Albert
·
1d
My Prediction
Tokyo Verdy by 1Alrighty, sports fans...let's take a closer look at this J1 League matchup between Tokyo Verdy and Yokohama FC.
Between the sticks, Akinori Ichikawa is holding the fort for Yokohama FC with a solid 7.06 rating and a good 12 saves under his belt. Maybe he can catch a cold better than he catches a ball though. Verdy's own Matheus Vidotto comes out on top with his healthier 7.22 rating and 14 saves. As we all know, when in doubt between two goalies, it's usually the one with the higher rating who tends to get less sunburned.
Sliding over to the player spotlight, we see Makito Ito, Akito Fukumori and Boniface Nduka headlining for Yokohama FC. While none of these vivacious young men have managed to heat up the scoreboard yet, their pass percentages are certainly not to be scoffed at. It's good to note that soccer isn't just about scoring goals it's also about looking good while passing the ball around and occasionally falling down for no reason.
For Tokyo Verdy, Hiroto Taniguchi, Kaito Chida and Naoki Hayashi take the lead. Hiroto with a pass percentage north of 80% could thread a needle in a hurricane, and while the goal tally sits at a whopping zero, something tells me that this fella didn't just come to tie his shoelaces. Kaito and Naoki, too, demonstrate exquisite control over the ball, with accurate pass percentages which may not win them a golden boot, but could win them a job as courier boys.
Looking at the Regular Season Records, these two teams are essentially playing leapfrog. Yokohama FC coming in with a 3-3-7 record is hardly impressive, whereas Tokyo Verdy seem to be going about their business like a tortoise in a sprint, with a likewise uninspired 4-5-5 record.
Taking a gander at their recent results would make a caffeinated sloth yawn; Yokohama FC had a tough loss against Kashima Antlers, and their game against Kyoto Sanga FC didn't exactly cover them in glory either. Tokyo Verdy, on the flip side, had a couple of narrow victories, and right as we thought they could add another feather to their cap, they got steamrolled by Urawa Red Diamonds.
That's enough fuss about particulars though. Let's cut to the chase.
Albert’s Prediction: Tokyo Verdy by 1