Shimizu S-Pulse make spluttering start to the new season

180 minutes, no goals.

It's been a spluttering start to the new season for Shimizu S-Pulse, and the long-ball football on display as the Shizuoka side ground to a second successive scoreless draw at home to Yokohama F. Marinos didn't exactly impress the home fans.

A crowd of 19,172 turned out at the newly renamed "Outsourcing Stadium Nihondaira," but many of them left disgruntled following a display in which S-Pulse spent much of the game on the back foot.

Stand-in keeper Yohei Nishibe pulled off a string of first half saves, the most impressive of which saw him claw a thunderous drive from Marinos playmaker Koji Yamase out of the top corner. 

It wasn't until the second half introduction of Brazilian midfielder Marcos Paulo that S-Pulse started to push forward, but the team's penchant for knocking long balls toward lanky new striker Frode Johnsen failed to pay off, as the Norwegian spent a frustrating afternoon failing to connect with strike partner Shinji Okazaki.

Okazaki and captain Akihiro Hyodo looked the most dangerous players on display for the hosts, but it was talisman Jungo Fujimoto - who made his long-awaited return as a substitute having recovered from a broken leg - who almost snatched a late winner. He saw his dinked effort cleared off the line with less than three minutes remaining.

Marinos, for their part, were far more resolute than the team that conceded four goals in going down 4-2 to newly promoted Sanfrecce Hiroshima at home last weekend. 

Nevertheless the Tricolore looked bereft of a goal-scorer, with youngster Kazuma Watanabe toiling tirelessly without ever really looking likely to hit the back of the net.

All in all a disappointing start for both teams, and with the popular Frode Johnsen no doubt desperate to open his account for the new campaign, he will hope to do so when he takes on the club he left in January as S-Pulse travel to Mizuho Stadium to take on Nagoya Grampus next Sunday afternoon.