Review: Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD17)

Missed chances led to a disappointing defeat — hopes of a fourth straight win and rise in the table fell short; the team needs to bounce back at home.

Six days after their third consecutive win against Yokohama F. Marinos, Cerezo Osaka traveled away to face Kawasaki Frontale in Matchweek 17 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. The starting lineup remained unchanged from the previous match, while Motohiko Nakajima, who had missed the last game, returned to the bench.



Cerezo were on the back foot early on, with Kawasaki dominating possession from the start. The hosts applied sharp pressure and quickly won the ball back, forcing Cerezo deep into their own half. However, the duo of Hayato Okuda and Ryosuke Shindo effectively contained Marcinho—who had caused problems in last season’s away fixture—denying him any significant impact. Gradually, Cerezo began to gain a foothold and turn the tide. In the 10th minute, Hinata Kida played a pass through to Niko Takahashi, who made a run in behind down the left and delivered a sharp cross. However, it didn’t quite connect with either Satoki Uejo or Rafael Ratao in the middle. Two minutes later, Ratao initiated an attack with a diagonal run, and after receiving support from Takahashi, Uejo got a shot off from Takahashi’s cross, but it was blocked by a defender. Cerezo continued to threaten from the left flank. With their defense also settling in after the opening minutes, Cerezo started to manage the game more effectively. In the 25th minute, they created a major chance. Playing through Kawasaki’s press with a series of passes involving Okuda, Kida, and Ratao, they advanced smoothly. Ratao then drove forward with the ball and broke down the right side before delivering a cross into the box. Lucas Fernandes found space and got on the end of it, but his shot was blocked by a defender. From the 30th minute onward, Kawasaki regained control of possession and began to push Cerezo back again. In the 39th minute, Cerezo lost the ball in their own half, leading to Kawasaki’s first clear scoring opportunity, but Shin Yamada’s shot went wide of the target. In the 43rd minute, Yamada again got a decisive header off a corner, but this time goalkeeper Koki Fukui made a crucial save to keep the scores level. The first half ended 0–0. Both teams had spells of control, but clear-cut chances were few and far between as they went into the break scoreless.





The second half got underway, and the match began to open up. Cerezo created the first chance in the 48th minute when Okuda and Uejo broke down the right flank. Uejo’s cross was met by Ratao, but the shot was blocked by a defender. Kawasaki responded with two close chances in the 52nd and 54th minutes, but Fukui came up with a big save on the first, and for the second, Fukui combined with Shinnosuke Hatanaka to deny any goal. In the 57th minute, manager Arthur Papas made a double substitution, bringing on Sota Kitano and Motohiko Nakajima for Uejo and Kida to boost the team’s attacking momentum. Just two minutes later, the offense answered the defense’s efforts. Shinji Kagawa orchestrated an attack, sending a vertical pass to Kitano, who controlled the ball with his chest and unleashed a powerful shot that narrowly missed the target, showcasing the team’s aggressive spirit. Cerezo had another big chance in the 60th minute. Starting again from Kagawa on the right side, Okuda’s cross found Ratao in the air. The rebound fell to Lucas, who passed to Takahashi, but Takahashi’s shot went over the crossbar. Cerezo pressed on with waves of attacks in the 67th and 70th minutes, trying to break down Kawasaki’s solid defense after the substitutions shifted momentum in their favor. However, Kawasaki’s defense held firm. As the game progressed scoreless into the late stages, both sides smelled a goal. In the 84th minute, Cerezo had a big opportunity. Fukui’s long kick found Ratao, who outpaced the defenders and combined with Nakajima in a one-two move to penetrate Kawasaki’s box. The cross was delivered to the waiting Kitano, but the tight angle prevented a successful finish. Manager Papas made another double substitution soon after, replacing Ratao and Okuda with Thiago Andrade and Reiya Sakata. Thiago stepped into the lone forward role formerly occupied by Ratao. However, shortly after the changes, Cerezo conceded the first goal. On the left side of their own half, Takahashi’s attempted pass to Thiago was intercepted, leading to a quick counterattack. The final ball found Erison behind the defense, who finished clinically. Just three minutes later, Kawasaki doubled their lead. A long ball from their defensive line was aimed at Erison, and both Hatanaka and Shindo failed to clear it, allowing Erison to powerfully head the ball into the net. In the scramble, goalkeeper Fukui and Erison collided, with Fukui suffering a cut on his forehead. Despite being two goals down, Cerezo fought back. Lucas and Thiago came close to scoring but lacked the precision needed in their shots and crosses, and they could not find the net. The match ended 0–2, with Cerezo unable to overturn the deficit.





Having withstood danger at the end of the first half and the start of the second, Cerezo seemed to have gained momentum through the middle of the second half. It was a situation where they desperately wanted to snatch a goal and secure three points. However, they couldn’t break down Kawasaki’s defense, and ultimately, they were punished for the openings they gave away, resulting in defeat. “It was definitely a match that could have gone either way,” said Kagawa. “There’s no need to hang our heads,” added Okuda. Despite the loss, they recognize the positives. At the same time, improvements are needed in how the team escapes pressure when pinned back in their own half and in the accuracy of crosses and final passes after breaking through the defense, Okuda emphasized. The quest for a fourth consecutive win fell short, leaving frustration behind. But there’s no need to dwell on it. The next official match comes after just two days’ rest—a J.League YBC Levain Cup 1st Round 3rd Leg clash against Kyoto Sanga F.C. The team will focus on recovery and come together as a whole to face this challenge.