Kashima 3-0 S-Pulse

Barry writes

Kashima 3-0 S-Pulse
Gabriel 50
Nozawa 69
Alex 73

Att 21542

GK K. Yamamoto

DF Tsujio
DF Iwashita (15)
DF Bosnar
DF M. Yamamoto (32, 58)

MF Hiraoka (38)
MF Ljungberg
MF Sugiyama

FW Brosque
FW Takahara
FW Omae

Subs Used

Edamura on for Sugiyama (55)
Takagi on for Takahara (73)
Ota on for Tsujio (85)

Report

Can't read too much into this result. No Jong a Pin, no Ono, no Ota at leftback (Masaki instead), a referee who called a clearly onside goal as offside in the opening stages and waved yellow cards around like confetti (at our players).

Aaah, sorry - never had the time to write much more than this and as time is moving on I'll just leave it here.

Photos

A belter of a football ground

Ole!

Freddie has a word

Videos

As and when.

S-Pulse 0-0 Kashima Antlers

Barry writes:

S-Pulse 0-0 Kashima Antlers

Att. 15528

Line Up

GK Usui

DF Tsujio
DF Iwashita (yellow 3)
DF Bosnar
DF Ota

MF Ono
MF Muramatsu (yellow 61)
MF Hiraoka
MF Brosque (yellow 92)

FW Omae
FW Takahara

Subs Used

Takagi on for Ono (57)
Edamura on for Hiraoka (64)
Kobayashi on for Omae (78)

Report

A draw makes only one defeat from our last eight, and you know what? That's pretty good when you look at the opening six games' results. A point yesterday was probably fair, although Kashima always looked the more likely to score. We never really troubled Sogahata in the Kashima goal, but down the other end, Usui played a great game again keeping out the visitors on the two or three times they breached our defences.

Kashima won't be in the bottom half of the table for much longer. They were probably the best team to come to Nihondaira this year and play with a confidence and accomplishment you'd expect from the seven times champions, but I don't think they'll be adding to their title haul for a season or two to come. Regardless, they are a good team and one of the league's better ones and caused us several problems yesterday.

The point takes us up to eighth (before Sunday's games) but only five points off second place so with only a third of the season gone, we have it all to play for and I don't doubt we'll continue to get better. Next up, away in Sendai on Wednesday. The scene of a truly memorable weekend away last November, and a while before that, very nearly sending jubilo to J2, I've been a fan of the club for a while. Sport is sport, so we'll be going to win, but respect to everyone up there for coping and dealing with what has been absolutely unimaginable trauma and hardship.

Miyagi prefecture - Shizuoka salutes you.

(Whoops - the Sendai game is not for ten days yet. Before that it's away in Kofu next Sat.)

Courtesy of UKU Yujiro a couple of pictures. Thanks to receiving a much coveted Photo Pulse invite from a friend I got the chance to tread the hallowed turf of Nihondaira before the game. The pitch is a carpet, the view from it at a packed Kop breathtaking, and I was as happy as a 10 year old (which is pretty much where my brain stopping developing when it comes to football).

Having a quick chat with Bosnar :)

Ghotbi was right behind me! He said hi and it made my day :))

Ghotbi Says

To come tonight. It's Sunday afternoon and I'm off to a cat cafe with the other half. Yes, you heard me. a CAT CAFE. :-D

OK, I'm back from the cats. Here's some Ghotbi comments translated back to English from the Japanese.

"Firstly I want to apologise to our supporters for not being able to to show them the attacking football which we aim to. The first half was the worst we've played all season. We were beaten physically all over the pitch. The referee didn't protect us.

We improved in the second half, especially the last twenty minutes when we created chances to win it. Two points I'm satisfied with are 1, we kept a clean sheet for a second game running, and 2, we shut out the best team in the country. That's a great defensive achievement. Especially our young keeper Usui had a great game."

Videos

To come when I find some.

Kashima 2-1 S-Pulse (Emp Cup Final)

Barry writes:

Kashima 2-1 S-Pulse
Don't know 26 -------------- Johnsen 59
Don't care 79

Line Up

GK K. Yamamoto

DF Ichikawa
DF Iwashita
DF Bosnar
DF Ota

MF M. Yamamoto
MF Honda
MF Ono

FW Okazaki
FW Johnsen
FW Fujimoto

Subs Used

T. Ito on for M. Yamamoto (67)
Hara on for Ono (82)
Omae on for Honda (87)

Report

Not up to writing anything yet. Maybe Monday. Absolutely cracking day out in the sun, though. Only two teams get to do it on New Year's Day, and regardless of the result, it was an away day to top any other.

Can't beat a cup final Big Day Out

Kick off

Bugger

Do they ever get bored? You know, of winning all the bloody time?

Why let a small detail like the result get in the way of a stunning away day :)

Videos

Kashima 1-1 S-Pulse

Barry writes:

Kashima 1-1 S-Pulse
Iwamasa 56------------------Ono 11

Att. 22236

Line Up

GK Nishibe

DF Ichikawa
DF Hiraoka
DF Bosnar
DF Arata

MF Hyodo
MF Honda
MF Ono (yellow 65 )

FW Okazaki
FW Johnsen
FW Edamura

Subs Used

Ito on for Hyodo (59)
M. Yamamoto on for Edamura (81)

Report

Later, because I'm on may way out. A great game, though, and one we should have won right at the death when we were two on two, but delayed with the through pass just a fraction too long. That said, Kashima hit the bar and looked way more like scoring in the second half. The result lets Nagoya extend their lead at the top after they won with an 88th minute strike. For a city of 2.1 million (three times larger than Shizuoka), and a team on the verge of their first ever J. League title, wouldn't you hope they'd attract a few more than 13027 to a game? I'm not dissing the team - they look like they fully deserve the title, and I know the team and fans will revel in it, but it's be good to see Nagoya City can get behind it's team a little more - they deserve it!

Videos

Not had a chance to write much about the game yet, so here's a video instead. If you're anything like me you'll be re-watching Ono's stunner over and again.

S-Pulse 2-1 Kashima Antlers

Barry writes:

S-Pulse 2-1 Kashima Antlers
Fujimoto 37 (pk) -------- Korogi 58
Edamura 74

Att. 19848

Line Up

GK Nishibe

DF Ichikawa
DF Iwashita
DF Hiraoka
DF Ota

MF Hyodo (yellow 63)
MF Honda
MF Ono (yellow 20)

FW Okazaki
FW Johnsen
FW Fujimoto

Subs Used

Edamura on for Ono (73)
Ito on for Hyodo (78)

Report

Some nights are just magic.

Jungo gets ready for his penalty

This was the biggest game of the season so far, and boy did it live up to expectations. A sold out Nihondaira was rocking under the floodlights as S-Pulse beat the defending champions to end the first half of the season top of the table.

Despite my best intentions, it's hard not to feel slightly awed by Kashima. Their constant strength over the last 17 years which has seen them claim seven J1 titles is something very hard to ignore, and while we went into yesterday's game with no fear, there was a tangible tension around Nihondaira in the build up to kick off.

On in the 73rd minute, scores in the 74th: Edamura

Not only was the result massive, so was the performance. We could, and maybe should, have won this more comfortably. More than once we cut through the Kashima defence and were only denied by some uncharacteristically un-deadly finishing from Okazaki and / or inspired goal-line defending / goalkeeping.

So our winner, while a bit lucky (chested in by Edamura after a failed clearance), was fair on balance. We took the lead after an absolute gift of a penalty. A needless handball off a free kick into the area left Jungo with the job of calmly sending the keeper the wrong way.

Kashima should have opened the scoring before this after a shocking clearance from Nishibe went straight to a white shirt, but Iwashita, who will be an international before too long, did amazingly well to neutralise a very real danger deep in the penalty area. Without Bosnar at the back we lacked a bit of physical presence, but Hiraoka did a good job in the Ozzie's absence.

Loco time - With Ronald McDonald

The roar when Edamura put it home for the winner was probably heard back in Ibaraki, and Kashima had nothing left to prevent their third defeat of the season.

These are the games we have to win if we want to have a decent pop at the title, but more than the big ones, we have to keep this form up in the "lesser" games, namely another sold out match under the lights at Daira next Saturday. 9th placed Yokohama FM are the visitors.

Before I sign off, a couple of facts and a picture: Last season we scored 44 goals all season. This year at the halfway stage we're already on 37. Last season we won 13 games all year. This year we're on 10 already.

And now the picture:

No caption necessary

Videos

Full highlights:



And so you can get the feeling of being there, this is Jungo's penalty from ssnnddttyy's personal cam:



And Edamura's winner:

Kashima lose again - S-Pulse top

Barry writes:

Well, well, well.

Kashima lose 1-0 at home to Albirex Niigata and our first place position remains intact. The Antlers, who were ten points clear not so long ago, are now second. We have the same number of points, but their goal difference has taken a hammering over their recent shockingly bad run. Out of their last seven, they've lost six.

All over

Should have stayed at S-Pulse, mate

Wondering where their ten point lead went

The remaining 16 minutes of the abandoned Kashima vs Kawasaki game will take place on Wednesday, and if Kawasaki can hold onto their 3-1 lead Kashima will have lost eight - twice as many as us. It's going to be an interesting last six games!

S-Pulse 2-2 Kashima

Barry writes:

S-Pulse 2-2 Kashima
Okazaki 44 ----------------Nozawa 26
Johnsen 56 ----------------Marquinhos 44

Att: 20203

Wow. What an eveing that was! There wasn't a spare seat in the house to witness a roller coaster of a game, and to see S-Pulse extend their unbeaten streak at home beyond the year point.

I can't bloody see!

We should have won this. Iwashita, a player I've got a lot of time for, made two absolutely shocking errors to give the champs a two goal lead. Well at 2-0 down to Kashima it was always going to be an mountain to climb to get back ino the game, but our boys were more than up for it.

Even given the huge knock our confidence took to be 2-0 down when we should still have been level, we rallied and came back fighting. Okazaki connected to a Johnsen cross with a world class header to claw one back right before the break.

Not an empty seat in the house

Ten minutes after the restart, Johnsen also slammed a header home to level and send the packed stands delirious. We went close to a winner on a number of occasions, but it wasn't to be. Kashima equal their own record of 16 games unbeaten, and we fall further off the pace of the ACL spots. Well, given everything, it wasn't a bad evening at all, and for pure entertainment, one of the best games I've seen for a long time.

Iwashita came over after the game for a personal apology, and we all appreciated it, but don't dwell on it, fella. We're all human, and you've more than made up for any mistakes this season already with some excellent performances!

Onwards and upwards - JEF away next week and three points is a must!

Line Up

GK K. Yamamoto

DF Ichikawa
DF Iwashita
DF Arata
DF Ota

MF Ito
MF Honda
MF Hyodo
MF Edamura

FW Okazaki
FW Johnsen

Subs used

Fujimoto on for Hyodo (65)
Aoyama on for Ota (74)
Hara on for Honda (79)

Videos

Full highlights:

S-Pulse v Kashima (Preview)

Barry writes:

There were less than 1000 tickets left for this one as of yesterday afternoon, so it looks ike a bumper crowd down 'Daira this evening. Kashima, as you might expect, are the team to beat this year. They've lost only once all season, and that was way back in week two. Since then, they've won twelve and drawn three as they've strode relentlessly towards a third stright title.

Well, they may be eight points clear at the top with a goal difference better than anyone else, but we're only half way through the season, and as we all know, S-Pulse only seem to perform in the second half of the year. The majority of those wins have been by a slim one goal margin, and we're unbeaten at home in the league for over a year, not to mention we sent them packing last year, so bring it on!

Well, anyway, I should start thinking about getting down 'Daira. I'm updating from an internet cafe on account of my ten month old Sony Vaio dieing this week. Estimated fix time: three weeks. It would probably be be quicker to build my own computer out of used cereal boxes and sticky back plastic, but seeing as it's still in warranty, I'll let the bods at Sony repair their faulty goods. Until then, updates may be sporadic, so bare with us!

Right, I'm off down Nihondaira for some fun under the floodlights. Laters.

Kashima 2-1 S-Pulse (Barry)

Barry writes:

We were poor. We made countless unforced errors and we lacked direction and purpose. It was a stark contrast seeing how well Kashima moved the ball around the park today. They had purpose. They had direction, and they had physical strength (although they were also extremely eager to go to ground under the slightest challenge).

It's no surprise that they're top with a game in hand - Antlers are by far the most organised and clinical team we've come up against. But even given that, the difference between success and failure is so very, very small. They ran the first half, were pulling us all over the pitch, and 1-0 was probably more than we deserved.

In the second 45 we were let off the hook once when an Antler managed to wallop it over when it was easier to score. But we still outshot the home team, and with Tsujio on for Takaki we displayed, albeit short, periods of confident forward movement. One of these led to Edamura pulling a goal back. An excellent surging run down the right wing by Tsujio resulted in a cross the red defence couldn't handle, and Edamura was there to smash it home.

The problem is, you know it's going to be a long afternoon when your two best midfielders are on the bench. As expected, Yamamoto started, and Hyodo (excuse me while I adjust my shorts) was also in again. And therein lied the difference. The calming, organised influence and solid physical presence of Paulo (not forgetting how he never gets given the run around, and his intelligence in movement) was replaced by the error-ridden play of Hyodo. The pace and attacking mind of Jungo was absent for Yamamoto's speculative long range efforts. When they go in, wonderful. When they don't, the less said the better.

So despite enjoying a healthy amount of possession in the second half, and occasionally looking like a team with a clue, time and time and time again we were reduced to passing it backwards / hopeless long balls which ended up nowhere / losing possession altogether under little to no pressure.

These shortcomings were summed up in our last move of the game when after running it deep inside the red half, the move ground to a halt when noone seemed to know where anyone else was / what anyone else was thinking. Ball lost, full time, zero points and we're down to 15th. Had we shown some decent direction and just a little inspiration in our movement, Kashima were there for the taking.

Well, we face Oita on Saturday. Oita are not defending champions. Oita have lost their last EIGHT games in a row. Oita have only won once all year. Kenta looked like a worried man today, and rightly so. If we don't win Saturday, and win well, his must know his days are numbered. He's a Shimizu legend no doubt, but that only buys so much goodwill with the fans and the board, and with so much quality in the team, to be wallowing where we are is unacceptable. His lack of experience is costing us, and barring a vast, VAST improvement over the next few games (Oita at home, Kyoto at home, Yamagata at home - ALL must win) if he's still at the helm in 2010 will remain to be seen.

Line Up:

GK Nishibe

DF Takaki
DF Aoyama
DF Iwashita
DF Arata

MF Hyodo
MF Ito
MF Yamamoto
MF Edamura

FW Johnsen
FW Okazaki

Subs used

Tsujio on for Takaki (HT)
Hara on for Okazaki (73)
Fujimoto on for Ito (80)

Highlights

Full highlights:



Kashima's 1st: (personal cam)



Kashima's 2nd: (personal cam)



Links

The Rising Sun's report is here.

Kashima v S-Pulse (Preview)

Oooh, what to say about this one? Going away to the defending champions, the runaway most successful team in Japan, and the owners of S-Pulse's very own ex-player and all round danger man up front Marquinhos is never an easy task.

We've not come away from Ibaraki with three points since 2002, and even then we needed extra time to get the job done. That said, they were defending champions that year too. Kashima being Kashima are defending champs more often than not though, so ahead of tomorrow we just have to try and forget the perpetual drawing mode we've slipped into and go for it. Another way of looking at it is that we're bloody well due a result up at their place!

Antlers are unbeaten at home in the league since August last year, and have only lost once this season. They've not had the hardest start to the season however, and drew recently with Yamagata and Marinos. They've also been travelling all over the continent with their bid for ACL glory, so will they be somewhat softened up for us? We can prey!

I'm hoping to see Jungo, Paulo, Teru and Edamura in the centre (although for Paulo, it'll probably be Yamamoto) and Okazaki and Johnsen up front. The back four will probably be as you were with Nishibe punching when he should be catching and generally giving us all heart attacks.

One thing to consider before tomorrow, after today's results, we're now below Little Jubilo for the first time since I can remember. A dodgy start to the season is one thing, but getting overtaken by some small club who can't even manage 10000 in the blazing May sunshine is just plain embarrassing. This is a completely unacceptable situation for Shizuoka's best supported team to be in. Sort it and and soon, Kenta.

Who is the Most Successful Club in the J. League? Debunking the Urawa Myth

Barry writes:

Ask 100 fans the above question, and, after factoring out personal allegiances which sway people's responses, you'll always get the answer Kashima Antlers.

Even newcomers to Japanese football will know how they last year defended their 2007 league title; a crown claimed along with the 07 Emperor's Cup. That alone paints a fairly clear picture of the modern J. League, but how about over the full course of the league's history?

Using a totally arbitrary system conceived by yours truly while down the gym, lets find out! Going back as far as the professionalisation of the game in 1992, teams are awarded:

League title - 3 Points
League runner's up - 1 Point

Cup win - 2 Points
Cup runner's up - .5 Points

Cup points count for both domestic and continental competitions. Show-piece games like super cups and so on aren't counted. So using that system, here we go:

Kashima Antlers 32.5
Jubilo Iwata 21
Yokohama F. Marinos 18
Tokyo Verdy 18
Urawa Red Diamonds 15
Gamba Osaka 10
S-Pulse 10
Yokohama Flugels 6.5
Nagoya Grampus 5.5
JEF United 4.5
Shonan Bellmare 4

Beyond that you start getting into the realms of (so far) one-off cup winners (Oita) or several time cup runners up (Cerezo).

No surprises at the top of the table, then. Kashima are head and shoulders above all comers. Jubilo are up next, and while their time came and went a few years ago, it reflects well the various J. League records they set and which still stand. Marinos always threaten to reclaim, at least in part, their glory days, but it's probably safe to say that Verdy are well past their best. S-Pulse come in far-too-far-below-Jubilo at 6th, joint with Asian Champions Gamba.

So anyway, what made me want to spell out the above? Most people don't need proof for what's self evident. Some people however, a good example being Shintaro Kano of The Daily Yomiuri, seem to be living on another planet.

In an article bemoaning the lack of fight of many Japanese fans, Kano signs off with this absolute gem:

"Is it a coincidence that the fans of Urawa Reds, the most successful club in the J.League, are the toughest to please?"

Is this a well disguised tongue-in-cheek dig at the perpetual Urawa hype-machine, or does he actually believe it? We've already seen it isn't the case, but worse that that, it's not anywhere close to reality. Even if you dispense with my convoluted points system and look at titles won, Kashima come in first with 12, Verdy and Marinos next with 7, followed by Jubilo with 6. Only then do you get to Urawa, sitting level with Gamba at 5.

Average league placings put Kashima first (3.3), Jubilo next (4.5), then Marinos (4.9). S-Pulse pull in a respectable 6.8, and it's only after this that you get to Reds. Last year's finish of 7th should be no big surprise; it's perfectly in keeping with their J1 average - also 7th.

I think what Kano meant to write was:

"...fans of Urawa Reds, the most successful club in the J.League in 2005 and 2006 (but don't look either side of these years as other teams were winning more), are the hardest to please?"

The problem is, that doesn't back up his underlying point of unforgiving fans = successful team, so he seemingly plucked something out of thin air to lend credence to the theory.

Urawa are a big, strong team. They have more money than anyone else, and they've had the potential to deliver for years. This is all common knowledge, but save for a brief burst a few seasons ago, they've consistently failed to produce. Given everything, you'd have to be pretty blind to keep peddling the myth of "most successful team".

Shintaro Kano is guilty of lazy, not to mention entirely inaccurate, "journalism". Re-writing history to suit your own ends? That's how dictators get started, you know.

Kyoto Sanga 1-3 S-Pa

J. League 2008 is over!

Champions: Kashima Antlers
ACL Qualification: Kashima Antlers, Nagoya Grampus, Kawasaki Frontale
Relegated: Condadore Sapporo, Tokyo Verdy
Promotion Relegation series: Jubilo Iwata (J1) v Vegalta Sendai (J2)

What a great way to end the season. :)

Highlights:



I wasn't at the game, or watching on TV, as I was deep behind enemy lines at the Yamaha Stadium watching Jubilo crash to defeat at the hands of Omiya. The defeat puts them into the promotion / relegation series with Sendai. The second, and home, leg for Jubilo is next Saturday, so I'll probably wander over to Iwata again, yellow t-shirt in hand. ;-) While we'd all like to see Jubilo drop, I'd seriously miss the derby next season should Jubilo go down, so it's win win for many S-Pulse fans. The fact they even have to play in this series is a humongous embarrassment to all connected with the club, so even if they stay up, you could argue they will have suffered enough! The last three pro / rele ties have all gone the way of the J2 side, so Jubilo are up against it!

The story of the day today was in Chiba, where the miracle escape was made even more miraculous by the fact they were 2-0 down before they came back to win 4-2. Losses for both Jubilo and Verdy meant they leapfrogged both teams to preserve their J1 status. Well done Chiba and especially Alex Miller who truly did perform a miracle!

Well, we went out on a high, and we have every right to look forward to our Emperor's Cup 1/4 final with optimism. Opponents FC Tokyo were the team on the receiving end of Chiba's four goals today, and as a result were displaced into 6th place by us who finished this season a respectable 5th. Had Aurelio put away the last minute penalty back against Omiya earlier in the season we would have equalled 2006 and 2007's finish of 4th. No matter - it's been a roller-coaster season and we ended it on a high. 5th place also brings with it a cool 40 000 000 yen. Nice! Now just bring on the cup on the 20th!

Kashima Antlers 3-4 S-Pa (Emperor's Cup 5th Round)

And it doesn't get much tighter than that!

After Kashima scored with five minutes of extra time to go I was bracing myself for the lottery of a penalty shoot out, but there was rookie of the year (in my humble opinion!) Kazuki Hara to put it in in the very last minute of extra time! He at once saved us the hell of a shoot out, knocked out defending champions Kashima Antlers, and put S-Pulse into the quarter finals of the Emperor's Cup! After the anguish of the Nabisco, it's great to know there's another competition still to play for!

Highlights from yesterday's game and a half:



Well, the 2008 record against last year's double winners is none too shoddy at all! P5 W3 D1 L1, which breaks down like this:

League:

S-Pulse 1-0 Antlers
Antlers 2-0 S-Pulse

Nabisco Cup

Antlers 0-0 S-Pulse
S-Pulse 2-1 Antlers

Emperor's Cup

Antlers 3-4 S-Pulse

So now next up is FC Tokyo who today knocked out Albirex Niigata. The match is to be played December 20th. We're now only two games away from another BDO to the Kokuritsu, and from equaling the record for cup final appearances during the pro era. Still, we know that's a long way off just yet! Our record against FC Tokyo this year is pretty solid: 1-0 at home, 5-1 away, (not to mention 3-1 home and 1-1 away in the league cup) so we have nothing to fear!!

Well done to S-Pulse today, seriously. Bouncing back from recent events to put the holders of the competition out is no mean feat! After the hellish week of the Nabisco cup final loss followed by the Derby Debacle, well it shows a real strength of character to come from behind and despatch the best team in the country. S-Pulse - the pride of Shizuoka prefecture - you make us proud!

Emperor's Cup 1/4 final full draw:

Yokohama F. Marinos v Sagan Tosu
Gamba Osaka or Jubilo Iwata v Nagoya Grampus
S-Pulse v FC Tokyo
Kashiwa Reysol v Sanfrecce Hiroshima

To be played December 20th

Kashima 2-0 S-Pulse

Well, it took them four attempts, but champions Antlers finally overcame S-Pulse. After beating them twice at Nihondaira (once in the cup, once in the league), and holding them to a goalless draw at their place, Kashima were not about to let themselves lose any more ground on Nagoya and Omiya at the top of the table.

I wasn't either at the game or watching on the box (so sue me) but the stats tell the story:

Antlers -- S-Pa

16 Shots 8
9 Goalkicks 12
7 Cornerkicks 1
22 Freekicks 11

Stats alone are never that much of a gauge, but by the looks of it, Kashima were desereved winners, and we only won when it come kicking them all over the pitch and not having anyone sent off.

Ah well. Onwards and upwards! Next up is Tokyo away this Saturday. Being so close, you'd probably think we'd be going up to the Ajisuta, but you'd be wrong. We already have a previous engagement with a certain band called Radiohead who we're going to see that night. Tokyo are on form, and getting three points from them won't be easy.

OK, I'm off to do something other than type at a keyboard. have a good week!　For anyone who's interested, here's the highlights:

S-Pa 3-2 Kashiwa

This just in: full match report from someone actually in attendance! Click here for Mike Tuckerman's report on events.

Unbeaten in five, in the semi final of the cup and having just completed the double over a team in sixth - with the right spin, even the most mediocre of seasons can look almost presentable! While S-Pa pummelled the Kashiwa goal, and ultimately claimed their seventh win of the season, yours truly was riding a bullet back to Shiz after a weekend away in Chiba. As a Disneyland virgin, I had a thoroughly good time and would recommend it to anyone, but as seven o'clock rolled around on Saturday, much to the better half's chagrin, my attentions turned to my mobile phone as updates poured in from Shimizu.

It didn't take long for the first goal notification. With Okazaki in the starting line up for the first time since Frontale away, he wasted no time in staking his claim to his place by making it one nil in the first minute. The score was doubled by Edamura on eleven minutes, but when the half time score of 2-2 came through, as infuriating as it was, it sadly didn't come as that much of a shock. Losing a two goal lead to Oita not long back softened the blow somewhat... That said, S-Pa came out in the second half and thanks to Okazaki were in the lead again in less than five minutes. We continued to pepper the Kashiwa goal with shots matching our first half tally of seven. Kashiwa only managed two efforts, one less than the first 45. They weren't helped by being reduced to ten men on 78 minutes.

Time for a little more spin / looking on the bright side: We're now up to the giddy heights of 14th, and are only one win from 9th. We're above Jubilo who crumbled to a 3-1 away defeat and who will probably be in the drop zone once Marinos have dispatched Sapporo later today. Perhaps most amazingly, we've only lost once more than Nagoya who sit in second. However, it's Grampus who we face away on Wednesday - not a game I'm expecting a hell of a lot of return from! Still, we have a habit of rising to the big occasions, and Nagoya may well be knackered from being the first team to beat Antlers at Kashima Stadium in God knows how long, so lets have it!

Here's a couple of personal videos from yesterday's game starting with Okazaki's opener:



Okachan's second to make it 3-2 to the Mighty Oranges:



The obligatory post match celebrations:

S-Pa 2-1 Antlers - S-Pa through to the semis!

So that would be the best team in the country? The team that won the double last year and are sitting top of the table looking likely to retain their crown? Yeah, well woteva - we just dumped them out the cup.

Having beaten them in the league earlier this year, and holding them to a goalless draw in the frst leg of this tie, it's becoming something of a habit see off the Antlers. Kashima played by far the best football any team has bothered to at 'Daira so far this season, and to be fair, it paid dividends, with a whole more shots than the home team. Nishibe was tested a few times, and had to be at his best once or twice, but for all the possession and shots, Kashima rarely looked like they were going to get the second strike which would have put them through on away goals.
After their goal came on 57 minutes, it was a nervy last half hour, with the last ten minutes in particular lasting what felt like forever. Saying that, we went close a few times with one-on-ones, and a ball cleared off the line. It was a cracking game, and had I been a neutral, a whole lot more enjoyable, probably! The tension was mad, and the sense of relief in thr ground can be heard on the first of the videos below.

We were missing usual starting members Honda, Okazaki, and Jungo last night which clearly had an impact on Kenta's starting eleven, but apart from Aurerio who was as much of a threat as a lame duck, the team worked their socks off. It's not that Aurerio doesn't try, it's just that he can't seem to cut it at this level. Not surprisingly, he was replaced with Hara on the hour. Special mention should go to Marcos Paulo who is a different player to the one who made his début a couple of months back.

Beating Jubilo comes first, with doing Antlers coming in a distant second, but seeing them off tonight was fucking magic. Next up are Nabisco Cup holders Gamba home and away. Not the easiest of prospects, but one we have no reason to fear. Let's 'ave it!!

Antlers 0-0 S-Pa (Nabisco 1/4 Final 1st Leg)

Kashima 14 - 3 S-Pulse.

Thankfully that was shots rather than goals. By all accounts Nishibe played a blinder to keep the score all square, and being honest, I'd probably have taken 0-0 before the game. But a mere three shots (that's total shots - on target or not) is pretty pathetic, and it's symptomatic of our season so far. We have the third lowest goals tally in the league, and I honestly can't see anything changing without either A) a signing, or B) one of our many young talents making a sudden greater impact. It was obvious we were always to going to miss Jae-Jin, but the lack of fire power is depressingly apparent most games.

Well, looking on he bright side, 0-0 at a team who just four days ago destroyed Nagoya 4-0 away is not a bad result by any stretch. Our back four must have been doing something right! The scoreline does now mean we have to win at home in the 2nd leg to ensure progression after 90. A score draw will put them through on away goals, while another 0-0 will mean Antlers fans miss their last train home as the game goes into extra time. Still, you can't be afraid to try and win games, and lets not forget we saw off Antlers at home earlier in the year.

The home leg is on Wed August 6th and lets hope we see a few more people down 'Daira than the pitiful turnout at Kashima Stadium this evening. Less than 7000 people bothered, with even bottom-of-the-table JEF getting 1500 more for their clash with Nagoya. For unquestionably the most successful team in Japanese football, Kashima's support is bizarrely low at times. Johnny-come-latelys like Urawa or Albirex dwarf their crowds on a regular basis, with Albirex having never even come close to any silverware!

Ah, well, anyway. It doesn't matter how many goons are in the stands if you're winning games, and that's what we've now got to do next month. We'll be without our quartet of Olympic players which won't help, but come on S-Pa, we'll all be there behind the goal as usual, so don't let us down! Marching on to the semis!!!

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!

Lose the Game, Win the Group! Jubilo 2-0 S-Pa

S-Pulse roll into Iwata

With our route to the quarter finals already in the bag, you could argue that we had little reason to even turn up against Jubilo. You could also argue that losing 2-0 meant nothing, as had we won 5-0, Group B's final standings still would look exactly the same. You could argue these things, (yes, we are through as group winners - yes Jubilo are out) but try arguing that to the thousands of S-Pa fans who ventured into deepest, darkest Iwata yesterday. In the terms of the competition it may haven been meaningless, but so far as local pride goes, a derby is a derby, and getting beat hurts like hell.

S-Pa homejacked the arse out of the Yamaha

There's really not a great deal to be said about the game. Jubilo wanted it more, we were lethargic and made stupid mistakes which gave them the chances they needed. 2-0 at half time, Nishizawa went closest ten minutes into the second half but Matsui did excellently to get down low and deny him. After that it felt like the blues were just playing out time, and we never looked like coming back. Again Omae was put on with ten minutes to go, again far too little time to have any impact, and when the whistle went, the Jubilo fans predictably started bouncing around like loons. Fair play, it was their first derby win since 2006, and with us comprising a good 35-40% of the crowd, they got to rub our our noses right in it.

Final group standings and quarter final ties

The result was a sickener, and especially so because it played out with such a terrible sense of inevitability. A team which knows it can afford to lose invariably will lose, and as we knew was the case before kick off, it made not the slightest difference in the bigger picture. Still, to allow Jubilo to end their run of four straight defeats is frustrating to say the least.

Well, onwards, upwards and on to the quarters! We now face Antlers who, along with Gamba, join the competition having been tied up with the Asian Champions' League. Why Antlers and Gamba didn't get paired with the two best runners up is anyone's guess, and so Tokyo who finished behind us are rewarded with the far less intimidating prospect of Oita Trinita. Still, no complaints. The cup's the cup, and you can only beat who's put in front of you, as we will - home and away - with Antlers. Bring it!!

In other news, playmaker Fernandinho has seen fit to leave S-Pulse for Kyoto Sanga. On the surface, this is a pretty odd move, with newly promoted Kyoto certainly looking no better than S-Pa so far this year. We at least have been under-performing thus far, and while I can't speak much for Kyoto, I'd put money on us finishing a good few places above them come December. All I can imagine (and this is pure speculation) is that for whatever reason he wants to be back near Osaka where he started his J. League career. Either way, we're going to miss all the work he gave the ball boys with wayward shot after wayward shot... Nah, seriously, it's a big hole behind the front two, and I'm anxious to see how we fill it. Just to make it interesting, guess who our next league game is against on June 28th? Seriously, you couldn't write it better!

S-Pulse 1-0 Champions of Japan

What's the best cure for a stinking hang over? Well, with the usual option of 'huge fry-up and mug of sugary tea' unavailable, sending the Japanese champions packing pointless back to Kashima comes in a clear number one.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - 1 o'clock kick offs are horrendous for all concerned. I very much doubt me and Fuz were alone in nursing sore heads from Saturday night, but along with 16000 others Nihondaira rocked and rolled to the to the sound of our first victory over Antlers since 2003. It wasn't undeserved either. Both teams had plenty of chances, and Nishibe had to be at his best on a couple of occasions to deny the champions, but we controlled the game for long spells, and out-shot the best team the country (as of last December, anyway). Our goal came courtesy of Takuya Honda after the ball broke free in the area and he slammed it home in front of Kashima's travelling army. Honda's really starting to find his feet, and is becoming a crucial starting member. Great time to get his first goal, too!

It was a long hour until the final whistle, with each jump, each clap and each chant like a hammer to an already pounding head. Kashima kept pressing but there was no way through past our final line of defence, and when the end finally came and we grabbed another three points, the party behind the goal could start once again: