J2 League

Game 14

Shimizu S-Pulse 3-0 Thespa Gunma

Monday May 6th, 2:00 pm

Shoda Shoyu Stadium (Maebashi)

S-PULSE GOALS Nishizawa (11), Tanque (56), Kitagawa (90)

YELLOW CARDS

RED CARDS

PENALTY KICK

ATTENDANCE 7085

LINE UP

GK Gonda

DF Hara, Takahashi, Sumiyoshi,

MF Kitazume, Braga, Miyamoto, Yajima, Nishizawa, Yoshida

FW Tanque

SUBSTITUTIONS

Matsuzaki on for Braga (62)

Carlinhos on for Nishizawa (62)

Kitagawa on for Tanque (70)

Naruoka on for Miyamoto (88)

Nakamura on for Yajima (88)

REPORT

Golden Week safely completed against an opponent made the more dangerous that it was desperate to win after an interminable losing streak keeping it at the bottom of the League!

The local crowd was almost doubled by an enormous S-Pulse supporting fans contingent that pushed their team until the last minute regardless of the score.

The starting lineup witnessed a large turnover and a change of tactics caused by the crowded schedule. In the end it did not much difference as the whole team has steadfastly grown confident whatever its composition.

We have consequently further increased our lead on the second spot by 5 points and a whopping 10 points on the third spot, giving ourselves a comfortable cushion after only 14 games into the season.

S-Pulse were the first to create a chance when in the 11th minute Gunma clumsily cleared the ball into Takahashi in midfield who immediately sent a long pass straight forward to big “Tanque the Tank” who had been given his first chance as a starting member. The latter sweetly passed to Nishizawa running forward on his left past a half dozen defenders. The latter who had also been given a first spot in the starting lineup this year produced a beautiful left-footed shot from just inside the box into the left top corner of the goal mouth that gave no chance to the Gunma keeper.

In the 32nd minute another weak clearance by Gunma ended into a very dangerous counter with the last cross by Kitazume barely missing Braga 2 meters from goal.

2 minutes later Braga was sent forward to relay to Nishizawa past the Gunma’s right flank. Tanque could not connect with the ensuing cross but Braga almost scored on the rebound when his sharp shot from close range was somehow repelled by the Gunma keeper.

We had to wait until the 56th for the next real chance when S-Pulse attacked Gunma’s right flank with Miyamato finishing the movement with a looping cross that Tanque sweetly headed into the left upper corner of the goal. This very header finally rewarded the Brazilian recruit who had had two similar attempts prevented by the bar in previous matches. After Braga, Tanque is steadily becoming another weapon in S-Pulse’s arsenal adding more pressure at all times on opponents from the first to the last minutes of any game.

Gunma finally got their first opportunity in the 59th minute on a corner kick but it was completely wasted.

In the 64th minute a long clearance by Gonda could not be defended by the Gunma defense and Carlinhos almost scored from a very acute angle.

In the 72nd minute Gunma missed another rare chance with the final shot harmlessly flying over the bar.

In the 73rd minute they were given another similar chance ending up exactly in the same way.

In the 79th minute Kitagawa was given his first chance after some inept defense by Gunma but his final shot flew past the right post.

But in the 90th minute he redeemed himself when Sumiyoshi sent a long precise pass from his half to Kitazume running past Gunma’ left flank into the box for the latter to send the perfect cross to Kitagawa to tap in for a single goal past three retreating defenders.

Gunma played courageously until the last second but they were denied by the far post in the second minute of extra time after an excellent combination inside S-Pulse’s box.

S-Pulse won this game win in a clinical manner taking most of their chances like a strong team should do. This augurs well when our nearest rivals are just meeting problems.

Next game will be a chance for S-Pulse to confirm their great form against low-ranked Kagoshima on Saturday in front of a big home fan crowd!

NEXT GAME

J2 League

Game 15 United

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Kagoshima

Saturday May 11th, 2:00 pm

IAI Nihondaira Stadium (Shizuoka)