Tag Archives: Cerezo Osaka

Previews

J.League J1 Preview Matchday 32 – 17:00 Cerezo Osaka vs Omiya Ardija at Kincho

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Team News
Cerezo Osaka – FW Bando is suspended. MF Yoshino out until next season. FWs Sugimoto and Kakitani are injury doubts.
Omiya Ardija report no injuries, and there are no suspensions.

Head to Head
6 wins for Ardija, 4 for Cerezo and 2 draws in 12 meetings between these teams since 2004.

Match Preview
Cerezo are all but mathematically certain of safety and have rewarded coach Culpi with a new and improved contract for 2013, even though he left for a break earlier this season! The fact that they have little to play for may see them surprised by the ferocity of the away team here today, who will be fighting for survival. The most hardcore of Cerezo fans might even be wishing for a defeat today, in order to put their Osaka city rivals – Gamba – under more relegation pressure! But that surely wouldn’t spread to the feelings of the players!? Although their last three games have been draws, there were two wins preceding those so their five game unbeaten run looks to have given them confidence. Will it be enough today?

Omiya Ardija have pulled off some excellent, and somewhat surprising results recently, after many thought they were dead, buried and J2-bound and are also – like Cerezo – unbeaten in five matches, all be it with four of them draws! Whatever! Every point helps in the battle against relegation but they will struggle to find three points here today. London Olympian HIgashi’s form has suffered since his return from London and big signing Cho has not done it at all this season. If they win this, and escape J2 it will be a miracle, but their fans are used to this!! EXPECT a WIN for CEREZO OSAKA!

Previews

J1 Preview Nov.7th 19.00 – Vegalta Sendai vs Cerezo Osaka at Yurtec

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Team News – Cerezo Osaka – no players suspended, no injuries reported!
Vegalta Sendai – DF/MF Kakuda is suspended. No reported injuries.

Head to Head – 2009 J2 since Cerezo won this match. In 19 games since 2003, Sendai have won 9, Cerezo 5, with 5 draws.

Match Preview – Vegalta Sendai know that the J.League Championship is, again, in their own hands. Repeated dropped points by all three top teams has left the title race close and, with four games to go, the top two teams are still locked together, clear of the chasing Urawa Reds. But Shimizu S-Pulse may yet have a say! Cerezo are in better form that Vegalta, and, barring ridiculous mathematical combinations of results, must be safe. So no pressure and a good game from them or no pressure, so they relax and give it away. Which Cerezo will turn up today?

Vegalta Sendai have home advantage and know they MUST win this, considering that their rivals for the title have Consadole Sapporo as opponents today. Akamine is in fine form and Wilson has found his touch again, recently. Surprisingly enough, Vegalta do not seem to have missed the in and out form (and injury) of Sekiguchi, who was touted as the next player to go overseas last season. Tehir deoth may help in the last few games. EXPECT a WIN for VEGALTA SENDAI!

Previews

J1 Preview – Sat. October 27th – 14.00 – Urawa Reds v. Cerezo Osaka at Saitama Stadium

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Cerezo to do S-Pulse a BIG Favour and hold off Reds?

Team News – Urawa Reds – MF Yajima will miss the game on Japan U-19 duty.

Cerezo Osaka report no injuries or suspensions.

Head to Head – Eight wins for Reds, five for Cerezo and two draws in a decade of J1 and Nabisco Cup meetings.

Match Preview – Urawa Reds have lost three out of their last five when they could have been challenging for the top spot, and find themselves six points adrift of the top two, WAY behind in goal difference too, AND under attack from the trio of teams on 45 points, just three behind them as we go into the last five games. Reds’ lack of a real striker has been their downfall – relying on late Popo goals is not a strategy for a winning team and having to start him as a lone striker shows desperation! Keep this team together, add a real striker and maybe, just maybe, a 2013 Championship challenge might be seen. But today a resurgent and relaxed Cerezo Osaka may put paid to a top spot dream altogether and even knock them out of the top three.

Cerezo re-hired coach Levir Culpi to keep them in J1, nothing more, and it looks as if he has done that. Cerezo realistically need another 2 or 3 points from their final games to be sure and then they can plan ahead for next season, try to keep their best players from oving on, and find a coach that can bring out the potential that these players, this team has. They are relaxed indeed under Culpi but he is not staying, they’ll win a few more games for him before he goes home, though. Including this one? Maybe! EXPECT a DRAW!

In the Mix, Reports

J1 Matchday 29 Round-Up

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Vegalta Sendai 3-2 Urawa Reds
Yokohama F Marinos 4-0 Jubilo Iwata
Omiya Ardija 1-1 Albirex Niigata
Kawasaki Frontale 2-3 Gamba Osaka
Shimizu S-Pulse 1-1 Vissel Kobe
Sagan Tosu 1-3 Nagoya Grampus
Consadole Sapporo 0-0 Kashima Antlers
Cerezo Osaka 1-1 FC Tokyo
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-2 Kashiwa Reysol

Table, as always, at http://www.jsoccer.com/tables/

It gets ever-more tight in J1 after this weekend’s results after Sanfrecce Hiroshima – sitting atop the league with a five point lead two games back – losing, at home to Kashiwa Reysol, and finding they are now on top on goal difference alone. Meanwhile 2nd placed Vegalta Sendai took out 3rd placed Urawa Reds (3-2) to, realistically make the race for the Championship a two horse race now but, as we all know in J.League, anything can still happen! Shimizu S-Pulse fans will be hoping, no perhaps that should be dreaming that the unexpected CAN occur as they close in on Urawa Reds, albeit with a home draw (1-1) against Vissel Kobe. With a win, S-Pulse might still be dreaming of a final run that brings them the title, but now, they probably have to settle for stealing that 3rd spot off Reds?! BUt, Kashiwa Reysol’s win over the top team meant that they sneaked into 4th spot and are also ready to attack Reds’ position.

Moving on down J1, Nagoya battered Sagan’s usually impregnable home fortress and took all three points (1-3) tp push them down into 9th spot, while Jubilo were indeed battered by Yokohama F.Marinos in a 4-0 win that could well have been 6 or 8-0 from many accounts. Marinos (7th) moved above Iwata (8th) with that win, albeit by just one point, and having equal goal difference.

The mid-table match-up – and mid-table is a compliment / testament to Cerezo, after their season! – ended 1-1, points shared and those teams are in 10th (Tokyo) and 11th (Cerezo) position. Moving into the relegation dogfight, Cerezo on 39 points couldn’t possibly go down now (could they!?) and sitting on the same points total are Kawasaki Frontale, who were beaten at home in a see-saw 3-2 defeat by Gamba Osaka, who have now scored 58 goals (four more than top dogs Sanfrecce!) but have a goal difference of +1! The win was vital for Gamba, as it pulled them to within one point of safety as Omiya Ardija and Albirex Niigata fought out a 1-1 draw. Omiya remain one spot (and one point) above Gamba, but have a 15 goal deficit in the goal difference category, compared to the Osaka team! Could be very important on that final day!

To round off the matches, Kashima Antlers, after “winning” an away point in a scoreless draw in Sapporo, are still not mathematically safe, having 38 points to their name, while that away point at an in-form S-Pulse was vital for Vissel, who sit in 14th position, just one, two and three points clear of Ardija, Gamba and Albirex respectively. It looks as if J1 will be going down to the final day at the top AND the bottom?!

In the Mix, Previews

Matchday 29 – JSoccer Magazine Previews J1 Saturday October 20th

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13:00 Vegalta Sendai vs. Urawa Reds at Yurtec.S – Reds to Kill Off Sendai Title Hopes?

Urawa Reds need a win to match the 51 points of Vegalta Sendai – a loss and they go six points back with just five games to go. They’d probably have to give up on their championship hopes so need at least a draw, but preferably a win. Sanfrecce will probably be hoping for a draw or, perhaps a Reds win.

On Sendai’s side, a win will give them 54 points, which is what Sanfrecce sit on now – it’s tight at the top and points will be at a premium in the coming month. Reds have lost two of their last three, while Vegalta have lost two of their last four … both teams need some consistency to finish the season to overtake Sanfrecce. Something’s gotta give in this match, and I think that will be Vegalta.

Reds need a goalscorer, instead of relying on last-gasp goals from Popo, but they’ll do enough in this match – EXPECT a WIN for URAWA REDS!

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14:00 Yokohama F.Marinos vs. Jubilo Iwata at Nissan.S – Bore Draw in Order Today?

One of the best defences in J1 at home, entertaining one of the best attacks in the league? Or alternatively, Marinos don’t score too many, while Jubilo have conceded quite a few. Anything could happen! Since their extended unbeaten run came to and end Marinos have gone downhill, boring even their own fans. They’ve won one in their last five and are in No-Man’s land on 40 points.

Having said that, Jubilo are only two points ahead, but four spaces up and were stung by S-Pulse in the Shizuoka Derby last time out. They will be missing international forward Maeda to injury and may struggle to break down this stubborn Marinos defence. Nothing less than a win for either team would be enough to keep them in touch with that 3rd spot and an ACL place in 2013. But I feel this will be a DRAW! Not enough for either team!

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15:00 Omiya Ardija vs. Albirex Niigata at NACK5.S – A Point Each for Relegation Battlers?

This match really is the proverbial relegation dogfight six-pointer. While Albirex have scored only 22 goals (five of them in that one wild game against Grampus), Ardija have just 28, we shouldn’t expect a goalfest! Added to that Albirex have conceded only one more goal than leaders Sanfrecce, BUT have lost their ‘keeper Higashiguchi for the season, and much longer.

Omiya Ardija have been close to relegation over and over, that experience MAY come in useful. They have won two and drawn three of their last five games – an unbeaten run that has seen them move out of the bottom three, just. Albirex have also turned it around with three draws and a win in their last four… it looks very much to me like a DRAW today!

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15:00 Kawasaki Frontale vs. Gamba Osaka at Todoroki – Gamba to Earn Vital Win!
Gamba Osaka will feel hard done by after their loss at Sendai last league match and find themselves three points adrift of safety with the two teams above them playing each other. Gamba are the highest scorers in J1 but also have the second-worst defence in the division, but Kawasaki Frontale are not the best team to take advantage of that.

While Frontale managed to win two out of their last three to hit 39 points and be very close to safety. They lost on a single goal to Reysol last time out and, while their injury woes have cleared up, their teamwork has not really gelled all season … coach Kazama may be looking for a new job next season even if he racks up a few wins before the end of the season.

The desperation of Gamba Osaka will trump the average season that Frontale are having and, presuming that talisman Leandro is fit and raring to go, expect a VITAL WIN for GAMBA OSAKA!

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15:00 Shimizu S-Pulse vs. Vissel Kobe at OUTSOURCING.S – S-Pulse Hangover? Or Extended Run of Success?

Shimizu S-Pulse beat off FC Tokyo for a place in the Nabisco Cup Final last weekend and will either be on a high ready to add to their three wins in-a-row, including that semi-final OR they’ll be hungover from the celebrations and succumb to a Vissel Kobe that REALLY needs the points! Will they build on that today?

Vissel Kobe have been hit by centre back problems, with Kitamoto suspended and Inoha returning from national team duty to report he is three weeks out of the game. They also have Tashiro in and out of the treatment room up front, and Okubo confirmed as missing at least two weeks. It’s time for a big game from Tokura, and Vissel have to pray that the error-prone Takagi is on form if he is selected as a cover centre back today.

Both teams have been rebuilding and, with some luck it could have been Vissel in that top six spot but, instead, they find themselves fighting relegation and need the win. Do they need it more than S-Pulse? EXPECT a DRAW! Shared spoils.

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15:00 Sagan Tosu vs. Nagoya Grampus at Saga – Sagan Home Form to Return!

Just a single point separates these teams in 7th and 8th places and Sagan’s home fortress has been breached recently, although they have still conceded only 30 goals in their maiden J1 season so far and have out-paced all the critics’ expectations, but are fading now as the season draws to a close. Cerezo Osaka took them out last game and they will want to show their home fans that they have not given up on their season yet.

Even though they have only scored four goals in the last five games, two of those were wins… they have lost two of their last three, though, including that confidence-killing 5-0 defeat from Albirex Niigata. Three or four wins in their final month could give them an air of respectability, while three or four losses would see them in the bottom half… what do they have left in them? They will miss Josh Kennedy if he continues to suffer from those back injuries but Tamada, Nagai et al should take on the goalscoring and creating among themselves.

EXPECT a WIN for SAGAN TOSU!

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16:00 Consadole Sapporo vs. Kashima Antlers at Atsubetsu – Surely Sapporo Can’t Win Two In-a-Row!

Last time out in J1 everyone had Consadole Sapporo down for a thrashing at the hands of Urawa Reds, but the surprise of the day, week, month (season?) saw Reds capitulate to the already-relegated team – at home! Once the “relief” of knowing their destiny sweeps over a doomed team, perhaps a change takes place! Could they win another? They’d have to go against history, having never even gained a point against today(s opponents in the past, but nothing is impossible, is it!?

Kashima Antlers made short work of Reysol last week in their Nabisco Cup semi-final and thrashed FC Tokyo 5-1 in their last league match, their up and down season will be on an up this time out and they’ll be hoping to continue their run with a win against Consadole. Osako got back among the goals recently and, with Maeda injured and Havenaar not having the best games in the national team jersey, perhaps Osaka will feel the chance to attract the eye of national team coach Alberto Zaccheroni over the next month or so – it’s now or never, Osako! EXPECT a WIN for KASHIMA ANTLERS!

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18:00 Cerezo Osaka vs. FC Tokyo at KINCHO.S – Cerezo to Continue Rise!

Cerezo Osaka are on the up – four wins in their last five games have taken them to the brink of safety. Re-hired coach Levir Culpi has almost completed his job and will be on his way in early December, leaving a space for a new coach – who that is, and whether Cerezo can hold on to their players for 2013 will decide the future of the team. They will give their all to get the win that will almost guarantee safety.

FC Tokyo have lost two of their last three and sit two points above Cerezo on the 40 points that probably does see them safe, but losing to Cerezo will dent the confidence indeed. Morishige is an influential player to lose on an away trip to a team in form and coach Popovic has not yet shown enough faith in Vucicevic to give him the start, but he looks more the apart than Edmilson – a stopgap at best? I EXPECT a WIN for CEREZO OSAKA!

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19:00 Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs. Kashiwa Reysol at Hiroshima.B – Sanfrecce to Consolidate Top Spot.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima are unbeaten in their last five and showing the form that should keep their head above water if it continues … with the two teams closest to them playing each other it is their chance to pull away from at least one of them, perhaps both – if there is a draw there! They are reporting no new injuries and have no suspensions and will be confident and ready to consolidate their place at the top. Losing this game will be a tragedy and they will NOT let that happen. Sato will be buoyed by his recognition of national team selection – although he didn’t play on the European tour – and will be on a high that his team will join.

Kashiwa Reysol have lost three of their last four – including a Nabisco Cup semi-final against Kashima Antlers and are missing Leandro Domingues and the reliable Sugai, they realistically have nothing left to play for? Six points out of 3rd place and playing the top team today, they can expect little chance of bouncing back from their cup defeat here today. With Sanfrecce knowing how much this game means I can’t see anything other than a WIN for SANFRECCE HIROSHIMA!

Follow Alan on Twitter @JSoccerMagazine

In the Mix, Previews

J1 Preview – Cerezo Osaka vs Sagan Tosu at Kincho Stadium Oct.6, Matchday 28 – JSoccer Magazine

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Team News
Cerezo Osaka – DF/MF Maruhashi is suspended.
Sagan Tosu – No suspensions or injuries reported.

Head to Head – Cerezo won 5-0 in the Nabisco Cup this year, and held Sagan to a 0-0 draw away. Other meetings were in J2 since 2007, all in 6 wins for Cerezo, 5 for Tosu and that scoreless draw.

Match Preview – Cerezo Osaka pulled six points away from the drop zone with last week’s come-from-behind win away at Vissel Kobe and have now won four of their last five. Finally, some consistency from a team that have been decimated by players leaving or missing games through Olympic duties. Coach Levir Culpi returned with the express job of keeping Cerezo in J1 – with 7 games to go I estimate they need only 4 or 5 points but would like to keep the wins going. They were perhaps fortunate last weekend to get the win at Kobe, but they all count and they never gave up. I expect them to make it hard for Sagan.
Sagan Tosu have drifted to seven points away from a top three finish but, let’s face it, who expected them to do this well anyway!? They were outclassed 4-1 by Sanfrecce last weekend but will fancy their chances against Cerezo but I think the best that they can expect this time is A DRAW!!

In the Mix, Reports

Vissel Kobe 2-3 Cerezo Osaka – extended report, see highlights below!

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Vissel Kobe 2-3 Cerezo Osaka

This game started with a bang, as Hashimoto, Okubo and Mogi all had shots within the first 30 seconds as Vissel went for it from the whistle, but to no avail, but it didn’t take long for the home team to open the scoring when, in the 7th minute, Tokura controlled a pass, turned and threaded the ball to Ogawa running into the channel and the youngster made no mistake to give Vissel the lead. Kobe should have been 2-0 up in the 13th minute when a Nozawa free kick was headed on to Lee, who volleyed home with aplomb. The flag was up for offside on the flick-on, the only problem being that the flick-on was from a defender’s head – how both officials missed that is anyone’s guess, but a grave injustice for the ever-improving Korean centre back.

Vissel did eventually make it 2-0 just three minutes later when Ogawa turned provider, setting up Okubo who’s shot was too hot to handle for the keeper, who could only palm it out to a quickly-reacting Tokura, who turned the ball back across the goal where Soma was waiting to pop the ball into the open goal!

Cerezo were back in the game in the 22nd minute, when a long distance shot from Maruhashi moved wickedly in the air, giving Tokushige problems, the keeper only able to palm the ball out and Simplicio followed up and blasted the ball home to make it 2-1 – game on! Could have been, should have been 3-0, but now it was 2-1 – game changer from the officials, unfortunately.

Lee then got himself a yellow card as he came up behind Cerezo keeper Kim as he tried to throw the ball out. The keeper’s arm caught the retreating defender and the Cerezo players screamed at the ref. What else could the official do but pull out his card – it wasn’t the last time that the away team surrounded the official demanding cards. The interesting thing is that Kim was handling the ball often – including in this instance – as he tried to get distance on his throws. Standing on the line, his arms were often over the line when his throws were completed. I guess the sharp-eyed Assistant Referee who saw the non-offside wasn’t as sharp-eyed as we thought, after all! He also missed Kempes (and Kakitani) in an offside position when Kempes got his head onto a deep cross and got the ball on to the bar!

Just hitting the hour mark Maruhashi earned himself a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Nozawa, who needed treatment and the away team were down to ten men with 30 minutes remaining. Then another game changer, perhaps from the officials? Lee challenged Kakitani on the wing, just yards away from the assistant referee, the Cerezo player grabbing the Kobe defender’s shirt all the way then going down. The referee gave the foul FOR Cerezo, the crowd went wild, the Cerezo players begged for a card and basically put enough pressure on the referee that whatever Lee did next he would be yellow carded. Vissel coach Nishino had no choice but to replace Lee – Takagi came on – lest Vissel also go down to ten men soon. Sugimoto – just on as a sub – hit the bar with a glancing header from the free kick and it wasn’t long before Simplicio had his second goal of the game, stealing in totally unmarked from a midfield position at the back post to head home a Kakitani cross to make it 2-2.

Edamura made an appearance for Cerezo in the 78th minute and, as it turned out, he was the game winner for Cerezo although it was that man Takagi who gifted him the chance, but what a finish! It was just a simple throw-in on the half way line but Takagi completely misjudged the bounce of the ball, it went over his head, Edamura broke, advanced, Kitamoto blocked him off from moving inside but the S-Pulse loanee didn’t need to – he let fly from 20 yards and the ball flew into the corner – 3-2 Cerezo, game over! Well, not quite, Mogi, Kitamoto, Ogawa, Okubo AND Fernand all had half chances in the final minutes as Vissel piled on the pressure looking for a point but it was not to be. Cerezo moved up and, arguably, safe, Vissel dropped into danger.

Vissel Kobe – Tokushige, Mogi, Lee (Takagi, 68), Kitamoto, Soma, Tanaka (Morioka, 78), Hashimoto, Nozawa, Ogawa, Tokura (Fernand, 77), Okubo

In the Mix, Previews

JSoccer Magazine J1 Preview Sept.22nd, Matchday 26 – 18:00 Cerezo Osaka vs Shimizu S-Pulse at Kincho Stadium

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Cerezo Osaka – FW Nagai has left the club, on loan, to Perth in Australia. MF Sakemoto is out injured.
Shimizu S-Pulse – DF Yoshida out, FW Takagi working on a hamstring injury but very doubtful.

Five games since S-Pulse won this one, with 6 wins for Cerezo, 4 for S-Pulse and 5 draws since 2004.

Despite a win against Marinos in his first game back in charge, and a vital six-pointer in the next game against Albirex, Cerezo coach Culpi now knows what he is up against and he must be aware that the team could still be dragged down into the relegation mire, especially if Ardija and Gamba continue to pick up points. A home loss to Grampus last time out put paid to the Cerezo revival and with rumours sweeping the team of the likely departures of Ogihara and Yamaguchi – joining a long line of players who have moved on in the last year or two – it can only get worse for Cerezo if they do not win this match.

Shimizu S-Pulse will be disappointed that they didn’t get maximum points last week against FC Tokyo, a couple of extra points would have taken them up to 6th, within touching distance of the top 3, or even the top spot. It’s still not an impossible ask, but three points from these kinds of games are now a must if they are to continue their slow rise back up the table.
Genki Omae is back in the goals, and new signing Kim has contributed everything but a J.League goal so far, it is his time! Coach Afshin Ghotbi has cleared out some of the players who were not part of the philosophy and is blooding the youngsters, like Ishige, slowly but surely. EXPECT a WIN for SHIMIZU S-PULSE!