Meiji Yasuda J1 League

Match 11

Shimizu S-Pulse 1-1 Shonan Bellmare

Sunday April 25th 2:00pm

IAI Stadium Nihondaira, Shizuoka

S-PULSE GOALS Thiago(60)

YELLOW CARDS Okui(10)

RED CARDS

ATTENDANCE 7767

LINE UP

GK Gonda

DF Elsinho,Tatsuta, Suzuki, Okui

MF Nakayama, Kawai, Miyamoto, Nishizawa

FW Suzuki, Thiago

SUBSTITUTIONS

Nakamura on for Nishizawa(59)

Ibusuki on for Suzuki(85)

Goto on for Thiago(90+2)

Takeuchi on for Kawai(90+2)

REPORT

What do we have to do to win a game at home? A match even more frustrating than the last one away against Vissel Kobe, although it followed almost the same pattern.

The defense held well, except for the single mistake that cost up the win. The midfield achieved good enough ball keeping and distribution to allow no less than 16 shots at goal, almost double that of their opponents. But the finish was again not up to par, although at least 3 chances went begging for inches in the first half, especially from youngster Yuito Suzuki who seems to have a secured a spot for himself with a lot of promises.

The set pieces, usually our strong point, were poorly executed, especially the corner kicks which were mostly wasted.

The introduction of Nakamura, on the other paid immediate dividends. In the 60th minute his long pass across the field found Elsinho on the right side who lobbed the perfect cross for Santana to head a very fine goal.

Unfortunately, the same should have happened less than 15 minutes later when Nakayama was sent on the right side to bypass the opposite defense to send the perfect low cross that the same Santana only managed to mess up less than 2 meters from goal.

Shonan realized too well they had been given a second life and threw caution to the winds. And two minutes before regular time they managed to beat our defense right side just too easily before sending a high cross headed home with the S-Pulse’s defense completely out of position and looking at the action completely helplessly. Nakamura tried hard to rally the troops and fight hard to grab a deserved win but to no avail.

Next Wednesday is going to become the setting stone of the season with a home game vital against Hiroshima Sanfrecce vital for qualification to the Levain Cup play offs. S-Pulse will have to throw everything they have if they want to at last rejoice their enduring fans!

NEXT GAME

J1 League Levain Cup Group D

Match 4

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Wednesday April 28th 7:00pm

IAI Stadium Nihondaira, Shizuoka