Meiji Yasuda J1 League

Match 35

Shimizu S-Pulse 2-2 Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo

Saturday November 6th 2:pm

IAI Stadium Nihondaira, Shizuoka

S-PULSE GOALS Thiago(17), Taki(83)

YELLOW CARDS Fujioto(26)

RED CARDS Valdo(90+1)

ATTENDANCE 8373

LINE UP

GK Gonda

DF Hara, Valdo, Ibayashi, Katayama

MF Takeuchi, Matsuoka, Nishizawa, Nakamura

FW Fujimoto, Thiago

SUBSTITUTIONS

Nakayama on for Nakamura (58)

Suzuki on for Ibayashi(58)

Suzuki Yuito on for Fujimoto(58)

Taki on for Nishizawa(67)

Ronaldo on for Takeuchi(73)

REPORT

A little air at last!

At least Head Coach Hiraoka started his second stint as a caretaker on more than one positive note!

This hard-won draw opened the gap with the relegation zone to 3 points. Now, one win out of the three last matches (two at home) could be enough to keep up in the J1 League.

But the manner it was pulled out of the mouth of hell was significant and announced a new character from the players and team as a whole.

The game started well for S-Pulse when in the 17th minute Santana exploited a scramble inside the box engendered by Nishizawa’s free kick 25 meters away from goal.

But In the 23rd minute S-Pulse could not clear the ball and the following pass found a Sapporo forward for another typical soft goal allowed by S-Pulse.

S-Pulse went back on the attack but wasted three chances in the 28Th, 41st and 45th minutes.

Things got worse in the 48th minute when S-Pulse badly defended a corner kick for yet another soft goal.

In the 70th minute Gonda kept them alive with the save of the day following a weak defense.

S-Pulse nonetheless courageously kept attacking and in the 78th minute a great effort of a middle range kick by Santana was barely caught by the Sapporo keeper.

But in the 84th minute they finally struck gold when substitute Taki somehow managed to control a great cross by Hara before firing home to equalize the score and grab a so important point. It could have been better but unfortunately 2 minutes later S-Pulse missed a golden opportunity to win the match.

In the extra time Valdo was harshly sent off following the VAR and the usual showoff from a silver-painted hairstyle individual. But S-Pulse managed to protect during the 5 more minutes of extra time.

It is at least a very encouraging result contributed by a somewhat changed team but all players will have their role to play during the last 3 games starting with another home game on the 20th against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, a team which has nothing to win or lose!

The fans will help the team along to end up the season on a brighter note!

NEXT GAME

Meiji Yasuda J1 League

Match 36

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Saturday November 20th 3pm

IAI Stadium Nihondaira , Shizuoka