J1 League

J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE WESTERN GROUP

Game 9

Shimizu S-Pulse 3-0 V-Varen Nagasaki

Date: Sunday April 5th, 1:00 pm

Peace Stadium (Nagasaki)

S-PULSE GOALS Oh (1), Shimamoto (4), Oh (45 +3)

YELLOW CARDS Sumiyoshi (90)

RED CARDS

PENALTY KICK Oh (45 +3)

ATTENDANCE 19706

LINE UP

GK Umeda

DF Park, Sumiyoshi, Brunetti

MF Takagi, Uno, Inoue, Bueno, Kitazume, Shimamoto

FW Oh

SUBSTITUTIONS

Kozuka on for Inoue (46)

Yoshiki Takahashi on for Shimamoto (73)

Hidaka on for Kitazume (73)

Hasukawa on for Takagi (77)

Stephens on for Oh (89)

REPORT

First convincing and so important away win of the season!

After the frustrating defeat at Kobe on Wednesday the players bounced back immediately, a far cry from the general situation prevalent last year.

We started the game with a three-backs line for the first time this season in a search for a more compact and aggressive strategy.

And it worked right away when we killed the game within a mere 4 minutes

In the very first seconds Nagasaki were just too complacent when they sent a lazy back pass from the kick off. But none of them had noticed Oh running at full speed to the goalkeeper’s left side who never saw him before aiming for a long clearance. The Shimizu’s new striker’s extended right leg managed to block it with the ball trickling into goal after only 7 seconds of play. The fastest goal of the season for the whole League, a feat which will become nigh impossible to better! Incidentally this is the second time in three games that Oh successfully dispossessed a goalkeeper into goal!

And then 3 minutes later after an efficient control in midfield ending with Kitazume retrieving in extremis the ball to give it to Inoue, another new recruit, who sent the perfect cross from the right flank in spite of being surrounded by at least two players for Shimamoto running between defenders to beautifully head it inside the far post for his first goal of the season.

The first half went on with S-Pulse fully controlling the game not allowing a single shot at their goal.

And in extra time a corner kick was handled by the Nagasaki defense resulting into a spot kick after the VAR consultation.

Oh made no mistake and slotted the ball in past a diving keeper inside the left post.

When did we score three goals in the first half?

The second half saw a general domination from Nagasaki, but the S-Pulse compact formation weathered the attacks with aggression and a little luck such a post saving us from a long shot halfway the second half.

A very well conducted game indeed that should give us plenty of needed confidence.

We still are experimenting a lot with formations and giving a chance to more players which should positively encourage everyone to earn his place.

Next game will see us travelling for the third time In a row, this time to Hiroshima which promises us a very hard game.

But the orange wave of our untiring fans should find plenty to rejoice about!

NEXT GAME

J1 League

J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE WESTERN GROUP

Game 10

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Date: Saturday April 11th, 2:00 pm

Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima (Hiroshima)