Tsubouchi Stars In EG XI

The excellent form shown this year by Ardija defender Shusuke Tsubouchi has been acknowledged by the El Golazo football paper, with the announcement that he has been awarded a place in their Best XI for the first half of the J1 season. On a year-long loan from Oita Trinita, Tsubouchi seemed initially to be little more than a reserve utility player, able to fill in across the defence in the absence of higher-profile squad members. Instead, the 27-year-old has emerged to be one of Omiya's most consistent performers, having formed in the last few matches a strong partnership in the middle of the back four with Yuki Fukaya.

The full El Golazo line-up is as follows:

GK Narazaki (Nagoya)
DF Araiba (Kashima)
DF Tulio (Nagoya)
DF Hiraoka (S-Pulse)
DF Tsubouchi (Omiya)
DMF Honma (S-Pulse)
DMF Hyodo (S-Pulse)
CMF Ienaga (Cerezo)
AMF Marcio Richardes (Niigata)
AMF Nozawa (Kashima)
FW Kennedy (Nagoya)

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