Shimizu S-Pulse have had an up-and-down season, finding themselves just three points clear of the drop zone but also with several big performances to their name, including a victory over Kashima Antlers. While their defense has let them down more than they’d like, the attack is mostly holding up its end of the deal—in large part due to Thiago Santana.

The Brazilian striker ranks in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE's top 10 in goals, scoring seven already this season, more than 30% of Shimizu’s total output. He’s done it with both his brute physicality and his guile, making smart runs and ghosting would-be markers, and finishing with aplomb in crucial spots.

As the league kicks back into action this weekend after the Tokyo 2020 break, S-Pulse is faced with a tall task in Yokohama F·Marinos. The league’s second-place team has won seven straight matches, a stretch that started with a 2-1 victory over S-Pulse. But Marinos have since lost Ado Onaiwu and now half of their deadly strike force is gone. That may be just the opening a defensively-fragile S-Pulse need.

If the S-Pulse rearguard can hold steady against the reshuffled Marinos attack, they’ll have a chance for Santana to break open an even game. He’s been one of the league’s top strikers all season, both combining with his teammates and making goals on his own out of nothing, and now he will be looked to for a big performance against Marinos to start the second half of the season and create separation from the relegation zone.