Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — JEF United 7th with 61 points, Tochigi 18th with 34, 27 apart. On the form table Tochigi stood 14th over the last five rounds, despite being 18th overall. Scoring rates set the scale: Tochigi 0.87 scored and 1.5 conceded per game, JEF United 1.76 and 1.26, with the league averaging 1.24.
JEF United arrived on a run of four straight wins. Tochigi had banked 4 of the last 15 points on offer; JEF United, 12.
The match was played at Tochigi Green Stadium in Utsunomiya (capacity 15,325). On the scoreboard, it was 1-1 at the break; 1 second-half goal set the final 2-1.