Shimizu S-Pulse 2-4 GAMBA OSAKA
IAI Stadium Nihondaira, Shizuoka

S-PULSE GOALS Nakamura 17, Taki 90+7
YELLOW CARDS
RED CARDS 
ATTENDANCE 15820

LINE UP
GK Rokutan
DF Tatsuta, Seok Ho, Wanderson, Matsubara
MF Iida, Kawai, Musaka, Kaneko
FW Nakamura, Kitagawa

SUBSTITUTIONS
Tese on for Iida (70)
Ishige on for Nakamura (78)
Taki on for Kaneko (86)

REPORT
Nightmare!
The day started well enough early in the first half with Tatsuta smoothly overlapping before centering onto Kitagawa’s head whose deflection was shot home by Nakamura to put S-Pulse ahead with great expectations.

The same first half should have seen at least two more goals but lack of sharpness was the cause of failure. Gamba, on the other hand, pounced on their only real chance thanks to the first of their opponents’ many missed passes of the day.

But the horror really took the stage in the second half when all three goals were given away on a plate by poor slow easy to intercept passes that Gamba used to the maximum with the glee of a lucky thief. In fact the score could have been heavier but for Rokutan’s efforts and the help of a post.

S-Pulse somehow saved their honor in the last minute of the game when young Taki scrambled in the ball which had struck the bar after a well-taken free kick.

Truth to tell the defense had been unsettled by the sudden absence of captain Takeuchi down. Elsinyo was not yet available and the team missed Douglas’ stimulus.The strategy was jot in cause.The midfield, but for Nakamura, in the second half was guilty of carelessness in their forward asses behind comprehension.

Some changes of personnel are bound to occur very soon especially with the emergence of young players like Taki.The players on the field that day will soon find that the pressure of literally a second team waiting to move from behind the stage and take first roles!It is about time some players lose their complacency and wake up out of their self-pleasing satisfaction!

The Levain Cup Group Stage match in Matsumoto on Wednesday could hasten the decision to use new blood next J 1 League game in Sapporo on Sunday!Last but not least, the fans showed an exemplary attitude and resilience and encouraged their team until the very last second!They deserve better!

NEXT GAME
J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP GROUP STAGE 1st Sec
Matsumoto Yamaga FC vs Shimizu S-Pulse
Wednesday March 6th, 7pm
SUNPRO ALWIN, Matsumoto