Sendai 0-0 S-Pulse

Barry writes:

Sendai 0-0 S-Pulse

Att. 11585

Line Up

GK Usui

DF Muramtsu
DF Hiraoka
DF Bosnar
DF Ota

MF Yamamoto
MF Edamura
MF Ono

FW Omae (yellow 50)
FW Brosque
FW Takagi (yellow 89)

Subs Used

Takahara on for Ono (53)
Kobayashi on for Brosque (69)
Nagai on for Omae (77)

Report

A frustrating game to watch, especially as Bosnar nearly won it in the 85th minute, but hey ho. Noone has beaten Sendai at the Yurtec this season, so there's always that. But, oooooh, it felt like a game we could have won and for that I'm RUING our missed opportunities. With so many games coming thick and fast, our team was inevitably changed considerably from Saturday.

Perhaps the most noticeable was Muramatsu falling to the back four, and Takahara being rested. But in addition Yamamoto, Edamura, Hiraoka and Takagi all started. Such an altered team was always going to lack a certain level of cohesion and so it proved. There was maybe a handful of the sweeping moves we're best at, but aside from Bosanr's chance, we just never managed the end product. Eddy got away from his marker from a long freekick and met the ball behind the main mass of players in the penalty area. He headed down into the ground and it bounced up and over. The keeper was beaten so had it been on target it was in.

Positives? Hmmm - well we've now only lost one in ten, winning five of those. That is pretty good form, and plenty reason enough to have confidence going into the second half of the season. Kobayashi is looking better and better, and Usui kept another clean sheet with a couple of crucial saves.

Niigata at home in three days and I'm guessing Taka will be back in the starting XI. With so many games in such a short period it's a test of squad depth, wallet contents and girlfriend patience, but I bloody love it, and I know you do too. So see you up Nihondaira on Saturday. :)

Ghotbi Says

Was able to grab this off the TV, so it's 99% the man himself's words.

"We are very much happy to be able to support and help the people in Sendai. I believe Sendai people are the real champions of the J. League regardless of results or where they finish in the league, they are the champions of all the people in the world. We want to support and help them all the way until they recover from the disaster they experienced.

It's difficult to play so many games in a short time, especially players nursing injuries or who are older ages. Then you add the complication of the the temperature and the humidity, so I have to manage the selection.

I think defensively we were very organised but after about 15 minutes we lost control. Sendai are so powerful and are so hard working as a team. It's hard for any team to play against that. I thought overall we did a very good job especially in the 2nd half.

I always try to play for three points and I tried to win the game in the last 30 minutes and the changes were for that, but unfortunately we couldn't covert the chances we made.

One of the things the fans really like is passion. That's the foundation of all the teams who are successful; they play with passion. I'm hopeful that we can keep improving and I think the results are showing that. With a little more time I think we can make a team that the whole of Japan can be proud of."

Videos

Full highlights.

S-Pulse 1-0 Sendai

Barry writes:

S-Pulse 1-0 Sendai
Brosque 81

Att. 13081

Line Up

GK Usui

DF Tsujio
DF Hiraoka
DF Iwashita
DF Ota

MF Ono
MF M. Yamamoto
MF Muramatsu
MF Brosque

FW Omae
FW Takahara

Subs Used

Takagi on for Omae (59)
Kobayashi on for Ono (71)
Nagai on for Takahara (78)

Report

A big win as S-Pulse managed what Sendai's previous 12 opponents couldn't - to beat them. They're very hard to score against, and it was a tight, tight game this evening, but it was the Ota --> Brosque combo as per the Kawasaki game which sealed it. Alex knocked in with some precision a cross on what was far from an easy bounce. Top work that man. His 5th in orange and a big, big goal to boot.

Touching banner (bottom) from Sendai to the world

It was a game that was always going to be won by one goal as the shots on target were few and far between, and the goal was only really a half chance which says a lot for how well Brosque took it.

We started the game with some enforced changes what with Bosnar out through suspension. Hiraoka dropped back to fill Eddy's space and Muramatsu, freshly back from U22 Olympic duty started in midfield with a long-time-no-see start for Masaki Yamamoto.

The first half saw few, if any, shots on target for either team, but we came out much better in the second, and the introduction of the always lively Takagi improved our options. He was soon surging in from the wing carving routes into the danger zone. Takahara didn't have a great deal of action and shortly after his replacement by Nagai the deadlock was broken as another excellent cross from Ota was met by Brosque on the half volley. The place went mad but Sendai were far from done. Only an excellent save by Usui, who made the right decision in rushing to meet the shot, stopped a near certain equaliser.

After that scare, Sendai were done and their excellent unbeaten run came to an end.

The team put Usui off during his interview :)

Ghotbi Says

Before we talk about the game, I want to talk about Sendai and the people of Sendai. For myself, my players, our supporters and all the people of Japan, Sendai are the real champions. Regardless of today's result, or their league position, Sendai are true champions. For their courage, fighting spirit and unity we have to applaud them.

As for the game, I'm really proud of my team because Sendai are a really hard team to beat. They fought well and defended tightly from start to finish and were really dangerous on the counter attack and from set plays. In the second half both teams had chances and it must have been an exciting game to watch.

When we play away in Sendai I hope to get involved in some charity work with my players.

Videos

Highlights.



A personal video of our winner (which I always prefer to the TV).

League Game 4 Likely to be Off

Barry writes:

It's looking likely that the league's 4th game is also set to be postponed due to the ongoing disruption and difficulties of the earthquake.

I read that Sendai's beautiful Yurtec is unusable following the devastating quake. This of course means nothing in relation to the suffering of thousands, but as a symbol of the city's life and energy, the sooner it is packed again and rocking to the spirit of Sendai the better.

俺たちと共に、Ｒｅａｄｙ　Ｇｏ！

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.

S-Pulse 5-1 Sendai - The Goals

Barry writes:

清水エスパルス　５対１　ベガルタ仙台

A couple of days late, but here are the TV highlights of our defeat of Sendai. Enjoy. :)



The Sendai goal isn't included, but don't blame me - I didn't make the video. :)

S-Pulse 5-1 Sendai

Barry writes:

清水エスパルス　５対１　ベガルタ仙台

S-Pulse 5-1 Sendai
Johnsen 24 --------------- Nakahara 89
Honda 45
Hiraoka 60
Fujimoto 63
Nagai 79

Att. 17522

Line Up

GK Nishibe

DF Tsujio
DF Hiraoka (yellow 22)
DF Bosnar
DF Arata

MF Hyodo
MF Honda
MF Ono

FW Okazaki
FW Johnsen
FW Fujimoto

Subs used

Nagai on for Okazaki (71)
Omae on for Johnsen (76)
Ito on for Ono (84)

Report

It's all about taking your chances. The first half wasn't a walk in the park by any means, and neither really was the second. That was until Jungo smashed home Hyodo's rebounded shot to make it three nil. Up till that point the game was pretty evenly balanced, with Sendai creating as many chances as ourselves. But that was the difference today - putting those opportunities in the back of the net.

I'll always have a soft spot for Sendai

Sendai's excellent travelling support, gracious in defeat, probably felt much the same way. Their one consolation goal at the death was probably earned over the 90 minutes in terms of efforts, but we gave a ruthless finishing display today putting away nearly all our clear cut chances.

Johnsen's opener, the big man's first of the season, got things rolling, and Honda's strike just before the break was top draw. On a mazy run into the heart of the Sendai half, he exchanged not one but two lightening one-two plays before despatching the ball past the keeper.

Nagai showed his class today

The goal which pretty much ended Sendai's resistance came on the hour mark, and we have Fujimoto to thank for his razor sharp reactions. Hyodo's thundering shot came back off the post and Jungo was alert and fast enough to beat the defender to it. Three nil, and Hiraoka made it four three minutes later from a corner, and that was pretty much that. There was still two more goals to come, though, ours from sub Nagai who chased and beat a retreating defender before smashing the ball into the corner in a strike of pure quality. Sadly we let in a sloppy goal at the end, but fair play to Vegalta, at 5-0 down they were still having a go.

Ono was instrumental again

So not much to complain about today. We're still without Iwashita, Edamura and Aoyama through injuries, so to continue to maintain such a good start to the season is hugely encouraging. I've said it before, but the influence of Ono cannot be understated. He's different class, and the more I see of him the happier I am he came home to Shizuoka.

As for Sendai, for a newly promoted team they're not a bad side, but it's fairly safe to say their J1 honeymoon is over. They're a likeable club with a very good support, but some of their players spent more time chewing the ref's ear than anything else. I think they succeeded in annoying pretty much everyone inside Nihondaira (quite possibly including their own fans).

Case in point: Fernandinho. He wouldn't make our starting 11 these days, but he won a lot of fans in his spell with us a couple of years back. It was a while ago, but I'm pretty sure he never used to harangue the ref at every decision. He was lucky not to talk his way into the book today as he bitched and moaned constantly, at one point demanding the ref card one of our players.

But apart from that, no complaints, just aching legs and a sore throat. Gamba Osaka away on Saturday will be a tough game seeing as they've just had their first win of the season, but avoiding defeat there and a win next week at home to Omiya should see us remain in the upper reaches of the table. Yeah, we're top, but it's early, early days.

Right, I'm off to bed to dream of GOALS. :)

Videos

Full highlights to come as and when, but till then, here's our goals, starting with Johnsen. All come from YouTube user ssnnddttyy's personal cam.



Honda:



Fujimoto:



Hiraoka:



Nagai. He didn't manage to catch this one, so it's a partial view of the big screen highlights. Not perfect, but better than nothing!



And this week's bonus vid:



Yes, it is as fun as it looks. :)

The Shizuoka Derby Lives to Fight Another Day!

Although for a while it was looking very much like Shizuoka's second team were about to bid farewell to top flight football, bless their little cotton socks, they just about managed to beat a J2 team and stay up! S-Pulse fans can now look forward to the home and neutral derbies next year. What with Ecopa being our stadium too, we don't actually have an away derby these days!

Well, joking aside, well done Jubilo on staying up. Finishing in the top five every year isn't as much fun without your rivals in the bottom half of the table to make you feel superior. :) The final score on the day was 2-1 to Jubilo, 3-2 on aggregate.

Sendai came achingly, excruciatingly close to an equaliser at the death. It would have put them in J1 on away goals had one their many shots which rained down on the Jubilo goal found it's way in, but it wasn't to be. Well, at least Shizuoka keeps two top flight flight teams, for now at least! Reckon you can stay up next year, Jubilo? The bottom three go down automatically from 2009 you know - there'll be no play off to save you! ;-)

A few pics from your roving reporter in Iwata:

What it was all about

Both sets of fans in full voice

Nice pic, isn't it!

Sendai fans rocking the Yamaha
All over

Gutted, as you might expect

Sendai fans salute their heroes

Júbilo on the Brink

Five short years ago, who would have thought it!? In 2003, Júbilo narrowly missed out on the chance to defend the league title (their third) they had won the previous season. That blow was somewhat softened by claiming the Emperor's Cup title instead. The previous six seasons had reaped three J. League titles, a Nabisco Cup crown, and an unprecedented three consecutive appearances in the final of what is now the Asian Champions League. A brand new 50000 seater stadium had just opened ten minutes from Iwata to house a fan base which frequently outstripped the 17000 capacity Yamaha, and their achievements totally eclipsed even those of S-Pulse, who were also busy racking up titles. With all this, you could have forgiven their supporters for feeling pretty confident in the future.

Well.

Five years down the line, things have gone from bad, to worse, to a level completely unimaginable a few seasons ago. Júbilo are just 90 minutes away from relegation to J2, from likely losing the handful of young, decent players they have, and probably worst, from being laughed at for years by S-Pulse fans. The empire enjoyed around the turn of the century has faded, died, and has been pushed far into the past by Júbilo's J1 peers, not least, and most importantly, by us. In 2008 S-Pulse finished better placed (much better placed!) for a third year running, and had far more impressive cup runs. We also recorded a higher average gate than Iwata for the first time since 1999, and that was even without the use of Ecopa to accommodate 30000 for our bigger games - something we did until last year.

So how could things get any worse for Shizuoka's fallen giants? Well, starting the 2009 season in J2 would be a start! That was the very real prospect their fans woke up to on Sunday morning. That they barely avoided automatic relegation to J2 was bad enough; it was only Tokyo Verdy's inferior goal different which meant Iwata finished above an automatic relegation spot. This gave them a second chance in the promotion / relegation series against J2's third placed Vegalta Sendai. The first leg on Wednesday finished 1-1, and now it's all back to Shizuoka for the game which decides it all. The match sold out in hours, and Sendai are bringing down a huge following to see (they hope) their triumphant return to J1 after relegation in 2003.

So while Júbilo's incredible fall from prominence is readily welcomed by the orange half of Shizuoka, the split between the S-Pulse fans who would embrace Júbilo's demotion and those who would hate to lose their local rivals is huge. A perusal of the S-Pulse supporters group on Mixi (think Facebook, but in Japanese) shows as many people eager the Blues stay up as there are with yellow flags at the ready ahead of tomorrow. I'll be behind enemy lines at the Yamaha and am expecting an atmosphere unlike any other this season. The game is balanced at 1-1 meaning a win for either team will be enough. In the event of a draw, the following applies:

0-0 - Júbilo win on away goals
1-1 - Extra time
2-2, 3-3 etc - Sendai win on away goals

With the away goal, and home advantage, the J1 team are clearly favourites to avoid the drop, but if the last three promotion / relegation games have taught us anything, it's that you can never underestimate the underdogs. The last three all went the way of the J2 challengers.

I've been agonising for days over who I want to win this one, and I've come to the conclusion that I want Sendai to send Júbilo down. Heck, Júbilo would already be down if we hadn't gifted them the derby last month, and that's surely more than enough charity from us. I know I'd miss the derby if Iwata drop; it's the highlight of the season and the easily the biggest home game of the season, but that's football, and there'll be more than enough Shizuoka match-ups in the future. I recently came across this photo from around 2005, when we were looking none to clever ourselves.

Click for more anti S-Pulse propaganda

Such gleeful enjoyment of our own struggles bore revenge in the form of a huge "Congratulations on your relegation to J2" banner which made it's début at last month's derby. Other gems from the link above include Shimizu referred to as "A Shame of Kingdom." They clearly want to play hardball with regard the rivalry, so they can't be expecting anything other than Shimizu to paint itself yellow this weekend! Relegation isn't the end of the world, they would surely recover, and you can be certain they would come back swinging ready to wrestle back the title of Kings of Shizuoka. So, with the utmost respect to all Iwata fans, (hey, my other half is one!) I say:

Come on Sendai!!!