Review: Cerezo Osaka vs Kawasaki Frontale (J1 MD10)

Despite conceding early and going down to 10 men, Cerezo drew level twice, but ultimately succumbed to Kawasaki’s attacking power.

Two days after the J.League Yamazaki Biscuits Levain Cup 1st Round 3rd match against Gainare Tottori, Cerezo Osaka returned to league action to face Kawasaki Frontale in Matchweek 10 of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. There were seven changes to the starting lineup from the Tottori match, as Cerezo looked to earn three points in the league for the first time in five matches.



Cerezo made a decent start, winning several set pieces in succession. They also pressed from the front and fought hard in the transition phases. However, in the 10th minute, they conceded from a Kawasaki free kick, with Pedro Romano scoring from Sota Miura’s delivery. Kawasaki appeared to score again in the 12th minute when Marcinho finished a cross from Tatsuya Ito at the far post, but the goal was ruled out for offside. As Kawasaki raised their defensive intensity after taking the lead, Cerezo found it increasingly difficult to push forward. Then, in the 19th minute, Ayumu Ohata brought down Ito, who had run onto Rikito Inoue’s incomplete clearance from a Kawasaki free kick, and Ohata was shown a straight red card for DOGSO. Cerezo were forced to play with 10 men from an early stage of the first half. Cerezo moved Hayato Okuda to left back and switched to a 4-4-1 formation. They defended with a 4-4 block while shifting to a strategy of looking to “counterattack, with Lucas and me carrying the ball forward after winning possession,” as Yota Komi explained. From there, Cerezo prevented Kawasaki from creating any real chances, and as the first half drew to a close, Cerezo began creating opportunities from set pieces. In the 41st minute, Lucas Fernandes played the ball into Pablo Sabbag and entered the penalty area, where he was fouled and won a penalty. In the 43rd minute, Lucas calmly converted it himself to bring Cerezo level. However, their joy was short-lived. Kawasaki dominated possession and pinned Cerezo back in stoppage time, and Kento Tachibanada received the ball in the wide-open space in front of the defense before scoring with a long-range effort.





A difficult second half was expected with Cerezo trailing by a goal, but they drew level again in the 48th minute. The move began with Travis Takahashi, who was making his first J1 start, and went through Shunta Tanaka and Sabbag before Lucas, receiving it on the right, played a pass into the middle. The pass was initially cut out, but Tanaka immediately won it back and carried the ball forward. After holding it for a moment, he played a through ball to Komi, who was making a diagonal run. Komi got in behind and beat the goalkeeper one-on-one to find the net. Buoyed by the equalizer, Cerezo went close again in the 50th minute when Sabbag intercepted a back pass and attempted a long-range shot from around the halfway line. The unexpected effort narrowly went wide of the right post. Kawasaki then stepped up their attack, creating danger with crosses from the flanks in the 51st and 57th minutes, but Cerezo kept them from scoring, with Okuda putting his body on the line. Then, in the 68th minute, Cerezo created a big chance. Lucas picked up the second ball after a Kawasaki defender cleared Takahashi’s long throw-in and fired a shot. The effort had plenty of drive and was heading toward the goal, but it did not dip quite enough and went over the crossbar. Cerezo continued to enjoy spells of possession despite being a man down, but a pitfall awaited. A pass played back by Tanaka was intercepted, and Kawasaki launched a counterattack. Marcinho carried the ball forward before Yasuto Wakizaka finished the move. It was a painful goal conceded from a mistake, especially after Cerezo had defended well in open play. In the 76th minute, Shinji Kagawa and Yumeki Yokoyama, who had already been preparing to come on before the goal, entered the match. In the 84th minute, Yokoyama picked up the second ball from a corner and shot, but his effort went over the crossbar. Then, in the 89th minute, substitute Yuto Ozeki broke through the middle and scored with a powerful shot, effectively ending the contest. Cerezo had spent a long period playing with 10 men and, as Komi put it, “played a game where you didn’t feel we were a man down,” but ultimately succumbed to Kawasaki’s attacking power and lost 2-4.





This was Cerezo’s first home defeat of the season in all competitions. “If you lose concentration against a quality opponent, you will be punished,” captain Tanaka said. There are still several areas to improve, including defending set pieces and covering the space on the flanks and in front of the defense. But the next league match is already approaching. Cerezo will look to end their five-match winless run in the league when they travel to face Nagoya Grampus in three days.