Review: Avispa Fukuoka vs Cerezo Osaka (J1 100 Year Vision League MD2)

Solomon Sakuragawa scores the team's first goal of the season. Cerezo improve their attack after an underwhelming opener to clinch their first victory of the campaign.

Seven days had passed since the opening match of the Meiji Yasuda J1 100 Year Vision League against Gamba Osaka, which marked the start of this special season. Aiming for their first win of the campaign, Cerezo Osaka traveled to face Avispa Fukuoka in Matchday 2 of the Regional League Round. Manager Arthur Papas was absent due to illness, with Head Coach Raffaele Napoli taking charge of the dugout. Furthermore, Shinnosuke Hatanaka, who was originally named in the starting lineup, sustained an injury during the warm-up, leading to Shinji Kagawa making a last-minute start.



Despite the various incidents leading up to the match, the team showed no signs of distress and started the game well. Just two minutes in, Solomon Sakuragawa initiated a move that broke down the left flank, leading to Masaya Shibayama delivering a sharp cross from Thiago Andrade’s pass. Playing as defensive midfielders, Hinata Kida and Kagawa took up excellent positions to receive the ball and move it forward. "From the first half, there were situations where the opponent's double pivots were late to press. While they hadn't quite grasped our movement, we rotated the ball well through the pivots, allowing Shiba (Shibayama) to become free and create some great attacks," Kagawa reflected after the match. Indeed, by working the ball through the midfield duo, Shibayama, playing in a pocket of space as the number 10, acted as the catalyst for the attack. A major chance arrived in the 18th minute. After Reiya Sakata intercepted a pass in the opponent's half, Sakuragawa laid the ball off for Shibayama to strike. Although blocked by a defender, the resulting corner led to the opening goal. Sakata picked up the second ball from Shibayama's delivery and sent in a pinpoint cross, which Sakuragawa met with a header to find the far side of the net. After being limited to just one shot in the opener, the number 9's "introduction" goal became the team's first of the season. Fukuoka attempted to fight back, but Sakuragawa's height proved effective even in set-piece situations. After successfully repelling crosses and second balls, Cerezo added a second in the 44th minute. Starting with Shunta Tanaka, who filled in at center-back for Hatanaka, the team bypassed the opponent's press through Kagawa and Kida before Rikito Inoue and Dion Cools broke down the right side. Finally, Sakata got on the end of Shibayama's through ball and cut it back for Thiago, who struck a fierce right-footed shot into the net. This brilliant move, which transitioned from a composed build-up to a sudden burst of speed, resulted in a goal that perfectly symbolized the team's performance today.





Cerezo maintained control from the start of the second half and created a golden opportunity in the 51st minute. Kagawa played a vertical pass to Shibayama, who then threaded a through ball to Sakuragawa running into the space behind. Although Sakuragawa's effort was blocked by the rushing goalkeeper, Shibayama pounced on the loose ball, only for his unmarked shot to strike the post. It was a missed chance for a third goal to put the game to bed. Another big chance followed in the 52nd minute when Shibayama met Thiago's cross—after Thiago had been played in by Tanaka’s through ball—but his right-footed shot flew over the bar. Fukuoka then created consecutive threats from Cerezo’s left side in the 54th and 56th minutes. As Ayumu Ohata, who had been aggressive in both attack and defense, began to show signs of fatigue, Head Coach Napoli made his first substitution in the 59th minute, bringing on Hayato Okuda. From this point, the home side Fukuoka went on the offensive. However, just like in the season opener, Cerezo’s committed defending prevented any clear-cut chances. In the 65th minute, Cools tracked back to make a vital cover. When Kusini Yengi, Motohiko Nakajima, and Nelson Ishiwatari were introduced simultaneously in the 80th minute, Cerezo found their second wind and created a chance on the counter in the 87th minute. However, Shibayama and Ishiwatari were unable to convert, and again, the elusive third goal remained out of reach. In the 88th minute, Yumeki Yokoyama came on to make his Cerezo debut. Although no more goals were scored in the second half, Cerezo secured a 2-0 victory without any defensive lapses. The team united to overcome the absence of Manager Papas and the last-minute loss of Hatanaka, clinching their first win of the season.





"It was a match played under difficult circumstances, but I think our daily preparation in training made all the difference. Being able to translate what we have built over the past year into a solid performance led to this result," Head Coach Napoli summarized. Cerezo fully showcased the improvements made this week following the challenges of the previous match, as well as the attacking football they have developed since Papas' appointment. In the next round, the team will aim for their first home victory of the season.