J1 League

Game 29

Shimizu S-Pulse 1-0 Albirex Niigata

Date: Saturday September 13th, 7:00 pm

Denka Big Swan Stadium

S-PULSE GOALS Toshiki Takahashi (16)

YELLOW CARDS Yamahara (31), Toshiki Takahashi (40), Yumiba (41)

RED CARDS

PENALTY KICK

ATTENDANCE 24557

LINE UP

GK Umeda

DF Kim Min Tae, Hasukawa, Sumiyoshi

MF Yamahara, Bueno, Inui, Yumiba, Nakahara, Yoshida

FW Toshiki Takahashi

SUBSTITUTIONS

Yajima on for Yumiba (57)

Matsuzaki on for Nakahara (57)

Chiba on for Toshiki Takahashi (84)

Takagi on for Yamahara (84)

Kitazume on for Yoshida (90 +8))

REPORT

Another survival story!

Almost a carbon copy of the previous game with the difference that this time we won the game!

We knew it would never be an easy game, what with playing away to a team that is desperate to rise from its bottom place in the J1 League.

The data read for a general domination of the game by Niigata with a possession of 56% to our 44%, 516 passes to our411 and pass accuracy of 80% compared to our 76%.

But for all the territorial domination the rest of the data read for another story.

Niigata might have had 18 attempts at goal to our 10, but they managed only 2 shots on target against our 3 and a goal along with an almost equal number of corner kicks.

On the other hand, it was a fiercely defended game on both sides with us conceding 3 yellow cards within 9 minutes at the end of a difficult first half.

Niigata had the first chance of the day when they extended Umeda into a very fine diving save form long range.

In the 15th minute it was the turn of S-Pulse of benefitting from the first chance with a dangerous free kick from mid-range but S-Pulse could not cleanly convert it.

But less than two minutes later a fine move ended with Inui and Yamahara deep inside the Niigata box before Yamahara crossed for Toshiki Takahashi slotting his second goal in two games in almost identical fashion, proving he is fast becoming our new striker.

In the 30th minute we obtained a corner kick that was almost converted by Yamahara’s powerful volley from outside the box.

The end of the second half was spent defending at the cost of 3 consecutive yellow cards but we were helped by our opponents’ poor finishing.

In the 54th minute we again were helped by Niigata’s poor finishing after a deep incursion in our box.

2 minutes later they even came closer to equalizing with the last header grazing our bar.

In the 61st minute Toshiki Takahashi did score again on a corner kick but the goal was disallowed because there was only one defender between goal and our forwards with the Niigata keeper away from the action.

In the 89th minute Niigata could not convert a very dangerous move inside our box but once again we were saved by our opponents’ lack of precision.

And then we had to defend wit teeth and nails during a ridiculous extra time lasting more than 13 minutes, which almost saw Niigata score on the last action of the day from a corner kick.

It was a win earned with sheer grit and some luck, but the team is finding its rhythm despite having to implement many changes due to suspensions and injuries.

We will need the same attitude and will on Saturday in another away game this time against the present leader, Kyoto Sanga.

But we can count on many fans!

NEXT GAME

J1 League

Game 30

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Kyoto Sanga

Date: Saturday September 20th, 7:00 pm

Sanga Stadium by KYOCERA