J2 League

Match 28

Shimizu S-Pulse 1-0 Fagiano Okayama

Saturday July 29th 6:00pm

IAI Stadium Nihondaira (Shizuoka)

S-PULSE GOALS Carlinhos (59)

YELLOW CARDS Takahashi (34), Shirasaki (83)

RED CARDS

PENALTY KICK

ATTENDANCE 12254

LINE UP

GK Gonda

DF Yoshida, Yoshinori Suzuki, Takahashi, hara

MF Carlinhos, Miyamoto, Shizrasaki, Ronaldo, Nakayama

FW Kololli

SUBSTITUTIONS

Yuito Suzuki on for Miyamoto (56)

Oh Se-Hun on for Kololli (66)

Kishimoto on for Nakayama (66)

Nishizawa on for Yoshida (75)

Kitafawa on for Carlinhos (76)

REPORT

A very important win that keeps us within striking distance of the 2nd automatic promotion spot!

But it was not easy against an experienced side even at home.

Once again, we wasted chances when we could have killed the game early and made things easier.

Actually, Okayama had the first chance in the 17th minute when an attack ran in front of our box with the last shot barely missing the far post from an inside the box shot.

In the 19th minute an unbalanced Carlinhos saw his shot from a pass inside the box barely rolling away past the far post after S-Pulse had exploited some casual defense from Okayama.

In the 32nd minute Ronaldo’s long-range shot was again barely palmed away by the opposite keeper.

In the 36th minute following a good pass inside the box by Yoshida Kololli’s cross shot could not beat the keeper due to acute an angle.

In the 54th minute Okayama had a lucky escape when Kololli’s perfect corner kick was met point blank by Ronaldo’s head which unfortunately fired into a surprised keeper’s lap.

In the 58th minute S-Pulse finally broke the deadlock after a poor clearance by the Okayama defense which first fell to Carlinhos who passed to Yuito Suzuki who had just come in as a substitute. The latter passed it back immediately to Carlinhos who waved his way through three defenders before calmly sending the keeper on the wrong way for a splendid goal.

A few minutes later S-Pulse should have killed the game when Kololli intercepted an Okayama defense’s pass before passing to Yuito Suzuki who curled his shot over the goalkeeper only to see the ball bounce on the far post. Yoshida who had run in from the opposite side could not control the rebound and his shot helplessly flew above the bar.

In the 74th minute Oh Se-Hun could have done better when quick passing had him alone against the keeper from 10 meters away but his weak shot went directly to the opposite keeper.

By then S-Pulse should have led by three goals but instead had to defend their slim lead until the end of an interminable extra time.

At least the job was done. Some players like Hara and Yuito Suzuki are finding their marks after a long absence and Inui will be back for next Sunday’s game away against Tokyo Verdy in a game that will define the rest of the season!

NEXT GAME

J2 League

Match 29

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Tokyo Verdy

Sunday August 5th 6:00pm

Ajinomoto Stadium (Chofu)