Emp Cup 3rd Rnd Date Change

Barry writes:

Something I forgot to mention recently was that because of our appearance in the semi final of the Nabisco Cup, our Emperor's Cup 3rd round clash with Mito Hollyhock has been pushed back to Wednesday, October 13th, kick off 7pm.

And while I'm here, let me state the level of importance in which I hold this cup semi final. 2008 we had the BDO to end all BDOs. Up early, trooping off to Tokyo, beers in the sunshine, laughs with friends, painting the national stadium orange. It was the best away day bar none, but it ended in tears.



Last year we were one game away from getting another pop at it, but stumbled. This year, let's not fall at the second to last hurdle. Let's beat Hiroshima, and reward our travelling thousands with another cup final BDO. And this time let's WIN THE THING!

Urawa 1-1 S-Pulse

Barry writes:

Urawa 1-1 S-Pulse
Edmilson 19 ----------Okazaki 38

Att. 38909

Line Up

GK Nishibe

DF Ichikawa
DF Hiraoka
DF Bosnar (yellow 41)
DF Ota

MF Ono
MF Honda
MF Hyodo

FW Okazaki
FW Johnsen
FW Fujimoto

Subs Used

M. Yamamoto on for Fujimoto (68)
Edamura on for Ono (74)
Hara on for Okazaki (85)

Report

None, because I'm busy!

Not a fantastic result against 10th placed also-rans Urawa, but it's certainly good to stop the rot after last weekend. The home team will no doubt be more happy with a point against high flying opposition, but despite us missing the chance to close the gap on Nagoya (who stumbled at home to a draw) any away point is valuable. Draw away and win at home and you win the league. Next at home? Nagoya. If you're going to go, then get your ticket now - there are only 2000 left.

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Sunday update:

I have a few minutes, so just to put on record that Nishibe, while he's prone to the odd howler every now and again, has been solid as a rock in the last couple of games, and has been pretty good all year. With Kaito out of first team contention for the foreseeable, Nishibe has stepped (back) up to the plate and has 1) kept us in the Nabisco Cup, and 2) stopped a couple of cracking shots in this game.

Okazaki's control and finish on his equaliser are top drawer. Check the highlights below. It's worth watching a couple of times in slow motion to appreciate how good his touch was from Jungo's cross to set it up for his volley home.

Videos

Full highlights

Omiya 3-0 S-Pulse

Barry writes:

Omiya 3-0 S-Pulse
Rafael 45
Mato 62
Lee 73
Tsubouchi sent off 84

Att. 12888

Line Up

GK Nishibe

DF Ichikawa
DF Iwashita
DF Hiraoka
DF Arata

MF Ono
MF Honda
MF Hyodo

FW Okazaki
FW Nagasawa
FW Fujimoto

Subs Used

M. Yamamoto on for Ono (HT)
Johnsen on for Nagasawa (56)
Ota on for Arata (72)

Report

Don't ask me, I'm just a fan, but no Bosnar to counter the huge Rafael? What? Ono being pulled off at half time? Why? Nagasawa taking Johnsen's place at the spearhead of our attack? Errr, seriously?

We lost and fully deserved to. Omiya's third I could see coming a mile off, as we were caught back peddling allowing Lee to latch on to piercing through ball. Their second came from the lanky Croatian Mato, whereas the first was courtesy of Rafael.

We should have had one after a clean-through Okazaki was kicked to the ground. A red card followed for Tsubouchi and it was the least he deserved. Not that one goal would have really made much difference, but it did leave a slightly bitter taste in the mouth.

Nothing's over yet, and there's a long way to go. On the 15th we're back in Saitama for Urawa. I suppose if anything, playing a bunch of mid-table also-rans should probably be easier than a team fighting for J1 survival. And today should serve as a kick up the backside, so expect better things next week.

Fair play to Omiya, though. I'd prefer to see them stay up, and if they can knock out a few more performances like today, they should manage it. Frontale lost 3-1 at home, and C. Osaka failed to pick up three points. Fingers crossed Kashima also stutter at home to Sendai. Nagoya will go seven points clear with a win against Yamagata tomorrow. 12 games to go.

S-Pulse 0-0 FC Tokyo (Nab Cup 1/4 Final 2nd Leg)

Barry writes:

S-Pulse 0-0 FC Tokyo

Agg: 1-1 (S-Pulse win on away goals)

Att. 5683

Line Up

GK Nishibe

DF Ichikawa
DF Iwashita
DF Hiraoka
DF Ota

MF Ito
MF Honda
MF Ono

FW Hyodo
FW Johnsen
FW Edamura

Subs Used

M. Yamamoto on for Edamura (68)
Hara on for Ono (80)
Nagasawa on for Johnsen (89)

Report

Well, if you're going to travel over 6000 miles for a 0-0, it had better be a good one. Luckily for me, it was, and while we rode our luck one, two, three - I lose count how many times, Nishibe played a blinder, we didn't concede, and we go through on away goals.

Full time

Tokyo will feel they should have won this - and on shots and chances, they should. They hit the bar and post I forget how many times (that said, we also rattled the woodwork once or twice) but just couldn't find a way through. As time went on, their desperation started to tell as the mistimed balls and over-hit passes increased in number.

Kenta thinks things over with Kazuaki

For our part, we were without both Okazaki and Fujimoto, whose 19 goals between them have seen them both called up to the national team, so with the untried top three of Hyodo, Johnsen and Edamura, I guess things were always going to be a bit on the slow side. We did carve out a few good chances, and Teru had a good game. He'll play to see his 500th appearance yet.

Take a bow - now win the semi!!

We'll meet Hiroshima in the semi finals. Leg one is September 29th in Hiroshima (Wed, 7pm). Leg two is October 10th in Shimizu (Sun, 3pm).

S-Pulse 2-0 Honda FC (Emp Cup 2nd Rnd)

Barry writes:

S-Pulse 2-0 Honda FC
Hara 74
Nagasawa 92

Att. 3739

Report

A reserve S-Pulse XI moved past local side Honda FC earlier today.

In the 3rd round we'll play J2 side Mito Hollyhock. The game will be at Nihondaira, Saturday October 9th. Kick off at 1pm.

Videos

Hara's opener:



Nagasawa makes it two:

FC Tokyo 1-1 S-Pulse (Nab Cup 1/4 Final 1st Leg)

Barry writes:

FC Tokyo 1-1 S-Pulse
Morishige 79 ----------------- Okazaki 68

Att. 12510

Line Up

GK Nishibe

DF Tsujio (yellow 54)
DF Iwashita
DF Hiraoka
DF Ota

MF Hyodo
MF Honda
MF Ito

FW Okazaki
FW Johnsen
FW Fujimoto

Subs Used

Edamura on for Okazaki (75)
Bosnar on for Tsujio (81)
M. Yamamoto on for Hyodo (86)

Report

A 1-1 draw away in Tokyo means we can get through in the 2nd leg with either a 0-0 draw or a win. 1-1 would mean extra time, any higher scoring draw would put us out, and a defeat would also spell the end of this year's Nabisco Cup adventure. Clear? Good. I'm off to watch my other footballing love, Brighton and Hove Albion, play Leyton Orient in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Seriously, the glamour never stops.

S-Pulse 2-0 Kawasaki

Barry writes:

S-Pulse 2-0 Kawasaki
Fujimoto 16
Okazaki 47

Att. 18792

Line Up

GK Nishibe

DF Ichikawa
DF Iwashita
DF Hiraoka
DF Ota

MF Hyodo
MF Honda
MF Ono

FW Okazaki
FW Johnsen
FW Fujimoto

Subs Used

M. Yamamoto on for Ono (69)
Bosnar on for Iwashita (74)
Ito on for Okazaki (87)

Report

Not got a lot of time to write much tonight as I have to hit the hay early. Off to Tokyo tomorrow before flying to England Tuesday for my brother's wedding. I've barely started my packing, so have it all to do!

Yep

Well, while I'm still awake, I'll put on record that we were a changed team after the Niigata and Iwata games. Much, much better stuff, and we came away with a deserved three points tonight. Kawasaki were, as we all know, dangerous going forward, but their frailty at the back (and wobbliness in midfield) was exposed time and again. We ourselves were perhaps fortunate to end the game having conceded none, but with a little better finishing, Frontale could have been facing, maybe not a cricket, but certainly a baseball score.

Yep

It was a cracking game, and I'm sure the neutrals among the near 19000 present (if there were any) had a great time. For the rest of us, it was nerve-wracking stuff. Check the highlights below for an overview of the game.

I'd better get myself to bed, but before I do, please take a bow Juninho. Your diving and play acting tonight was the most embarrassing display by a professional footballer I've ever witnessed live. Here's a tip for you: if the ball gets away from you in the penalty area, at least make sure you're within two metres of the defender before you trip over your own feet and tumble to the floor. One or two times you got away with your diving but doing just that - falling over when somewhere near your opponent - but your attempt at winning a penalty was just laughable, and I hope you felt as ridiculous as you looked.

And, yep

No game this weekend due to internationals, but Wednesday sees us take to the Ajinomoto Stadium for leg one of our Nabisco Cup quarter final with FC Tokyo. Bring it.

Videos

Full highlights:



And, go on then. Here's a video I took of our penalty.