ryukyu are barely in the same country code, let alone zip code, when it comes to a team of Yamagata’s quality. Screw it, go for gusto. 3/4/5/6-0 losses have occurred so that type of result against this type of opponent wouldn’t be shocking. I’d rather watch the boys give it their all with no restraints. With that said, Yamagata 3-0 and I don’t even care.

Conclusion

4 home games remain people. There are those of us that attend matches and read this blog and those that do not. So, I am appealing to all of you to bring someone to the game from the do not section above. This island, this country, needs FC Ryukyu as much as the club needs them for J2/J1 football. A sports franchise is asserting itself on the island of Okinawa, which, in my experience, is often considered a distant and segregated element of Japanese society. Let’s help all of Okinawa by putting one finger up (your choice on the finger) to all those that oppose, hate, discriminate, and fear anything Okinawa this weekend. Remember, the FC Ryukyu Army is coming for you, we show no mercy, grant no quarter and we never tire.

“Hard 1 Done!” Match Day 32 Recap: Zweigen Kanazawa 2-2 FC Ryukyu 9/14/2019

Intro

2-2 was the final and it was a hard earned, well earned, possibly gifted point this weekend but the point is all that really matters in the end. FC Ryukyu are now at the point where results matter more than the form in which they were awarded. “By Hook or by Crook” is a famous saying and the countdown to J2 football in 2020 is now on. If FC Ryukyu can maintain their 10-point lead over bottom side Tochigi SC than the boys will be safe from relegation within 6 weeks of this entry. If not, hang onto your butts as it will get very dicey later on.

Match Recap

FC Ryukyu came out in their typical 4-2-3-1 with Shinji Ono taking up a CDM position. However, Ramon, Uejo and Koya led the attacking MF. It didn’t long for Kanazawa to ask questions of the Ryukyu back line from set pieces and it was Dany Carvajal who had the save of the match (actually for all of J2), when he first stopped the initial shot from the CK and then pulled the next shot from out of the air before it could fully cross the goal line. It was the second time in 3 weeks where FCR would be involved in some sort of goal line controversy but who cares, it was their turn to be on the rewarding end for once. It was all for not though as Kanazwa were able to rip the Ryukyu back line wide open 9 minutes later with two very nice passes that ended with Clunie’s deft little flick over his fellow countryman Dany giving Kanazawa the early 1-0 lead. Ryukyu nearly equalized a minute later before a phenomenal pass from Ramon sent Uejo free on net to which the Okinawa native slotted home is 10^th goal of the campaign in the 37th minute. For what it’s worth, I hope for 2 things for Uejo. First, I hope that FC Ryukyu have or can sign him before some larger club gets him on a free transfer since it was FC Ryukyu that provided the platform for Uejo to succeed and the club should bea warded financially. Second, I hope he goes outside of Asia to ply his trade as this would be massive for an Okinawa born player.

Kanazawa grabbed the 2-1 lead from yet another Fukui mishandling of the situation. I’m starting to think the cheers for Fukui in Mito where not the welcoming back of a former player kind but rather the thank goodness he left town. In any case, Ryukyu were once again down on the road. Uehara was able to salvage a draw for FC Ryukyu from a Tanaka cross, that should’ve been cleared by the Kanazawa captain, but instead he bottled and allowed Uehara to slot home the equalizer. The match saw a few more dramatic twists and turns that included a shot off the post by Kanazawa that would’ve sealed the game but the local lads earned a point and pushed the magic number of matches and points to 6/10.

Review of the Keys to Victory

1. Maintain a steady presence at the back: FAIL or PASS. Steady as in nothing has changed, we are terrible back there.

2. Minimize mental mistakes: UNDECIDED. Looked good for parts of the game but there were certainly nervy and punishable mistakes made by our side.

3. Cover the back line: FAIL. Cannot protect them from set pieces and counters. Nothing we can do but hold on and wait for a change next season.

4. Exploit the confusion in the Kanazawa back line. PASS! With flying colors. Ramon’s and Tanaka’s unlocked the back line and led to both goals.

Conclusion

Oh, what could’ve been with the likes of Koji, Uejo, Ramon, Nakagawa and Koya up front. But alas, it will never be so all we can do is hope for J2 football in 2020, a decent finish that increases the fan base and some reinforcements this off-season. For now, its Yamagata on Saturday with a 10-point lead on the relegation zone. See it out lads.

“Branch Breakers”Match Day 32: Zweigen Kanazawa vs. FC Ryukyu 9/14/2019

Intro

Welcome Back! I apologize for the lengthy gap but we all have commitments outside of FC Ryukyu right?. Anyways, in the time that I’ve been gone we’ve seen FCR lose twice and then win an all-important 6-point match against Kagoshima at home. The win brings FC Ryukyu within 8 points of the relative “safety zone” of 42 points that I’ve been touting the past few weeks. But make no mistake, those are going to be the toughest 8 points FC Ryukyu need to earn all season. This is a tall task for FC Ryukyu as they play 7 of their remaining games this season on the road.

Weather Forecast

Absolutely gorgeous. See the picture below.

Zweigen Kanazawa

Kanazawa come into this match having lost their last 2 matches in a row. Prior to these losses they had reeled off 6 straight matches without a defeat. An accomplishment FC Ryukyu haven’t achieved since their opening 6 matches of the season. When these two sides last met three months ago at the Tapista, FC Ryukyu earned a draw off the back of a Koji Suzuki 69’ minute goal (tears) after conceding an early goal to Zweigen. Zweigen are certainly looking to avenge that draw and aide their chances of promotion by moving within 3 points of the playoff zone with a win over FC Ryukyu. And as we all know as FC Ryukyu fans, targeting a win against FC Ryukyu when they visit your stadium is very bankable these days.

In Kanazawa’s last 5 matches they earned 3-2 wins over Machida and Niigata; a 2-1 victory over FC Gifu; and then suffered 2-1 and 3-1 defeats to Kagoshima and Mito. The run of sloppy play for Zweigen really began in the Niigata match where they were awarded their second PK in as many matches but also surrendered 2 PK opportunities to Niigata. Fortunately for Zweigen, Niigata were unable to score on the very late PK attempt by Leonardo that would’ve tied the game. Probably due to the ridiculously slow and elongated run up to the ball by Leonardo that was followed up by a rather poor shot on net.

Despite escaping the Niigta match with a win, the run of poor play by Kanazawa was just beginning. Please note, that when I mention poor play, it is not to the degree or scenes we’ve witnessed from FC Ryukyu the past few months. I am simply stating that things have become a little undone for Zweigen the past few weeks. This offers the smallest glimmer of hope for the traveling FC Ryukyu side who have been awful on the road all season but this is not an easy match by any means.

Kanazawa lost 2-1 to Kagoshima after taking an early 1-0 lead and though they were tied with Mito at one point, they never really looked on the front foot for much of the match. What better way to break out of a 2-game losing streak than by welcoming a side that boasts the worst away record in J2.

FC Ryukyu

Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. FC Ryukyu have only earned 6 points from a total of 42 possible points on the road this season. They haven’t earned a positive result on the road since a draw against Kyoto way back in June. FC Ryukyu have lost 9 out of their last 10 road games and suffered some heavy defeats along the way. And the most worrying sign heading into the last quarter of the season,, it has been 195 days since FC Ryukyu last won on the road. With so many road games ahead of FC Ryukyu, and the fact that we need to take our destiny into our own hands and not rely on our opponents losing beneath us, FC Ryukyu desperately need some points on the road.

There have been some sweeping changes to the FC Ryukyu lineup the past few weeks. Some good and some interesting. Most notably are the changes to the defense and mid-field. Torikai has replaced Nishioka at RB and Shinji Ono has slotted in next to Uesato in the CDM role to sure up, or provide direction, to the back line. Also, Uejo has moved into the CAM role behind the newly acquired striker, Yamada. The lineup produced the 2-1 victory over Kagoshima so I’ll reserve judgement for after this match. I hope to see the return of Kawai to the reserves as I feel his speed, along with Ramon’s, could really trouble defenses later on in games.

Team Injuries

Zweigen Kanazawa: #24 DF Hasegawa Takumi looks to have torn his ACL late in August and may be one of the reasons why Zweigen has conceded so many goals the last 2 matches.

FC Ryukyu: None.

Keys to FC Ryukyu Victory

1. Maintain a steady presence at the back. The last road game saw FC Ryukyu come apart rather quickly after taking an early 1-0 lead. 6 straight goals from Vortis was inexcusable but these things happen from time to time. Mark the runs of opposing attackers, clear the garbage from the front of the net and for god’s sake, close players down near the edge of the box.

2. Minimize the mental mistakes. We could insert this one every week but I haven’t been able to watch the team the last few weeks to know if they’ve overcome the numerous mistakes from games past so we’ll leave this one right where it is.

3. Cover the back line. Hopefully we can prevent long balls over the top that catch Fukui and Okazaki out and force them into rash challenges or mistakes. This means FC Ryukyu in turn need to play a bit of long ball themselves and allow players with speed to run underneath the passes. I hope that either, or both, Uesato or Shinji sit a little deeper and try to pick apart the Zweigen defense from afar while not allowing them to break against our back line.

4. Exploit the confusion and poor run of form in the Zweigen back line. Kanazawa often conceded some rather soft goals due to confusion and the best way to attack that is with speed. Does FC Ryukyu have enough speed in the lineup to round the Zweigen defenders that will create some space and time for Uejo and Yamada to shoot?

Match Prediction

Much like the last time I wrote a preview article when FC Ryukyu were on the road, I cannot sit here and say that FC Ryukyu will come out on top this week because the away record speaks volumes. I, along with all of you, would love to be pleasantly surprised at an FC Ryukyu victory and/or draw at this point. There is a chance that could occur tomorrow but I have said that way too many times to believe it anymore so we’ll go with a 3-1 defeat. The prediction aligns with the average amount of goals that FC Ryukyu score and concede during road games this season.

Conclusion

11 matches remain in the J2 season. FC Ryukyu will need to earn at least 8 more points to feel relatively comfortable about their chances of avoiding relegation. They will need to earn these 8 points from 7 road matches against some pretty strong sides. It is both as simple and as difficult as that. Good luck to all that attend and to FC Ryukyu, we need it.

“Higuchi’s Swansong” Match Day 24 Report: Albirex Niigata 4-0 FC Ryukyu 7/27/2019

Intro

Another road game for FC Ryukyu, another road loss. This one was particularly brutal as Niigata were a side that have been beaten at home and were a side that FC Ryukyu had bested earlier this season. However, the poor run of play by FC Ryukyu continued as they ended up surrendering 4 goals on the night in route to a 4-0 pasting. The result begs the question, is Higuchi the right man for the FC Ryukyu job?

Game Recap

After witnessing this game first hand at the Rycom mall with about 100 FC Ryukyu fans and locals, it is just too hard to sit here and watch the full 90 minutes again in order to write a detailed report of what went wrong and what went right. Needless to say, all the things that have plagued FC Ryukyu over the past 10 weeks or so is becoming more and more noticeable with each passing week. Turnovers, wasteful shots, defending and bad luck all played their part last night.

The match started with the spectacular/obligatory Kazama wide open shot at the top of the 18-yard box that was sent way off the mark. Maybe none of the FC Ryukyu attackers were in a spot to receive a pass, or Kazama just didn’t see them, but Kazama once again sent an early opportunity shot into the oblivion and beyond (not even in the same postal code as Niigata).

It took Niigata only 7 minutes to score the first goal of the game on what could be considered a case of bad judgement on the part of Ishii. Along with a bit of bad luck. Ishii came out to meet a cross with a punch but it was deflected off of Uesato and into the net. The second Niigata goal came from a PK in the 44th minute. It may have been prevented had we defended better or Ishii made more of a commitment to come out and collect the ball. Francis took a heavy touch past our defender and sent the ball within range of Ishii. Maybe the earlier indecision was weighing heavily on the mind of Ishii so he didn’t want to risk another blunder and ended up fouling Francis. FC Ryukyu certainly had their chances in the first half, but it was unfortunate that the ball just didn’t bounce their way from the two Uejo opportunities. In any case, FCR were down 2-0 at half time and had no answers against Niigata.

The second half saw an early goal by Francis that pushed the lead to 3-0 and whatever opportunities came FC Ryukyu’s way after the 3^rd Niigata goal can only be attributed to the fact that Niigata let up. It was unfortunate that Suzuki didn’t get on the score sheet despite a couple of wide-open shots in front of net but it was indicative of the night and the bad luck. One nice thing though was Kawai looked very good and needs to be paired with Uejo to start matches. FC Ryukyu had 4 chances this half that could’ve altered the game or at the very least, proven beneficial to their yearly goal difference tally. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be yesterday. The fourth and final goal by Niigata did nothing put push the FC Ryukyu goal difference on the year to -6. A stat that may very well determine the fate of this team near the end of the season.

Man of the Match

3 Goals last night, could’ve been 4 or more.

#13 MF Francis. The man finished with a hat trick on the night and was unstoppable. He created and finished several opportunities for Niigata and proved too much for the FC Ryukyu defenders. A great solo performance to earn his side all 3 points.

Review of the FC Ryukyu Keys to Victory

1. Execute all the little things correctly. FAIL, see the score sheet.

2. Exploit Niigata’s weakness at defending set pieces. FAIL, see the score sheet.

3. Place well aimed shots on net and crash the box with attackers. FAIL, see the score sheet.

4. Stop the bleeding at the back. FAIL & in glorious fashion. FC Ryukyu were averaging 3.0 goals conceded the past 5 weeks but instead they opted to up the ante by allowing 4 on the night.

5. Start Uejo. PASS. Side looks better when he’s in there. Kawai and Uejo are not natural replacements for one another so both should be starting with fresh legs and speed to burn.

Match Day 24 Takeaways

1. ~~FC Ryukyu are the worst team in the league right now~~. FC Ryukyu are playing like the worst team in the league right now. Too many goals and not enough answers. This team is only being saved by the fact that the teams below them are also losing each week. After watching the past week’s highlights of the teams below FC Ryukyu, its obvious this side is playing without any confidence and looks worse than the sides beneath them. This is worrying as FC Ryukyu need around 14-16 points for safety and that means at least 3-4 wins with approximately 2-5 draws. I am not sure where the results will come from as it looks like FC Ryukyu cannot beat anyone at the moment.

2. The tactics FC Ryukyu employ are not working. Teams can afford to allow FC Ryukyu all the possession they want as they do not fear ceding a goal to FCR and can wait to hit FCR on the break.

3. Defending. I am not sure if this the byproduct of the tactics and formation but 23 goals conceded in 10 games or most recently, 12 goals in 5 games, is INSERT YOUR OWN ADJECTIVE. Tokumoto did feature in this match so maybe he’ll get the full 90 minutes this Wednesday night.

4. The hung heads, slumped shoulders and disbelief is starting to set in for the players. I commented in the preview that I hadn’t seen any of that yet, but it was on full display yesterday. It is unfortunate as the team is putting in a shift in attack but things are not breaking their way at the moment. With every missed opportunity and goal conceded, the team’s confidence drains a little more and disbelief takes hold.

Conclusion

It’s unlikely that FC Ryukyu part ways with manager Higuchi in the short run up to a mid-week, must win, home game against JEF. However, there are not many winnable games left on the schedule for FC Ryukyu and failing to win against JEF Chiba United should be the final swansong for Higuchi. If not, FC Ryukyu risk returning to the J3 and losing more than just the crowd that departed the public viewing at half time at the Rycom mall this past weekend.

I salute these folks that travel to watch FC Ryukyu go 1W3D8L on the road this season with 11 straight weeks of zero wins.

Cover Photo Credit: @sho69463528 ; Kanto Supporters Photo Credit: @basuke_sakkaa JLeague Stat Line, Game Summary and Franics photo courtesy of https://www.jleague.jp.