Review: Cerezo Osaka 3-1 Omiya Ardija (Emperor's Cup 3rd Round)

Uejo scores twice, while Leo Ceara nets one with an assist from Kiyotake in his comeback match. Resounding victory secures advancement to the round of 16.

Three days after the 20th round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League against Sagan Tosu, Cerezo Osaka shifted their focus to the Emperor's Cup and faced Omiya Ardija in the third round. Ten players were changed in the starting lineup, excluding Capixaba from the Tosu match. The system continued with a [4-4-2] formation, and on the bench, Kiyotake Hiroshi, who had just fully joined the team on the 4th of this month, made his first appearance of the season.


In the 2nd minute, Sota Kitano took a bold long-range shot from a distance. Although Cerezo initially struggled with Omiya's defensive pressure, as time went on, they gained control of the game. Pushing the opponent back and forcing Omiya into a [5-4-1] formation, Cerezo found breakthroughs on the left side through Capixaba's sharp runs and on the right side through the combination of Hikaru Nakahara and Riku Matsuda. Additionally, Kitano dropped deep in the center to receive the ball, while Satoki Uejo made runs behind the defense, creating various attacking options. In the 22nd minute, Uejo, who won the ball in a high position, unleashed a right-footed shot that unfortunately hit the crossbar. Cerezo swiftly transitioned from attack to defense, denying Omiya any clear chances in the first half. However, despite repeatedly breaking through the flanks in the attack, they lacked the final connection in the middle. In the 40th minute, Kitano came close to converting a decisive opportunity from Matsuda's cross, but his shot narrowly missed. Cerezo maintained control throughout the first half but struggled to unlock Omiya's defense, resulting in a 0-0 score at halftime.


However, this development was within the players' expectations. "We had talked as a team about not rushing or panicking since we had time," said Uejo. Cerezo Osaka entered the second half without any mental disturbance and further accelerated their attacking momentum. In the 48th minute, they immediately had a big chance. Riku Matsuda made a flying attempt from the opposite side to meet Capixaba's cross, after a one-two with Kitano, breaking through the left side. However, his shot missed the target. Cerezo, who had been attacking since the first half, finally broke the deadlock in the 59th minute, with Uemon finding the back of the net. Ryosuke Yamanaka, who broke through the left side with a one-two with Capixaba, delivered a low cross from a dribble. Uejo, who found himself free after a tussle with the defenders, skillfully connected with his left foot and shook the net. Omiya started a counter-attack from this point, but Cerezo added another goal in the 65th minute. This time, they broke through the right side with Nakahara and Kitano, and once again, Uejo connected with a left-footed shot to Kitano's cross.


In the 74th minute, Omiya created a scoring opportunity, but goalkeeper Keisuke Shimizu protected the goal with an excellent save. In the 77th minute, the moment finally arrived. Kiyotake entered the field as a substitute for Riki Harakawa, making his first appearance of the season, and received a resounding applause from the entire stadium. Then, five minutes later, as if celebrating his own comeback, Ceara headed in Kiyotake's corner kick, securing Cerezo's decisive third goal. In the closing stages, Omiya managed to pull one goal back as Cerezo's defense wavered slightly, but the match ended with a 3-1 scoreline. While Cerezo struggled against Omiya's defense in the first half, they continued to deliver body blows and scored three goals in the second half. Amidst surprising upsets where several J1 clubs were defeated in other matches, Cerezo, who made ten changes to their starting lineup from the league game, showcased their overall strength and successfully advanced to the round of 16.