Thirteenth-Place Decider Leg 2: Yokohama's End-to-End Game vs. Shimizu's Discipline

By JPick Data Team Published: June 4, 2026 12:00 JST J1 League Thirteenth-Place Decider, Leg 2 | Nissan Stadium | Kickoff: Saturday, June 6, 2026 17:00 JST

The first leg finished Shimizu 1-1 Yokohama, leaving thirteenth place level as the tie moves to Nissan Stadium. Whoever wins the second leg takes thirteenth; if it's level after 90 minutes, it goes to extra time and penalties. A high-scoring, high-conceding Yokohama against a disciplined, ball-winning Shimizu — who pulls the game onto their tempo?

Match Facts

Three Things to Watch

1. End-to-end Yokohama, another 1-1
Yokohama have scored 28 and conceded 29; in leg 1 Tanimura scored but they were pegged back. (→ 1)

2. Yokohama's attack — and their defensive hole
Tanimura (9) and Amano (4 goals, 4 assists) are strong, but three clean sheets says the back line leaks. (→ 2)

3. The routes — Yokohama's home firepower, Shimizu's discipline
Yokohama push with attack; Shimizu win it and finish through Oh. (→ 3)

1. The Numbers vs. the Result — Yokohama's End-to-End Game and the 1-1

In the numbers, Yokohama are an end-to-end side. Their 28 goals are among the most in this pairing, but 29 conceded is high too, and they have just three clean sheets. A high-event profile at both ends — and the defensive hole is the main reason they sit on 20 points, the fewest in this pairing.

The first leg was 1-1 at Shimizu's home. Yokohama led through forward Kaina Tanimura before being pegged back. Score freely, leak freely — that habit travelled on the road. Shimizu, by contrast, have modest attacking numbers (a season xG of 17.8, 16th in J1) but 10.1 interceptions a game, among J1's best. They win the ball with discipline and break; in leg 1, Kazuki Kozuka levelled, set up by Masaki Yumiba. Flamboyant Yokohama against grounded Shimizu — that difference sets the shape of the second leg.

2. Yokohama's Attack and Their Defensive Hole

Yokohama's draw is the quality up front. Forward Kaina Tanimura leads the team with nine goals and two assists, his poacher rating (z=0.89) 6th among J1 forwards. Playmaker Jun Amano has four goals and four assists, his advanced playmaker rating (z=1.20) 6th in J1 — scoring and creating both.

The defense, though, is the clear weakness. Twenty-nine conceded and three clean sheets is shaky even with Ryotaro Tsunoda (Player Impact +53, a stopper 8th in J1) at the back. They can push with attack, but how they patch the hole behind is Yokohama's defining theme.

Note: Player Impact measures a player's relative influence within his own team, not his strength against a given opponent.

3. Two Routes — Yokohama's Home Firepower, Shimizu's Discipline

Yokohama's route is to let their firepower fly at home. Built around Tanimura and Amano, this is among the stronger front lines in the pairing; with the Nissan Stadium crowd behind them and the game opened up, they can win on goals. The catch is whether their 29-conceding defense holds for 90 minutes.

Shimizu's route is to exploit the hole with discipline. Cut out Yokohama's attacks with 10.1 interceptions a game, let midfielder Matheus Bueno (a metronome 9th in J1) set the tempo, and finish through forward Se-hun Oh (seven goals, a target man 10th in J1). Defender Yutaka Yoshida (one goal, three assists, tied 1st in J1 for assists) adds thrust. Yokohama's leaky defense is an inviting target for Shimizu's efficient attack.

The Bottom Line

This one turns on how Yokohama's two faces — the firepower and the hole — meet Shimizu's discipline.

At home, Yokohama will score if they let the attack run. But if their leaky defense (29 conceded, three clean sheets) shows a gap, Shimizu will take it with interceptions and Oh's finishing. So for Yokohama the decider is less "can we outscore them" and more "how far can we plug the hole." For Shimizu, who trail on attacking volume, it's whether their discipline can pick off one Yokohama lapse too many. An open game favours the hosts; a war of attrition favours Shimizu — and the opening exchanges will tell you which way it leans.

Standings, points and goals in this article follow the official J.League final table (through Round 18 of the 2026 season); shots, xG and player stats use JPick's database (powered by API-Football) for the 2026 season. Players are listed after confirming their current (2026) club.