<h3 id="ha8d7a4b658">Cerezo advance to the Prime Round with a 3-1 win, thanks to Takumi Nakamura’s opener and Solomon Sakuragawa’s brace.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/82b7e4c17d3d4f9e897eece901b52780/1029MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> Two days after their Meiji Yasuda J1 League Matchweek 12 game against JEF United Chiba, Cerezo Osaka faced Mito Hollyhock in the fourth match of the J.League Yamazaki Biscuits Levain Cup’s First Round. The match was played at Mito Shinkin Bank Stadium, Mito’s home ground. Cerezo made seven changes to the starting lineup from the Chiba match. Travis Takahashi, facing his former club, continued to play in the middle of the back three, while Satoki Uejo wore the captain’s armband. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/ca2847c71c9f408c8d4df839558e2145/1029MR%20(4).jpg" alt=""> Cerezo controlled possession from the start, but Mito defended with five players at the back, and Cerezo struggled to get shots away. In the 7th minute, Mito threatened from a corner, but the header sailed over the crossbar. Cerezo then suffered a setback. Yumeki Yokoyama injured his ankle in the 11th minute and could not continue, so Lucas Fernandes came on in his place in the 17th minute. In the 21st minute, another Mito corner led to danger. Rei Ieizumi unleashed a powerful shot after a loose ball fell his way, but it struck the crossbar, sparing Cerezo from conceding. As the first half progressed, Takahashi increasingly found himself up against Mito’s lone striker, Patryck, but Cerezo managed to hold on. In the 31st minute, they created their first shot of the match—and their first clear chance. Kosei Okazawa played a forward pass, which Solomon Sakuragawa laid off for Uejo. Uejo shot after receiving Lucas’s pass, but his effort narrowly cleared the crossbar despite Cerezo having worked the ball into an excellent position. Another big chance followed in the 32nd minute. Okazawa again initiated the move, switching play out to the right. Takumi Nakamura crossed, with Uejo attacking the near post and Sakuragawa the far post, but Sakuragawa’s shot was blocked by a defender. Cerezo then took the lead from the resulting corner. Lucas’s delivery was cleared at the near post, but he recovered the ball and dribbled into the penalty area. An opponent poked the ball away, and Jackson Irvine shot from the loose ball. His effort struck the post and rebounded to Nakamura, who hit it first time and expertly found the far side of the net. It was Nakamura’s first goal for Cerezo in his second season with the club, and a valuable breakthrough in a tightly contested match. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/86b50e9cbd854444a975e034568fd34e/1029MR%20(7).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/28006f1ae5b64647ad811105d2c62405/1029MR%20(6).jpg" alt=""> Cerezo went into the second half a goal ahead, but conceded almost immediately. They lost possession in the middle of the pitch and were hit on the counter. Takahashi ran alongside Patryck as he broke forward but could not stop him, allowing the striker to carry the ball into the penalty area and score. Takahashi was highly motivated against his former club, but was beaten by Patryck’s pace in this situation. After the match, he reflected, “If I lose that battle, there’s no point in me being out there. I need to take much more responsibility.” Mito gained momentum and broke down Cerezo’s left side in the 53rd minute before sending in a cross, but Hayato Okuda, who had started as one of the three center backs, cleared the ball to avert the danger. Cerezo then retook the lead in the 56th minute. Okazawa cut inside from the left and drew the opposing defenders before passing to Javi Hernandez, who was free on the far outside. Javi delivered a measured cross to the far post, and Sakuragawa, moving backward, twisted his body well to make contact with a header and guide the ball into the net. Mito continued to attack, however, and in the 67th minute they produced a dangerous shot from close range. Goalkeeper Kosuke Nakamura reacted brilliantly to get a hand to it and make a superb save. He then collected the rebound after it struck the post, roaring with a fist pump. Immediately after surviving that major scare, Cerezo scored their third goal. Once again, the move began on the left. Reiya Sakata received a pass from Javi, cut inside and crossed with his right foot. Sakuragawa shot first time. The goalkeeper saved his initial effort, but Sakuragawa collected the rebound himself and forced it into the net. The goal took the sting out of Mito’s attack, and Cerezo controlled the match from then on, dominating their opponents while looking for a fourth goal. Mito received several yellow cards late in the match, and Cerezo ultimately demonstrated their superiority to win 3-1 and advance to the Levain Cup Prime Round. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/19a1e6820c274831957c57726c2a7989/1029MR%20(5).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/79ba4c8560794b59a863be8f345105df/1029MR%20(3).jpg" alt=""> Sakuragawa, who scored twice, reflected, “It’s important to keep winning in cup competitions, so I’m glad we saw this one through.” He added, “We just have to keep working so we can see games through to victory in the league as well.” Cerezo’s next league match is away to Kashima Antlers in two days. The schedule is demanding, but the team will focus on recovery and work together to secure their first league win in eight matches. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/24bee854480c4a6a9c0d3bd68e097ec8/1029MR%20(1).jpg" alt="">

Review: Mito Hollyhock vs Cerezo Osaka (Levain Cup 1st Round 4th Match)

<h3 id="h5ea680b5fb">Drama in stoppage time as Cerezo come from the brink of defeat to draw level through goals from Solomon Sakuragawa and Yumeki Yokoyama.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/13d8cbddab0c4983a549e4149eb0962b/202610261205_04.jpg" alt=""> Three days after their previous match, Matchweek 11 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League against Nagoya Grampus, Cerezo Osaka returned home to face JEF United Chiba in Matchweek 12. It was Cerezo’s first J1 meeting with Chiba in 20 years, since 2006. This was the sixth match of an eight-game run of consecutive competitive fixtures. There were three changes to the starting lineup from the previous match, with Jackson Irvine and Ayumu Ohata returning from suspension and Takumi Nakamura coming in at right wing-back. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/70495719174b48d39d13ee921e47afb1/202610261205_06.jpg" alt=""> The rain that had been a concern was light, and the match began in conditions with no wind. Cerezo took control from the outset, moving the ball into the opposition half, quickly transitioning after losing possession, and winning it back high up the pitch to keep Chiba pinned back. However, Cerezo were unable to get shots away or create clear-cut chances, and Chiba gradually began to threaten more often. Erison in particular caused problems. In the 21st minute, he carried the ball into the penalty area on his own and created danger, but Rikito Inoue tracked back to block him. Cerezo defended desperately, but conceded soon after. In the 23rd minute, Erison controlled a cross from the left side of Chiba’s half and fired a shot. Kosuke Nakamura made a big save, but Chiba recovered the resulting clearance and launched a second attack, with Makoto Himeno finishing from Erison’s pass. Dion Cools, who had been appealing for offside in the preceding play, was caught off guard. Cerezo looked to step up their attack from there, but struggled to connect their passes in the first half, making it difficult to move forward smoothly or get shots away. Their only chance came in the 36th minute. Pablo Sabbag initiated the move and switched play to the left. Ayumu Ohata crossed, and Yota Komi met it, but Koji Toriumi blocked his effort. Cerezo went into halftime a goal down, having failed to create enough clear-cut chances. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/362f5c2f31a645f4ad11967d4ddd84c1/202610261205_08.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/183b9bf415f24849a8fe55fb146e8f69/202610261205_05.jpg" alt=""> In the second half, manager Pablo Machin brought on Solomon Sakuragawa for Takumi Nakamura, switching to a 4-4-2 with Sakuragawa and Sabbag up front. Cerezo looked to fight back, but conceded a second goal in the 47th minute. Once again, they were unable to stop Erison, who carried the ball forward on his own before scoring with a middle-range effort. Cerezo refused to let the match end that way and began spending more time on the front foot, with Sakuragawa providing a focal point up front, and when Yumeki Yokoyama came on in the 67th minute, their attack accelerated further. In the 77th minute, a cross from Yokoyama after cutting inside eventually fell to Tanaka in a scramble, but his effort went just wide. Yokoyama cut inside and shot again in the 81st and 82nd minutes, with the first effort going over the crossbar and the second denied by a fine save from the goalkeeper. In the 87th minute, Yokoyama broke forward down the flank and crossed. Irvine picked up the ball after it went through to the opposite side and crossed for Sabbag, who met it with a header, but his effort missed the target. Cerezo continued to push forward in the second half but could not find a goal, before showing their fighting spirit in stoppage time. First, in the 94th minute, Inoue made a huge play with a desperate block to deny a Chiba chance. Then, in the 96th minute, Inoue flicked on Shinji Kagawa’s corner at the near post, and Sakuragawa, surrounded by Chiba defenders, controlled it with his chest before scoring with a shot he “forced in through sheer determination.” The goal completely changed the atmosphere inside the stadium. Then, in the 98th minute, Ohata battled to win back possession, and Yokoyama cut inside on the dribble before unleashing his right foot. His beautifully curling shot flew into the far-side netting. A minute later, Sabbag received Kagawa’s pass, turned and shot. He created a good opportunity, but his effort went over the crossbar, and Cerezo could not complete the comeback. The match ended immediately afterward. Cerezo came from the brink of defeat to draw level and earn a point. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/b899e89a048b46b08cda0d9851a11aff/202610261205_07.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/2433e6951ce1440a885e591a91dc67e8/202610261205_02.jpg" alt=""> While the ending was dramatic, Chiba had controlled the match overall. For Cerezo, it was a performance that heightened a sense of urgency. “As for today, I absolutely don’t want us to finish by simply saying, ‘At least we managed to draw,’” Kagawa said with a stern expression. Cerezo now face two away matches in quick succession, with the Levain Cup against Mito Hollyhock in two days, followed by a league match against Kashima Antlers another two days later. As they head into the final week of this run of consecutive matches, Cerezo will look to recover both physically and mentally while addressing the issues from this performance. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/af8fbc8e3bbf4d0c8a13f8ae24772e7b/202610261205_03.jpg" alt="">

Review: Cerezo Osaka vs JEF United Chiba (J1 MD12)

<h3 id="h97c43f4456">Cerezo earn a point at a difficult stadium after conceding in the 3rd minute but drawing level through Pablo Sabbag’s first J1 goal.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/415163d1e25342eeba2840ddb0d68079/1023MR%20(1).jpg" alt=""> Three days after the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Matchweek 10 game against Kawasaki Frontale, Cerezo Osaka returned to action in a midweek fixture, traveling away to face Nagoya Grampus in Matchweek 11 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. There were two changes to the starting lineup from the previous match. Jackson Irvine and Ayumu Ohata, who were suspended, dropped out, with Shinji Kagawa moving into midfield and Javi Hernandez starting as the left wing-back. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/952773a85dc049e78e3581df37120986/1023MR%20(5).jpg" alt=""> After conceding as early as the 10th minute in the previous match, Cerezo began this game with greater caution, but they conceded even earlier this time, in the 3rd minute. Javi slipped while dealing with a long ball from the opposition and collided with his opponent. Nagoya recovered the ball as it went out toward the flank and were allowed to cross unchallenged, with Katsuhiro Nakayama heading home from the opposite side. It was somewhat unlucky, but once again Cerezo found themselves chasing the game from the very beginning, and Nagoya controlled the flow from there. Cerezo were forced deep as Nagoya dominated possession, with crosses from both flanks creating danger. During this period, the wind and rain suddenly intensified, at one point becoming strong enough to obscure visibility. Cerezo’s front players pressed in the first half, but the back line remained deep, and they struggled to win possession back. Their first chance came in the 26th minute. Sabbag won the ball high up the pitch, and Yota Komi broke down the flank before playing it inside. Shunta Tanaka received it in the near-zone, beat another opponent and cut the ball back from a deep position, with Hayato Okuda meeting it. He struck it first time and on target, but his effort was blocked by a defender. Javi reacted to the loose ball and followed up with another clear chance, but the Nagoya defense cleared it just before the goal line. Nagoya resumed their attacking pressure during the final 10 minutes of the half, but goalkeeper Kosuke Nakamura made a fine save to prevent them from doubling their lead. Cerezo survived a difficult first half with only one goal conceded, giving themselves a foundation for the second half. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/a0e6d3e95ded481b9a9e84537590cb69/1023MR%20(4).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/b6a61e1373de4c96825b3372657361eb/1023MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> In the second half, Cerezo dropped their defensive line more clearly to deal with Nagoya’s attacks. As manager Pablo Machin explained after the match, Cerezo made their approach clear: “Basically, Nagoya attack with five players pushed forward, and then add another one or two from there. Against that, we went into the second half intending to match them with the same number of players and, after winning the ball, to counterattack by targeting the spaces beside them.” In the 56th minute, Sabbag received Tanaka’s pass, held the ball up and laid it off, allowing Lucas Fernandes to run through one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The play was eventually ruled offside, but Cerezo began to find more opportunities to get in behind Nagoya. Then, in the 62nd minute, Cerezo drew level. Rikito Inoue beat his opponent and played a ball into the middle. Sabbag controlled it and sent it forward to Lucas. Lucas’ first touch was loose, but he recovered the ball well and turned toward goal. At that moment, Sabbag drifted outward as he jostled with his marker and adjusted his position. He received Lucas’ pass, carried the ball forward and fired with his left foot. The shot took a deflection off the leg of a defender closing him down, changing its course before it nestled into the far-side netting. For Sabbag, it was a welcome first J1 goal. Having found the net in consecutive Levain Cup matches and built up his form, he finally scored his long-awaited first league goal. After the match, he said emphatically, “From here, I want to work even harder so I can contribute a lot to the team, keep pushing myself to reach new levels, score goals that bring victories to the team, and play in a way that makes the fans happy.” With the home side Nagoya stepping up their attack from there, Cerezo also introduced attacking substitutes in an attempt to find a second goal, bringing on Satoki Uejo, Solomon Sakuragawa, and Reiya Sakata. There were moments when the substitutes got in behind from moves initiated by Kagawa and Tanaka and came close to creating chances, but Cerezo could not turn them into clear-cut opportunities. Nagoya then created a series of chances late on, but Cerezo’s defenders put their bodies on the line to keep Nagoya from scoring, and the match ended 1-1. Given that Cerezo had conceded after just three minutes away from home, the result could be regarded as a valuable point earned. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/e766b75e7bd045e381aa4ea9aac9d78a/1023MR%20(7).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/d0f3c786cd714d3dad6cb347e6e907d5/1023MR%20(3).jpg" alt=""> Looking back on the match, Kagawa said, “From our experience at Toyota Stadium, we often concede a second goal here and then collapse. Even though we were 0-1 down, we talked at halftime about not conceding a second goal and creating our own rhythm while weathering the pressure. I think it was good that we were able to put that into practice.” Cerezo fought tenaciously to earn a valuable point at a stadium where they have struggled. However, this extended their league winless run to six matches. With the next match back at home against JEF United Chiba, three points will be essential. “The next match is a big one. We haven’t won in these last six matches, so for the next home game in this situation, we have to put pressure on ourselves even before the match and tell ourselves, ‘We absolutely have to win.’ We want to make good preparations,” Kagawa said. Cerezo will look to fight together to secure a win that can turn their fortunes around. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/6efbd5f316454e64b794e8b101633a7b/1023MR%20(6).jpg" alt="">

Review: Nagoya Grampus vs Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD11)

<h3 id="hffdb124222">Despite conceding early and going down to 10 men, Cerezo drew level twice, but ultimately succumbed to Kawasaki’s attacking power.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/27200a6ecc96421f94f4fc79f4a1e59e/1019MR%20(3).jpg" alt=""> Two days after the J.League Yamazaki Biscuits Levain Cup 1st Round 3rd match against Gainare Tottori, Cerezo Osaka returned to league action to face Kawasaki Frontale in Matchweek 10 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. There were seven changes to the starting lineup from the Tottori match, as Cerezo looked to earn three points in the league for the first time in five matches. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/95824f8543c24adf9dbda22b7465eb71/1019MR%20(7).jpg" alt=""> Cerezo made a decent start, winning several set pieces in succession. They also pressed from the front and fought hard in the transition phases. However, in the 10th minute, they conceded from a Kawasaki free kick, with Pedro Romano scoring from Sota Miura’s delivery. Kawasaki appeared to score again in the 12th minute when Marcinho finished a cross from Tatsuya Ito at the far post, but the goal was ruled out for offside. As Kawasaki raised their defensive intensity after taking the lead, Cerezo found it increasingly difficult to push forward. Then, in the 19th minute, Ayumu Ohata brought down Ito, who had run onto Rikito Inoue’s incomplete clearance from a Kawasaki free kick, and Ohata was shown a straight red card for DOGSO. Cerezo were forced to play with 10 men from an early stage of the first half. Cerezo moved Hayato Okuda to left back and switched to a 4-4-1 formation. They defended with a 4-4 block while shifting to a strategy of looking to “counterattack, with Lucas and me carrying the ball forward after winning possession,” as Yota Komi explained. From there, Cerezo prevented Kawasaki from creating any real chances, and as the first half drew to a close, Cerezo began creating opportunities from set pieces. In the 41st minute, Lucas Fernandes played the ball into Pablo Sabbag and entered the penalty area, where he was fouled and won a penalty. In the 43rd minute, Lucas calmly converted it himself to bring Cerezo level. However, their joy was short-lived. Kawasaki dominated possession and pinned Cerezo back in stoppage time, and Kento Tachibanada received the ball in the wide-open space in front of the defense before scoring with a long-range effort. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/35f1a11f1c214c88b765d6e2c24b6cfd/1019MR%20(1).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/a622bd03cd044364ac92aebdacc40ceb/1019MR%20(6).jpg" alt=""> A difficult second half was expected with Cerezo trailing by a goal, but they drew level again in the 48th minute. The move began with Travis Takahashi, who was making his first J1 start, and went through Shunta Tanaka and Sabbag before Lucas, receiving it on the right, played a pass into the middle. The pass was initially cut out, but Tanaka immediately won it back and carried the ball forward. After holding it for a moment, he played a through ball to Komi, who was making a diagonal run. Komi got in behind and beat the goalkeeper one-on-one to find the net. Buoyed by the equalizer, Cerezo went close again in the 50th minute when Sabbag intercepted a back pass and attempted a long-range shot from around the halfway line. The unexpected effort narrowly went wide of the right post. Kawasaki then stepped up their attack, creating danger with crosses from the flanks in the 51st and 57th minutes, but Cerezo kept them from scoring, with Okuda putting his body on the line. Then, in the 68th minute, Cerezo created a big chance. Lucas picked up the second ball after a Kawasaki defender cleared Takahashi’s long throw-in and fired a shot. The effort had plenty of drive and was heading toward the goal, but it did not dip quite enough and went over the crossbar. Cerezo continued to enjoy spells of possession despite being a man down, but a pitfall awaited. A pass played back by Tanaka was intercepted, and Kawasaki launched a counterattack. Marcinho carried the ball forward before Yasuto Wakizaka finished the move. It was a painful goal conceded from a mistake, especially after Cerezo had defended well in open play. In the 76th minute, Shinji Kagawa and Yumeki Yokoyama, who had already been preparing to come on before the goal, entered the match. In the 84th minute, Yokoyama picked up the second ball from a corner and shot, but his effort went over the crossbar. Then, in the 89th minute, substitute Yuto Ozeki broke through the middle and scored with a powerful shot, effectively ending the contest. Cerezo had spent a long period playing with 10 men and, as Komi put it, “played a game where you didn’t feel we were a man down,” but ultimately succumbed to Kawasaki’s attacking power and lost 2-4. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/fef728d3679549db8d1a731ad34acc5b/1019MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/334bce3a5fb0417ca55422a5eb2b9906/1019MR.jpg" alt=""> This was Cerezo’s first home defeat of the season in all competitions. “If you lose concentration against a quality opponent, you will be punished,” captain Tanaka said. There are still several areas to improve, including defending set pieces and covering the space on the flanks and in front of the defense. But the next league match is already approaching. Cerezo will look to end their five-match winless run in the league when they travel to face Nagoya Grampus in three days. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/91e99da644c24c759250ae0752d9c766/1019MR%20(5).jpg" alt="">

Review: Cerezo Osaka vs Kawasaki Frontale (J1 MD10)

<h3 id="h9495937a33">Cerezo Osaka advance to the Levain Cup fourth match after Lucas Fernandes scores the winner late on, even after being pegged back twice.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/49ba415eca9c4d05af100033935836b7/1015MR%20(5).jpg" alt=""> Three days after their most recent competitive match, a 0-0 draw with Yokohama F. Marinos in Matchweek 9 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, Cerezo Osaka traveled to face Gainare Tottori in the third match of the J.League Yamazaki Biscuits Levain Cup 1st Round. There were eight changes to the starting lineup from the Yokohama FM match. Rikito Inoue, in a match against his former club, started on the bench. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/03674cac580b4d08bde9a18f3296a5d5/1015MR%20(4).jpg" alt=""> Cerezo Osaka played in the opposition half from the opening stages. They transitioned quickly from attack to defense and increased their spells of possession before creating their first chance in the fifth minute. After some excellent passing to play through Tottori’s press, Takumi Nakamura played a diagonal ball into the path of Satoki Uejo, who turned and shot. It went just over the crossbar, but it was Cerezo’s first effort of the match. Uejo had another chance in the eighth minute. Yota Komi got in behind after receiving a pass from Shinji Kagawa and sent in a cross. Uejo then shot after receiving Pablo Sabbag’s layoff. It was a good move, but he could not make proper contact. Still, in the 11th minute, Uejo made the most of his third chance. Reiya Sakata cut inside from the flank, and Uejo ran onto a through ball from Javi Hernandez, who had pushed high up the pitch, before finishing into the near corner. “I kept playing mind games with the defender until the end, and I think the way I shook him off with that split-second movement was good,” Uejo said, satisfied with the finish. Cerezo created another chance in the 13th minute. Sabbag laid off Takumi Nakamura’s kick, allowing Komi to get in behind. He dribbled past his opponent and shot, but the goalkeeper saved it. His speed and strength in carrying the ball forward on his own stood out. Cerezo continued to control the ball and the match, but conceded in the 31st minute. A vertical pass from Kosei Okazawa into the middle was intercepted by Tottori’s Shaun Vaneerden, who carried the ball forward before playing a through ball to forward Konishi, who finished one-on-one with the goalkeeper. There were still issues to address both in the way Cerezo gave the ball away and in how they reacted after the ball was played in behind. After Tottori took advantage of one of their few chances to draw level, Cerezo regained the lead in the 37th minute. The move again started on the left. Sakata broke through sharply to beat his opponent, and Hernandez followed up with a floated cross that Sabbag met with a header at the far post to find the net. Cerezo then created consecutive chances from crosses, with Sabbag going close in the 44th minute and Uejo having another chance in first-half stoppage time, but they could not add another goal. Cerezo went into halftime with a one-goal lead. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/c4def9aad4684bc2be972de50e0aabbb/1015MR%20(1).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/8292d7cef24640d39ad3bcb61e916356/1015MR.jpg" alt=""> Cerezo had been the better side for much of the first half, but they conceded again in the 47th minute when Tottori scored from a corner at the near post. With the match level again, Tottori gained momentum and Cerezo spent a prolonged spell on the defensive. Tottori threatened again from a quick counterattack in the 53rd minute, but goalkeeper Koto Abe made the save. Cerezo still could not stop Tottori’s momentum, and in the 64th minute, Tottori won the second ball from a long throw and Takumi Kawamura hit the post. Four minutes later, another cross from the flank was met in the middle, but Kawamura’s header went narrowly wide of the post. Looking to change the flow of the match, Cerezo made three substitutions in the 69th minute, bringing on Shunta Tanaka, Yumeki Yokoyama, and Solomon Sakuragawa. In the 79th minute, Cerezo created a clear chance. After Sakuragawa held the ball up, Uejo broke down the right and crossed. Yokoyama met it at the far post, but his shot was saved by the goalkeeper. Cerezo had another clear chance in the 84th minute. Tanaka picked up the second ball and carried it forward, with Yokoyama and Uejo shooting in succession. Their efforts were blocked by a defender and saved by the goalkeeper. In the 87th minute, Kagawa received the ball centrally and struck a well-placed shot that hit the crossbar. Cerezo continued to attack relentlessly late on but could not find the breakthrough. Then, in the 89th minute, Lucas Fernandes, who had just come on as a substitute, produced the decisive moment. After working the ball through midfield to beat Tottori’s pressure, Lucas ran onto Yokoyama’s pass, carried the ball forward, and fired into the far side of the net. “I think it really showed his strength: his ability and technique to produce the finish when it matters,” manager Pablo Machin said in praise. Cerezo regained the lead through the No. 77’s strike and this time closed out the match without allowing Tottori to equalize. Despite being made to work by a Tottori side that had already pulled off two upsets in this tournament, Cerezo secured the win and advanced to the fourth match. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/846c4cfe4c5e4052920f5a70d5be1e3d/1015MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/fdd6d89100394506905de302d0409aea/1015MR%20(3).jpg" alt=""> “We had a lot of chances, and if we had taken them, it would have been a much easier game. I had two or three chances myself, so there are still things I need to work on. That’s something I need to improve, but being able to see out a win against a difficult opponent like this is a positive. I hope we can carry that into the league as well,” Uejo said after the match. Cerezo Osaka defeated an in-form opponent on the road and took another step toward their pursuit of the Levain Cup title. Back at home, they will face Kawasaki Frontale in their next league match just two days later, with the team aiming to take on the challenge together. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/e849d7664913459389b9048b75aadc47/1015MR%20(6).jpg" alt="">

Review: Gainare Tottori vs Cerezo Osaka (Levain Cup 1st Round 3rd Match)

<h3 id="h7b29cbe005">The first match back after the restart ends scoreless as Cerezo stay focused to keep a clean sheet but fail to find the net, leaving room for improvement in attack.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/244c79c8f8474be3b3aa30a723d23430/1011MR%20(1).jpg" alt=""> The Meiji Yasuda J1 League resumed after the international break, and Cerezo Osaka hosted Yokohama F. Marinos in Matchweek 9. It was their second match in three days, following the Emperor’s Cup third-round match against Kagoshima United FC. Seven players were changed in the starting lineup. Pablo Sabbag started as the lone striker, making his first league start since joining the club. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/18efc071f1284910939ee1827357a81a/1011MR%20(4).jpg" alt=""> Cerezo were eager to press high from the start, but they lost possession in their own half in the 6th and 7th minutes, allowing Yokohama FM to launch quick counterattacks and create chances. In attack, they looked to Lucas Fernandes, who had scored in each of his last three competitive matches, to create opportunities. In the 20th minute, Lucas intercepted an opponent’s pass high up the pitch and passed to Sabbag, who threatened the goal. In the 23rd minute, Yokohama FM right winger Tomoki Kondo broke through down the flank and crossed to create a clear chance, but Jun Amano failed to make clean contact with his shot, and Cerezo escaped danger. In the 31st minute, Rikito Inoue stopped a forward run by Toichi Suzuki, a Cerezo academy product. Cerezo held firm against Yokohama FM, who had scored the opening goal in seven of their eight league matches so far. In the 42nd minute, Lucas’s corner kick sailed over the goalkeeper and headed directly toward goal, but an opposing defender cleared it at the last moment. Then, in the 44th minute, Inoue’s forward pass to Sabbag was intercepted, triggering a quick counterattack. Ryo Miyaichi ran in from the far side to meet Kondo’s cross with a header, but sent it over the crossbar. Given how Cerezo had been opened up, they were relieved to escape without conceding. The first half ended goalless. Cerezo had struggled to create attacking opportunities and had faced numerous chances, but managed to keep a clean sheet going into the second half. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/1d4c4157c2b74e64bf5fa68f874afc1f/1011MR.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/33547bc58e8a4a6cb7d1b548443a77b5/1011MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> Yokohama FM threatened again with attacks down the flanks in the 46th and 48th minutes, but Cerezo tightened up in the middle and held firm, with Dion Cools making important clearances. Then Yumeki Yokoyama, quiet in the first half, came alive early in the second. In the 49th and 53rd minutes, he received the ball high on the left and drove forward, creating a sense of attacking threat. In the 58th minute, he collected Sabbag’s layoff and shot powerfully toward the near post, but the goalkeeper made an excellent save. Javi Hernandez, who had often allowed Kondo to break through in the first half, was substituted in the 53rd minute. Travis Takahashi came on at left center back in the three-man defense, making his J1 debut. He had no time to dwell on the occasion, saying, “I tried to stay focused and make sure I didn’t come on half-heartedly.” Cerezo wanted to shore up their defense while also finding ways to attack. Lucas was replaced by Yota Komi in the 62nd minute, and in the 71st minute, Shinji Kagawa and Kosei Okazawa came on for Sabbag and Yokoyama. Komi moved up front, with Kagawa and Okazawa playing as the two attacking midfielders. Manager Pablo Machin asked Komi to use his speed for “runs in behind and movements to pull defenders around,” while Kagawa and Okazawa were tasked with “pressing from high up the pitch and controlling the game.” The changes helped Cerezo’s attack pick up pace, particularly as Kagawa received the ball and brought his teammates into play. He also created chances of his own, cutting inside on the dribble and crossing into the middle. Cerezo had kept Yokohama FM’s attack under control through much of the second half, but faced a major threat in the 85th minute. Cools blocked an opponent’s header from close range with his body, and in the 88th minute, Ayumu Ohata blocked another shot. Cerezo had one final chance to reward their defenders’ committed efforts. In the 95th minute, with the last play of the match, goalkeeper Kosuke Nakamura kicked the ball forward, and Cools won the aerial duel and knocked it down. Komi brought the ball behind the defense with a deft touch and fired with his right foot. He caught the advancing goalkeeper off guard, but the shot hit the side netting. The dramatic winning goal was not to be. The match ended 0-0. Cerezo could not secure their first league win in four matches, and recorded their second straight scoreless draw at home. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/7c7fc4507cb443f7b10964222d805e98/1011MR%20(3).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/3800b0b70a834e1c9d41f6826469d2b6/1011MR%20(6).jpg" alt=""> After the match, Inoue, one of the key figures in keeping a clean sheet, said with relief, “They created a lot of dangerous situations, but ultimately, keeping a clean sheet means we did the minimum required of us as a defense.” At the same time, he acknowledged the need for further improvement, saying, “We still need to build further, both as a team and as individuals.” Cerezo will look to sharpen an attack that failed to create moves leading to goals and aim for their first league win in five matches when they host Kawasaki Frontale next, after a Levain Cup match in between. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/1ab2715dabec4d14b6b869345b9dc0ac/1011MR%20(5).jpg" alt="">

Review: Cerezo Osaka vs Yokohama F. Marinos (J1 MD9)

<h3 id="h899a97c33b">Cerezo Osaka beat J3 leaders Kagoshima to advance to the Emperor’s Cup Round of 16, with Lucas Fernandes scoring in three straight official matches and Reiya Sakata scoring his first goal of the season.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/ce994408df7c4308b5330472357fb475/1008MR%20(4).jpg" alt=""> Seven days after their 2-1 victory over Fujieda MYFC in the second match of the J.League Yamazaki Biscuit Levain Cup 1st Round, Cerezo Osaka turned their attention to the Emperor’s Cup, taking on J3 side Kagoshima United FC, representing Kagoshima Prefecture, in the third round. There were two changes to the starting lineup from the Fujieda match. Koto Abe made his first start since the second round of the Emperor’s Cup against FC Gifu, while Satoki Uejo made his first start of the season. Jackson Irvine, Dion Cools, and Yumeki Yokoyama, who had been called up by their respective national teams, also returned to the bench. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/e42e3e32c5a94678ba62cd86a2707cff/1008MR%20(5).jpg" alt=""> Cerezo Osaka controlled the ball from the early stages, but they struggled to move forward against Kagoshima’s organized pressing. Still, in the 12th minute, Rikito Inoue switched play with a long ball to the left. Reiya Sakata received it and broke forward to create a chance, and in the 16th minute, Shinji Kagawa switched play to release Takumi Nakamura down the right. By making effective use of the wide areas, Cerezo began to stretch the opposition, and in the 19th minute, Lucas Fernandes played a one-two with Kagawa to penetrate deep on the right side of Kagoshima's half. As Cerezo gradually moved closer to goal, they opened the scoring in the 25th minute. Uejo won the ball back with a press from behind, and Kagawa immediately played an exquisite ball to Pablo Sabbag, who had started running into open space. Sabbag brought the ball under control, beat his marker, and passed into the middle. Lucas received it, beat his opponent and, while falling, guided the ball into the bottom left corner with his right foot. Having taken the lead through Lucas’ third consecutive goal in official matches, Cerezo suddenly stepped up the pace. In the 28th minute, Takumi Nakamura, Lucas, and Kagawa combined to break down the right and create a chance, and in the 37th minute, Inoue won the ball high up the pitch to create another big chance. Lucas ran onto Sabbag’s through ball and was about to go one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but he could not get his shot away. Cerezo were also quick to transition from attack to defense and had given Kagoshima virtually no real chances, but in the 44th minute, Kagoshima created what was arguably their only clear-cut chance of the match from a cross. Inoue blocked the resulting shot, allowing Cerezo to escape the danger and go into halftime with a one-goal lead. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/bd2f2a03da5f4f648a7525f698ab50a0/1008MR%20(6).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/5c8ef1ad97b44f8d958669f3d8fb48da/1008MR.jpg" alt=""> In the second half, Cerezo began attacking from the outset against a Kagoshima side whose defensive intensity had dropped. In particular, Sakata and Uejo, with Kagawa also involved in their combinations, repeatedly broke through down the left. In the 54th minute, Lucas won the ball high up the pitch and carried it forward before going one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his well-placed shot was denied by a fine save. In the 57th minute, Cerezo were briefly put under pressure by a Kagoshima counterattack, but Uejo tracked back to cover and prevented them from getting a shot away. In the 68th minute, Lucas and Sabbag, who had combined to create the opening goal, were substituted. Yumeki Yokoyama and Yota Komi took up their respective positions, and just three minutes later, Yokoyama broke forward down the left and sent in a cross to create a big chance. In the 75th minute, Uejo ran onto Travis Takahashi’s pass and delivered a cross. Komi met it at the near post, but his effort narrowly missed the target. Cerezo continued to attack, and in the 80th minute, Sakata cut inside and fired a dangerous shot, only to be denied by the goalkeeper. Cerezo did get their second goal from the resulting corner, however. They started with a short corner, and it was Sakata who met Kagawa’s cross at the far post, finding the net with a clever back-header. The No. 17’s first goal of the season effectively settled the match, with Kagawa, who provided the assist, also praising him by saying, “I think he must have felt a lot of pressure since returning, so I think this was also a big goal for him.” Then, in the 84th minute, manager Pablo Machin brought on Shunta Tanaka and Koki Nagasoe, a Cerezo Osaka U-18 player registered as a Class-2 player, who made his official first-team debut. Nagasoe got involved in several chances during his brief appearance. In the 87th minute, he ran onto Takumi Nakamura’s pass and cut the ball back to create a shooting chance for Komi, and in the 90th minute, he got in behind on the right and came close to scoring. The match ended 2-0. Although Cerezo had struggled in the early stages of the first half, they ultimately defeated Kagoshima 2-0 without much trouble and advanced to the Round of 16 of the Emperor’s Cup. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/b3f03af40f864a928a2e379902279603/1008MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/b14da28989894afbb658279fdba442f6/1008MR%20(3).jpg" alt=""> The next match comes just two days later, against Yokohama F. Marinos in Matchweek 9 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. From here, October will be a busy period of consecutive matches, but as Kagawa said, “Having matches to play is something to be happy about as a player. We have enough strength in the squad, so all we can do is keep working so that whoever plays can compete at a high level.” Cerezo will look to turn the opportunity to play at home again into another positive as the whole team makes good preparations for the restart of the league. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/89f832e12d3b4954a83ffe22c1f355b7/1008MR%20(1).jpg" alt="">

Review: Cerezo Osaka vs Kagoshima United FC (Emperor's Cup 3rd Round)

Cerezo Osaka are pleased to announce that Hinata Kawai will join the club from Meiji University for the 2026/27 season (from January 2027). <h3 id="hf9070a5ba3">Comments</h3>“I’m Hinata Kawai from Meiji University, and I will be joining Cerezo Osaka in 2027. I am very happy to be able to wear this Sakura jersey that I love so much once again. In the eight years since I first stepped into Cerezo Osaka’s Elite Class as a fifth-grader, this has been a place where I have been able to grow both as a soccer player and as a person. This time, I will fight with the determination to repay the kindness I have received by becoming a player who can contribute to Cerezo Osaka. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my family, friends, teammates, and coaches who have continued to support me more than anyone else at all times, to everyone who has been involved with me, and to Meiji University, where I was able to have irreplaceable experiences in such a wonderful environment. To everyone who has supported me since my academy days, and to everyone at the Hanasaka Club, let’s fight together again! I’m home!” <h3 id="hee3eba2108">Profile</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/c704f870a89d4af5b0d200873663f62a/202610021923_01.jpg" alt=""> Date of Birth April 23, 2004 Place of Birth Osaka Height / Weight 176cm / 70kg Position Defender Number 35 Shirt Name KAWAI Career Tsukahara Sun Club Cerezo Osaka Elite Class Osaka West Course Cerezo Osaka West U-15 Cerezo Osaka U-18 Meiji University Playing Style The MVP of the Denso Cup (regional competition), he is a player who leads the defensive line with his strength in one-on-one situations and his sharp reading of the game. Primarily a center back, he can also play as a fullback or defensive midfielder.

Meiji University's Hinata Kawai to join Cerezo Osaka in January 2027

<h3 id="h7dadc6e617">Cerezo Osaka advance to the third match of the Levain Cup 1st Round after Lucas Fernandes scores one and assists another in a hard-fought battle in the rain.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/18fb02e30e574891bb55e594055a4a1c/202610011037_08.jpg" alt=""> Cerezo Osaka traveled to face Fujieda MYFC in the second round of the J.League Yamazaki Biscuit Levain Cup 1st Round. There were seven changes to the starting lineup from the most recent league match against V-Varen Nagasaki. Kosuke Nakamura started in goal, with Travis Takahashi, Rikito Inoue, and Javi Hernandez forming the back three from right to left. Takumi Nakamura started as the right wingback, while Reiya Sakata made his first official appearance of the season as the left wingback. Kosei Okazawa, who faced his former club, formed the midfield two with Shinji Kagawa. Lucas Fernandes and Thiago Andrade started as the two attacking midfielders, with Pablo Sabbag up front. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/8ee1bfa661ad4733b3a43e54a6f79dee/202610011037_04.jpg" alt=""> The match began in pouring rain, and Cerezo Osaka created chance after chance from the early stages. In the sixth minute, Cerezo broke down the right side and Lucas fired a shot. Two minutes later, Inoue won the ball high up the pitch, and Hernandez capped the move with a long-range effort. The Fujieda goalkeeper made a fine save, but it was a good shot that was on target. In the 13th minute, Sabbag flicked on a kick from Kosuke Nakamura, and Lucas had a go after receiving a pass from Thiago. Cerezo created a clear-cut chance in the 14th minute. The goalkeeper parried Sakata’s long-range shot, and the ball fell in front of Sabbag. He got to the ball, but his shot went wide. Ahead of the match, Okazawa had identified “not waiting for the opponent to take the initiative, but moving the game ourselves” as one of the keys to the match, and Cerezo Osaka showed exactly that from the early stages, pushing Fujieda back. However, as Cerezo failed to capitalize on their chances, Fujieda gradually began to carry the ball forward, and Cerezo found themselves under pressure at times. In the 21st minute, Fujieda created a clear-cut chance when a cross from the left was met by a header in the middle, but it sailed over the crossbar and Cerezo escaped the danger. In the 32nd minute, Fujieda got in behind on the left side of Cerezo’s half to create another chance, but Cerezo held firm. Then, in the 34th minute, Cerezo Osaka opened the scoring. Inoue made an excellent covering play to snuff out the danger, and the ball was worked through Okazawa and Kagawa before Takumi Nakamura played a through ball to Lucas. Lucas delivered an exquisite cross toward the far post, where Sabbag had found space through a clever piece of movement and headed the ball into the net. It was the No. 19’s first goal since joining Cerezo. He also showed his strengths throughout the match, including several occasions when he held up the ball and used his teammates intelligently. In the 41st minute, Takahashi had a clear chance following a corner, but his header narrowly missed the target. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/1f0d8cb4f3af46c1a816ff7dccec2f89/202610011037_01.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/83d73a02323f4f65ad3cdd7c640bd5b5/202610011037_03.jpg" alt=""> Cerezo Osaka went into the second half with a one-goal lead. The first chance after the break also fell to Cerezo Osaka. In the 50th minute, the ball was worked through Kagawa, Lucas, and Thiago before Sabbag broke clear onto Thiago's pass and fired a shot. It was a move started by Kagawa, with the front three combining to work the ball into a shot. However, just a minute later, as Cerezo Osaka’s pressing from the front became less effective, Fujieda easily found space on the left side of Cerezo’s half and scored from the resulting cross. Cerezo Osaka had allowed Fujieda to exploit space on the flanks several times from the first half onward, and this time it finally resulted in a goal. Had the game continued at 1-1, it would have become a difficult game. Lucas immediately put an end to that danger. Takumi Nakamura quickly took a throw-in, and Lucas received the ball and drove forward. He drew a foul inside the opposition penalty area to win a penalty, then converted it himself to restore Cerezo Osaka’s lead just four minutes after the equalizer. In the 65th minute, Sakata cut inside from one of his trademark dribbles and fired a shot. It was a good chance, but the effort was blocked by a Fujieda defender. In the 69th minute, manager Pablo Machin made his first substitutions, replacing Kagawa and Sabbag with Shunta Tanaka and Yota Komi. The system remained unchanged, with the personnel simply being rotated. In the closing stages, Cerezo Osaka came under heavy pressure from Fujieda. They faced consecutive chances in the 76th and 78th minutes, but escaped the danger with clearances including one by Takahashi. In the 83rd minute, Ayumu Ohata, who had just come on as a substitute, injured his right knee after an opponent fell on him, forcing him to leave the pitch. Hayato Okuda came on in his place and played calmly. Fujieda continued to attack in stoppage time, but Inoue and Takahashi cleared crosses from the flanks to prevent an equalizer. Cerezo Osaka held on for a 2-1 victory and advanced to the third match of the 1st Round. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/729f7f6e55f14b2188deefb80f99cf07/202610011037_02.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/72691857d7ba43db819272f21ff27727/202610011037_05.jpg" alt=""> “It was a difficult one-off match, but I’m satisfied that we were able to win it,” said manager Pablo Machin. The challenge toward the summit began on the road. Cerezo Osaka took a strong first step forward together as a team in their pursuit of the Levain Cup title. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/028e5df14fea483a9ebdae18ec51e83e/202610011037_07.jpg" alt="">

Review: Fujieda MYFC vs Cerezo Osaka (Levain Cup 1st Round 2nd Match)

<h3 id="hab31d90454">A half-step forward after the heavy defeat last time out: Cerezo Osaka come from behind to draw with V-Varen Nagasaki through a Lucas Fernandes goal and earn their first away point of the season.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/1925f2014a904b2f80e9f47863faea7b/0921MR%20(12).jpg" alt=""> Six days after their heavy 1-6 defeat to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Cerezo Osaka traveled to face V-Varen Nagasaki in Matchweek 8 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. Coming off that lopsided loss, the question was how Cerezo would make adjustments and show that they had bounced back. There were two changes to the starting lineup from the previous match. Ayumu Ohata returned at left wingback, while Kosei Okazawa made his first start in six games, since Matchweek 2 against Avispa Fukuoka. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/3d95a4a3382d431398a9d563b9c60877/0921MR%20(8).jpg" alt=""> Cerezo had faced danger from the opening minutes in the previous match. “We lacked concentration at the start of the last game. I asked the team to make that our first priority,” manager Pablo Machin said after the match. This time, Cerezo maintained possession, transitioned quickly from attack to defense, and pushed into the opposition half. In the 5th minute, Hayato Okuda got in behind on the right after receiving a pass from Lucas Fernandes, creating a clear chance, but after cutting back onto his left foot, his shot went just wide. In the 13th minute, Lucas fired a shot after a defender cleared Dion Cools’ cross, threatening the Nagasaki goal. In the 16th minute, Cerezo suffered an injury setback when Shinnosuke Hatanaka hurt the back of his thigh. Javi Hernandez came on in his place, with Rikito Inoue moving into the center of the back three. Even so, Cerezo’s momentum did not change. In the 22nd minute, Solomon Sakuragawa brought down a pass from Hernandez, who took up a position on the left side of the back three, and Cerezo advanced from there. After building a layered attack, Inoue won the ball high up the pitch and sent it straight forward to the front line, where Okazawa shot after Okuda laid it off. Okazawa, starting as one of the attacking midfielders in this match, continued to look for chances aggressively. Along with improving how they started the game, another area of focus was “risk management,” according to manager Pablo Machin. In this match, Jackson Irvine held his position firmly in the center of the pitch, closing down space and preventing Nagasaki’s second line from establishing a foothold. Cerezo did not allow Nagasaki to create any effective attacks. However, while controlling the match in their own rhythm in both attack and defense, Cerezo conceded in the 34th minute. Matheus Jesus received the ball in a deep position, laid it off to Thiago Santana up front, and then ran forward. Cerezo could not stop Santana completely and allowed a one-two, then failed to track Jesus as he broke into the space behind the defense. He went one-on-one with the goalkeeper and finished with a looping shot. “We defended while understanding their strengths, but one of those strengths led to the goal,” the manager said. It was precisely the strength Cerezo had been aware of, but they were unable to stop it. In the 43rd minute, Jesus struck the post with a shot from distance. Cerezo created a chance immediately afterward. Building a powerful attack from the right, Okazawa shot after receiving Jackson’s layoff. In first-half stoppage time, Cerezo won the ball high up the field and launched a quick counterattack, with Shunta Tanaka turning and shooting. Both were big chances, but Cerezo could not finish them and went into halftime one goal down. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/86e4e4aa7ba443bcb1a146458c4147a0/0921MR%20(14).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/64e8263501fa4fb68ff0ef193fcc52f8/0921MR.jpg" alt=""> Cerezo continued to attack from the start of the second half. In the 47th minute, they broke down the right side, with Okazawa shooting after receiving a pass from Lucas. Shortly afterward, Cerezo won a penalty when an opposing defender’s tackle caught Okazawa on the ankle. In the 51st minute, Lucas calmly converted into the bottom-right corner to equalize. For Lucas, it was a welcome first league goal since returning from injury. This was also the first time since his return from injury that he had started two consecutive matches. “I’m feeling better and better,” he said, as he led Cerezo’s attacks down the right alongside Cools and Okuda. As the match progressed, more space began to open up on the pitch, and both teams created chances from counterattacks and set pieces. In the 63rd minute, Jackson met Lucas’ corner with a header that looked destined to score, but it went over the crossbar. In the 81st minute, a shot from substitute Thiago Andrade deflected off a defender and bounced forward, creating a chance for Ohata, who had followed up. However, his right-footed effort was denied by an excellent save from the Nagasaki goalkeeper. Cerezo could not find a go-ahead goal, while they continued to put their bodies on the line defensively, blocking Nagasaki’s shots until the end. In second-half stoppage time, Kosuke Nakamura made a superb save to deny a clear chance, and the match ended 1-1. Cerezo desperately wanted a win to erase the memory of the previous match’s heavy defeat. Still, after falling behind away from home and fighting back to earn a point, they will look to take the positives from the result. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/869783409dc84bc18f5f676886186931/0921MR%20(10).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/84f96974248d4f36bc32f6e18f417c66/0921MR%20(11).jpg" alt=""> After the match, captain Shunta Tanaka said, “If we want to move up the table, we have to win games. I’m more frustrated that we couldn’t take all three points.” Regarding Cerezo’s difficulty in increasing their goal tally, he remained positive: “I don’t think we’ll score more goals from open play unless the whole team can work on things in more detail. With this break in league action, I want the entire team to get on the same page.” The league will now enter a three-week break for the international window. Jackson and Cools will leave the team to join their respective national teams, but Cerezo will look to sharpen their attacking patterns ahead of their next official match, the September 29 J.League YBC Levain Cup second-round fixture against Fujieda MYFC. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/a0a2dc80c1b34c90bfa8f710d46a1bb6/0921MR%20(13).jpg" alt="">

Review: V-Varen Nagasaki vs Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD8)

<h3 id="h6c34227d42">Cerezo Osaka overwhelmed by Sanfrecce Hiroshima in attack and defense, suffering a 1-6 away defeat.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/1e1562e12bc04d28ac59811f854a1eb7/202609141030_02.jpg" alt=""> Five days after their first draw of the season against Tokyo Verdy, Cerezo Osaka traveled away to face Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Matchweek 7 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. There were four changes to the starting lineup from the previous match. Solomon Sakuragawa and Hayato Okuda returned to the starting lineup after two games, Lucas Fernandes made his first league start of the season, and Javi Hernandez made his first start since joining the club, playing at left wingback. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/f9e2ecb017734a0e8cf4e7e84161b991/202609141030_05.jpg" alt=""> Cerezo faced a series of dangerous situations from the opening minutes. After losing the ball in their own half and allowing Hiroshima to create clear chances in the 3rd and 6th minutes, Cerezo conceded three straight corners in the 7th, 8th and 9th minutes. During the third corner sequence, Jackson Irvine was penalized for handball inside the penalty area, and Akito Suzuki converted the resulting penalty to give Hiroshima the lead. Cerezo continued to struggle to move the ball forward under Hiroshima’s high press, and in the 18th minute, they conceded a second goal on a counterattack. In a matter of minutes, Cerezo found themselves two goals down away from home. Around the 30-minute mark, Cerezo pushed forward, with Shunta Tanaka winning the ball high up the field before Jackson fired a shot from distance, but those attacks were isolated. Hiroshima then resumed their relentless pressure toward the end of the half. In stoppage time, Hiroshima broke through down Cerezo’s left side and scored a third goal from a cross. It was truly a storm of a first half for Cerezo, who were repeatedly exposed to Hiroshima’s high press, quick transitions and sharp counterattacks. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/8003ccf133b449b788a590b9e7a4816f/202609141030_04.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/f06a1ba5cbda4e30bb3d0c5cd9e102a9/202609141030_03.jpg" alt=""> Manager Pablo Machin switched to a back four at the start of the second half. The surprise change paid off initially, with Cerezo playing in Hiroshima’s half early in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Jackson started a move that continued through Sakuragawa and Lucas, creating a chance and threatening the Hiroshima goal. However, just as the momentum began to shift toward Cerezo, Sakuragawa lost the ball in the attacking third in the 55th minute, allowing Hiroshima to launch a long counterattack. Shuto Nakano, who had surged forward from the right side of their three-man center-back line, finished the move to make it 4-0. Cerezo were stunned, and two minutes later they conceded a fifth goal. Kosuke Nakamura appeared to have cleared the ball away right on the goal line, but after a VAR review, the goal was awarded. With Cerezo trailing 0-5 after 57 minutes, manager Pablo Machin made four substitutions in the 62nd minute, bringing on Ayumu Ohata, Shinji Kagawa, Yumeki Yokoyama and Pablo Sabbag. With a fresh lineup looking to pull a goal back, Yokoyama drove forward with the ball in the 66th and 67th minutes, showing his ability to tear through the defense on his own. However, Cerezo continued to struggle with their finishing and could not find the goal that would have sparked a comeback. In the 78th minute, Dion Cools brought down an opponent inside Cerezo’s penalty area and conceded a penalty. Hiroshima converted their second penalty of the match to extend the lead to six goals. After being shown the full extent of Hiroshima’s strength, Cerezo finally pulled one back in stoppage time. Cools won the ball high up the field, and Uejo received Kagawa’s pass before striking with his right foot. He fired his trademark powerful shot from distance into the top-left corner to pull one back for Cerezo at the very end. Cerezo continued to attack in search of a second goal, but the final whistle brought the match to an end. They suffered a heavy 1-6 defeat. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/90cca556babc45f599d913fc659dd864/202609141030_06.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/fdc9fe14b10945dd988c343fc2fb1535/202609141030_08.jpg" alt=""> For 90 minutes, Cerezo were continually overwhelmed by Hiroshima’s highly polished and intense style of soccer. As Jackson reflected, “I think the way we lost the ball in areas where we shouldn’t have lost it, and in areas where we weren’t organized, was reflected harshly in the result.” It was a match that left Cerezo with clear issues to address in how they gave the ball away and how they transitioned from attack to defense. Jackson also vowed to make improvements ahead of the next match: “There are things we need to correct on the field, so I want us to take a hard look at ourselves and get back on track.” Uejo, who scored a defiant golazo, also made his determination clear: “I just have to turn the page and use this goal to build momentum for the next game.” Cerezo will regroup as a team and prepare for their next away game against V-Varen Nagasaki. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/4afa24bc824c4fdcbfdb9e0ebfa0fc65/202609141030_01.jpg" alt="">

Review: Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD7)

<h3 id="hed898de0d0">In search of back-to-back wins, Cerezo Osaka dominate possession but cannot break through Tokyo Verdy’s defense, settling for a scoreless draw.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/771f7a6a7b9c46769befecbb5ca64b70/0908MR%20(6).jpg" alt=""> Three days after their 2-0 victory over Kashiwa Reysol, Cerezo Osaka welcomed Tokyo Verdy to their home stadium for Matchweek 6 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, the fifth and final game of a five-match run in all competitions. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/d9c29a8a93d647e1b5971f2f5dc60054/0908MR%20(4).jpg" alt=""> Cerezo came into the match looking for their first back-to-back wins of the season. There were three changes to the starting lineup from the Kashiwa game, with Yumeki Yokoyama and Yota Komi playing as the two attacking midfielders and Takumi Nakamura at right wingback. Thiago Andrade started up front, while Solomon Sakuragawa was left out of the starting lineup for the first time this season. The match began in strong winds. Tokyo Verdy won the coin toss and switched ends to play with the wind at their backs in the first half, but Cerezo made the better start. They pushed forward with accurate passing and by winning second balls. However, Tokyo Verdy gradually began to put pressure on Cerezo, creating danger through attacks down the sides. In the 12th minute, Yuzuki Someno got on the end of a cross and headed toward goal from a dangerous position, but the ball went over the crossbar. Another series of chances followed in the 14th minute, but Kosuke Nakamura made good saves to keep Cerezo from conceding. After the match, manager Pablo Machin and Shinnosuke Hatanaka both emphasized that not conceding during this spell was a major turning point in the game. After the water break, Cerezo began playing in Tokyo Verdy’s half. Komi got in behind and moved toward goal, while in the 30th minute, Yokoyama beat his defender and drove forward before unleashing a powerful shot from the corner of the penalty area, only to see it saved by the goalkeeper. In stoppage time, Cerezo attacked through the middle after a vertical pass from Hatanaka, with Thiago finishing the move with a shot. It was hit with power but went just wide. Cerezo had struggled against Tokyo Verdy’s attacks down the sides early on, but they fought their way back into the game and went into halftime with plenty to be encouraged by for the second half. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/f797d7a8702a4c8783e7e47a9ef34f2e/0908MR%20(3).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/5e9f14228ccb4a81bed56f33fbfa0217/0908MR%20(5).jpg" alt=""> With the wind now at their backs, Cerezo attacked from the start of the second half. In the 46th minute, Thiago received the ball after Yokoyama’s run and took a shot. Komi also dribbled forward and shot in the 47th minute. With Shunta Tanaka and Jackson Irvine controlling the midfield as the double pivot, Cerezo dominated the game and won a series of set pieces, but the strong wind made it difficult to deliver the kicks accurately. Cerezo made their first substitutions in the 61st minute, with Hayato Okuda and Solomon Sakuragawa coming on for Takumi Nakamura and Komi. Okuda had assisted the opening goal against Kashiwa, while Sakuragawa had scored it, and Cerezo looked to recreate that combination. In the 64th minute, Sakuragawa met Ayumu Ohata’s cross with a header, while in the 68th minute, Tanaka had a great chance after running onto Okuda’s diagonal pass. However, he could not get a clean connection on his shot, which went wide. With the two substitutions further energizing Cerezo’s attack, Lucas Fernandes came on for Thiago in the 73rd minute. As the quality of Cerezo’s set pieces and crosses improved, Sakuragawa attacked Lucas’s cross in the 77th minute. However, just before he could make the pinpoint connection, a defender cleared the ball away. Jackson also attacked Lucas’s corner in the 79th minute. Cerezo dominated possession and continued to attack throughout the second half, but the opening goal remained elusive. In the 85th minute, manager Pablo Machin made another major tactical change, bringing on Shinji Kagawa and Pablo Sabbag for Ohata and Yokoyama. Lucas moved to right wingback, Okuda to left wingback, Kagawa to attacking midfield, and Sakuragawa and Sabbag formed a two-man front line as Cerezo looked to break through Tokyo Verdy’s defense. As hoped, Kagawa began to dictate play when he received the ball, while Sabbag made runs in behind and created a foothold. In stoppage time, Sabbag was brought down just outside the penalty area, winning a free kick in an excellent position. However, Lucas’s kick went over the crossbar. Cerezo continued to use Sakuragawa’s height to attack, including another header from a Lucas cross, but they could not break through Tokyo Verdy’s defense. The match ended 0-0. After the early stages of the first half, Cerezo managed the defensive risks well and kept a clean sheet, making it all the more frustrating that they could not find a goal to win the game. However, they also exposed a weakness, as manager Pablo Machin noted: “We didn’t create any clear chances while we had them pinned back in the second half.” The match ultimately ended in a scoreless draw. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/f390da926a104810a66fadad8ce48780/0908MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/68f7654d8fa741dbb06db42c7300dfee/0908MR%20(1).jpg" alt=""> “It was a game we had to win,” Hatanaka said frankly at the start of his post-match comments. He continued, addressing the challenge they faced: “When I think about how many chances we created to win the game, we didn’t create any big chances.” Yokoyama, who repeatedly threatened Tokyo Verdy with his dribbling, also expressed his frustration and vowed to score: “I want to be more aggressive myself so that we don’t finish the next game without scoring.” Cerezo’s home winning streak ended at three, but they came through their recent five-match run in all competitions with three wins, one draw and one loss. With many players getting on the field, the team has been able to improve their condition while also giving a clearer picture of the style of play they are aiming for this season. Next up is an away game against Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Cerezo will take stock of what they gained and what they need to improve from these last five games and look for a big three points to move up the standings. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/a2236d6425a94bd38b6dabe0e9af1604/0908MR.jpg" alt="">

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