Ten-man S-pulse break losing streak with heroic stand (Shimizu S-pulse vs Kawasaki Frontale analysis) | OneFootball

Shimizu S-pulse Hold Frontale to Hard-Fought Draw Despite Late Red Card

Match Report

Shimizu S-pulse ended their three-match losing streak with a resilient 1-1 draw against Kawasaki Frontale at IAI Stadium Nihondaira in the J1 League's tenth round of fixtures.

Koya Kitagawa put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute, only for Yuki Yamamoto to level matters six minutes later. Shimizu were forced to dig deep in the closing stages after Kengo Kitazume received a straight red card with just six minutes of normal time remaining.

Tactical Battle

Both sides lined up in matching 4-2-3-1 formations, with the visitors enjoying marginally more possession (52%) in a tightly contested affair. Despite creating more opportunities with 19 shots to Shimizu's 11, Frontale couldn't find a winner even after their numerical advantage in the closing stages.

Shimizu goalkeeper Yuya Oki delivered a standout performance with four crucial saves, particularly in the first half when denying Frontale's Brazilian striker Erison on multiple occasions.

Key Moments

The match began with an early caution for Shimizu's Kai Matsuzaki in the 15th minute, setting a physical tone that continued throughout. Frontale's Kota Takai also entered the referee's notebook just before the interval.

The breakthrough came just after the hour mark when Kitagawa won and then converted a penalty to register his fifth goal of the season. However, Frontale's response was swift, with Yamamoto finishing coolly after good work from Sota Miura in the 68th minute.

Shimizu's task became significantly harder when Kitazume received a straight red card with six minutes remaining, but the ten men held firm to secure a valuable point.

Standout Performers

For the hosts, defender Yuji Takahashi impressed with a commanding defensive display, winning 10 of his 15 duels alongside an interception and a block. Kitagawa led the line effectively, while Oki's goalkeeping heroics earned him a 7.2 rating.

Frontale's Miura was perhaps the game's outstanding player with a 7.9 rating, providing the assist for the equaliser while contributing defensively. Erison was a constant threat up front with three shots, two on target, while goalscorer Yamamoto controlled midfield with 67 passes and two interceptions.

League Context

The result extends Kawasaki's unbeaten run to six matches but represents their third consecutive draw, potentially hampering their title aspirations. They remain sixth in the table, missing the opportunity to close the gap on the leaders.

For Shimizu, currently tenth in the standings, ending their losing streak provides a welcome morale boost as they continue their rebuilding phase following significant squad changes in the recent transfer window.

What's Next

Both teams face challenging fixtures next time out, with Shimizu travelling to face Yokohama F. Marinos at Nissan Stadium, while Kawasaki visit Vissel Kobe at NOEVIR Stadium Kobe in what will be their seventh match in just 23 days.