On August 10th at 13:00, Sapporo Consadole will welcome Fukuoka Hornets to the Sapporo Dome for a J1 League Round 26 clash.
Sapporo Consadole suffered a disappointing 2-3 loss to Yokohama F. Marinos in the previous J1 League round, their away trip ending with a regrettable defeat. Despite an equalizer from Asano Yuya, who made a comeback after recovering from injury, Sapporo’s defense was vulnerable, conceding goals through Ozuki Reo’s repeated struggles against individual attacks. Though Suga Daiki managed to score a consolation goal, it wasn’t enough to secure a point at Nissan Stadium. Sapporo manager Petrovic told the media after the game, “If Kondo Yuki’s shot hadn’t hit the post, we would have taken the lead, and the situation would have been completely different. I think we fought until the end, but I’m still disappointed that we conceded three goals.”
Currently, Sapporo Consadole sits at the bottom of the J1 League table with a record of 3 wins, 6 draws, and 16 losses. They are still 11 points and 23 goals behind the next team in the table, making their survival mission extremely challenging. In their 12 home games this season, Sapporo Consadole has only managed 2 wins, 3 draws, and 7 losses, averaging less than 0.9 goals per game – a stark reflection of their struggling performance. However, a 1-1 draw against defending champions Vissel Kobe in their last home game, secured by Aoki Ryota’s direct free-kick goal, could provide a psychological boost for this upcoming home match.
In terms of lineup, Sapporo Consadole’s injured players, Kobayashi Yuki and Miyazawa Hiroki, have returned to the squad. The club’s summer signing, Park Min-kyu, also made his debut as a substitute. However, the status of the three foreign forwards, Gomez, Bakayoko, and Kahn, is still unclear. They did not travel with the team for the previous away game, leaving their participation for this game uncertain. In addition, goalkeeper Takagi Shun, striker Kim Ken-hee, and attacking midfielder Tsubasa remain sidelined due to injury.
Fukuoka Hornets have had a similarly difficult summer. They drew 1-1 against Shonan Bellmare in their last away game, preventing a fourth consecutive defeat across all competitions since July. Despite a point earned at Hiratsuka, Fukuoka Hornets’ defense demonstrated poor performance in defending against second balls, repeatedly allowing the aggressive Shonan forwards to launch counter-attacks. Their own offensive performance also faltered, as Sato Ryoga missed a clear-cut chance in the first half, leaving both his teammate Wellington and head coach Hasebe Shigeki baffled.
Fukuoka Hornets currently sit 8th in the J1 League table with a record of 9 wins, 9 draws, and 7 losses. They are now nine points behind the Asian Champions League qualification spots, and with their elimination from cup competitions, this season might end without any silverware. However, their away performance has been impressive. In 12 away games, Fukuoka Hornets have secured 5 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses, conceding an average of only 0.75 goals per game, the best away defensive record in the J1 League. Their scoring ability also ranks them 4th in the league, trailing only the top contenders.
In terms of lineup, Fukuoka Hornets will be without goalkeeper Nagashi Takumi, full-back Tosa Sei, central defenders Inoue Seiya and Nara Ryuju. The good news is that right-back Maejima Yota has returned to training this week and is expected to make a comeback this weekend. Furthermore, Machida Zelvia defender Ikeda Jure, acquired by Fukuoka Hornets during the offseason, has been included in the squad for the last game and could become an important addition to the defense.
In their previous 20 encounters, Sapporo Consadole holds a slight psychological advantage with a record of 8 wins, 8 draws, and 4 losses. In this round, Sapporo Consadole, facing a dire situation, will be aiming for a three-point win in their first home game after the name change to wash away their slump. Can Fukuoka Hornets, who have been struggling throughout the summer, manage to escape with a point?
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