Yokohama F. Marinos 1-1 S-Pulse

Barry writes:

Yokohama F. Marinos 1-1 S-Pulse
Hyodo 86 ------------------------------------------------------- Omae 80 (pen)

Att. 33436

Line Up

GK K. Yamamoto (yellow 86)

DF Tsujio
DF Iwashita
DF Hiraoka
DF Bosnar
DF Ota

MF M. Yamamoto
MF Edamura
MF Ono

FW Omae
FW Ito

Subs Used

Brosque on for M. Yamamoto (66)
Takahara on for Ono (76)
Arata on for Ito (83)

Report

Probably our best performance so far, but tempered by some cheap loss of possession and in the closing stages the inability to maintain the ball. This lead to a very nervy last ten minutes, but ultimately we held on for a point. The ref, Mr Hajime Matsuo, was blowing for everything that moved, especially giving Ono a hard time. Omae's second goal in two games came from a dive in the box which fooled the ref. Less of this please, Genki! Maybe he was getting frustrated as he'd rattled off a few decent shots over the game but hadn't found the net. The decision was soft, but fair play to him on despatching a perfect kick past Iikura.

Brosque had a big and immediate impact when he came on and very nearly opened the scoring after a swift one two with Ono. His introduction coincided with the game sparking into a frantic last quarter. Nakamura was a hassle throughout, and this was typified when one of his trademark freekicks was only denied by the crossbar.

In the final play of the afternoon, Brosque turned a defender to put himself clean through on goal, but Mr Matsuo once again blew his whistle having deemed the minimal body contact a foul. Maybe he'd realised his mistake on the penalty call and wasn't about to let us win it at the death. I would not be surprised.

Ono was played high up on the left in more of a free role to take advantage of his attacking and creative abilities. With five at the back Iwashita played just in front of a back four as an anchor. After the opening week's battering, the good ship Ghotbi seems to be steadying somewhat as the team beds in and the best system is figured out. With Daigo Kobayashi on the mend, I'm looking forward to the months ahead.

Videos

I grabbed this off the TV just now, so until something better turns up, here you go. Genki's goal against Fukuoka is included at the start.



Iw*ta Watch

Last week we got 11025 in the driving rain for a game that was live on free TV. Less than three hundred more than that turned up the Yamaha this evening for Iw*ta's opening home game. Bare in mind it's the first day of a long weekend, the game wasn't on free TV, and the weather could not have been better. The apathy in the west of Shizuoka is little short of MIND BOGGLING.

S-Pulse 1-0 Avispa Fukuoka

Barry writes:

S-Pulse 1-0 Avispa Fukuoka
Omae 80

Att. 11025

Line Up

GK K. Yamamoto

DF Tsujio
DF Iwashita
DF Hiraoka
DF Ota

MF Edamura
MF Muramatsu
MF Ono

FW Omae
FW Takahara
FW Ito

Subs Used

M. Yamamoto on for Muramatsu (HT)
Alex on for Ono (67)
Arata on for Takahara (91)

Report

The forgotten derby day of the J. League. Shimizu vs Fujieda, the two towns a mere 15 miles apart. Today's visitors were founded a decade before before S-Pulse but were beaten to the J. League punch in 1993 by us, and then in 94 by Iwata. This left Shizuoka prefecture pretty much saturated and in 1994 Fujieda Brux upped sticks and relocated to the southern island of Kyushu, becoming Fukuoka Brux in the process. One further name change and you get to today's Avispa. Enough history, but the huge banner at Nihondaira which read Fujieda Brux Forever 1994 was a nice touch.

30 Second Silent Prayer

The rain started overnight and persisted for 24 hours meaning there were 6000 people with tickets who chose to watch it on the box. I guess given that it was on free to air TV, the fact we had over 11000 standing in the rain for two hours was something of a miracle. Wonder if we'll ever get a roof behind the goal, or even a new covered stadium one day?

Anyway, the game was alright. Both teams struggled to created anything much in the slippery conditions, and we had to wait 80 minutes before a touch of class from Genki gave us the breakthrough. A handball right on the edge of the box and Omae stepped of to swing in a perfect strike past the despairing keeper.

Job done. Eventually

After that, Avispa started trying their luck from distance, which given the wet surface I was amazed we hadn't seen more of over the preceding 80 minutes. They even hit the outside of the bar, though not to be outdone, Takahara let loose with a thunderous shot of his own which came back off the cross bar.

So the game played out and and ended 1-0, which was three points well earned. It was one of those days you call character building but in reality was just bloody horrible. I hope it's sunny when we play Hiroshima next week. I really, really hope so.

Videos

Personal video of Omae's cracking freekick Includes the build up..

Vegalta Sendai 1-3 Shimizu S-Pulse

Barry writes:

Vegalta Sendai 1-3 Shimizu S-Pulse
Sugai 15 ----------------------------------------Fujimoto 29, 45+3
------------------------------------------------------Omae 89

Att. 17050

Line Up

GK Nishibe

DF Tsujio
DF Hiraoka
DF Iwashita
DF Arata

MF Hyodo
MF Honda
MF Ito

FW Okazaki
FW Johnsen
FW Fujimoto

Subs Used

Ono on for Fujimoto (76)
Omae on for Okazaki (78)
Ichikawa on for Tsujio (91)

Report

What a cracking weekend away that was. I've still not had time to write much about the game or the following festivities around Sendai city centre, but will as soon as I get the chance. And before that chance comes we have another game tomorrow! Woo!

---------------------------

I never did get the chance to write more about this game, but it was certainly one of the best away days in memory. Top clowning from start to finish. Thank you to Sendai City for having us!

Cow tongue - much better than it sounds

2nd half kick off

Sendai supporters as good as ever

Video

Full highlights.

Hiroshima 1-1 S-Pulse

Barry writes:

Hiroshima 1-1 S-Pulse
Sato 3 (pk) -----------------------Omae 93

Att. 16216

Line Up

GK Nishibe (Yellow 3)

DF Ichikawa
DF Iwashita (Yellow 91)
DF Bosnar
DF Arata

MF Ono
MF Honda
MF Hyodo

FW Okazaki (Yellow 35)
FW Johnsen
FW Fujimoto

Subs Used

Ota on for Arata (69)
Omae on for Hyodo (81)
Tsujio on for Ichikawa (86)

Report

Football is back, and it feels so, so good. And it was an event-filled Saturday for the three of us who trooped over to the S-Pulse Dream House to watch it on the big screen.

It's usually busier...

Barely three minutes in, a Hiroshima forward goes to ground as Nishibe dives at his feet. Penalty given, striker jumps up celebrating. He steps up to take it aaaaaand.... the signal dies.

When we got back up and running (at 1-0 down), it was a frustrating first half as the home team dictated the game. We were playing 4-3-3 as in closed season, and it's going to take a while for things to gel. Fujimoto up front on the right seemed slack on several occasions when his first touch let him down or he was caught napping. Despite a whole lot of huff and puff it just wasn't happening in the first 45, and it took a talking to at half time to turn our game around.

A dead signal meant mobile phone digital came into it's own

The second half we dominated, and when not held back by the diving, simulation and all round dodgyness of the Bulgarian number 2 Stoyanov, we were able to swing in several decent crosses into the danger zone, though we singularly failed to really test the keeper.

Ono was different class, and he demonstrated the impact he's going to have this season. For his first full game I was very impressed with his touch, awareness and precision. Bosnar was also a presence at the back, and one we're going to benefit from. He was sent up for each of our seven corners along with fellow defender Iwashita. Once we've had a few games to let everyone get used to each other I'm looking forward to what we're capable of.

Speaking of Iwashita, anyone who saw today's game will be amazed how he stayed on the pitch till the end. Entering stoppage time, the hot headed newly-wed pushed a Hiroshima player away with his full palm on the opponent's face. Predictably, the Hiroshima player went down like he'd been shot in the head, but regardless of any making-the-most-of-it, any hand-to-face is a red card right there. The ref reached for his pocket and pulled out... a yellow. Absolutely amazing.

Within seconds of this, and with the clock at 92 minutes, we were up the other end with a final throw of the dice. We were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, Jungo swung it right into the mix and it was met by substitute Omae Genki for his first league goal. It was no less than we deserved, and on balance 1-1 was a fair result.

Love Ono's pose here :)

Videos

Here's the Hiroshima penalty:



And here's our late, late equaliser:



Slightly more extended highlights, including Iwashita's facepalm.

Supporters Thanks Day 2009

In how many other countries do fans get the opportunity to, once a year, head to a huge event hall and watch their heroes dressed up as women performing song and dance routines? In the past I always gave the annual Thanks Day a miss, but I'm glad I was encouraged by Takumi to get off my backside and go this year.

Think a small-scale festival of all things S-Pulse, where everyone is there to have a bit of fun and you can get your photo taken surrounded by the short-skirted beauties of the Orange Wave cheer leader troop. According to Nikkan Sports, around 5800 fans turned out to make it our most popular Thanks Day yet. After getting to see Nagahata in a red dress singing the theme to Ponyo, I doubt anyone went home disappointed!

With food and beer on sale, I could have stayed there all day. Along with the forthcoming SDT Cup, it's another nice little way to spend a Saturday afternoon while we wait for the new season.

Time for a few pics!

Yours truly and Hyodo. We had a short chat, and a thoroughly nice bloke he was too.
The chiselled good looks of new signing Nagai. A massive hit with the ladies, and he'll bring a few extra through the gate this year, I don't doubt!
Johnsen was also a hit with the womenfolk, getting a rousing reception during the opening ceremony.
Omae Genki looking relaxed. A little later he was in a sparkly dress singing up on stage. :)
Someone we're all looking forward to seeing back in action this season; Jungo Fujimoto.
It had to be done. :)
That new shirt collar design up close. I'm a fan.
A small section of the huge numbers who turned out for a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. I'll be there next year for sure, and with beer available from 10am, probably a lot earlier than this year!

Right, enough from me, I'm off up Fuz's place for a Burns Supper. Have a good weekend!