Review: Cerezo Osaka 4-2 Shimizu S-Pulse (J1 MD19)

Cerezo capped off the first half of the season with a convincing 4–2 win! Sota Kitano, playing his final match, was sent off with smiles all around.

Three days after their rearranged Matchweek 22 fixture against Urawa Reds, Cerezo Osaka returned home to face Shimizu S-Pulse in Matchweek 18 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. This match marked the final fixture of the first half of the season. With an even record thus far, Cerezo were determined to finish the first half with a winning edge. There were three changes to the starting lineup from the Urawa match: Kyohei Noborizato, Shinji Kagawa, and Masaya Shibayama made way for Niko Takahashi, Motohiko Nakajima, and Sota Kitano. The formation remained a 4-2-3-1, as in the previous match.



In a clash between two attack-minded sides, the match got off to a dramatic start. Just four minutes in, Shimizu's Reon Yamahara struck a thunderous direct free kick to give the visitors the lead. However, Cerezo — having come from behind to win three times in May — remained composed. Only six minutes later, Lucas Fernandes stepped in to intercept a pass in midfield and surged forward. He played the ball to the overlapping Sota Kitano, who was brought down in the box to win a penalty. Though Kitano's spot-kick was saved, Cerezo equalized moments later from the resulting corner. Lucas’s delivery was met at the near post by Niko Takahashi, who nodded in his first-ever J1 goal — a rare set-piece header, as he later joked. Cerezo continued to press and struck again in the 18th minute from another corner. This time it was Nakajima who rose to meet Lucas’s ball, heading it past the goalkeeper. “The delivery was so good, I just needed to jump,” Nakajima recalled. With momentum on their side, Cerezo dominated the remainder of the first half. Their attacking quartet frequently broke into the final third, creating a series of chances. In the 41st and 43rd minutes, consecutive corners nearly extended the lead. The highlight came in the 44th minute. Nakajima intercepted a clearance high up the pitch and quickly moved it forward. Ratao then produced a moment of brilliance, skillfully maneuvering past defenders with his head and feet before rifling a shot inside the near post. It would’ve been a goal-of-the-season contender, but VAR ruled it out for a narrow offside. “If it had counted, it would’ve been the best goal of my career,” Ratao said afterward.





Shimizu made two substitutions at halftime and came out aggressively in the second half, pushing Cerezo onto the back foot in the opening minutes. In the 52nd minute, Takashi Inui slipped a clever through ball to Capixaba, who came close but sent his shot just wide of the post. Then, almost immediately, Cerezo struck again. In the 54th minute, Sota Kitano received a vertical pass from Shinnosuke Hatanaka, turned smoothly past a center-back with a deft touch, and threaded a perfect through ball. Ratao latched onto it, powered forward, and confidently finished past the keeper to make it 3–1. Now with a psychological edge, Cerezo added a fourth in the 70th minute to all but seal the win. Again it started with Hatanaka, followed by quick vertical passes from Hinata Kida and Kitano. Kitano turned to face forward in a tight space, dribbled upfield, and picked out Lucas. Surrounded by defenders, Lucas still managed to carve out a shooting chance and buried a brilliant strike into the top-right corner. This match marked the final appearance for Kitano before departing the team to prepare for a move abroad, as officially announced. Despite missing a first-half penalty, he bounced back with two key assists—demonstrating the technical sharpness and agility he's honed in tight spaces. Cerezo conceded one late in the 89th minute, but the final whistle confirmed a 4–2 victory. It was a perfect way to close out the first half of the league season—and a fitting farewell to a promising young talent.





After the match, a farewell ceremony was held for Kitano. His heartfelt speech was met with a loud and warm round of applause from the stadium. He was presented with bouquets by Shinji Kagawa, Satoki Uejo, and Reiya Sakata, and was later tossed into the air by his teammates in the traditional celebratory gesture. During the moment, Sakata—Kitano’s close friend and the same age—was overcome with emotion and broke into tears, offering a glimpse into the deep bond they shared. As Kitano made a final lap around the stadium, a chant echoed from behind the goal. Tears welled in his own eyes, too. “I’ve come to love Cerezo even more. This is a club I want to come back to someday,” he said, before adding, “But not too soon—I want to succeed in Europe, become a national team player, and come back even stronger.” Having grown through the club’s youth system, nurtured by dedicated coaches, teammates, and supporters, Kitano has earned his chance abroad. Everyone connected with Cerezo Osaka wishes him success on his new journey. Carry the spirit of Cerezo with you, Sota—and make us proud in Europe!