2. FC Tokyo (10) vs
TEAM NEWS
FC Tokyo will have a full squad except defender Daishi Hiramatsu
and midfielder Takuji Yonemoto.
Shimizu S-Pulse defender Daisuke Ichikawa and goalkeeper Yohei
Nishibe will be absent due to injury.
FC Tokyo
Suspended: None
Doubtful: None
Injured/unavailable: Daishi Hiramatsu (Achilles'
tendon), Takuji Yonemoto
(ligament)
Shimizu S-Pulse
Suspended: None
Doubtful: None
Injured/unavailable: Daisuke Ichikawa (knee), Yohei Nishibe (cerebral concussion)
MATCH PREVIEW
FC Tokyo ended their 6-game winless streak by defeating Montedio
Yamagata 3-0 in Round 11. 19-year-old forward Kentaro
Shigematsu scored a goal and proved that he is the
best player in the team. He can solve the team's problems in attack.
Players were under immense pressure while FC Tokyo were
winless. They couldn't do their best. Now they're confident and
hungry for more success.
Shimizu S-Pulse had never lost this year before the match against Albirex Niigata in Round 11. Three important players were suspended
in that game, so it was a big handicap for Shimizu S-Pulse. The defeat
can be said as "logical". As the table shows, Shimizu S-Pulse are a very strong team. They have quality players like
midfielder Shinji Ono and forward Shinji Okazaki. They're determined to
stop repeating mistakes.
Shimizu S-Pulse will win the match.
HEAD TO HEAD
Last year, FC Tokyo won both games 2-1.
FC Tokyo
have a better record of 5 wins and 1 draw in their last 6 encounters (cup and
league games included)
FC Tokyo midfielder Naohiro Ishikawa has scored 3
goals in previous confrontations.