J-League Cup Third Round: Hiroshima Sanfrecce's Full Strength Lineup? Machida Zelvia's Relaxed Mindset

The third round matches of the J-League Cup continued on the evening of May 22nd. Hiroshima Sanfrecce, fresh off a commanding 5-0 victory in the league, faces Tokyo Verdy who just suffered a 5-goal defeat. How much psychological advantage will Hiroshima Sanfrecce carry into this match against Tokyo Verdy?

Promoted team Machida Zelvia currently sits atop the league standings with an impressive 10 wins. Even if their form dips later, ensuring survival should pose no major challenge, allowing them to approach the J-League Cup with ease.

Tokyo Verdy vs. Hiroshima Sanfrecce - The 5-Goal Deficit Derby

Tokyo Verdy finally succumbed in the last round, suffering a humiliating 0-5 defeat to Machida Zelvia, who are crafting their own myth in the J-League. This victory elevated Machida Zelvia to the first team in the J-League to achieve double-digit wins, overtaking defending champions Vissel Kobe to reclaim the top spot on the points table. It's hard to fathom that Verdy had remained undefeated in twelve consecutive league matches prior to this debacle.

Analyzing this massive defeat tactically, Machida scored early due to an own goal by a Verdy player, which severely dented Verdy's morale for the remainder of the match. This anomaly perplexed many, as Verdy had previously shown resilience against established J-League teams this season, often coming from behind to salvage results. Why did they succumb so easily to a fellow promoted side? This is a question Verdy's head coach Shigefuku needs to carefully investigate.

Conversely, Hiroshima Sanfrecce, in their last outing against Kyoto Sanga, secured a resounding 5-0 victory. Both matches kicked off simultaneously, with the timing of Verdy's concession and Sanfrecce's goals almost synchronized. Prior to this match, Sanfrecce had just suffered their first loss and consecutive defeats of the season. Responding with such a big win greatly boosted the morale of their players. On the other hand, Verdy conducted internal selections following their heavy defeat, hoping to field the most spirited players in this J-League Cup fixture.

The two teams haven't faced each other in fifteen years. Currently, Sanfrecce's strength is superior, and their focus on cup competitions is higher. Their away form is also better than their home form, making them likely to perform at their peak, while Verdy may only unleash a fraction of their energy.

Machida Zelvia vs. Kashima Antlers - Clash of J-League Title Contenders

Last season, the teams ranked in the bottom five of the J-League failed to achieve double-digit wins, while Machida has already secured 10 victories this season. With only three relegation spots available, has Machida already achieved the minimum survival target? Last season, they scored only 21 goals after 15 rounds in J2, while this season in J1, they have already scored 25 goals. This rapid improvement in attacking prowess is evident. Meanwhile, their defense has remained solid, conceding only 4 more goals than in the same period last season.

Machida's head coach, Kuroda, is a true academic, having coached at Aomori Yamada High School until the 2023 season and failing to become a professional player in his youth. Counterattacking is his cornerstone tactic, which led Aomori to win the Japanese High School Comprehensive Sports Festival football championship twice (imagine the Great Aya Wing here). Now, he has successfully transplanted this tactic to Machida, where it seems the lower the possession rate, the more scoring opportunities are created.

Kashima Antlers caused an upset in the last round by defeating Vissel Kobe. This season, right-back Nono Kono, who graduated from Kansai University, scored the winning goal for the team. Perhaps he imagined that he could secure a starting position in the top league in his first professional season, but he probably didn't expect to compete for the team's top scorer position.

Indeed, Kashima's attacking tactics have remained unchanged for many years. Suzuki Yuma and Cafu's characteristics are easy to understand and easy to target, which requires other players to stand out. Nono Kono is undoubtedly the long-awaited rain after a long drought for Kashima.

The two teams have already faced each other in the first round of the league this season, when Machida defeated Kashima with a suspicion of a surprise. Currently, the difference in league points between the two teams is only 3 points, so this J-League Cup match is sure to be conservative. Machida, with stronger tactical execution, is expected to perform at their best at home, while Kashima may struggle to perform in both the league and cup simultaneously.