S-Pulse 1-1 Kobe

Barry writes 

S-Pulse 1-1 Kobe
Muramatsu 45+2 ------- Soma 13

Att 14772

Line Up

GK Hayashi

DF Yoshida
DF Hiraoka
DF Jong-a-Pin

MF Ishige
MF Sugiyama
MF Muramatsu
MF Hattanda

FW Omae
FW Takagi (42)
FW Kim

Subs Used

Takahara on for Takagi (79)
Kobayashi on for  Hattanda (79)
Lee on for Yoshida (88)

Report

After the last four wins in a row which had put us up to 4th in the table and through to the next rounds in the cups, yesterday's draw with struggling Kobe came as a bit of a frustration. The first half wasn't great, but sheer persistence brought us level going in at the break. Muramatsu scored his third of the season from his head. It took a bit of a deflection on the way in, but on balance, we'd earned it.

I actually missed the Kobe opener thanks to the cameraman stationed directly behind us complaining about flags during Revive. Yeah, thanks for that cameraman. Use the gantry down the away end and you wouldn't have several thousand home fans waving flags right in front of you.

So anyway, after that first half, we were a lot better in the second and for most of it had Kobe hanging on. We just couldn't find the net though, and as the game went on Kobe threatened increasingly on the counter. In particular Takahara got dispossessed around the 90th minute and Kobe steamed forward and really should have won the game.

It ended 1-1, and with Hiroshima losing at home we're only nine points off the top with five games to go! In seriousness though, after third placed Urawa lost again we're only three points of third, and a win against Kashima next week could put us there.

So that's Kashima next week and then again the following week in the cup final. I won't be in Ibaraki next week, but wild horses wouldn't keep me away from the National Olympic Stadium November 3rd. The game completely sold out on the first day of general sale. Contrast with the last time Jubilo were in the final - it didn't sell out until the day of, and even then there were 6000 empty seats. ;-)

Have a good week - the update after next week's game will most likely come on the Sunday.

 Kick off

 Takagi, Omae, Ishige - average age 20

I'd be lying if I said my mind didn't keep drifting elsewhere

Videos

Click here for a link to full highlights, or watch a shorter video below.



And a personal video of Muramatsu's header.