Two J2 games, one idea behind each. In Hachinohe, Yokohama FC will have most of the ball against a Vanraure side that defends deep and hardly ever scores, and Yokohama's away finishing against compact teams has been blunt. Up in Hakodate, Sapporo keep possession but leak goals every week, and Iwaki have looked like a different team since their coaching change.
Vanraure have scored only five goals in eight league games and drawn a blank in seven of their last ten. That puts the scoring load almost entirely on Yokohama, who look like two different teams. At home they've scored 12 in four league games. Away they've managed four in four, losing 0-2 at Yamagata despite 19 shots and 0-2 at Iwaki despite 20. Three of their four away league games stayed low. The last league meeting in Hachinohe finished 1-1.
Sapporo have conceded in all eight league games, including two 1-4 home defeats, and haven't won in the league since the opening day. Their possession numbers look fine, but the defending doesn't hold up.
Iwaki changed coach in early September after four straight defeats. Under Kazuaki Tasaka they beat Yokohama FC 2-0 and won 3-1 at Tosu, so their ugly away record mostly belongs to the old regime. They're a direct side who go for the space a team like Sapporo leaves behind.
The setting helps too. Sapporo played a League Cup game midweek and lost 1-2 to Okayama, and now they fly to Hakodate for a one-off home game, the club's first there in ten years. Kenta Kawai says he has never been to the city. Iwaki come in with almost eight days of rest, and they've had the better of the recent meetings, including a 5-1 win in Sapporo.
