J1 League

Game 24

Shimizu S-Pulse 2-0 Yokohama FC

Date: Sunday July 20th, 6:30 pm

IAI Nihondaira Stadium (Shizuoka)

S-PULSE GOALS Capixaba (59), Nakahara (72)

YELLOW CARDS Sumiyoshi (45 +9)

RED CARDS

PENALTY KICK

ATTENDANCE 18012

LINE UP

GK Umeda

DF Brunetti, Sumiyoshi, Hasukawa

MF Capixaba, Bueno, Inui, Uno, Matsuzaki, Yamahara

FW Kitagawa

SUBSTITUTIONS

Yajima on for Uno (46)

Nakahara on for Matsuzaki (46)

Tanque on for Capixaba (60)

Takagi on for Brunetti (60)

Shimamoto on for Bueno (85)

REPORT

A vital win after 5 lean games！And the better for it that we achieved just before a welcome summer break which will allow us to work to prepare a better end of the season. We have the players, as typified by new international Uno. We just needed the spark of the last two games.

Both sides had their lucky moments and a stirling performance by homebred Keeper Umeda did contribute a lot to the final result.

We did dominate the game though, in spite of a few chances we should not have given away: 65% possession against 35%, 556 passes against 305, pass accuracy of 86% against 70%, 8 corners kicks to, 14 attempts at goal against 7, but only two shots on target, both turning into goals.

We still had to wait until the 25th minute when S-Pulse had the first chance f the day. A dangerous free kick from just outside the box was punched away by the opposing keeper directly to Inui who sent a dangerous a very dangerous cross which could have ended into an own goal but for a few centimeters.

In the 31st minute a dangerous Yokohama counter could have ended into a sucker goal with the last shot being deflected but Umeda produced his first save of the day to keep the slate clean.

In the 40th minute another dangerous counter by Yokohama extended Umeda again in another fine save.

One minute in extra time an event that changed the game occurred when Brunetti was the victim of a clumsy tackle that ended up into a red card after VAR.

Even so we could have finished one goal behind at half time when 6 minutes in extra time our defense was caught napping on a free kick that was passed on our flank instead of a direct kick and the final shot bounced off the far post. After a light deflection by Umeda’s extended hand.

In the 53rd minute it was the turn to Yokohama to get saved by their far post after a scramble in front of goal before Capixaba attempted a curving low shot. Before that, the ball had been deflected by a defender’s arm inside the box but the play was let to continue.

In the 57th minute Kitagawa attempted a difficult diving head that flew past the far goal.

But in the 59th minute the Yokohama defense twice failed to clear a long attempt and a lurking Capixaba finally broke the deadlock with an opportunist goal from point blank.

In the 72nd minute Nakahara put the game on ice when he was allowed to run down the pitch from halfway before delivering a thunderous mid-range shot that flew into the top corner of the goal.

In the 89th minute S-Pulse the ball in midfield and the ensuing long shot was palmed away by Umeda for yet another fine save.

3 minutes in extra time, Umeda had to produce his final fine save of the day diving on his right to parry a dangerous long shot away.

Umeda who had been preferred to regular keeper Oki saved the day!

The next games strangely enough will take us to two perilous trips both to Hiroshima after a long summer break, first for the Emperor’s Cup Round 4 and then for the J1 League Game 25, but who knows, it could the start to better things!

NEXT GAMES

Emperor’s Cup

Round 4

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Hiroshima Sanfrecce

Date: Wednesday August 6th, 6:30 pm

Edion Peace Wing (Hiroshima)

J1 League

Game 25

Shimizu S-Pulse vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Date: Sunday August 10th, 6:30 pm

Edion Peace Wing (Hiroshima)