Ghanaian striker Abdul-Aziz Yakubu made an impact off the bench, scoring in Shimizu S-Pulse’s commanding 3-0 victory over Ventforet Kofu on matchday 27 of the Japan J2 League. This marks the 25-year-old’s second consecutive goal as a substitute, bringing his tally to two goals in four appearances in the Japanese second division.
Yakubu entered the match in the 83rd minute, replacing Koya Kitagawa. Despite limited time on the field, he made his presence felt, scoring the final goal in the 90th minute. Yakubu latched onto a pass from Shinya Yajima and, from a very tight angle, found the back of the net to seal the win.
Earlier in the match, Carlinhos Junior opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, assisted by Reon Yamahara. Lucas Braga then doubled the lead in the 57th minute, giving Shimizu S-Pulse a comfortable advantage at halftime.
With this win, Shimizu S-Pulse sits atop the J2 League table with 58 points from 27 games, as they continue their push for promotion to the Japanese top flight.
