J1 League Regular Season - 7
Cerezo Osaka 1 - 2 FT Fagiano Okayama
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
19' S. Sakuragawa (Y. Yokoyama)
Kota Kudo 30'
Werik Popo (T. Yamane) 45'
HT
↓ D. Tagami ↑H. Omori 46'
Hiroshi Omori 51'
59' ↓ Y. Yokoyama ↑R. Sakata
↓ K. Ichimi ↑Lucao 59'
60' ↓ M. Nakajima ↑M. Shibayama
T. Yamane (K. Kudo) 69'
71' ↓ H. Kida ↑S. Kagawa
71' ↓ Thiago Andrade ↑S. Homma
↓ M. Matsumoto ↑H. Motoyama 75'
↓ Werik Popo ↑T. Kimura 75'
85' ↓ N. Ishiwatari ↑W. Kanemoto
↓ A. Esaka ↑K. Fujii 87'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Cerezo Osaka
Goalkeepers
K. Nakamura 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Midfielders
N. Ishiwatari 
MAGNET
63
Activity
63
Activity
48
Passes
15
Duels
H. Kida
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
Y. Yokoyama 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7.2
Rating
M. Nakajima
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
60
Total Mins
60
Entry
Thiago Andrade 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Forwards
S. Sakuragawa 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
BENCH
K. Fukui 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
H. Tanaka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Noborizato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Okuda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Kagawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Sakata
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
31
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Homma
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Shibayama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
30
Total Mins
Started
Entry
W. Kanemoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Fagiano Okayama
Goalkeepers
L. Moser
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Y. Tatsuta
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
D. Tagami
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
K. Kudo
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.6
Rating
Midfielders
M. Matsumoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
75
Total Mins
75
Entry
E. Miyamoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Ogura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Yamane 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
8.2
Rating
Forwards
K. Ichimi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
59
Total Mins
59
Entry
A. Esaka 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
28%
Pass Acc
Werik Popo
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
BENCH
T. Hamada
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
H. Omori 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
62%
Duel Win %
H. Motoyama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Fujii
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kamiya Yuta
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Kimura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Takahashi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Kawano
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lucao
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
31
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/18/2026 | Cerezo Osaka | 1 - 2 | Fagiano Okayama | J1 League | Yodoko Sakura Stadium |
| 10/18/2025 | Fagiano Okayama | 1 - 2 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | City Light Stadium |
| 04/02/2025 | Cerezo Osaka | 2 - 1 | Fagiano Okayama | J1 League | Yodoko Sakura Stadium |
| 12/04/2016 | Cerezo Osaka | 1 - 0 | Fagiano Okayama | J2 League | KINCHO Stadium (Ōsaka (Osaka)) |
| 10/16/2016 | Fagiano Okayama | 1 - 1 | Cerezo Osaka | J2 League | City Light Stadium (Okayama) |
| 05/28/2016 | Cerezo Osaka | 2 - 1 | Fagiano Okayama | J2 League | Yanmar Stadium Nagai (Ōsaka (Osaka)) |
| 07/22/2015 | Cerezo Osaka | 2 - 1 | Fagiano Okayama | J2 League | KINCHO Stadium |
| 03/21/2015 | Fagiano Okayama | 1 - 1 | Cerezo Osaka | J2 League | City Light Stadium |
03/18/2026
10/18/2025
04/02/2025
12/04/2016
10/16/2016
05/28/2016
07/22/2015
03/21/2015
Cerezo Osaka Win
Fagiano Okayama Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Okayama Turn the Tide in Stunning Comeback Win at Cerezo
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 45/100. This thrilling encounter proved that sheer willpower can dismantle structured possession, completely reshaping the mid-table narrative.
Setting the Tempo
A pulsating clash erupted at Yodoko Sakura Stadium as the hosts looked to impose their will early on. Cerezo Osaka naturally dictated the tempo, taking charge of the midfield battle and effectively establishing a platform to attack. Their patient buildup paid dividends in the 19th minute. Benefiting from clever service by Y. Yokoyama, S. Sakuragawa fired a sharp strike into the net, instantly rewarding the home crowd. The hosts controlled possession during these early exchanges, utilizing their 55% share to dictate the geometry of the pitch. The Intensity rating was evident as tackles flew in and spaces were tightly contested, suggesting a long, gruelling afternoon ahead for the visitors who found themselves on the back foot despite arriving with a clear defensive strategy.
The Defining Pivot
Just as the home side seemed to be cruising toward halftime with total authority, the tactical landscape violently shifted. Fagiano Okayama refused to surrender quietly, displaying a remarkable degree of Balance as they weathered the storm and launched rapid counter-attacks. In the 45th minute, right before the whistle, the visitors struck a critical blow. A brilliant play engineered by T. Yamane carved open the previously solid home defense, allowing Werik Popo to finish with absolute conviction. That crucial equalizer fundamentally altered the psychological state of both teams heading into the dressing rooms. Instead of a comfortable march to victory, the hosts suddenly faced a desperate scrap, turning this encounter into a high-drama thriller that completely reset the tactical chessboard for the second half.
Aftermath and Echoes
The second half unfolded as a tense standoff before exploding into life late in the game. Feeling the rising Stakes, the visitors pushed forward with newly found confidence. Their persistence was spectacularly rewarded in the 69th minute when T. Yamane transformed from provider to executioner. Latching onto a precise ball from K. Kudo, Yamane decisively netted the winner, silencing the passionate home support. This result registered a massive Upset Factor, considering the visitors’ previous struggles and the pre-match probabilities. The impressive away victory lifts the underdogs to 11 points and severely dents the hosts' ambitions to climb the J1 League table. Ultimately, this hard-fought result serves as a stark reminder that controlling the ball does not guarantee controlling the outcome.
Key Questions
How did Cerezo Osaka complete the comeback from behind?
Cerezo Osaka actually took the early lead, but Fagiano Okayama mounted a stunning comeback with goals from Werik Popo and T. Yamane to win 2-1.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Cerezo Seek Consistency Against Vulnerable Okayama
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 62/100. A fascinating tactical clash awaits as an unpredictable Cerezo side looks to exploit Okayama's glaring defensive frailties to climb the table.
The Setup
With only three points separating them in the early J1 League standings, this March 18 fixture carries a modest Stakes rating but promises plenty of intrigue. Cerezo Osaka sit in sixth place, alternating wins and losses in a patchy run of Form. They welcome a Fagiano Okayama outfit struggling in tenth, having lost four of their last five matches. The visitors concede an alarming 2.4 goals per game, setting the stage for an open contest. Despite the gap in recent results, the pre-match metrics indicate a high Balance, suggesting the away side possesses enough quality to challenge the hosts at Yodoko Sakura Stadium.
Key Battle
The midfield engine room will dictate the tempo. Shunta Tanaka has been a revelation for the hosts, dictating play and providing a constant attacking threat. He faces off against Okayama's Kosuke Shirai, whose task will be to disrupt Cerezo's rhythm and shield a vulnerable backline. Whichever player imposes their will on the game's high Stars rating dynamic will likely tip the scales for their respective side.
Our Prediction
We expect a 2-1 victory for Cerezo Osaka. The visitors will create chances, but Cerezo's goalkeeper Kosuke Nakamura has been in stellar form between the posts. Okayama's leaky defence will eventually buckle under sustained pressure, allowing the hosts to secure a vital home victory.