When the fireworks exploded above IAI Stadium Nihondaira at halftime, their sparkle mocked the mood of the home fans.
Shimizu S-Pulse were already two goals down in the pouring Shizuoka rain, undone by the energy of a Yokohama F. Marinos side who suddenly looked reborn. For a club stranded at the bottom of the J1 League, this night had the feel of a desperate resurrection.
A festival against the storm
The evening had started as a party. “LARANJA PARTY NIGHT” brought a carnival atmosphere: Yuuchami performing in the pre-match build-up, limited-edition orange kits glistening in the downpour, and the Orange Wave cheerleaders teaming up with Marinos’ Tricolore Mermaids for a rare collaboration. Over 18,000 packed the ground, umbrellas and ponchos dotted among the stands, their chants battling the weather.
But once the whistle blew, the only rhythm that mattered was the F Marinos supporter’s chants.
Kakuda’s return, David’s debut
The breakthrough came in the 16th minute. A recycled set piece caught Shimizu’s defence flat, and Kato Ren whipped a low cross that skipped through the slick surface. Waiting in the centre was Kakuda Ryotaro, completely unmarked. One touch, one finish, and one cathartic roar: his first J1 goal, in his first start since returning to the club this summer.
By the 29th minute, the rain was falling harder, and so was Shimizu’s resistance. Jason Kinyones punched a vertical pass through midfield, Watanabe Kota split the centre-backs, and suddenly Dean David — on his debut — was in. A touch to steady, a left-foot strike to finish: 0–2. In half an hour, Yokohama’s two new signings had rewritten their own stories and given their team life.
Shimizu’s possession, Yokohama’s bite
The numbers will tell you Shimizu had 60% possession, that they completed almost twice as many passes as their visitors. But this was sterile dominance. Akiba Tadahiro’s side shuffled the ball side to side, their best intentions drowned by Yokohama’s compact lines.
It wasn’t until halftime introductions — veteran Inui and striker Kitagawa — that S-Pulse finally began to ask sharper questions. The ball zipped quicker, combinations looked crisper, and for a spell it felt like the game might bend. Yet every half-chance was met with Yokohama bodies throwing themselves in the way. Commentators noted that several Marinos players were “collapsed on the ground” by the end; they had given everything, and it showed.
Tanimura seals it
With ten minutes left, the counter-punch arrived. Jean Claude spotted the gap and threaded through to Tanimura Kaina. One glance, one left-foot drive into the bottom corner. 0–3, and Yokohama’s bench spilled out in celebration. It was the goal that secured the points, even if Kitagawa’s stoppage-time strike — eventually awarded after a VAR review — added a late consolation for Shimizu.
Kakuda’s night
After the final whistle, drenched but smiling, Kakuda summed it up: “Absolutely needed 3 points, so I’m happy to contribute in my comeback game… many fans came all the way in the rain, and no man would not be fired up in such a situation.” His words matched his performance: relentless running, sharp positioning, and above all, decisive finishing. The Man of the Match was also the emotional heart of this victory.
Bittersweet survival fight
For Yokohama, this was more than just a win. It snapped a two-match winless streak, injected belief into a side battered by the relegation grind, and showcased the instant impact of their summer recruits. But the league table stayed cruel: Shonan Bellmare’s draw elsewhere meant Marinos remain rooted to 18th, still one point adrift.
Shimizu, meanwhile, stay 13th — safe for now, but chastened. Their fans had come for fireworks and celebration; they left soaked, frustrated, and aware that rhythm on the ball means little without incision.
Closing beat
As the rain finally eased and the stadium lights dimmed, Yokohama’s players trudged off soaked to the skin, some collapsing in exhaustion, others raising fists to the away end. They had not escaped the drop zone, but they had clawed back pride, energy, and a pulse. In Shizuoka’s storm, F. Marinos found a flicker of fire.
doragon sports 