Yokohama FC is at the bottom of J-League 1, with only two rounds left in the 2023 season.
Yokohama FC has 29 points, two points behind the two teams above them, Shonan Bellmare and Kashiwa Reysol. Yokohama's goal difference is -25, which is also more disadvantageous, with Shonan at -16 and Kashiwa at -14.
Tomorrow afternoon, November 25, Hanoi time, Yokohama will play the "reverse final" against Shonan Bellmare at home. If they lose, while Kashiwa Reysol wins the remaining match, Yokohama will definitely be relegated.
Cong Phuong has not been able to play in J-League 1 season 2023 in Yokohama FC shirt. Photo: HM
Coach Shuhei Yomoda said Yokohama had no choice but to beat Shonan Bellmare to take control of the final round. The team is receiving great encouragement from home fans as tickets for the match have been sold out. "I want the whole team to step on the gas and accelerate from the start," said Yomoda. "We have to improve our collective strength to win."
J-League 1 season 2023 has only one relegation spot, waiting for three J-League 2 teams to be promoted to have 20 teams competing from next season. After 32 rounds, Yokohama won seven, drew eight, lost 17, scored 30 goals - the fewest and conceded 55 goals - the second most in the league.
Yokohama recently earned promotion back to J-League 1 after finishing second in J-League 2 last season. This is only their fourth season playing in Japan's top flight.
Nguyen Cong Phuong joined Yokohama FC at the beginning of this season after leaving HAGL, with a three-year contract. His wife and son are also living in Japan. The striker born in 1995 is determined to stay long-term and look for opportunities to play in the land of the rising sun.
The number of minutes Cong Phuong will play in official matches in 2023 is 94 minutes. Photo: HM
Yokohama is a weak team and has no chance for Cong Phuong to play. He has not been named in any J-League 1 match, has been registered twice in the J-League Cup and once came off the bench in the second half of the loss to Nagoya Grampus on April 5. Before him, goalkeeper Dang Van Lam also had no chance to play in J-League 1 after two seasons with Cerezo Osaka.
Not being used much at the club, Cong Phuong also lost his place in the Vietnam national team under coach Philippe Troussier. He played in two friendly matches this year, with 45 minutes in the first half of the 1-0 win over Syria in June and 45 minutes in the second half, scoring a goal in the 2-0 win over Palestine in September. He was not called up for the important friendly in October and the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in November.
Cong Phuong is currently the only Vietnamese male player playing abroad. Most recently, striker Nguyen Van Toan also left K-League 2 club Seoul E-Land after more than half of the 2023 season to play for Nam Dinh.
Hieu Luong
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