Iwaki FC lost their last 4 league matches after suffering a 1-9 defeat at the hands of Shimizu S Pulse last weekend. It is obvious that their defense is quite poor, and they are not tight enough at the back, giving their opponents too much space to organize their offense.
Iwaki FC is a fast-paced and direct team, so I'm sure their strength will be affected by the absence of the suspended Eiji Miyamoto, especially considering that the Akita Blue Flash defense is quite organized.
Akita Blue Lightning beat Tochigi SC 2-1 on Sunday to get their first win in the last 4 league matches. Supervisor Ken Yoshida has managed to build a very well organized team that can often overpower opponents to grab the second drop goal, and the midfield will also line up in a two-tier 4-man formation, giving Akita a pretty strong defensive backbone.
Up front, Shodai Aoki, who has been on the move, finally scored his first goal of the season last week, and I'm sure it will have a positive effect on the whole team ahead of this game.
