Meiji Yasuda J2 League

Match 17

Shimizu S-Pulse 1-2 Machida Zelvia

Sunday May 21st 2:00pm

Machida Gion Stadium (Tokyo)

S-PULSE GOALS Nakayama (42)

YELLOW CARDS Takahashi (24), Inui (83), Ronaldo (90 + 7)

RED CARDS

PENALTY KICK

ATTENDANCE 10444

LINE UP

GK Gonda

DF Yoshida, Takahashi, Suzuki, Kishimoto

MF Carlinhos, Ronaldo, Inui, Shirasaki, Nakayama

FW Oh Se-Hun

SUBSTITUTIONS

Kitazume on for Nakayama (46)

Santana on for Oh De-Hun (59)

Miyamoto on for Kishimoto (59)

Kitagawa on for Carlinhos (82)

Kamiya on for Shirasaki (82)

REPORT

Soccer/Football is an unforgiving cruel game…

After losing in the last minutes against JEF United in spite of a constant domination cancelled by a silly goal, we lose that game in the 6th minute of overtime thanks to a goal by a Machida defender who had escaped from a sure penalty and red card that was overlooked but made so clear on TV screens. Unfortunately, VAR is not used in the J2 League. At least S-Pulse did not make any clear protest, a proof of the sporting spirit of the whole club, players and fans included.

In the 2nd minute Machida could not convert a dangerous free kick due to weak finishing.

In the 6th minute it was the turn for S-Pulse to completely waste a great chance with Shirasaki’s final kick flying far above the bar.

In the 32nd minute S-Pulse somehow managed to give away the softest of goals after failing to clear a long pass from just outside Machida’s box.

In the 42nd minute a quick counter on the right flank had Inui making the last pass to Nakayama who scored a splendid goal from an acute angle to somehow squeeze the ball inside the far post.

In the 49th minute S-Pulse missed a fine chance when Ronaldo’s fine long pass could be only headed by Inui straight to the goal keeper.

In the 75th minute a quick counter by Machida had former S-Pulse member Duke see his shot saved by the near post.

In the 86th minute we were against by the same post after another dreaded long throw-in.

In the 9oth minute we were saved for the third time by the same post after some poor defense against the opposite goal keeper’s clearing.

Then woeful defense literally gave the match away in the 96th minute.

We probably did not deserve to win that particular game but here we are 14 points behind the leader when two matches before we were hoping to come within five points.

We are still in the running with more than half of the season left and an almost sure spot in at least the play offs, but we will have to regroup very quickly!

Next game is a dead rubber at home on Wednesday for the Ybc Levain Cup, a good opportunity to give some match experience to unused players!

NEXT GAME

Ybc Levain Cup

Group B Match 5

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Shonan Belmare

Wedenesday May 24th 7:00pm

IAI Stadium Nihondaira (Shizuoka)