Review: Cerezo Osaka 1-1 Urawa Reds (J1 MD7)

Cerezo got off to a good start and took the lead with a goal from Rafael Ratao, but were unable to extend their lead and conceded a goal in the last minutes of the game, more works to be done on how to close out the game.

After the J. League YBC Levain Cup 1st Round match against Kamatamare Sanuki, Cerezo Osaka welcomed Urawa Reds to Yodoko Sakura Stadium for the 7th round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, 12 days after losing 0-2 to Yokohama FC in the 6th round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. There were five changes to the starting lineup from the previous match. Thiago Andrade and Hayato Okuda started for the first time in three games since the match against Albirex Niigata in the fourth round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 season, Ryosuke Shindo started for the first time in four games since the match against Kashiwa Reysol in the third round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 season, Kyohei Noborizato made his first league start this season, and goalkeeper Koki Fukui made his first appearance and first start since joining the club. The team played a 4-3-3 formation, with Motohiko Nakajima playing at inside half, as he did against Sanuki.



Sitting in 18th place with just five points from six games, Cerezo were desperate for three points in this match and they took the lead early on. With Andrade running behind the defense, Noborizato delivered an exquisite pass to Andrade, who took the ball in his chest, turned, looked inside and sent in a cross that was met by Rafael Ratao. The Brazilian new signing duo, who also played well against Sanuki, immediately got the crowd going. Cerezo had another great chance in the 12th minute. A series of passes between Noborizato, Nakajima and Sota Kitano broke down the Urawa midfield and Ratao was given a chance by Kitano's through ball. After the goalkeeper saved, Lucas Fernandes and Okuda tried to score from the second ball, but were unable to find the net. In the 19th minute, Kitano received a pass from Fukui and Okuda and broke through vertically, and from a cross, Ratao was able to make a shot. As Urawa manager Maciej Skorza recalled after the game, “We tried to press high, but we could not manage well when our opponents appeared on the sides of the midfield. This allowed Cerezo to avoid our high press and create dangerous situations," Cerezo dominated the build-up in the first half. Another chance came in the 45th minute, but Kitano's shot went just wide. Although Andrade, who assisted on the first goal, was injured in the first half, Cerezo maintained their dominance in the first half and took a one-goal lead.





Urawa made a substitution at the start of the second half. Yusuke Matsuo replaced Taishi Matsumoto, who played behind the striker in the first half. Matsuo moved to the left wing and Mateus Savio moved to the center. Urawa tried to improve their attack, but it was Cerezo who had the first chance of the second half. In the 55th minute, Nakajima won the ball from an opponent's throw-in and immediately passed to Kitano, who fired past the opposing defense. It looked like it was going to be a goal, but once again it went just wide of the post. The second half started well with Cerezo controlling the ball. The game went smoothly until the 70th minute, when Urawa brought on Ryoma Watanabe and Shoya Nakajima, and Cerezo began to slow down, unable to press and pushed back into their own half. In the 74th minute, Takuro Kaneko's cross was headed into the net by Thiago Santana, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul by Santana just before the goal. Cerezo continued to be pinned down in the 76th and 79th minutes, but Cerezo defenders held firm and responded. Cerezo managed to prevent a goal, but finally conceded an equalizer in the 83rd minute. Masaya Shibayama pressed on the left side but was unable to stop, and Noborizato and Hatanaka also could not win back the ball. In the end, Shindo and Okuda also slid inside to cover, but Watanabe, running in from the third row, found the back of the net. Just before the goal, manager Arthur Papas made two changes. Vitor Bueno and Shinji Kagawa replaced Kitano and Nakajima, but the message was unclear as to how to close out a 1-0 game. "How to hold on when we get tired has been a problem since the beginning of the season," said Shinosuke Hatanaka. It is an issue that the entire team needs to discuss and resolve.





In the added time of the second half, Santana had a chance to decide the game, but Fukui made a big save on his shot. It was his first appearance and first start since joining the team, but the manager praised his performance, saying, “His performance was good. He played with courage." The game ended 1-1. Cerezo avoided a last-minute comeback loss, but considering the team’s performance, it was a bitter disappointment that they could only take one point. Issues remained about missed chances to score and how to finish the game. Still, “We were able to create so many chances because our training was paying off. If we can win, we will gain more confidence, which will lead to more goals. We can definitely get out of this situation,” said Ratao, who scored the first goal. With the next match against Fagiano Okayama in four days' time, the entire team will be looking to get their first home win of the season.