Emperor’s Cup

Round 3

Shimizu S-Pulse 1-0 Shonan Belmare

Date: Wednesday July 16th, 7:00 pm

Hiratsuka Kyujo (Hiratsuka)

S-PULSE GOALS Tanque (105 +1)

YELLOW CARDS Hasukawa, Capixaba, Nishihara, Kitagawa

RED CARDS

PENALTY KICK

ATTENDANCE 3631

LINE UP

GK Umeda

DF Hasukawa, Brunetti, Sumiyoshi

MF Capixaba, Yajima, Nakahara, Shimamoto, Chiba, Yamahara

FW Matsuzaki

SUBSTITUTIONS

Kiatagawa on for Chiba (61)

Inui on for Matsuzaki (61)

Tanque on for Nakahara (73)

Takagi on for Yamahara (79)

Nishihara on for Yajima (79)

Haneda on for Brunetti (91)

REPORT

Some happy news at long last!

This win will mean we have reached the 4th Round of the Emperor’s Cup for the first time since 2021!

But it was far from easy, what with playing away against a team who know us too well (a fixture also called the “Shirasu Derby”!)!

We started with a fairly flexible 3-6-1 formation with only 4 changes (Uno in particular, who was on internation duty) from the previous match, proving we took the game very seriously.

The data was very similar, but the number of fouls was astronomical, 26 to 23, ending with a massive 3 yellow cards on our side, which could affect future games. But we certainly showed more resilience and aggressivity against a side in the same League.

In the 11th minute we were outflanked ending with a one-on-one desperate situation which Keeper Umeda somehow managed to save.

Umeda had to produce another fine save just after the interval, parrying an extremely dangerous cross.

Seconds before the end of regular time, Nishihara produced a vicious cross that unfortunately nobody could meet.

Extra time finally saw us score in one extra minute of the first half with substitute Tanque heading home a corner kick by substitute Inui.

All in all, a gritty win away from home in horrendous climatic conditions.

A good omen for the rest of the season?

The next Emperor’s Cup, 4th Round will pit us against Sanfrecce Hiroshima on August 6th

Before that it is back to J1 League with a game we must absolutely win against fellow strugglers Yokohama FC!

NEXT GAME

J1 League

Game 24

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Yokohama FC

Date: Sunday July 20th, 6:30 pm

IAI Nihondaira Stadium (Shizuoka)