Match Report
16 points separated the sides: Machida Zelvia 6th on 60, Shimizu S-Pulse 14th on 44. Machida Zelvia had been under-performing their position — 12th on five-round form against 6th in the table. Against a league average of 1.2 goals per team per game, Machida Zelvia ran at 1.37 scored and 1 conceded, Shimizu S-Pulse at 1.08 and 1.34.
Momentum sat with Machida Zelvia, winners of their last four. The five-game form split read 12/15 points for Machida Zelvia against 6/15 for Shimizu S-Pulse.
Machida Athletic Stadium in Tokyo staged the fixture, a ground that holds 10,328. Half-time and full-time told different stories: Machida Zelvia led 1-0 at the break, before 2 more goals closed it at 3-0.
Goal scorers
Machida Zelvia: Ryuho Kikuchi (14'), Takaya Numata (90'), Yuki Soma (75')