With only 8 rounds left in the Japanese B League, the tournament has entered the white-hot sprint stage. With direct promotion, play-offs and even relegation on the horizon, let's take a look at the fierce competition in J-League 2 today.
FC Yokohama holds steady on the through train
FC Yokohama, who was relegated at the bottom of the Nippon Professional League last season, is leading the table in the Nippon B League this season after an outstanding performance. As of the 34th round, FC Yokohama has 67 points, 10 points ahead of third-place Okayama Green Pheasant, with a high probability of direct promotion.
FC Yokohama's lineup is star-studded with not only national treasure Shunsuke Nakamura, but also famous players such as Chizuma Watanabe and Sho Ito. But when it comes to the key players on the field, we have to mention 25-year-old Kogawa Hangi. The 6-foot-1 center forward has been on a tear this season in the Japanese Second League, scoring 20 goals in 33 appearances to lead the scoring charts. Kogawa has represented Japan at all levels of the national team, and if he stays with the team next season, he will be a key player to keep an eye on, even if he is promoted to the Nippon Professional League.
Niigata Swan close behind
Niigata Swans, who finished behind FC Yokohama by two points, last entered the Nippon Professional League in 2017. It would undoubtedly be exciting for fans to qualify for promotion this season. Although Niigata Swans are currently in second place in the Nippon Professional League, they have a better goal difference ratio than FC Yokohama, which is a well-deserved result.
The Niigata Swans are also full of experienced players such as Maiyuki Ryu, Kazuhiko Chiba and Yoshiro Takagi. In addition, Gao Yuyang, the son of former Chinese international Gao Sheng and formerly of the Osaka Flyers youth training camp, is also in the squad this season. The 24-year-old has been outstanding in the midfield this season, and is expected to remain a starter for the team when they are promoted to the Nippon Professional League next season.
Fierce competition for promotion play-off qualification
The competition for the third through sixth places to qualify for the promotion play-offs is extremely tight. According to the regulations, JB teams need to hold a valid JLF license in order to participate in the play-offs. Currently, all teams from third-placed Midorikan Okayama to 10th-placed Sawada Machida have licenses, so no team will be disqualified.
Okayama Green Pheasant is in third place with 57 points, five points away from sixth-placed Oita Mikami, and has a better chance of advancing to the play-offs. Okayama Green Pheasant's local players are not bad, and the foreign players also perform well, among which Tiago Avis has scored 14 goals this season, becoming the key player of the team.
Sendai Viktoria, Kumamoto Roasso, Oita Sankin and others vie for promotion playoffs
Sendai Viktoria, who were highly favored at the beginning of the season, are currently in fourth place, two points behind Okayama Green Pheasant. The team has suffered four consecutive defeats recently and is unlikely to be promoted directly, with the main goal now being to retain the play-off qualification. Sendai Viktoria's homegrown strikers Keizhin Togashi and Rindo Nakayama have scored 23 goals this season, guaranteeing the team's attacking power.
The Kyushu trio of Kumamoto Roasso, Oita Sanshin and Nagasaki Success Maru are in the fifth, sixth and seventh places respectively, with only three points separating the three teams. Kumamoto Roasso were originally seen as a relegation team when they were promoted from J.C to J.B this season, and it's surprising that they now have a chance to compete for promotion. Toshiki Takahashi, the 24-year-old local scorer, has scored 12 goals this season and is worth looking forward to.
Oita Sanshin and Nagasaki Success Maru are also fighting for promotion playoff qualification. Oita Sanshin's offense is still strong this season, with Jun Nagasawa scoring 9 goals, and with Yumeshi Kanazaki joining the team, the team's offense is worth looking forward to. Nagasaki Nakanomaru's attack is weak this season, but the defensive end is stable. Brazilian striker Edigard Zunio scored 10 goals and is the team's leading scorer.
Relegated Four Teams Struggle to Stay Out of Relegation
The relegation situation in the Japanese B League is equally tense. Okinawan team FC Ryukyu is currently at the bottom of the table with 29 points, only 1 point away from the second-to-last Iwate Morioka Senzuru, and only 2 points away from the third and fourth-to-last Omiya squirrels and Gunma Kusatsu Onsen, so the situation of relegation is still uncertain.
Gunma Kusatsu Onsen have been underperforming this season, with mediocre foreign players and a lack of local players. Although Omiya squirrels have strong players, but the recent results have declined significantly, relegation situation is not optimistic. Iwate Morioka Senzuru's attacking power is insufficient, but the number of goals conceded is the highest in Japan B. The road to relegation is full of challenges.
FC Ryukyu have had a poor season, but have received an attacking boost with the addition of Ghanaian striker Adam Suri. The scorer of three goals in six appearances is expected to be a key player in the team's relegation bid.
With the title race, promotion playoffs and relegation situations in the Japanese Second Division all exceptionally tight, fans can look forward to some exciting matches to come.
This week's JLF live streaming schedule:
September 10, 5:30 PM Kawasaki Frontale vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima Cable 604/664
September 10th, 6:00pm Yokohama Marinos vs Fukuoka Hornets Cable TV 601/661
September 10, 6:00 p.m. Osaka Cherry Blossoms vs. Tosu Sandstone Cable TV 605/665
September 11th, 12:00 noon, Sapporo Okasado, Hokkaido vs. Iwata Yamaha Cable 605/665
This week's Sunday B live streaming schedule:
