Review: Fagiano Okayama 1-2 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD34)

Motohiko Nakajima contributed to two goals, and Rafael Ratao scored the winner as Cerezo ended their three-game losing streak to claim their first victory in five matches.

Two weeks after suffering their first three-game losing streak of the season against Nagoya Grampus, Cerezo Osaka traveled to face Fagiano Okayama in the 34th round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League following the international break. Manager Papas made four changes to the starting lineup from the Nagoya match. Motohiko Nakajima, Hinata Kida, and Hayato Okuda returned to the starting eleven for the first time in three matches, while Ryosuke Shindo made his first start in four. This time, Thiago Andrade started on the right wing, with Shion Homma positioned on the left.



Building on the lessons from the previous match—where they struggled against high pressing—Cerezo Osaka made adjustments in possession, using not only short passes but also exploiting space behind the defense to stretch Okayama. Their transitions from attack to defense were also sharp; in the 10th and 11th minutes, Okuda twice won the ball high up the pitch to create chances. The first came through Shunta Tanaka and Nakajima, and the second from Nakajima to Homma, whose curling effort from the left side narrowly missed the target. In the 18th minute, Cerezo were caught under pressure while building from the back and conceded a goal, but it was ruled out for offside. Then, in the 19th minute, a well-placed pass from Okuda to Tanaka broke the press, and Tanaka immediately sent a long ball in behind the left side. Homma burst down the flank to win a corner, and from that set piece in the 20th minute, Cerezo took the lead. Nakajima’s low, fast delivery caused confusion, forcing a failed clearance from Lucao that ended up in Okayama’s net for an own goal. Cerezo continued to use long balls effectively, combining through both wings with Thiago and Homma, while Nakajima and Rafael Ratao linked up well in the central channel to create more opportunities. However, after the 30-minute mark, Okayama’s man-oriented pressing began to take effect, and in the 32nd minute, they equalized. A misplaced touch from Ratao after receiving a pass from Koki Fukui led to a quick counterattack, and Ryunosuke Sato—who had also scored in the reverse fixture—cut inside and fired a precise mid-range shot to level the match. Despite being put under pressure afterward, Cerezo held firm and finished the first half at 1–1.





In the second half, Cerezo faced early pressure from Okayama, but Ayumu Ohata made a crucial block to keep the game level. Then, in the 52nd minute, the match took a decisive turn. Okuda sent a long ball forward for Ratao, who broke through the line and was brought down by Okayama goalkeeper Svend Brodersen as he came off his line. After an on-field review following VAR’s advice, the referee judged it as Denial of an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity and showed a red card to the goalkeeper. With a man advantage, Cerezo took the lead in the 63rd minute. As Okuda received the ball in the middle, Nakajima made a diagonal run behind the defense. Okuda found him with a pinpoint pass, and although Nakajima’s first-time shot was parried by the keeper, Ratao was there to tap in the rebound. It was a goal born from perfect understanding between Okuda’s vision and Nakajima’s movement. Though Cerezo allowed Okayama—now a man down—a few half-chances, they stayed composed at the back and kept control, creating several opportunities to seal the game. Substitutes Kyohei Yoshino and Nakajima both came close, and in stoppage time, Masaya Shibayama, who had come on as a right winger, cut inside and curled a shot that struck the post. Cerezo couldn’t find the third goal to close the game, but they held firm through ten minutes of added time to secure a 2–1 victory, earning their first three points in five matches since Matchweek 29 against Avispa Fukuoka.





Reflecting on the match, Okuda said, “We had two weeks to prepare for this game, analyzed the opponent thoroughly, and trained intensively, so there were moments where we could move the ball effectively.” His performance stood out not only in the moment that drew the red card but also in the build-up to the decisive goal, delivering key passes behind the defense. Nakajima, playing as the attacking midfielder, set up both goals. While he admitted some regret for not finishing himself, he smiled and added, “From a team perspective, it’s our first win in a while, so I want to see that positively.” Though the precision of build-up—including the goalkeeper’s involvement—still needs improvement, Cerezo will take the momentum from this first victory in five matches into their next home game against Kawasaki Frontale.