Meiji Yasuda J1 League

Match 37

Shimizu S-Pulse 1-0 Urawa Reds

Saturday November 27th 2 pm

Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama

S-PULSE GOALS Keita Nakamura(90+3)

YELLOW CARDS

RED CARDS

ATTENDANCE 28,138

LINE UP

GK Shuichi Gonda

DF Eiichi Katayama, Yoshinori Suzuki, Akira Ibayashi, Teruki Hara

MF Daiki Matsuoka, Ryo Takeuchi, Kenta Nishizawa, Yusuke Goto

FW Yuito Suzuki, Thiago Santana

SUBSTITUTIONS

Valdo on for Akira Ibayashi(18)

Katsuhiro Nakayama on for Yusuke Goto(46)

Keita Nakamura on for Kenta Nishizawa(78)

RAkira Silvano Disaro' on for Thiago Santana(90+3)

Reon Yamahara on for Yuito Suzuki(90+3)

REPORT

Half the job done and in style! And the first consecutive wins of the season and both clean sheets to boot! Shimizu S-Pulse pulled out the performance of the day by winning away at Urawa, a team they had not beaten for 8 and a half years!

All this in the worst conditions possible: in an environment not known for its welcome to opposing teams, the J League decided to conduct a “Covid 19 experiment” by allowing a full house for the first time this season and permitting fans to shout and sing under masks, but on the other hand no visiting fans were allowed in! Moreover, they to deal with Ibayashi’s injury in the 18th minute to make things even more difficult.

In spite of all that, S-Pulse actually conducted a match full of will and aggressiveness, creating along more real chances than their opponents especially with youngster Yuito Suzuki in the 39th and especially in the 45th minute while Gonda was not worried except in the 35th minute by a shot that went past his right post after his defense had lamely given away the ball in a rare mistake.

The second half was played in the same spirit and once again Yuito Suzuki originated another clear chance in the 66th minute by speeding past the Urawa defense before sending the perfect pass to Santana whose shot was unfortunately superbly saved by the opposite keeper.

In the ensuing corner kick Nishizawa floated a ball to almost beat the Urawa goalkeeper who somehow parried the danger with the help of a post. In the 88th minute Gonda had to produce his only real save of the day to keep his team goal unviolated.

And then in the final minute of the game, in the 4th minute of overtime, S-Pulse silenced the home grown with what surely will stay as the goal of the day: Substitute Disaro controlled a long pass with his chest before sending Nakayama along the right. The latter crossed in front of Urawa’s box where substitute Nakamura heeled it to yet another substitute, Yamahara on the left edge of the box. The latter passed it again to Nakamura who, surrounded by three defenders, shot a bullet with the outside of his right foot from outside the box which left no chance to the opposing keeper.

And then the referee whistled the end of the game sending S-Pulse payers and whole bench in a crazy celebration dance.

Right, it will now be to the last game played at home against Cerezo Osaka on Saturday. S-Pulse only needs a draw to be safe and dry. But surely, they will do their best with newly found vigor to finish the season in beauty! And their fans believe they will achieve it!

NEXT GAME

Meiji Yasuda J1 League

Match 38

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Cerezo Osaka

Saturday December 4th 2pm

IAI Stadium Nihondaira , Shizuoka