Mark Smith was in Tokushima to see the promotion battle.Saturday’s game saw Vortis surrender their advantage in the chase for the third promotion slot from J2. They crashed to a 0-3 loss at home against a Sagan Tosu team that looks as though it should be able to hold its own in J1. The visitors were the more direct and effective team, and should do better than the likes of Avispa and Yokohama FC in the top flight. We wish them well.Tokushima have risen to the brink of promotion thanks to solid team play, but on Saturday both Elizeu and Kakitani were guilty of trying to do too much on their own. Vortis’ chances of salvaging an otherwise excellent season will depend on Naohiko Minobe and his staff’s ability to inspire the players to rebound from this setback, and from the team concentrating on what it does best. Fagiano are not a highly fancied team, but the regional rivals will not want to lose to Inland Sea neighbours Vortis. It could be a thrilling game in Okayama this Saturday.As for the game itself, a nervous start by both teams meant that the game never lived up to the high standard the two teams showed in the previous encounter at Sagan. The course of the game was decided in the opening 15 minutes when Sagan scored on their first serious venture forward after six minutes, and Vortis failed to convert a penalty a few minutes later. Tokushige