On July 7th at 6:00 PM, the Fukuoka Hornets will host the Kyoto Sanga in the 22nd round of the J. League at Hakata Stadium.
In the previous round of the J. League, Fukuoka Hornets secured a 1-0 victory over Tokyo FC on the road, extending their winning streak. Key midfielder Masato Shigenobu scored a brilliant goal in the 66th minute, while wing-back Yuto Iwasaki created several chances but had a goal disallowed by VAR. After the tough battle against Tokyo FC, Fukuoka Hornets head coach Shigemi Moriyasu said: “The team will continue to give its all to win every game. I realize that Fukuoka is a team that can demonstrate the same competitiveness and determination to win against lower-ranked teams as against other opponents. We won’t let up.”
Currently in the J. League standings, the Fukuoka Hornets are in 6th place with a record of 9 wins, 8 draws, and 4 losses. They are only 6 points behind the top three teams, which aligns with the Hornets’ goal of securing an Asian Champions League spot this season. In their 11 home matches this season, the Hornets have an impressive record of 4 wins, 5 draws, and 2 losses, including notable victories like 2-0 against Sagan Tosu and 1-0 against Gamba Osaka. In their last three home games, the Fukuoka Hornets have scored 12 goals and conceded only one, showcasing their excellent form on both offense and defense.
In terms of the squad, the Fukuoka Hornets will be without the services of four defensive players: Yohei Maejima, Seito Tazawa, Ryuki Nara, and Takuji Nagashi. Additionally, their foreign striker, Ben Khalifa, has been sidelined with a serious injury since a month ago and is not expected to feature this season. Moreover, no Fukuoka Hornets players have been selected for the Paris Olympics, allowing the team to focus fully on the league.
Kyoto Sanga, on the other hand, secured a surprising 1-0 victory against relegation rivals Shonan Bellmare in their last away game, giving them a much-needed boost in their fight for survival. In the match against Shonan Bellmare, Daichi Hara, who had been struggling for form, scored a goal following a precise pass from Tulio. Subsequently, Kyoto manager Kenta Kawaguchi, well-aware of Shonan’s playing style, made several substitutions to secure the win. Goalkeeper Seong-Yun Koo made a crucial penalty save, helping Kyoto secure all three points on the road. Following the victory against Shonan, Kenta Kawaguchi remained humble, acknowledging that his team still has a long way to go and that their primary goal is to escape the relegation zone.
Currently in the J. League standings, Kyoto Sanga are in 18th place with a record of 4 wins, 6 draws, and 11 losses. They are still 5 points away from safety and must win every game if they want to keep pace. In their 11 away matches this season, Kyoto Sanga have managed 3 wins, 4 draws, and 4 losses, averaging less than 0.8 goals per game, indicating a severe lack of firepower. Adding to their challenges, Kyoto Sanga will face J2 League powerhouse Shimizu S-Pulse at home in the Emperor’s Cup on Wednesday, meaning they are stretched thin across multiple competitions.
In terms of the squad, Kyoto Sanga will be without the services of starting center-back, Shogo Mada, while substitute striker Ryogo Yamazaki is also unavailable due to injury. However, it’s worth noting that Kyoto Sanga are set to sign a Brazilian center-back during the summer transfer window to bolster their defense. The team still holds high hopes of staying in the top flight.
In their previous 20 encounters, both teams have recorded 9 wins each, along with 2 draws. This round, the Fukuoka Hornets will aim to chase the top three teams with the advantage of playing at home. Will the away team, Kyoto Sanga, be able to secure crucial points for their survival?
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