Hiroshima Hold Grampus to Goalless Draw

In a move reflecting the need to spice up the midfield, manager Stojkovic included Akira Takeuchi at right back, with Hayuma Tanaka moving up into midfield. Yuki Maki got a start in place of Tamada, indicating that the manager is less than convinced by any of his option if Tamada or Davi are unavailable.

Although it is encouraging that the defense managed to hold free-scoring Sanfrecce goalless, the first team to do so this year, the lack of offensive punch cost us two home points. Tamada is expected back for the game against Kyoto on Saturday, and has been sorely missed in his absence. However, it looks like the team will struggle to create chances while Magnum is out injured.

Nagoya had the better of the first half, with Yuki Maki seeing a diving header come back off the cross-bar close to the half hour mark. He also saw another chance go begging, after a good run by Davi on the right, when his shot was cleared by a last-ditch lunge by a defender.

The second half was more even Hiroshima also managing to create a few chances, especially Hisato Sato, although none of them really troubled Narazaki. Despite five players in midfield, and the introduction of another when Hanai appeared, they could not break down Hiroshima to create a clear scoring opportunity, apart from one snap-shot by Davi early in the half.

Grampus
Seigo Narazaki
Akira Takeuchi (Sho Hanai 75), Maya Yoshida, Takahiro Masukawa, Shohei Abe
Hayuma Tanaka, Naoshi Nakamura, Keiji Yoshimura (Kei Yamaguchi 56), Yoshizumi Ogawa
Yuki Maki (Keita Sugimoto 64), Davi

Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Hirotsugu Nakabayashi
Ryota Moriwaki, Koji Nakajima, Tomoaki Makino
Ri Han Jae, Kazuyuki Morisaki, Toshihiro Aoyama, Kota Hattori
Ysuke Kashiwaki, Yojiro Takahagi
Hisato Sato