FC Ryukyu Updates in English

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!

A friend asked me to provide some reasons as to why FCR is great, I ended up going much deeper, but I hope that anyone who reads this appreciates my responses.

Alright, so you asked me for my opinion as to what has happened to make FCR so good, so here it goes.

FCR started out brutally in their fist year in J2 (2014).
FCR finished W8D10L15 with a goal differential of -19 and it was just bad
football in terrible temperatures. Some matches would finish with score lines
of 7-1 against Zelvia or getting pounded 6-0 by the under-22 J League team which
was just embarrassing. 2015 was slightly better but it was truly the year of
2016 that was a turning point for FCR.

2016 began what I would call the “Ryukyu Renaissance.”
We had key elements on the squad; Tanaka, Park and Tomidokoro coupled with the managerial
change from Noshirio Satsukawa to Kim Jong-Song that really began the drive up
and out of the J3.

FCR would finish with a winning record and a positive goal difference.
Granted it was 46 scored and 46 conceded for a goal difference of 0 but for the
first time ever, FCR became competitive and the matches became meaningful. There
was even one point in the season where FCR had a chance to go top of the table
for the first time in their history against a strong Akita side. FCR was
awarded a very late penalty, in the 3^rd minute of stoppage time
which meant the PK would be the last play, and Tanaka stepped up to the spot as
the leading FCR goal scorer on the season. Unfortunately, his shot was saved as
he really didn’t get any power behind it and the game ended in a draw. I was so
distraught from the loss that I couldn’t leave my seat in section S as I just couldn’t
believe what happened considering we almost were top of the table for a day. My
friends thought it was funny but this is what it means to be a true fan, you
feel every loss and relish every win, you are as much a part of the team as the
players and management and if FCR wants to achieve the lofty heights of J1 and
the Asian Champions League, then they better start to plant and nurture these feelings
for their fans.

2017 was the year that we started the push to the J2 but J3
teams failed to notice that FCR was for real, and that they were to be taken seriously.
Everything was positive for the boys that year; winning record, positive goal differential
and better performances on the pitch. FCR still made mistakes but these were lessons
that needed to be learned if they wanted to succeed. FCR would also start to
set the standard for performances at home as the undefeated at home streak began
in September and is still intact to this day. One side note, Tomidokoro was
just on another level that year, his FKs and goals were breathtaking. If you haven’t
seen them then you need to Google these games. At the very least, Google the September
30 2017 match.

2018, nothing more needs to be said. Here are some things the
“Bengara Boys” achieved that season. Scored 70 goals resulting in a +30-goal difference,
dropped points in only 6 games the entire season, didn’t lose a single match at
home all year. Early on there were some struggles on defense, most notably when
we drew against the Tottori and Osaka after conceding late goals in what was largely
considered statement games. I’m sure my cursing and ranting in English played
no part in FCRs success that year but strangely enough the boys went on a tear
after I lost my cool.

There was a point in the 2018 season in which the boys were
just unbeatable, I mean, watching them week in and week out you could see that
this was a team of destiny and no one was stopping them on their journey. Literally,
as an FCR fan, you could sit down to watch a match and know the boys were going
to score, and win. They lost at then end of April that year and wouldn’t lose
again until mid-September. The just demolished everybody along the way to the J3
title.

November 3^rd 2018. This is one of the most special
days in FCR history. It is the culmination of hard work by the team, excellent
front office and coaching management and of course commitment by the fans.
8,500 Okinawans showed up to witness history. I must add this, with all due
respect to the Golden Kings and their impressive achievements, football is the world
sport and it is massive here in Asia compared to basketball. There is the Asian
Champions League, not on par but just as important, as the UEFA Champions
League, and I’ve personally attended several of these games in Korea to know
that football is king here in Asia.

Back to the date of immortality, the boys came out firing
and nothing that Thespa could do would stop FCR from lifting the J3 trophy that
day. I recall watching that match with friends and just stating that I hoped that
FCR would score early, which they did, as well as score often, which they also accomplished.
The match was out of reach by the 70^th minute and it was an amazing
feeling to watch the team you love, with the community of people you love, win
a very important match and lift a very important trophy. I cried, I will not lie,
it was an emotional moment because so much that I’ve already written about was
tied into this one single glorious moment. The heartaches, the heat, the bad
football, the almost moments of glory and the bitter defeats, all of it led up
to the J3 Championship. But, if you are satisfied here, then you are mistaken,
there is always more to achieve. I think sometimes that those of us who’ve
played sports, at any level, feel that we can never be complacent and always need
to achieve more and never appreciate all that we have right now. At the end of
the day this is FCR and not some psychoanalysis by me so the bottom line is
trophies and glory mean everything and I am along for the ride.

Finally, to your initial question as to what makes FCR
great. First, the owner of this team deserves so much credit for his actions
and patience. He has witnessed this team achieve unbelievable heights with unbelievable
low attendance levels. Please, I implore all of Okinawa, come watch this beautiful
football team in a great stadium with great people. If Okinawa doesn’t show up
now to support FCR, you may as you’ve always suspected, be relegated to an afterthought
by the people of “mainland” Japan.

Second, the players are amazing and should be treated as
such. I have never once seen an FCR player out in town but you better believe
if I have that opportunity that not only will I thank them, I’ll serenade them
with my own special chant. People of Okinawa, these are professional athletes
and human beings, give them your support, recognize their achievements and lift
them up because they will do so much for you in return. I hope to see an FCR
player out in town one day.

Third reason is the fans of FCR. Hiroaki is an example to us
all and was so deserving of the honor to touch and lift the J3 trophy this past
season. The man is the spirit and soul of this team and is someone I am so honored
to call my friend. I’m grateful his English is far better than my Japanese and
he bleeds Bengara Blood like no one on island. There are also the loyal fans
that show up each and every week including the road games like our FCR family
in Kanto! The Ryukyu Girls, wow do I miss them. Besides their obvious beauty
they are very approachable and nice women who are very passionate about FCR and
made every match great – bring them back! This team has such a massive
opportunity to solidify itself amongst all Okinawan’s, here and abroad, and we
need all of you to get behind the boys.

Finally, and the most special reason to me is this; we are
all FCR. Put aside all of our differences that others may say exist or try to
create, I am here standing shoulder to shoulder with my entire Okinawa family
for one cause and that is FCR. I may only speak a little Japanese but I have
been woven into the fabric of Okinawa society for 10 years and I want nothing
but the best for everyone here and that means having a top-notch football
squad. FCR has provided so many memorable moments in my life but here are a few
for the readers. 1.) Watching them lift the Okinawa prefectural tournament trophy
with my daughter and getting to take part in the team photo was awesome, 2.) 90
minutes of pure intensity in which we almost went top of the table versus Akita
on a PK, 3.) watching the boys draw against Oita (almost won BTW) on the road
on a televised game on Sky Sports back in 2016 at Camp Nou with Hiroaki
(pre-DAZN) was outstanding followed by 4.), watching the inaugural 2017 game at
the same bar and FCR earning a draw was also awesome. 5.) Tailgating with my American
friends in the parking lot, 5.) Players autographs and meeting the heroes of
Okinawa, 6.) the current winning streak the boys are keeping intact started on
my birthday, 7.) my son – who was a miracle for my wife and I – was born in the
same season that FCR became J3 Champions, 8.) The J3 Championship, 9.) The road
match versus Omiya was out of this world and crazy I was so lucky to be there, and
finally 10.) for every new memory and experience that is out there, join me, join
us as FCR, you won’t regret it.

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 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

FCRs first match of 3 in 8 days was another tightly contested battle that required a late goal by Koji Suzuki to secure a point. On a day that saw FCR dominate the possession, as well as the shots on net, FCR were unable to come away with the full 3 points.

FCR came out in their typical 4-2-3-1 with one notable
change up front. Uejo started in the CAM role and Tomidokoro started out wide
as he did earlier this season. Unfortunately for FCR, Renfofa employed the same
CB paring from their last match that limited the freedom of movement in the
back that so many of Renofa’s earlier opponents enjoyed.

Once again, the first 15 minutes of this match saw FCR starting slowly and affording Renofa all the early opportunities to take the lead. FCRs best chance in the opening half happened in the 18^th minute when Uejo was set loose from a pass by Tanaka but he couldn’t get it past the GK while getting closed down by the Renofa DF.

FCR started the second half quickly by creating multiple
chances on net followed by the opening goal of the game in the 52^nd
minute. This was the 6^th time this season, and 6^th in a
row, that FCR scored first.  The play
started with Uesato sending a cross field pass to Nishioka, who then did a very
nice step over to get past the Renofa defense, and then sent a cross into the
box. The cross landed near Tomidokoro, whose shot was deflected by the Renofa
Defense but eventually ended up on the head of Suzuki. There have been multiple
occasions this year when FCR was on the wrong end of deflected crosses/shots and
it was nice to see us capitalize on the misfortunes of our opponent. This joyful
feeling would be short lived as Renofa quickly equalized.

Just 4 minutes later Carvajal had a momentary lapse in judgement and casually turned the ball over to a Renofa FWD while attempting to fool the Renofa player,instead of clearing it. The Renofa player easily slotted it home in a wide-open net. In America, this would be called a “brain fart.” Renofa was able to add to their lead 2 minutes later when Nishioka made a horrible giveaway in the MF and then followed that up by failing to track the run of the Renofa FWD who was able to get past him and put a header past Carvajal.  This would be the first time all season that FCR would be forced to play from a deficit.

Uejo nearly tied the match in the 66^th minute
when a fortuitous bounce landed at his feet with only the Renofa defender on
the line to beat for an equalizer. However, his shot went right to a defender and
FCR was still down 2-1 requiring the boys to press for a goal.

When your football team is forced to play from behind, you
always hope that the team has the ability to score. This is hardly the case
with several teams in the J2 this year, and is a massive strength for the FCR
team. I know that no matter what, FCR has the firepower and skill, to press for
goals when called upon. This will inevitably lead to some matches where FCR
will over commit and get caught out but also allow FCR to grab a late equalizers
and winners. This could be considered the “Razors Edge.”

Strangely enough the coach opted to sub out Tanaka (70’),
Uejo (76’) and Tomidokoro (88’) prior to the equalizer. This indicates to me that
the JEF United match may see these guys as short-lived starters or late subs so
as to save their energy for Kashiwa. Either way, Koji Suzuki’s second goal of
the match, and 8^th on the season, was an absolute gem.

Kawai, who came on for Tanaka, sent a beautiful cross into
the box that Suzuki was able to run under and then put a header past the Renofa
GK. This was definitely considered a “strikers’ goal” and was so massive for
the squad and the 3,800 people that showed up for the match. From them on, Carvajal
was called upon to make several nice saves to keep the draw intact.

Match Takeaways: FCR came close to taking the lead on
several occasions but couldn’t capitalize. FCR also had some serious lapses in
judgement when it came to defending and passing. Carvajal was guilty of the first
blunder but Nishioka was very culpable on the second goal. If FCR wishes to do
anything, mental errors need to be squashed as we need every single point we
can get.

Looking back to my match preview article I hinted at a few
keys for this game: 1. Suzuki should feast, and did with 2 goals! 2. FCR should
control the MF and they did with 60% possession.  3.) The Renofa GK has an injury that FCR
should exploit. FCR did not exploit as much as I was anticipating.  4.) This could be a trap game for FCR and it
was. No doubt we should’ve taken 3 points so we are only left to wonder what could
have been.

Well I hope the boys are already on mainland Japan and getting
some rest for the quickly approaching fixture vs JEF. I am very interested in
the starting lineup next match and will put this out there for any followers.
If you predict the starting lineup with greater accuracy than me, I’ll make a
$100.00 donation in your name to a charity of your choice. There are 11 players
you need to select correctly on a short week so choose wisely. I’ll provide
mine on Monday with the JEF match preview so please DM me on Twitter or post to
this blog.

See you in a few days.

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!

I cobbled this together rather quickly, thanks in large part to my wife who did all the translating, for anyone who wants to download the app and see what it has to offer. The app looks very nice and after installing the app, you should poke around a bit until I come out with tutorial #2. There seems to be many nice features and videos on here and I’m hoping I can locate an option to change the language to English but I’m not sure if I will be able to.

Step 1: Locate in your app store and download.

Step 2: Select Register

Step 3

Step 4: The options will be listed in color and with their symbols.

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8

Step 9: Select Club cont.

Step 10

Step 11

Step 12: Take a Survey

Step 13

Step 14

Step 15

Step 16

Step 17: Final Step of Tutorial

After you click OK, you can select any one of the 5 icons on the bottom to explore the app. Tutorial #2 will explore the settings menu. Good Luck!

There are a few times in the world of sport where one must sit back and admire the achievements of sports franchises even if they are not the one you support. There are all sorts of remarkable achievements such as winning the most titles in the history of a particular sport, winning multiple titles in consecutive seasons and pulling off some ridiculous winning streaks. The latter is the one I want to focus on for today’s entry because it should be near and dear to all FCR fan’s hearts. FCR has now positioned itself to once again to etch its name into the J League history books for the second consecutive week.

FCR currently sits atop of the J2 table with a 24-game J League home unbeaten streak dating back to the 2017 J3 League season. Some may argue that a majority of those games were against lesser competition but I would counter that by saying you can only play the competition in front of you. As a side note, this streak is only for the J League since FCR has lost their initial Emperor’s Cup match at home the past 2 seasons but that discussion is for a later time, for now, let’s focus on the achievement and special moments to date for this record.

The Start: September 30^th 2017, special moment indeed as this is my birthday, but seriously FCR faced off against the Under-23 Cerezo Osaka side. The match ended 1-0 after and absolutely top drawer take by # 10 Tomidokoro in the 48’ where he received the ball near the top of the box and sent a beautiful curler around the left side of the keeper.  A familiar face was in the lineup that day besides Tomidokoro as Keita Tanaka made his return to FCR on loan from Mito-Hollyhock.

FCR would then go on to earn consecutive draws against Morioka and FC Tokyo Under-23s, a win against YSCC, draw with Tochigi and finally a win against Kattaler Toyoma on the final match day of the season. Streak started out with 3 wins and 2 draws for 2017.

2018: The streak continued in the opening match of the season with a 4-3 win against Kattaler Toyoma and this was a great match. FCR were up 3-0 at halftime with goals by Yu Togashi, Nakagawa and Uejo and they were cruising. However, the game took an interesting turn at the end as Toyoma made a serious push with 2 late goals to bring the score to 4-3 but it was Uejo’s second goal of the day that proved to be the difference.

Okinawa Ozzy Loses His Cool: There were two matches early on in this streak that really struck a nerve with me as a massive fan of the club because I viewed those matches as must wins. First, FCR squared off against Gainare Tottori, who at the time looked to be one of the stronger teams in the early part of the 2018 J3 League season. I viewed this as a “statement” game that if FCR were serious about doing anything for the season (apparently there were as history has shown) then they needed to assert themselves in this match. FCR twice took the lead against Tottori but it was a goal in the 2nd minute of stoppage time that ended the match in a draw. Now, I wasn’t that upset but slightly disappointed. It was the following match were I kind of had a momentary lapse in judgement due to circumstances beyond my control.

Match Day 6 of 2018 saw FCR taking on the Under-23 Cerezo Osaka team. I viewed this match, along with all under-23 matches that season, as must wins and surely FCR with their players should get the job done against some youngsters. Well the Bengara Boys were done in by another late goal in the 88’ and thus the game ended in a draw. I couldn’t believe that we had only taken 2 points, out of a possible 6, from games that I thought we should’ve won. Had we won the game against U23 Cerezo Osaka I probably wouldn’t have lost it like I did when the team came over to the supporter section after the match to say thanks. I am not proud of my antics, but as passionate fans, we can get very emotional at times. Once the team was in ear shot, I yelled out “that’s not good enough” (there may have been some profanity in there as well), followed by a resounding, “you better fix that crap (not the exact word I used) at the back!” Of course, the team kindly smiled and ignored those remarks and went about their business.

Now, maybe my motivational speech at the end of the match sparked
something or likelier the squad just got better and began to assert their dominance
in the J3. Starting with the next home match against U23 Gamba Osaka on Match
Day 9, FCR went on a serious unbeaten streak (home and away) that saw them
shoot up to the top of the table. FCR would win or draw 13 matches in a row and
didn’t lose again until September 15^th to of all squads, the U23 Gamba
Osaka squad who started them on the streak. From there FCR went on to win or
draw another 7 games in a row with the 7^th being the most memorable.

History: Match Day 30, November 3^rd 2018. A date
that will forever be etched into the history of FCR. The boys squared off against
Thespakusatsu Gunma with a chance to lift the J3 title in front of crowd of around
8,000. This was the best atmosphere the boys played in all season at home, and
you know what, they responded magnificently (HINT, HINT! FANS = MOTIVATION FOR
FCR). It was dream start for FCR as they quickly jumped out to a 3-0 lead with
goals by who other than Nakagawa and Togashi with a third by Wada by the 50^th
minute. At this point I just wanted the ref to blow that final whistle but
things of course got a little interesting near the end. Gunma pegged one back
in the 66^th minute to make it 3-1 but FCR quickly responded with a
goal in the 66^th minute by Nakagawa (miss that dude so much, what a
player). Despite Gunma adding a late goal in the 86^th minute the
game was out of reach and the boys lifted the shield in very dramatic fashion.

The remainder of the 2018 season saw FCR losing 2 of their 3 matches but that’s to be expected of teams who have already won the title and are giving other players on the squad their chance at some playing time. However, what was so vital to this home game winning streak was the 5-1 drubbing of SC Sagamihara on FCRs final home match of the 2018 season. Tomidokoro had a brace and of course Nakagawa scored his 16^th goal of the season which would prove to be his last in an FCR uniform. 2018 Home Record: 12 Wins and 4 Draws. Streak at 21

A New Era: FCR has started off with a serious bang in the 2019 J2 season. They are currently riding a 5-game unbeaten streak and face off against a Yamaguchi this weekend who have conceded a lot of goals so far and find themselves near the bottom of the table. If FCR wins or draws, I believe they set a new J League record for games unbeaten at home with 25. 2019 Season to date; 3 wins. Steak at 24.

I must give a lot of credit to Tobias (@ConDrei) for doing the research on this streak. Tobias pointed out that the J2 record is held by Kawasaki Frontale from 2003-2004 as well as Shonan Bellmare from 2012 to 2014 in which the 2013 season they played in J1.

Let us now put the FCR home unbeaten streak in perspective
against other records in Football as well as other sports. The longest unbeaten
streak in Football stands at 119 for Steaua Bucharest from 1986-1989 that saw
them lift 5 consecutive titles. That’s just ridiculous. The Cleveland Indians
of the MLB won 22 consecutive games in 2017. In Boxing, Julio Cesar Chavez won
87 fights in a row from 1980-1993, whoa! The Pittsburgh Penguins – my home town
– won 17 straight games in the NHL in 1993, Mario Lemieux anyone? Wilhelm
Steinitz from Austria won 25 straight chess matches from 1873 to 1882 and I’m
willing to bet that wasn’t against friends and family. And then there is ZeRo
from Chili who won 53 consecutive Super Smash Bros. Wii U tournaments from 2014
to 2015.

Well that was fun, but I should bring this back to the FCR
streak with some nice stats: 1.) FCR has won 10 consecutive home matches in the
J Leagues dating back to August 25^th 2018.  2.) FCRs last draw at home was July 21^st
2018. 3.) FCRs last home loss was on September 16^th 2017, that’s over
18.5 months ago, let that sink in for a moment. 4.) FCRs losses each season
starting in 2014 have gone down by one (6-5-4-3) and of course there were 0
home losses in 2018.  5.) Since 2014 FCR
has played 79 home matches with a winning percentage of 49.3%, while drawing 28%
of the time and 22% for a loss, so if wins and draws are combined that means
FCR has achieved a favorable outcome in matches 78% of the time at home.

For me, it was humbling to extrapolate these stats for FCR.
Its humbling because the team is displaying a penchant for winning at home and
the number of fans that show up each week pale in comparison to the results FCR
achieves on the home pitch. This is a very good ascending club that requires the
support of this community in the form of large crowds. We can no longer argue
that the performance on the pitch by FCR keeps people away as we have seen this
is categorically false. FCR needs Okinawa as much as Okinawa needs FCR. Okinawa
is far removed from the “mainland” and therefore could be considered an
afterthought at times. What better way to really draw attention to the Okinawa
prefecture from those in the mainland, and stick it to them if you wish, than
by having a major sports franchise supported by the entire Okinawa community that
just consistently lifts trophies.

In closing, lets get out there this Saturday to cheer on the boys, who we know will be giving it their all, and witness a bit of history for Okinawa sports. It would be the third such occasion in a short period of time for this club.

#fortressRyukyu

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 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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!