J1 League

Game 1

Shimizu S-Pulse 1-0 Tokyo Verdy

Sunday February 16th, 2:00 pm

Japan National Stadium (Tokyo)

S-PULSE GOALS Kitagawa (40)

YELLOW CARDS Kitagawa (49)

RED CARDS

PENALTY KICK

ATTENDANCE 52241

LINE UP

GK Oki

DF Yamahara, Hasukawa, Sumiyoshi, Takagi

MF Capixaba, Uno, Inui, Bueno, Nakahara

FW Kitagawa

SUBSTITUTIONS

Ahmedof on for Kitagawa (67)

Takahashi on for Yamahara (85)

Yoshida on for Inui (90 +3)

Miyamoto on for Uno (90 +3)

Shimamoto on for Nakahara (90 +3)

REPORT

Sweet victory!

We finally broke the National Stadium jinx after 23 years of frustration!

It was even sweeter for the fact that our last meeting against the same club on the same ground ended in tears!

Actually, Shimizu S-Pulse and Tokyo Verdy (although named Kawasaki Verdy then) share the whole of the Japanese League as they were 2 of the only 10 teams chosen to compete in the new professional Japanese League back in 1992 which has presently grown to three leagues of 20 clubs each!

As happens with many new games of the season, it ended up in a game mainly contested by defenses which allowed very few clear chances or even shots on target.

Moreover, Shimizu S-Pulse came up with a changed outlook, although the defense was almost the same as last year. New recruits, especially Brazilian Capixaba and Bueno, brought more overall solidity, and we had the occasion to watch new recruits in the persons of Bulgarian Ahmedof and promising rookie Shimamoto. Despite the new rule allowing 9 players of the bench, quite a few very good players had to be left, promising some fierce competition for spots in the team this season which might prove a long bruising exercise!

After a fairly quiet beginning Verdy were the first to attempt at goal in the 15th minute when a corner kick was directly headed into the hands of goalkeeper Oki.

In the 32nd minute Verdy once again obtained a corner kick in the same spot. The S-Pulse defense could not clear the ball cleanly as too many defenders were clumsily covering each other. The ball fell to a Verdy forward meters away from goal but luckily enough the shot was to weak to beat Oki who made a fine save which proved momentous for the whole game.

In the 40th minute S-Pulse produced their first occasion to score with Capixaba about to inherit the ball inside the box but he was pushed down by a Verdy defender although he did not obtain any sanction, but after the ball was cleared by Verdy into S-Pulse’s half center back Hasukawa noticed fellow right back Takagi running away on the right flank. His long pass found the young back playing on the right of the defense instead of his usual position as left back inside the Verdy’s box. With the whole Verdy’s defense chasing him, Takagi directly served the perfect cross to lurking striker Kitagawa who was left with a simple header into an almost empty goal to finalize a brilliant team goal.

The second half started with a chance which could and should have helped kill the game when S-Pulse intercepted a careless move by Verdy’s defense in their own half with Kitagawa ending up serving Capixaba deep inside the box, but the Brazilian lost his footing at the last second and his attempt was saved by a relieved Verdy keeper.

In the 63rd minute an excellent quick counter ended up with Inui trying his luck from just outside the box but his shot was deflected at the last second past the far post.

Verdy had half chances in the 84th and 88th minutes but they were hopelessly wasted against a watchful S-Pulse’s defense.

And when the final whistle blew, the whole team did not hide their deserved joy before bowing to the enormous contingent of Shimizu S-Pulse fans in rapture after such a long wait!

Next game will see us welcoming at home a dangerous team in the name of Albirex Niigata who are just coming back from a solid draw to Yokahama F Marinos. Our faithful fans will have to give all their help to our players. Expect a full house!

NEXT GAME

J1 League

Game 2

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Albirex Niigata

Date: Saturday February 22nd, 2 pm

Venue: IAI Nihondaira Stadium (Shizuoka)