Review: Cerezo Osaka 2-3 Borussia Dortmund (EUROJAPAN CUP 2024)

Despite superb goals from Masaya Shibayama and Reiya Sakata, Cerezo Osaka narrowly lost to Borussia Dortmund.

On July 24, a match was held as "EUROJAPAN CUP 2024" against the German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund. At a press conference held the day before the match against the finalists of the 23-24 European Champions League season, manager Akio Kogiku said, "I am delighted to be able to play with Dortmund, one of the biggest clubs in the world. I would like to urge the players to play aggressively and without fear in tomorrow's match, while experiencing firsthand the quality of a world-class standard." Shinji Kagawa, who made his mark with Dortmund, the first club he played for in Europe, and whose sensational performances, including back-to-back league championships, made him a household name, said with a big smile, "For me, this is an important club that cannot be described in one word. I am excited to play against such a club in Japan."



All registered members of the team were on the bench for this match. The squad for the first half consisted mainly of Leo Ceara, Capixaba, Hiroaki Okuno, Koji Toriumi, and Kim Jin Hyeon, all of whom have played major roles in league matches. In the early minutes, the match proceeded with Cerezo's advantage. In the 8th minute, Okuno received Ceara's pass and fired a shot from mid-range that threatened the opponents' goal. The attackers also showed their strengths here and there, such as through passes by Vitor Bueno and Capixaba, but after 15 minutes, Dortmund took control of the possession and played more in our half of the pitch. Then, in the 26th minute, Cerezo was caught out by crosses from both sides, and conceded a goal. After a period of drinking water, Dortmund's attack accelerated, and in the 29th minute, a counter attack allowed Dortmund's left winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens to carry the ball and strike a world-class, accurate, and powerful shot. A minute later, Karim Adeyemi, a winger on the opposite flank, got in behind and scored the third goal. In both cases, Ryosuke Shindo, making his first appearance of the season, was called into action. In a difficult situation where his return match was against world-class opponents, "I think the opponents were not in perfect condition for the pre-season, but they showed us what they are capable of," he reflected, while looking forward, "I am happy to be back in a place where I can play football and compete in this kind of competition."





In the second half, Cerezo, who were now made up mainly of young players after a series of substitutions, showed aggressiveness in attack and defense. In the 49th minute, goalkeeper Keisuke Shimizu made a great save from a Dortmund shot. The save was crucial as Cerezo would have been in a difficult position if Dortmund had scored from the shot to make it a four-goal game. In the 53rd minute, Niko Takahashi, who had just been announced as a new signing for the team, made his debut for Cerezo. He immediately showed his quality with strong defense on the edge of the ball and bold participation in the attack. In the 62nd minute, Shinji Kagawa, the star of the day, came on as a substitute. To the loudest cheers of the day, Cerezo launched a furious counterattack, led by their number eight, who took to the pitch with the determination to "show that we are determined to score." In the 66th minute, Kagawa received a vertical pass from Kakeru Funaki and sent it down the right flank. The ball was passed to Reiya Sakata, Shibayama, Ryogo Yamasaki, Uejo, and finally to Kitano, who ran into space on the left and fired a shot. The goalkeeper and defender blocked the shot, but Shibayama kicked the rebound directly into the box and scored. Shibayama's goal was "a big goal for me" (Shibayama), as he had not been able to find the back of the net in the last few league games, despite having good chances.





In the 70th and 72nd minute, Kitano and Shibayama each fired well-placed shots that were blocked by the goalkeeper. The Cerezo attack continued, and in the 73rd minute, after a corner kick, Shunta Tanaka received a lateral pass from Hinata Kida, and dropped the ball on his chest. Sakata received the ball, stepped forward, and with a sharp feint, cut back past a defender and scored with a superb left-footed mid-range shot over the top of the near post. The stadium erupted in celebration as Sakata's golazo, as good as Dortmund's goal in the first half, was scored. Dortmund continued to create chances, but Cerezo did not allow another goal. In the 87th minute, Kagawa again broke through the middle, and Uejo was brought down in the penalty area by a player after a through ball from Yamasaki, but the whistle was not blown. The game ended 2-3. Cerezo's fightback came up short, and they lost to Dortmund. Nevertheless, the supporters of both teams applauded the match, which was a very exciting match with many scenes in front of the goal. Kagawa also renewed old friendships with Dortmund staff and players, and walked around the pitch after the match as many supporters held up the Dortmund jerseys of the time. "It was an exciting two days for me. I would like to thank Dortmund for coming to Japan and playing this match. This bond will last forever, and I am grateful for the words they said to me. I am still playing as a player, and I want to focus on that again," he said. After the match, which also yielded positive results, such as the emergence of young players in addition to defensive challenges, Kogiku said, "We gained a lot today, and I'm looking forward to training after a day off.” After experiencing the "world-class standard" as a source of inspiration, they enter the important month of August.