A player I am a BIG fan of…. it starts with that incredible dipping free kick for Verdy way back in … well, last season!
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Afshin Ghotbi Comments on S-Pulse Performance
From http://www.afshinghotbi.com
To go with my match report, here’s what Mr. Ghotbi had to say…
Cheered on by a home crowd of over 15,000, we never gave up. This is the spirit that will make this team a contender for the championship! In the last second, a scramble in the goalmouth salvaged an important point.
Our players started the match without the energy or the concentration necessary to collect all three points. A good week of preparation including several meetings to warn against complacency went on deaf ears. Players proud of their previous achievements forgot the essence of their success. For the first thirty minutes, we were always one metre too far or one second too late. A costly uncharacteristic error by Hayashi left our goal unattended, and Cerezo punished us. We improved gradually, but we always lacked the sharpness to break through. Alex (Brosque) had the best chance of the first half, but his free-kick was pushed wide by Cerezo’s goalkeeper, Kim Jin Hyeon.
I tried to activate and recharge our players with a tough discussion at half time, and decided to wait on any substitution. Frankly, I could have changed nine players without hesitation. Unfortunately, the rules limit me to three substitutions per game! In the second half, we started to control the game. Our passing game improved, but we could not create any meaningful chances. Cerezo defended in numbers, and they looked dangerous on their counters. I had to go to my bench, bringing on Takahara (55), Kobayashi (63) and Franca (78). All three changes improved our team. I altered our tactical organization with the addition of Franca as a second central striker, and moved Kawai to right back. Two changes with my last substitution improved our attack both on top and the right flank. With four strikers and attacking with wide defenders, the pressure on Cerezo’s goal increased every minute. Franca and Kobayashi had the best chances to equalize, but Franca”s header missed the mark, while Kobayashi’s header was cleared off the line. Finally, the determination of our players was rewarded with Alex scoring his fourth goal of the season, after a scramble in front of goal. Bravo to our fighting spirit, and huge thanks to our supporters for believing in us.
Finally, I am disappointed by our performance against Cerezo Osaka. However, I am encouraged by our never give up spirit.
Sanfrecce – Aoyama's 63 yard goal, and bowling celebration.
JSoccer.COMment – Results Round-Up of Games 8, 9 and 10
Pre-Game Songs, Teams Enter, silly mascots! Cerezo Osaka v. Vissel Kobe
ベガルタ仙台０-１清水エスパルス – 5月6日
仙台での１位・２位決戦、エスパルスにとっては勝ち点６の意味を持つゲームだったが、
プレビューで私が予想した通り、エスパルスが無敗を続けるベガルタにとうとう土がつける！エスパルスのアフシン・ゴトビ監督は、若さと情熱、気骨と経験を見事に融合させ、リーグ制覇を狙えるチームに作り上げている。これを知っているのは、ゴトビ監督自身の口からその理念を聞いているからだ！
今日の静岡は、高木と大前の小柄ツインをトップに、ＧＫには代表ＧＫを控えに置いて林を起用。またアレックス・ブロスケが出場停止から戻ってチームに活力を与える。ゲームは青空の下で開始するが、突然の雷雨で45分間の中断。雹が選手に降り付ける一幕も！
再開後、前半30分を経過したとき、関口がボレーシュート。はじいたボールに詰め寄ったウィルソンを、ＧＫ林が辛うじて防ぐ。直後、高木の深いクロスに反応した大前がボレーを放つと、仙台のＧＫ林もナイスセーブ。そして前半39分、このこう着状態を高木・大前のコンビが打開。高木の内に巻いてくるクロスに大前が頭で合わせると、ボールはキーパーを抜けてゴールに吸い込まれた。
試合は一進一退を繰り広げ、両チームとも互角のチャンスで迎えた後半23分。ヨンアピンがウィルソンを倒し、２枚目のイエローを受けて退場。エスパルスは、最後の20分間、10人での戦いを強いられる！武藤、ウィルソンと、仙台の終了間際の猛攻をＧＫ林の好セーブなどで凌ぎ、無敗を続けてきた首位チームに土をつけた。これで１位・２位との差は勝ち点２に縮まる。エスパルス、この勢いで一気に首位に駆け上がるか！
Afshin Ghotbi speaks to the fans ….
Vegalta Sendai 0 – 1 Shimizu S-Pulse
What a game! Hail, thunder, rain, yellow cards (five to be exact) matching the color of Sendai’s uniforms, fantastic goal, undeserved red card, and championship spirit from our orange men. I am proud of our players, staff, and supporters for a well-deserved victory against the unbeaten Sendai.
The opening exchange was guarded, as stakes were high between the 1st and 2nd teams in J1. After 13 minutes, hail the size of ice cubes started falling from the sky. The dark clouds rolled in, followed by lighting and thunder.
The match was suspended for almost forty-five minutes. It gave me a great opportunity to make some adjustments. In a short meeting, we used video images from the high camera and showed ways we could achieve our mission.
When the match resumed, our players reacted perfectly. With a slicker surface after the hail and rain, we were able increase the ball speed making more space and creating several good scoring opportunities. A timely goal came on a move started by a quick re-start and a perfectly weighted pass from Takagi to Genki (Omae). The lofted pass finds Genki behind the defense, and he makes sure to head it down for the only goal of the game.
We went into the second half with the intention of controlling the game with long possession and more goals. Genki and Sho both had wonderful chances. Calvin’s second yellow card forced us to use our last substitution, bringing Hiraoka into the central defence. We defended in a 4-2-3 formation, and stood strong for 26 minutes, including added time, earning a hard-fought victory.
A third victory, a clean sheet, and a heroic performance over a week giving us twenty-one points in the league so far. I want to thank all the supporters who made the long journey and shared this very special game with us. You are our inspiration.
５月３日 Ｊ１総集編
Ｊリーグ・ウォッチャーにはＧＷなどない！
試合結果:
コンサドーレ札幌１-０セレッソ大阪
ヴィッセル神戸３-０大宮アルディージャ
川崎フロンターレ４-３ジュビロ磐田
サンフレッチェ広島０-１アルビレックス新潟
サガン鳥栖１-１ベガルタ仙台
浦和レッズ１-２横浜Ｆマリノス
清水エスパルス３-０鹿島アントラーズ
Ｊサッカーのコメント:
乱調セレッソ、コンサドーレ札幌に今季初白星を献上！前半25分の近藤の得点を守り切り、コンサドーレ、勝ち点３をゲット。
和田監督を解任し、安達ヘッドコーチを暫定監督としているヴィッセル神戸は、西野朗氏とは金銭上の、またスチュワート・バクスター氏とは旅程面での、最終調整を行っている。ジョゼップ・グアルディオラ氏へのアプローチもあり得る。（私個人は、ミカエル・ラウドルップ氏を提言したが）ヴィッセル神戸が自信に満ちた内容で大宮アルディージャを敗った知らせに、新監督は喜ぶことだろう！小川、李、茂木の得点（ファーストタッチが得点になる）。
風間新監督のもと、得点の感覚を取り戻したフロンターレだが、ジュビロの追い上げに冷や汗勝利。打ち合いを制したフロンターレ、矢島が２得点の活躍。
首位仙台を肉薄していたサンフレッチェ広島が、思いがけない星を落とし、アルビレックスに今季初勝利を献上。サンフレッチェの出来が悪かったのか、アルビレックスが良かったのか、両要因が作用した試合だった！
プレビューでの予測通り、鳥栖が無敗ベガルタを相手に引き分けに持ち込む。仙台の勢いはこれで止まるのか？今週末のエスパルス戦は、ベガルタを引き下ろすきっかけとなるか？ご注目を！
レッズ、マリノスにまさかの２連勝をプレゼント。齋藤がラブリーなゴールでの先制（簡単な得点を決めたことはあるのか！？）に、槙野の「らしい」ゴールで同点に追いつくも、途中出場のベテラン・マルキーニョスが決勝弾を叩き込み、マリノスの勝利を決定づける！
リーグ制覇を狙う清水エスパルス、復調アントラーズを３-０で完封。相手ＧＫのはじいたボールを伊藤が押し込んで先制。高木の技ありの追加点、大前が右足ボレーでダメ押しと、そつない試合運びで鹿島を圧倒。
注: ＦＣ東京 VS. 柏レイソル戦、ガンバ大阪 VS. 名古屋グランパス戦は、ＡＣＬ出場のため、６月27日に順延。
J1 Round-Up, May 3rd, Matchday 9
An all-in-one report this weekend due to the glut of J.League in Golden Week – you thought it was a holiday!? Not for us J.League watchers!
Here are the results:
Consadole Sapporo 1-0 Cerezo Osaka
Vissel Kobe 3-0 Omiya Ardija
Kawasaki Frontale 4-3 Jubilo Iwata
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0-1 Albirex Niigata
Sagan Tosu 1-1 Vegalta Sendai
Urawa Reds 1-2 Yokohama F. Marinos
Shimizu S-Pulse 3-0 Kashima Antlers
JSoccer.COMment:
Cerezo proved once and for all how inconsistent they are by giving Cosadole Sapporo their first win of the season! Yusuke Kondo scored the winner in the 25th minute and Consadole hold on for the three points.
Vissel Kobe fired coach Wada, put Adachi in charge for a couple of games while they work out finances with Akira Nishino, travel arrangements with Stuart Baxter, or work up enough courage to approach Pep Guardiola! (I also suggested that Michael Laudrup be considered!). The new coach will be happy to know that Vissel played with freedom and confidence and destroyed Omiya Ardija with ease! Goals from Ogawa, lee and Mogi (his first touch) sealed the points for Vissel.
Frontale found their goalscoring touch under new coach Kazama, but almost let Jubilo back into the game late on. Jubilo are being found out after their start seemed better than they deserved? Yajima scored two for Frontale.
Sanfrecce gave Albirex their first win of the season, just when it seemed Sanfrecce would make a run at Sendai on top. Were Sanfrecce bad, or did Albirex finally come good? A bit of both, it seems!
Tosu held unbeaten Vegalta to a draw, just as predicted on this very site in the previews. Is that the beginning of the end for Sendai? Will S-Pulse take them out this weekend and send them on a downward spiral? Watch this space!
Reds gave Marinos an unexpected second win in-a-row on Thursday. Saito scored a lovely goal (does he ever score simple ones!!?), Makino matched his brilliance with one of his own to make it 1-1, but old soldier Marquinos came on as a late sub and confounded us all with the winner!
S-Pulse staked their claim to be title contenders with a 3-0 drubbing of resurgent Antlers. Ito popped one in at close range very early on, then Takagi scored a screamer, and Omae another well taken volley to round out the scoring and send the away team back to Kashima under a cloud.
Note that FC Tokyo v. Kashiwa Reysol and Gamba Osaka v. Nagoya Grampus – postponed die to ACL commitments – will be played on June 27