National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Avispa Fukuoka or Shonan Bellmare that keep their silverware dream alive.
Shonan Bellmare have a very long trip to this away game, as there's more than 1000 kilometers in distance to cover. This could prove a challenge, at least for the supporters.
Fukuoka have less rest than Shonan Bellmare in this fixture, as the hosts were involved in a J-League game only four days ago. At least it's nice to return home after that away game at Kyoto Sanga.
Avispa Fukuoka form and stats
Avispa Fukuoka was eliminated in the quarter-finals last season in the Emperor Cup.Avispa Fukuoka have played 13 J-League games at their own stadium so far this season, resulting in 7-2-4 (wins-draws-losses).
Fukuoka haven't scored a league goal since they found the net 222 minutes ago. Sato scored that one.
Avispa Fukuoka are hoping to put things right at home after a defeat in their previous match, the score 0-2 away versus Kyoto Sanga. Midfielder Konno was the best player on the team with a rating of 7.04 (out of ten) in that game. Konno hit two key passes and had 33 successful passes (of 40 total).
Ahead of that match, Avispa Fukuoka lost 0-1 at home to Albirex Niigata.This is expected to be a close game, with Avispa Fukuoka perhaps considered small favourites due to their home advantage. Looking back at earlier matches similar to this one (expected to be close with Avispa Fukuoka as a small favourite), we find 12 games. Avispa Fukuoka has won 6 of these, drawn 2 and lost 4.
There's a new game coming up fairly quickly for Fukuoka as they are travelling to their away game against Tokyo in the J-League. That match is four days after this one.
Avispa Fukuoka are certainly not overdoing their scoring at home in league matches, having created 14 goals in 13 games.
Shonan Bellmare form and stats
They also participated in Emperor Cup last season. This ended in the 3rd round.There's been little loot from Shonan Bellmare's travels as they have only collected 8 points from 13 away games in the J-League. Shonan Bellmare only have 1 win to counter their 7 defeats and 5 draws.
Shonan Bellmare failed to get anything from their last game, a home match vs Urawa Reds that ended with defeat 0-1. Ohashi, attacking player, was the top performer on the team in that game, scoring a match rating of 7.64. Ohashi hit one key pass and dribled past the opponent 2 of 2 times.
Preceding that game, the 1-2 loss visiting Gamba Osaka's place.So, this is expected to be a close game, an even contest. Looking at earlier matches with Bellmare playing away and similar expectations, we found 13 relevant matches. Results were 1 Shonan Bellmare win, 9 draws and 3 defeats.
A quick return to home after this game, as Shonan Bellmare are hosting Kashima Antlers in the J-League only three days away.
Scoring goals is the main ingredient in creating success in football, and not only at home. So far Shonan Bellmare have scored 17 goals in 13 league games away. As for defending, Bellmare rarely keep clean sheets as they have conceded 25 goals from these away matches.
Head 2 Head
Avispa Fukuoka have not lost in the last 5 games (3-2-0) versus Shonan Bellmare.Top Goalscorers
  Y. Yamagishi 7 goals |   Y. Ohashi 7 goals | L. Araújo de Almeida 4 goals |
Avispa Fukuoka missing players
Shonan Bellmare missing players
| Avispa Fukuoka | Shonan Bellmare | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 13 | Played | P | 13 | 25 | ||
| 13 | 7 | Won | W | 0 | 3 | ||
| 3 | 2 | Drew | D | 6 | 8 | ||
| 9 | 4 | Lost | L | 7 | 14 | ||
| 31 | 15 | Scored | S | 14 | 31 | ||
| 30 | 13 | Conceded | C | 26 | 49 | ||
| 92% | 85% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | ||
| 68% | 69% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 85% | 80% | ||
| 52% | 54% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 54% | 52% | ||
| 20% | 8% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 46% | 44% | ||
| 8% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 23% | 28% | ||
| 48% | 46% | BTTS | BTTS | 77% | 64% | ||
| 36% | 38% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 8% | ||
| 24% | 31% | Failed to Score | F T | 23% | 28% | ||
| 4.4 | 4.8 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 5.6 | 5.1 | ||
| 4.9 | 4.5 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 5.1 | 4.4 | ||
| 1.8 | 1.5 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 2 | 1.7 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 1 | 1 | ||
| 11.4 | 12.8 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 10.6 | 10.7 | ||
| 3.7 | 4.5 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 3.5 | 4 | ||
| 33% | 25% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 30% | 31% | ||
| 10.6 | 9.7 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 15 | 12.9 | ||
| 3.7 | 3.2 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 7.4 | 6.2 | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 25 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 49 | 30 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 29 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 50 |
| 2 | Vissel Kobe | 25 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 46 | 22 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 11 | 24 | 49 |
| 3 | Nagoya Grampus | 25 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 33 | 24 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 9 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 15 | 9 | 45 |
| 4 | Urawa Reds | 25 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 30 | 19 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 9 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 44 |
| 5 | Kashima Antlers | 25 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 35 | 22 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 11 | 13 | 42 |
| 6 | Cerezo Osaka | 25 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 35 | 26 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 13 | 9 | 42 |
| 7 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 25 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 29 | 25 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 4 | 38 |
| 8 | Avispa Fukuoka | 25 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 24 | 29 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 16 | -5 | 35 |
| 9 | Kawasaki Frontale | 25 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 34 | 33 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 20 | 1 | 33 |
| 10 | Tokyo | 25 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 32 | 35 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 20 | -3 | 33 |
| 11 | Gamba Osaka | 25 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 35 | 42 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 16 | 28 | -7 | 33 |
| 12 | Sagan Tosu | 25 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 32 | 31 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 18 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 13 | 1 | 31 |
| 13 | Consadole Sapporo | 25 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 44 | 49 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 20 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 26 | 29 | -5 | 29 |
| 14 | Kyoto Sanga | 25 | 9 | 2 | 14 | 29 | 34 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 18 | -5 | 29 |
| 15 | Albirex Niigata | 25 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 25 | 34 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 19 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 15 | -9 | 28 |
| 16 | Yokohama | 25 | 5 | 6 | 14 | 21 | 45 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 | -24 | 21 |
| 17 | Kashiwa Reysol | 25 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 21 | 35 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 19 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 16 | -14 | 20 |
| 18 | Shonan Bellmare | 25 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 30 | 49 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 24 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 17 | 25 | -19 | 17 |
