Match Report
The table read 8th (Kawasaki Frontale, 57 pts) against 14th (Shimizu S-Pulse, 44 pts), 13 points apart. Kawasaki Frontale ranked just 13th in the league on five-round form despite their 8th table position. Against a league average of 1.2 goals per team per game, Kawasaki Frontale ran at 1.76 scored and 1.5 conceded, Shimizu S-Pulse at 1.08 and 1.34.
Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium staged the fixture, a ground that holds 15,440. Half-time and full-time told different stories: Kawasaki Frontale led 4-1 at the break, before 3 more goals closed it at 5-3.
Goal scorers
Kawasaki Frontale: Tatsuya Ito (13'), Yasuto Wakizaka (4'), Asahi Sasaki (7'), Erison (37'), So Kawahara (69') · Shimizu S-Pulse: Toshiki Takahashi (46'), Kazuki Kozuka (45'), Koya Kitagawa (90')
Key stats
Possession: Kawasaki Frontale 41% · Shimizu S-Pulse 59% · Total shots: 19-16 · On target: 9-4 · Corners: 4-4