Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-0 FC Tokyo (Levain Cup Group Stage 1st Sec.)
- TEAM
“Since we are runner-up for the second year in a row, not only for me, but also for all of the Cerezo family, we have a deep feeling about the Levain Cup. The strong mind, such as we want to return to that stage again and take revenge, is also in me. We would like to make a good start tomorrow, at first.” Manager Akio Kogiku commented these the day before the match, and they had the first round of the group stage of this season"s J.League YBC Levain Cup. Cerezo Osaka, who welcomed FC Tokyo at home, changed nine starting lineups from the latest league match. Riku Matsuda and Hinata Kida made their first appearances this season, while Shinji Kagawa, Hikaru Nakahara and Ryosuke Shindo were their first starters this season.
The match developed into a see-saw game from the beginning. Both teams made chances with quick offense from the good defense. In the 15th minute, Cerezo showed a series of mistakes in their own half and faced a pinch, but thanks to Ryuya Nishio"s calm response, they managed to keep not conceding and scored a goal in the 17th minute. They launched a thick attack from Matsuda"s interception, Mutsuki Kato headed a cross from Satoki Uejo, but it went slightly over the crossbar. In the 21st minute, the right side was broken through and the team had a decisive pinch, but the opponent"s shot went off the target and nothing happened. In the first half, Cerezo made some mistakes in the pass connection, but the defense that started from two FWs of Kato and Kagawa was organized well, and in building-up Kagawa strengthened the composition in the middle range taking the lower position and moved the ball forward. In the 42nd minute, an attack started by Kim Jin Hyeon was connected through Riki Harakawa, Kagawa, Nakahara, and Matsuda, and Kato made a critical shot at the end.
In the second half as well, both teams alternately took the initiative, and Cerezo gradually took possession, and then in the 57th and 58th minutes in a row, they almost broke through the left side with Kakeru Funaki’s starting point. In the 60th minute, FC Tokyo strengthened the pressure from the front by substitutions of three members, but Cerezo responded calmly while watching the opponent"s press directions. They carried the game without panicking. Manager Kogiku also made substitutes for Hiroaki Okuno, Leo Ceara, and Seiya Maikuma in rapid succession to move the game. In the 80th minute, Capixaba, who made his debut for Cerezo, was also sent to the pitch. Then, in the 86th minute, he scored the long-awaited opener. Capixaba received Nishio"s feed and Leo Ceara dribbled forward. From here, they broke the opponent’s defense connecting through Maikuma, Okuno, and Leo Ceara, and finally Capixaba pushed the ball into the goal with his whole body to Leo Ceara"s cross from the opposite side and shook the net.
In the final stage, although there was a scene where FC Tokyo deeply attacked in, “I was calling for everybody ‘Always be concentrated, without pause’. Each person"s desire to win was also reflected in the play. There were pinches, but I think we were able to finish the match without losing any points, partly because of such feelings,” said Nishio. As his comment, centering on GK Kim Jin Hyeon, they succeeded in keeping their high concentration to the end, and finishing the game with a clean sheet. “We were able to win with a clean sheet, which is the fruit of everyone"s hard work,” praised Manager Kogiku. By getting the first victory of the season with all their force, there is no doubt that “it was a big win that helped the team grow and deepen the bond”(Manager Kogiku). However, the commander himself has changed his mind to the league match on the weekend, saying, "the game has just begun. We want to prepare well for the next league match." The next match will be the Meiji Yasuda J1 League Section 4 against Sagan Tosu, which will be held after a three day interval. Aiming for the first victory of the season in the league match.
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