Review: Gamba Osaka vs Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD14)

Cerezo take the initiative throughout the match and secure an important Osaka Derby victory through a united team effort.

Seven days after their 1-4 away defeat to Kashima Antlers, Cerezo Osaka faced Gamba Osaka in the Osaka Derby, once again playing away from home, in Meiji Yasuda J1 League Matchweek 14. Looking to end a run of eight league matches without a win, they made four changes to the starting lineup from the previous match, with Satoki Uejo making his first league start of the season. The team also adopted a familiar 4-4-2 formation.



The first half was almost perfect. From the outset, Cerezo made effective use of Solomon Sakuragawa as a focal point up front, while right winger Lucas Fernandes created chances with his sharp dribbling and incisive runs. On the left, Yumeki Yokoyama’s attacking runs were complemented by Ayumu Ohata joining the attack, giving Cerezo another dimension. In the 11th minute, during this promising spell, they took the lead. From a rehearsed corner routine, Lucas delivered the ball and Rikito Inoue headed it home at the far post. Having gone eight league matches without a win, Cerezo had been unable to score the opening goal during that run. Taking the lead allowed them to control the match and dictate the pace of play. Yokoyama continued to attack down the flank, and in the 31st minute he unleashed a powerful shot toward the near post. The goalkeeper made a save, but Cerezo continued to push for a second goal. Defensively, they kept a close watch on Gamba’s key player, Issam Jebali, surrounding him with several players and preventing him from turning toward goal. Their pressing from the front, which had been lacking in recent matches, was working effectively. As Tanaka reflected after the match, “Solo (Sakuragawa) and Jo (Uejo) set the tone by pressing from the front and also tracking back to press. They defended in ways that helped the team.” The two forwards’ selfless work was a key reason Cerezo did not allow Gamba to take control. Gamba enjoyed more possession toward the end of the first half, but Cerezo closed down opponents quickly and provided cover effectively, seeing out the half without allowing a clear-cut chance.





The second half was a sharp contrast to the first, in which Cerezo had made a good start, taken the lead, and kept a clean sheet. Gamba stepped up their attacking pressure from the outset. “We knew the opposition would come at us with intensity in the second half,” Jackson Irvine said. Cerezo had anticipated that the home side would push forward, but, as Irvine added, “We needed to be more alert to their counterattacks.” Cerezo were losing possession in dangerous areas, allowing Gamba to create one chance after another. They managed to avoid conceding for a time, with Gamba’s shots going wide and goalkeeper Kosuke Nakamura making several big saves. However, in the 55th minute, Cerezo lost the ball in midfield and were caught on the counter. Gamba broke into the penalty area and Jebali finished the move to equalize. In the 59th minute, manager Pablo Machin brought on Pablo Sabbag for Uejo. Pairing him with Sakuragawa gave Cerezo a physically imposing two-man attack up front. The change paid off in the 64th minute. Yokoyama cut inside and crossed, Sakuragawa won the aerial duel at the far post, and Sabbag reacted to the knockdown and fired home. Just before this goal, Cerezo had faced a major scare from a Gamba counterattack, but Ayumu Ohata produced an excellent defensive play to win his one-on-one battle with Ryoya Yamashita and prevent a goal. Cerezo moved ahead again and extended their lead in the 74th minute. Once more, Yokoyama initiated the move with a forward run. In front of goal, Hayato Okuda battled fiercely with Yamashita and won the ball. Seeing that the opposing goalkeeper had come off his line, Okuda calmly shot. “When I looked up, I saw that Higashiguchi had come out of goal, so I took the shot straight away. I’m glad it went in so cleanly,” Okuda said afterward, recalling the quick thinking behind the goal that gave Cerezo a two-goal lead. But the Osaka Derby was far from over. In the 81st minute, Gamba scored again on a counterattack, just as they had for their first goal. Substitute Eli Adams found the net to cut the deficit to one. Gamba continued to throw everything forward, but Cerezo held firm and ran down the clock until the final whistle. They had won the first Osaka Derby of the season and secured their first three points in nine league matches.





The players fought hard throughout the match. “It reminded me once again that the battles for the ball, the finer details, and the little things can determine the outcome,” Inoue said. Manager Pablo Machin, who opted to start with a 4-4-2 formation for the first time this season, emphasized how the team’s preparation had paid off: “I changed the system after considering how we could bring out the players’ strengths to the fullest. I think we were able to work on how to move and how to attack throughout training this past week.” During the difficult closing stages, Sakuragawa continued to fight for the team until the final whistle. “The players on the bench were also shouting encouragement, and their voices helped me keep running,” he said. Wiping the sweat from his brow with a satisfied expression, he added, “The supporters’ cheers played a part, too. I think the supporters, the players on the field, and the players on the bench all came together and fought as one.” The Osaka Derby victory was secured through the united efforts of the manager, coaches, players, and supporters. Cerezo will be determined to make this win a turning point in their season and build on it to improve their results in the league from here.