On August 23rd at 5:00 PM, Yokohama FC will host Tokushima Vortis in the 28th round of J2 League at Mitsuzawa Stadium.
Yokohama FC secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over bottom-placed Gunma Horikoshi in the 27th round last weekend. They scored twice from set pieces, with captain Gabriel opening his goal account. However, their defense faltered towards the end of the first half, giving visiting fans a scare. In the post-match interview, Yokohama FC manager Shuhei Shimota said, “Our goalkeeper, Hikaru Ichikawa, made some mistakes, but our defense had many issues in the first half. We struggled with both attack and defense for a long time. I believe the players fought hard to secure the three points.”
Yokohama FC, undefeated in 12 consecutive rounds, currently sits in second place on the J2 League table with a record of 17 wins, 6 draws, and 4 losses. They are just one point behind league leaders Shimizu S-Pulse and five points ahead of Nagasaki Seadogs, giving them a strong hold on direct promotion this season. In their 13 home matches this season, Yokohama FC boasts an impressive 9 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss, averaging less than 0.6 goals conceded per game. They are undoubtedly a formidable team at home. However, in their previous home match, Yokohama FC failed to capitalize on their advantage against title rivals Nagasaki Seadogs, showing signs of a slight decline in performance.
In terms of squad availability, Yokohama FC’s starting center-back, Koki Iwataki, has been ruled out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury. Meanwhile, striker Kaito Mori, attacking midfielder Công Phượng, and Mizuki Arai remain sidelined. The good news is that Yokohama FC’s key midfielder, Keiki Mita, has declared himself fit this week and will be available for selection in this match.
Tokushima Vortis drew 1-1 with Okayama Green Ducks in the last round, with their main striker, Taisei Wataru, scoring in a counter-attack. Their defense faced significant pressure in the second half, but they managed to preserve their clean sheet thanks to the impressive performance of their homegrown goalkeeper, Satoru Tanaka. This ensured they remained unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions. After the game, Tokushima manager Isao Masuda told the media, “We lost to Yamagata in the previous match, lacking basic principles in both attack and defense. We showed some improvement in this game. Also, we are working hard to address the issue of conceding goals from set pieces. I also told the players to focus on their own progress and accumulating points rather than worrying about teams near them on the table.”
Tokushima Vortis currently occupies the 11th position on the J2 League table with a record of 10 wins, 6 draws, and 11 losses. They are 8 points behind the promotion playoffs zone. However, they have climbed back from a period where they were in the relegation zone early in the season, which is a remarkable achievement. In their 13 away matches this season, Tokushima Vortis has managed 6 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses, putting them in 6th place for away points, significantly better than their home form. In their previous three away matches, Tokushima Vortis defeated two mid-table teams, JEF United Chiba and Ehime FC, but they suffered a loss to Yamagata in their last away game, indicating a slight drop in performance.
Regarding the squad situation, Tokushima Vortis will be without left-back Wataru Yanagisawa and attacker Taro Sugimoto due to injury. However, their new summer signing, Yuhito Murakami, who joined on loan, has already integrated into the team’s training sessions and will be available on the bench for this match. It is noteworthy that Tokushima Vortis’ manager, Isao Masuda, has previously served as an assistant coach for Yokohama FC, making him quite familiar with both the opponent and Mitsuzawa Stadium.
In their previous 20 encounters, Yokohama FC holds a slight psychological advantage with a record of 10 wins, 5 draws, and 5 losses. In this round, Yokohama FC, currently in good form, will aim to continue their winning streak at home. Can Tokushima Vortis, who are known for their away strength, escape with a draw? Let’s wait and see!
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