Oita Trinita vs Tokyo FC 05/09/20

05 September 2020

A potentially low-scoring J1 League affair at the Oita Bank Dome pits Oita Trinita against Tokyo FC. Three of their last four competitive H2Hs have featured under 2.5 goals.

A 2-1 away defeat to Urawa last time out now means the hosts have scored under 1.5 goals in six consecutive J1 League encounters (W1, D2, L3), which has also been the case in all five of their previous competitive clashes against Tokyo (D1, L4). In turn, a lack of firepower up front has seen Oita net one goal or less in each of their last five top-flight home outings (W1, D2, L2), with two of the three goals they managed across those fixtures coming inside the opening half an hour of play. Indeed, only two sides have netted fewer home J1 League goals than the ‘Trinita’ (5) so far. 

On the other hand, the visitors are one of the just two teams yet to lose at home this term (W4, D4), with each of those four draws coming in the last five trips. Tokyo seem very likely to maintain their unbeaten away start to the season, as they now take on a side they’ve not lost to in five of their previous competitive away H2Hs (W3, D2). Interestingly, six of their eight away J1 League games have seen both teams score, with the majority (56%) of the goals scored/conceded across those matches coming in the first half of play (14/25). Kenta Hasegawa’s men have shown a tremendous ability to bounce back after conceding the opening goal, winning two of five top-flight away matches in which they shipped the opener while drawing the other three.