On June 22nd at 6 PM, the J-League’s 19th round will see Urawa Reds host their arch-rivals Kashima Antlers at Saitama 2002 Stadium.
Urawa Reds suffered a 1-2 away loss to Cerezo Osaka in the previous round of the J-League. They conceded a goal just before halftime, with opponent Lucas Fernandez scoring directly from a long-range free kick. This dealt a major blow to Urawa’s morale. In the second half, Urawa, determined to regroup, faced another setback. Opponent Oda Yuto scored a wonder goal from a free kick, which could easily be considered a candidate for Goal of the Season. This effectively crushed Urawa, and even though Hayashi Mori came on as a substitute and scored a goal, it was not enough.
Currently, Urawa Reds sits 10th in the J-League standings with a record of 7 wins, 4 draws, and 7 losses. They are 8 points behind the leading pack, a situation that is hard to accept considering their stated goal of winning the championship this season. However, in their 9 home matches this season, Urawa Reds has recorded a solid 5 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses, conceding an average of less than 1 goal per game defensively. Saitama 2002 Stadium has proven to be a formidable home ground in the J-League. Nevertheless, in their last two home matches against Machida and Kobe, both championship contenders, Urawa Reds failed to secure victories, indicating room for improvement in their performance.
In terms of the lineup, Urawa Reds is likely to welcome back players like Anbe Yuta, Koizumi Kaho, Sorbaaken, Matsuo Yusuke, and Gustafson for this match. However, their key midfielder Ito Atsuki sustained an injury against Cerezo Osaka and will most likely miss this round. Additionally, Urawa’s loan deal with Sorbaaken is set to expire at the end of this month. The club is currently in talks with the player’s agent, hoping to extend the loan or even secure a permanent transfer.
The visiting Kashima Antlers drew 1-1 against Albirex Niigata in their last home match. They failed to control the game, allowing Niigata’s striker Omi Hiroto to score from a rebound. Thankfully, Fujii Tomohiro came on as a substitute in the second half and scored a world-class goal to rescue a draw. Otherwise, Kashima Antlers’ record of consecutive home wins would have ended unexpectedly against Albirex Niigata. Despite the draw, the Kashima Antlers players expressed their disappointment. Their key midfielder, Sano Kaiju, stated, “We are not satisfied with the result. We were dominated by the opponent for the majority of the game. We were fortunate to secure a draw.”
Currently, Kashima Antlers are ranked 2nd in the J-League standings with a record of 11 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses. They are only 2 points behind the top-ranked Machida Zelvia. The team still has a strong chance of winning the championship this season. In their 9 away matches this season, Kashima Antlers have secured 5 wins and 4 losses, ranking 3rd in the league for points earned away from home, only behind Machida Zelvia and Vissel Kobe. In their previous four away matches, Kashima Antlers easily defeated Gamba Osaka, Kashiwa Reysol, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and Consadole Sapporo, demonstrating a potent attacking force.
In terms of lineup, Kashima Antlers is expected to be missing only midfielder Milosavljevic due to injury. The team’s foreign striker, Cavric, declined a call-up to his national team during the European Championships to stay with the club and focus on the championship race. This is undoubtedly a reassuring factor for the Kashima Antlers squad.
In their previous 20 meetings, Urawa Reds has a less-than-favorable record of 4 wins, 6 draws, and 10 losses against Kashima Antlers. This round’s match is one of the J-League’s most intense derbies – the “Red Derby.” Playing at home, Urawa Reds, lagging significantly behind the leading pack, is naturally aiming to quickly bounce back and return to winning ways. Will the visiting Kashima Antlers allow them to do so?
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