S-Pulse 3-1 Omiya (Nab Cup Group Stage)

Barry writes

S-Pulse 3-1 Omiya
Hiraoka 41------------------ Hasegawa 36
Omae 72 (pen)
Shirasaki 88

Att 10596

Line Up

GK Yamamoto

DF Yoshida
DF Hiraoka
DF Jong a Pin
DF Lee

MF Muramatsu
MF Kobayashi

FW Kawai
FW Omae
FW Ishige
FW Takahara

Subs Used

Sugiyama on for Kobayashi (63)
Takagi on for Takahara (63)
Shirasaki on for Ishige (82)

Report

A mate's birthday yesterday with roughly three beers for each of the goals the national team put past Jordan meant today was something of a mission. I got to Nihondaira a mere five minutes before kick off and spent most the game struggling to stay upright, let alone samba.

The win maintains our perfect Nabisco campaign with five wins from five, 11 goals scored and only two conceded. The three points also confirms our progression to the knock out stage with one game (away to Kashima) left to play.

Our third goal (which I missed, having left on 80 minutes to get to something on the other side of town) came from Shirasaki. It was the first goal from the youngster, and I'm gutted I missed it, but made up that he's opened his account with us.

More to come tomorrow. I'm exhausted and am off to bed.

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We started the game the better, and could have taken the lead a couple of times before Omiya surprised everyone with the opener. The response was almost immediate, as a perfect Lee freekick swung into the area was met by Hiraoka. He rose unchallenged to head home. To not go in at half time 1-0 down was a major advantage, and the second half was a a different game as a result.

Omae was taken down from behind as he chased a ball one on one with the Omiya keeper. To be fair, it didn't look to me like he was going to make it (I'd have to see it again to be sure) but Fukaya sensed enough danger to attempt a challenge. The result was a penalty and a straight red card. The defender was absolutely livid and had to be removed from the pitch by his own team mates.

 

Penalty

Omae converted the spot kick and the game was looking all ours. A few minutes after we took the lead I had to leave Nihondaira early (first time ever!) to get to a previous arrangement, so I missed the cherry on top of the victory, a first ever goal for teenager Shirasaki. From the video it looks like he did really well, so top marks that man.

The win puts us through to the knock outs, with the games due to happen on July 25th and August 8th, both Wednesdays. Barring a three goal defeat away to Kashima on the 27th, we're going to finish top of the group. Not sure who that means we'll be playing yet, but will tweet it as soon as I know.

So well done to the boys, and may our perfect campaign continue for four more ties. :)


Videos

First, in brilliant slow motion, the goals.



More personal videos, in normal speed. First, Hiraoka's equaliser. Not from a corner as I tweeted, and not from Omae's cross either.



Genki's penalty.



Shirasaki's goal.