Oita Trinita @ Urawa Red Diamonds

By: 21 | September 11th, 2008

The big match coming-up in the J-League is the Oita Trinita visiting the Urawa Red Diamonds. This is a crucial six-point match with the clubs tied one point behind first place Nagoya Grampus. Urawa will be looking to reverse the 2-0 loss to Oita in match-day sixteen in which their aggressive play cost them to a more disciplined approach of Trinita.

recent matches
Onita Trinita - combined (4 W, 1 D, 0 L) (6 GS, 2 GA)
Jul 26 Gamba Osaka 0 - 1 Oita Trinita
Aug 9 Oita Trinita 2 - 2 Shimizu S-Pulse
Aug 16 Albirex Niigata 0 - 1 Oita Trinita
Aug 24 Oita Trinita 1 - 0 Omiya Ardija
Aug 28 Oita Trinita 1 - 0 Kyoto Purple Sanga

Onita Trinita - away (2 W,2 D,1 L) (3 GS, 2 GA)
Jun 25 Kashima Antlers 1 - 0 Oita Trinita
Jul 6 Kyoto Purple Sanga 1 - 1 Oita Trinita
Jul 16 Consadole Sapporo 0 - 0 Oita Trinita
Jul 26 Gamba Osaka 0 - 1 Oita Trinita
Aug 16 Albirex Niigata 0 - 1 Oita Trinita

Urawa Red Diamonds - combined (2 W, 3 D, 0 L) (10 GS, 5 GA)
Jul 27 Kashima Antlers 1 - 1 Urawa Red Diamonds
Aug 9 Urawa Red Diamonds 2 - 2 Kashiwa Reysol
Aug 16 FC Tokyo 0 - 1 Urawa Red Diamonds
Aug 23 Urawa Red Diamonds 3 - 1 Jubilo Iwata
Wed. 27 Tokyo Verdy 1969 1 - 1 Urawa Red Diamonds

Urawa Red Diamonds - home (3 W, 1 D, 1 L) (11 GS, 8 GA)
Jul 5 Urawa Red Diamonds 2 - 0 FC Tokyo
Jul 17 Urawa Red Diamonds 3 - 2 Tokyo Verdy 1969
Jul 21 Urawa Red Diamonds 1 - 3 Kawasaki Frontale
Aug 9 Urawa Red Diamonds 2 - 2 Kashiwa Reysol
Aug 23 Urawa Red Diamonds 3 - 1 Jubilo Iwata

This is a great battle of conflicting styles; the defensive tight marking and counter-attacking style of Oita Trinita and the Red Diamonds aggressive flowing offensive tactics. I expect the following lineups:

Urawa Red Diamonds
GK Ryota TSUZUKI,
DF Keisuke TSUBOI, DF Marcus Tulio TANAKA,DF Satoshi HORINOUCHI
MF Tadaaki HIRAKAWA,MF Hajime HOSOGAI,MF Yuki ABE, MF Takahito SOMA, MF PONTE
FW Naohiro TAKAHARA,FW Tatsuya TANAKA

Oita Trinita
GK Shusaku NISHIKAWA,DF Yuki FUKAYA,DF Masato MORISHIGE,DF Taikai UEMOTO,
MF ROBERTO,MF Mu KANAZAKI,MF Shingo SUZUKI,MF Daisuke TAKAHASHI,MF Yoshiaki FUJITA
FW UESLEI,FW Shunsuke MAEDA

Key to watch is the Red Diamonds striking duo of Naohiro Takahara and Tatsuya Tanaka with the leadership of Yuki Abe in the midfield. Oita will play a very patient tactical match and their lines tight. If Oita’s Daiki Takamatsu is completely healthy he could provide the offensive threat they need.

I will report on it after it concludes.

~ 21 ~