Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-2 Albirex Niigata (J1 MD24)

It turned out to be a bittersweet commemorative match, as the team lost for the first time in 10 league matches.

The match was held as “Cerezo Osaka's 30th Anniversary Match." Before the game, a special match was held between the Cerezo Osaka Alumni Team and Morichans United, led by the comedy duo Mitorizu, with the former winning with a goal by Yoshito Okubo. A grand opening ceremony was held before the players entered the pitch, and a big flag appeared behind the goal. The stage was set for the match.



One change was made to the starting lineup from the previous match against Kawasaki Frontale. Ryuya Nishio, who joined Japan's U-23 national team for the Paris Olympics, was left out, and Kyohei Noborizato returned to the starting lineup for the first time in 12 league matches after recovering from injury. Also on the bench were Ryosuke Shindo, also returning from injury, and Ryogo Yamasaki, who joined the team this summer. After the kick-in ceremony by Cerezo Osaka's first president, Kenji Onitake, the match began. Both sides were evenly matched in the early minutes. The smoothness of Cerezo's build-up was enhanced by the return of Noborizato, as in the 9th minute, starting with Noborizato, Leo Ceara headed over a cross from Capixaba. Against Niigata, who excelled in ball possession, Cerezo chose to press from the front in defense. Cerezo's attempts went well at the start, but after 15 minutes, Niigata began to get around them and create chances with their fast pace. In the 16th minute, Niigata had a chance to score from their left side, but their shot went over the crossbar. In the 28th minute, Niigata had another chance to score when a coordinated movement of players took a half-space on their right flank, but the shot went wide. Niigata had yet another chance in the 33rd minute, but a good save by Kim Jin Hyeon kept it out. Cerezo managed to keep Niigata from conceding a goal even though they were in control, but it all came to a crashing halt in the 36th minute. A throw-in in the opponent's half resulted in the ball being intercepted by the opponents, and a cross from their left flank was met at the far side to find the back of the net.





Akio Kogiku brought on Masaya Shibayama in place of Satoki Uejo at the start of the second half. Lucas Fernandes dribbled in to create a chance for the home side, but in the 47th minute, they were unable to contain their opponents defensively, allowing Niigata to add a goal to their tally. With Cerezo trailing by two goals, Vitor Bueno replaced Okuno in the 52nd minute. Still unable to create as many chances as they would have liked, Yamasaki replaced Capixaba in the 65th minute, and the formation changed to a two-man front line. After putting pressure on their opponents, a good opportunity came in the 73rd minute. Starting with Hayato Okuda, Shibayama, Fernandes, and Bueno played the ball through the middle of the pitch, and finally Shibayama had a chance, but could not get a shot off. In the 77th minute, Shibayama had another chance. Okuda received Yamasaki's pass and played a through ball into half-space. Shibayama was one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his left-footed shot hit the post. Then, in the 82nd minute, Yuichi Hirano, who had just come on as a substitute for Cerezo, was sent off as a result of a VAR decision, putting the team at a numerical disadvantage. From then on, it became a difficult game with 10 men chasing a two-goal deficit, and in the last minute of the match, 90+10th minute, Fernandes struck a shot to close the margin to one goal. The stadium was suddenly filled with excitement. Cerezo fought hard for the equalizer with only a few minutes remaining, but were unable to fight back, losing 1-2, their first loss in 10 league matches since the 14th round against FC Machida Zelvia.





"This match was our 30th anniversary match, and we wanted to deliver a victory to our alumni and all those who have helped make Cerezo's history, but it was a very disappointing result,” said Kogiku. As the league matches now enter the intermission period, "we would like to flatten things out once again and start the competition from scratch,” he said. After the match against Dortmund on 24th, the first match after the restart will be against the top-ranked Machida. The team will prepare well for this match, which they must win in order to achieve their goal for the season.