Ventforet Kofu vs Vissel Kobe

J1 League pacesetters Vissel Kobe travel to the JIT Recycle Ink Stadium to meet second-tier Ventforet Kofu in a seemingly routine Emperor’s Cup last-16 tie.

Despite spurning a second-half lead in a 1-1 draw against Kashima Antlers in the last Emperor’s Cup round, Kofu stunned a more heavily fancied opposition on penalties to book their last-16 tickets. However, Yoshiyuki Shinoda’s men have since fallen off the rails, suffering two identical 3-0 defeats in three J2 League fixtures (W1). Interestingly, those three games have featured 2+ second-half goals each, highlighting the potential for plenty of late drama. Since Kofu’s last three meetings with Kobe have yielded a single-goal margin at halftime (W1, L2) and two of them seeing over 2.5 goals and both teams scoring, this promises to be a dramatic contest.

Meanwhile, Vissel Kobe hauled back a 2-0 halftime deficit in an enthralling 2-2 home draw against Kawasaki Frontale a fortnight ago, halting a three-game winning streak in all competitions, including a 5-2 demolition of Jubilo Iwata in the previous Emperor’s Cup round. But undefeated in their last six competitive outings (W4, D2), ‘Ushi’ head into proceedings in high spirits, looking to inch closer to hoisting only their second-ever Emperor’s Cup crown. Takayuki Yoshida’s men have excelled on hostile turf lately, clocking up three wins on their last four competitive travels (L1), though two of those triumphs came by a one-goal margin. Three successive away H2H wins over Kofu indicate Kobe’s high-flying form on the road will likely continue beyond midweek.