J1 League Gameweek 3
Cerezo Osaka 1 - 0 FT Shimizu S-pulse
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Futmetrix Verdict
93
Plzen
vs
Union St. Gilloise
Thu, Sep 17 • 19:00 UTC
⚡ Form
4
⚖️ Balance
100
🏆 Stakes
100
⭐ Stars
45
A gritty start to European nights.
Futmetrix Verdict
56
OFI
vs
1899 Hoffenheim
Thu, Sep 17 • 16:45 UTC
⚡ Form
7
⚖️ Balance
54
🏆 Stakes
100
⭐ Stars
45
Hoffenheim huge favorites in Crete trip.
Futmetrix Verdict
56
Crystal Palace
vs
Lech Poznan
Thu, Sep 17 • 19:00 UTC
⚡ Form
6
⚖️ Balance
53
🏆 Stakes
100
⭐ Stars
62
Palace look to coast against Poznan.
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Cerezo Osaka
Goalkeepers
Kosuke Nakamura 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
34
Minutes
Defenders
Dion-Johan Cools 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shinnosuke Hatanaka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rikito Inoue
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Takumi Nakamura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jackson Irvine
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shunta Tanaka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ayumu Ohata
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Shinji Kagawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
46
Entry
Yumeki Yokoyama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Solomon Sakuragawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
Koto Abe
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Kyohei Noborizato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hayato Okuda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Travis Takahashi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lucas Fernandes
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kosei Okazawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Thiago Andrade
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yota Komi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pablo Sabbag
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shimizu S-pulse
Goalkeepers
Togo Umeda 
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
1
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
Hidehiro Sugai
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Park Seung-Wook
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuki Honda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mateus Brunetti
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Yudai Shimamoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Masaki Yumiba
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryo Germain
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Koya Kitagawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Oh Se-hun
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tomoya Fujii
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
Yuya Oki
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Sodai Hasukawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yutaka Yoshida
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sen Takagi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Capixaba
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dieguinho
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kei Koizumi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kai Matsuzaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kosuke Kinoshita
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/06/2026 | Shimizu S-pulse | 1 - 1 (PEN 5-3) | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | IAI Stadium Nihondaira |
| 03/07/2026 | Cerezo Osaka | 0 - 0 (PEN 4-2) | Shimizu S-pulse | J1 League | Yodoko Sakura Stadium |
| 11/09/2025 | Shimizu S-pulse | 1 - 4 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | IAI Stadium Nihondaira |
| 06/01/2025 | Cerezo Osaka | 4 - 2 | Shimizu S-pulse | J1 League | Yodoko Sakura Stadium |
| 06/26/2022 | Cerezo Osaka | 1 - 1 | Shimizu S-pulse | J1 League | Yodoko Sakura Stadium |
| 03/12/2022 | Shimizu S-pulse | 1 - 3 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | IAI Stadium Nihondaira |
| 12/04/2021 | Shimizu S-pulse | 2 - 1 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | IAI Stadium Nihondaira |
| 03/10/2021 | Cerezo Osaka | 2 - 1 | Shimizu S-pulse | J1 League | Yanmar Stadium Nagai |
| 11/14/2020 | Shimizu S-pulse | 3 - 1 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | IAI Stadium Nihondaira |
| 07/08/2020 | Cerezo Osaka | 2 - 0 | Shimizu S-pulse | J1 League | Yanmar Stadium Nagai |
05/06/2026
03/07/2026
11/09/2025
06/01/2025
06/26/2022
03/12/2022
12/04/2021
03/10/2021
11/14/2020
07/08/2020
Cerezo Osaka Win
Shimizu S-pulse Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 3 GD: +10
P: 3 GD: +5
P: 3 GD: +3
P: 3 GD: +6
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: +1
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: 0
P: 3 GD: -1
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: -2
P: 3 GD: -3
P: 3 GD: -6
League Standings
P: 7 GD: +13
P: 7 GD: +6
P: 7 GD: +3
P: 7 GD: +13
P: 7 GD: +5
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: +4
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: -4
P: 7 GD: -3
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -6
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 7 GD: -6
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Cerezo Osaka
Shimizu S-pulse
Cerezo Osaka
Shimizu S-pulse
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
A Toothless Siege at Yodoko Sakura Stadium
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 6/100. A painfully blunt encounter where Cerezo's overwhelming possession dominance amounted to absolutely nothing, leaving both sides starved of a single shot on target.
Opening Exchanges
From the opening sequences at Yodoko Sakura Stadium, it became abundantly clear that the hosts intended to dictate the rhythm of this fixture. Cerezo Osaka completely dominated possession, circulating the ball with an overwhelming 68 percent share. They constructed their attacks patiently from the back, probing a stubbornly deep defensive line. However, despite their territorial supremacy, the Intensity of their offensive transitions remained incredibly low. The ball was recycled endlessly through midfield, but penetrating passes were startlingly absent. On the other side, Shimizu S-pulse seemed entirely content to absorb the pressure, sitting back in a rigid formation. They offered absolutely zero threat on the counter-attack, allowing the home side to dictate terms without ever forcing the issue. It was a methodical start, but one utterly devoid of attacking venom.
A Blunt Edge
The anticipated turning point never truly arrived, causing the match to devolve into a frustrating tactical stalemate. The overall Balance of play heavily favored the home side, who mounted what essentially resembled a one-sided attacking siege. Cerezo registered a 4-1 advantage in total shots, constantly hovering around the penalty area and searching for a decisive breakthrough. Yet, the most damning statistic of the afternoon was the collective lack of precision; neither team managed to register a single shot on target. The home side's forwards routinely dragged their efforts wide or saw them stifled by a crowded penalty box, rendering their statistical superiority entirely meaningless. Shimizu's goalkeeper was virtually a spectator, entirely untested despite his team's inability to retain the ball. It was a masterclass in blunt attacking.
Final Whistle Fallout
Ultimately, this regular-season clash fizzled out into a highly forgettable affair. For two clubs sitting mid-table on just three points, the Stakes felt surprisingly muted, as neither side displayed the necessary desperation to claim victory. The final whistle at Yodoko Sakura Stadium brought a sense of relief to the frustrated supporters, cementing a desperately dour 0-0 draw. Cerezo Osaka will undoubtedly rue their severe lack of attacking efficiency, having wasted a vast amount of possession without creating a single clear-cut opportunity. Conversely, Shimizu S-pulse will gladly accept the away point, knowing their defensive resilience masked a completely nonexistent offensive output. Both managers have significant work ahead if they wish to climb the J1 League standings.
Key Questions
Why did Cerezo Osaka fail to win the match?
Despite dominating possession with 68%, they failed to register a single shot on target, rendering their attacking buildup useless.
How did Shimizu S-pulse perform offensively?
They struggled massively, managing only 32% possession and a single off-target shot throughout the entire match.
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.
Early Season Shadow Boxing
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 44/100. An evenly matched clash that offers a glimpse into whether these opening-day winners can build genuine momentum.
The Setup
Cerezo Osaka host Shimizu S-pulse at Yodoko Sakura Stadium with both sides looking to build on their victorious starts to the J1 League campaign. A massive Balance score points to a remarkably tight contest on paper. However, with the season in its infancy, a modest Stakes rating reflects the lack of immediate pressure. Neither side boasts a high Stars rating, meaning collective organization will dictate the tempo over individual brilliance. Solid Form across the board suggests confidence is flowing freely in both camps.
Key Battle
With individual matchups hard to isolate, this fixture will be won in the midfield trenches. The home side's engine room must disrupt the visitors' transitional play and prevent them from settling into a rhythm. Expect a gritty, physical battle for possession in the center of the park.
Our Prediction
A tactical stalemate. Both sides will prioritize avoiding defeat over taking massive risks. Expect a tightly contested 1-1 draw, with the defensive units largely neutralizing the opposing attacks throughout the 90 minutes.