J1 League

J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE WESTERN GROUP

Game 5

Shimizu S-Pulse 0-0 Cerezo Osaka (2-4 on penalties shootout)

Date: Saturday March 7th, 3:00 pm

Yodoko Sakura Stadium (Osaka)

S-PULSE GOALS

YELLOW CARDS Park (8), Bueno (43), Sumiyoshi (90 +3)

RED CARDS

PENALTY KICK

ATTENDANCE 15503

LINE UP

GK Umeda

DF Yoshida, Honda, Sumiyoshi, Park

MF Capixaba, Kozuka, Bueno, Kitagawa

FW Chiba, Oh

SUBSTITUTIONS

Toshiki Takahashi on for Chiba (62)

Kitazume on for Honda (59)

Matsuzaki on for Kitagawa (62)

Uno on for Kozuka (71)

REPORT

Once again regardless of the end result with usual penalties shootout lottery lost, it was a game which showed a lot of guts from all the players, especially the defense, preserving another hard-won point away from our bases. Unfortunately, we suffered some damage in that very defense with 3 yellow cards and one injury which might call for a totally different starting defense line up next game.

The defense did better than expected and is improving.

On the negative side there is still a lot of work to do in midfield and attack.

The data were somewhat brutal for the last two.

Largely dominated in possession (58% to 42%) and even more in passes (531 to 380), we somehow managed an average pass accuracy of 75% to 85%.

But the attack was dismal, 8 shots at goal and not a single one on target in spite of 5 corner kicks, whereas our goal was constantly bombarded.

The formation switch from a 4-1-2-3 to a conservative 4-4-2 could be a factor, but with the coming of a forced change in defense, we will have to face a different challenge against Okayama next Saturday, a team whose present good form augurs a difficult match.

At least we know that we will have many fans encouraging us!

NEXT GAME

J1 League

J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE WESTERN GROUP

Game 6

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Fagiano Okayama

Date: Saturday March 14th, 2:00 pm

IAI Nihondaira Stadium (Shizuoka)