J1 League Regular Season - 11
Cerezo Osaka 3 - 0 FT Kyoto Sanga
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
T. Hirato 13'
18' Thiago Andrade (M. Shibayama)
↓ K. Sakai ↑M. Okugawa 28'
HT
K. Sato 50'
↓ T. Hirato ↑H. Sugai 59'
↓ K. Sato ↑R. Nakano 59'
61' ↓ Thiago Andrade ↑S. Sakuragawa
67' S. Homma
↓ Gustavo Barreto ↑David 72'
↓ S. Yoon ↑H. Arai 72'
80' ↓ S. Homma ↑S. Uejo
80' ↓ M. Shibayama ↑Y. Yokoyama
90'+3 ↓ M. Nakajima ↑S. Kagawa
H. Sugai 90'+5
90'+7 S. Sakuragawa
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Cerezo Osaka
Goalkeepers
Kosuke Nakamura 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Hayato Okuda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rikito Inoue 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
3
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Shinnosuke Hatanaka 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
80%
Duel Win %
Ayumu Ohata
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Midfielders
Nelson Ishiwatari 
ENFORCER
4
Tackles
4
Tackles
10
Duels Won
71%
Win %
Shunta Tanaka 
SWEEPER
6
Cleanups
6
Cleanups
5
Interceptions
1
Blocks
Masaya Shibayama 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7.2
Rating
Motohiko Nakajima
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Shion Homma 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Forwards
Thiago Andrade
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
BENCH
Jin Hyeon Kim 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Dion Cools
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kyohei Noborizato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Satoki Uejo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yumeki Yokoyama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kyohei Yoshino
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shinji Kagawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
2
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hinata Kida
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Solomon Sakuragawa 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
6.2
Rating
Kyoto Sanga
Goalkeepers
Gakuji Ota
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Shinnosuke Fukuda 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Yoshinori Suzuki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Henrique Trevisan
SWEEPER
7
Cleanups
7
Cleanups
7
Interceptions
0
Blocks
Kyo Sato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
59
Total Mins
59
Entry
Midfielders
João Pedro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sung-jun Yoon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
72
Entry
Taiki Hirato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
59
Total Mins
59
Entry
Forwards
Marco Túlio
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
95
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Barreto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
72
Total Mins
72
Entry
Ko Sakai
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
28
Entry
BENCH
Kentaro Kakoi
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Hidehiro Sugai
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
36
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shogo Asada
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Masaya Okugawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
67
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryuma Nakano
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
36
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Takuji Yonemoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Haruki Arai
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Taiyo Hiraoka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
David
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/14/2026 | Kyoto Sanga | 1 - 2 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 09/28/2025 | Cerezo Osaka | 1 - 2 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | Yodoko Sakura Stadium |
| 05/21/2025 | Kyoto Sanga | 1 - 4 | Cerezo Osaka | J-League Cup | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 05/03/2025 | Kyoto Sanga | 2 - 3 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 08/17/2024 | Cerezo Osaka | 3 - 5 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | Yodoko Sakura Stadium |
| 06/01/2024 | Kyoto Sanga | 1 - 1 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
03/14/2026
09/28/2025
05/21/2025
05/03/2025
08/17/2024
06/01/2024
Cerezo Osaka Win
Kyoto Sanga Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 11 GD: +12
P: 11 GD: +3
P: 11 GD: +3
P: 11 GD: +1
P: 11 GD: +1
P: 11 GD: +1
P: 11 GD: +1
P: 11 GD: -7
P: 11 GD: -7
P: 11 GD: -8
League Standings
P: 18 GD: +4
P: 18 GD: +9
P: 18 GD: +2
P: 18 GD: +8
P: 18 GD: -3
P: 17 GD: +5
P: 17 GD: -1
P: 18 GD: -6
P: 18 GD: -8
P: 18 GD: -10
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Clinical Cerezo Osaka Punish Profligate Kyoto
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 37/100. A ruthless display of finishing settled this top-half clash as the hosts made every single shot on target count to leapfrog their rivals.
The Opening Salvo
At Yodoko Sakura Stadium, this was a clash between fourth and fifth in the J1 League table. The Stakes were genuinely high for early-season positioning. Kyoto Sanga actually edged possession and looked threatening early on, pressing with intent. But Cerezo Osaka had entirely different plans. Against the run of play, M. Shibayama threaded a neat ball through for Thiago Andrade to break the deadlock in the 18th minute. It completely changed the complexion of the afternoon. Kyoto threw bodies forward, but their barrage of 13 attempts lacked the required venom to disturb the hosts.
The Wall and the Counter
The match maintained a ferocious Intensity as Kyoto chased an equalizer, committing 16 fouls in a desperate bid to disrupt the home side's rhythm. Yet, the turning point wasn't an attacking masterclass, but a monumental defensive stand. Kosuke Nakamura was an absolute brick wall in goal, pulling off four crucial saves to preserve the narrow lead. His heroics allowed Cerezo to patiently bide their time. When the counter-attack finally materialized in the 67th minute, Shion Homma seized his moment, doubling the advantage. It was a hammer blow that completely shattered Kyoto's resolve, definitively tipping the Balance of the tie.
Ruthless Efficiency Rewarded
Any lingering questions about a potential comeback were silenced deep into stoppage time. S. Sakuragawa added a third in the 97th minute, putting a harsh gloss on the scoreline. The underlying numbers tell a fascinating story—Cerezo managed exactly three shots on target all match, and every single one found the back of the net. Nelson Ishiwatari also orchestrated brilliantly from midfield to dictate the final stages. This 3-0 victory sees Cerezo climb the standings, serving as a brutal reminder that territorial advantage means absolutely nothing without a killer instinct in the final third.
Key Questions
Who was the standout performer for Cerezo Osaka?
Kosuke Nakamura was vital, making four key saves to keep a clean sheet and frustrate the visitors entirely.
Why did Kyoto Sanga lose despite controlling parts of the match?
They edged possession and created 13 shots, but their lack of clinical finishing and frequent fouling cost them dearly.
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.
A High-Stakes Kansai Clash With Title Ramifications
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 51/100. With just three points separating these ambitious sides, this match represents a crucial early-season inflection point for both clubs' J1 League campaigns.
The Setup
The stakes could scarcely be higher on April 18, 2026, as Cerezo Osaka welcome Kyoto Sanga to the Yodoko Sakura Stadium. Sitting in 6th place with 14 points, the hosts trail their 2nd-place visitors by exactly three points. This represents a genuine six-pointer in the tight upper echelons of the J1 League. An exceptionally high Stakes rating confirms the gravity of the occasion. Both teams arrive with oscillating Form—trading wins and losses over their last five outings—but a near-perfect Balance rating suggests there is virtually nothing to separate these two Kansai rivals on paper.
Key Battle
The match could well be decided by a glittering showcase of individual quality, reflected in a robust Stars rating. Thiago Andrade carries the attacking threat for Cerezo Osaka, capable of unlocking tight defensive lines. He will be matched on the other end by Kyoto Sanga's João Pedro. Whichever attacker can find space in what promises to be a congested midfield will likely dictate the rhythm of the game.
Our Prediction
Given the immense pressure and tight proximity in the standings, expect a cagey affair to begin with. Neither side will want to surrender ground to a direct rival. As legs tire in the second half, the game should open up, but the sheer competitive equality suggests they might cancel each other out. A gritty 1-1 draw seems the most likely outcome, keeping Kyoto ahead while allowing Cerezo to stay within striking distance.