Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Tokyo Verdy 9th with 61 points, Grulla Morioka 22nd with 34, 27 apart. Recent form flatters Tokyo Verdy's table spot — 1st league-wide over the last five rounds while sitting 9th. Scoring rates set the scale: Grulla Morioka 0.83 scored and 1.9 conceded per game, Tokyo Verdy 1.48 and 1.31, with the league averaging 1.23.
Hokujosogoundo Koen Kitakami Field in Kitakami staged the fixture, a ground that holds 4,946. Half-time and full-time told different stories: it was 0-0 at the break, before 2 more goals closed it at 0-2.