Review: Cerezo Osaka 2-1 Tokyo Verdy (J1 MD21)

Lucas Fernandes delivered two brilliant assists as Cerezo opened the second half of the league at home with a win. Second-half substitutes Motohiko Nakajima and Shunta Tanaka also contributed to the victory.

After a six-day break following the previous match against FC Tokyo, Cerezo Osaka hosted Tokyo Verdy at home for Matchweek 21 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. This fixture marked a fresh start following the end of a grueling nine-match stretch, and served as the team's first home game of the second half of the season — an important clash in their push to stay among the league's top contenders. The starting lineup remained unchanged from the previous match, while new signing Dion Cools was included in the squad for the first time.



Cerezo came out on the front foot from the start, pushing high up the pitch with their defensive line and applying early pressure. In the 11th minute, after receiving a pass from Shinji Kagawa, Ryuya Nishio fired a powerful shot from distance, forcing a save from the goalkeeper. Dominating possession and pressing high to quickly win back the ball, Cerezo made a strong start. However, after the 10-minute mark, Tokyo Verdy began to gain more of the ball. Yuta Arai, who played as the lone striker and scored the winner in the previous meeting, broke into the penalty area, but Nishio made a crucial recovery to snuff out the danger. Just as it seemed Tokyo Verdy might take control, Cerezo broke the deadlock. Following a free-kick situation, Hinata Kida picked up the second ball and combined with Hayato Okuda before Lucas Fernandes whipped in a low, driven cross that Rafael Ratao met with a sharp header. Reflecting on the goal, Ratao noted, “I knew I wouldn’t get to the ball if I stayed static because they mark man-to-man. I focused on adjusting my positioning and changing direction.” His movement was excellent, but it was also Lucas’s pinpoint delivery that made the goal possible. Although Tokyo Verdy enjoyed more possession from the middle of the first half onwards, Cerezo stayed compact in a 4-4-2 mid-block and prevented any shots. However, in stoppage time, a clearance from Nishio inside the box deflected off a teammate and fell to Shuhei Kawasaki, who finished to level the score. It was an unfortunate goal to concede, and the first half ended 1–1.





At halftime, manager Arthur Papas made two changes, bringing on Motohiko Nakajima and Shunta Tanaka in place of Vitor Bueno and Kida. Nakajima immediately stepped up the press, raising the intensity of Cerezo’s defense. With more success in winning the ball higher up the pitch compared to the first half, Tanaka also played an active role by feeding incisive vertical passes to push the team forward. “In the second half, it was important which side took control first. Motohiko and I wanted to make our presence felt, and I’m glad we were able to set the tone early,” Tanaka reflected after the match. As he noted, Papas’s proactive substitutions paid off. Cerezo gained the upper hand in the second half, and in the 48th minute, Nakajima met a cross from Lucas Fernandes with a header that was brilliantly saved by Tokyo Verdy goalkeeper Matheus. But the next opportunity would not go to waste. In the 62nd minute, after clearing a long ball, Shinnosuke Hatanaka, Nakajima, and Fernandes linked up to drive into the final third. Nakajima then played a sublime through ball that put Ratao one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Although it looked like Ratao had been brought down, no whistle was blown. Play continued, and Fernandes, who didn’t stop running, collected the loose ball and whipped in a cross to the far post, where Thiago Andrade headed home to restore Cerezo’s lead. Thiago, who also put in a strong shift defensively, said, “As I play more games, I’ve started to read the flow better. Getting more minutes has helped me blend in and become more effective in the team.” His strong all-around performance reflected that growing confidence. In the closing stages, Tokyo Verdy ramped up their attack with fresh legs off the bench, but Cerezo held firm. Goalkeeper Koki Fukui dealt calmly with a series of set pieces, keeping the visitors from creating any clear chances. Other substitutes also contributed—Shion Homma made driving runs in attack, Masaya Shibayama helped manage the tempo, and Kyohei Yoshino, brought on in midfield, effectively closed out the match. Demonstrating the team’s depth and composure, Cerezo secured a 2–1 win, making it four straight home victories in the league.





Looking ahead to the second half of the league, manager Papas had expressed his desire to “increase the number of matches that lead to wins, rather than draws,” while he commented after the match, “Tonight’s victory was very important. I believe it showed the growth we have made since the match against Tokyo Verdy two months ago.” Cerezo Osaka, riding a wave of four consecutive home wins, now prepare for their next challenge: the Osaka Derby. Hosting Gamba Osaka at their fortress, Yodoko Sakura Stadium, they are focused on thorough preparations for this must-win encounter.