Review: Nagoya Grampus vs Cerezo Osaka (J1 100 Year Vision League MD9)

Defense collapses early in the second half to concede three as Cerezo Osaka reach the midway point of the Meiji Yasuda J1 100 Year Vision League West in 9th, looking to bounce back in the upcoming Osaka Derby.

Twelve days after the penalty shootout victory against Vissel Kobe, following the international break, Cerezo Osaka traveled away to face Nagoya Grampus for Matchday 9 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 100 Year Vision League Regional League Round, aiming for consecutive wins.



While Manager Arthur Papas had employed a "double number 10" system against Kobe, he returned to a 4-2-3-1 with Solomon Sakuragawa as the lone striker for this match. Cerezo seized the momentum early on, controlling possession through Sakuragawa to enter the opponent's half and pinning them back by winning second balls. The first chance came in the 18th minute. Hayato Okuda, starting at right-back again, broke into the box after a one-two with Masaya Shibayama. Although blocked by a defender, the resulting corner created a threat. Sakuragawa flicked Shibayama’s delivery at the near post, but Nelson Ishiwatari just failed to connect at the far post. The game remained balanced after the 20th minute. In the 24th minute, Nagoya broke through Cerezo's left flank, but Ishiwatari desperately cleared the cross. Nagoya missed a decisive chance from the ensuing corner as the shot went over the bar. Cerezo responded in the 32nd minute when Shunta Tanaka intercepted a pass in the center, leading to a Shibayama chance via another one-two with Tanaka. In the 33rd minute, Nagoya threatened through the middle with two vertical passes, but Ayumu Ohata covered well. Shinnosuke Hatanaka also cleared a dangerous situation in the 34th minute after an intercepted pass intended for Ishiwatari. In the 41st minute, Ohata delivered a sharp cross after being played in by Shibayama, but Nagoya's defense cleared before a shot could be taken. Both sides reached the goalmouth, but committed defending kept the score 0-0 at halftime.





As wind and rain intensified in the second half with Cerezo playing against the wind, the deadlock broke in the 46th minute. Rikito Inoue failed to fully clear a long ball, allowing Nagoya striker Yuya Yamagishi to settle possession and score in a one-on-one with the keeper. A shaky Cerezo conceded again in the 53rd minute; an intercepted pass in their own half led to a swift vertical attack, finished by another Yamagishi goal, this time a header from a cross. Immediately after the second goal, Manager Papas made a double substitution, bringing on Motohiko Nakajima and Yumeki Yokoyama for Inoue and Reiya Sakata. Shunta Tanaka dropped to center-back, while Nakajima paired with Ishiwatari in a double pivot. Yokoyama took up Sakata's spot on the right wing and energized the attack. He attempted a shot himself in the 58th minute and delivered an exquisite cross in the 61st, though Thiago Andrade could not finish. In the 74th minute, Shinji Kagawa and Shion Homma replaced Shibayama and Thiago. Cerezo's intent to build from the back became clearer, creating a decisive chance in the 87th minute through Kagawa and Nakajima, but Ohata’s shot was saved by keeper Daniel Schmidt. Another chance arrived in stoppage time as Homma, released on the left by a delicate Kagawa pass, saw his placed effort saved again. Unable to find a consolation goal, Cerezo fell 0-3.





With the defeat at the midway point of the Meiji Yasuda J1 100-Year Vision League Regional League Round, the gap to leaders Kobe has widened. However, the next match is the Osaka Derby at Gamba Osaka’s home. "Current form doesn't matter. I want to head into the away match with a strong mindset," said Shunta Tanaka. For the coming week, Hatanaka emphasized the importance of preparation: "It's about how much heart we can put into training based on today's reflections to bring energy and passion to the team." Aiming to avenge the penalty loss in the season opener at home, Cerezo will look to secure all three points on rival territory.