J1 League Gameweek 7
Avispa Fukuoka 1 - 1 PEN 4-5 Shimizu S-pulse
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Futmetrix Verdict
43
Coventry
vs
Newcastle
Mon, Oct 12 • 19:00 UTC
⚡ Form
47
⚖️ Balance
95
🏆 Stakes
0
⭐ Stars
72
Coventry's survival bid meets Newcastle's inconsistency.
Futmetrix Verdict
83
Al-Wasl FC
vs
Al-Ahli Jeddah
Mon, Oct 12 • 16:00 UTC
⚡ Form
31
⚖️ Balance
82
🏆 Stakes
0
⭐ Stars
66
Early AFC Champions League Elite test.
Futmetrix Verdict
45
Atalanta
vs
Venezia
Mon, Oct 12 • 16:30 UTC
⚡ Form
51
⚖️ Balance
60
🏆 Stakes
0
⭐ Stars
64
Desperate Venezia seek lifeline against Atalanta.
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Kazuki Kozuka 14'
HT
46' ↓ S. Sato ↑K. Maeda
↓ K. Kozuka ↑K. Matsuzaki 54'
58' ↓ Y. Kitajima ↑S. Nago
58' ↓ N. Ben Khalifa ↑A. Sani Brown
K. Kitazume (K. Kitagawa) 59'
66' Hanan Saniburaun
71' ↓ M. Shigemi ↑K. Fujimoto
↓ K. Kitazume ↑S. Takagi 73'
80' ↓ Y. Maejima ↑S. Zahedi
85' S. Zahedi (S. Nago)
↓ K. Kitagawa ↑K. Chiba 86'
↓ Oh Se-Hun ↑T. Takahashi 87'
↓ Y. Honda ↑R. Ohata 87'
Bench Tatsuki Nara
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Avispa Fukuoka
Goalkeepers
Yuma Obata 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Teppei Oka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Masaya Tashiro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuma Tsujioka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Yu Hashimoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Masato Shigemi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
Tomoya Miki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yota Maejima
LATE SHIFT
10
Late Mins
10
Late Mins
80
Total Mins
80
Entry
Forwards
Sonosuke Sato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Yuji Kitajima
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
58
Total Mins
58
Entry
Nassim Ben Khalifa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
58
Total Mins
58
Entry
BENCH
Kazuki Fujita 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Kaoru Yamawaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tatsuki Nara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shintaro Nago 
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
32
Minutes
7.9
Rating
K. Maeda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shahab Zahedi 
CLUTCH HERO
85
Goal Time
85
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.9
Rating
A. Sani Brown
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
32
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kazuki Fujimoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Reiju Tsuruno
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shimizu S-pulse
Goalkeepers
Togo Umeda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Kengo Kitazume 
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Jelani Reshaun Sumiyoshi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuki Honda 
NPC
87
Minutes
87
Minutes
26%
Pass Acc
6.9
Rating
Yutaka Yoshida
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Zento Uno
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Matheus Bueno 
MAGNET
67
Activity
67
Activity
56
Passes
11
Duels
Kazuki Kozuka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
54
Total Mins
54
Entry
Forwards
Koya Kitagawa 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.3
Rating
Oh Se-hun
MAGNET
58
Activity
58
Activity
27
Passes
31
Duels
Capixaba
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
Yuya Oki
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Sen Takagi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
17
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kai Matsuzaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
36
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hikaru Nakahara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Masaki Yumiba
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Ohata
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Toshiki Takahashi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kanta Chiba
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alfredo Stephens
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/10/2026 | Shimizu S-pulse | 1 - 1 (PEN 4-3) | Avispa Fukuoka | J1 League | IAI Stadium Nihondaira |
| 03/18/2026 | Avispa Fukuoka | 1 - 1 (PEN 4-5) | Shimizu S-pulse | J1 League | Best Denki Stadium |
| 08/23/2025 | Avispa Fukuoka | 0 - 0 | Shimizu S-pulse | J1 League | Best Denki Stadium |
| 04/20/2025 | Shimizu S-pulse | 3 - 1 | Avispa Fukuoka | J1 League | IAI Stadium Nihondaira |
| 09/17/2022 | Avispa Fukuoka | 3 - 2 | Shimizu S-pulse | J1 League | Best Denki Stadium |
| 06/18/2022 | Shimizu S-pulse | 3 - 1 | Avispa Fukuoka | J1 League | IAI Stadium Nihondaira |
| 10/02/2021 | Avispa Fukuoka | 1 - 2 | Shimizu S-pulse | J1 League | Best Denki Stadium |
| 03/06/2021 | Shimizu S-pulse | 2 - 2 | Avispa Fukuoka | J1 League | IAI Stadium Nihondaira |
| 08/14/2019 | Shimizu S-pulse | 1 - 0 | Avispa Fukuoka | Emperor Cup | Level-5 Stadium |
05/10/2026
03/18/2026
08/23/2025
04/20/2025
09/17/2022
06/18/2022
10/02/2021
03/06/2021
08/14/2019
Avispa Fukuoka Win
Shimizu S-pulse Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 7 GD: +10
P: 7 GD: +10
P: 7 GD: +6
P: 7 GD: +6
P: 7 GD: +3
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: +3
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: +4
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: +4
P: 7 GD: -1
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: -3
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -10
P: 7 GD: -1
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: -3
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -5
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Avispa Fukuoka
Shimizu S-pulse
Avispa Fukuoka
Shimizu S-pulse
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Penalty Heartbreak Follows Late Equalizer Drama
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 39/100. A gritty, low-chances affair exploded into life late on, proving that tactical discipline means nothing when the shootout lottery begins.
The Opening Act
The match at Best Denki Stadium kicked off with a palpable sense of caution, characterized by a modest Intensity that saw both sides struggling to carve out clear openings. Avispa Fukuoka edged possession with 53 percent of the ball, but they found it incredibly difficult to break through a resilient away defence. In the midfield engine room, Matheus Bueno delivered an absolute masterclass for Shimizu S-pulse. Earning an outstanding rating of 8.2, his ability to break up play and dictate the tempo ensured the visitors remained firmly in the contest despite seeing less of the ball. The first half concluded as a tightly contested tactical battle, with goalkeepers largely untested as attackers lacked a cutting edge.
The Pivot
The dynamic shifted dramatically just before the hour mark, swinging the Balance of the match. In the 59th minute, a precise delivery from K. Kitagawa found K. Kitazume, who dispatched a clinical strike to break the deadlock and silence the home crowd. Forced to respond, the home manager turned to his bench, executing a masterstroke that would define the closing stages. The introduction of S. Nago and S. Zahedi completely revitalized the attacking setup. With just five minutes remaining on the clock, Nago produced a brilliant piece of vision to set up Zahedi. The substitute made no mistake, firing home a dramatic 85th-minute equalizer that sent the stadium into pure delirium.
Resolution
With the score locked at 1-1 after regulation, this gruelling league fixture required a decisive shootout to separate the two sides. The tension inside Best Denki Stadium reached a fever pitch as players stepped up from twelve yards. Despite their late heroics in normal time, Avispa Fukuoka's momentum evaporated. Shimizu S-pulse demonstrated remarkable composure under immense pressure, holding their nerve to secure a 5-4 penalty shootout victory. This dramatic result bolsters Shimizu's solid top-four standing with seventeen points, proving their resilience on the road. Meanwhile, the hosts, languishing mid-table with eleven points, must quickly regroup and find a way to translate their possession into tangible victories.
Key Questions
Did Avispa Fukuoka deserve the late equalizer?
Absolutely. Edging possession at 53 percent and registering thirteen total shots against the visitors' seven, they persistently knocked on the door before finally securing their breakthrough.
How did substitute Matheus Bueno change the game?
While actually a starter, Bueno was the undisputed engine. His outstanding 8.2 rating perfectly reflects his absolute dominance and crucial tactical control over the midfield transitions.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
A Mid-Table Tussle Threatens to Derail Early Ambitions
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 74/100. This finely balanced J1 League clash will serve as a harsh reality check for whichever side blinks first under pressure.
The Setup
Avispa Fukuoka and Shimizu S-pulse collide at Best Denki Stadium on March 18, 2026, with both sides hunting for consistency. Fukuoka sit ninth after a turbulent stretch of games, while the visitors are eager to cement their top-four status. The Balance of this fixture is staggeringly high, making the tight margins in midfield utterly crucial. While a modest Stakes factor early in the campaign might tempt managers to prioritise tactical solidity over outright risk, the sheer Stars power on the pitch promises attacking intent. Shimizu's erratic Form masks a potent final-third threat that the home side must respect, or face severe consequences.
Key Battle
Expect a gritty unit-versus-unit war of attrition rather than individual heroics. With Shimizu relying heavily on their forward line to break deadlocks, Fukuoka's defensive shape must absorb waves of pressure without cracking. The central midfield will become a congested battleground where space is at an absolute premium, forcing both sides to be flawless in transition.
Our Prediction
Shimizu S-pulse should edge this tight encounter. The visitors possess too much attacking ingenuity for a leaky Fukuoka defence that currently staggers under a minus-seven goal difference. Expect a narrow 2-1 away victory, sealed late in the second half through a clinical counter-attack.