At 5:00 PM on August 4th, Iwaki FC will host their Northeast Derby rivals, Akita Blue Spark, in the 25th round of J2 League at Iwaki Hawaiians Stadium.
Iwaki FC secured a 2-1 victory over fellow Northeast team Yamagata Yamaga in the 24th round of J2 League on July 14th. New center-back signing, Dohi Nobuhito, scored in his debut, assisted by Taiyo Igarashi’s throw-in. In the second half, starting striker, Kai Na Tanimura, capitalized on a counter-attack to extend the lead, ultimately helping Iwaki secure a victory away from home, ending a four-game losing streak across all competitions. Regarding this long-awaited win, Iwaki manager, Yuzo Tamura, stated: “I wanted to maintain a five-back formation to solidify our defense in the latter stages, but we still conceded from a cross. However, the players were positive, and this game taught us some things.”
Currently, Iwaki FC sits 9th in the J2 League standings with a record of 9 wins, 7 draws, and 8 losses. They are 7 points away from the promotion playoff zone, signifying the significant effort required to reach the top this season. In 12 home games this season, Iwaki FC has only achieved 3 wins, 4 draws, and 5 losses. Their scoring ability has declined compared to their away performances. In their previous five home games, Iwaki FC suffered defeats against Hiroshima Sanfrecce and Yokohama FC, and also suffered a last-minute goal against a severely injured Oita Trinita. Their defensive capabilities should not be overestimated.
In terms of lineup, Iwaki FC will be without Shuhei Hayami, Yuma Kato, and Yusuke Onishi. Onishi is particularly crucial to Iwaki’s midfield axis, and he is likely to miss this game due to muscle injury. However, the good news is that, for now, it seems like Iwaki’s main striker, Kai Na Tanimura, will remain with the club during the transfer window. Previously, multiple media outlets reported that J1 League clubs Kawasaki Frontale and Consadole Sapporo were interested in signing him.
Akita Blue Spark triumphed over dark horse team, Yamaguchi Renofa, in their last J2 League match with a 1-0 home victory. Defender, Takashi Kono, scored the winning goal with a powerful volley off a set piece in the dying minutes, rescuing Akita from a losing streak. Against Yamaguchi, Akita Blue Spark demonstrated their exceptional attacking pressure, registering 14 shots throughout the game, while their opponents only managed 4. Reflecting on this intense battle, Akita manager, Kenji Yoshida, told the media: “The entire team showed incredible tenacity in reacting to second balls. It was truly amazing. We aim to give our best in every round, striving to enhance our attacking capabilities.”
Currently, Akita Blue Spark sits 11th in the J2 League standings with a record of 8 wins, 7 draws, and 9 losses. They are 3 points behind their upcoming opponents, Iwaki FC, but they are 10 points behind the promotion playoff zone. In their 12 away games this season, Akita Blue Spark has achieved 4 wins, 2 draws, and 6 losses, performing slightly worse compared to their home games. Their average goal tally per game is less than 1. However, in their previous Northeast Derby, Akita Blue Spark triumphed 2-0 over Yamagata Yamaga away from home, demonstrating their understanding of Derby matches.
In terms of lineup, Akita Blue Spark lost their starting goalkeeper, Kenji Marui, during the offseason. This veteran goalkeeper, who consistently ranked among the league leaders in save percentage, caught the eye of Kyoto Sanga. Akita is expected to make Motoki Yamada their new custodian. However, Akita brought in Keihiro Kawamura and Takumi Kawamura on loan from Tokyo Verdy, both of whom have consistently featured in J2 League rotation. They will provide valuable support to both the offensive and defensive aspects of the team.
In their past encounters, Iwaki FC hold a slightly unfavorable record of 1 win, 1 draw, and 2 losses. In this round of the league, Iwaki FC will fight tooth and nail to end their home losing streak. Can Akita Blue Spark, with their tough playing style, survive a trip to Iwaki FC?
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