J2 League

Game 29 (postponed game)

Shimizu S-Pulse 2-1 Tokushima Vortis

Wednesday September 18th, 7:00 pm

Pocari Sweat Stadium (Naruto)

S-PULSE GOALS Tanque (71, 77)

YELLOW CARDS

RED CARDS

PENALTY KICK

ATTENDANCE 4542

LINE UP

GK Gonda

DF Yoshida, Takagi, Takahashi, Hasukawa, Kitazume

MF Yajima, Miyamoto, Uno, Braga

FW Yakubu

SUBSTITUTIONS

Kitagawa on for Yakubu (55)

Inui on for Yajima (55)

Yamahara on for Yoshida (69)

Tanque on for Braga (69)

Nakamura on for Uno (75)

REPORT

A pivotal win achieved away against an unpredictable club, and this in front of a pitifully small attendance, which we are certainly not used to!

This gives us a big cushion of 11 points above our nearest rivals for direct promotion, all this in spite of a heavy schedule of 3 games in 8 days due to postponement!

Accordingly, the starting was much changed to preserve everybody’s energy as much as possible. But again, we proved that we have the bench to ensure success.

We started with a seemingly defensive hybrid formation with 5 backs which easily be changed to 3 with the wing backs moving up field to change to a 3-4-2-1 pattern. Yakubu, having recovered from injury was in the starting line up for the first time. Yajima and Takagi also started in a big change from last game while reserves included a few regulars.

S-Pulse were the first to make chances when they peppered Tokushima 3 times in a row after a dangerous cross could not be cleared.

It wa Tokushima’s turn in the 14th minute when a partial interception ended into a dangerous shot from close range but at a very cute angle with the ball barely flying past the far post.

In the 21st minute a big blunder by Yoshida could have spelled big trouble but the resulting long-range attempt went wide.

We had to wait until the 63rd minute for the game to at last open up after a long period when both teams contained each other. Two Tokushima forwards combined for 1-2 past the whole flat-footed S-Pulse defense which had just incorporated substitutes. It all ended up with a great shot from the last Tokushima forward from just outside the box that left little chance to Gonda.

1 minute later Tokushima could have the game beyond reach with a still flat-footed S-Pulse defense giving all the time to maneuver for another attempt in the same position but this time Gonda was able to parry the ball away.

But in the 71st minute the bench proved their worth when two consecutive incursions allowed Kitagawa to shoot from short range. The ball hit the bar after rebounding on the goalkeeper and a defender but big “The Tank” Tanque was perfectly positioned to head the ball home.

In the 77th minute Tanque was sent running up field before he passed to Inui who ran past the defense’s left flank to cross from close quarters and big Tanque surprised everyone by running to the far post before producing the perfect header to score his third goal in the last two games and this as a substitute!

Mission accomplished, even if it were somewhat of a scramble.

Next to come on Sunday is the Shizuoka Derby against Fujieda, a team we have to take very seriously, but the proximity of their ground means the help of a big contingent of S-Pulse fans!

NEXT GAME

J2 League

Game 32

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Fujieda MYFC

Sunday September 22nd, 2:30 pm

Fujieda City General Sports Park (Fujieda)