Tuesday 1 July 2008

Nabisco Cup 1/4 Final: Antlers v S-Pa (1st leg) Preview

Having finished top of our Nabisco Cup group last month, it's onwards and upwards for S-Pa! As we march into our first league cup quarter final since 2005 we hold high hopes of reaching our first semi since '03. The fact that reigning double winners Kashima Antlers stand in our way is but a minor inconvenience. The fact that said Antlers destroyed second-in-the-league Nagoya Grampus 4-0 away from home last Saturday is mere detail. You read is here first: S-Pulse dispatch Antlers away from home in the first leg before finishing the job off with a rampant display at Nihondaira next month. Then watch as either Marinos or Gamba crumble beneath Aurerio's deadly touch in front of goal, before we then sweep majestically past our hapless opponents at the Kokuritsu on our path to cup glory.

Hold on a minute - Nurse! I think I'm out of medication!

Nah, bollocks to it - we're going to take it to Antlers and dump them out the only competition that eluded them last year. You've got to believe - in fact it was S-Pulse fans themselves who said such just a few weeks back:


Tomorrow being leg one of two, the return fixture is scheduled in for August 6th. Smack in the middle of the summer hols, I'm expecting to see a bumper crowd down at 'Daira to roar us onto glory! In other news, a training camp team for the Japan Olmypic team football squad has been announced and S-Pa hold the distinction of being the only side with FOUR players included in the squad. Honda, Yamamoto, Aoyama and Okazaki are all set for the trip to China. Good work, lads! Shizuoka's proud of ya! The full, final squad is to be announced in July. Gambare Nippon in China, and Gambare S-Pa as we enter the lion's den up on Deer Island tomorrow!

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