J1 League Preview: Pohang Struggles to Get Back on Track, Kashiwa Reysol Captain Heads to Belgian Pro League

On August 7 at 18:30, the 25th round of the J1 League will see Pohang host Kashiwa Reysol at the Saitama 2002 Stadium.

In their J1 League match on July 20, Pohang suffered a surprising 3-4 home loss against cellar-dwelling Sapporo Consadole. The team was down by four goals during the game but managed to score three late goals through Thiago Santana and substitute Rikyo Nitanda. Despite this, they were unable to secure an undefeated home record due to the time constraints. Speaking about their recent poor form, Pohang’s head coach, Hege Mo, told the media: “In the match against Sapporo, we had four chances in the first 20 minutes that we didn’t convert. Our defense was positioned too far forward after that. I don’t think the final result should have been like that, and I want to make adjustments during the break.”

In the current J1 League standings, Pohang is temporarily in 10th place with 9 wins, 6 draws, and 9 losses, trailing the title contenders by 11 points. It is unlikely that they will achieve their pre-season goal of winning the championship. In their 13 home games this season, Pohang has a record of 6 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses, which is not particularly impressive compared to teams higher up in the table. In their last three home matches, Pohang lost to Shonan Bellmare, Sapporo Consadole, and Newcastle United, with their defensive performance being quite poor.

In terms of squad news, previously injured players Gustavson, Yuki Ambe, Yosuke Matsuyama, Ryo Hayashi, and Naoki Maeda have all returned for Pohang during the friendly matches in the break. Additionally, winger Yoichi Nagai, signed in the summer transfer window, is likely to start. Veteran striker Shinji Kagawa announced last week that he will retire at the end of the season.

The visiting team, Kashiwa Reysol, lost 2-3 at home to Kawasaki Frontale in their previous league match. They fell two goals behind but fought back to level before conceding again in the closing stages. Midfielder Matheus Savio missed a penalty in stoppage time, costing Kashiwa a better result. There was a significant offside suspicion on Kawasaki’s third goal, but Kashiwa did not lodge a complaint. After the match, Kashiwa’s head coach, Masahiro Inui, said: “If we could have given it our all from the beginning, that would have been great. But the reason we can’t get points in such games is simply because we lack ability.”

In the current J1 League standings, Kashiwa Reysol is temporarily in 13th place with 7 wins, 8 draws, and 9 losses, five points clear of the relegation zone. Their survival this season is not expected to be too difficult. However, in their 12 away league matches this season, Kashiwa has only managed 3 wins, 5 draws, and 4 losses, with a win rate of just 25% and relatively poor defensive capabilities. Since May, Kashiwa has won only one of their nine away matches across all competitions, suffering heavy defeats when visiting strong teams like Nagoya and Gamba Osaka without much resistance.

In terms of squad news, Kashiwa’s starting center-back, Tomoya Inukai, made his return in the previous match. Starting right-back Daisuke Seki and center-forward Shinya Yajima have also returned to the team after the Paris Olympics. During the transfer window, Kashiwa traded starting midfielder and captain Tomoki Iwata to Belgian club Kortrijk. As a corresponding reinforcement, they signed Koki Tezuka from Tosu. Additionally, Kashiwa let go of forwards Sakura Yamamoto and Yusei Matsuda during the break, affecting their bench strength.

In the last 20 meetings between the two teams, Pohang has won 9, drawn 5, and lost 6, giving them a psychological advantage. In this match, Pohang will do everything in their power to get back on track at their intimidating home ground. Does the struggling Kashiwa Reysol stand a chance to take points away?

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