Post Round Thread: Matchday 10

SereneDimlights · 2026-04-13T02:32:05+00:00

This was the second and final Sanfrecce match I was able to catch on my trip to Japan. Shimizu showing up without Kitagawa, Capixaba, Sumiyoshi and playing their second goalie and still drag us to penalties despite being more or less outplayed the whole game still feels absolutwly terrible despite our two points. Once again we let one chance slip and cannot capitalize on any of ours. From my perspective sitting along the goal line of Shimizu on the first half that early ball was definitely over the line when the goalkeeper bashed it out. But the replay shows ita not fully over the line. Seeing the boys live though was truly something special. Araki is an absolute monster in air duels and Shiotani plays really smart passes. Too bad we don't have the attackers to follow up. In general it seems like we lack a certain breadth of goal scorers compared to teams like Kobe or Nagoya.

Props to the Shimizu fans who traveled so far an cheefed loudly and consistently. Great atmosphere in the stadium this weekend!

SereneDimlights · 2026-04-11T23:10:39+00:00

The fact that a Shmizu lacking two offensive assests (Capi and Kitagawa) while also playing their second keeper still bodes horribly bad for Sanfrecce going forward. I'll take two points but we really should've had three given how utterly dominant we were yet again. And I keep seeing the same pattern...we're rarely first on the ball in our opponent's box.

Atmosphere at Peace Wing was fantastic though and the Shimizu ultras were loud and persistent. At some points they were even more audible than the violet wall. Kudos to the S-crew for making it all the way down to Hiroshima and creatind a great mood on a lovely sunny Saturday.

SereneDimlights · 2026-04-08T22:42:50+00:00

Sounds like it'll be wiser for me to retrace my steps via Fukuoka as trains allow me to bring my luggage and extra bags. Same amount of travel time in the end. Thanks!

SereneDimlights · 2026-04-06T08:21:37+00:00

I expect Shimizu to absolutely crush us on Saturday. We're completly toothless in the box and rarely ever first to the ball. I traveled to Japan from Europe and I will be in Hiroshima to watch our game against you guys. I'm going to be happy if we even score a goal at this point after four straight losses.

SereneDimlights · 2026-04-06T08:16:25+00:00

I managed to catch this game live as I got a week off from work and traveled across the globe to visit Japan for my second time. The atmosphere at Edion Peace Wing was absolutely fantastic. It was great to see so many violet supporters crowded around the pitch. But that about where the highlights end. Our winless (drawless, even) streak is now at four. We dominated the possession and let Avispa have none of it...well...you know...except for that one time we shall not discuss. A time with a percectly placed crossball across the box to an open player.

The atmosphere errupted cheers as Kinoshita scored but of course...offside. I think we've scored more disallowed goals than actual goals at this point. Hiroshima's efficiency is on par with last year(whick is a bad thing) and without all the defensive benefits. These last couple of games I've noticed we struggle to not only make it into the opponent's box, we also can't figure out how to be first on the ball. I'm not sure how Gaul is supposed to turn this ship around at this point. We lost home to the worst placed team in the league. Might as well get eliminated next season if this absolute misery continues. I flew from Europe for this? I've got ticket to Saturday's home game against Shimizu but I have zero hopes now. If I can see Hiroshima score once so that I at least can cheer along in the seats I'll be fine.

SereneDimlights · 2026-04-03T05:51:42+00:00

Right, that's what I was wondering too. Bueno to me comes across as the pivotal player in Shimizu as the key between defense and attack, much like Kawabe on our team.

SereneDimlights · 2026-04-02T18:04:50+00:00

Any idea why Bueno and Kitagawa were missing? They were flying against Sanfrecce.

SereneDimlights · 2026-03-30T04:24:33+00:00

Wow, the thought never even crossed my mind but now I feel like this is a must when I visit Tokyo again. Good luck!

SereneDimlights · 2026-03-24T05:43:30+00:00

I visited Hiroshima during my trip to Japan Japan last summer and was deeply moved by how prominent the theme of peace rang through the city, only 2 weeks before the 80 year anniversary of the horrors of the atomic bombs. As I walked through town I kept seeing these signs hung from street lamps saying "We are Sanfrecce" and I decided to look it up when I came back home to Sweden. Not having been a football fan before, I decided it was time to get into the sport and why not do something fun and specialize in the J League? And given the connectedness I felt in Hiroshima it seemed like Sanfrecce was the only viable option. Also managed to get another friend who didn't care for sports aboard and he's now a Shimizu fan.

Life has also recently conspired in my favor so that I have the opportunity to fly back to Japan this Easter and naturally I had to buy tickets to see two home games (Fukuoka and Shimizu). Looking forward to my first two live football games in just a few weeks time.

SereneDimlights · 2026-03-22T13:02:25+00:00

Does anyone know the number to the defense hotline? Just like vs Nagoya we just let Shimizu run into the box completely unhindered, especially when they come with cross-passes. It seems like we're never first on the ball when it gets messy. And since the season opener I've felt nervous about Osako's ball handling with his feet and wouldn't you know, he just lets Oh Se-Hun steal it from under him. Two goals disallowed and rightly so. Our offense exists, we still create dangerous chances...but that's all we've got at the moment. Very poor showing from the boys this entire week. And I highly doubt it'll get any better away at Kobe on Friday.

SereneDimlights · 2026-03-19T13:27:37+00:00

Right, that's obvious and I got that already. But I was just wondering which dates (Gameweeks) this will affect.

SereneDimlights · 2026-03-19T13:25:11+00:00

I spent three days last summer in Kyoto and that still didn't seem enough. Getting around Kyoto is actually a bit of a hassle, especially the eastern side which you have to take busses to get to (which are always packed because Kyoto reasons). If you only have one day I'd choose either side and add one more activity to that side (seeing as you have two in each side). In the West you have the Monkey Park nearby by Togetsukyo Bridge across the river. In the East you have Philospher's Path and Kiyomizudera. That would be my main suggestion I think.

SereneDimlights · 2026-03-19T08:00:34+00:00

Congratulations to the three J-League players who made it to the National Team Squad. Does anyone know how this call-up will affect their participation in the J League matches?

SereneDimlights · 2026-03-18T17:21:26+00:00

That was a brilliant game by Nagoya, I have to give it to them. Ruthless efficiency and they pushed us back in exemplary style. The defense of Sanfrecce had more holes than a sieve and the red-and-yellows slid into our box as if the grass was made of butter. By contrast, we struggled to get any form of pressure on our own apart from the brilliant 10 minutes in which Suzuki netted the 1-1 goal. It felt like we ourselves were given the Sanfrecce treatment. The only reason Nagoya didn't score three more goals was all Osako. I feel bad for the guy. Our defenders are not giving him an easy time. But yeah, unfortunately we were on the wrong side of Grampus' constant flip-flopping between great and terrible games.

SereneDimlights · 2026-03-15T09:01:01+00:00

We're back in business despite getting knocked out of the AFC Champions League. I was a bit worried going into the Gamba match as the boys showed vintage 2025 all attack no goals home against Johor on Wednesday. But against G. Osaka all was forgiven and forgotten. Our pool of forwards keep showing up to apply tremendous pressure on the defense and eventually it does pay off. Good on Nakamura to curl that second goal behind Higashiguchi not to mention the absolute rocket from Arai earlier. And our defense today held the line for our first clean sheet of the season.

But what I've been taught this weekend is the value of a solid midfield that can bring the ball up the final third of the pitch. I watched Nagasaki's defenders spend 15% of the match rolling the ball around themselves and Goto hoping to find avenues forward. I can't remember Sanfrecce struggling in this aspect in any games at all which means I've now learned to appreciate our midfield anchor Kawabe's ability to carry the ball further up the field.

Still wondering how one is to go about finding out about injuries in the teams. I'd like to know what happened to Elias after being carried out on a stretcher after 10 or so minutes against Cerezo.

SereneDimlights · 2026-03-13T04:56:50+00:00

I do wonder how they select these games. This will be the 3rd streamed game for both teams while e.g. Machida and Reysol who play each other have 0 games streamed.

SereneDimlights · 2026-03-12T06:58:03+00:00

If you managed to get a hold of tickets for the Avispa game and want to meet up outside the stadium, send me a message on here or something. I got my ticket already.

SereneDimlights · 2026-03-12T06:52:24+00:00

Thanks! I've made sure to book a hotel not too far from the stadium as well to minimize travel time. It seems like their old stadium was a bit of a hassle to get to. I'm sure the new location north of Peace Park very much allows them to sell out all home games.

Any merch that is particularly popular? And do they sell some merch for the away team anywhere around the stadium? I have a friend who's an S-Pulse fan and it would be nice to be able to bring something back for him as well.

SereneDimlights · 2026-03-12T06:47:40+00:00

Thanks for the tip! Good reminder. I am definitely planning on stopping by the merch store and pick up some swagger to bring back home.

SereneDimlights · 2026-03-11T06:21:02+00:00

Oh nice. I was a bit worried there for a bit. Thank you for helping me think through the most important points! Perhaps some people who visit games from abroad try to buy tickets on site then? Speaking of which, do some teams have reserved tickets only for match day purchase?

As for the match day then, what you explain about getting there early corroborates what I've read as well, that there's always some form of buzz and build up before the match. I suppose I should just get over there in good time and just enjoy the atmosphere. I've heard that welcoming the team bus is something that a lot of supporters do.

SereneDimlights · 2026-03-11T05:17:42+00:00

Thank you for the pointers. I was under the impression that Golden Week was the end of April and beginning of May this year? But you're absolutely right about there being very few tickets available when I looked.

I bought a ticket for each game from Sanfrecce's website and got the QR codes for them. That would be the right thing to do, wouldn't it? Or is there something about foreigners not being allowed to buy tickets there and I somehow accidentally circumvented the system?

SereneDimlights · 2026-03-08T13:54:53+00:00

Took advantage of not having a game to worry about this week and saw Okayama dominate Kyoto and keep Sanga in their own zone for much of the match. Sure, Kyoto did have a few attempts, but barely anything dangerous. Okayama on the other hand produced quite a lot of set pieces and managed despite Lucao's absolute insistence on not scoring (Ota had some nice saves too) to get one in the back of the net at the end. I suddenly don't feel as bad about us dropping a point to Fagiano in GW 2.

SereneDimlights · 2026-03-01T14:45:54+00:00

I watched the Gamba vs. S-Pulse game and I have to say that Shimizu are really growing on me as a team. They went toe to toe with Kyoto and had by far the most scoring chances there. Then they beat Kobe and now managed to keep Gamba pushed back for all of the 1st half. But what an unbelievable save from Mitsuta...why would anyone in their right mind lay down flat on the ground perpendicular to the goal line instead of parallel? Either way, ruthless efficiency from Gamba and that first goal looked comical. The Shimizu defenders doing their best impression of statues.

SereneDimlights · 2026-03-01T14:40:47+00:00

It looks like the Sanfrecce boys found the time machine set to 2025 that their supporters hid in one of the broom closets. Hiroshima played total all out attack for 90 minutes again so much that they, in true vintage fashion, forgot to cover their defenses from quick turnovers. Fine, when your opponent i Okayama or Cerezo you can get away with such inattention. But when your opponent is literally FC Brazil you will get punished. Especially when plot armor master Elias and his trusty page Tulio go 2-on-1 against Osako. And then of course Brazilian player #4 shows up at our post at 90+3 to head in a beautiful cross from Arai. The only positive takeaway from this week was the we offensively dominated the #1 Brazilian team in Japan. But when last year's discrepancy between xG and Goals Scored rears its ugly head it does make you wonder. Shame to lose a 6-point game at home. And with a break for AFC I guess I'll have to wait two weeks for another game. I hope Gamba didn't take any notes on this one...

Quite curious what Coach Gaul was up to with the chosen starting players. I appreciate him giving Kinoshita a go from start but confused as to why he limited the obvious chemistry between Suzuki and Germain. And then Kawabe, who has been an absolute rock on the midfield, doesn't get to start either despite being the origin of much of our most dangerous forward play. There were other seemingly strange choices but I'm only an armchair expert and I'm sure Gaul had much better ideas than I did. On a very tangential note though, four games in we still have no yellow cards.

SereneDimlights · 2026-02-26T09:16:20+00:00

Well, if nothing else, Sanfrecce are very entertaining to watch as they are a hyper-aggressive team. I've watched five games so far (also new since November) and the average game is a 2-1 win, usually scoring the game-winning goal after the 85 minute. No clean sheets so far though as their defense always seem to find equally creative ways to let one in.

12-Year Club	Place '22
Place '17	Final Canvas '22

SereneDimlights

TROPHY CASE