S-PULSE 0-2 FC Tokyo
IAI Stadium Nihondaira, Shizuoka


S-PULSE GOALS None
YELLOW CARDS None
RED CARDS None
ATTENDANCE 13442


LINE UP

GK Rokutan
DF Kamata, Muramatsu, Kakuda, Matsubara
MF Musaka, Takeuchi, Edamura, Shirasaki, Tiago
FW Duke


SUBSTITUTIONS

Kitagawa on for Shirasaki (20)
Murata on for Edamura (72)
Hasegawa on for Musaka (82)


REPORT

Following the midweek Levain Cup victory, S-Pulse went into Sunday’s league match looking to maintain the momentum of their first home win of the season. However, despite sustained periods of control and pressure, it was the guests from the capital who made their chances count, running out 2-0 winners.

FC Tokyo brought with them a number of familiar faces, with former S-Pulse players Utaka, Ota and Hayashi among their squad, but there was no time for extended reunions as once referee Iemoto blew his whistle just past 1pm the game roared to life. Although the first half was for the most part evenly matched, keenly contested, and ended scoreless, the difference was that Rokutan had been forced into two fine saves. S-Pulse, for all their industry in the first two thirds of the pitch, failed to give his opposite number Hayashi many similar scares.

That was a pattern continued after the break, and Tokyo’s fine travelling support was rewarded with a brace from their top scorer Okubo. The deadlock was finally broken on 68 minutes, and search as the hosts might for a way back into the game, when the lead was doubled with 6 minutes remaining, it ultimately proved too much to ask.

The international break means a fortnight wait until the J League returns, but upon recommencement of activities Shimizu head out to high-flying Cerezo Osaka’s Yanmar Stadium. If you’re not journeying to Kansai, be sure to keep in touch via our official Twitter feed @spulse_eng.

Forza S-Pulse!


NEXT GAME

Meiji Yasuda J1 League
Match Day 15
Cerezo Osaka vs S-PULSE
Saturday June 17th, 7pm
Yanmar Stadium