Vissel Kobe 1-1 Shimizu S-Pulse

Barry writes:

Vissel Kobe 1-1 Shimizu S-Pulse
Morioka 85 --------------------------- Bosnar 55

Att 12706

Line Up

GK K. Yamamoto

DF Tsujio
DF Iwashita (yellow 80)
DF Bosnar
DF Ota

MF Jong-a-Pin (yellow 77, 77)
MF Ono (yellow 76)
MF Takeuchi

FW Omae
FW Takagi
FW Takahara

Subs Used

Sugiyama on for Takeuchi (53)
Muramatsu on for Takahara (80)
Nabeta on for Ono (91)

Report

Not sure of the circumstances of Jong a Pin's red card, but two yellows in a minute suggests a yellow followed by back chat for the second. That said, you have to factor in that the referee was the notorious Nobutsugu Murakami, the bloke who sent off Kuboto last year without having seen the "offence", so God only knows.

Top scorer Takahara returned after two months on the sidelines, but no Ljungberg today, either starting or on the bench. Expect him back next week when we face a resurgent Kofu who today beat Cerezo 4-0 away, climbing out of the relegation zone at the expense of Urawa who fall to 16th. Can the 2006 champions, who spent most of the next three years booing every opponent instead of cheering on their own team, avoid a second drop to J2? Who knows and who cares. Fuck 'em.

All told, 1-1 away with a man down for the last 15 minutes isn't all bad, but frustrating given we were leading, especially if the red card was contentious. That said, I didn't see the game so I can't comment on incidents or the performance. In fact I'll pass over to fellow S-Pulse blogger Daisuke Matsuura with his post on events in Kobe today, coming straight outta Kansai.

No chance of the league, so the final five games have to be geared towards a top 7 finish and some prize money. Absolutely CRUCIAL is finishing above the scum for a sixth year in a row, and then there's still the Emperor's Cup. If we beat Gainare next month it's a Shiz derby last 16 game in December. Plenty of interest left this season!

Ghotbi Says

Translated back from the Japanese. I'm no translator, so any mistakes are my own.

Both teams were sloppy in the first half. We couldn't play the football we wanted to. We improved in the second half and were able to play own game a little. After we opened the scoring we were could control the game and create more chances. We had an opportunity to get a second, but we let that important chance slip.

Jong a Pin lost his cool when he got the yellow card. He was probably disappointed because it was his fourth yellow so he'll miss the next game. It's his first season in the J. League and is maybe frustrated at the inconsistent level of refereeing. Maybe there's a different standard for foreign and Japanese players...

Couldn't agree more. Just ask Bosnar.

Videos

OK - finally got to see Jong a Pin's red. Moments before, the 168cm Popo clatters the big man from behind knocking him over, which is no mean feat. It went unpenalised but a no less clumsy challenge from Jong a Pin brought out a quick yellow, and another for bouncing the ball away in frustration. The second was just gratuitous and a stupid, game changing decision by a bad referee who lost his cool. Jong a Pin later apologised to the fans and team, but presumably not to the clown in black.

S-Pulse 1-5 Kobe

Barry writes:

S-Pulse 1-5 Kobe
Takahara 77

Att. 14350

Line Up

GK K. Yamamoto

DF Tsujio
DF Okane
DF Bosnar
DF Ota

MF Edamura
MF Iwashita
MF Brosque

FW Omae
FW Ito
FW Takagi

Subs Used

Ono on for Tsujio (HT)
Nagai on for Okane (61)
Takahara on for Ito (75)

Report

Dear oh dear. We got well and truly done yesterday. It started with a shocking error of judgement by Kaito who, rushing out of his area to prevent a ball going out for a corner, only managed to knock it to Okubu. He calmly stroked it home to open the scoring. Ghotbi slammed the mistake as something he'd expect from the youth team.

With all said and done, it was a poor performance, but if we could play the rest of our games with the frantic hunger (some may say like headless chickens - but that would be being harsh) that we showed for a lot of the second half, we'll score a shed load of goals this season. Ono's introduction at half time displayed once again his importance, and at 2-0 on 55 minutes, but with the bit between our teeth, Sho Ito's shot thundered off the bar. It would be the defining moment and turning point in the game. Why? Because Kobe went straight down the other end and made it three, pretty much ending any hopes of a comeback.

We still managed to create several good chances, including hitting the woodwork again, but it just wasn't going to happen. While we continued to create chances, we left ourselves woefully exposed at the back and time and and again Kobe capitalised. I didn't think Okane had the most inspiring of full starts, but give the lad time. I'm looking forward to Hiraoka's return from injury, though.

Well, next week we're away at Omiya and need to avoid defeat as a matter of some urgency. I don't doubt we will, and I bet the boss had a few choice words for the lads after yesterday's game. It's going to be this type of season, and we're all aware of it, so most supporters are doing just that - supporting while we find our feet.

Here's some pictures.

Time wasting at 4-1 with ten minutes to go

More cringe inducing time wasting. Bosnar and Ota's expressions say it all

The ref can't make eye contact

Know how you feel, mate

Well, I'm glad someone had a good time

Videos

Reaction from the home fans.

Kobe 1-0 Shimizu S-Pulse

Barry writes:

Kobe 1-0 Shimizu S-Pulse
Mogi 83

Att. 14061

Line Up

GK Nishibe

DF Ichikawa
DF Hiraoka
DF Iwashita
DF Ota

MF Hyodo
MF Honda
MF Ito T.

FW Okazaki
FW Johnsen
FW Fujimoto

Subs Used

Tsujio on for Ichikawa (63)
Omae on for Hyodo (81)
Hara on for Ito T. (85)

Report

We blew it. Shortly before conceding we had a golden chance to take the lead but missed it. That said, Kobe were all over us for most the second half, including when they lost a man.

As always, the TV coverage was scandalously bad. One first half possible handball call in the box was ignored, and even the goal, which looked to me like the fella was offside, was only given one replay. From which angle? From behind the action, so it was impossible to tell. The way the TV companies censor the game is worthy of a BBC Panorama exposé. If there's a questionable call it's TV's fucking DUTY to show it from every angle possible until we know what happened.

Aaaah, bollocks. I'm just pissed off I won't be going to China for an away day next year. All credit to Kobe who totally earned the three points despite being a man down. They've probably left it too late, but for what it's worth, I hope they stay up.

Pre-Season (!) Friendly Announced

Barry writes:

EDIT - THIS GAME IS AGAINST KOFU, NOT KOBE. MY MISTAKE. :-S ALL DETAILS STAND AS STATED, THOUGH.

When is a pre-season friendly not a pre-season friendly? Answer: When it's played halfway through the season. :-D

Having got swept up in the excitement of a scoreless home draw and an away battering, I totally forgot to mention a "pre-season" friendly which has been arranged during the mid season break.

The guests to Nihondaira will be yesterday's adversaries Vissel Kobe. The game will take place on Saturday July 3rd with kick off at 6.00pm. A reserve team game between the same two teams (but not the same players, obviously) will kick off at 3pm.

After the game be sure to head to your nearest hostelry to catch the second set of World Cup quarter finals. If Japan are in them, I'm buying everyone in the pub a drink.

Kobe 3-1 S-Pulse (Nabisco Cup)

Barry writes:

Kobe 3-1 S-Pulse
Tokura 15 ---------- Edamura 86
Edmilson 23
Popo 51

Att. 4483

Line Up

GK Nishibe

DF Takaki
DF Hiraoka
DF Bosnar
DF Arata

MF Hyodo
MF Honda
MF Edamura

FW Hara
FW Johnsen
FW Fujimoto

Subs Used

Ono on for Fujimoto (HT)
Iwashita on for Takaki (55)
Nagai on for Johnsen (70)

Report

None, because I didn't watch it. I was busy shifting boxes and preparing to move house this weekend. I'm eager to get as much done as possible, so I can keep Sunday free to watch the next Nabisco Cup fixture with Urawa. After slumping to defeat this evening, it is absolutely must win if we're to have any chance of progression from the group stage. A win on Sunday and then spanking Jubilo at home on the 6th will see us through. Simple as that. :)

S-Pulse 1-0 Kobe

Barry writes:

S-Pulse 1-0 Kobe
Bosnar 82

Att. 15367

Line Up

GK Nishibe

DF Ichikawa
DF Iwashita
DF Arata
DF Ota

MF Ono (Yellow 70)
MF Honda
MF Hyodo

FW Omae
FW Johnsen
FW Fujimoto

Subs Used

Bosnar on for Iwashita (48)
Yamamoto on for Omae (64)
Hara on for Ichikawa (72)

Report

That was a tough old game, and one we were fortunate to get away from with all three points. We weren't especially good, and looked decidedly blunt up front without Okazaki spearheading the offensive.

We showed flashes of decent play but I spent most of the day frustrated. Kobe kept Johnsen under control, and Omae, on his first league start, didn't ultimately cause the visitors many problems.

Kobe went very close to scoring at least twice, once in the first half with Arata blocking the ball right on the line. A heart-stopping moment. When the game started looking like finishing up 0-0, it was substitute Eddy Bosnar who slammed in a 35 yard free kick. It was low and moved through the wall like the Nozomi Super Express. It managed to wrong foot the keeper, who'd had a good game till then. We held on for a nervy last eight minutes plus stoppage to move top of the table on goal difference.
We'll have to be better next Saturday against Kawasaki, although they'll still be smarting from getting destroyed 4-0 by Marinos. I'll be heading up to the Todoroki and packing my binoculars. From what I hear it's a bit of a distance from the away zone to where the action is taking place.

Some special thanks goes to the head call leader, whose name I still don't know, and didn't think to ask yesterday, for passing me the CD below full of the new chants for this season. Much appreciated, fella! Thanks a lot. :)
Videos

Eddy's cracker:



Full highlights to come if and when I find them. In the meantime, check out Nagoya's opening goal from their 2-0 defeat of Iwata:



This was in the very first minute of play. The Jubilo comedy show coming to a town near you sometime this year. :)

S-Pulse 1-0 Kobe

Barry writes:

S-Pulse 1-0 Kobe
Ichikawa 82 -------------- Nam-Il sent off 55

Att. 17294

Line up

GK K. Yamamoto

DF Ichikawa
DF Iwashita
DF Arata
DF Ota

MF Edamura
MF Honda
MF Ito
MF Hyodo

FW Johnsen
FW Okazaki

Subs used

M. Yamamoto on for Ito (67)
Fujimoto on for Hyodo (67)
Hara on for Edamura (81)

Report

Our third win in a row took us to within a point of Kashima who lost again, this time crushed at home 4-1 by Nagoya. Just five games ago the gap was looking insurmountable, but thanks to an incredible collapse by the defending champions, and a twelve game unbeaten streak by ourselves, the final seven games of the season is shaping up to be quite interesting after all!

It was packed behind the goal

Vissel, who are not in bad form, were not an easy team to play against, but then they never are. Our last seven meetings before Sunday had all been won by the odd goal, with six of those ending 1-0. With that in mind, I don't think anyone was expecting a goal-fest, and they certainly weren't disappointed.

Kobayashi sees yellow in the 36th minute

We finally broke through a solid defence in the 82nd minute. Ichikawa thought fast to hit it through a forest of legs as a corner was partially cleared his way. Johnsen had gone close before, and Arata should have put it away from an earlier corner, but Vissel were no slouches going forward, and Kaito was forced to pull off an excellent save at the bottom corner early on.

Get in!! Ichikawa makes it 1-0

Ten minutes into the second half the visitors were a man down after their number 6 saw red after a second yellow. I'm yet to see a replay, but some J. League fans on this English language message board were bemoaning the fact the ref got played by an over-theatrical reaction from our player - ie: he dived. I hope not, but as I say, I'm yet to see it properly.

Ten men can be notoriously hard to play against (just ask Tokyo) and so it was as we laboured our way towards a third straight 1-0 win. It was a game of few clear cut chances, and I was wondering if a point wouldn't be all that bad when we finally broke the deadlock. We're going to have be better against Hiroshima on Saturday if we want to move up to first, but I don't doubt we're capable.

Looooco! Loco loco loco loco!

We're well placed for an assault on the title, but it's worth remembering that Kashima still have to finish their game with Kawasaki, and while being 3-1 down, who knows what may happen in the last 16 minutes. Regardless of the outcome, Kashima will still be in the driving seat and it will still be in their hands. There are seven games remaining - 21 points - and a lot can happen in seven games. Just ask Urawa: July 18th - August 29th: Played 7, Lost 7. Goals against 15, goals for 4.

So yeah, noone's getting too excited just yet, but for the first time in years we've got a real shot at the championship, and we want it. We want it bad. We're good enough, but we need to keep our eyes on the prize, not get carried away, and takes maximum points against Oita, Reysol and at least three more of our other remaining games if we're to end top. Do we believe we can do it? Course we do!

Videos etc

A video I took of the players entering the arena:



Ichikawa's goal (personal cam). The roar when it hits the net gives some indication of the tension at that stage in the game:



Full highlights:



Official pictures can be found here (top row). Click here for The Rising Sun's reports on the weekend's action.

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

Tuesday evening edit: I've since seen the red card incident (available on this video, around 2:50), and while a trailing arm anywhere near a face is always going to have a ref reaching for his pocket, I can't help but cringe at what seems like Ota making a huge meal out of it. Kosuke is an excellent player, and has had a cracking season so far. I'm made up with him as a signing and as a regular starting member, but that was disappointing to see. I'd hate for us to become known as a diving team. We want to win, but let's win right. That's what makes us stand out above the Jubilo style of win-and-win-dirty in the late nineties. Come on boys, no more silliness, please!

Kobe 1-2 S-Pulse (Nabisco Cup)

Barry writes:

Kobe 1-2 S-Pulse

Marcel (1) Hara (36)
Johnsen (77)

Our route into the knock out stage is secured, and we're the first team in the country to manage it. Top work. :) I didn't see this one, so I just have the stats to go on. Tsujio gave a penalty away in the very first minute, but Hara made sure it was all square before the break.

The big man Johnsen grabbed a winner on 77, but picked up a second yellow card seven minutes later to gain his first red card since joining us.

The result means we're through to round two and, depending on how we go against Tokyo on Saturday, will face either Nagoya or the winner of Group A in the quarter final. This could still be any one of Yokohama, Hiroshima or Urawa, but it won't be Little Jubilo, as they were knocked out last week.

The quarter finals are scheduled to take place in July on the 15th and 29th, both Wednesday.

Line Up

GK K. Yamamoto

DF Tsujio
DF Aoyama
DF Iwashita
DF Kodama

MF Fujimoto
MF Ito
MF Edamura
MF Hyodo

FW Johnsen
FW Hara

Subs used

Takaki on for Tsujio (63)
Paulo on for Hyodo (81)
Honda on for Edamura (87)

Videos etc

A video from YouTube user SPKDF4 amongst the travelling hordes prior to kick off. As ever, they did their team proud!



A personal cam captures the first two minutes, including kick off and the Kobe penalty.



From the same uploader, Johnsen's winner, including full build up.



Johnsen's second yellow:



Some official pictures from the game can be found here (top row).

In other news, Okazaki was the nation's hero last night, as Japan won away at Uzbekistan and became the first team to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Okachan scored the only goal of the night in the ninth minute. Looking forward to him continuing this form when he returns from his national team heroics!

Kobe v S-Pulse (Nabisco Cup Preview)

Barry writes:

Place of our first win of the season back in March, it's back to Kobe we head with the goal of securing our spot in the second round of the League Cup. If we can win, and other results go our way, we'll be through.

Okazaki is away with the national team, Nagai and M. Yamamoto are injured, but apart from that it'll probably be much the same team who beat Chiba midweek.

As for those two injuries, Nagai is out for a month, and Masaki is out for six weeks. Neither should impact too much on our starting eleven over the next few games. Nagai is still yet to score, and Masaki has been played ahead of the likes of Edamura, Teru, Paulo, Jungo etc etc, so any one of them can more than ably step in.

OK, time to head of out, as it's a certain contributor's wedding party tonight! Congratulations Fuz and new husband Hiro! All the best for a lifetime of happiness and fun, every other Saturday of which will be spent down Nihondaira. :)

Kobe 0-1 S-Pa

Kobe 0-1 S-Pulse

Okazaki (62)

Att: 10020

Line Up:

GK Nishibe

DF Takaki
DF Aoyama
DF Iwashita
DF Kodama

MF Hyodo
MF Edamura
MF Yamamoto
MF Fujimoto

FW Okazaki
FW Johnsen

Subs Used:

Paulo on for Fujimoto (73)
Ito on for Edamura (77)
Ota on for Hyodo (89)

We didn't head out to Kobe, but we did troop over to Shimizu to watch it on the big screen. Despite 31 shots on goal, my mind kept wandering mid-game to all manner of other things. For some reason it just wasn't the most gripping of games. First three points of the season though, and any win away from home is a good result.

No time to write a real report, so a few bullet points to be going on with:

• Okazaki's goal came from a corner, expertly headed back across goal by Johnsen
• Hyodo made too many errors for my liking
• Paulo again looked a class apart after coming on late on
• Jungo started his first league game since his injury and played most of it
  
• Okazaki did exactly what I was moaning about recently to run the clock down
• Kobe hit the bar, we hit the post, and Paulo would have scored had Okazaki passed late on
• The ref was a little card happy IMHO
• Otsukaresama to each and every one of our fans who made the trip out west today - you did S-Pulse proud!
  

Here are the official pics (including a cracking one of an airborne, celebrating Okachan). I'm yet to find any proper TV coverage online of this one, but here's a personal video (from a Kobe fan by the looks of it) which has a few highlights, including an OK shot of our goal:



Here's a personal video taken after the final whistle including Loco Loco from around 5 minutes:



:)

Kobe 0-1 S-Pa

S-Pulse beat Vissel Kobe 1-0 with a stoppage time winner from Okazaki, with the win dragging us up to the mid-table respectability of 9th. It's the highest we've been in the table since I can remember! The game couldn't have been much closer with 12 shots from Kobe to our 11. Possession was almost a perfect 50/50 too. The last minute winner came from one of our seven corners, and nicely balances out the 88th minute winner Kobe scored against us at Nihondaira earlier in the year. Okachan has been banging in the goals of late, which is just what we need leading up to the Nabisco Cup final!

Next up is Verdy at home on Tuesday. A win there and any fears of J2 next year should be properly extinguished. Given Verdy's poor form of late, our good run (only one defeat from eight, and that was to possible champs, Nagoya), and the fact that the last time we played them at home we destroyed them 5-0, everything points to only one thing: a resounding home victory in from of 15000 delirious S-Pa fans! We Believe!!!

In other news, Jubilo's home defeat to Marinos coupled with a resurgent JEF beating Sapporo means the blues are four points from safety and only two points from an automatic relegation spot. Desperate times in Iwata... The Shizuoka Derby in November takes on a whole new dimension! If Jubilo aren't able to pull themselves out of the danger zone before then, a defeat by us would leave them with just three games to save their J1 status. It's gonna be a hell of a run in!!

Highlights from Kobe!

S-Pa 0-1 Kobe

Embarrassing.



Looking on the bright side, I won a rather snazzy t-shirt at half time:

Every cloud. :)