S-PULSE 2-0 FC Machida Zelvia
IAI Stadium Nihondaira, Shizuoka


S-PULSE GOALS Omae 21, Tese 90
YELLOW CARDS None
RED CARDS None
ATTENDANCE 10607


LINE UP

GK Uekusa
DF Miura, Inukai, Kakuda, Matsubara
MF Honda, Takeuchi, Ishige, Shirasaki, Omae
FW Tese


SUBSTITUTIONS

Kaneko on for Omae (72)
Murata on for Honda (80)
Kitagawa on for Tese (90+2)


REPORT

S-Pulse kept up pursuit of 2^nd place with a well-earned victory over visiting Machida Zelvia. A goal apiece for the club’s top scorers kept the pressure on the surrounding teams to not dare falter as the season reaches its climax.

The rain which had been falling over Shizuoka eased up before kick off to deliver perfect conditions for football. Over ten thousand fans filled the stands eager to see Shimizu, still riding the excitement of the previous week’s additional time heroics, chalk up an 18th win of the season.

Genki Omae, starting his first home game since returning from injury, swung a free kick just the wrong of the post on five minutes, but didn’t have to wait long to find the net. 15 minutes later the captain was in the right place at the right time to capitalize on a botched back pass, lobbing Takahara with some finesse for the opener.  

Following the early goal, the game was open and attacking, neither side willing to waste time going forward. Despite the end to end nature of play, neither team’s goal was breached. Each goalkeeper can be credited in no small part for the lack of extra goals, Uekusa in particular getting down well to stop a close range effort from Nakashima late on.

As the game was about to head into additional time, J2 joint top scorer Tese was felled in the penalty area, referee Imamura pointing immediately to the spot. After duly dispatching the spot kick, Tese once more stands alone atop the season’s highest scorer list, but of greater import are the three points the goal secured.

Shimizu now take to the road, traveling to Kanazawa for match day 36. The game is the first of seven remaining, the gap between S-Pulse and 2^nd place Yamaga now at 5 points. Victory has the potential to bring Matsumoto within touching distance, so there is no time to let up this red hot form!

Forza S-Pulse!


NEXT GAME

Meiji Yasuda J2 League Sec. 36th
Zweigen Kanazawa vs S-PULSE
Sunday October 16th, 4pm
Ishikawa Athletics Stadium