Hard Fought Victory …

An important fixture for both teams, as the J.League table is congested and a few points can be the difference from the top to the middle of the table. The atmosphere in the team was perfect approaching the match. The return of Muramatsu and the new signing of Kim Hyun Sung, both returning from the London Olympics, increased our options. The Best Amenity Stadium provided a perfect football setting for an exciting encounter. Sagan Tosu’s “kick and rush” style matched their British stadium atmosphere, posing a different challenge for our team.

We started well and controlled the early exchanges, but a quick counter attack after we lost the ball in midfield changed the tides in the first half. Tosu nearly scored from a couple of dangerous set pieces, and the cross bar came to our rescue when we made four individual mistakes in a row allowing a volley to beat Yamamoto. The sound of the ball smashing against our cross bar was a wake up call. We improved in the latter stages of the half and Kim, Takagi, Ishige and Muramatsu all came close to scoring before the end of the half.

During the intermission,I had an opportunity to make the necessary adjustments in our attacking and defending organization. In short, in attack we needed to find the free space earlier and move the ball swifter, and defensively we needed to stay more compact in midfield and pressure the ball higher. We improved a great deal in the 2nd half. We were finally rewarded through a well-taken corner from Omae and a powerful header from Muramatsu. Alex Brosque, returning from his national team duties arrived one day before the match and was not fit to start, but his inclusion in the 2nd half played a key role in our victory. He had a golden chance to double our lead late in the game, as he was clear behind the defense, but Tosu’s goalkeeper, Okuda, made the big play, blocking Alex’s shot. The closing minutes in the six minutes of added time were action-packed, with intense duels making an exciting conclusion to a hard fought game…

Again, special thanks to all the traveling S-Pulse fans for making the long journey. You are always with us. We will meet Urawa next Saturday in a key J.League fixture. Until then, so long, and thanks for all the fish.

(Note – he didn’t actually say, “… and thanks for all the fish”!)

Text and photo courtesy of www.afshinghotbi.com
Original article at http://www.afshinghotbi.com/en/article/?q_id=2659