J1 League Gameweek 3
Cerezo Osaka 1 - 2 FT Sanfrecce Hiroshima
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Futmetrix Verdict
43
Coventry
vs
Newcastle
Mon, Oct 12 • 19:00 UTC
⚡ Form
47
⚖️ Balance
95
🏆 Stakes
0
⭐ Stars
72
Coventry's survival bid meets Newcastle's inconsistency.
Futmetrix Verdict
83
Al-Wasl FC
vs
Al-Ahli Jeddah
Mon, Oct 12 • 16:00 UTC
⚡ Form
31
⚖️ Balance
82
🏆 Stakes
0
⭐ Stars
66
Early AFC Champions League Elite test.
Futmetrix Verdict
45
Atalanta
vs
Venezia
Mon, Oct 12 • 16:30 UTC
⚡ Form
51
⚖️ Balance
60
🏆 Stakes
0
⭐ Stars
64
Desperate Venezia seek lifeline against Atalanta.
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
HT
46' ↓ R. Inoue ↑S. Hatanaka
R. Germain 55'
↓ M. Ohara ↑K. Kinoshita 59'
64' ↓ A. Ohata ↑K. Noborizato
64' ↓ Thiago Andrade ↑Y. Yokoyama
↓ H. Kawabe ↑T. Matsumoto 71'
↓ A. Suzuki ↑S. Nakamura 71'
76' ↓ R. Sakata ↑M. Nakajima
76' ↓ H. Kida ↑K. Yengi
↓ T. Yamasaki ↑N. Arai 82'
↓ R. Germain ↑M. Kato 82'
90' S. Sakuragawa
S. Higashi (S. Nakamura) 90'
90'+10 Shinji Kagawa
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Cerezo Osaka
Goalkeepers
Kosuke Nakamura 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Dion-Johan Cools 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
67%
Duel Win %
Rikito Inoue
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Shunta Tanaka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ayumu Ohata
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
64
Entry
Midfielders
Hinata Kida
LATE SHIFT
14
Late Mins
14
Late Mins
76
Total Mins
76
Entry
Shinji Kagawa 
MAGNET
83
Activity
83
Activity
65
Passes
18
Duels
Reiya Sakata
LATE SHIFT
14
Late Mins
14
Late Mins
76
Total Mins
76
Entry
Masaya Shibayama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Thiago Andrade
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
64
Entry
Forwards
Solomon Sakuragawa 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.5
Rating
BENCH
Koki Fukui 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Kyohei Noborizato
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
100%
Duel Win %
Hayato Okuda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shinnosuke Hatanaka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Yokoyama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nelson Ishiwatari
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shion Homma
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Motohiko Nakajima
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kusini Yengi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Goalkeepers
Keisuke Osako
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Tsukasa Shiotani
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hayato Araki
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
83%
Duel Win %
Kim Ju-sung
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Shuto Nakano 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Hayao Kawabe
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
Taichi Yamasaki
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Shunki Higashi
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.2
Rating
Forwards
Ryo Germain 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Motoki Ohara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
59
Total Mins
59
Entry
Akito Suzuki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
BENCH
Issei Ouchi
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Takaaki Shichi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Naoto Arai
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Taishi Matsumoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Daiki Suga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yotaro Nakajima
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kosuke Kinoshita
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
31
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sota Nakamura 
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
19
Minutes
6.9
Rating
Mutsuki Kato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/25/2026 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 2 - 1 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 02/22/2026 | Cerezo Osaka | 1 - 2 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Yodoko Sakura Stadium |
| 08/31/2025 | Cerezo Osaka | 1 - 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Yodoko Sakura Stadium |
| 04/06/2025 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 2 - 1 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | Hiroshima Big Arch |
| 08/11/2024 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 2 - 0 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima Stadium |
| 05/26/2024 | Cerezo Osaka | 1 - 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Yodoko Sakura Stadium |
| 10/21/2023 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 0 - 0 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | EDION Stadium |
| 04/29/2023 | Cerezo Osaka | 0 - 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Yodoko Sakura Stadium |
| 10/22/2022 | Cerezo Osaka | 1 - 2 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J-League Cup | Japan National Stadium |
| 09/07/2022 | Cerezo Osaka | 1 - 2 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Emperor Cup | Yodoko Sakura Stadium |
04/25/2026
02/22/2026
08/31/2025
04/06/2025
08/11/2024
05/26/2024
10/21/2023
04/29/2023
10/22/2022
09/07/2022
Cerezo Osaka Win
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 3 GD: +4
P: 3 GD: +4
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 3 GD: +2
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: +2
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: -4
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: -5
P: 3 GD: -4
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: -4
P: 3 GD: -4
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Cerezo Osaka
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Cerezo Osaka
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
90th-Minute Mayhem Hands Sanfrecce the Points
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 60/100. A pedestrian tactical battle exploded into a breathless finale, proving exactly why this league demands your attention until the very end.
Tactical Trenches
Cerezo Osaka edged possession early on, dictating the tempo at Yodoko Sakura Stadium. However, their 52% share of the ball rarely translated into clear openings. Shinji Kagawa pulled the strings in midfield, yet the hosts managed just one shot on target all match. Sanfrecce Hiroshima were happy to absorb the pressure, defending resolutely while waiting for transition opportunities. A modest Intensity defined the first half as both sides cancelled each other out, keeping the Balance of the match firmly intact. The visitors threatened on the break, racking up 14 total shots, but the opening 45 minutes remained a tense stalemate of unfulfilled attacking promise.
Germain Breaks the Deadlock
The turning point arrived in the 55th minute. Sanfrecce Hiroshima finally found their cutting edge when R. Germain fired home to shatter the deadlock. This sudden breakthrough forced Cerezo to abandon their cautious approach. Defensive standout Ayumu Ohata pushed higher up the pitch to support the attack, though the hosts continually struggled to penetrate Hiroshima's defensive block. The Stakes rose dramatically as the clock ticked down. Cerezo threw bodies forward in desperation, while Hiroshima looked dangerous on the counter, generating an impressive 1.79 xG compared to the hosts' 0.96. The match seemed destined for a gritty 1-0 away victory.
Stoppage Time Chaos
Then came the 90th minute. S. Sakuragawa sparked wild celebrations by finding a dramatic equalizer for Cerezo Osaka out of nothing. But the joy was painfully short-lived. In a jaw-dropping twist that sent the Upset Factor off the charts, substitute S. Nakamura instantly carved open the hosts' defense, serving up a perfect assist for S. Higashi to bury the winner moments later. The lead swung violently in stoppage time, leaving the home fans stunned. Hiroshima's 2-1 victory snapped their grim losing streak, serving as a brutal reminder that football matches are never over until the referee says so.
Key Questions
How did Sanfrecce Hiroshima pull off this shock result?
By exploiting counter-attacks. They generated 14 shots and 1.79 xG despite having less possession, ruthlessly punishing Cerezo's late defensive lapses.
Did Cerezo Osaka deserve the late equalizer?
Statistically, no. Cerezo managed just one shot on target all game, though Sakuragawa's clinical finish nearly stole them an unlikely point.
How did substitute Ayumu Ohata change the game?
While actually a starter, Ohata's relentless energy and late tactical shifts from defense sparked Cerezo's desperate attacking push in the dying moments.
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.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
Mid-Table Survival: Cerezo Osaka's Six-Pointer Against Sputtering Sanfrecce
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 53/100. With a single point separating sixth from seventh, this clash at Yodoko Sakura Stadium is a genuine six-pointer that will severely test Sanfrecce Hiroshima's crumbling resolve.
The Setup
Cerezo Osaka enter February 22 sitting sixth, holding a narrow advantage over a Sanfrecce Hiroshima side in freefall. The visitors drag a dismal four-match losing streak into this fixture, exposing a desperately low Form rating. Conversely, Cerezo's Stars rating shines bright, bolstered by goalkeeper Jin Hyeon Kim, who reliably anchors the backline. A high Stakes dimension confirms this is no ordinary regular-season bout—it is a brutal fight for top-half positioning, despite a deeply skewed Balance heavily favoring the hosts.
Key Battle
Cerezo's Motohiko Nakajima takes on Sanfrecce's Shuto Nakano in a duel that will define the midfield tempo. Nakano brings an attacking edge, but Nakajima's creative engine will ruthlessly target Hiroshima's fragile transition defense.
Our Prediction
Cerezo Osaka takes this comfortably. Hiroshima's dreadful recent form offers no evidence of an imminent revival. The hosts will dominate possession early, utilizing their superior tactical setup to punish Sanfrecce on the break and easily secure the three points.