Review: Cerezo Osaka 0-1 Gamba Osaka (Levain Cup GS 6th Sec.)

Eliminated in Group Stage of This Season's Levain Cup: A Valuable Learning Experience to Propel Future Battles

In the final match of Group E in the J-League YBC Levain Cup, Cerezo Osaka faced their cross-town rivals Gamba Osaka in the Osaka Derby. Cerezo made four changes to the starting lineup from their recent league match, with Ryuya Nishio taking the center-back position and Riki Harakawa in midfield. Without the suspended Leo Ceara, Mutsuki Kato and Sota Kitano formed the striking duo upfront.


In a challenging battle with the aim of advancing to the knockout stage, the Osaka Derby proved to be a match where the result mattered above all else, regardless of the circumstances. Approaching the game with a strong determination to win, as stated by manager Akio Kogiku, Cerezo Osaka faced a situation where they spent a significant amount of time defending against their opponents in the first half, without allowing their defensive structure of [4-4-2] to be broken. They focused on progressing the game without allowing shots on goal and quickly capitalized on regained possession, creating chances from both sides through the individual skills of Jordy Croux and Capixaba. In the 18th minute, Cerezo earned a free kick after Capixaba was fouled near the goal, but Riki Harakawa's direct attempt was saved by goalkeeper Kosei Tani. In the 23rd minute, Croux and Kato broke through the right side, and Capixaba scored with a diving header from Hinata Kida's cross. In the 25th minute, Capixaba created another chance by breaking through the left side, but failed to convert any of these opportunities into goals. However, as the first half progressed, Gamba started to regain control of the ball, and in the 37th minute, they scored from a corner kick. Although Cerezo earned five corner kicks in the first half, they were unable to convert them into goals, highlighting set pieces as an area for improvement in both attack and defense in this match.


In the second half, starting from the kickoff, Capixaba once again broke through the side and earned a corner kick. Cerezo Osaka pushed their opponents even harder than in the first half, carrying the ball to higher positions and creating chances from the sides. In the 50th minute, Kato made a near post run from Capixaba's cross, presenting a clear opportunity. Then, in the 58th minute, Capixaba once again broke through vertically and delivered a cross. Kato managed a well-timed header, but his on-target shot was brilliantly saved by Tani. In the 65th minute, with the simultaneous entry of Satoki Uejo, Hiroaki Okuno, and Kagawa Shinji, Cerezo's attack gained more momentum with increased outlets. They threatened the goal from crosses deployed from both sides, but were unable to find the crucial finishing touch, as stated by manager Kogiku, "one or two balls away." In such circumstances, there is a tendency to concede goals on the counter-attack. However, Cerezo swiftly transitioned from attack to defense, effectively initiating counter-pressing. The individual performances of Nishio and Toriumi Koji, the two center-backs, shone through, and in the second half, they prevented Gamba from taking any shots on goal. With Nelson, who was the fifth substitution, also being brought into the game, Cerezo fought until the end, aiming for an equalizer. However, they were unable to break through the opponent's resilient defense, and the final whistle blew. It marked their first defeat in an official Osaka Derby match in eight games since September 2021.


Having reached the finals in the previous two years, narrowly missing out on the title each time, the team had strong aspirations for this year's Levain Cup. However, they faced elimination in the group stage. After the match, the players expressed their collective disappointment. Nevertheless, there is a unanimous agreement within the team to "apply the lessons learned from these six matches in the second half of the league season and the Emperor's Cup," as stated by Coach Kogiku. With a 7-point difference behind the league leaders heading into the second half of the season and the upcoming Emperor's Cup, the team aims to finish in a higher position in both remaining tournaments. They intend to approach the rest of the season with unity as a team and strive for healthy competition. Nishio added, "We want to compete while staying united as a team."