J1 League

Game 11

Shimizu S-Pulse 3-1 Avispa Fukuoka

Date: Sunday April 20th, 2:00 pm

IAI Nihondaira Stadium (Shiizuoka)

S-PULSE GOALS Matsuzaki (3), Bueno (45 +2), Matsuzaki (45 +5)

YELLOW CARDS Kitagawa (17), Bueno (39), Oki (82)

RED CARDS

PENALTY KICK

ATTENDANCE 16366

LINE UP

GK Oki

DF Yoshida, Hasukawa, Takahashi

MF Capixaba, Inui, Bueno, Uno, Matsuzaki, Kitazume

FW Kitagawa

SUBSTITUTIONS

Nishihara on for Capixaba (68)

Nakahara on for Matsuzaki (68)

Haneda on for Kitagawa (81)

Tanque on for Inui (88)

Yamahara on for Yoshida (88)

REPORT

Gritty win against the leader of the League!

In the very words of Matsuzaki it was not pretty.

But we made the most of very few chances and put up the barbed wires when it was necessary with the least risks possible.

Although Fukuoka had more than twice attempts at goal, they conceded far many more free kicks in a game that turned rough at times and even cynical. But this is bag and parcel of strong teams and this time Shimizu held their ground even if it meant less of their usual pleasant approach to the game.

For this 8th game in a little more than 4 weeks some players had to be rested to avoid adding to an already growing injury list.

We started with a 3-5-1 formation that allowed more maneuverability both in defense and offense.

The game started right away with a bang when in the 3rd minute Capixaba controlled a ball in midfield before passing it to Matsuzaki still a very long distance from goal. The young midfielder started running down the middle facing a lined defense but instead of passing he shot a low bullet past a surprised Fukuoka goal keeper who realized the danger too late and the ball just squeezed between his extended hand and the far post from which it bounced back inside the goal. A very fine and somewhat lucky goal but Matsuzaki had nothing to lose and everything to get in this adventurous attempt.

That piqued Fukuoka’s pride who immediately crowded Shimizu’s defense and in the 9th minute a tussle ended in Inui committing a small foul but it was adjudged a foul nonetheless after VAR consulting and a penalty was given that Oki almost parried away.

Then the game got protracted into negative defense and Bueno in the 39th minute Bueno was saved from a red card only because there was still one defender left between him and the goal when he fouled a Fukuoka forward running away unmarked. That action proved momentous for the rest of game.

In the 43rd minute Keeper Oki once again saved his teammates with a superb diving parry when the Fukuoka forwards had beaten his defense.

And 2 minutes in extra time, Bueno came into the news again when he headed a fine goal and his first one in Japan from the near post into the far side of the goal mouth from Matsuzaki’s sweet corner kick.

But Shimizu intelligently continued to press and 5 minutes in extra time Inui dribbling from the left flank found Kitazume on the other side of the pitch with the perfect lob pass. The Shimizu defender did attempt an audacious volley but his slight miscue turned into a pass for lurking Matsuzaki who somehow managed to squeeze in the ball past a defender and the opposite goal keeper for the killing blow of the game.

In comparison the second half was almost quiet.

In the 54th minute a dangerous counter ended with Inui’s sweet backheel allowed Kitagawa to shoot from just inside the box but his attempt was far too weak to worry the opposite keeper.

In the 63rd minute a dangerous attack by Fukuoka was somewhat wasted with the last shot flying just above the bar.

In the 76th minute Fukuoka once again produced a dangerous cross into Shimizu’s box but the last header once again flew just over the bar.

3 minutes later Fukuoka missed another chance when a very dangerous cross was headed only a handspan past the far post.

After that Shimizu secured the locks and saw the end of the game without any damage.

A deserved win but certainly not an easy one even if the final score seems to indicate the contrary.

But it will certainly boost the team’s confidence!

The players now will enjoy some respite until the next game on April 29th (National Holiday) away against Tokyo FC in a difficult game once again, but our fans should come in big numbers to support our team along!

NEXT GAME

J1 League

Game 13

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Tokyo FC

Date: Tuesday April 29th, 1:00 pm

Ajinomoto Stadium (Chofu)