<h3 id="hb36a9b4c2d">Sota Kitano's Brace, Reiya Sakata and Nelson Ishiwatari's First Professional Goals Shine as Youngsters Excel, Advancing to the Emperor's Cup Third Round with a Resounding 5-0 Victory.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/c490fdb5915840ae94edd64828926f9e/BY9I7127.jpg" alt=""> The Emperor's Cup Second Round marked the first match for J1 and J2 teams. Cerezo Osaka faced Cento Cuore HARIMA, the representative team from Hyogo Prefecture, at the Yodoko Sakura Stadium. The starting lineup saw a complete overhaul from the recent league match, with Tatsuya Yamashita and Nelson Ishiwatari making their first appearances of the season, while Reiya Sakata made his first start in an official match. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/ef0ecc6001204f5fa76142101a203827/BY9I7219.jpg" alt=""> Cerezo Osaka started in a 4-4-2 formation, just like in the league matches. They faced a defensively organized Cento Cuore HARIMA in a 5-4-1 setup. Right from the beginning, Cerezo launched attacks, and in the 5th minute, Hikaru Nakahara intercepted the ball in midfield and initiated a one-two play with Sakata, entering the penalty area. Seizing the opportunity, they opened the scoring in the 7th minute as Sota Kitano headed in a near-post corner kick from Riki Harakawa. Kitano continued to pose a threat, as in the 10th minute, he took a loose ball from a free kick and struck a powerful shot that hit the crossbar. After the match, Kitano revealed that he approached the game with a sense of crisis, stating, "The most important thing for me was the sense of urgency. I knew that if I didn't produce results here, there would be no turning back." He transformed the bitterness he experienced in the U-20 World Cup into immediate strength on the pitch. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/c46a076a87a948ba957de0f376662c70/BY9I7286.jpg" alt=""> In the 25th minute, another scoring opportunity arose. Harakawa made a sweeping pass to the left side, where full-back Kakeru Funaki delivered a direct cross, setting up a decisive chance. However, the shot from Hatada, who connected inside the box, sailed over the crossbar. Then, in the 29th minute, Cento Cuore HARIMA created a chance from a long throw-in, but Cerezo managed to clear the ball and avoid any danger. In the 32nd minute, it was Ishiwatari, who started as the right full-back in this match, sprinting up the wing and making a deep incursion to deliver a cross. Inspired by his experience with the U-20 Japan national team, Ishiwatari showcased his strength in both offense and defense in this game, excelling in individual battles. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/3e655ccd2aa248ab9a0ae369ae70a7cc/BY9I7430.jpg" alt=""> As the second half kicked off, Cerezo continued to press forward after finishing the first half with a one-goal lead. And in the 53rd minute, Cerezo added another goal. Once again, it was a corner kick from Harakawa, and this time Sakata met it with a header at the far post. It was a delightful moment for Sakata as he scored his first professional goal. "I entered the pitch today with the determination to score, so I'm glad I could deliver the result," he expressed with a smile after the match. With the burden off their shoulders, the players unleashed a goal rush. Just two minutes after Sakata's goal, it was Ishiwatari's turn to score his first professional goal. Satoki Uejo made a run behind the defense to create the opportunity, and ultimately, it was Harakawa's cross that Ishiwatari met with a header from the opposite side, shaking the net. "Moving forward is my strength," said Ishiwatari, and his bold attacking participation resulted in a goal. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/c7b7ac68d46c40e282a2eff6caf89caf/BY9I8000.jpg" alt=""> In the 60th minute, Coach Akio Kogiku made substitutions, bringing on Leo Ceará, Capixaba, and Rui Osako, replacing Sakata, Funaki, and Kida respectively. Osako took the left-back position, while Kida dropped back to the defensive midfield, allowing Nakahara to shift. Although Cento Cuore HARIMA had a few chances, Cerezo managed to keep a clean sheet. Then, in the 74th minute, they scored their fourth goal. Once again, Uejo broke through the defense from behind, penetrated the side, and although his cross was cleared by a defender, the loose ball fell to Kitano, who struck it powerfully into the net. In the 81st minute, with precise passing on the left side, Cerezo broke through the defense, and finally, Seiya Maikuma, who had just come on as a substitute, tapped in Harakawa's cross to secure the fifth goal. It was a goal that sealed the game. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/8c79070c54934fd491872a3c768a252d/BY9I8445.jpg" alt=""> Kitano's two goals, along with the professional debut goals of Sakata and Ishiwatari, stood out in this match, with Osako, who came on as a substitute, also playing a key role in the fifth goal. The impressive performance of these teenagers was evident. The coach reflected on the match, stating, "The players who took part in today's game gained valuable experiences, feeling the atmosphere that can only be felt in official matches and recognizing their own areas for improvement. I'm delighted that we were able to demonstrate through results that Cerezo's future is bright." With only two days of rest, the team now prepares for the upcoming league match against Vissel Kobe, who currently leads the standings. Coach Kogiku remarked, "Even the core players who watched today's game from the stands have likely felt various things. We will all prepare well together and head towards the Kobe match." It will be a crucial match that will shape the remainder of the season, and the team will strive together to secure all three points in the final game of the first half. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/b639cf35effd4cf4adf5fec25d1f1025/BY9I8600.jpg" alt="">

Review: Cerezo Osaka 5-0 Cento Cuore HARIMA (Emperor's Cup 2nd Round)

<h3 id="h2e34e9a959">Early Lead with Capixaba's First League Goal, but Succumb to Pressure and Concede Three Goals in Top Clash</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/3dd2ae9ef23049eda8d7cff8825f0f1f/6.3-1.jpg" alt=""> Cerezo Osaka, facing Nagoya Grampus in the 16th round of the Meiji Yasuda Life J1 League, traveled to the opponent's turf. This direct clash against 3rd-placed Nagoya, with a 3-point difference, was a crucial match for 5th-placed Cerezo, with implications for their future. There was one change in the starting lineup from the previous match, with Capixaba replacing Jordy Croux and taking the right midfield position. Cerezo took the initiative, moving the ball and finding their rhythm from the start. And in the 4th minute, they immediately took the lead. Hiroaki Okuno received a vertical pass from Shinji Kagawa and launched an attack down the right side. Capixaba's shot after cutting inside was blocked by the defender, but Ryosuke Yamanaka picked up the loose ball and took a shot. It also deflected off a defender, but Capixaba seized the opportunity, striking a powerful left-footed shot from a one-touch control. The league debut goal from jersey number 27, responding to the coach's decision to start him, created momentum. In the following 7th minute, they had another scoring chance. Leo Ceara initiated the play, and Hirotaka Tameda headed Yamanaka's cross, but it went over the crossbar. They continued to attack with a good rhythm, with combinations between Kagawa, Okuno, and a shot from Leo Ceara at a difficult angle in the 17th minute. However, Nagoya's pressing gradually intensified, and Cerezo found themselves increasingly pressured and pushed back. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/27e5a8855ca748808340021007db13d5/6.3-2.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/9b8833ef77cf484a98521ab6752bb3a0/6.3-3.jpg" alt=""> Then, in the 21st minute, Nagoya connected with a direct play, exploiting the space behind Cerezo's left side and conceded a goal. This was the first goal Cerezo had conceded since the 12th round against Kashima Antlers, having kept clean sheets in their previous three matches. They were quickly overwhelmed by Nagoya's momentum, and in the 31st minute, they conceded again from a near-post corner kick. Taking advantage of the nervousness caused by the referee's decision just moments before, the entire team showed a vulnerability. Within a short span of time, they allowed a third goal in the 43rd minute, as Mateus Castro dribbled past Cerezo's midfield and scored with a long-range shot. "We mentally collapsed after conceding the first goal. It wasn't just a matter of technical decisions, but also about our mental state and self-control. Unusually, everyone became disorganized. I take responsibility for not being able to correct that," the coach lamented. Unable to stop Nagoya's momentum once it had shifted, Cerezo found themselves swiftly overwhelmed. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/31eb11c531fb4f21b60113d7104b8b04/6.3-4.jpg" alt=""> In the second half, Coach Kogiku made three substitutions, including the goalkeeper. Yang Han Been, Kakeru Funaki, and Hikaru Nakahara were brought on to stabilize the team and launch a counterattack. In the 53rd minute, they made their fourth substitution, replacing Tokuma Suzuki with Hinata Kida in the defensive midfield position. Despite Nagoya taking a defensive approach with a two-goal lead, Cerezo dominated ball possession and pressed forward in the second half. In the 58th minute, Leo Ceara threatened the goal directly from a free-kick, and in the 68th minute, Okuno's pass to Leo Ceara created another scoring opportunity, but the returning defender blocked the shot. In the 80th and 81st minutes, Okuno managed to get behind the opponent's defense twice but couldn't finish the shots. In the 82nd minute, Ryosuke Shindo's header from a corner kick hit the goalkeeper straight on. Although they gave the opponent some chances on the counterattack, goalkeeper Yan Han Been, making his league debut, made some excellent saves and prevented any additional goals. However, they couldn't score a comeback goal, and the game ended when Satoki Uejo's shot as a substitute hit the crossbar. "We needed to win here to move up" (Kagawa) - it was a high-stakes match approached with strong determination. However, just like in the 10th round against Sanfrecce Hiroshima and the 12th round against Kashima Antlers, they once again hit a wall and were denied. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/7acac3f675844f45a43dc5540e6ec406/6.3-6.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/19250040b30c484da7e8c14339d67d23/6.3-8.jpg" alt=""> "We keenly felt the need to continue growing in terms of mentality, skills, and physicality in this game. Based on our current abilities, we must firmly acknowledge and accept the defeat," admitted the coach, showing a resolute attitude. "We want to address various challenges head-on and strive for growth both individually and as a team. We need to move forward," he added. Kagawa also emphasized the importance of not repeating the same mistakes. With the Emperor's Cup coming up, the next match will be a home game against the league leaders, Vissel Kobe. There is no time to dwell on this result. It is crucial to thoroughly analyze the challenges revealed in this match and use them to secure a victory in the next one. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/13b13ea53bd843e396189ccf97b837c0/6.3-9.jpg" alt="">

Review: Nagoya Grampus 3-1 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD16)

<h3 id="hb8176d95dd">Hirotaka Tameda’s opener and Hikaru Nakahara’s additional point as his first goal of the season. Achieve the first 3 consecutive wins of the season with 3 consecutive clean sheets.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/ff3f8d89e9b742319dba42a064174636/DGTS5881%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%92%E3%82%9A%E3%83%BC.jpg" alt=""> This section was the first match at home in about a month. With the momentum of the away win streak, they challenged the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Section 15 against Yokohama FC, aiming for the first three consecutive wins of the season. The starting line-up was changed for one player from the previous section. Mutsuki Kato was out due to injury, Tokuma Suzuki started in the league match for the first time in eight games, and Hiroaki Okuno was placed on the front line. The system could have been [4-4-2] or [4-2-3-1]. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/a83eefe947ee459d901b616f8d3ae830/BY9I3472.jpg" alt=""> Cerezo Osaka took control of the match from the beginning. In the 5th minute, Leo Ceara ran through behind the DF from the short counter and brought it to an almost one-on-one chance with the GK. After that, the vertical relationship between Hirotaka Tameda and Ryosuke Yamanaka on the left, and Jordy Croux and Seiya Maikuma on the right, worked well and pushed the opponents in. The right side was the highlight of this match especially. Croux created scenes to hold the ball in the form to carry forward and approached the goal with a sharp cross. In the 28th minute, he launched the long counterattack which the entire stadium buzzed with. After surpassing the opponent's FK, Shinji Kagawa, who received a throw from GK Kim Jin Hyeon, passed it to the front line with a direct volley. From here, Tameda and Okuno connected the passes with headers, and in the end Croux shot with his left foot. It was a beautiful flow that could have been nominated for the goal of the year if it was scored, but unfortunately it hit the post. After that, Cerezo continued to attack and broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute. When Kagawa ran into the near zone on the right side from midfield, Croux made a through pass to him. Here, Kagawa attracted the DF and kept the ball, and when he dropped it to Maikuma, Maikuma directly crossed it to the far side. Tameda, who jumped in, reacted to it well with his header and boldly shook the net. In the first half, Yokohama FC was allowed zero shots. They responded to the opponent's counter, and ended the first half with "the perfect development that we idealize" (Koji Toriumi). <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/358a2cce67c24d6c8a70f8905a7a1ee2/DGSN0544.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/3236ecd8aacf46e28905fe66bdfe1c34/DGSN0548.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/6af951d27be140f1900534923f25a54b/BY9I3833.jpg" alt=""> In the second half, the first play gave Yokohama FC a scoring chance. Immediately after the kickoff, Towa Yamane, who ran in from the right side to a long ball from the DF, came out and made a shot. It was a scene that made them nervous, but GK Kim Jin Hyeon showed a big save by stopping with his foot. He quickly inspired and braced his team mates. After that, as in the first half, Cerezo took possession and continued to attack. In the 56th and 65th minutes, Hikaru Nakahara, who came in from the second half, brought the ball to the shots in a good shape and approached the goal. From the middle stage of the second half onwards, there was time for Yokohama FC to take possession, but Cerezo’s defense team, who had kept clean sheets in three consecutive games in the most recent official games, responded without panicking. In order to change the match flow, Manager Akio Kogiku sent in Capixaba, Kakeru Funaki, and Hinata Kida, the players who showed good performances in the Levain Cup the other day. In the 83rd minute, he substituted Ryuya Nishio for Okuno and also changed the positioning to a five-back DFs system. Aiming for additional points while closing the match, then in the 85th minute, Cerezo scored the second goal that decided the match. From the flow of the set piece, they picked up the second ball and made a successive attack, and at the end Kagawa, who received the drop by Leo Ceara, entered the penalty area and was fallen by the opponent DF. The whistle did not blow, but Funaki picked up the loose ball and fed it to the left, and Capixaba’s cross was met by Nakahara on the opposite side. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/1bf27eecf2fa4582a70ad64300a5c26a/BY9I4333.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/3f8dc4751d0742adbac8b7833b59f8f8/DGSN1231.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/cb9b6b582ad248aab21a379c1820869e/BY9I4366.jpg" alt=""> Just before the end, they faced a pinch from a set-piece, but they managed to endure centering on Kim Jin Hyeon, and did not allow Yokohama FC to score. With the solid defense, Cerezo achieved three consecutive wins with a clean sheet in 3 consecutive games. The commander praised the players, saying, "This game had a lot of positive elements." But he also tightened the reins as he said, “In order to fight for the championship from now on, it is necessary to pursue one more step for all, like improving quality, increasing strength, and deepening understanding of tactics. We do not get satisfied here, but prepare well for the next match against Nagoya and Kobe.” The next match is an away game against Nagoya Grampus. They would like to break into the top three, by winning the hard high-ranking confrontation. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/4e872dcdb9ee4ab786c9bf90a2870032/DGTS6030.jpg" alt="">

Review: Cerezo Osaka 2-0 Yokohama FC (J1 MD15)

<h3 id="h8dd0566252">Despite the regrettable draw that the quality of the content did not lead to a win, they succeed in raising the bottom level leading to a league match.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/f36a1ef7ea0d4eaa8862a1e5581b9ffd/230524_01.jpg" alt=""> After a three-day interval from the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Section 14 match against Shonan Bellmare, Cerezo Osaka challenged the J.League YBC Levain Cup Section 5 of the group stage against FC Tokyo at away stadium. The starters were changed for nine players from the match against Shonan. As Manager Akio Kogiku said, on the day before the match, “We are going to win with energetic players," the fresh players who were hungry for the match were lined up. For GK Yang Han Been, this was the J.League debut match. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/e35a99176f9c470da6407a67aeff0e46/230524_02.jpg" alt=""> In the first half, Cerezo dominated the game. Against FC Tokyo, whose defensive line was low, they moved the ball lightly and entered the opposition half. In the 8th minute, Capixaba made a starting point on the left side from Tokuma Suzuki’s side change, and Kakeru Funaki overtook Capixaba and created a chance. In the 9th minute, Ryosuke Shindo competed for the CK obtained here and approached a goal. In the 24th minute, Riku Matsuda boldly made a side change to the left side, Capixaba dropped the ball with his header, and then Funaki innerlapped. Funaki directly entered vertically and brought it to the shot. In this match, Capixaba, who threatened the opponent with his outstanding sharpness of move, created another scoring chance in the 31st minute. After rebounding the opponent's CK, he launched a counterattack and dribbled for a long distance, and finally passed to Matsuda, who was running up the side. If it would have been scored, it was a brilliant quick attack, but unfortunately Matsuda's shot went out of the frame. Another opportunity came in the 32nd minute. They made small passes to break through the right side, and in the end, Mutsuki Kato matched Matsuda's cross, but the opponent DF closely defended with his body and the shot did not meet. GK Yang Han Been also showed stable feed, and Cerezo approached the goal again and again from intentional breakouts in the first half. Even in defense, they suppressed FC Tokyo's attacks to single shots, and the number of shots on target to receive was zero. The first half finished with the development of the superiority. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/b516fdca72c946bf9818dd6e5512d186/230524_03.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/c43964d8dfd548a6b5e7b78eaa674d26/230524_04.jpg" alt=""> From the beginning of the second half, Manager Kogiku replaced Kato and Matsuda with Leo Ceara and Hayato Okuda. For Okuda, who has decided to join the team from next season, this match was his J.League debut as a Cerezo player. In the second half, against FC Tokyo, who increased their offensive pressure, Cerezo went on the defensive, but GK Yang Han Been, CB Shindo, and Ryuya Nishio showed tenacious defense. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/a31aec293e124775ac3d4d8e5cb8ef94/230524_05.jpg" alt=""> In the 67th minute, Shonan took their back from the quick attack, but Yang Han Been jumped out at just the right moment and stopped the goal conceded. Then, towards the end of the game, Cerezo pushed back with attacks again. It was Jordy Croux who entered the pitch in the 75th minute that took the lead for the team. In the 80th minute, he approached the goal from his signature cut-in, and in the 83rd minute he made a vertical approach and shot. When the stagnant attack gained momentum, they got a scoring chance in the 86th minute. Reiya Sakata, who had also started to play from midway through the second half, exchanged passes with Suzuki to break through the left side, and sent a cross. With an exquisite trajectory, it reached Leo Ceara in the center, but the header of the uniform number 9 was blocked by the good defense of the GK and did not become a goal. Unfortunately, they were unable to seize the chance to win through defense. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/8a5a17cf7bf14851adab35b9c6b3fd1b/230524_08.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/255be8819fbd47ffb9bed4fb3c3f288b/230524_06.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/e9e97a1ec4c2430f88ffe60b4f993616/230524_07.jpg" alt=""> The match ended 0-0, as it was. After the match ended in a draw in a match where only victory was required, the disappointment of the players was deep, making it more difficult to break through the group stage. "We wanted to win because the content was good. I am full of mortification," the commander did not hide his regret about the result. On the other hand, he also emphasized the achievements, saying, “we could fight, showing our strong desire to win. We have lots of harvest and awareness.” In fact, the players who stood on the pitch in this match succeeded in appealing as individuals while maintaining discipline as a team. They showed the ability that they are ready to play in the league match at any time. It is a difficult game to sum up, but they will make use of the regrets and harvest from this section for the rest of the season. And as for the Levain Cup, they try hard towards the Osaka Derby, the final round, where they still have hopes of making it through the group stage.

Review: FC Tokyo 0-0 Cerezo Osaka (Levain Cup GS 5th Sec.)

<h3 id="hbe90e5b08f">Leo Ceara’s opener and Satoki Uejo’s additional goal. Achieved the second consecutive win of the season with a solid defensive play.</h3> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/c14c46d9d7b44f7282b159c884d904b9/5.20-1.jpg" alt=""> This section was an away game in a row. Cerezo Osaka faced Shonan Bellmare in Section 14 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, aiming for their second consecutive win of the season. The starting lineup was the same 11 players as the previous section against Kyoto Sanga F.C.. Satoki Uejo returned to the bench after his suspension. Continuing from the previous section, they set a [4-4-2] system, and from the beginning, they clearly showed the intention to aim for the back of the opponent’s high defensive line as Ryosuke Yamanaka sent the pass that made two FWs run to the behind the opponents, from Kim Jin Hyeon as a starting point. The first chance came in the 8th minute. Ryosuke Shindo sent a long pass to Mutsuki Kato, and Jordy Croux reacted to the loose ball and fed it to Shinji Kagawa, and then he developed it for Yamanaka. It was Leo Ceara who jumped into Yamanaka's left-footed cross. He stretched his legs in front of the GK and his shot shook the net, but the goal was not recognized due to a slight offside. In the 21st minute, Seiya Maikuma competed for a long ball from Kim Jin Hyeon, and Jordy Croux, who picked up the loose ball, connected a pass to Leo Ceara, and the uniform number 9 boldly made a mid-range shot. In the first half, they were on the leeward side, but they dominated the game with the attack that they simply kicked the ball into the space behind them and picked up the second ball to gain the thickness of offense. However, after the 25th minute onwards, they made a series of mistakes in build-up, and even received a counter-attack from Shonan. In the 29th minute, they were shaken from left to right and a sharp cross was thrown in, but GK Kim Jin Hyeon managed to punch it and escaped from the pinch. Cerezo faced a series of pinches just before the end of the first half, but they defended with body, centering on Koji Toriumi and Shindo, and prevented conceding a goal. The first half ended 0-0. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/2ce95a6b5d0849ba88954c6607908233/5.20-4.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/62833dfe70514ee28fb4c3727532be4a/5.20-13.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/53a3f861324a49909b99f0c725976195/5.20-2.jpg" alt=""> In the second half, when Cerezo were on the side of windward, Maikuma took a higher position, and they created a starting point on the right side and used more men for the attack. Then, in the 53rd minute, they succeeded in scoring the opener. Kim Jin Hyeon did not miss to see the move of Jordy Croux, who started to run to the vacant space on the right side, and delivered the accurate feed, and Jordy Croux captured it with a splendid trap and deployed to the opposite side. Kagawa, Maikuma, and Hiroaki Okuno connected the passes, and Okuno sent it to the left side, then Yamanaka received it without a mark and sent an accurate cross. And here, it was Leo Ceara who jumped into it on the far side. Cerezo moved the score with a uniform number 9’s sixth goal of the season. In this scene, they could show the thick attack, as six players entered the penalty area. Cerezo gained momentum and shook the goal net from a FK in the 63rd minute. Again, Yamanaka's cross was met by Mainkuma, but the assistant referee's flag was raised. The VAR check did not make the decision change, and unfortunately it was not an additional point. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/e6a1b015a2c1459b9401c8abfec2ff88/5.20-12.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/988593049537420fa3695237b007516e/5.20-6.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/01cda3e6a9f8499bb61057a0e0e413bd/5.20-11.jpg" alt=""> Then, in the 68th minute, Cerezo faced the biggest pinch of the match, but Kim Jin Hyeon made a super save from a close-range shot with his left hand. With a big save of the guardian deity, who had continued to play steadily in these past games, they did not allow the tie goal to the opponents, and the flow of the game returned to Cerezo again. In the 72nd minute, Capixaba and Uejo were brought in to activate the front line, and in the 87th minute, Ryuya Nishio was sent in, and they changed the system to [5-4-1]. Cerezo made the intention clear, which they close the game defending, while aiming to “deliberately pull the opponents in and make a counterattack”&nbsp;(manager Akio Kogiku), and in the 89th minute, they scored the second goal that decided the match. Against Shonan's build-up, Capixaba cut the vertical pass-course, and Okuno stole the ball with a targeted press, and immediately sent a gentle pass to the back. Uejo, who turned forward well with his first touch, calmly faced one-on-one with the GK and scored. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/0ed40bf5609147ab82292be97a81ca3e/5.20-9.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/49f8c90cae7c4a82941d5e574850c3dd/5.20-15.jpg" alt=""> Regarding the way they fought in the final stages, Kagawa said, "We were able to set the defensive line higher than that of the match against Kyoto. If we were able to do that kind of battle, it would naturally lead to offense. We could see the improvement on that point.” “Since we had meetings and practices this week to think about how to apply defensive pressure and the balance of the team, I am glad that we were able to get results through the match,” said Okuno, who ran until the end and provided the assist, with a satisfied expression. Cerezo showed tenacity in defense, as well as the ability to take advantage of chances. It was the second consecutive victory of the season, and the first victory of the season with two points difference, showing signs of further improvement from here. In the next section they will host Yokohama FC at home, after the Levain Cup. They aim for a higher rank with the first three consecutive wins this season. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/2832ed02896c4674ae057514ad3d87d4/5.20-17.jpg" alt="">

Review: Shonan Bellmare 0-2 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD14)

<h3 id="hb1cf11a4e9">First victory of the season against Kyoto. Pay the debt of losing in the Levain Cup match, and obtain three winning points to pursue top teams.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/6e89b5693e524f08b9b089693b4040a1/5.14-1.jpg" alt=""> This section was called the "J.League 30th Anniversary Match." Cerezo Osaka boarded Kyoto Sanga F.C. 's home and challenged the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Section 13. The starter was changed for three players from the previous section against Kashima Antlers. Mutsuki Kato was the first in eight games, Jordy Croux was the first in 10 games, and Ryosuke Shindo made his first starting lineup of the season in the league match. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/30728104504c4224844592b7bdb31e01/5.14-2.jpg" alt=""> In the early stages, there was the time slot when they were pushed in by Kyoto, but they prevented conceding a goal with Kim Jin Hyeon’s good save and Koji Toriumi’s block. On the offensive side, they made chances from the right side where Croux was playing. Making use of the lessons learned from the Levain Cup, where they conceded many goals due to receiving the press from the high front line, in this section, Cerezo used not only close passes to feet but also long balls simply to be fed to spaces. They approached the goal by turning over the opponent coming from the front. In the 19th minute, Hirotaka Tameda, who came out to the pass of Ryosuke Yamanaka, broke through the side and created a chance, and then in the 26th minute they succeeded in scoring the opener. Tameda quickly started a high throw-in, and Kato, who caught the ball, broke through the left side and accelerated vertically. After he sent a quick cross to the center, it hit Hiroaki Okuno and opponent DF, and changed the course and hit the post directly. In addition, the rebound hit the head of Kyoto's GK and made it into the goal. For Cerezo, luck was also on their side as they scored the first goal, but Kato said, "Our attitude towards the goal led to the goal." <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/dbc3b84242a945c8a9ef45909887a4cb/5.14-3.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/cc2d899cdafc43b0baa62e960266a726/5.14-4.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/ed1880e366e0464eba324cf40aeb9ab8/5.14-5.jpg" alt=""> Cerezo's offensive continued from here. Shinji Kagawa and Okuno picked up the second ball of the kick from Kim Jin Hyeon and connected it to the second attack, quickly deploying to the sides. They approached the goal, attacking behind Kyoto's SB. In the additional time of the first half, they had a good opportunity from a throw-in at a high position again. Seiya Maikuma, who was playing on the right SB in this match, entered the penalty area and shot, but unfortunately it was blocked by the GK. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/5e77f7a6c539457fa95d46fcd4de6e92/5.14-6.jpg" alt=""> The second half started with a one-point lead. Kyoto increased the pressure with two substitutes from the beginning. Yuta Toyokawa, who used to play for Cerezo, boldly made shots, but Kim Jin Hyeon did not allow him to break it. In the 49th minute, Cerezo, wanting another point, activated a counterattack from Yamanaka's intercept, and Leo Ceara and Croux connected passes and approached the goal. Then in the 56th minute they got a scoring chance. Shindo, Kagawa, and Maikuma connected passes, and finally Croux sent a cross with his in-swing kick, and it reached Leo Seara on the far side. However, the slammed header went slightly off target and it did not become the second goal. In the 62nd minute, Kyoto introduced their trump card, Patric. Kyoto started to use the thick attack, hitting crosses to a tall FW and picking up the second ball. In the 78th minute in such a development, Manager Akio Kogiku replaced Kato with Ryuya Nishio. He also changed the system to [5-4-1] and increased the number of men inside to repel the opponent's power play. Cerezo's defensive line fell backward slightly towards the end of the game, but in the 81st minute, the GK made a series of good saves, and in the 83rd minute, Nishio saved the goal with a cover. After that, the defensive team centering on three backs formed by Shindo, Nishio, and Toriumi, and Kim Jin Hyeon firmly shut out Kyoto's attacks without a pinch. They defended one point in the first half and counted their sixth win of the season. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/eb4166d1b0fe4494be919d9bbaf917d3/5.14-8.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/14a2735ec8ef42d89356f4119b9b49f3/5.14-7.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/9404d697bd6d455196d95941634b5e3a/5.14-9.jpg" alt=""> On the day before the match, Manager Kogiku said, “Duels, battles, and runs are the strong part of Kyoto, but it is important to surpass them”, and truly they did not lose duels, and achieved a clean sheet. In addition, to make a quick vertical attack with the system change to two FWs, and also to start Kato and Croux, who were active in the practice match against Vissel Kobe held on the day after the previous section. It was a victory that demonstrated what they had prepared for this section. The next match, which will again be an away match, will be against Shonan Bellmare. They would like to accumulate the winning points with a consecutive win, and to reduce the gap to the top teams. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/b9a67986a51f46cd96ef452c520a5390/5.14-50.jpg" alt="">

Review: Kyoto Sanga F.C. 0-1 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD13)

<h3 id="h2b13c94020">In the pouring rain, despite fighting hard on offense and defense, regrettable defeat due to conceding a goal from a set piece.</h3> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/bbe8168ebce14875ad42704f798a418e/230507_01.jpg" alt=""> After a three-day interval from the Osaka derby in the previous section which they won a dramatic victory. Cerezo Osaka welcomed Kashima Antlers at home to face the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Section 12, which was the last of three consecutive Golden Week matches. The starting lineup was 11 players, the same as the last two games. Jordy Croux entered the substitute members for the first time in four games. Due to the rain that had been pouring down before the match, in the condition that the pitch was flooded with water in places, the early stages of the game saw both teams kicking long balls at each other. Even so, Cerezo connected the ball mainly on the left side and created chances. Then in the 23rd minute, Cerezo grabbed the first chance for both teams. Hirotaka Tameda flicked Riki Harakawa's vertical pass to break through the left side, Shinji Kagawa fed a centering pass, and Harakawa shot finally in front of the goal, but it was blocked by the opponent's DF and missed the goal. In defense, Matej Jonic and Koji Toriumi repelled the opponent's attacks and prevented them from creating chances. In addition, in this game, Hiroaki Okuno was placed in the down position in advance as a countermeasure against the second ball, forming a double anchor with Harakawa. Even in the competition of the middle range, they were competitive against Kashima, and finished the first half with 0-0, with not bad development. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/686dd66d253a432d9a5e31db94bf4f29/230507_03.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/f14425e1053c49ff9ab40c0cf4f6a741/230507_04.jpg" alt=""> In the second half, Satoki Uejo entered the pitch from the start in place of Tameda, who had received a yellow card in the first half. In the 56th minute, Uejo developed the game vertically and tried to break through the situation, and then in the 63rd minute there was a big chance. From a throw-in deep on the left side, Leo Ceara received it and sent a pass to Uejo, and Kagawa reacted to Uejo’s returning pass but his shot did not meet. In the second half, Kashima thoroughly targeted Cerezo's left side. Taking advantage of the pitch conditions where the ball was stopped, Kashima was slowly pushing in, but Cerezo responded to it as Toriumi showed good cover many times. They had avoided the pinch scenes, but in the 67th minute, they gave a CK from a throw-in and conceded a goal following the set piece. Unfortunately, the ball that was turned back on the far side hit a DF and changed its trajectory, and Ikuma Sekigawa pushed it into a goal on the other side. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/5236ba9bb0024bbabbb37536e4462119/230507_05.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/a37d8bdd74774a25aafab9a7bae6f591/230507_06.jpg" alt=""> Cerezo wanted to counterattack from here, but in the 71st minute, Uejo received a red card due to a dangerous play to kick his foot high. In the 75th minute under the numerical disadvantage, Manager Akio Kogiku brought in Jordy Croux and Ryosuke Shindo, in order to search for clues to breakthrough with high kick accuracy and individual strength. However, time passed without breaking Kashima's solid defense. In the 90th minute, Jordy's Crooks cross was met by Sota Kitano with a header, but this was the only one shot to be thrown in the second half. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/6a6f6c6541d54507bf96ba0a8235aeba/230507_08.jpg" alt=""> The match ended 0-1 as it was. The most likely scoring chance to give to Kashima was the only scene of conceding a goal, but they were unable to break the opponent's solid defense and the time ran out. They did not win in a row following the Osaka Derby in the previous section, and ended up missing a chance to move up the ranks. The next section is a week away, against Kyoto Sanga F.C. In order to return the debt in the Levain Cup, which they marked the consecutive defeats, they will prepare well and challenge it. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/084e543957754f86b0d6cc725465d17b/230507_09.jpg" alt="">

Review: Cerezo Osaka 0-1 Kashima Antlers (J1 MD12)

<h3 id="hb1ba26dd0f">The 60th official games of the Osaka Derby. Both strikers Leo Ceara and Mutsuki Kato deliver results in a dramatic victory.</h3><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/827619d947bb48ffba9726a0166428d6/5.3-1.jpg" alt=""> Cerezo Osaka challenged their 60th official match for the Osaka Derby. The starting lineup was the same 11 players as the previous section against Sanfrecce Hiroshima. To stop the consecutive defeats and aim only for 3 winning points to cling to the higher ranks, they entered the away stadium. Tickets were sold out in advance, and under clear skies, the match was filled with the derby-like heat from before the match. At the beginning, Cerezo had a series of pass mistakes in their own half and invited the pinches. However, in the final scene, Riku Matsuda and Koji Toriumi used their bodies to block the shots. Showing tenacious defense, in the 10th and 14th minutes, Shinji Kagawa stole the ball at high positions and created chances. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/547d4e5584424c21aca34313fbc5a8ad/5.3-3.jpg" alt=""> Then, in the 28th minute, Cerezo succeeded in scoring the opener. Matej Jonic connected pass to Toriumi and Ryosuke Yamanaka, and Kagawa made a through of the diagonal pass which Yamanaka fed to the center from the left side. Hiroaki Okuno, who received the ball in the center, went past two opponents with a brilliant turn and provided a pass to the right side, and then it was Leo Ceara who reacted to Riku Matsuda’s highly accurate cross. He scored his fifth goal of the season with a splendid header and moved the game. The first half ended with a one-point lead as it was. Cerezo made the most of their one-chance and advanced the match strongly. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/b4c056d377f641a4b24a0c8b66cabb16/5.3-5.jpg" alt=""> In the second half, Matsuda, who received a yellow card in the first half, was replaced due to “continuous matches and risk management” (Manager Akio Kogiku). Hikaru Nakahara entered the right wing, and Seiya Maikuma moved down to right side back. However, in the 56th minute, Gamba broke down Cerezo's right side where the players changed and they conceded a goal. From here, while they started to receive the attacks of Gamba who was gaining momentum, the commander decided to make an early change. In the 60th minute, Hirotaka Tameda was replaced by Satoki Uejo, and Leo Ceara and Riki Harakawa were done by Mutsuki Kato and Sota Kitano in the 68th minute. They changed the system to [4-4-2] to increase the press strength from the front and the accuracy of the counter. “We also expected that (Gamba) would attack even with losing their system balance. We changed to [4-4-2] in the intention of tenaciously covering the CB, stealing the ball and aiming for a counterattack with four speedy players”, said the commander after the game, and the players embodied that aim on the pitch. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/82fc3793b6e04898b064717adf016078/5.3-14.jpg" alt=""> Gamba took possession and pushed in for a while, but Cerezo defended with their body at the end, centering on both SBs and GK Kim Jin Hyeon, and then they also made a scene to make a counterattack from a good defense. In the 88th minute, Kim Jin Hyeon showed a good save in a scoring chance for Gamba, and immediately after that, a big chance came to Cerezo from the counter. Uejo dribbled and passed to Kitano. However, Kitano was not able to look forward and so unable to bring it to the shot. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/f4404582b7ba424b8640336800ea69d2/5.3-9.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/bd40e84e0012487f9bbb99fee86abc1a/5.3-2.jpg" alt=""> In the closing stages of the match, the composition of the battle became clear, and it was Cerezo who scored the next goal that decided the match. In the 90th minute, after Yamanaka cleared a cross of Takashi Usami, he launched a long counter, and Uejo, Kagawa, and Kitano quickly connected passes and entered vertically. Kitano dribbled and passed to Yamanaka, who sprinted from behind with tremendous momentum. Yamanaka sent an accurate cross to the far side from a forward-facing trap, and Kato, who “had an eye contact (with Yamanaka). So I jumped in with the mind that definitely (a cross) comes to me”, headed and shook the goal net. At this moment, the visitor seats dyed in pink boiled up. The Cerezo bench was also united and was surrounded by loud cheers. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/f561635c6c214eb1af06f0d9d75c0db1/5.3-16.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/48bf940e60fb4b67a4e127ddd8d15606/5.3-15.jpg" alt=""> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/1f400574638a487a9d0a4e73fca91ea5/5.3-11.jpg" alt=""> Right after that, Manager Kogiku replaced Kagawa with Ryosuke Shindo to close the game with a [5-4-1] system. Even so, in the last play, the tenacious Gamba created a decisive opportunity, but it was Kim Jin Hyeon who stood in the way. He blocked the shot that Issam Jebali threw from close range, with an amazing reaction. He prevented a tie goal in the last minute. Cerezo, who endured the CK immediately after, won a dramatic victory, and won the away Osaka Derby in the league match for the fourth time in a row. At the press area after the match, Kato said with a delighted expression, "I am happy that I was able to lead the team to victory. I think today's goal has been engraved in the history of the Osaka Derby, so I am really excited.” And “It was a victory that all of you Cerezo family, who made a wonderful environment, are delighted with. It was great to share the happiness of victory with everyone”, said Kim Jin Hyeon with a smile of relief. Making the best result of winning in the Osaka Derby at away stadium into the momentum, Cerezo welcomed Kashima Antlers at home in the next section. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/5cd7dab332d64801a571f1ed7a208dbf/5.3-20.jpg" alt="">

Review: Gamba Osaka 1-2 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD11)

<h3 id="h521965ea51">Despite recovering from the inferiority in the first half, concede a goal at the end. A regrettable defeat without three consecutive wins.</h3> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/1bb885ba22974986a0084e63140ffc94/DGTS1765.jpg" alt=""> The Section 10 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League against Sanfrecce Hiroshima at home, aiming for three consecutive wins. Cerezo Osaka's starters were the same as the previous 11 players. With a lineup that can be said to be the "best" of the current season, they challenged their bad opponent, who they faced four times last season and could not win even once. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/bc79f62c25e34471be5c8f7bcf28ef7f/DGSN4568.jpg" alt=""> How can they get past Hiroshima's strong press and carry the ball forward? Even though Manager Akio Kogiku pointed it out before the match, Cerezo struggled with the build-up. Against Hiroshima, who made a pressure from the beginning, they were forced to be pinned in their own half for a while, and in the 7th minute, they had a first pinch of conceding. However, nothing happened here with GK Kim Jin Hyeon's good save and the opponent's shot mistake. In the 10th minute, a sharp header was thrown from a CK, but Kim Jin Hyeon again made a great save. Then, in the 15th minute, Cerezo, who had been in a defensive, also got a scoring chance. Leo Ceara became a starting point and developed to the right side, connecting with Seiya Maikuma and Riku Matsuda, and then Hirotaka Tameda made a header from Shinji Kagawa’s cross at the end. He successfully twisted his body to make the ball into the frame, but it was blocked by Hiroshima’s GK Keisuke Osako. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/243edac7aa644d40b8fb9b3a3959c4a9/BY9I8166.jpg" alt=""> Cerezo were unable to handle Hiroshima's pressure well and were pushed into their own half at the beginning of the match, but after the 25th minute, they gradually began to exchange passes well. Even so, when they were running behind Hiroshima's pass-work that was coming more and more forward, then in the 32nd minute, Takumu Kawamura dribbled from the front of the penalty area and made a decisive shot. But here again, Kim Jin Hyeon stood in his way and did not allow a goal. It was a tough first half, with the team spending almost all of the 45 minutes in their own half, but thanks to the efforts of the guardian deity and DFs, they managed to finish the first half with the score 0-0. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/4793993a46694ad4a67eb48f4e5458a2/DGSN5733.jpg" alt=""> After this kind of development, the rhythm of the game naturally changed. In the second half, against Hiroshima, whose intensity dropped a little, there were more scenes where Cerezo received the ball in the middle range and attacked more in front. Kagawa struggled with the opponent's marks in the first half, but in the second half he began to hold the ball toward forward, and then in the 51st minute, Leo Ceara fired a mid-range shot from Kagawa’s starting point. In the 55th minute as well, Leo Ceara headed for the goal from a through pass of Kagawa. In the 58th minute, when the scent of a goal gradually wafted through the stadium, Cerezo's biggest chance of this match came. From the flow of the throw-in, they broke through the right side connecting passes, and finally Leo Ceara made a through from Hiroaki Okuno’s pass, and the ball reached Tameda on the other side. It was a situation where he would have just pushed in, but Tameda, who saw GK Osako's position change, chose to pass to Leo Ceara. Leo Ceara, who was closed by the GK, was unable to take a shot and they were unable to make the most of the opportunity. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/bf4dd9b63cd2488cb52cc3144b89bc50/DGSN5672.jpg" alt=""> Cerezo made adjustments from the overwhelmed first half, and recovered to the even developments in the second half. In the 71st minute, Mutsuki Kato replaced Tameda and continued to play on the left wing. Expectations were high for the uniform number 20, who had a special feeling for the match against Hiroshima, but he was not able to receive the pass, seeing forward, nor make scenes to go for a goal raising the gear up at once. Hiroshima also sent the powerful substitutes, who had been on the bench, one after another, but Cerezo's defense team, especially CBs Matej Jonic and Koji Toriumi, kept their concentration until the end to repel the opponent's attacks. The match went into additional time in the second half. It was the time slot, when Hiroshima scored many times in the last season, and Cerezo wanted to overcome the past and get even one winning point. However, in the 90th + 3rd minute, the left side was broken through and they conceded a goal. The defensive team, who had worked so hard until then, collapsed in the end. Despite this, Cerezo did not give up and aimed for a tie, but the time ran out soon after. Both the content and the result were regrettable results that once again fell behind Hiroshima. In May, the series of battles continues due to the GW. The next section, which will be held after a three-day interval, is the Osaka derby against Gamba Osaka. “After winning the derby last year, the team had grown rapidly. It will be a big game that has an influence on the future”, said Manager Kogiku. They fully recover their body and mind, aim only for victory, and enter the away ground. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/6cf8a6c335514a9aa066ec7cb6406032/DGTS1908.jpg" alt="">

Review: Cerezo Osaka 0-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (J1 MD10)

Cerezo Osaka announce that Momoyama Gakuin University defender Hayato Okuda has agreed to join the club in the 2024 season. Okuda will also be registered as a JFA/J.League special license player this season. He will wear the number 45 shirt. <h2 id="hf3be6b429b">Hayato Okuda</h2><img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/dc8958712d704f5891027064195c66a3/okuda_03.jpg" alt=""> "I am very happy to start my career as a professionall football player, which has been my dream since I was a child, with a great club like Cerezo Osaka. My strengths are my ability in build-up and active participation in attack. I think I am a different type of fullback putting importance on anticipation, judgment, and tactics, so please look forward to watching me play! I will play to the best of my ability and enjoy playing football to contribute to Cerezo Osaka's victory." <h2 id="hee3eba2108">Profile</h2><h3 id="ha9c29754cc">Date of Birth</h3>April 21, 2001 <h3 id="h8b5fa66284">Place of Birth</h3>Osaka <h3 id="h11b1e8350c">Height / Weight</h3>174cm / 71kg <h3 id="h6ca73d845a">Position</h3>Defender <h3 id="hbb49721568">Career</h3>Gamba Osaka Jr Youth Gamba Osaka Youth Gamba Osaka (as a class-2 player) Momoyama Gakuin Univeristy <h3 id="hc7fb7a2f5e">National Team</h3>U-23 Japan

Hayato Okuda agrees to join Cerezo Osaka in the 2024 season

<h1 id="hbdfa834f07">1-0 win with Seiya Maikuma's winning goal and the second clean sheet of the season. First consecutive wins of the season to move up to 7th place.</h1> <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/b8113c3ac7184c61b8e6d6fa105eec5b/DGTS0923.jpg" alt=""> This season, aiming for a first consecutive win in the league match of the season. Cerezo Osaka welcomed Kashiwa Reysol at home for Meiji Yasuda J1 League Section 9. The starting line-up was changed for one player from the previous match against FC Tokyo. Hirotaka Tameda, who injured his left shoulder during the game two games ago, returned to the starter for the first time in two games. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/beb72c7f2f0545cfbd79c3e1d1628484/BY9I3524.jpg" alt=""> At the beginning, Cerezo slightly ran behind in defense against Kashiwa who attacked with passes at good speed. There was also a scene where the ball was easily carried forward because they struggled to set the target for stealing. However, Cerezo got the first chance. In the 8th minute, after a quick restart, Tameda threw an accurate long shot, and it hit the post. After that, when they approached the goal from a set piece, they succeeded in scoring the opener in the 23rd minute. Shinji Kagawa intercepted where Kashiwa's building-up pass exchange was misaligned. Immediately, Leo Ceara launched the short counterattack and connected a pass to Seiya Maikuma, and Maikuma calmly scored one-on-one with GK. On the day before the match, he said, "Tomorrow, I want to focus on results. As an individual, this is my chance to show my worth." Cerezo took control of the match, with the bullet of the man who “put pressure” on himself and did as he said. However, after that, Kashiwa created many scoring chances. Even so, in the 27th minute, Matheus Savio's shot hit the crossbar, and nothing happened. And at the pinch of the 29th minute after losing the ball in their own half, in order to cover the mistake of the team mate, everyone threw their body and blocked the opponent's shot. The first half ended without letting the score tie. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/f1e3d0566d9b417a8808231d829bb4ff/DGSN3029%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%92%E3%82%9A%E3%83%BC.jpg" alt=""> In this match, since the opponents made the attacking starting point on the side of Harakawa, who was the anchor, “Through the communication among three of us (Kagawa and Okuno), we did, like [4-4-2] system with Okkun (Okuno) taking a little bit down position” (Harakawa). They modified the middle range position in defense during the game. In the second half, "We were talking about continuing the defense with a good distance as the same as what we did at the end of the first half” (Maikuma), and so they received Kashiwa in the form of [4-4-2]. Kashiwa took possession for a long time, but with their stable defense, they aimed for another goal. Then in the 64th minute, Kagawa became a starting point and carried the ball, and finally Okuno had a big chance to react to Ryosuke Yamanaka’s cross at the near side. In the 70th minute, Okuno played the starting point and sent a pass to the right side. Leo Ceara on the near side and Tameda on the far side jumped into Maikuma’s cross, and so they made a scene where the goal was just a few steps away. In the 83rd minute, Satoki Uejo, who came in as a substitute, broke through the left side and crossed. Okuno met it in the center and shook the goal net, but Uejo was offside and the goal was not counted. <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/a4d77e2c42b54556ba14b5414a88016b/BY9I4050.jpg" alt=""> In the end, Cerezo was not able to score the second goal, but in the second half, Kashiwa's shots were limited to two, and the game was played without danger, achieving the second clean sheet of the season. “The defensive position did not fit at the beginning of the first half, but it was good that we fixed it from the midway seeing the balance.” Kim Jin Hyeon, who was wrapping the captain's mark and supported the team from the back, also showed a satisfied expression. Harakawa said, "Today we also had a long time to endure. We want to increase the number of games that we can win under our initiative with more possession, but when we cannot do that, it is also important to be able to win like this. After a three-day interval from the recent Levain Cup, and a 14:00 kick-off in the heat that had been getting more intense, the team played strongly. With their first consecutive win of the season, they moved up to 7th place. At the timing when the top back is finally visible, in the next section they will receive Sanfrecce Hiroshima at home. It is the opponent who they suffered four straight losses in a row in the official match of the last season, but "It cannot be helped if we would be a slave to it. This year is this year. We want to hit what we have been building up," Kagawa said. At the post-match press conference, Manager Akio Kogiku also said strongly, "We want to train day by day with the confidence that the team of this year has grown up, and we will prepare well for the whole week and head into the next section with a focus on content and results." . <img src="https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/cc125679249b4055b70b8d540ec6636a/42691c7b26b94f67aa45a4197e1b9b51/BY9I4001.jpg" alt="">

Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-0 Kashiwa Reysol (J1 MD9)

Despite repeated attacks, one point is far, and they are not able to take revenge on Kyoto. Hoping for progress from the group stage in the remaining two games. The J.League YBC Levain Cup group stage Section 4 against Kyoto Sanga F.C. after a three-day interval from the latest league match. Cerezo Osaka's starting lineup was changed only for two players from the league game. Satoki Uejo entered the left wing of [4-3-3], Sota Kitano entered the right wing, and the remaining 9 players continued the same position from the league match. Hirotaka Tameda, who injured his left shoulder in the Section 7 of J1 against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, also returned to the bench. Cerezo went on the offensive at the beginning of this match, to make use of the lessons learned from the previous match, in which they conceded 3 goals in 21 minutes including the first goal in the 6th minute. In the 5th minute, Sota Kitano had a scoring chance from Ryosuke Yamanaka’s cross, and after that, they also made chances centering on Shinji Kagawa. In the 19th minute, Kagawa, Leo Ceara and Kitano connected passes and broke through the right side, and Kitano made a switch back in the penalty area and shot at the end. However, while they were struggling to make a finish in either cases, Kyoto took one chance and scored in the 21st minute. The right side was broken through, GK Kim Jin Hyeon could not catch a sharp cross that went up to the near, and it was pushed in by Ryogo Yamasaki. After that, Cerezo took possession, but the flow of the match leaned towards Kyoto. In the 28th and 35th minutes, they faced a decisive pinch, but Kim Jin Hyeon made a good one-on-one save against the opponent and did not allow an additional point. In the second half, which started with one point behind, Manager Akio Kogiku substituted two players from the beginning. He sent Tameda and Hikaru Nakahara to both wings to replace Uejo and Kitano. Then, attacks from both sides became activated. In the 47th minute, Leo Ceara aimed for a goal with a bicycle kick from Tameda's cross, and in the 54th minute, Nakahara dribbled in to create a chance. In the 55th minute, there was also a scene that invited Kyoto's own goal from the short CK. In the 57th minute, Manager Kogiku substituted Mutsuki Kato for Riki Harakawa, and changed the system to [4-4-2], in which Kagawa became defensive MF, and Leo Ceara and Kato made vertical relational attacking FWs. They formed an aggressive shift, aiming for a tie and then a reversal. In the 64th minute, Nakahara reacted to Yamanaka’s cross on the far side and had a scoring chance, but his header flew to the front of the GK. In the 72nd minute, Kyoto changed their system to five-back DFs, when they made the substitutions. They came to hold off both sides of Cerezo, but despite that, Cerezo managed to break open. In the 81st minute, Kagawa and Riku Matsuda connected passes, and Tameda had a scoring chance, but the shot was blocked by a DF. Cerezo attacked again and again, but the one point was far. Then, in the 84th minute, from the FK that they gave at the angle of 45-degree to the right, Kyoto directly scored it to the near side, as their additional goal. It was a painful second goal, but Cerezo continued to attack until the end, like Kato's mid-range shot in the 89th minute, and Ryosuke Shindo's header from Yamanaka's cross in the additional time of the second half. However, they could not shake Kyoto's goal net, and the time was up. For Cerezo, who lost 0-4 in the 3rd section two weeks ago in the away stadium, this section was a match with a strong sense of “revenge match”. Only victory was required to progress from the group stage, but the result was a "consecutive loss" that was too regrettable. However, Group E is in contention, and the winning point difference with the leader is only 3 points. Depending on the results of the remaining two matches, Cerezo still has a chance of finishing to win the group stage at the top of the table. They do the best for the further maturing of the team and working on overcoming issues, and challenge the remaining two matches of the group stage.

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Hayato Okuda agrees to join Cerezo Osaka in the 2024 season

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Review: Cerezo Osaka 5-0 Cento Cuore HARIMA (Emperor's Cup 2nd Round)

Review: Nagoya Grampus 3-1 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD16)

Review: Cerezo Osaka 2-0 Yokohama FC (J1 MD15)

Review: FC Tokyo 0-0 Cerezo Osaka (Levain Cup GS 5th Sec.)

Review: Shonan Bellmare 0-2 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD14)

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Review: Gamba Osaka 1-2 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD11)

Review: Cerezo Osaka 0-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (J1 MD10)

Hayato Okuda agrees to join Cerezo Osaka in the 2024 season

Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-0 Kashiwa Reysol (J1 MD9)

Review: Cerezo Osaka 0-2 Kyoto Sanga F.C. (Levain Cup Group Stage 4th Sec.)

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