National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Tokushima Vortis or Iwaki that keep their silverware dream alive.
It's no vacation for neither Tokushima Vortis nor Iwaki as both were in action only a few days ago. Expect some tired legs on the pitch and/or possibly some changes to the lineups.
Tokushima Vortis form and stats
Tokushima was eliminated in the 3rd round last season in the Emperor Cup.With {2 J2-League wins}, 3 draws and 4 defeats from their home games, Tokushima Vortis are certainly not brimming with confidence.
In their previous game, the manager Soto led his Tokushima Vortis to a defeat away at Fagiano Okayama. The manager is hoping to put things right immediately here at Pocari Sweat Stadium.
Before that, Tokushima Vortis had a J2-League home game versus Machida Zelvia which ended with a victory 2-1.This is expected to be a close game, with Tokushima Vortis perhaps considered small favourites due to their home advantage. Looking back at earlier matches similar to this one (expected to be close with Tokushima as a small favourite), we find 13 games. Tokushima Vortis has won 5 of these, drawn 4 and lost 4.
The match schedule is unforgiving for Tokushima Vortis as they have a new game in only four days, a J2-League match thankfully also at home. Tochigi are visiting.
The goals haven't exactly been flowing for Tokushima here at Pocari Sweat Stadium in the league, with less than one goal per game on average (7 from 9 games). Tokushima Vortis have conceded 13 in these home matches.
Iwaki form and stats
Iwaki was sent out of Emperor Cup in the 1st round last season.The hunting on away grounds haven’t been very fruitful for Iwaki so far with only 7 points returning home. The records show 1-4-4 (win-draw-lose).
Endo was the last player to score for the away team. Iwaki haven't scored a league goal in the last 180 minutes.
Home advantage was not enough for Iwaki in their previous game as they lost hosting Roasso Kumamoto, 0-4. As you can see from the result above, the defeat against Roasso Kumamoto was particularly ugly (0-4). The humiliation is still top of mind.
Before that, Iwaki travelled to Tokyo Verdy and returned home with a draw after the J2-League game finished 0-0.Iwaki have another fixture that requires travelling in just four nights, a J2-League fixture against Montedio Yamagata. A rough diary for the guests!
The attacking power of Iwaki when travelling is not overwhelming with 6 goals scored from 9 league matches away.
Head 2 Head
Top Goalscorers
  K. Mori 7 goals |  Y. Kakitani 6 goals |  K. Tanimura 3 goals |
Tokushima Vortis missing players
Iwaki missing players
| Tokushima Vortis | Iwaki | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 12 | Played | P | 12 | 25 | ||
| 7 | 4 | Won | W | 3 | 8 | ||
| 10 | 4 | Drew | D | 4 | 5 | ||
| 8 | 4 | Lost | L | 5 | 12 | ||
| 29 | 14 | Scored | S | 12 | 26 | ||
| 37 | 17 | Conceded | C | 20 | 38 | ||
| 92% | 92% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 92% | 96% | ||
| 88% | 92% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 58% | 60% | ||
| 48% | 42% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 42% | 48% | ||
| 28% | 25% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 25% | 24% | ||
| 8% | 8% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 8% | 8% | ||
| 60% | 58% | BTTS | BTTS | 42% | 44% | ||
| 12% | 17% | Clean Sheets | C S | 25% | 20% | ||
| 36% | 33% | Failed to Score | F T | 42% | 40% | ||
| 4.4 | 4.3 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 4.8 | 5.5 | ||
| 5.5 | 4 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 5 | 4.7 | ||
| 1.7 | 1.5 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 0.9 | 1.1 | ||
| 2 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 2 | 4 | ||
| 9 | 9.2 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 10.2 | 11.4 | ||
| 3.3 | 3.3 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 4.1 | 4.4 | ||
| 35% | 35% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 24% | 24% | ||
| 9.8 | 7.9 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 9.2 | 7.9 | ||
| 4 | 3.6 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 3.8 | 3.4 | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Machida Zelvia | 19 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 28 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 18 | 42 |
| 2 | Oita Trinita | 19 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 25 | 24 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 1 | 34 |
| 3 | Tokyo Verdy | 19 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 5 | 13 | 33 |
| 4 | V-Varen Nagasaki | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 27 | 17 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 32 |
| 5 | Ventforet Kofu | 19 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 25 | 21 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 32 |
| 6 | Júbilo Iwata | 19 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 31 | 22 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 30 |
| 7 | Vegalta Sendai | 19 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 24 | 18 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 6 | 30 |
| 8 | Fagiano Okayama | 19 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 25 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 29 |
| 9 | ThespaKusatsu Gunma | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 22 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 17 | 0 | 29 |
| 10 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 19 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 38 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 23 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 10 | 22 | 28 |
| 11 | Roasso Kumamoto | 19 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 27 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 27 |
| 12 | Blaublitz Akita | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 18 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 12 | -2 | 26 |
| 13 | Montedio Yamagata | 19 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 29 | 27 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 17 | 2 | 25 |
| 14 | Fujieda MYFC | 19 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 28 | 30 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 15 | -2 | 25 |
| 15 | JEF United | 19 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 18 | 24 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 13 | -6 | 23 |
| 16 | Tochigi | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 18 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 14 | -4 | 20 |
| 17 | Zweigen Kanazawa | 19 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 24 | 33 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 24 | -9 | 20 |
| 18 | Tokushima Vortis | 19 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 19 | 28 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 15 | -9 | 20 |
| 19 | Mito Hollyhock | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 18 | 35 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 24 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 11 | -17 | 20 |
| 20 | Renofa Yamaguchi | 19 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 34 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 20 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 14 | -17 | 19 |
| 21 | Iwaki | 19 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 14 | 34 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 18 | -20 | 16 |
| 22 | Omiya Ardija | 19 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 16 | 30 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 18 | -14 | 14 |
