©︎︎︎S-PULSE
Kashima Antlers 3-0 Shimizu S-Pulse
Kashima Soccer Stadium, Ibaraki
S-PULSE GOALS
YELLOW CARDS Musaka 17, Tatsuta 65, Elsinho 77
RED CARDS
ATTENDANCE 31182
LINE UP
GK Rokutan
DF Elsinho, Seok Ho, Tatsuta, Matsubara
MF Renato, Musaka, Kaneko, Nakamura
FW Kitagawa, Douglas
SUBSTITUTIONS
Kawai on for Renato (47)
Iida on for Kaneko (68)
Tese on for Douglas (81)
REPORT
A game to forget…
It started with bad enough luck when a free kick by Nakamura on the 3rd minute was adjudged not having crossed the line. From then on it more or less became a one-sided game. No less than 7 minutes later Kashima made the best of a blunder by S-Pulse’s last line. Kashima then were happy enough to keep possession and wait for the eventual mistakes of their opponents. It finally happened in the 69th and 72th minute in a manner reminiscent of many defeats this year.
It is ironical than many former S-Pulse tend to perform above expectations against their former club. This time Kashima Antlers fielded no less than 3 former S-Pulse players, a proof that opposite teams know how to unbalance Shimizu. A radical change in tactics might be the solution for S-Pulse. Unfortunately, injuries tend to destabilize the edifice as shown by the latest victim in the person of Renato who had recently become an established defense linchpin. With Takeuchi still injured, the whole central defense has been decimated. Some young players will have to step in. This is fast becoming a dangerous situation for this season. Will S-Pulse be able to overcome adversity?
They will have to start regrouping on Wednesday for a vital Levain Cup away game against Gamba Osaka which will decide whether they qualify for the play offs or not.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed and give them as much support needed and more!
NEXT GAME
J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP GROUP STAGE 5th Sec
GAMBA OSAKA vs Shimizu S-PULSE
Wednesday May 8th, 7pm
Panasonic Stadium Suita, Osaka
