SHIMIZU S-PULSE 0-0 KASHIMA ANTLERS
IAI Stadium Nihondaira, Shizuoka


S-PULSE GOALS 
YELLOW CARDS Crislan 44
RED CARDS 
SHOTS 9
CORNER KICKS 4
FREE KICKS 15
PENALTY KICK 1
ATTENDANCE 19632


LINE UP

GK Rokutan
DF Tatsuta,Seok Ho, Freire, Matsubara
MF Takeuchi, Kawai, Kaneko, Ishige
FW Kitagawa, Crislan


SUBSTITUTIONS

Duke on for Ishige (68)
Tese on for Kitagawa (71)

REPORT

The Shimizu S-Pulse Castle was not breached!

One of the worst defenses last year held firm against one of the best teams in the J1 League in a pulsating game which kept fans on the brink of their seats all afternoon.

It was also a game that stood all the time on the edge of a knife and could have gone either way although S-Pulse could and should have won the game. But their luck also matched their misfortune. Rokutan could have conceded a silly goal in the opening minutes when his clearance was blocked and the ball barely rolled past his right post. In the 11^th minute Crislan looked in despair at a great shot hitting Kashima right post. In the 39^th minute, the same Crislan who had had an excellent game until then could only stare in horror when his weak penalty kick was easily caught by the opposing keeper. His dismay was furthered by a yellow card in the next minutes. S-Pulse who had clearly had the better of the first half found themselves defending with teeth and nails in the second half. But last year’s predictable collapse pattern did not happen although they almost conceded an own goal and Rokutan did well to catch a point blank heading not 3 meters away from him. Kashima in spite of rifling crosses time and again saw their missiles cleared away by newcomer Hwang and Freire, who had been given almost no playing time last year, towering over a compact and committed defense where everyone was doing his bit of work and support for the whole team.

Their fans understood too well and cheered them loudly at the final whistle, a thing that never happened last year at drawn home games.

New Team Manager Jonsson was a little disappointed with the result but still saw some good things achieved against a good team in his own words. Now that the castle walls can hold, more efficiency in attack will make this new-look S-Pulse a club to be feared by all J1 League teams!

NEXT LEAGUE GAME

Meiji Yasuda J1 League
Match day 2
Vissel Kobe vs Shimizu S-Pulse
Saturday March 3rd, 4pm
Noevir Stadium Kobe