Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the Japan Cup fixtures will take place on Wednesday at the Mitsuzawa Stadium in Yokohama, where the local side Yokohama FC hosts Grulla Morioka. I’m offering a bet on the outcome of this clash with an appealing set of odds.
Match preview
Yokohama FC are enduring an extremely turbulent campaign in the J1 League this season and are at risk of dropping out of the Japanese football elite. The team sits in 19th place, second from bottom, with one of the league’s weakest attacks—just 13 goals scored in 20 rounds. Their latest loss to Kawasaki (0–1) only solidified a worrying trend: the "Mariners" have lost three of their last five matches and are clearly struggling to convert chances up front.
Still, Yokohama’s home form provides a glimmer of hope ahead of this cup tie. At their own ground, the club put together a string of spirited performances, including a 4–0 win over Cerezo Osaka and a 1–1 draw with Kashiwa. This cup encounter against a modest opponent is a golden opportunity for Yokohama to not only progress to the next stage but also snap a psychologically taxing league skid.
Grulla Morioka, competing in Japan’s lower divisions, come in as the clear underdogs. The team has lost four of its last five matches, including a recent friendly defeat to Vegalta Sendai (0–2). Their away record is especially problematic—on the road, Morioka rarely picks up points and often looks disorganized at the back.
That said, Grulla have already knocked North Asia University out of the Japan Cup, thrashing them 6–0. But facing a J1 team—even one sitting in the relegation zone—represents a massive challenge for the Iwate-based side. They won’t get away with a one-sided affair here, and their success will depend on whether they can sit back and withstand the pressure.
Probable lineups
- Yokohama FC: Ichikawa A. (GK), Yamazaki K., Nduka B., Fukumori A., Yamane T., Lara Y., Yamada K., Shimbo K., Suzuki M., Komai Y. (C), Lukian.
- Grulla Morioka: Okubo T., Saito R., Fukatsu K., Miyaiti T., Kiri S., Adachi S., Niizato R., Kogure D., Kawabe S., Kagami T., Nakamura A.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Their last meeting ended 4–1 in favor of Yokohama (June 2023)
- The "Over 2.5 goals" bet has landed in three matches between these sides
- Both teams have scored in two of their last three encounters
Prediction
Despite Yokohama’s struggles in J1, the gap in class between these teams is obvious. Morioka are in crisis, losing even to fellow lower-league sides, while Yokohama desperately need a morale boost. Expect a confident home win—our pick is "Yokohama to win with a -1.5 handicap" at odds of 1.62.
