7 game unbeaten run in J1! Cerezo 2 - 1 Nagoya Grampus

Edno scored his first goal in the J-League as we rode our luck a tad on our way to getting 3 points. Another entertaining game and I'm glad the Grampus fans got to see a Kennedy consolidation goal as they really added to a fantastic atmosphere. Kakitani got our second after a sublime first touch from Edamura's through ball. He's now joint top of the J1 goalscorers charts with two other players. Grampus hit the woodwork twice during the course of the game but it's now becoming clear that Culpi may be close to replicating his ACL qualifying formula before his first retirement a couple of seasons back. There's now a one month break in J1 but we face Urawa Reds on the 23^rd and 30^th this month in the quarter finals of the Nabisco cup. This match was sold out possibly thanks to a half-time appearance from FC Nuremberg and former Cerezo midfielder Kiyotake.

Brilliant support from Nagoya

Kincho Stadium sold out

Where does one buy a Cerezo microphone?



Cerezo Osaka 2 - 2 Urawa Reds

Both teams were evenly matched and a draw was always on the cards but it was by far the most entertaining game this season. Golden week, discount tickets and Urawa Reds helped to fill Nagai Stadium with 32,378 people enjoying the match. The Reds supporters didn't cause any problems this time except for their usual uncourteous (for Japanese football fans) behaviour. Sugimoto's strike and all round play means Edno will be on the bench for the foreseeable future. As usual at home after taking the lead we always look like letting the other team back into the game. Also our policy of not tackling or defending corners properly allowed Urawa to take the lead. Yamaguchi equalised and after that both he and Simplicio came close with long range efforts. Very positive signs from this game although our lack of width is worrying especially for Sugimoto who would thrive on some decent crosses. Hopefully playing away at Kawasaki Frontale will give us a chance to build on this performance and cement our position in the top half of the table.

Football fans and/or wannabe hooligans

They're not scarves BTW they're called "towel mufflers"

Keeping things in order

 



Shonan Bellmare 0 - 3 Cerezo Osaka

Again Edno didn't start and this time didn't come off the bench either so I'm starting to wonder whether we night be loaning him out to a J2 team this season (he himself is on loan to us from the Mexican club Tigres but we've done similar things before). But on to more positive things we scored 3 great team efforts with Kakitani grabbing two to put him on 6 league goals this campaign ( 6 more than Edno...sorry!) and Yamaguchi getting the other. Sugimoto looked really comfortable and was on the same wavelength as his team-mates as he was involved in all of the goals. Next up this Golden Week Urawa Reds visit Nagai Stadium and we're all hoping their fans are on their best behaviour after Shimizu.

Nabisco Cup vs Urawa

Worth taking a closer look at the team that beat the Reds 4-1. Soares may have just been resting the regulars but the players that came in did enough to suggest the manager might try something different for the game against Kashima Antlers today (No Kempes please!). Bando was a vast improvement on Kempes as Kurogi filled in for Ogihara. Kakitani also showed some glimpses of why he's held in high regard by staff and fans at Cerezo. As Kiyotake will be off to Nuremberg this summer we'll be looking to Kakitani for attacking inspiration.

Click to enlarge

Enjoy the goals!

Youngsters perform against Urawa

Athough Bando started he couldn't add to his goals scored this season. We ended winning up 3-1 in a packed Nagai Stadium. Particularly pleasing were the contributions from the younger squad members including goals from Hotaru Yamaguchi and Takahiro Ogihara both of whom are members of the Japanese squad aiming to qualify for the Olympics next year.



Great atmoshpere and superb support as usual from the Urawa Reds fans



Cerezo 4-0 Shandong Luneng followed by 1-1 away to Urawa Reds

They beat us in China but we were great in Osaka. We could have scored more, but again for some reason Shandong didn't turn up at all in Osaka. A great night for us, Shandong went down to 10 men, deservedly, they were as physical as the rules of the game would allow. We had so many chances and a good spread of goalscorers. Most importantly we got through to face...Gamba in the next round.

I4 in the rain

Shandong (or random Chinese?) supporters

A little wet and very happy

This game was followed by a trip to Urawa Reds where we drew but had 14 shots on goal and looked better in J1 than we have so far, still no three points though. Both goals were good, Kiyotake with a great finish after a one-two with Pimpao. In one of the better supported and therefore intimidating atmospheres in the J-League it was a good result for us despite the missed chances.