National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Shimizu S-Pulse or Kashima Antlers that keep their silverware dream alive.
There’s little time for restitution or working hard at the training pitch these days, with both teams having played their last game less than four days ago.
Shimizu S-Pulse form and stats
Last season, Shimizu's Ybc Levain Cup journey ended in the group stage.2 victories, 0 draws and 3 defeats. That’s what Shimizu S-Pulse have to build on here at IAI Stadium Nihondaira in the J-League. Two home wins in a row for Shimizu bring valid hopes of a third.
Shimizu S-Pulse's last game was hosting Consadole Sapporo and winning 3-1. Preceding that match was the home Ybc Levain Cup game against Nagoya Grampus that was lost 0-3.
Shimizu are traveling soon after this match as the J-League match at Vegalta Sendai awaits in three days.
The Shimizu manager P. Cklamovski has got the team scoring with 10 from 5 home games in the league. Shimizu are struggling defensively, conceding on average more than two goals per home game (10 from 5 played).
Kashima Antlers form and stats
Kashima's mission in Ybc Levain Cup last season failed in the semi-finals.The visitors are W1-D0-L4 on the road this term. That's in the J-League.
Kashima Antlers won their last game, 2-0 versus Sagan Tosu played at home. The game before that, in the Ybc Levain Cup, was lost at home, a 2-3 defeat against Kawasaki Frontale.
The visitors are returning home after this fixture, hosting Vissel Kobe in just four days.
Kashima Antlers are scoring more than one goal per away game on average, having accumulated 5 away goals from 5 games (in the league). Kashima's defence is not exactly unbeatable as they have conceded 8 goals from these trips.
Head 2 Head
Head-2-head stats last ten meetings: one - two - seven (Shimizu S-Pulse wins - draws - Kashima Antlers wins). As for goals, six matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), four had two or less.Top Goalscorers
  K. Nishizawa 7 goals |
Shimizu S-Pulse missing players
Kashima Antlers missing players
| Shimizu S-Pulse | Kashima Antlers | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 12 | Played | P | 12 | 25 | ||
| 6 | 4 | Won | W | 3 | 9 | ||
| 5 | 1 | Drew | D | 2 | 4 | ||
| 14 | 7 | Lost | L | 7 | 12 | ||
| 34 | 17 | Scored | S | 9 | 27 | ||
| 48 | 24 | Conceded | C | 15 | 33 | ||
| 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 92% | 92% | ||
| 92% | 92% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 50% | 60% | ||
| 68% | 83% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 33% | 40% | ||
| 40% | 42% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 17% | 28% | ||
| 16% | 17% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 8% | 16% | ||
| 72% | 75% | BTTS | BTTS | 33% | 40% | ||
| 12% | 8% | Clean Sheets | C S | 25% | 28% | ||
| 16% | 17% | Failed to Score | F T | 50% | 40% | ||
| 5.3 | 5.7 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 4.6 | 4.3 | ||
| 5.2 | 4.1 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 4.2 | 3.9 | ||
| 0.9 | 1 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.9 | 1.5 | ||
| 1 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 1 | 1 | ||
| 248 | 157 | Total Shots | T S | 86 | 219 | ||
| 90 | 59 | Shots on Target | S O | 23 | 72 | ||
| 36% | 29% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 35% | 31% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Kawasaki Frontale | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| 2 | Nagoya Grampus | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| 3 | Kashima Antlers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 3 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -7 | 0 |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Kawasaki Frontale | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 17 | 25 |
| 2 | Gamba Osaka | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 19 |
| 3 | Nagoya Grampus | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 17 |
| 4 | Cerezo Osaka | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 17 |
| 5 | Kashiwa Reysol | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 16 |
| 6 | Tokyo | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 14 |
| 7 | Urawa Reds | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 11 | -5 | 14 |
| 8 | Consadole Sapporo | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 12 |
| 9 | Vissel Kobe | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | -2 | 12 |
| 10 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -1 | 11 |
| 11 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 10 |
| 12 | Kashima Antlers | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 8 | -1 | 10 |
| 13 | Vegalta Sendai | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | -5 | 9 |
| 14 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 8 |
| 15 | Sagan Tosu | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | -5 | 7 |
| 16 | Oita Trinita | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 10 | -9 | 7 |
| 17 | Yokohama | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | -12 | 5 |
| 18 | Shonan Bellmare | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 9 | -6 | 4 |