Match Report
On the table this was a mismatch: Tokushima Vortis (8th, 55 pts) held a 21-point advantage over Tochigi (18th, 34 pts). The last five rounds placed Tokushima Vortis 3rd in the league for form — higher than their 8th in the standings. Scoring rates set the scale: Tochigi 0.87 scored and 1.5 conceded per game, Tokushima Vortis 1.11 and 1.16, with the league averaging 1.24.
Tochigi had not won in 5 games. Momentum sat with Tokushima Vortis, winners of their last four. Tochigi had banked 4 of the last 15 points on offer; Tokushima Vortis, 12.
With 59 matches recorded and 0.8 yellow cards per game, K. Enomoto was the man in the middle. The match was played at Kanseki Stadium (Utsunomiya) in Utsunomiya. It was 0-0 at the break — the second half brought no more goals and it finished 0-0.