Kashima 2-1 S-Pulse

BARRY WRITES... 

Kashima 2-1 S-Pulse
Hiraoka OG 5 --------------- Novakovic 57
Alberto 79

Att 15077
3pm, Kashima Soccer Stadium
Kashima city, Ibaraki prefecture

Line Up

GK Kushibiki

DF Yoshida
DF Jakovic (7)
DF Hiroka
DF Jong-a-Pin

MF Muramatsu
MF Takeuchi
MF Musaka

FW Kawai
FW Omae
FW Novakovic

Subs Used

Takagi T on for Muramatsu (51)
Murata on for Kawai (77)
Honda on for Takeuchi (85)

Report

The old enemy Kashima Antlers brought to an end out four game winning streak. The game started with a stroke of bad luck after a corner slipped off Ueda's head and straight into Hiraoka. The ball ricocheted off our number 3 and straight past Kushibiki. 

Videos

The goals.

S-Pulse 1-0 Veglata Sendai

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S-Pulse 1-0 Veglata Sendai
Kawai 63

Att 11183
2pm, IAI Stadium Nihondaira
Shizuoka city, Shizuoka prefecture

Line Up

GK Kushibiki

DF Yoshida
DF Hiraoka
DF Jong a Pin
DF Jakovic

MF Takeuchi
MF Musaka
MF Kawai

FW Omae
FW Takagi T
FW Novakovic (61)

Report

A result ground out against a very resolute, at times overly physical Sendai side. It was a victory immediately dedicated to our injured Shun Nagasawa. The big man, one of our twin tower attack line, has been sidelined for 8 months with damaged knee ligaments. The news was a tragic blow for the 25 year old who has just returned from 3 years out on loan. He'd started the season well, with three goals in the bag and more on the way. Here's wishing him a speedy recovery and return to the team later in the year.

Videos

Highlights!

Tokushima Vortis 0-4 S-Pulse

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Tokushima Vortis 0-4 S-Pulse
------------------------------------------------------------- Novakovic 11, 19
------------------------------------------------------------- Takagi 79
------------------------------------------------------------- Omae 92

Att 6113
2pm, Naruto Otsuka Sports Park Pocarisweat Stadium
Tokushima city, Tokushima prefecture

Line Up

GK Kushibiki

DF Jakovic
DF Hiraoka
DF Jong-a-Pin
DF Yoshida

MF Kawai
MF Musaka (29)
MF Takeuchi

FW Omae
FW Novakovic
FW Nagasawa

Subs Used

Takagi T. (73) on for Nagasawa (HT)
Murata on for Kawai (80)
Hiroi on for Novakovic (91)

Report

Bottom placed Tokushima were today on the receiving end of an S-Pulse side getting into its stride. Saved penalty aside, 4-0 probably flattered the home side. Nova came within the bar's width of getting his hat trick before the half time whistle even blew, and went close again in the second half. I'm not complaining, though. Today we played some wonderful stuff, on occasion taking our foot off the pedal, but seeing the job through. In the process we clawed our goal difference back into the positive.

P8 W0 D0 L8, it's going to be a long season for Tokushima and anything other than a return to J2 will be a surprise. Their frustrations were evident as they played a physical game, but rarely, if ever, really troubled Kushibiki. Speaking of which, this game marks our 4th shut out victory in a row. Top marks to all, but especially young keeper Masatoshi Kushibiki. His penalty stop was pretty special.

Weak opposition, but a professional job done and potential banana skin successfully sidestepped. Genki was once again instrumental, playing roles in the first three goals before topping off his day with a sublime swivel and finish while under pressure. Nagasawa went off at half time with a knock, and we'll know more tomorrow on his status. Hopefully nothing serious and he's back on Saturday for the home game with 17th placed Sendai. See you there!

Videos

A rare chance to view the entire game here, thanks to Twitter user Banpaku70. If you don't have 90 minutes to spare, here's the highlights:

S-Pulse 2-0 Omiya Ardija

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S-Pulse 2-0 Omiya Ardija
Novakovic 48
Omae 92

Att 11497
3pm, Nihondaira Stadium
Shizuoka city, Shizuoka prefecture

Line Up

GK Kushibiki

DF Jakovic
DF Hiraoka
DF Jong-a-Pin
DF Yoshida

MF Musaka
MF Takeuchi
MF Kawai

FW Omae
FW Radoncic
FW Nagasawa

Subs Used

Sugiyama on for Takeuchi (90)
Murata on for Kawai (90)
Muramatsu on for Novakovic (93)

Report

So starting today I was able to watch from Nihondaira's press zone. The reason for this is I will be providing match reports for Afshin Ghotbi's official website. Find today's here. Aimed more generally at the English speaking world, these will report the game from a Shimizu slant, but much less partisan than this blog. Fear not, as this site will continue with my own personal views and opinions of our season as it unfolds.

So how is it unfolding? Better and better! We should have had this wrapped up earlier than we did, but that said it never really felt like Omiya were about to get back in it. Genki had one chance in particular shortly after Novakovic's goal to double the lead but, most unlike him, drilled it straight at the keeper. In a similar situation in additional time he made no mistake, firing home with relish.

I can't praise Genki's performance highly enough. He was everywhere today. Nagasawa and Nova may be the target of crosses and the main men for Omae's corner kicks, but just behind them Genki covers so much ground and gives the opposition a torrid time of it. Jakovic is improving and fitting in better. I thought his stampedes up the right flank gave Omiya all kinds of problems, and with a little bit more sharpness I can see him creating some serious chances.

We're up to tenth, but with it still being so early we're only five points off the top. Next week we travel to Tokushima Vortis.

Bottom of the table.
P7 W0 D0 L7
F1 A22

All being well we should take three points which will put us anywhere up to 5th. The season's getting going, and so are we. Onwards and upwards!

Videos

The goals:

Ventforet Kofu 0-1 S-Pulse

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Ventforet Kofu 0-1 S-Pulse
----------------------------------------------------- Nagasawa 22

Att 10144
3pm, Yamanashi Chugin Stadium
Kofu city, Yamanashi prefecture

Line Up

GK Kushibiki

DF Jakovic
DF Hiraoka
DF Jong-a-Pin
DF Yoshida

MF Takeuchi
MF Musaka
MF Kawai

FW Omae
FW Nagasawa
FW Novakovic

Subs Used

Muramatsu on for Nagasawa (75)
Sugiyama on for Takeuchi (84)
Murata on for Omae (94)

Report

A good result in trying conditions. Our first clean sheet of the year, our second away win, and Nagasawa's fifth game in a row to score. The goal was a gift after former S-Pulse boy Aoyama didn't put enough on his back pass leaving the keeper no chance. Nova picked the ball up, dodged a defender's challenge, and squared it to Nagasawa, who won't score many easier goals in his career.

Moments later we though Shun had doubled our lead, but was just offside. Up until that point we'd bossed the game, but the tide turned and the home team took it to us for long periods. The second half especially we were on the back foot and but for the woodwork Ventforet would have leveled the score. They didn't, we defended stoically, and saw the game out.

We climb up to 14th, but only three points from 4th. To give some perspective, from our opening six fixtures four were away. Three of those were at tough places like Nagoya, Urawa and Cerezo. In Omiya (H), Sendai and Tokushima (H), we've got three winnable games coming up. Take maximum points and we'll be in, or very close to, the ACL spots.

It's my bedtime. Night night!

Videos

Highlights.

S-Pulse 1-0 Gamba Osaka (Nab Cup Group Stage)

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S-Pulse 1-0 Gamba Osaka
Nagasawa 33

Att 8033
7pm, Nihondaira Stadium
Shizuoka city, Shizuoka prefecture

Line Up

GK Kushibiki

DF Hiraoka
DF Jakovic
DF Jong-a-Pin

MF Yoshida
MF Ishige
MF Musaka
MF Honda
MF Takeuchi

FW Omae
FW Nagasawa

Subs Used

Novakovic on for Honda (51)
Kawai on for Ishige (63)
Muramatsu on for Nagasawa (86)

Report

Kenta Hasegawa's first visit to Nihondaira as an opposition manager didn't end happily for the former Shimizu boss. His newly promoted Gamba Osaka were left ruing their wasted chances as they returned to Kansai pointless. If tonight was all about taking chances, then it was us who did what was required. 4 shots to G. Osaka's 14, Nagasawa's poke home just after the half hour was the difference.

I've not been so glad to get home from a game for while. The constant cold drizzle started to grate in the 2nd half, and the frequent Osaka shots were doing nothing for my nerves. We dug in though, held on and the three points are ours. They keep us top of Nabisco Cup group A, and with game three our game off (there are seven teams in the group) our next fixture is not until May 21st. Up to Tokyo midweek to meet Ota and friends once more.

I may write some more tomorrow, but for now I'm tired and need a cup of tea. In my S-Pulse mug, obviously. :)

Videos

Highlights: