Review: Yokohama F. Marinos 4-0 Cerezo Osaka (J1 MD28)

Despite an improved start to the match against Yokohama F. Marinos at the “new” National Stadium, the team suffered their third consecutive defeat after conceding goals in the second half.

Six days after their previous match against Kyoto Sanga F.C., Cerezo Osaka faced Yokohama F. Marinos in the 28th round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. The match was played at the Japan National Stadium, and there were two changes to the starting line-up from the previous match. Yuichi Hirano made his first league start since joining the club, while Ryuya Nishio returned at center back.



The tone of the match was clear from the start. Yokohama FM gained possession and pushed forward, while Cerezo lowered their pressing position, created a defensive block in midfield and responded with a midfield press. Crosses from the left and right were blocked by the defenders, preventing Yokohama FM from creating any real chances. In attack, they simply went for the goal by getting behind the defenders. In the 12th minute, Lucas Fernandes received a pass from Vitor Bueno and shot from the right side. The goalkeeper made a good save. Up until the first half water break, Yokohama FM had 68% of the possession, but as Shunta Tanaka recalled, "We talked before the game about not being in a hurry even when the opponent has the ball. Hirotaka Tameda said, "We all talked about defending tenaciously and trying to finish the first half without conceding a goal." The first half saw few chances for either side, but Cerezo's right flank, paired with Fernandes and Hayato Okuda, was revitalized. In the 31st minute, Kakeru Funaki found the back of the net from Bueno's pass, but was called offside and the goal was disallowed. In the 37th minute, Yokohama FM broke through the middle of the pitch and Anderson Lopes fired a powerful shot, but this time goalkeeper Kim Jin Hyeon made a good save. The first half ended 0-0.





After a quiet first half, the second half got off to a flying start in the 47th minute when Okuda took Lopes' shirt and awarded a penalty kick after a cross from the left side of the field. Lopes scored from the spot to take the lead. Cerezo then took control of the ball and pushed forward, and in the 52nd minute they had a good chance. Fernandes played a one-two with Tanaka on the right flank and crossed for Leo Ceara, whose shot was deflected by the goalkeeper. In the 66th minute, Funaki sent in a cross from the left side of the box following a pass from Bueno. The cross led to an own goal by the opposing defender, but again Funaki was called offside and the goal was disallowed. In the 67th minute, manager Akio Kogiku decided to make three changes to the starting line-up in an attempt to improve the game. Shinji Kagawa made his first appearance since the league match against Vissel Kobe in the 13th round, and two young attacking players, Sota Kitano and Masaya Shibayama, came on at the same time. Soon after, Hirano, Okuda and Kitano combined well, with Shibayama the last to go, but his shot flew just wide of the goalkeeper. After Cerezo had failed to find the equalizer, a pass was intercepted in the opponents' half in the 73rd minute and a goal was conceded on the counterattack. Cerezo, now in a difficult position, switched to two up front in the 80th minute, with Ryogo Yamasaki replacing Hirano. Kagawa and Shibayama played the role of volante, but they were caught in the opponent's press and scored the third goal in the 83rd minute. Kagawa also injured his left elbow when he lost his balance and landed on his feet during a tussle with an opponent. With their substitutes already used up, the team was forced to play the remainder of the match with 10 men. In second-half stoppage time, Ceara found themselves one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but he was unable to make a save, and Yokohama FM scored a fourth goal shortly afterwards to complete the rout. Considering the close first half, the final result was an unexpectedly big defeat.





“Everyone is playing with the desire to make the team win, so this result is frustrating,” said Nishio after the game, who had been working hard with his captain's mark. The team has not won in seven league games, but if they can get their offense and defense together, they can still turn things around. "The supporters have been very positive,” Nishio said. “We want to respond to their support and we will fight for three points in the next Osaka derby." To avenge the away defeat and change the course of their season, the entire team will take on the Osaka derby next week.