Montedio Yamagata 3-1 S-PULSE

S-PULSE GOALS Shirasaki 52
CAUTIONS None
ATTENDANCE 4025

LINE UP
GK Sugiyama R
DF Kawai, Sugiyama K, Kamata, Matsubara
MF Mizutani, Musaka, Edamura, Takagi
FW Shirasaki, Duke

SUBSTITUTES
Kitagawa on for Kawai (52)
Sawada on for Duke (74)
Kaneko on for Edamura (82)


REPORT

2015’s Yamazaki Nabisco Cup kicked off for S-Pulse in the northern prefecture of Yamagata. A 500 kilometer midweek away game proved small work for the several hundred Shimizu fans who made the journey, but they would go home disappointed following a 3-1 home win.

As is common with the Nabisco Cup, Shimizu put out a much changed starting XI from the previous league game. Of the eleven members who lined up against Niigata, not one was upon the field for kick off against Montedio. First starts of the season were given, amongst others, to Duke, Takagi and Edamura.

The hosts were to enjoy much of the opening exchanges, in particular finding joy up the left wing. However, it was via route one that the breakthrough came. Shortly before the break Montedio number 10 Shun Ito ran on to a pass which parted the sea between two orange shirts in the centre of the field. Ito bore down on debutante goalkeeper Rikihiro Sugiyama and swept the ball home.

The best S-Pulse chance of the opening half arrived after a clever back heel from Mitchell Duke released Yoshiaki Takagi into space, but the former Utrecht player couldn’t find the target. Shimizu began the second half much improved, and following a fine chipped pass from Duke to free Ko Matsubara up the wing, the 18 year old floated a cross of some quality in to the danger zone. This was met with aplomb by the head of Ryohei Shirasaki, and the score was leveled up.

Shimizu were not to have things their way however, and two goals in nine minutes would seal the tie in Yamagata’s favour. Substitute Nakajima wasted no time in making his presence felt, doubling the home team’s lead within two minutes of his 62^nd minute introduction. Shortly after, wretched luck saw Edamura, in his first start since returning from loan, turn a Montedio free kick past his own goalkeeper.

Defeat was confirmed at the trilling of Yuichi Nishimura’s whistle, following 4 minutes of additional time. The loss is the first of 2015, but is however just the first of six games in the Nabisco Cup group stage. So with everything is still to play for, S-Pulse can enter their next league cup game at Yokohama F. Marinos with every ambition of reclaiming the trophy they won in 1996.

Attentions now return to the league, with IAI Stadium Nihondaira appearing set for a second full house of the year for Sunday’s visit of Matsumoto Yamaga. If you won’t be at the stadium, keep an eye on Twitter @spulse_eng for updates of the game as it happens, and help roar S-Pulse on to victory!


NEXT GAME

Meiji Yasuda J1 League 1st Stage, 3rd Sec.

S-PULSE vs Matsumoto Yamaga
Sunday March 22nd, 2:00pm
IAI Stadium Nihondaira