Yokohama vs Kashima Antlers 14/10/18

14 October 2018

Yokohama will host Kashima Antlers at the Mitsuzawa Stadium in the return leg of the YBC Levain Cup semi-finals following a 2-1 triumph in the first leg.

Midweek’s triumph at the Kashima Soccer Stadium was the Fulie’s fourth consecutive, and also their seventh in the last eight matches in all competitions. Besides, Yokohama have won four out of the previous five games, notching at least two goals in each of those victories. As Edson Tavares’ side already ran out of chances to secure one of the top three places in the Japanese J-League, they would like to save the season by winning their first-ever Japanese Cup trophy.

On the other hand, the Antlers have clinched four successive away triumphs, including the one against the Chinese outfit Tianjin Quanjian in the AFC Champions League quarter-finals. The 8-time J-League champions are currently engaged in the AFC Championship semi-final battle with Suwon, and they are also trying to wrap up the third place in the domestic championship to get to the international competition next season.

As much as 87% of Yokohama’s home matches this season ended with more than two goals, while 64% of Kashima’s away games finished with more than two nettings. Additionally, six times in the past seven head-to-head encounters between these two sides at the Mitsuzawa Stadium produced over 2.5goals.

Takahiro Nakazato, Ayumu Tachibana, and Ryo Tadokoro are ruled out by injuries in the home squad, while Leandro, Atsutaka Nakamura, Atsuto Uchida, Yukitoshi Ito, and Gen Shoji won’t be playing for the visitors due to various physical problems.