Emperor’s Cup Preview: Vissel Kobe Aims for Quick Victory in Multi-front Battle, Kyoto Sanga Stabilizing in League

On October 27 at 14:00, Vissel Kobe will host Kyoto Sanga in the semi-final of the Emperor’s Cup at Misaki Park Stadium.

Vissel Kobe suffered a surprising 0-2 home defeat to FC Tokyo in the J1 League on October 18, despite fielding their strongest lineup and mounting an all-out attack. They struggled to break through FC Tokyo’s resilient defense and ultimately saw their opponents secure three points with less than 40% possession, while also exhausting their key players. However, in the AFC Champions League Elite Match on October 23, Vissel Kobe demonstrated their technical prowess by securing a 2-0 away win against Ulsan Hyundai, who were forced to play their second home game due to venue issues. Daishin Miya, the team’s top scorer, netted goals in both halves, allowing other cup regulars like Yasuyuki Konno, Daiki Sasaki, and Ryoichi Morikawa to rest and conserve energy.

Currently, Vissel Kobe stands second in the J1 League table with 19 wins, 7 draws, and 8 losses, just one point behind leaders Sanfrecce Hiroshima, maintaining a realistic chance of defending their title this season. In their 17 home league matches this season, Vissel Kobe has recorded 8 wins, 4 draws, and 5 losses, averaging only 1.47 goals per game, which is slightly lower than their away performance. Following their unexpected loss to Tokyo, Vissel Kobe’s head coach Takahiro Yoshida expressed his intention to make adjustments to quickly regain form in the league.

In terms of squad availability, Vissel Kobe will be without the services of midfielder Yōsuke Yamagoya. The good news is that midfielder Mitzuru Saito, who suffered a severe injury due to a violent foul late last season, has recovered and returned to training, potentially making his comeback soon. However, it’s worth noting that Vissel Kobe will face Júbilo Iwata at home just four days after this cup match. Given their priority to advance in the league, coach Yoshida may rotate his lineup as he has done in previous years for cup matches.

Kyoto Sanga secured a 2-0 home victory over Shonan Bellmare on October 19, sending their opponent directly to the J2 League. Despite being reduced to ten men early in the match due to goalkeeper Seung-yun Koo’s mistake, coach Kwon Kui-chai made tactical adjustments, including withdrawing striker Yusuke Toyokawa to maintain a five-back formation. Ultimately, they capitalized on their foreign players’ exceptional abilities to score in counter-attacks. After the match, coach Kwon said in a press conference, “At halftime, I told the players that I hoped we could at least get a point, but three points would be best. We won the fundamental aspects of football, outperforming the opponent in both attack and defense. I was really inspired, and this match moved me deeply.”

Currently, Kyoto Sanga ranks 15th in the J1 League with 11 wins, 8 draws, and 14 losses, leading the relegation zone by six points and having a slight advantage in goal difference. They are virtually assured of avoiding relegation. In their 17 away league matches this season, Kyoto Sanga have achieved 7 wins, 4 draws, and 6 losses, ranking sixth in away points, significantly better than their home performance. In their past five away games, they have upset strong home teams like Yokohama F. Marinos and Cerezo Osaka, demonstrating their formidable strength.

In terms of squad availability, Kyoto Sanga will be without the services of midfielder Masahiro Takeda and center-back Masahiro Asada. However, their attacking lineup remains intact, and they show strong competitiveness in cup matches. It’s also noteworthy that Kyoto Sanga’s last appearance in the Emperor’s Cup final was back in the 2011 season, and their desire to achieve success this year is undoubtedly strong.

In their 17 previous encounters, both teams have each won 7 matches, drawn 3, and lost 7, indicating a balanced rivalry. This cup match will see Vissel Kobe leveraging their home advantage to aim for a quick victory, while Kyoto Sanga, now a near-top team after summer transfers and safe in the league, will be eager to make an impact. How will the two teams fare against each other?

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