Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Giravanz Kitakyushu 8th with 56 points, Azul Claro Numazu 20th with 28, 28 apart. The last five rounds placed Azul Claro Numazu 16th in the league for form — higher than their 20th in the standings. Scoring rates set the scale: Azul Claro Numazu 1.05 scored and 1.5 conceded per game, Giravanz Kitakyushu 1.21 and 1.08, with the league averaging 1.28.
Across 8 recorded meetings, Azul Claro Numazu have 4 wins to Giravanz Kitakyushu's 3, with 1 draw, at 1.88 goals per meeting. History backs the host here — 63% of the meetings won by the home side. Low-scoring is the pattern: just 25% of the meetings went over two goals.
The match was played at Shizuoka Ashitaka Athletic Stadium (capacity 10,000). It was 0-0 at the break, and the second half added 4 goals for the 1-3 full-time score.
Goal scorers
Azul Claro Numazu: Keita Shirawachi (63') · Giravanz Kitakyushu: Daigo Takahashi (50'), Kaoru Yamawaki (56'), Seung-jin Koh (72')
Key stats
Possession: Azul Claro Numazu 53% · Giravanz Kitakyushu 47% · Total shots: 16-10 · On target: 7-6 · Corners: 4-2