J League Levain Cup

2nd Round

Shimizu S-Pulse 0-0 Kataller Toyama (5-6 on penalties

Wednesday April 24th, 7:00 pm

Toyama Athletic Recreation Park Stadium

S-PULSE GOALS

YELLOW CARDS Kotake (120 + 1)

RED CARDS

PENALTY KICK

ATTENDANCE 3257

LINE UP

GK Oki

DF Kitazume, Takagi, Shirasaki, Hara

MF Nishizawa, Naruoka, Matsuzaki, Nishihara

FW Tanque, Gunji

SUBSTITUTIONS

Kawamoto on for Gunji (70)

Chiba on for Tanque (70)

Ando on for Nishihara (70)

Kotake on for Ando (97)

Kawatani on for Matsuzaki (110)

REPORT

Some young players and second-string members lost a golden occasion to vie for a position in the first team in more important games…

Although they had 60% of the possession, they had only an almost identical number of shots on target (4) and wide shots (7), and had the same number of corner kicks (9).

On the other hand, Toyama fouled and fouled again along a definite plan at a whopping total 23, but escaped with only 2 yellow cards.

Shimizu S-Pulse’s second team could not find the way to the J3 League side’s goal who had obviously bet on a single successful counter attack at best or on the penalty lottery at worse.

On top of that the foul rainy weather did not help S-Pulse’s passing game.

And luck was not with us when in the 19th minute Kitazume sent a great cross for Tanque to meet, but the latter’s header agonizingly hit the bar.

As for the penalty shoot out missing 3 out of 8 is a really poor performance.

All in all truth be told we have only ourselves to blame. Toyama played according to their strengths, we simply did not.

Unfortunately, such an opportunity for second-string players will happen again until the Fall with the Emperor’s Cup.

Time to go back to more important matters with a very difficult away game to Okayama on Sunday which could prove pivotal for the rest of the season!

Let us hope for a big crowd with plenty of our fans as opposed to the almost deserted Toyama venue! We will need all the support available!

NEXT GAME

J2 League

Game 12

Shimizu S-Pulse 3-2 Fagiano Okayama

Sunday April 28th, 1:00 pm

City Light Stadium (Okayama)