Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Tokyo Verdy 9th with 61 points, Ryūkyū 21st with 37, 24 apart. Ryūkyū had been over-performing their table position on recent form: 12th in the league over the last five rounds against 21st overall. Per game in the league, Tokyo Verdy were scoring 1.48 and conceding 1.31, Ryūkyū 0.98 and 1.55, against a competition average of 1.23 goals per team per game.
Ryūkyū arrived off three straight defeats. Tokyo Verdy had banked 8 of the last 15 points on offer; Ryūkyū, 2.
Ajinomoto Stadium in Chōfu staged the fixture, a ground that holds 50,100. It was 1-1 at the break, and the second half added 1 goal for the 2-1 full-time score.