Albirex Niigata 0-2 S-PULSE
Denka Big Swan, Niigata


S-PULSE GOALS Tese 76, Matsubara 90+3
YELLOW CARDS None
RED CARDS None
ATTENDANCE 31014


LINE UP

GK Rokutan
DF Kamata, Inukai, Kakuda, Matsubara
MF Musaka, Notsuda, Edamura, Shirasaki, Kaneko
FW Tese


SUBSTITUTIONS

Futami on for Kakuda (49)
Kitagawa on for Kaneko (73)
Freire on for Notsuda (89)


REPORT

S-Pulse recorded a second away win in succession at Niigata’s Denka Big Swan Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Late goals from Tese and Matsubara procured three points which lift Shimizu up to 6^th in the early league table.

While goalless, the first half was far from lacking in chances, with both goalkeepers seeing the ball strike their crossbar. Though there was no way through in the opening 45 minutes, it took just 8 minutes from the restart to demonstrate how the deadlock would eventually be broken. Edamura’s low cross from the right was met by captain Chong Tese whose shot drifted wide, but it was an error he was to correct 20 minutes later. A fine passing move up field culminated in another pinpoint Edamura cross, which Tese this time made no mistake in nodding into the net.

The visitors clearly still hungry, a second was nearly added just minutes later when Kitagawa flashed a shot the wrong side of the post. The lead was eventually doubled in additional time, coming from the unlikely but deserving source of Matsubara. Having advanced deep into the Niigata penalty area, the number 25 was the grateful recipient of Kitagawa’s pass. Matsubara swept the ball goalward, and while keeper Morita got a hand to it, the strike had too much venom, advancing relentlessly into the net.

S-Pulse will look to extend their winning run in midweek with a journey to Kashiwa for the opening game of the YBC Levain Cup. The league returns on Saturday as Kashima Antlers are welcomed to town. If you’re not heading to IAI Stadium Nihondaira you can still keep up with the action the moment it happens via our Twitter feed @spulse_eng

Forza S-Pulse!


NEXT GAME

YBC Levain Cup
Group Stage, Match 1
Kashiwa Reysol vs S-PULSE
Wednesday March 15th, 7pm
Hitachi Kashiwa Soccer Stadium


NEXT LEAGUE GAME

Meiji Yasuda J1 League
Match Day 4
S-PULSE vs Kashima Antlers
Saturday March 18th, 2pm
IAI Stadium Nihondaira