J1 League

Game 6

Shimizu S-Pulse 1-2 Kyoto Sanga

Date: Sunday March 16th, 1 pm

IAI Stadium Hihondaira (Shizuoka)

S-PULSE GOALS Kitagawa (82)

YELLOW CARDS

RED CARDS

PENALTY KICK Kitagawa (82)

ATTENDANCE 14012

LINE UP

GK Oki

DF Takagi, Takahashi, Sumiyoshi, Kitazume

MF Nishihara, Bueno, Inui, Miyamoto, Matsuzaki

FW Kitagawa

SUBSTITUTIONS

Nakahara on for Miyamoto (73)

Kozuka on for Nishihara (73)

Hatsukawa on for Matsuzaki (77)

Ahmedov on for Bueno (90)

REPORT

Defeat at home of all places!

After such a positive start in the first two games we are already into negative mode after only 6 games!

Unfortunately, in all honesty we deserve it. A previously solid defense has become disjointed constantly permuting from a 3-back to a 4-back or 5-back formation not helped by players having to play out of their normal position due to a growing list of injuries. Reserve and younger players have not taken their chances offered by missing starting members. The offense is still running out of ideas and too often looking unmenacing and jaded.

In front of a better-than-expected home crowd in spite of the miserable climatic conditions the game became a frustrating demonstration of impotence to our enduring fans who deserve better.

We started the game in sleeping mode and Kyoto could have scored in the very first minute when their offense teased our defense but their final attempt at goal flew just over Oki’s bar.

We had to wait until the 13t minute to see some dangerous attack from S-Pulse but only succeeded in having 5 consecutive shots blocked by the Kyoto defense.

In the 34th minute the whole game was epitomized by a good enough counter which brought Inui into the Sanga box but his cross attempt at goal rolled past the far post.

In the 34th minute it simply became ridiculous when Kyoto intercepted a weak pass to bring in only 2 forwards into our box. In spite of having 5 defenders to control them Takagi committed a clumsy foul from behind to literally offer a penalty to our opponents who certainly did not the penalty kick.

The game turned into a really insipid encounter until the 68th minute when we found a way to graciously pass the ball to our opponents and look at them convert the rare occasion to our fans’ dismay.

In the 78th minute Sumiyoshi connected well enough with a header from a corner kick but the ball was deflected towards the opposite keeper.

In the 80th minute a good enough attack saw Inui tripped inside the box for a penalty that this time Kitagawa did not miss.

But it was simply too little too late against a team we could and should have beaten.

Time to start all over again. The coming break from the J1 League will certainly be welcome to help us mend injured bodies and minds.

Before that on Wednesday next week, we travel to Sagamihara for the 1st round of this year’s League Cup (Levain Cup). A good opportunity for some players to raise their hand!

NEXT GAME

J League Cup (Levain Cup)

First Round

Shimizu S-Pulse vs SC Sagamihara

Date: Wednesday March 26th, 6 pm

Gion Sagamihara Stadium (Sagamihara)