J2 League

Game 33

Shimizu S-Pulse 1-1 Yokohama FC

Saturday September 28th, 6:00 pm

Japan National Stadium Tokyo (Tokyo)

S-PULSE GOALS Miyamoto (74)

YELLOW CARDS Nishizawa (27)

RED CARDS

PENALTY KICK

ATTENDANCE 55598 (all-time J2 League attendance record)

LINE UP

GK Gonda

DF Yamahara, Sumiyoshi, Takahashi, Hara

MF Braga, Nakamura, Inui, Uno, Nishizawa

FW Kitagawa

SUBSTITUTIONS

Carlinhos on for Braga (55)

Miyamoto on for Uno (68)

Kitazume on for Nishizawa (68)

Yajima on for KItagawa (68)

Takagi on for Yamahara (90)

REPORT

We did not break the jinx…

For unavoidable promotion reasons we play such a home game at the National Stadium in Tokyo once in a while. Problem is such a “home” game is a virtual away game, what with an opponent living almost next door, and a rival to the champion title to boot. Moreover, playing conditions are alien as the fans are far away from the pitch due to the athletics tracks whereas in Shimizu, they can almost touch their favorite players.

All this considered, and against the best defense in the League, it is not too bad a result, although disappointing knowing we had more attempts at goal.

This result kept us at the top of the League needing at a maximum a win and a draw (out of 5 games) to secure a direct promotion to the J1 League. But we are now aiming at getting some silver for the club!

There were only a few changes in the starting members although the bench was slightly different.

In a game of very few chances, S-Pulse had the first one, if only a half chance at that in the 20th minute when after a long clearance Inui dribbled around the defense but his shot from outside the box rolled directly into the arms of opposing goal keeper.

In the 24th minute an unmarked Yokohama player was allowed to volley a corner kick only for the ball flying over the bar.

In the first half extra time Yamahara sent a dangerous free kick but two S-Pulse could not reach the ball floating past the mouth.

In the 53rd minute a flat-footed S-Pulse defense allowed a rare shot from just inside the box but Gonda reacted well to secure the ball in his grasp.

In the 55th minute once again a flat-footed S-Pulse defense allowed a dangerous cross after being teased outside the box which was met with a superb heading which bounced on the bar past a beaten Gonda only for an unmarked Yokohama forward to squeeze it home on the rebound.

Things were not looking good, but S-Pulse nonetheless reacted well.

And they were rewarded when a quick counter had Carlinhos and Hara combining in a fast exchange before Yajima shot to the goal. The ball was first parried by the Yokohama goal keeper but Miyamoto who had done well to run along the attack managed to squeeze it home.

In the 85th minute S-Pulse should have done better with shots being consecutively bouncing off the defense and finally parried by an excellent Yokohama keeper.

Next game will take us to Mito on Sunday against a team mired in the bottom half of the League. A game to be taken seriously though as our opponents will wish to get away from the danger zone!

NEXT GAME

J2 League

Game 34

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Yokohama FC

Sunday October 6th, 2:00 pm

K7s Denki Stadium (Mito)