Burzanovic Blasts Sink Kobe

This foul-tinged game came down to the quality of the kickers, and the keepers. Although, Enomoto is pretty good, he could not do anything to stop Igor's two brilliantly-taken free kicks, while Narazaki was able to pull off a brilliant save to deny Popo. Both of the Montenegran's blasts were wickedly rising efforts that would have given any keeper little chance, the sought of kicks we have not seen at Grampus since Honda left. So while Igor's work-rate and defensive capabilities may leave a a bit to be desired, as long as he keeps getting on the scoresheet, Pixie is like to use him.

Highlights as ever via FootyTube. For once our Serbian and Montenegran viewers can enjoy the interview as well. :-)

The game started with a couple of early efforts by Nakamura and Magnum were blocked, as was a near-post effort by Ogawa. We quickly closed down Kobe, denying them space and often breaking up or intercepting their attempts to get forward. Kobe double-teamed Kennedy and a clumsy sandwiching foul led to free kick, which saw Popo booked for failing to retreat the full distance. Igor blasted the kick past the ineffective wall and into the top left corner, giving Enomoto no chance. Although Kobe fluffed a couple of half-chances to pull level, we continued to control the game and Josh should have done better than hit his effort straight at the keeper after being released by Magnum. The half ended in scrappy fashion with neither team really being able to gain an advantage.

We had a narrow escape early in the second half when a Popo free kick was brilliantly turned over by Narazaki. However, we soon resumed normal service, regaining control and Nakamura sent a difficult shot fizzing just wide. This was followed by a Kennedy header from a typically accurate cross by Alex, but the lanky Aussie's effort was straight at Enomoto. Kobe brought on their nippy Korean early on to try and exploit Hayuma's enforced restraint due to his early yellow card, but Stojkovic was wise to the move and soon swapped Tanaka for Tamada. This saw Ogawa dropp back into the vacant side half position. Another inept challenge on Josh gave Igor another chance to show us his bag of tricks, and the Montenegrin duly obliged with dipping effort that cleared the wall and left Enomoto stranded again. Some good work by Nakamura sent Mu Kanazaki down the left and his cross-ball fell inviting for the Tamada, but ht out-of-form striker inexplicably made no effort to get to the ball. Kennedy looked set to break clear as the clock wound down, but was ruthlessly upended Mu. Komoto who was duly booked for his cynical foul. We duly ran out the clock, with a more controlled performance then against FC Tokyo on Wednesday with the only excitement being Popo's dismissal for lashing out at Alex as the two tangled on the right touchline.

Grampus		2		0	Vissel
Starters				Starters
P.	No.	Name		Name	No.	P.
GK	1	Seigo Narazaki		Tatsuya Enomoto	1	GK
DF	32	Hayuma Tanaka		Yohei Ishibitsu	25	DF
DF	4	Tulio		Kunie Kitamoto	4	DF
DF	5	Takahiro Masukawa		Hiroyuki Komoto	5	DF
DF	38	Alex Santos		Hiroto Mogi	21	DF
MF	7	Naoshi Nakamura		Hideo Tanaka	18	MF
MF	10	Yoshizumi Ogawa		Ryosuke Matsuoka	8	MF
MF	9	Igor Burzanovic		Botti	10	MF
FW	25	Mu Kanazaki		Popo	11	FW
FW	16	Josh Kennedy		Ken Tokura	27	FW
FW	8	Magnum		Takayuki Yoshida	17	FW
Subs Bench				Subs Bench
GK	21	Koji Nishimura		Takahide Kishi	29	GK
DF	3	Mitsuru Chiyotanda		Tsuneyasu Miyamoto	14	DF
DF	6	Shohei Abe		Daisuke Tomita	33	DF
MF	7	Keiji Yoshimura		Park Kang Jo	20	MF
MF	20	Danilson		Ryota Morioka	20	MF
FW	11	Keiji Tamada		Masatoshi Mihara	24	MF
FW	17	Yuki Maki		Kensuke Nagai	35	FW

Burzanovic 26' Burzanovic 72'	Scorers
Grampus	Timeline	Vissel
	Card	Popo 25'
Burzanovic 26'	GOAL
Tanaka 29'	Card
Masukawa 42'	Card
Burzanovic 45+2'	Card
Tulio 50'	Card
	Substitution	Botti > Park 59'
Tanaka > Tamada 68'	Substitution
	Substitution	Tanaka > Nagai 70'
Burzanovic 72'	GOAL
Burzanovic > Yoshimura 74'	Substitution
	Card	Komoto 89'
Nakamura > Danilson 90'	Substitution
	Card	Popo 90+4'