Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Machida Zelvia 1st with 87 points, Oita Trinita 9th with 62, 25 apart. Scoring rates set the scale: Oita Trinita 1.29 scored and 1.33 conceded per game, Machida Zelvia 1.88 and 0.83, with the league averaging 1.28.
Oita Trinita had drawn their last three. 8 matches unbeaten backed Machida Zelvia's arrival, having scored in 8 consecutive games.
The match was played at Ōita Bank Dome in Oita (capacity 40,000). Half-time and full-time told different stories: Machida Zelvia led 1-0 at the break, before 2 more goals closed it at 0-3.