Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
FC Ryukyu defeated Urawa Reds 5-4 in the opening match of the Ryukyu Cup 2026, with Toshikazu Teruuchi scoring twice against his parent club in a nine-goal thriller in Okinawa.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Period 1 — FC Ryukyu 2-0 Urawa
FC Ryukyu dominated the opening 45 minutes. Toshikazu Teruuchi (照内利和), recently arrived on a developmental loan from Urawa Reds, scored twice against his parent club. His brace — a pair of well-taken finishes — gave the hosts a 2-0 lead at the first break.
Period 2 — Urawa 2-1 FC Ryukyu
Urawa responded strongly in the second period. Renji Hidano (肥田野蓮治) pulled one back inside the first minute, and Matheus Savio (マテウスサヴィオ) made it 2-2 in the sixth minute. Taiga Ishiura (石浦大雅) restored FC Ryukyu's lead before the period ended, sending the hosts into the final break 3-2 up on aggregate.
Period 3 — Draw 2-2 (FC Ryukyu win 5-4 overall)
The third period was end-to-end. Hyuken Komori (小森飛絢) scored twice for Urawa (12', 27'), but FC Ryukyu replied through Hayato Asakawa (浅川隼人) and a trainee/guest player (練習生). The final 45 minutes finished 2-2, leaving the aggregate score at 5-4 to the hosts.
The Turning Point
Teruuchi's first-period double was decisive. The defender, on loan from Urawa, scored against his parent club inside the opening 45 minutes, giving FC Ryukyu a cushion that proved just enough when Urawa mounted their third-period rally. Without his brace, the Reds' second-half revival would have flipped the result.
Key Performers
Toshikazu Teruuchi (FC Ryukyu) — Two goals in the first period against his parent club. The loanee's sharp finishing set the platform for the win.
Hyuken Komori (Urawa) — A second-half brace in the third period, scoring in the 12th and 27th minutes to keep Urawa within touching distance.
Matheus Savio (Urawa) — Scored in the sixth minute of the second period as Urawa briefly levelled the match at 2-2.
Player of the Match: Toshikazu Teruuchi — his brace against his parent club was the defining contribution.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
As a pre-season friendly played across three 45-minute periods, traditional match stats (possession, shots, xG) were not published by either club. The 5-4 aggregate scoreline — nine goals across 135 minutes — reflects a match played at a high tempo with both sides prioritising attacking sharpness over defensive structure, typical of pre-season.
FC Ryukyu scored twice in each of the three periods (2+1+2), showing consistent output across the full 135 minutes. Urawa's scoring was concentrated in the final two periods (0+2+2), suggesting they grew into the match as it progressed.
What It Means
The Ryukyu Cup 2026 is a pre-season tournament hosted by FC Ryukyu in Okinawa, featuring six clubs: Urawa Reds, Kyoto Sanga, V-Varen Nagasaki, Shonan Bellmare, Fujieda MYFC, and FC Ryukyu. The competition runs across three matchdays — 17, 21, and 25 July 2026.
For FC Ryukyu, who compete in J3 League, the win over a J1 side provides a significant early pre-season confidence boost. Urawa Reds, preparing for the 2026 J1 season, will have identified defensive vulnerabilities — particularly in the first period — that need addressing before competitive action resumes.
Urawa's next Ryukyu Cup fixture is against Fujieda MYFC on 21 July 2026.
Verdict
A chaotic but entertaining pre-season friendly that told us more about FC Ryukyu's attacking promise than Urawa's defensive solidity. Teruuchi's brace against his loaning club was the headline, but Urawa will want to tighten up before the season proper. Nine goals across 135 minutes is exactly what pre-season is for — sharpness, fitness, and lessons without consequences.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 17 Jul 2026