J2 League

Game 15

Shimizu S-Pulse 4-0 Kagoshima United FC

Saturday May 11th, 2:00 pm

IAI Nihondaira Stadium (Shizuoka)

S-PULSE GOALS Nakamura (1), Kitagawa (43), Sumiyoshi (68), Nishihara (82)

YELLOW CARDS

RED CARDS

PENALTY KICK

ATTENDANCE 13893

LINE UP

GK Gonda

DF Yoshida, Takahashi, Sumiyoshi, Yamahara

MF Braga, Miyamoto, Nakamura, Yajima

FW Carlinhos, Kitagawa

SUBSTITUTIONS

Hara on for Yajima (66)

Matsuzaki on for Braga (72)

Nishihara on for Carlinhos (72)

Tanque on for Kitazawa (72)

Kitazume on for Yamahara (79)

REPORT

7th consecutive win that again extended our lead to now 7 points over the second spot and 11 more points over the third spot!

A very solid all-round performance from S-Pulse who even prevented their opponents of the day any real shot at goal until deep in the second half.

The win was so complete that Kagoshima United would have suffered a far heavier defeat had it not been for their excellent keeper who repeatedly repelled great efforts by S-Pulse from all angles.

Shimizu S-Pulse has now reached a well-oiled formula that put them for the moment well above the rest of the League be it with starting members or their impressive bench. As long as they keep to such a level promotion to the J1 League at the end of the season is a very reasonable hope!

Actually, S-Pulse did not waste any time and in the very 1st minute they obtained a dangerous free kick 10 meters not far from the box. Yajima’s perfect curving cross beat the whole defense to allow new recruit Nakamura to score his first goal for his new club with a well-placed header that left no chance to the opposite goal keeper.

S-Pulse went on dominating the whole half but was repeatedly frustrated by the opposite goal keeper although they created a good enough chance in the 37th minute but the final cross beat everybody, defenders and forwards alike to harmlessly roll away into oblivion.

In the 42nd minute Yamahara bent a superb free kick over the wall only to see it palmed away in extremis by a sensational opposite keeper.

S-Pulse finally broke their opponents’ courageous resistance less than 2 minutes later when Yamahara bent a corner kick for Nakamura to head back the ball behind him where it found an unmarked Kitazawa to head the ball past a helpless goal keeper.

In the 55th minute Kagoshima created a good enough attack to send a forward past our left flank but the latter’s cross was easily intercepted by Gonda.

In the 68th minute S-Pulse obtained another corner kick that was bent behind for an unmarked Sumiyoshi defender to produce a difficult header that flew just between the keeper and the far post. This was the third goal of the day scored from a set piece which confirmed the progress of the whole team in all situations.

Kagoshima had the merit to never give up and even managed a dangerous attack in the 74th minute which could have been successful but for a wayward final header.

In the 81st minute high schooler Nishihara once again proved his enormous potential when Matsuzaki and Kitazume combined to penetrate into Kagoshima’s box. Matsuzaki’s pass to Nishihara at first did not produce much as the youngster was blocked by two defenders but Tanque headed the ball back to him to connect it with a sharp low volley that squeezed between the keeper and the near pos.

Next game will be away at one of our close rivals in the name of Yokohama FC.

A positive result will put us ahead by even further margins. As the venue is not far away from Shizuoka expect a big crowd of fans to cheer their team!

NEXT GAME

J2 League

Game 15 United

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Yokohama FC

Saturday May 18th, 2:00 pm

NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium (Yokohama)