J2 League

Game 11

Shimizu S-Pulse 3-2 Vegalta Sendai

Saturday April 20th, 2:00 pm

IAI Nihondaira Stadium (Shizuoka)

S-PULSE GOALS Braga (16), Kitagawa (54), Nishihara (83)

YELLOW CARDS

RED CARDS

PENALTY KICK

ATTENDANCE 13760

LINE UP

GK Gonda,

DF Yamahara, Takahashi, Sumiyoshi, Yoshida

MF Yajima, Miyamoto, Nakamura, Braga

FWCarlinhos, Kitagawa

SUBSTITUTIONS

Matsuzaki on for Yajima (69)

Nishihara on for Braga (69)

Kitazume on for Yoshida (73)

Hasukawa on for Carlinhos (73)

Tanque on for Kitagawa (81)

REPORT

Another gritty that keeps us in the lead of J2 League!

Vegalta is a young an ambitious team but we could and should have things easier as we dominated almost the whole game only to let down our guard in the second half and an another impossibly long extra time.

But there were some great positives, including new records.

In front of a large crowd, high schooler Nishihara broke another record after being the youngest ever Shimizu-S-Pulse player at 17 years 2 months and and 9 days when he also beat the record as the youngest ever scorer for S-Pulse at the age of 17 years 4months and 4 days!

Moreover, our newest recruit, Brazilian Douglas Tanque came so close to score for the first time for his new club. Our attack is improving all the time but our defense still lacks consistency. Plenty of work left to do but also plenty of potential!

Our first chance came in the 9th minute when Braga tried his luck from outside the box but his shot went directly into the opposite keeper’s arms

But in the 16th minute we showed our new ability to exploit long forward balls when Takahashi kicked a long ball toward Carlinhos and Braga lurking ahead. Carlinhos managed to sweetly head it in Braga’s path beating two isolated defenders before making no mistake for his 3rd goal of the season.

In the 30th minute Yajima could have extended the lead with a fine shot just outside the box aiming at the far post but the opposite goal keeper pulled out a fine save worthy of a higher league.

In the 48th minute a fine combination between Yoshida and Carlinhos allowed the latter to try his luck from just outside the box but his sharp shot flew directly into the opposite keeper’s arms.

But in the 54th minute defender Yoshida once again proved his worth by dispossessing two Sendai forwards of the ball to immediately send Kitagawa running into the box chased by two defenders. The S-Pulse’s new captain, instead of trying his luck through a tight angle crocheted behind the two chasing Sendai backs to allow himself more angle to deliver a fine left foot shot that left no chance to the Sendai keeper.

But after that Shimizu steadily felt Sendai’s growing pressure when a poor pass was intercepted before two Sendai forwards were left with an easy shot at goal from outside the box but Gonda parried it. Unfortunately, Sendai got the ball back before running around a flat-footed defense and allow a through pass for an easy goal.

But in the 83rd minute Yamahara was allowed to send a looping cross to Tanque whose heading hit the bar but the ball came back again to Yamahara who passed it to youngster Nishihara who cleverly dribbled past a defender before delivering a sweet shot inside the far post sparkling celebrations that meant an extended extra time…

Which Sendai used 4 minutes past normal time beating another flat-footed defense into a very soft goal.

But once again we managed to limit the damage there and produced our second three-win streak of the season.

Next game will take place on Wednesday for the 2nd round of the new style Levain Cup which has become a true League Cup from this year against J3 League side Toyama far from our bases.

A great chance for young and unused players!

NEXT GAME

J League Levain Cup

2nd Round

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Kataller Toyama

Wednesday April 24th, 7:00 pm

Toyama Athletic Recreation Park Stadium