V-Varen Nagasaki 0-3 S-Pulse
Nagasaki Athletic Stadium

S-PULSE GOALS Omae (16, 58), Kawai (87)
YELLOW CARDS Honda (24), Musuka (78)
RED CARDS None
ATTENDANCE 6286


LINE UP

GK Nishibe
DF Kamata, Inukai, Miura, Fukumura
MF Musaka, Honda, Ishige, Omae, Kawai
FW Kitagawa


SUBSTITUTES

Murata on for Ishige (65)
Takeuchi on for Honda (73)
Duke on for Kitagawa (88)


REPORT

Sunday saw S-Pulse’s first away trip of the season, journeying some 500 miles out west to take on V-Varen Nagasaki. The team were joined by an impressive squadron of travelling supporters who helped propel Shimizu to three well-earned points, and a jump up to 5^th place in an albeit very early league table.

Shinji Kobayashi’s starting XI only saw one alteration from the season’s opening weekend. Kawai took the place of Shirasaki in midfield, but that change aside, Kobayashi, a native of Nagasaki, stood by his selection from the previous match. With two of the three substitutions also mirroring week one’s mid-game tactical manoeuvres, the new boss clearly has a firm grasp of how he intends to begin the 2016 season.

It has thus far proved a successful start to the year, and the clean sheet and point earned against Ehime FC was added to, not only with another shutout, but also with three well taken strikes. The opening goal came via a swift counter attack, with Kitagawa, having picked up a pass from the S-Pulse half, advancing deep within the Nagasaki penalty area. Genki Omae sauntered up field, ready to receive the number 23’s calm lay back, and after keeping himself in space, the captain serenely stroked home the opening goal of the day.

Goals aside, S-Pulse’s number 10 caused the home side all manner of problems, not least in the 53^rd minute when he took on and dispossessed Nagasaki’s Nakamura. The swift attack which followed was prevented from cumulating in a goal only by the stubborn resilience of the woodwork. Not to be denied, Omae doubled the lead five minutes later, finding time and space in a well-populated spot to drive the ball beyond goalkeeper Okubo.

With the game heading towards the final whistle, there was time enough for one more goal. Approaching the edge of the area, Kawai was presented with a line of Nagasaki defenders, but rather than play a pass across field, the number 17 picked his spot and curled a sublime strike into the top corner. It was a fitting way to cap the game off; Shimizu’s first three points of the campaign.

In week three the action returns to IAI Stadium Nihondaira, and Matsumoto Yamaga are the visitors. Why not get along to cheer the boys in orange on as they aim to continue their positive start to the season?

Forza S-Pulse!


NEXT GAME

Meiji Yasuda J2 League 3rd.
S-PULSE v Matsumoto Yamaga
Sunday March 13h, 1pm
IAI Stadium Nihondaira