On July 10 at 5:30 PM, the third round of the Emperor’s Cup will see Imabari FC host reigning J.League champions Vissel Kobe at Otsuka Stadium.
In last weekend’s J2 League match, Imabari FC came from behind to win 3-1 against Ventforet Kofu on the road. Substitute Seijiro Tsuboi, who came on in the 46th minute, scored twice in the second half, showcasing an impressive performance. In addition, several key players for Imabari FC, including foreigner Alves, forward Yoichiro Kakitani, and central defender Kei, were substituted early in the game, indicating a good physical condition. Regarding the upcoming Emperor’s Cup match, Imabari coach Koji Masuda said, “This is a team that has won the league title, we will approach this match with a learning mindset.”
Currently in the J2 League standings, Imabari FC temporarily ranks 12th with 8 wins, 5 draws, and 10 losses, 7 points away from the promotion playoff zone. For Imabari FC, which was once mired in the relegation battle at the beginning of the season, this is quite satisfactory. In their 12 home games this season, Imabari FC has recorded 3 wins, 2 draws, and 7 losses, performing relatively poorly compared to their away form. However, in the last three home games, Imabari FC has achieved 2 wins and 1 draw, displaying a commendable resilience in scoring late winners.
In terms of lineup, Imabari FC is likely to make some rotations for this match, with substitutes such as Seijiro Tsuboi and Takashi Yodo having the chance to start. Additionally, Brazilian foreigner Talis, signed by Imabari FC during the transfer window, has already joined up with the team. This former Kumamoto and Nagoya foreigner will become Imabari FC’s absolute mainstay on the wing for the second half of the season. It is worth noting that Imabari FC advanced to the next round of the Emperor’s Cup thanks to a late winner by center forward Daiki Watanabe, but this veteran did not make the squad for the last league match, leaving his participation in this game uncertain.
The visiting Vissel Kobe defeated Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3-1 in their last league match on the road. The team’s main striker, Yuya Osako, performed exceptionally well in the match, while supporting players like Riku Komatsu also found opportunities to score through set-piece attacks, making their attack multi-faceted. Although Vissel Kobe lost right-back Takuto Hayashi in the match against Hiroshima, their defense remained tight and prevented Hiroshima from creating any flank combinations. Regarding the current good form, Vissel Kobe coach Akira Yoshida said, “I think we played the football we wanted from the first half onwards, I think both the content and the result were good.”
Currently in the J.League standings, Vissel Kobe temporarily ranks 4th with 12 wins, 4 draws, and 6 losses, just 1 point behind front-running Gamba Osaka, and there is still a significant possibility of closing the gap this season. In their 11 away matches this season, Vissel Kobe have recorded an excellent record of 7 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses, with a winning rate of as high as 64%, making them one of the strongest teams away from home in the J.League. However, the victory over Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the last league match was Vissel Kobe’s first win in their last five away games, and their away form has only recently shown signs of recovery, without any indication of greater stability yet.
In terms of lineup, Vissel Kobe’s right-back Takuto Hayashi is likely to continue to miss the match, although the team decided on Tuesday to recall young forward Kohei Tomiyasu, who was on loan at Tokushima Vortis in the J3 League, but it remains unknown whether he can be registered for the Emperor’s Cup in time. Moreover, Vissel Kobe have traditionally used a full reserve squad in the J.League Cup and Emperor’s Cup matches, and they are unlikely to risk rotating their starters in the third round match. Young players such as Shogo Yamauchi and Justin Honma are likely to get starting opportunities in this cup match.
In the previous 15 meetings between the two teams, Vissel Kobe have dominated with a record of 10 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses. In this match, Vissel Kobe will look to avoid a prolonged contest on the road. Can Imabari FC, approaching the match with a learning attitude, cause trouble for the top-flight powerhouse?
>>Click for more predictions and analysis for this match>>>
