Cerezo Osaka announce that the loan period for Rafael Ratao has expired. <h3 id="hf9070a5ba3">Comments</h3>"To everyone involved with Cerezo Osaka, thank you very much for your strong support throughout this year. My family and I have truly come to love Cerezo Osaka. I also wished to continue playing for Cerezo Osaka for as long as possible, and I understand that the club made every possible effort as well, but unfortunately, situations like this sometimes happen in the world of football. I sincerely thank the supporters, the sponsors, the club officials, the on-site staff, and all my teammates who fought alongside me. I will continue to move forward in my football career, and I look forward to the day when I can meet you all again and the day when we can fight together again." <h3 id="hee3eba2108">Profile</h3>Date of Birth November 30, 1995 Place of Birth Brazil Height / Weight 177cm / 82kg Position Forward Career AA Ponte Preta (Brazil) CA Penapolense (Brazil) *Loan Boa EC (Brazil) *Loan Santos FC B (Brazil) *Loan CA Penapolense (Brazil) *Loan Guaratingueta (Brazil) *Loan Albirex Niigata *Loan Nautico (Brazil) *Loan Chungju Hummel FC (South Korea) CA Tubarao (Brazil) Luverdense EC (Brazil) *Loan Novorizontino (Brazil) Oeste FC (Brazil) FC Zorya Luhansk (Ukraine) SK Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia) *Loan SK Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia) Toulouse FC (France) EC Bahia (Brazil) Cerezo Osaka *Loan Player Data (in Japan) J1: 36 games / 18 goals League Cup: 5 games / 3 goals Emperor's Cup: 4 games / 2 goals

Rafael Ratao's loan spell concludes

<h3 id="hbab9535617">The final home match of the first year with manager Papas ended in a 1-3 defeat, leaving challenges in both offense and defense. The season concludes with an even record.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/bd53c2594f654b62926352d56605acba/1208MR%20(4).jpg" alt=""> Marking the final home match of Manager Arthur Papas's first year, Cerezo Osaka hosted Yokohama FC for the final fixture of the season, Matchweek 38 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. The starting lineup featured one change from the previous match against Yokohama F. Marinos: Dion Cools replaced the suspended Niko Takahashi. Cools was positioned at right back, with Hayato Okuda moving to left back. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/7a06b37548d646d69d2d496413576dc1/1208MR%20(5).jpg" alt=""> Against a Yokohama FC side that aggressively pressed from the start, Cerezo countered with long and short passes to get behind the defense, creating chances in quick succession. In the 2nd minute, Thiago Andrade received a cross on the far side from Motohiko Nakajima and took a free shot. In the 8th minute, Rafael Ratao took a shot after breaking through the defense following a pass from Masaya Shibayama. However, both attempts were thwarted by saves from Yokohama FC goalkeeper Jakub Slowik. Similar to the Yokohama F. Marinos match, after failing to capitalize on early opportunities, Cerezo gradually lost control as Yokohama FC took possession, shifted the ball wide, and created danger from crosses. Specifically, the right side of Cerezo's defense was breached, leading to a goal in the 20th minute. Following a cross, the ball was not fully cleared inside, allowing Joao Paulo to score on the far side. Two players were marking him in this sequence, but the pressure was too lenient. Unable to find rhythm, Cerezo conceded a second goal in the 30th minute. A mistake in linking play in their own half led to a short counter-attack and the ball being shaken into the net. Although the attack struggled to create opportunities after the early phase, Cerezo pulled a goal back in the 42nd minute from a corner kick. Cools, who challenged for Shibayama's kick near the post, reacted to the loose ball and scored with his right foot. In first-half stoppage time, Shunta Tanaka created a clear chance by breaking through the center with a one-two, but his shot went straight to the goalkeeper. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/5bdf6f3636d24df9bc8f2845161e0ed1/1208MR%20(1).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/e77ced2d208f4f56920bfeaee779cb29/1208MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> Cerezo made two substitutions at the start of the second half, bringing in Shinji Kagawa and Kyohei Noborizato for Hinata Kida and Okuda. Even so, they failed to regain the momentum they had surrendered, and in the 64th minute, they conceded a third goal from a cross after the space behind their left side was exploited, pushing them into an even more difficult situation. They were determined not to let the final home match end this way. The energized players launched a fierce counter-attack from this point. In the 67th minute, Kagawa, who had broken free on the left side, turned skillfully to face the goal and attempted a chipped shot. Although he brought the ball into a decisive position with a superb move, it just went wide of the goal. In the 75th minute, Ratao, who broke through on a through ball from substitute Vitor Bueno, beat his marker and shot. The attempt was directed toward a tight spot, but again it went just wide of the post. In the 80th minute, Cools, who received a superb pass from Kagawa on the right side, delivered a cross. While the defense was completely breached, Noborizato, who arrived from the far side, had his shot blocked by a defender and could not take the shot. In the 81st minute, Thiago, who cut inside from the left side, fired a curling shot toward the near post, but it hit the post directly. The sought-after counter-attack goal remained elusive. Thiago also had a decisive shot saved by the goalkeeper in the 84th minute. Finally, in the 88th minute, Ratao tapped the ball into the net after the goalkeeper parried Thiago's shot, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Ratao, who entered the final match with a chance at the top scorer title, failed to score for the fifth consecutive match, ultimately finishing in a tie for second place in the scoring rankings. The match ended 1-3. They were unable to cap off the final match of the season and the final home match with a victory. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/f1f50f20146a4004b03d0cfe3e5c09df/1208MR.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/3b5b202a03c04dbb9ff583ae14682d41/1208MR%20(3).jpg" alt=""> The final record was an even 14 wins, 10 draws, and 14 losses. The team finished in 10th place, placing them in the middle of the table. After the match, captain Tanaka and manager Papas greeted the supporters. Manager Papas delivered an impassioned speech, stating, "I truly want to change this club. I want to fight every battle with the feeling that we will lift the trophy. There are still many things we need to do, but the team will definitely get stronger, and the team will win more. I want to experience the greatest moment of my life in the form of a championship victory." He vowed to make great strides toward the next year's Meiji Yasuda J1 100 Year Vision League and the 2026/27 Meiji Yasuda J1 League season. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/624d9459600449aeb7612295350de9c3/1208MR%20(6).jpg" alt="">

Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-3 Yokohama FC (J1 MD38)

Cerezo Osaka are pleased to announce that manager Arthur Papas will continue to lead the team in the Meiji Yasuda J1 100 Year Vision League and the 2026/27 season of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. <h3 id="hf9070a5ba3">Comments</h3>"I feel immensely honored to be able to continue this journey with all of you. To fight with the feelings of the Cerezo Osaka supporters on our shoulders is something special, and my resolve to deliver continued success is stronger than ever. When I took charge at the beginning of this season, I laid out two goals. They were to bring back the 'attacking football' that is traditionally associated with Cerezo Osaka, and to nurture promising talent and guide it to the top level. As the season concludes, we can proudly boast the following achievements. The 2025 team recorded the highest number of goals since 2017. Simultaneously, we succeeded in transforming the team's average age from the fourth-highest in the league to the fourth-youngest team. Our ultimate goal is to bring titles (trophies) to all of our supporters. While we were able to build a very strong foundation in 2025, the step toward winning a title is large and steep. It can only be realized with the support of everyone who has 'pink blood' flowing through their veins! Let's fight together next season." <h3 id="hee3eba2108">Profile</h3>Date of Birth February 12, 1980 Place of Birth Australia Coaching Career 2009-2010 - Australia U-18, Assistant Coach 2009-2011 - Australian Institute of Sport, Football Coach 2011 - Oakleigh Cannons FC (Australia), Manager 2011-2012 - Newcastle United Jets FC (Australia), First Team Assistant Coach, Youth Head Coach 2012-2013 - India U-23, Manager 2013 - Dempo FC (India), Manager 2014 - FC Goa (India), Assistant Coach 2015 - Oakleigh Cannons FC (Australia), Manager 2016-2017 - Green Gully FC (Australia), Manager 2017 - Al-Ettifaq SC (Saudi Arabia), Assistant Coach 2018 - Northeast United FC (India), Assistant Coach 2019 - Yokohama F. Marinos, Coach 2020 - Yokohama F. Marinos, Head Coach 2021 - Kagoshima United FC, Manager 2021-2023 - Newcastle United Jets FC (Australia), Manager 2023-2024 - Buriram United FC (Thailand), Manager 2025 - Cerezo Osaka, Manager

Regarding the coaching staff for the Meiji Yasuda J1 100 Year Vision League and the 2026/27 season of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League

Cerezo Osaka are pleased to announce that Yusuke Amano has been appointed as the club's sports director (responsible for overseeing the top team, ladies team, and academy). <h3 id="hf9070a5ba3">Comments</h3>"To everyone involved with Cerezo Osaka, I am Amano, and I have been appointed to the position of Sports Director starting in 2026. I will dedicate myself to cherishing the history that Cerezo Osaka has cultivated thus far and ensuring the inheritance of its DNA to the next generation. In 2026, the J.League will transition to an autumn-spring season format following the J.League 100 Year Vision League. I will strive daily to respond swiftly to the changes of the times and to ensure that Cerezo Osaka becomes more indispensable to this city than ever before." <h3 id="hee3eba2108">Profile</h3>Date of Birth April 10, 1978 Place of Birth Ehime Career Sanfrecce Hiroshima Youth, Coach Gainare Tottori U-15, Manager Gainare Tottori, Academy Director Gainare Tottori, Deputy Head of Player Development / Academy Director Gainare Tottori, Head Coach Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Strengthening Departiment Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina, Head of the Strengthening Department Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Head of the Strengthening Headquarters (Sports Director)

Yusuke Amano named sports director for Cerezo Osaka

<h3 id="h742bcae285">Cerezo Osaka failed to capitalize on their strong start and conceded goals, suffering a 1-3 defeat. Their winning streak has ended at three.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/06bfb44502914633b46737112eb4a544/1202MR%20(6).jpg" alt=""> Three weeks after the previous match against Shimizu S-Pulse, which saw them achieve their second three-match winning streak of the season, Cerezo Osaka traveled to the home of Yokohama F. Marinos to face Matchday 37 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, aiming for their first four consecutive wins of the season. The starting lineup had one change from the previous match. Shunta Tanaka returned and formed the midfield alongside Hinata Kida and Motohiko Nakajima, pairing together for the first time in two matches. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/e2546ca0da02437a86363318e84cada0/1202MR%20(5).jpg" alt=""> The team's strong start had been noticeable, scoring two goals within the opening 15 minutes in both of the previous two matches. In this match, they again pressed the goal from kickoff, creating their first decisive chance in the 3rd minute. Motohiko Nakajima took a shot after receiving a lay-off from Rafael Ratao, who had received a pass from Niko Takahashi, having penetrated the penalty area. However, the shot was saved by a fine stop from the goalkeeper. A decisive chance came again in the 6th minute. Masaya Shibayama, who got behind the defense on the right side from a through pass by Hayato Okuda, slipped past the rushing goalkeeper and crossed the ball into the center. Ratao took a touch and shot, but this time it was blocked by a defender. In the 13th minute, Okuda shot from a cross by Thiago Andrade, who had broken through on the left side from a through pass by Tanaka. Cerezo pressed relentlessly in the early stages of this match too, but were unable to finish their chances. In the 25th minute, the opponent collected a long ball up front and spread it out to the wing, allowing Jordy Croux to cut inside in his characteristic fashion. The shot from his left foot was parried but not held by goalkeeper Koki Fukui, and Asahi Uenaka tapped in the rebound, giving the opponent the lead. Despite conceding from one of the opponent's few chances, they continued to attack afterwards. In the 38th minute, Thiago received a pass from Shibayama and unleashed a right-footed shot, the powerful trajectory of which threatened the goal, but this too was saved by a fine stop from the goalkeeper. In the 44th minute, Cerezo broke down the left side with a sequence of passes involving Shinnosuke Hatanaka and Thiago, leading to a decisive opportunity for Nakajima, who had broken through from a through pass by Takahashi, but his shot missed the target. Cerezo attacked relentlessly in the first half but found the goal elusive, yet they managed to equalize in additional time. Thiago reacted to an error in the opponent's defender's clearance, getting to the ball just ahead of the opponent, and was subsequently fouled by the goalkeeper, winning a penalty kick. Ratao converted it, bringing the score back to level terms to end the first half. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/628f47c7e4144c4d9e8343f5b7429690/1202MR%20(1).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/f37a6fb5724147e087cd942afb45783c/1202MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> Cerezo created the first decisive chance of the second half too. In the 58th minute, Ratao intercepted an opponent defender's back pass and broke through vertically. He sent a delicate pass to Thiago, who was running alongside him, and Thiago, who was one-on-one with the goalkeeper, cut back after his first touch and attempted a lob shot, but it missed the target and did not result in a goal. Another decisive chance nearly materialized in the 59th minute from a cross by Thiago, who had broken through on the left side from a through pass by Tanaka, but Ratao's shot was blocked by a defender. Having failed to capitalize on the two good opportunities, in the 61st minute, a clearance from an opponent's free kick was played directly into the attacking third, leading to a goal by Croux, who had gotten in behind the defense, and Cerezo conceded the go-ahead goal. A further accident occurred for Cerezo, who once again found themselves chasing the game. In the 65th minute, Takahashi was sent off with his second yellow card of the match. It was an unfortunate dismissal for manager Arthur Papas, who had already been preparing a triple substitution including the introduction of Ayumu Ohata. From this point on, Yokohama FM repeatedly created decisive chances, but Fukui prevented a third goal, saved by fine stops and even the crossbar. In second half additional time, Ratao connected with a through pass carried by Hatanaka, creating a decisive chance for Vitor Bueno. However, the shot aimed for the top near corner was again blocked by a fine save from the opponent's goalkeeper. Then, in the 90+6th minute, Cerezo conceded a third goal from a counter-attack resulting from a failed clearance of a set piece. Cerezo were unable to grasp the flow of the game this matchday, losing 1-3, and their winning streak stopped at three. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/a9856ed88e6a47ac96553d7dfab68ea8/1202MR%20(3).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/4146d29356a046a4b48042ad2e72e352/1202MR%20(4).jpg" alt=""> After the match, captain Tanaka reflected: "I don't think the start was bad. If we could have scored the opening goal, we could have completely taken control of the pace, but we failed to convert there, and we conceded in situations where we had to endure." Heading into the next match, which is the final match of the season and the final home match, he stated with determination: "We are creating chances, so if we can finish them, and if the defense can manage risk properly, I think we will be fine. I want us to demonstrate everything we've built up this year in the final match and get the win." Taking the challenges from this matchday as fuel, they aim to finish the season with a victory and smiles. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/49544bbb1e0649cb97940bfc61ca3beb/1202MR.jpg" alt="">

Review: Yokohama F. Marinos 3-1 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD37)

<h3 id="h47730ecd4c">A dominant win with four goals, including two lightning-fast strikes. Kengo Furuyama scored his second of the season as Cerezo secured their second three-game winning streak of the year.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/2a91d1948b5c46d5ae8b8dd6fcab538f/1111MR%20(1).jpg" alt=""> Two weeks after their match against Kawasaki Frontale, Cerezo Osaka traveled to face Shimizu S-Pulse, aiming for their third consecutive win in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Matchweek 36. There were two changes to the starting lineup from the previous match: Shunta Tanaka began on the bench, while Ayumu Ohata was left out of the squad. Vitor Bueno and Niko Takahashi both returned to the starting lineup for the first time in five league matches. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/4641489ec6b74f89b936dada5cde463e/1111MR%20(3).jpg" alt=""> In their previous match against Kawasaki, Cerezo Osaka made their best start of the season by scoring twice within the first seven minutes — and they carried that momentum into this game as well. Just three minutes in, Hayato Okuda, Hinata Kida, and Masaya Shibayama combined down the right side, and when Okuda’s cross was flicked on by Bueno, Motohiko Nakajima fired a mid-range shot. The goalkeeper parried it, but Rafael Ratao was quick to pounce on the rebound to give Cerezo an early lead. In the 11th minute, they doubled their advantage. Kida won the ball high up the pitch, Shibayama beat a defender, and his right-footed shot struck the crossbar — only for Bueno to follow up and slot home, extending the lead over Shimizu. “We knew Shimizu tend to concede early in games. We had also scored early in our last two matches, so we went in with the intention of getting a goal right from the start,” Kida said after the match. It was a blistering pair of goals before the hosts could even settle. Afterward, Shimizu pushed back, but goalkeeper Koki Fukui made key saves in the 18th and 24th minutes to keep the momentum on Cerezo’s side. Then, in the 42nd minute, came the third goal. Starting from Fukui’s long kick, Ratao controlled it and linked up with Bueno and Thiago down the left. Andrade’s low cross found Ratao again in the center, who calmly finished after a single touch. “It was a move we’ve practiced — great coordination among the three of us,” said Ratao, as the Brazilian trio combined brilliantly for the goal. Cerezo nearly struck again in first-half stoppage time when Kida played a through ball behind the defense for Thiago, whose cross found Ratao, but his touch was a bit too heavy to convert. Even so, Cerezo went into halftime with a commanding 3–0 lead — a stunning display of the attacking football that manager Arthur Papas has been building. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/a59738461c43425aa02a2f0de50390b5/1111MR%20(5).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/01cdc3373d984db4afd78ebd4c889973/1111MR%20(4).jpg" alt=""> Shimizu brought on Takashi Inui at the start of the second half, adding a spark to their attack, and Cerezo soon found themselves under pressure. In the 46th and 52nd minutes, Capixaba—who played for Cerezo until last season—threatened with two chances, but the first was blocked by Takahashi and the second cleared by Ryosuke Shindo, as the defense stood firm. In the 67th minute, Shimizu created another big chance from a corner, but Fukui produced an excellent save. Though Cerezo were pushed back for much of the second half, they struck on the counter in the 69th and 75th minutes, breaking through the opposition but failing to convert as Shibayama’s finishes went wide. In the 77th minute, Cerezo substituted Ratao and Thiago for Kengo Furuyama and Dion Cools. Then, in the 84th minute, Furuyama had a chance, but his shot was blocked by a defender, leading to a counterattack and a goal from Inui, who finished brilliantly. “I almost lost heart,” Furuyama admitted later, but he refused to let his long-awaited opportunity end there. Driven by determination, he continued to run tirelessly—and in stoppage time, his moment came. Meeting Dion Cools’ cross from the right, after a clever pass from Shinji Kagawa, Furuyama struck it perfectly with the inside of his left foot to score. It was the very definition of a striker’s finish—a decisive, clinical goal. As the ball hit the net, teammates and staff erupted in joy, with Shindo the first to rush over to celebrate with the university rookie known as a team mood-maker. After the match, Furuyama reflected with relief: “I’ve always been confident about meeting crosses like that because I’ve worked on it more than anyone in training. I practiced that a lot with Takumi Nakamura and coach Bruno Quadros, so I’m really glad it paid off today.” He added with gratitude, “I’m also happy I could score for all the people who supported me through the tough times.” With Furuyama’s goal sealing the result, Cerezo once again scored four against Shimizu—just as they had in the home fixture—completing a season double over their opponents. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/0220b1bce8f94aee87a9872cf2c0809b/1111MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/ff5b0bab23474ebba9cf2df6d1a1eee9/1111MR%20(6).jpg" alt=""> Manager Papas looked back on the match with satisfaction, saying, “We’ve started well for three games in a row. It must have been difficult for our opponents.” Following the Fagiano Okayama and Kawasaki Frontale matches, Cerezo once again made a strong start and took the lead early, seizing control of the game and securing their second three-match winning streak of the season. With just two matches remaining, the team will look to continue showing the strength they have built up throughout the season and push forward until the very end. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/2a91d1948b5c46d5ae8b8dd6fcab538f/1111MR%20(1).jpg" alt="">

Review: Shimizu S-Pulse 1-4 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD36)

<h3 id="h218f24c237">Two lightning-fast goals and a long-awaited clean sheet. Cerezo Osaka secured a convincing victory over Kawasaki Frontale with well-coordinated attack and defense.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/4eca7731fa9c44e184f5b3e2c2304281/1027MR%20(1).jpg" alt=""> Six days after their first victory in five matches against Fagiano Okayama, Cerezo Osaka hosted Kawasaki Frontale in the 35th round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, aiming to extend their winning streak. The starting lineup featured one change from the Okayama game: Masaya Shibayama replaced Shion Homma, taking the right-wing position, while Thiago Andrade returned to the left wing. With their last home win coming over two and a half months ago against Albirex Niigata in Round 25, Cerezo were determined to secure a victory on home turf this time. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/306449afd7924138a2ed5c5428106571/1027MR%20(5).jpg" alt=""> Right from the start, Cerezo created chances. GK Koki Fukui sent a long feed to Thiago, and after Rafael Ratao collected the second ball, the play went through Hinata Kida, Ayumu Ohata, Thiago, Ratao, and Motohiko Nakajima, with Ohata eventually entering the penalty area. He fired a left-footed shot, but it was narrowly saved by the goalkeeper. This sequence reflected Cerezo’s aggressive intent from the outset—“forward, forward” as Shunta Tanaka described—and in the 4th minute, they opened the scoring. Ryosuke Shindo, Hayato Okuda, and Tanaka formed a neat triangle to bypass the opponent’s press, and Tanaka quickly switched the play to the opposite side. Thiago, breaking free down the left, delivered a direct cross, which Ratao calmly controlled and finished in one touch at the far post. This marked Ratao’s second consecutive match with a goal, taking his tally to 15 and bringing him just three behind top scorer Leo Ceara. Cerezo’s momentum continued, and in the 7th minute they added a second. Launching a wave of attacks, Tanaka reacted to a loose ball after Shibayama’s cut-in cross was poorly cleared by the opposition, smashing it into the net. The goal came in front of students from Tanaka’s former middle school, who had been invited to watch, making for a brilliant moment. In the 17th minute, Thiago cut in from the left and fired a shot toward a good angle, but Kawasaki’s GK Rui Yamaguchi denied it. “The start was probably the best we’ve had all season,” Arthur Papas reflected after the match, highlighting Cerezo’s stunning opening. Kawasaki created a chance on the counter in the 20th minute, but Tatsuya Ito’s shot was superbly blocked by Fukui on his face. “I could position myself well,” Fukui said, calmly handling the one-on-one. Ohata also kept close pressure on Kawasaki’s key player Ito, preventing him from making plays. Aside from that 20-minute moment, he almost perfectly contained the opponent for the rest of the time. In the 24th minute, Marcio scored from a free kick, but it was ruled offside. Afterward, Kawasaki controlled possession for a period, but Cerezo responded in first-half stoppage time with a near chance. It started with Ohata stopping Ito’s breakthrough, after which Nakajima used his body skillfully to dribble forward and play a through pass to Thiago on the left. Thiago advanced with the ball and passed to Ratao in the center. It was a completely broken defensive shape, though Ratao’s shot just missed the target. While it wasn’t a decisive third goal, Cerezo fully demonstrated their attacking strengths and went into halftime leading 2-0, just as their coach had said before the match: “We’ll play to make the most of our strengths against any opponent.” <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/7722e010b7dd419c809b6d8d8ae8d76d/1027MR%20(4).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/876016ce466747ce89d94677387c80e1/1027MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> Cerezo Osaka had the first chances in the second half. In the 48th minute, Thiago broke through on a through ball from Tanaka and took a shot, only for the goalkeeper to make a fine save. Two minutes later, Nakajima won the ball in a high position, leading to a short counter and a promising opportunity for Shibayama, but no shot could be taken. Kawasaki, who made two substitutions and changed their midfield formation from the start of the second half, continued to hold possession. In the 59th minute, they stole the ball in Cerezo’s own half and created a dangerous chance, but Ito’s shot was once again superbly saved by Fukui. Fukui also made an excellent save from Yasuto Wakizaka’s shot in the 64th minute. Immediately after, Cerezo had a big chance from a counterattack: moving the ball quickly forward through Shibayama, Thiago, and Nakajima, Nakajima unleashed a shot toward the near-top corner, but the goalkeeper blocked it. Although Cerezo was pressed by Kawasaki in the second half, they solidly defended the central areas, pushed attacks to the wings, and cleared incoming crosses, preventing any clear-cut chances. “We had enough players in front of the goal, and nothing collapsed badly. The forward players also limited the space, so there were very few dangerous situations,” Shindo reflected, noting that the players in central positions remained composed and closed down the game effectively. Cerezo achieved a clean sheet for the first time in 16 league matches. “Even in the second half, when they had the ball, we were able to defend physically at the crucial moments. We want to continue that kind of resilient defending,” Tanaka said, marking this as a valuable performance heading into the final three matches of the season. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/91ce890f944841b993ca22039c43b80b/1027MR.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/542e574a3ebb4e2db5327d8ae64f54c7/1027MR%20(6).jpg" alt=""> After the match, a banner supporting the injured Lucas Fernandez was displayed behind the goal, and the entire Yodoko Sakura Stadium seemed united in celebrating Cerezo’s first home victory in about two and a half months. “All the players did really well. I think it was a wonderful day for the supporters as well,” the manager said with a broad smile as he left the stadium. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/491932ae3ae9413382eb5b6973a04486/1027MR%20(7).jpg" alt="">

Review: Cerezo Osaka 2-0 Kawasaki Frontale (J1 MD35)

<h3 id="hd67aae11a5">Motohiko Nakajima contributed to two goals, and Rafael Ratao scored the winner as Cerezo ended their three-game losing streak to claim their first victory in five matches.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/8462f7397ad54d7aae5c8d5729486229/1020MR.jpg" alt=""> Two weeks after suffering their first three-game losing streak of the season against Nagoya Grampus, Cerezo Osaka traveled to face Fagiano Okayama in the 34th round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League following the international break. Manager Papas made four changes to the starting lineup from the Nagoya match. Motohiko Nakajima, Hinata Kida, and Hayato Okuda returned to the starting eleven for the first time in three matches, while Ryosuke Shindo made his first start in four. This time, Thiago Andrade started on the right wing, with Shion Homma positioned on the left. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/a24efb0d5f2549208d9a49fc9fda7bb9/1020MR%20(3).jpg" alt=""> Building on the lessons from the previous match—where they struggled against high pressing—Cerezo Osaka made adjustments in possession, using not only short passes but also exploiting space behind the defense to stretch Okayama. Their transitions from attack to defense were also sharp; in the 10th and 11th minutes, Okuda twice won the ball high up the pitch to create chances. The first came through Shunta Tanaka and Nakajima, and the second from Nakajima to Homma, whose curling effort from the left side narrowly missed the target. In the 18th minute, Cerezo were caught under pressure while building from the back and conceded a goal, but it was ruled out for offside. Then, in the 19th minute, a well-placed pass from Okuda to Tanaka broke the press, and Tanaka immediately sent a long ball in behind the left side. Homma burst down the flank to win a corner, and from that set piece in the 20th minute, Cerezo took the lead. Nakajima’s low, fast delivery caused confusion, forcing a failed clearance from Lucao that ended up in Okayama’s net for an own goal. Cerezo continued to use long balls effectively, combining through both wings with Thiago and Homma, while Nakajima and Rafael Ratao linked up well in the central channel to create more opportunities. However, after the 30-minute mark, Okayama’s man-oriented pressing began to take effect, and in the 32nd minute, they equalized. A misplaced touch from Ratao after receiving a pass from Koki Fukui led to a quick counterattack, and Ryunosuke Sato—who had also scored in the reverse fixture—cut inside and fired a precise mid-range shot to level the match. Despite being put under pressure afterward, Cerezo held firm and finished the first half at 1–1. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/ff27ccb481014524b0674bb180a6488b/1020MR%20(4).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/d250fe469967427e87c50e2eff31cec3/1020MR%20(5).jpg" alt=""> In the second half, Cerezo faced early pressure from Okayama, but Ayumu Ohata made a crucial block to keep the game level. Then, in the 52nd minute, the match took a decisive turn. Okuda sent a long ball forward for Ratao, who broke through the line and was brought down by Okayama goalkeeper Svend Brodersen as he came off his line. After an on-field review following VAR’s advice, the referee judged it as Denial of an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity and showed a red card to the goalkeeper. With a man advantage, Cerezo took the lead in the 63rd minute. As Okuda received the ball in the middle, Nakajima made a diagonal run behind the defense. Okuda found him with a pinpoint pass, and although Nakajima’s first-time shot was parried by the keeper, Ratao was there to tap in the rebound. It was a goal born from perfect understanding between Okuda’s vision and Nakajima’s movement. Though Cerezo allowed Okayama—now a man down—a few half-chances, they stayed composed at the back and kept control, creating several opportunities to seal the game. Substitutes Kyohei Yoshino and Nakajima both came close, and in stoppage time, Masaya Shibayama, who had come on as a right winger, cut inside and curled a shot that struck the post. Cerezo couldn’t find the third goal to close the game, but they held firm through ten minutes of added time to secure a 2–1 victory, earning their first three points in five matches since Matchweek 29 against Avispa Fukuoka. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/02c375fa8ea84623965ff874886bc7e8/1020MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/25beafdb57ee40119da33aa90d4c0e77/1020MR%20(7).jpg" alt=""> Reflecting on the match, Okuda said, “We had two weeks to prepare for this game, analyzed the opponent thoroughly, and trained intensively, so there were moments where we could move the ball effectively.” His performance stood out not only in the moment that drew the red card but also in the build-up to the decisive goal, delivering key passes behind the defense. Nakajima, playing as the attacking midfielder, set up both goals. While he admitted some regret for not finishing himself, he smiled and added, “From a team perspective, it’s our first win in a while, so I want to see that positively.” Though the precision of build-up—including the goalkeeper’s involvement—still needs improvement, Cerezo will take the momentum from this first victory in five matches into their next home game against Kawasaki Frontale. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/8eb20e2395d74f4282cda77865ab31cb/1020MR%20(1).jpg" alt="">

Review: Fagiano Okayama 1-2 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD34)

<h3 id="h0d33dffd42">Cerezo pulled one back late via Vitor Bueno’s free kick, but couldn’t overturn a two-goal deficit from the first half, falling to their first three-game losing streak of the season.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/6c2ad4d27d4243b29ae6b727397bd353/1006MR%20(4).jpg" alt=""> Five days after their 2–1 loss to Kyoto Sanga F.C., Cerezo Osaka traveled to face 15th-placed Nagoya Grampus in the 33rd round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. There was one change from the previous starting lineup: with Lucas Fernandes sidelined due to the injury that forced his substitution last match, Shion Homma started on the right wing in his place. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/b0fde6e2ca9a4b198e99c49c1583296e/1006MR%20(3).jpg" alt=""> In the early stages, Cerezo were pinned back as Nagoya stretched the play wide and attacked through a series of crosses. Once they weathered the initial pressure, however, Cerezo began to see more of the ball. Still, in the first half they struggled to progress forward, forced into deep build-up play by Nagoya’s high pressing. Unable to penetrate the box as they wanted, Cerezo finally showed signs of danger in the 31st minute when Homma turned upfield and combined with Rafael Ratao in a quick one-two on the counter. Moments later, in the 32nd minute, they created their best chance of the half: starting from Masaya Shibayama in the No. 10 role, Cerezo moved the ball smoothly through Shinji Kagawa and Homma, whose driven near-post cross found Ratao perfectly—but his shot was denied by goalkeeper Yohei Takeda. That would be Cerezo’s only shot of the first half, though it came from a brilliantly constructed move that deserved a goal. Just minutes later, in the 36th, Nagoya nearly struck at the other end. Mateus Castro initiated the move from the center before the ball was spread wide, and a cross found Yudai Kimura unmarked in front of goal—but goalkeeper Koki Fukui produced a superb save with his right foot. However, from the ensuing corner, Cerezo conceded. The ball was flicked on at the near post and finished by Yuki Nogami at the far. Having conceded twice from corners in the previous match against Kyoto, Cerezo had specifically trained to defend set pieces better this week, but the issue resurfaced. Nagoya capitalized on the momentum and doubled their lead in the 45th minute—exploiting space down Cerezo’s left flank, Sho Inagaki delivered a cross that Kimura met with a decisive header to make it 2–0. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/d14e15c77b134b9c952eb92c0ecf166a/1006MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/b99c936efc4241cd8780624aab30e716/1006MR%20(6).jpg" alt=""> In the first half, Cerezo struggled in every aspect — in attack and defense, in duels, and on set pieces — and were forced onto the back foot. Manager Arthur Papas responded by making two changes at halftime: Masaya Shibayama and Thiago Andrade came off, replaced by Motohiko Nakajima and Reiya Sakata. Nakajima took over in the No.10 role vacated by Shibayama, while Sakata came on as the right winger, allowing Homma to move to his natural position on the left. Chasing two goals, Cerezo began the second half with greater defensive intensity and a faster attacking rhythm. In the 58th minute, Nagoya found the net from a counterattack, but VAR ruled the goal out for offside—avoiding what would have been a fatal third. That reprieve sparked a strong Cerezo response. In the 61st minute, Sakata initiated an attack down the right, Homma cut inside from the left and laid the ball off for Kagawa, whose cleanly struck shot missed the target by inches. Four minutes later, Kagawa combined with Dion Cools before Ratao unleashed a powerful drive that went straight at the goalkeeper. In the 75th minute, Homma cut inside on the dribble to create his trademark shooting opportunity, but failed to connect cleanly and sent it wide. Aside from the disallowed goal, Nagoya barely created any chances in the second half as Cerezo pushed hard for a comeback. Their persistence paid off in the 85th minute when Homma earned a free kick with a driving run, and Vitor Bueno curled it directly into the net — his second goal of the season following the one against Kashima Antlers two rounds earlier. Riding that momentum, Cerezo nearly equalized just two minutes later. Homma’s long pass released Sakata, who broke free and went one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his shot went straight at the goalkeeper. It was the team’s best chance to draw level. Despite seven minutes of added time, Cerezo couldn’t find the equalizer, falling 1–2. A sluggish first half proved costly, as the team suffered their first three-game losing streak of the season. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/3578a4bae7114dc4a0aa05f8df54cf18/1006MR%20(5).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/0d4e824ad6dd4156b3c67e113b0ac0fb/1006MR%20(1).jpg" alt=""> Following defeats to Kashima and Kyoto—both in the thick of the title race—Cerezo also fell short this week against Nagoya, a team fighting desperately to secure their J1 status. The mental gap between the two sides was undeniable. In attack, Cerezo struggled to progress the ball, particularly in the first half, and conceded again from a set piece at almost the same time as in the previous match against Kyoto. Rather than overcoming their issues, they repeated them in this defeat. With a two-week break before the next match against Fagiano Okayama, the team will look to use the interval to address these problems. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/af792bbd7f964836b4e5ae52c39cd7b8/1006MR.jpg" alt="">

Review: Nagoya Grampus 2-1 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD33)

<h3 id="h8cca308ba0">Cerezo drew level in the second half and kept pressing hard, but couldn’t turn the game around. Brought down by two set-piece goals, they succumbed to the determination of title-chasing Kyoto Sanga F.C.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/cb3b8ce0e8c04fb3a777ec7cd3dfc045/0930MR%20(1).jpg" alt=""> Four days after suffering a 1–3 comeback defeat to Kashima Antlers in the previous match, Cerezo Osaka hosted third-place Kyoto Sanga F.C. at home in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 32. Manager Papas made ten changes to the starting lineup, retaining only Shinnosuke Hatanaka from the last match, as the team faced the Kansai derby in full force. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/ba9fe0b2aec14bf3be7d7894aa40f9a9/0930MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> Just three minutes into the match, Cerezo faced an early scare when Kyoto broke through the center, but Rikito Inoue—playing against his former club—stepped in to block the shot. In the 10th minute, another dangerous moment arose from a Kyoto cross, but Inoue once again reacted quickly to clear the second ball, his No. 31 shirt symbolizing sharp defensive awareness. Eager to launch a counterattack, Cerezo instead saw the game take an unexpected turn. In the 12th minute Kyoto’s Rafael Elias went down after contact, followed by Lucas Fernandes in the 19th, forcing both key players to be substituted as early as the 25th minute. Responding to the emergency, Shion Homma came on at right wing. “Unlike Lucas, I tried to play closer to players like Shiba (Shibayama) and Shinji-san, getting touches inside and keeping good spacing,” he said after the match, aiming to bring a new dimension to the attack. As time went on, he settled in, repeatedly creating chances in the second half and delivering a performance above passing grade. The first half, however, proved difficult for Cerezo to find rhythm, as they spent long stretches under pressure. Still, they held firm—Shinji Kagawa tracked back to block a shot in the 31st minute, and Hatanaka threw his body in the way in the 36th. But in the 44th minute, they finally conceded from a corner kick. Taiki Hirato drove a low ball to the near side, a clever dummy followed, and Temma Matsuda finished the move. Having allowed a similar goal against Avispa Fukuoka in Round 29, Cerezo could only rue their lack of vigilance. During the eight minutes of first-half stoppage time, Cerezo finally pushed into the attacking third, but they couldn’t find an equalizer and went into the break trailing by a single goal. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/4c0a65ba906d43e8aed169317f298ba8/0930MR%20(6).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/525363e5effe4ef692c332c0659da82f/0930MR.jpg" alt=""> Kyoto opened the second half on the front foot, earning a string of set pieces, but Cerezo held firm and soon created a chance of their own. In the 54th minute, a corner from Masaya Shibayama found Dion Cools making a clever run to the near post, but his header shaved past the outside of the frame. Just three minutes later, the same combination struck again—Shibayama’s near-post delivery, Cools’ sharp connection—and this time the ball nestled inside the goal for the equalizer. It was a memorable first goal for Cools since joining the club, a technically executed finish that left him proudly noting afterward, “Set pieces are one of our strengths.” The defender also shone in duels, matching or outmuscling opponents all evening, a performance worthy of Man of the Match had Cerezo gone on to win. As Kyoto’s pressing intensity waned, Cerezo began to enjoy more freedom, breaking lines and pushing numbers forward. In the 67th minute, Homma sent in a cross that found Kagawa, but the veteran couldn’t get clean contact on his shot. In the 73rd, a clever layoff from Rafael Ratao off a pass from Shunta Tanaka set up another big chance for Homma, only for a defender’s block to deny him. “In the first half we were feeling things out, but by the end we started to find the spaces and push them back. In the second half I was able to become more of a focal point and play while reading the opponent,” Shibayama reflected afterward. Despite creating opportunities and carrying the momentum, Cerezo failed to land the decisive second goal. Then, in the 87th minute, substitute striker Shun Nagasawa rose at the near post to head home a corner, putting Kyoto back in front. Forced once again to chase the game, Cerezo threw everything forward—bringing on Motohiko Nakajima and Vitor Bueno and earning four consecutive corners deep into stoppage time—but they couldn’t break through. The match ended 1–2, a defeat that saw Cerezo succumb to the sheer determination of a Kyoto side fighting to keep their title hopes alive. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/cd7c360485ef48c995ffa7e513a275bc/0930MR%20(4).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/9eb23c9ff25a4957b1365b264d1e8b55/0930MR%20(5).jpg" alt=""> After the match, Rikito Inoue, who had battled hard against his former club, reflected on the defensive lapses: “Honestly, it didn’t feel like we were going to concede from open play, but both goals came from set pieces where they exploited brief moments of space. We’ve been conceding from set pieces quite a bit, so we need to come up with better ways to defend them and make adjustments,” he said, pointing to an area for improvement. Shibayama and Homma, who were central to Cerezo’s attacking chances, both highlighted a lack of “killer instinct” as the key shortcoming. Manager Arthur Papas commented: “There are no shortcuts to making the team stronger—we have to build step by step. But I have no intention of waiting four or five years to challenge for a title. We need to accelerate the process and create a team that can fight for the championship as soon as possible.” For Cerezo, the six-match stretch against top-ranked opponents in August and September ended winless at three draws and three losses. Closing the gap they have felt firsthand against title-contending sides will require a collective effort throughout the club—an urgent lesson to carry forward. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/ca1e58baca44401994b2d6ebef205df2/0930MR%20(3).jpg" alt="">

Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-2 Kyoto Sanga F.C. (J1 MD32)

<h3 id="h0d116e7e5a">Cerezo made a full lineup change from the previous match and took the lead away to league-leaders Kashima Antlers, but conceded three goals and fell to a comeback defeat.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/801b1ce2a2914600bd9cb557b524b891/0923HP%20(17).jpg" alt=""> After a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Kashiwa Reysol just two days earlier, Cerezo Osaka travelled to the home of league leaders Kashima Antlers for the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Round 31 match. Manager Arthur Papas changed the entire starting lineup from the previous game, largely due to the tight schedule, but after the match he explained, “Thinking about the future of this club and how we will compete for titles going forward, and with the season now in its final stage, I felt this was a time when we needed to see how far the players can go.” <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/6e49e3420e394ec5862476fd40ade5d9/0923HP%20(15).jpg" alt=""> Goalkeeper Kim Jin Hyeon started behind a back line of Niko Takahashi, Shinnosuke Hatanaka, Ryuya Nishio, and Hayato Okuda. In midfield, Kyohei Yoshino and Hinata Kida formed the double pivot, with Shion Homma on the left wing, Vítor Bueno in the No. 10 role, Reiya Sakata on the right, and Motohiko Nakajima as the lone striker. From the outset Cerezo struggled to build out from the back, giving Kashima a few early chances, but as they gradually adjusted to the pitch conditions they began to move the ball forward more smoothly and even win possession high up the field. In the 15th minute, Cerezo created the first clear chance of the match. Homma won the ball high on the left and broke forward before sending a pass inside. Bueno let it run, and Nakajima took one touch before unleashing a powerful shot, but it lacked angle and was tipped away by goalkeeper Tomoki Hayakawa’s outstretched right hand. Homma cut inside for another effort in the 19th minute, and in the 23rd, a short counter brought another opportunity when Sakata’s pressing forced a turnover. Nakajima drove forward and slipped a pass to Bueno, whose delicate chip was again denied by Hayakawa. Cerezo finally converted their next chance in the 26th minute. When Gaku Shibasaki received the ball, Homma and Kida combined to dispossess him, leading to a swift move through Homma, Nakajima, and Sakata into the box. As Sakata cut the ball back, Homma was brought down by Kei Chinen, earning a penalty that Bueno calmly slotted into the right corner to put Cerezo ahead. Despite the full squad rotation, Cerezo’s cohesive defending and sharp attacking play suggested they might take control. However, just three minutes later Kashima drew level when center-back Naomichi Ueda surged down the right and delivered a cross that Chinen headed home at the far post. Moments later Shibasaki tested Kim with a long-range strike, but the keeper made a fine save. In the 43rd minute, Cerezo broke with a numerical advantage, only for Nakajima’s shot to fly over the crossbar. The first half ended 1–1. Having overcome a shaky start to seize the lead, Cerezo would have preferred to go into the break in front. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/a0de433400f3467d859f1a88756bf351/0923HP%20(13).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/776bba73c8c54ccdb1f3f4348421ca5c/0923HP%20(14).jpg" alt=""> Both sides made changes at the break. Cerezo replaced Niko Takahashi with Ayumu Ohata, while Kashima brought on their ace Yuma Suzuki and midfielder Yu Funabashi. Right after the restart, Suzuki fired two shots, but even as Cerezo looked to settle and keep the ball, they were undone by a single long pass. Naomichi Ueda sent a ball in behind to Leo Ceara; Ryuya Nishio lunged to intercept but failed to cut it out and the ball skipped past him, allowing Ceara to race clear and finish the one-on-one. Having scored freely for Cerezo over the past two seasons, Ceara showed his trademark composure, but for Cerezo it was a careless way to concede. The moment Kashima went ahead, the atmosphere and momentum shifted dramatically. With Kashima now pouring forward in waves, Cerezo struggled to turn the tide. In the 62nd minute, manager Arthur Papas made a triple substitution—Lucas Fernandes, Shinji Kagawa, and Shunta Tanaka—but in the 68th they suffered a third blow. After losing the ball on the right side of their own half, Cerezo were hit on the counter, the flank was broken, and substitute Yuta Matsumura struck to make it 3–1. That effectively settled the contest. Cerezo did create a chance in the 84th minute when Lucas drove forward and set up Motohiko Nakajima for a shot, but they also faced several scares of a possible fourth goal. Led by Shinnosuke Hatanaka, the defense held firm late on, yet after a competitive first half Cerezo were overpowered in the second, falling 1–3. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/8ac1eab9f08b4d6d8f6cd8f74a5af86b/0923MR.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/82aa9dbdacbe4713af60ed744b89a95a/0923HP%20(12).jpg" alt=""> Cerezo Osaka faced a tough away match against league leaders Kashima Antlers, with manager Papas declaring before the game, “Kashima are a club that will give everything in their push for the title, but rather than focusing on the opponent, we want to concentrate on what we can do. We want to play a game that we can win.” However, after the match, the players acknowledged Kashima’s strength. Hinata Kida said, “The way they finish their chances—that’s probably why they’re at the top right now,” while Shion Homma added, “There’s a lot we can learn from the way a team fighting for the title manages the game and maintains their mentality.” Next up, Cerezo return home to face Kyoto Sanga F.C., aiming to bounce back from this defeat with a victory against an opponent currently in third place, five points behind Kashima as of the previous round. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/28c2f31b44344d8aaa8224ae3a3c9519/0923HP%20(16).jpg" alt="">

Review: Kashima Antlers 3-1 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD31)

<h3 id="h43ec58950c">Cerezo displayed clear growth from the last matchup, battling Kashiwa to a hard-fought draw and earning a valuable point despite missed chances.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/c6a681a894664b09ad763333cef470c4/0921MR%20(1).jpg" alt=""> Six days after their come-from-behind win away to Avispa Fukuoka, Cerezo Osaka returned home to face third-place Kashiwa Reysol in the 30th round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. Manager Arthur Papas made three changes from the Fukuoka match, bringing Shinnosuke Hatanaka, Kyohei Yoshino, and Motohiko Nakajima out of the lineup and starting Ryosuke Shindo, Shunta Tanaka, and Rafael Ratao in their places, each slotting into the same positions. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/74599ef5387b48fb9022a5d8c4424d04/0921MR%20(5).jpg" alt=""> Before the match, the “Meiji Yasuda Super Legends Match 2025” was held, featuring Cerezo Osaka Legends vs Meiji Yasuda Super Legends. With goals from Yoichiro Kakitani and Yasuhito Morishima, Cerezo Osaka Legends earned a 2–0 victory. In front of a large crowd of supporters, both teams’ players put on a spirited performance, creating a vibrant and exciting pre-game atmosphere. Following this star-studded opening event, the J1 fixture kicked off, and the first clear chance fell to Cerezo. In the 2nd minute, starting from Shinji Kagawa, the ball was moved quickly with one-touch passes through Lucas Fernandes and Rafael Ratao, breaking through the center. The move ended with Masaya Shibayama striking with his left foot, but the shot missed the target by a narrow margin. In the 9th minute, Yuto Yamada of Kashiwa fired a shot from the middle, but Rikito Inoue made the block—his second successive game with such defensive heroics. Although Cerezo were pushed back for a spell, in the 15th minute Ayumu Ohata played a pass in behind on the left side. Thiago Andrade burst forward and sent in a cross, where Lucas came flying in from the far side for a shot that went straight to goalkeeper Kojima. With pressing high up the pitch and maintaining strong defensive intensity, Cerezo’s start was promising. However, in the 25th minute they conceded. After receiving the ball from goalkeeper Koki Fukui, Shindo attempted a pass toward midfield, but it was intercepted. Kashiwa quickly launched a short counterattack, and Mao Hosoya applied the finishing touch. Even so, as manager Arthur Papas later noted, “I thought our reaction after conceding was good.” Cerezo did not drop their heads and struck back in the 41st minute. Starting with Fukui, the ball moved through Inoue, Thiago, and Ohata, who combined down the left. Ohata then carried the ball inside and fed Shibayama in the center. Drawing two defenders, Shibayama released a final pass to the right, where Lucas fired home from a tight angle to level the score. Moments later, Cerezo almost took the lead again. Intercepting a Kashiwa pass, Kagawa initiated a central breakthrough. From Shibayama’s pass, Thiago unleashed a shot, but it went wide, leaving the first half to end in a 1–1 stalemate. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/adaf28658e4c4ab9aa2afebcb4283532/0921MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/dafcc456748749debc4e2a59ffd0603d/0921MR%20(4).jpg" alt=""> In the second half, Cerezo were forced to endure from the start as Kashiwa dominated possession. Their pressing failed to bite, and they were pinned deep in their own half, stretched from side to side in a tough spell, but Shindo said afterward, “We held firm.” On the flanks, Dion Cools and Ohata battled fiercely, while in front of goal Shindo and Inoue repeatedly cleared danger. In the 62nd minute, Yoshio Koizumi carried the ball forward and found the net, but after an on-field review supported by VAR, the referee ruled that a Kashiwa player in an offside position had interfered with play, and the goal was disallowed. In the 66th minute, Cerezo made a triple substitution, bringing on Nakajima, Shion Homma, and Yoshino to increase their work rate and press from the front, pushing back the momentum that had tilted toward Kashiwa. In the 73rd minute, Kagawa delivered a fine forward pass to spark a counterattack. Cools laid the ball off for Lucas, who drove forward and struck a shot. The goalkeeper saved, and Nakajima went for the rebound but failed to make clean contact. In the closing stages, Cerezo again spent long stretches defending as Kashiwa controlled possession, but not only the back line—Kagawa also tracked back to clear danger as the entire team defended stubbornly to deny any clear chances. Then, in the second minute of stoppage time, Cerezo created a golden opportunity. Nakajima held the ball expertly before switching play to Lucas on the right. Spotting the forward runs of Yoshino and Homma, Lucas slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the space behind. “I saw Yoshino as well, but he was offside, so I chose to play it to Homma on the far side,” Lucas explained. Homma went one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his former teammate at Albirex Niigata, goalkeeper Kojima, made the save. “There was a bit of a mind game, but it was a chance I absolutely had to finish. I can only say it was a bitter miss,” Homma said ruefully. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/ebd33abd370645809564d673cb22257b/0921MR%20(3).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/d1ec2abb8b7d4f45b80b876e56ed0111/0921MR%20(6).jpg" alt=""> The match ended in a 1–1 draw. Although Cerezo were forced to endure long spells of Kashiwa possession in the second half, their defense held firm to keep a clean sheet after the break—a key positive to take away. “We created the better-quality chances and the clearer finishing situations,” manager Papas noted, pointing out that Cerezo outnumbered Kashiwa in decisive opportunities over the full 90 minutes. Goal-scorer Lucas Fernandes reflected, “There were stretches where they controlled the game, but we stayed focused defensively until the end. From that solid base we also created big chances, so we definitely had a shot at winning. It’s frustrating not to take all three points, but we have to see this as a positive draw.” Next up is a quick turnaround with an away clash against Kashima Antlers in just two days. “If I get the chance, I’ll play with the mindset to deliver results,” said Homma, determined to channel the frustration from this match into the upcoming fixture despite the short preparation time. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/1a772f8a0dea4cb9a0c5fd8331423457/0921MR%20(7).jpg" alt="">

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Rafael Ratao's loan spell concludes

Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-3 Yokohama FC (J1 MD38)

Regarding the coaching staff for the Meiji Yasuda J1 100 Year Vision League and the 2026/27 season of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League

Yusuke Amano named sports director for Cerezo Osaka

Review: Yokohama F. Marinos 3-1 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD37)

Review: Shimizu S-Pulse 1-4 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD36)

Review: Cerezo Osaka 2-0 Kawasaki Frontale (J1 MD35)

Review: Fagiano Okayama 1-2 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD34)

Review: Nagoya Grampus 2-1 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD33)

Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-2 Kyoto Sanga F.C. (J1 MD32)

Review: Kashima Antlers 3-1 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD31)

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