<h3 id="hc14c5a8230">Looking to win back-to-back league games for the first time this season, the team took the lead through Ratao, but failed to convert subsequent chances into goals, resulting in a disappointing draw.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/2c433f60856c49a5adef0bceb0c8da30/0421MR.jpg" alt=""> Three days after the J.League YBC Levain Cup 1st Round 2nd Leg match against FC Imabari, the stage was once again set for a league match as Cerezo Osaka welcomed FC Tokyo at home in the 11th round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. The starting lineup was the same as in the previous match against Kashima Antlers. After a dramatic win in their last match, Cerezo Osaka were looking to win back-to-back matches for the first time this season. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/d6dfc254226f43b1b1b4fcbe109633e0/0421MR%20(8).jpg" alt=""> Six minutes into the game, Cerezo continued the momentum from the previous game and took the lead. Shunta Tanaka and Motohiko Nakajima pressed in succession to win the ball high up the pitch, and Rafael Ratao's pass was turned in by Lucas Fernandes on the other side and headed in by Ratao, who ran in again. Ratao got the ball high again in the 7th minute, but Thiago Andrade was unable to get a shot off. Another chance came in the 12th minute. Lucas latched onto a pass from FC Tokyo goalkeeper Taishi Brandon Nozawa and dribbled in for a shot that just missed the target. Cerezo started the game in the best possible way, pressing forward in tandem with their opponents, but in the 17th minute, a pass in their own half was intercepted by an opponent and a short counterattack resulted in Ryuya Nishio bringing down an opponent in the box and conceding a penalty kick. The goal was scored, and FC Tokyo took advantage of their only chance to equalize. In the 23rd minute, an errant pass in their own half led to an almost decisive shot, but Nishio was on course for the shot and saved it. In the 30th minute, Shindo headed a corner kick from Lucas, but it didn't find the back of the net. In the first half, both teams scored by pressing from the front, and ball possession, number of passes, and success rate of passes were almost equal. Despite the fact that it was only three days since the second round of the Levain Cup, which ended in extra time, both teams played with a high level of intensity in the first half. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/cd1c3d722b384824818c1ca36d622dab/0421MR%20(4).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/67750c92ba2e4e75b2afa831a6731df6/0421MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> After an evenly matched first half, the second half began with Cerezo getting into the opponents' half and getting closer to the goal. In the 47th minute, Ratao and Lucas pressed high, forcing the opposition into a passing error, and Tanaka took the ball. He immediately sent a pass to Lucas on the front line, but the opponents were quick to return and Lucas was unable to get a shot off. In the 52nd minute, Sota Kitano pressed alone and won the ball. Ratao received a pass from Lucas and fired a shot that was blocked by the goalkeeper. In the 62nd minute, the biggest chance of the second half came. The goalkeeper made a kicking error after handling a back pass from an opposing defender. Thiago picked up the ball and turned it inside to Ratao, who fired in a shot, but the goalkeeper made a great save to recover his mistake, and Cerezo could not find the net. Despite getting the ball in a good way in front of the opponents' goal again and again in the second half, Cerezo were far from scoring a second goal. In the 71st minute, manager Arthur Papas made his first change, replacing Nakajima with Shinji Kagawa. They continued to hold onto the ball and push their opponents, and had another chance in the 78th minute. Hayato Okuda won the ball high up the pitch, and he passed it vertically to Tanaka and Lucas, and finally Ratao received a one-touch pass from Lucas and shot but could not find the target. Cerezo continued to attack in waves in the final minutes, but were unable to move the score. The team failed to capitalize on a number of opportunities, and their manager said, “We need to improve our decision-making once we get in front of the goal. The quality of technique, the quality of the last pass, and the timing of the final run in. We must be able to make better decisions to be sure of scoring.” Nevertheless, the defenders remained focused until the very end, despite the fact that the game could have ended in a one-shot counterattack by the opponents and even a point could have been lost. Although Marcelo Ryan, who has both speed and power, came on midway through the game, Cerezo did not allow the opponents to create any decisive chances, such as in the 82nd minute, when Shindo was solid in a one-on-one situation. In second-half added time, Vitor Bueno, who came on midway through the second half, played a one-two in front of goal and fired a shot just over the crossbar. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/0ac04b9dd9c642658e9bb3347a801bd2/0421MR%20(7).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/c5ef4be6f50644828eecfc36138d1789/0421MR%20(5).jpg" alt=""> The match ended 1-1. It was a disappointing draw for Cerezo. Ratao, who scored the first goal, did not smile, saying, “I am happy to have scored a goal, but I am more disappointed that I could not score more because I had more chances to score." Lucas, who had an assist, also expressed his disappointment, saying, “Considering that we created so many chances, the game should have resulted in a win for us. It is really disappointing." After the league match against Kashima and the cup match against Imabari, both of which lasted more than 100 minutes, some players showed signs of fatigue, but the team still fought on until the very end, creating chances. The next match against Tokyo Verdy, which will be played in four days, will be a good opportunity for the team to get a result and add three points to their tally. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/f9de7c3ca66e4635bf106e67dfff0e36/0421MR%20(1).jpg" alt="">

Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-1 FC Tokyo (J1 MD11)

<h3 id="hf13be20649">Hayato Okuda's dramatic goal just before the end of the game helped Cerezo win a hard-fought 120-minute game against FC Imabari in their first official encounter, and advance to the third round of the Levain Cup.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/1592258defed49e988393fe4fd68bfdf/0417MR%20(1).jpg" alt=""> Three days after the dramatic victory over Kashima Antlers in the 10th round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, Cerezo Osaka faced FC Imabari in the second leg of the first round of the J. League YBC Levain Cup. Although they had played Imabari many times in training matches, this was the first time they had met in an official match. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/d799a08c169541178fc0b9467fe876ea/0417MR%20(5).jpg" alt=""> There were 10 changes in the starting lineup from the Kashima match, with the exception of Ryuya Nishio. With the next league match against FC Tokyo coming up in three days, manager Arthur Papas decided to make some major lineup changes. However, even with these changes, Cerezo's current attacking style of play remained unchanged. In the 7th minute, Jaroensak Wonggorn was given the chance to go one-on-one with the goalkeeper off a through ball from Reiya Sakata. Jaroensak, making his first official start since joining the club, immediately put on a show, and Cerezo took the lead in the 12th minute. Shinji Kagawa received a vertical pass from Niko Takahashi, and passed it to Hinata Kida, who sent it into the center of the pitch for a good chance to score. Vitor Bueno carried the ball to the right side, where Jaroensak's cross was met by Bueno, who put the ball in the net. The series of flowing attacks was brilliant. Three minutes later, in the 15th minute, another goal was added. This time, Takahashi dribbled down the left flank, and although the ball was taken away from him once, Satoki Uejo, who started the game as a striker, immediately took it back and launched a short counter attack. He sent a pass to Masaya Shibayama on the left side, who broke through vertically and crossed. Jaroensak, running in from the opposite side, met the ball. It was his long-awaited first goal since joining the club and he said with a smile on his face, “I want to thank manager Papas and all my teammates." Despite the change of lineup from the league match, the team scored two goals with a purposeful attack. After a perfect start, the game began to look bleak before the 30th minute. In the 28th minute, Sakata was dispossessed in his own half but goalkeeper Kim Jin Hyeon was able to make a good save. In the 31st minute, a corner kick was awarded to the opponents after Jin Hyeon's vertical pass was stolen, and the goal was scored. The momentum of Imabari's press to get the ball from the front increased, and Cerezo were unable to find time to recover and conceded another goal. In the 33rd minute, an exchange of passes between Kida and Kakeru Funaki in their own half resulted in a mistake, and a cross was quickly put in. Jin Hyeon knocked down an opponent and a penalty kick was awarded. The goal was scored, and the game was quickly tied. "We started the game 2-0 up, we had to control the game better. We showed our inexperience as a team,” said Kagawa. It was a major reflection on the match. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/8100786ff468492a8a06205c39b8805f/0417MR%20(6).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/b312b805464e40fda27a0b50566ef8f6/0417MR%20(4).jpg" alt=""> Early in the second half, the team lost the ball on their own right flank, and a cross was turned in on the far side and headed inside for the winner. The team was caught off guard after scoring the first two goals. As the manager recalled, “When we slowed down after scoring the goals, the opponents took over the flow of the game." The team was not able to show the same passing ability as in the first half, and there was a moment when they almost conceded a fourth goal due to Imabari's aggressiveness, but Cerezo held firm and regained control of the game from the middle to the end of the second half. In the 74th minute, manager Papas decided to make three changes. Rafael Ratao, Lucas Fernandes, and Hayato Okuda were brought on. In the 79th minute, Bueno received a pass from Shibayama on the right flank, and was hit by a foot and awarded a penalty kick. Shinji Kagawa calmly slotted home the equalizer for Cerezo in the 80th minute. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/ea232c33647543ac8ac334771ffacfd8/0417MR%20(8).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/720a6db14e1b4fdfa95e9cf0dec799eb/0417MR.jpg" alt=""> The match went into extra time at 3-3. Imabari had the better chances in the first half of extra time, but Jin Hyeon made good saves on two occasions, and Cerezo pushed forward in the second half of extra time. Lucas in the 114th minute and Sota Kitano in the 117th minute failed to find the net, but they finally did in the 118th minute. Takahashi and Kitano broke down the left flank, and Okuda was quick to react to a Kitano cross that was cleared off the line by the defender and smashed a controlled shot into the net to put Cerezo back in front. Manager Papas said, “What I felt this team has grown up is that we were able to continue what we have been doing in training, even when the game got difficult." Manager Papas said, “What I felt this team has grown up is that we were able to continue what we have been doing in training, even when the game got difficult." Of course, considering the flow of the two goals and the team's performance in the first half, the team might have made the game difficult for themselves, but Imabari, which has lost only one of their nine J2 League games so far, is a real team and “difficult opponents” (Bueno). "The game showed us where we need to grow as a whole,” said manager Papas, pointing to the team's need for improvement, but he also praised the team, saying, “We are scoring more often at the end of games, which indicates the growth of the team's spirit." The team will work to recover for the next league match against FC Tokyo in three days, and “keep the momentum going” (Okuda), aiming for back-to-back league wins and a third straight official victory. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/a8bda5c8d237482cb1f857d87e1e8ebf/0417MR%20(2).jpg" alt="">

Review: FC Imabari 3-4 Cerezo Osaka (Levain Cup 1st Rd 2nd Leg)

<h3 id="hd3fe9e4f08">Despite five disallowed goals for offside and a missed penalty, "Papas Cerezo" continued to attack and won their first home game against Kashima in 15 years.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/5b5c0d1e3eb140699053a1bf95b09a9e/0413MR%20(6).jpg" alt=""> Five days after the last match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Cerezo Osaka returned home to face Kashima Antlers in the 10th round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. There was one change in the starting lineup from the Hiroshima game, with goalkeeper Kim Jin Hyeon replaced by Koki Fukui, who returned for the first time in two games after leaving the pitch due to concussion in the match against Fagiano Okayama. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/e8bf88be0ad44514ac869c082b2c192a/0413MR%20(1).jpg" alt=""> Cerezo's performance had been improving and they hoped to translate that into a result in this match. Cerezo dominated possession and controlled the game from the first half. In the 4th minute, Hayato Okuda, Shunta Tanaka, and Lucas Fernandes combined on the right side, and finally Sota Kitano broke through vertically and sent in a cross. Unfortunately, the ball was not met by a player inside the box, but it was already close to Kashima's goal. In the 8th minute, Kashima had their first shot but Fukui made a good save. In the 9th minute, they attacked from the left flank. Thiago Andrade's cross was met by Rafael Ratao, which led to a corner kick that was headed by Tanaka. In the 23rd minute, Kitano fired a direct shot from the rebound of a free kick, which went just over the crossbar. Cerezo were quick in switching from offense to defense, and did not allow Kashima to attack. Kashima had two strong players up front, Yuma Suzuki and Leo Ceara, but they were able to defend well through Ryosuke Shindo and Ryuya Nishio, and did not allow the ball to get into the box. In the 44th minute, Shindo took the ball and brought it up, setting up a wave of attacks, and in the 45th minute, Motohiko Nakajima met Kyohei Noborizato's cross with a decisive shot that sailed over the crossbar. Kashima managed just two shots in the first half. Cerezo dominated possession and controlled the game until the end of the first half. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/dbf3a41a3b4b4ea8b0a429ebfaf7dd99/0413MR%20(4).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/9011799365f247819fa821ffd480476a/0413MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> The second half was unpredictable and dramatic. Although Kashima got the first chance of the second half, the shot went wide, and Cerezo began to storm into Kashima's goal. In the 55th minute, Ratao headed a cross by Lucas from a corner kick into the net, but VAR intervened to rule it offside. In the 65th minute, Kitano won the ball and quickly played a through ball to Ratao on the front line. Ratao sent a cross for Lucas to find the net, but Ratao's position on Kitano's pass made him slightly offside. In the 67th minute, Shindo headed in a free kick from Lucas, but again, due to VAR intervention, he was ruled offside and the goal was cancelled out for the third time. In the 74th minute, Ratao received a pass from Okuda, played a one-two with Thiago, and fired in a shot, but it was saved by Kashima goalkeeper Tomoki Hayakawa. In the 80th minute, Shion Homma, who made his debut for Cerezo in the last game, was brought on to revive the left flank. In the 88th minute, Kitano received a pass from Homma and shot. This was to be Kitano's last shot in this game. He again came close to scoring a goal, but was unable to get the goal he most wanted, and left the pitch with a disappointed look on his face. Replacing Kitano was Shinji Kagawa, who scored in the last home win over Kashima 15 years ago in 2010, with manager Arthur Papas saying, “Go get the team a win." <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/33d2dd1733dc4d548ed53bbd4a4a3fb9/0413MR%20(5).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/ef83c7b09a4c4a409668f950c5a2f516/0413MR%20(3).jpg" alt=""> In the added time of the second half, Cerezo found the net twice, but again, both times the goals were disallowed for offside. With a goal still a long way off, in the 90+7th minute, Lucas was brought down in the box after receiving a pass from Homma, and a penalty kick was awarded. Ratao stepped up to take the kick and aimed his shot at the bottom left corner of the net, but the goalkeeper made a good save. Still, as captain Tanaka recalled after the game, “There was an atmosphere that we were going to score on the next corner kick. None of us were giving up.” And then it happened. Ceara failed to clear a corner kick from Lucas inside the box, and Shindo was on hand to meet the ball on the far side and score for Cerezo. Although there were a few near misses, the players stayed focused until the very end to win the match 1-0. It was a tough game, with five goals disallowed for offside, but the players never gave up and kept attacking until the very end, and the manager praised the team after the game, saying, “ It was great to see the way they faced up to difficult situations no matter how many times they were faced with them." "All the dopamine in my life came out,” said Shindo, the hero of the game. On defense, Shindo worked with Nishio, Fukui, and others to keep the first clean sheet of the season. The victory, which was as much about substance as it was about results, will surely boost their confidence for the future. Tanaka said, "I have confidence that we can compete if we continue to play the Boss's style of football, so we just have to keep believing and keep playing. The team will be looking to build on their first win in 15 years, and regain their strength as a team for the cup match in three days, and the league matches to come. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/5b5c0d1e3eb140699053a1bf95b09a9e/0413MR%20(6).jpg" alt="">

Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-0 Kashima Antlers (J1 MD10)

<h3 id="h9d14fd56e9">Despite many offensive and defensive positives against higher-ranked Sanfrecce Hiroshima, the team suffered a disappointing come-from-behind loss, with issues remaining in adding goals and closing out the game.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/7fdae0ec670840fdbcb243be42f32ea9/0407MR.jpg" alt=""> Three days after their first home win of the season in the last match against Fagiano Okayama, Cerezo Osaka traveled to Hiroshima to take on Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the 9th round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, looking for their first back-to-back victories of the season. There were two changes in the starting lineup from the last game. Goalkeeper Koki Fukui, who was replaced due to a concussion in the last game, was absent from the lineup, and Kim Jin Hyeon returned to the starting lineup for the first time in three games. Ryuya Nishio started at left center back, replacing Shinnosuke Hatanaka, who also injured his right leg in the last match and had to be substituted midway through the game. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/a48ec74be3c248609cd0a3b9fd25a6d7/0407MR%20(8).jpg" alt=""> Looking for their first win over Hiroshima since the 2021 season, Cerezo took the initiative in the first half. Thiago Andrade broke down the left flank and fired home in the 1st minute, while Lucas Fernandes' dribble earned Sho Sasaki a yellow card in the 8th minute. Both wingers, who had performed well in the previous game, were in action. Following this trend, Cerezo took the lead in the 15th minute. After a pass from Kim Jin Hyeon, Kyohei Noborizato and Motohiko Nakajima, Nakajima made a quick turn and sent a pass forward to Thiago, who dribbled and cut inside. Thiago passed to Sota Kitano, who ran on the outside and crossed to Lucas, who ran in from the opposite side and hit the ball straight into the net. It was a brilliant goal that even the opposition manager, Michael Skibbe, commented after the game: "It was fantastic." Three minutes later, however, the score was level. Ryo Germain, whom Shunta Tanaka had warned about before the match, got the ball on the flank and sent in a cross which Naoto Arai, waiting on the opposite flank, converted. Cerezo, who had conceded with their first shot on goal, were not discouraged and continued to push forward. In the 31st minute, goalkeeper Kim Jin Hyeon once again combined well with Tanaka and Kitano to move forward, and from Kitano's pass, Lucas dribbled down the right flank and fired a shot that ricocheted off the crossbar. In the 40th minute, Jin Hyeon passed the ball to Hayato Okuda, Lucas, Tanaka and Rafael Ratao, and finally Thiago went one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but Keisuke Osako, a guardian of the Japanese national team, was able to close the distance and stop his shot. A minute after that great chance had been missed, another opportunity came up. Kitano received a pass from Nakajima and fired a shot just wide. Cerezo dominated the first half, limiting Hiroshima to just two shots and coming close several times, but the score remained even going into the second half. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/cf6ffc8589b747bdbd22a9c79dbf5282/0407MR%20(1).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/2bcce574e7bc4ca1ba862d38970c2dd7/0407MR%20(6).jpg" alt=""> Hiroshima manager Skibbe brought on Tsukasa Shiotani and Sota Nakamura for the second half. Hiroshima tried to put more pressure on Cerezo in every position with the substitutions, and Cerezo was pushed back from the start of the second half. In the 47th minute, they allowed Germain to head a crucial shot from a long throw, but it sailed over the crossbar. Hiroshima had another chance in the 48th minute, but goalkeeper Jin Hyeon made a great save. Ryosuke Shindo did his best to cover in the 54th minute, and Jin Hyeon stopped Germain's mid-range shot in the 58th minute. After withstanding a fierce Hiroshima attack, Cerezo made two substitutions in the 62nd minute. Masaya Shibayama and Shion Homma replaced Thiago and Lucas, and Homma, making his Cerezo debut, made an immediate impact three minutes later. He dribbled from the left flank into the middle and passed to Nakajima, who uncleashed a mid-range shot. He worked smoothly with left back Niko Takahashi, who replaced Noborizato in the 56th minute, to invigorate the attack on the left flank, and in the 76th minute he led the way for Kitano's shot from a cut-in. Homma made an impressive debut and showed great promise for the future, as he himself reflected after the game, “I think my performance wasn't too bad." Cerezo rallied, thanks in part to Homma's performance, and the game went back and forth from the middle to the end of the second half, but in the 86th minute, a long throw from Hiroshima resulted in a goal. The ball was turned in on the far side and Hayato Araki finished it off. After that, Hiroshima made good use of the time, and they were denied the opportunity to mount a counterattack, and the game ended 1-2. The first half was close to the best of the season, and the second half was not bad at all except for the early minutes, but for Cerezo, it was a bitterly disappointing defeat. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/b6e9af4cb1a249598471fdd9febfa2ba/0407MR%20(4).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/f4e90a04659343cda802fc747f254a93/0407MR%20(3).jpg" alt=""> The team's season-long problem of scoring more goals and closing out games was highlighted once again this week, but as Okuda reflected, “Today, we were able to press back defensively and put pressure on the front line throughout the entire game. We were also able to get the ball in a good way, especially in the first half.” The team was able to maintain a compact formation while pressing hard up front, and had many opportunities to attack quickly after gaining possession. One of the issues was that in the second half, when the opponents took the initiative, “we could have controlled the game more if we had more time to attack with more depth in the attack” (Okuda). The team, including the players who came on during the game, needed to unify their intentions in attack. However, it was natural for the home team to push the game in the second half when the score was tied, and it was necessary to bounce back with a strong defensive performance. "In the second half, we were often on defense. It was important for us to endure the situation, take better care of the ball we won, and play the game at our own pace,” said Kitano. "From an attacker's point of view, scoring another goal is definitely necessary, and even if we don't score another goal, we have to be able to maintain the lead. I feel most responsible for (not) scoring another goal, so I have to focus on myself and do my best.” The young ace vowed to make up for the loss against Kashima Antlers in the next match. The team will now look to defeat their rivals Kashima, with whom they have lost 12 consecutive games, at home in the next round. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/07033f0e92494fecb02d574dc980e130/0407MR%20(7).jpg" alt="">

Review: Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-1 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD9)

<h3 id="ha9d30bda99">The Brazilian trio's dynamism and defensive perseverance led to the long-awaited first home win of the season.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/fbb1fc6f626349b7946022bb71ef70fe/0403MR%20(10).jpg" alt=""> Four days after the previous game against Urawa Reds, which ended in a disappointing draw, Cerezo Osaka faced Fagiano Okayama in the eighth round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 season, aiming for their first home win of the season and under the new manager. Cerezo Osaka started with the same 11 players as in the previous match. Thiago Andrade, who was injured in the last game, was named in the starting lineup, and Shion Homma, who joined the team on loan from Urawa on March 27,&nbsp;made his first appearance on the bench. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/04a178d0dce24b27bc60a2845de40c47/0403MR%20(6).jpg" alt=""> Three minutes into the game, Rafael Ratao cut off the second ball after clearing a corner kick with a fierce press, and Thiago Andrade picked up the rebound and ran from the halfway line to slot past Okayama goalkeeper Svend Brodersen. As in the previous game, the Brazilian duo combined for an electrifying first goal. Soon after, Okayama's Lucao latched onto a long ball and unleashed a shot on goal, but Koki Fukui, who started the game as he had in the previous match, made a fine save to keep out the danger. From that moment on, Cerezo controlled the game and went for a second goal. In the 19th minute, Lucas Fernandes fired in a shot from the second ball of a corner kick. It was a powerful shot, but the ball flew right into the goalkeeper's hands. Another chance came in the 21st minute. Hayato Okuda kicked a ball into space for Thiago to run on to, and although Thiago's trap was erratic, he quickly switched to take it back and launch a short counterattack. Finally, Sota Kitano latched onto a pass from Motohiko Nakajima and fired a shot just wide. In the 24th minute, Okuda slipped and missed his trapping. He lost the ball and it looked like Okayama had a decisive chance, but Shinnosuke Hatanaka made a superb sliding block. It was a big play that prevented Lucao from shooting. Hatanaka made another great defense in the 38th minute, but had to be substituted after injuring his right foot. He was replaced by Ryuya Nishio, who made his 100th appearance for J1 in this match. Nishio got into the game well, covering well soon after, but they conceded a goal in the 44th minute. After Lucao picked up the ball in the center of the pitch and played it out to the left, a cross from Okayama's left wingback was met by the opposite side’s wingback Ryunosuke Sato to score the equalizer. But that was not the end of the first half. In added time, Nakajima, Okuda, and Lucas combined, and Lucas ran behind the defence and earned a free kick just outside the box. Here, it was Lucas and Ratao who showed their ingenuity. "When I saw the positioning of the opponents, I saw that there was space around the penalty mark, so I signaled to Ratao with my eyes,” said Lucas. “The moment we took the free kick, everyone went inside and the opponents followed, so I realized there was a big space in front of me. I pointed to Lucas and asked him to ‘'put it out here,’” said Ratao. The communication was perfect, and Ratao met Lucas' pass and found the back of the net. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/6c4dafeec50247da907e9be48ba640d3/0403MR.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/4a73efd5a2dc4e849ed9b88058bd8168/0403MR%20(5).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/c8b281ea45d74fe2a6bb0ed2a5cf8c73/0403MR%20(9).jpg" alt=""> In the second half, with Cerezo leading by a goal, Okayama began to push forward in both attack and defense, but in the 53rd minute, Cerezo turned the arrow back in their favor with a crucial chance. A long pass from Ryosuke Shindo was collected by Lucas, who raced through and crossed the ball into the box, where Ratao was brought down by the opposing defender, but the whistle was not blown. It looked like a penalty kick, but the VAR did not intervene, and the goal was not awarded. From that point on, the game went back and forth, with both sides making substitutions. Cerezo allowed several chances from the flanks, while creating good opportunities on the counterattack, mainly through Kitano and Lucas. In the 83rd minute, Cerezo had a chance. Kitano, who was sharp again in this match, dribbled and Lucas took a pass from Shunta Tanaka and crossed into the box. Ratao met the ball and fired into the box, but was saved by goalkeeper Brodersen. In the 84th minute, manager Arthur Papas made two changes. Kyohei Noborizato and Ratao were replaced by Niko Takahashi and Shinji Kagawa. The system was changed to a 5-4-1, with Tanaka dropping into the middle of the back three and Kitano moving up top. At the press conference the day before the match, the manager said, “I discussed with the players how to close out the match,” and he made visible changes to wrap up the match. However, an incident occurred in the 88th minute. Goalkeeper Fukui and Shindo collided head on after an opponent's cross. Fukui, in particular, was unable to get up and left the pitch for a concussion substitution. Kim Jin Hyeon came on as a substitute, but a power play by Okayama resulted in a goal in the 96th minute. The last-minute equalizer, as happened against Nagoya Grampus and Urawa, had us thinking that it was going to happen again, but it was overturned due to Okayama's offside on the play leading up to the goal. Relieved, the game ended at 2-1. Despite the struggle, the team grabbed the long-awaited first home win of the season, and the first home win with the new manager. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/c3268e44a03b464f84914d6f55b72204/0403MR%20(7).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/7d7d30eedd7e4405a1b4fd15719925c6/0403MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> Hatanaka, who had to be replaced midway through the first half, witnessed the victory and praised his teammates, saying, “The players on the pitch kept fighting until the end, which is why we won." "Koki (Fukui) was also giving his all to defend. I was doing my best for Koki at the end,” said Kitano. In the post-game lap, Nishio held up Fukui's shirt. Captain Tanaka said, “Everyone ran well and fought hard on the ball. It is important to keep on fighting like this,” he said, looking ahead to the future. The long-awaited first home win was finally in hand, but it was only the second win for the team. The next game is an away match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, a team they have not beaten in recent years. "It will be a clash of pride. We want to prepare well for the match,” said Kitano. After a three-day recovery period, the team will travel to Hiroshima with the aim of winning back-to-back games for the first time this season. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/d83f5b66d99946579cde89fa799711c0/0403MR%20(1).jpg" alt="">

Review: Cerezo Osaka 2-1 Fagiano Okayama (J1 MD8)

<h3 id="h0cc7e6eeda">Cerezo got off to a good start and took the lead with a goal from Rafael Ratao, but were unable to extend their lead and conceded a goal in the last minutes of the game, more works to be done on how to close out the game.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/f96c0101c3444170a4691af9660959a0/0329MR.jpg" alt=""> After the J. League YBC Levain Cup 1st Round match against Kamatamare Sanuki, Cerezo Osaka welcomed Urawa Reds to Yodoko Sakura Stadium for the 7th round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, 12 days after losing 0-2 to Yokohama FC in the 6th round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. There were five changes to the starting lineup from the previous match. Thiago Andrade and Hayato Okuda started for the first time in three games since the match against Albirex Niigata in the fourth round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 season, Ryosuke Shindo started for the first time in four games since the match against Kashiwa Reysol in the third round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 season, Kyohei Noborizato made his first league start this season, and goalkeeper Koki Fukui made his first appearance and first start since joining the club. The team played a 4-3-3 formation, with Motohiko Nakajima playing at inside half, as he did against Sanuki. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/afa5a4d7efcf49d1bd4bd4f749ae3804/0329MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> Sitting in 18th place with just five points from six games, Cerezo were desperate for three points in this match and they took the lead early on. With Andrade running behind the defense, Noborizato delivered an exquisite pass to Andrade, who took the ball in his chest, turned, looked inside and sent in a cross that was met by Rafael Ratao. The Brazilian new signing duo, who also played well against Sanuki, immediately got the crowd going. Cerezo had another great chance in the 12th minute. A series of passes between Noborizato, Nakajima and Sota Kitano broke down the Urawa midfield and Ratao was given a chance by Kitano's through ball. After the goalkeeper saved, Lucas Fernandes and Okuda tried to score from the second ball, but were unable to find the net. In the 19th minute, Kitano received a pass from Fukui and Okuda and broke through vertically, and from a cross, Ratao was able to make a shot. As Urawa manager Maciej Skorza recalled after the game, “We tried to press high, but we could not manage well when our opponents appeared on the sides of the midfield. This allowed Cerezo to avoid our high press and create dangerous situations," Cerezo dominated the build-up in the first half. Another chance came in the 45th minute, but Kitano's shot went just wide. Although Andrade, who assisted on the first goal, was injured in the first half, Cerezo maintained their dominance in the first half and took a one-goal lead. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/b01b52b11d7b417cad32c910fd6d0e42/0329MR%20(7).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/0809c1446a474d47a93c6cf645639230/0329MR%20(3).jpg" alt=""> Urawa made a substitution at the start of the second half. Yusuke Matsuo replaced Taishi Matsumoto, who played behind the striker in the first half. Matsuo moved to the left wing and Mateus Savio moved to the center. Urawa tried to improve their attack, but it was Cerezo who had the first chance of the second half. In the 55th minute, Nakajima won the ball from an opponent's throw-in and immediately passed to Kitano, who fired past the opposing defense. It looked like it was going to be a goal, but once again it went just wide of the post. The second half started well with Cerezo controlling the ball. The game went smoothly until the 70th minute, when Urawa brought on Ryoma Watanabe and Shoya Nakajima, and Cerezo began to slow down, unable to press and pushed back into their own half. In the 74th minute, Takuro Kaneko's cross was headed into the net by Thiago Santana, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul by Santana just before the goal. Cerezo continued to be pinned down in the 76th and 79th minutes, but Cerezo defenders held firm and responded. Cerezo managed to prevent a goal, but finally conceded an equalizer in the 83rd minute. Masaya Shibayama pressed on the left side but was unable to stop, and Noborizato and Hatanaka also could not win back the ball. In the end, Shindo and Okuda also slid inside to cover, but Watanabe, running in from the third row, found the back of the net. Just before the goal, manager Arthur Papas made two changes. Vitor Bueno and Shinji Kagawa replaced Kitano and Nakajima, but the message was unclear as to how to close out a 1-0 game. "How to hold on when we get tired has been a problem since the beginning of the season," said Shinosuke Hatanaka. It is an issue that the entire team needs to discuss and resolve. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/e4c752af78a34a69b375cbe47b04d9aa/0329MR%20(4).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/e51d7f4c47e54efa86c400971d8b136c/0329MR%20(6).jpg" alt=""> In the added time of the second half, Santana had a chance to decide the game, but Fukui made a big save on his shot. It was his first appearance and first start since joining the team, but the manager praised his performance, saying, “His performance was good. He played with courage." The game ended 1-1. Cerezo avoided a last-minute comeback loss, but considering the team’s performance, it was a bitter disappointment that they could only take one point. Issues remained about missed chances to score and how to finish the game. Still, “We were able to create so many chances because our training was paying off. If we can win, we will gain more confidence, which will lead to more goals. We can definitely get out of this situation,” said Ratao, who scored the first goal. With the next match against Fagiano Okayama in four days' time, the entire team will be looking to get their first home win of the season. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/c42325b3671d4679aaeeaf2f4df8b383/0329MR%20(5).jpg" alt="">

Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-1 Urawa Reds (J1 MD7)

Cerezo Osaka can confirm that Nagi Matsumoto has joined SC Sagan Tosu on a loan deal. <h3 id="hf9070a5ba3">Comments</h3>"I have decided to join Sagan Tosu on loan. It is disappointing that I cannot contribute to Cerezo, but I will do my best at Sagan Tosu to show what I can do." <h3 id="hee3eba2108">Profile</h3>Date of Birth September 4, 2001 Place of Birth Osaka Height / Weight 171cm / 66kg Position Midfielder Career Kire Higashi FC Cerezo Osaka U-15 Cerezo Osaka U-18 Cerezo Osaka *Registered as a Class-2 player Cerezo Osaka Tochigi SC *Developmental loan Ventforet Kofu *Developmental loan Montedio Yamagata *Loan Cerezo Osaka National Team U-15 Japan U-16 Japan U-17 Japan U-18 Japan Player Data J2: 100 games / 5 goals J3: 56 games / 3 goals League Cup: 1 game / 0 goal Emperor's Cup: 11 games / 2 goals ACL: 3 games / 0 goal FUJIFILM SUPER CUP: 1 game / 0 goal

Nagi Matsumoto joins Sagan Tosu on loan

Cerezo Osaka are pleased to announce that Shion Homma has joined the club on a loan deal from Urawa Reds. The loan period is until January 31, 2026. During the period of his loan spell, he will not be able to play in any official matches against Urawa Reds. <h3 id="hf9070a5ba3">Comments</h3>"I am Shion Homma and I joined Cerezo Osaka from Urawa Reds on loan. I am looking forward to being part of Cerezo Osaka and fighting together with everyone! I will do my best to play many games and bring good results! Thank you for your support.” <h3 id="hee3eba2108">Profile</h3>Date of Birth August 9, 2000 Place of Birth Niigata Height / Weight 164cm / 60kg Position Midfielder Number 19 Career Asahi SC Albirex Niigata U-15 Albirex Niigata U-18 Albirex Niigata *Registered as a Class-2 player Albirex Niigata Club Brugge (Belgium) Urawa Reds National Team U-15 Japan U-18 Japan Player Data (Domestic) J1: 3 games / 0 goal J2: 123 games / 21 goals League Cup: 5 games / 0 goal Emperor's Cup: 3 games / 1 goal

Shion Homma joins Cerezo Osaka on loan

Cerezo Osaka can confirm that Hiroaki Okuno has left the club to join Shonan Bellmare on a permanent deal. <h3 id="hf9070a5ba3">Comments</h3>"I have decided to move to Shonan Bellmare. I feel sad because I couldn't win any titles with Cerezo Osaka and I still wanted to play, but when I thought about my current situation, I made the decision to take on a new challenge because I thought it would be good for me. I cannot tell you enough with just these comments, but thank you so much for all your support over the past six years." <h3 id="hee3eba2108">Profile</h3>Date of Birth August 14, 1989 Place of Birth Osaka Height / Weight 171cm / 68kg Position Midfielder Career JEF United Ichihara Chiba Sendai School Vegalta Sendai Junior Youth Vegalta Sendai Youth Sendai University Vegalta Sendai *As a JFA/J.League Special License Player Vegalta Sendai V-Varen Nagasaki *Loan Vegalta Sendai Cerezo Osaka Player Data J1: 316 games / 40 goals J2: 55 games / 7 goals League Cup: 54 games / 5 goals Emperor's Cup: 23 games / 4 goals ACL: 6 games / 1 goal

Hiroaki Okuno leaves Cerezo Osaka for Shonan Bellmare

<h3 id="h9acef807b3">The “Brazilian Quartet” all started and helped the team win 5-1 against Kamatamare Sanuki in the first round of the J.League YBC Levain Cup.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/41b3da13cf4d44ab800f713e54ce3df9/0321MR%20(1).jpg" alt=""> The J.League YBC Levain Cup has finally begun. Cerezo Osaka traveled to the home stadium of Kamatamare Sanuki, who play in the J3 League, for the first round match. There were five changes in the starting lineup from the last match against Yokohama FC in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. Up front, four Brazilian players all started in an attacking 4-3-3 formation, with Shunta Tanaka at anchor and Motohiko Nakajima and Vitor Bueno at inside half. Kyohei Noborizato made his first start in an official match this season, returning to Kagawa Prefecture where he spent his high school years. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/be8762eacc2c4009b5ff516cd321a843/0321MR%20(6).jpg" alt=""> From the start, Cerezo controlled the game by pressuring their opponents and forcing them to make mistakes. In the 10th minute, Lucas Fernandes fired in a shot from a short counterattack, and in the 14th minute, Rafael Ratao met Thiago Andrade's cross after a pass from Bueno. The “Brazilian Quartet” was aggressive in their pursuit of the goal, and in the 21st minute, Cerezo took the lead. After winning the second ball of a corner kick, Ratao made a cross into the middle of the pitch. Hayato Okuda picked up a ball cleared by a defender, advanced vertically, feinted off an opponent, cut back, and sent in a left-footed cross that was met by Andrade's head in the far corner. Another chance came in the 24th minute from a short corner. Ratao met Fernandes' cross, but missed the target. Cerezo continued to switch quickly between attack and defense, using their press to induce mistakes from their opponents and counterattack. Andrade, who used his natural speed to get behind the opponents many times in this match, also came close to scoring from the flanks. The first half ended as a one-sided game for Cerezo, with Sanuki having only one shot on goal, a header from a corner kick. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/f01ce74f28c049abab2f843e143d8e61/0321MR%20(3).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/0775667cc74547ba82587a0ef946d1c6/0321MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> Cerezo made a good start in the second half as well, with Ratao pouncing on Andrade's cross from Nakajima's pass down the flank. As in the first half, they took advantage of their vertical drive to score a goal, but soon after, a momentary lapse in possession resulted in conceding a goal. A throw-in on the left flank was intercepted by the opponents and a quick change of sides resulted in Fernandes being unable to get back and Okuda, who was dealing with the opponent's left wing-back, being unable to prevent him from dribbling. Goalkeeper Kim Jin Hyeon reacted quickly to play a crossed shot from there, but it hit the foot of Shinnosuke Hatanaka, who was forced to react while going back, and went in for the goal. In the 48th minute, an own goal equalized the score. Sanuki, cheered on by the home crowd, attacked hard for about five minutes, but Cerezo held firm in front of the goal to prevent a goal from being scored, and in the 59th minute, they succeeded in scoring the winner. After a corner kick, Cerezo picked up the second ball and attacked aggressively, and finally Ratao scored the winner after getting behind a defender from a pass by Hatanaka. Thereafter, Cerezo dominated the game, creating a number of chances on the counterattacks against Sanuki, who had to attack forward. In the 74th minute, Fernandes scored the third goal with a penalty kick he won himself, and in the 77th minute, Bueno scored the fourth goal with a gentle pass from Ratao, who cut off an opponent's back pass. In the 84th minute, after carefully passing the ball from their own half, Uejo scored the fifth and decisive goal when he met Sota Kitano's cross from Tanaka's through ball on the left side with a direct finish. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/884b0284b309471e8e7299c9c817b2f1/0321MR.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/cbd864e4faba460b82f8e0fce747306c/0321MR%20(8).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/9718119d9bd74b2ca834e8e3777bbf51/0321MR%20(5).jpg" alt=""> Jaroensak Wonggorn, making his official debut for Cerezo, also had a good chance, and Cerezo kept pushing until the very end to win 5-1. “The win was a testament to the team's (attacking) mentality,” said the manager, who had a look of satisfaction after the victory. The team now advances to the second match of the first round, where they will face the winner of Tokushima Vortis vs FC Imabari. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/56ad1f0ceda046ff9c24ec280bea0b11/0321MR%20(7).jpg" alt="">

Review: Kamatamare Sanuki 1-5 Cerezo Osaka (Levain Cup 1st Rd)

<h3 id="h2d9ae0b63e">Unable to break down Yokohama FC's defense, the match ended scoreless for Cerezo for the first time this season. Both offense and defense had their problems, including two goals conceded and intensity.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/ad71482a4ae44d35a82d3641bed6cb1e/0316MR.jpg" alt=""> Six days after the previous game against Nagoya Grampus, which ended in a 1-1 draw, Cerezo Osaka went into the sixth round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League against Yokohama FC looking for their first win since the season opener. There was one change in the starting lineup from the Nagoya game. Rafael Ratao replaced Reiya Sakata on the left wing. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/83438cb1b9134f8992be1081d9bf9e82/0316MR%20(9).jpg" alt=""> Despite losing the ball on the flank and being caught out early in the game, Cerezo were able to keep possession and the game going after that. However, Cerezo could not deliver effective passes against Yokohama FC's well-organized defense, while Yokohama FC created chances in the 15th and 17th minutes when they counterattacked from a misplaced pass and sent in a cross following a side-change pass, respectively. Both shots went wide, but it was a shaky start for Cerezo. In the 21st minute, Cerezo also won the ball and had a chance. Motohiko Nakajima, again starting in the striker position in the match, got the ball and sent a pass to Ratao, who went inside from the left flank, but his trap was not accurate and he could not make a shot. After falling behind due to Yokohama FC's aggressiveness in attack and defense, Cerezo conceded a goal in the 27th minute. After a throw-in, Solomon Sakuragawa kept the ball deep on our left flank, and Niko Takahashi and Hinata Kida were unable to stop him, allowing him to turn and send a cross into the box for Kota Yamada to score. Even after conceding a goal, Cerezo were still unable to mount a fightback, but in the 34th minute, they had their first real chance of the match. Lucas Fernandes' free kick was flicked by Nakajima at the near post, and Shunta Tanaka hit it with his foot at the far post, but the ball just went wide. The first half ended with Cerezo a goal behind. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/931a5e68506245a2b3a4c39420f562a1/0316MR%20(8).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/533a65cd8bfb482eb993e4df9fd6faf4/0316MR%20(10).jpg" alt=""> At the start of the second half, manager Arthur Papas made two changes. Sakata and Vitor Bueno replaced Fernandes and Kida. This substitution changed the formation of the midfield to a 4-3-3 with Tanaka as the anchor and Kitano and Bueno lined up as the inside halves. With more players to receive the ball, the overall distance between players improved, and Cerezo succeeded in pushing their opponents higher up the field. Even when they lost the ball, they immediately counter-pressed to win the ball back and continued to play in the opponents' half. The team was looking to tie the game, but in the 53rd minute, a second goal was scored for the opponents. After losing the ball in the opposition half, a quick change of sides resulted in a sharp cross by Akito Fukumori that goalkeeper Kim Jin Hyeon was unable to keep out, and the ball spilled out to Towa Yamane who scored a goal. It was a disappointing goal for Cerezo as they were just beginning to find their rhythm on the counterattack. From this point on, Cerezo held the ball more and tried to make inroads into Yokohama FC's defensive block. In the 56th minute, following a pass from Tanaka, Sota Kitano turned and swung his left foot just over the crossbar. In the 63rd minute, Kitano received a pass from Shinnosuke Hatanaka, and passed further forward to Nakajima. As in the previous match, they broke up the opposition with two vertical passes, but Nakajima's shot was stopped by the goalkeeper. After that, manager Papas brought on Kyohei Noborizato, Hayato Okuda, and Thiago Andrade, and tried to use both flanks more effectively, but the situation remained the same. As Yokohama FC dropped their blocking position with a two-goal lead, Cerezo continued to have the ball, but they were unable to break down their opponents' defense. In the 90th minute, Yokohama FC's Sho Ito, who came on midway through the game, found the net, but was ruled offside. Cerezo, however, could not create any good chances until the very end, and ended without scoring for the first time this season. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/5578f4874e8949f7863c641ddd70719c/0316MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/59453cd636694e81a25ee1a9d9cf607e/0316MR%20(3).jpg" alt=""> After the game, Nakajima reflected on his team's performance: “We needed to show more fighting spirit, as well as intensity on the ball. When we didn't have that, we lost the game we were supposed to lose today." Tanaka, on the other hand, said, “Against an opponent who was trying to press forward, all we did was pass the ball to our feet. We needed to do more simple things that they didn't like, such as running behind them." The game presented Cerezo with a number of challenges in terms of attack, defense, and intensity, but manager Arthur Papas said emphatically, “We will definitely make corrections and improve." After a J.League YBC Levain Cup match, Cerezo will host Urawa Reds in their next league game. Until then, the team as a whole must share a sense of crisis and rebuild. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/94267d612434499b90a1439d9016f121/0316MR%20(7).jpg" alt="">

Review: Yokohama FC 2-0 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD6)

<h3 id="h4f68731828">Sota Kitano's fourth goal of the season gave the team the lead, but in the second half they were unable to convert good chances and conceded a goal in the last minutes, resulting in a frustrating draw.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/22ec95364d304d709152dbd324b5e1ee/0308HP%20(11).jpg" alt=""> Five days after the previous game against Albirex Niigata, which halted a two-game losing streak, Cerezo Osaka returned home to face Nagoya Grampus in the fifth round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, looking for their first home win of the season. There were three changes in the starting lineup from the previous match. Niko Takahashi made his first J1 start, while Reiya Sakata and Hinata Kida returned to the starting lineup for the first time in two games. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/02b67c92da4b4395a9c2f409746cbdd9/0309MR%20(10).jpg" alt=""> From the beginning of the first half, Cerezo controlled the ball and made passes to get into the opponents' half. However, with Nagoya attacking out wide and simply trying to penetrate in behind our defenders, Nagoya got their first real chance in the 12th minute when a long kick from the final line was collected by Kensuke Nagai, who dribbled and fired a shot that was saved by goalkeeper Kim Jin Hyeon. In the 26th minute, Cerezo had a good chance. Sota Kitano beat an opponent and passed to Sakata on the left flank. Sakata cut in and fired a shot that was blocked by a defender. In the 31st minute, Nagoya attacked on our own left flank and had a decisive moment, but Mateus Castro's shot sailed over the crossbar. Another strong shot came from Sho Inagaki of Nagoya in the 37th minute from a cleared ball off a corner kick, but goalkeeper Kim Jin Hyeon again made a great save to prevent the goal from scoring. Then, Cerezo took the lead in first-half added time. Shinnosuke Hatanaka had the ball free and passed it to the center of the pitch. Kida then ran onto the ball and passed it forward with one touch. Nakajima ran in and sent in a cross, which Kitano fired into the net. This goal, which was scored with two vertical passes, was a wonderful reflection of manager Arthur Papas' philosophy of “always moving forward." <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/a2f84a81867e4ac8882f7ee25acb3880/0309MR%20(6).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/78db79c4baf04642ba48c14a91229a1c/0309MR%20(11).jpg" alt=""> Cerezo had an excellent start to the second half, playing aggressively on both offense and defense, but in the 49th and 50th minutes, Lucas Fernandes failed to get a shot off the target. In the 61st minute, Cerezo seemed to be outmatched by Nagoya, who made three changes to their starting lineup, but manager Papas quickly brought on Shinji Kagawa and Masaya Shibayama to get the ball rolling again. In the 66th minute, Nakajima met a corner kick by Takahashi, but his header was stopped by Yohei Takeda, a former Cerezo goalkeeper. Takahashi is likely to continue to play a good role in corner kicks, as he did in the 67th minute, taking a kick with a trajectory that seemed to go directly into the goal. In the 74th minute, Fernandes got behind the opponent from a pass by Hatanaka and sent a cross to Kagawa, who ran to meet it, but his shot was stopped by a defender. In the 84th minute, Hatanaka met Fernandes' corner kick at the near post, but his header hit the crossbar. In the second half, Cerezo controlled the game for the most part, but after failing to convert a series of chances, they conceded in the 85th minute. Nagoya played the ball from the center to our left flank, broke through, and crossed for Mateus Castro to score. In the second half, Cerezo had not given their opponents any real chances up to that point, but they were done in by one shot. In the 87th minute, Kitano took a pass from Kagawa and fired in a shot, and in added time, Nakajima took a vertical pass from Takahashi, turned and shot. It was a good shot, but was blocked by goalkeeper Takeda. Shortly after, Fernandes met Shibayama's cross at the far post, but his shot was deflected off the post. The game ended 1-1. The two teams shared a point. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/0efbf0de374d4c59bdf6246a60d94072/0309MR%20(2).jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/d10689fb8a554973ba08ae9ef1c6e255/0309MR%20(1).jpg" alt=""> The first half was evenly contested, with each side playing to their strengths, but in the second half Cerezo were able to push forward for much of the half, so the 1-1 draw was a disappointing result. Reflecting on the match, captain Shunta Tanaka said, “We were able to perform in today's game what we have been doing in practice. We believe in what the boss (manager Arthur Papas) is offering us, and I think today was a game in which we were able to express that on the pitch." Looking ahead, he added, "We're not getting good results at the moment, but what we are doing is not wrong, so we just keep believing in it and keep working on it." The fact that they were able to keep up their speedy attack of turning the arrow of the pass forward for 90 minutes plus second-half added time was a positive outcome of this match. In the next match, they will look to improve their accuracy and score more than one goal to get their second win of the season. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/bf379c57c5c1472ea6253ec3747ad90f/0309MR%20(12).jpg" alt="">

NEWS

Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-1 FC Tokyo (J1 MD11)

Review: FC Imabari 3-4 Cerezo Osaka (Levain Cup 1st Rd 2nd Leg)

Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-0 Kashima Antlers (J1 MD10)

Review: Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-1 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD9)

Review: Cerezo Osaka 2-1 Fagiano Okayama (J1 MD8)

Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-1 Urawa Reds (J1 MD7)

Nagi Matsumoto joins Sagan Tosu on loan

Shion Homma joins Cerezo Osaka on loan

Hiroaki Okuno leaves Cerezo Osaka for Shonan Bellmare

Review: Kamatamare Sanuki 1-5 Cerezo Osaka (Levain Cup 1st Rd)

Review: Yokohama FC 2-0 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD6)

Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-1 Nagoya Grampus (J1 MD5)

NEWSALLTEAMYEAR202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014MONTH123456789101112

Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-1 FC Tokyo (J1 MD11)

Review: FC Imabari 3-4 Cerezo Osaka (Levain Cup 1st Rd 2nd Leg)

Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-0 Kashima Antlers (J1 MD10)

Review: Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-1 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD9)

Review: Cerezo Osaka 2-1 Fagiano Okayama (J1 MD8)

Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-1 Urawa Reds (J1 MD7)

Nagi Matsumoto joins Sagan Tosu on loan

Shion Homma joins Cerezo Osaka on loan

Hiroaki Okuno leaves Cerezo Osaka for Shonan Bellmare

Review: Kamatamare Sanuki 1-5 Cerezo Osaka (Levain Cup 1st Rd)

Review: Yokohama FC 2-0 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD6)

Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-1 Nagoya Grampus (J1 MD5)

NEWS