4 Jun 2009(Thu)

May 31, 2009: When Kazumichi Takagi packed his bags for Gamba Osaka at the end of last season, Shimizu S-Pulse manager Kenta Hasegawa did not have to look too hard for his replacement.

He was already there: Keisuke Iwashita.

At Hitachi-dai on Saturday, Iwashita had an outstanding match in the centre of defence as S-Pulse beat Kashiwa Reysol 2-1 in Nabisco Cup Group B.

On a day when three or four S-Pulse players staked a claim for the media vote for the New Hero under-23 award, Iwashita certainly earned mine for his commanding and combative contribution.

I remember him from last season as a left back, his path to the centre of defence blocked by the tall and talented combination of Takagi and Naoaki Aoyama. But with Takagi's winter move to the Asian club champions, Iwashita has been given a chance to establish himself in the middle of the back four -- and is grabbing it with both hands, both feet and his head, too; his soaring back-post header from Hyodo's corner surprising the Reysol defence and fans alike with his athletic leap and power.

Like all good centre halves he really attacks the ball in the air and plays with an intensity that never allows the opposing strikers to settle or relax. At times it seems like Iwashita and Aoyama are having a private duel to see who can get up highest and clear the ball furthest, such is their aerial aggression.
Both these players are 22 years old, so conceivably could remain in tandem for six years or more; an encouraging thought for S-Pulse, who would be well advised to tie them down on long-term contracts, if they haven't already done so, to at least guarantee a handsome transfer fee if they were poached by a bigger, wealthier club.

After the game I spoke to S-Pulse's Norwegian striker, Frode Johnsen, about Iwashita, and the big man could not praise him highly enough.

"He is very important for S-Pulse," Johnsen said. "He is a great football player, and every day he gives 100 per cent in training and in games. We are lucky to have him."

Such was Iwashita's low-key squad role with S-Pulse before the departure of Takagi that Johnsen admitted he could not remember much about him when he was leading the line for Grampus.

"I think sometimes he played at left back, but he is strong, he's fast, he has good technique and can see the game; that is important."

Aoyama and, particularly, central midfielder Masaki Yamamoto were also candidates for the New Hero award, but on the day Iwashita was head and shoulders above the rest -- just like he had been against the Reysol attack.

ends