Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Tochigi 7th with 58 points, Ryūkyū 16th with 40, 18 apart. In league terms the two rates read 1.11/0.95 for Tochigi and 1.08/1.5 for Ryūkyū (scored/conceded per game); the competition average is 1.28.
Defeat had not touched Tochigi in 6 games, having scored in 8 consecutive games.
4 meetings are on record — 0 won by Tochigi, 3 by Ryūkyū, 1 drawn, at 2 goals per meeting. The host's record in this fixture is thin — 25% of meetings won.
Tochigi Green Stadium, capacity 15,325, hosted the game. On the scoreboard, Tochigi led 3-0 at the break; 2 second-half goals set the final 4-1.
Goal scorers
Tochigi: Katsuya Nakano (4'), Ryunosuke Ota (12'), Taiyo Igarashi (23'), Katsuya Nakano (65') · Ryūkyū: Sho Iwamoto (53')
Key stats
Possession: Tochigi 36% · Ryūkyū 64% · Total shots: 10-6 · On target: 5-4 · Corners: 3-1