J2 League

Match 22

Shimizu S-Pulse 1-1 Thespakusatsu GUNMA

Sunday June 25th 7:30pm

Shoda Shoyu Stadium (Maebashi)

S-PULSE GOALS Kitagawa (26)

YELLOW CARDS Kitagawa (55), Inui (74)

RED CARDS

PENALTY KICK

ATTENDANCE 10229

LINE UP

GK Okubo

DF Suzuki, Ibayashi, Kitazume

MF Nishizawa, Carlinhos, Shirasaki, Miyamoto, Nakaayama

FW Inui, Kitagawa

SUBSTITUTIONS

Santana on for Nakayama (66)

Disaro on for Kitagawa (72)

Takahashi on for Carlinhos (672)

Ronaldo on for Miyamoto (80)

Oh Se-Hun on for Inui (80)

REPORT

A very disappointing draw indeed against a team packing their players in defense and taking no risks.

But I’m afraid that when you are incapable to win in spite of 22 shots (13 of then wide) at goal against only 7 and twice as much possession, you are left only with yourself to blame.

At least this draw still keeps us within striking distance of the 2nd automatic promotion spot but we are still 1 point away from a play off spot, meaning that the whole situation is still very unclear for the moment.

In he 9th minute Kitagawa lost the first opportunity when he could only shoot directly at the goal keeper in spite of being unmarked.

And in the 10th minute we managed to give away a really silly goal when a clearance somehow bounced against a Gunma forward directly into goal.

That signaled for the rest of the game mostly seeing S-Pulse’s attacks being repulsed.

In the 13th minute Carlinhos’ excellent scissors unfortunately flew directly into the keeper’s arms.

One minute later Gonda had to fend away a dangerous log-range kick.

In the 22nd minute Carlinhos almost dribbled his way to goal but his shot was pushed away by the keeper.

In the 25th minute Gunma’s defense could not clear the ball for once allowing Kitagawa to score a great goal from outside the box with his left foot.

Then S-Pulse proceeded to miss chances with the last straw when Santana had a golden opportunity in the 88th minute missing from 2 meters away fro the goal keeper who somehow blocked his shot with his legs.

S-Pulse will have to find the way to goal more often and more quickly if they want to keep their chances for promotion starting with a late game being played on Wednesday home against Akita!

NEXT GAME

J2 League

Match 21

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Baublitz Akita

Wednesday June 28th 7:00pm

IAI Stadium Nihondaira (Shizuoka)