J1 League 3rd place
FC Tokyo 1 - 3 FT Cerezo Osaka
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
5' K. Sato
S. Homma (M. Shibayama) 10'
29' ↓ K. Sato ↑L. Nozawa
S. Sakuragawa 35'
S. Sakuragawa (M. Shibayama) 43'
HT
↓ K. Noborizato ↑A. Ohata 59'
61' ↓ K. Endo ↑K. Tawaratsumida
61' ↓ Marcelo Ryan ↑F. Yamada
62' R. Sato (L. Nozawa)
↓ S. Sakuragawa ↑Thiago Andrade 66'
↓ S. Kagawa ↑K. Yoshino 67'
M. Shibayama 69'
73' K. Hashimoto
76' ↓ K. Koizumi ↑K. Higashi
76' ↓ K. Tokiwa ↑T. Ogashiwa
↓ S. Homma ↑T. Nakamura 78'
↓ M. Nakajima ↑S. Uejo 79'
D. Cools 89'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
FC Tokyo
Goalkeepers
Hayate Tanaka 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
1
Fouls
6.2
Rating
Defenders
Sei Muroya 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Alexander Scholz 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
66%
Pass Acc
Hayato Inamura
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
74%
Pass Acc
Kento Hashimoto 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
100
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Kein Sato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
29
Entry
Kei Koizumi
LATE SHIFT
14
Late Mins
14
Late Mins
76
Total Mins
76
Entry
Kyota Tokiwa
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Keita Endo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
61
Total Mins
61
Entry
Forwards
Marcelo Ryan
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
61
Total Mins
61
Entry
Ryunosuke Sato 
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
BENCH
Wataru Goto 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Masato Morishige
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rio Omori
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kanta Doi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kota Tawaratsumida
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
39
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Fuki Yamada
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Keigo Higashi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Leon Nozawa 
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
71
Minutes
7.2
Rating
Tsuyoshi Ogashiwa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Cerezo Osaka
Goalkeepers
Kosuke Nakamura 
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
1
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
Dion Cools
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Rikito Inoue
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
100
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shinnosuke Hatanaka 
SWEEPER
5
Cleanups
5
Cleanups
3
Interceptions
2
Blocks
Kyohei Noborizato
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
3
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Midfielders
Motohiko Nakajima
LATE SHIFT
11
Late Mins
11
Late Mins
79
Total Mins
79
Entry
Shunta Tanaka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
100
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Masaya Shibayama
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
2
Assists
36%
Pass Acc
Shinji Kagawa
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
44%
Pass Acc
Shion Homma
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Forwards
Solomon Sakuragawa 
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
2
On Target
8.2
Rating
BENCH
Jin Hyeon Kim
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Ayumu Ohata
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
40
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Takumi Nakamura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hayato Tanaka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hinata Kida
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kyohei Yoshino
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
33
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Satoki Uejo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Thiago Andrade
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Wigi Kanemoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/30/2026 | Cerezo Osaka | 2 - 2 | FC Tokyo | J1 League | Yodoko Sakura Stadium |
| 08/06/2025 | FC Tokyo | 2 - 1 | Cerezo Osaka | Emperor Cup | Yodoko Sakura Stadium |
| 06/14/2025 | FC Tokyo | 2 - 2 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | Ajinomoto Stadium |
| 04/20/2025 | Cerezo Osaka | 1 - 1 | FC Tokyo | J1 League | Yodoko Sakura Stadium |
| 12/08/2024 | FC Tokyo | 3 - 0 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | Ajinomoto Stadium |
| 02/24/2024 | Cerezo Osaka | 2 - 2 | FC Tokyo | J1 League | Yodoko Sakura Stadium |
| 08/06/2023 | Cerezo Osaka | 0 - 1 | FC Tokyo | J1 League | Yodoko Sakura Stadium |
| 05/24/2023 | FC Tokyo | 0 - 0 | Cerezo Osaka | J-League Cup | Ajinomoto Stadium |
| 04/15/2023 | FC Tokyo | 1 - 2 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | Ajinomoto Stadium |
| 03/08/2023 | Cerezo Osaka | 1 - 0 | FC Tokyo | J-League Cup | Yodoko Sakura Stadium |
05/30/2026
08/06/2025
06/14/2025
04/20/2025
12/08/2024
02/24/2024
08/06/2023
05/24/2023
04/15/2023
03/08/2023
FC Tokyo Win
Cerezo Osaka Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Cherry Blossoms Bloom in Tokyo: Cerezo Clinch Knockout Progression
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 83/100. An explosive first-half display from the visitors shattered the aggregate deadlock, turning a knife-edge tie into a masterclass in clinical finishing.
Early Chaos and Disallowed Drama
Stepping onto the pitch at the National Olympic Stadium tied 2-2 on aggregate, the Stakes could not have been higher. FC Tokyo thought they had drawn first blood in the 5th minute, but VAR ruled out K. Sato's effort for a handball. That let-off sparked Cerezo Osaka into life. Just five minutes later, M. Shibayama unlocked the defence to feed S. Homma, who rifled home the opener. This rapid swing completely destroyed the fragile Balance of the tie, forcing the hosts to chase the game and leaving them desperately exposed on the counter.
Sakuragawa's Ruthless Masterclass
The hosts edged possession and generated immense corner pressure with 11 set-pieces, but they lacked a cutting edge. Enter S. Sakuragawa, who delivered a devastating first-half brace. He converted a penalty in the 35th minute to double the advantage, before linking up with Shibayama—who grabbed his second assist of the night—just before the break. The sheer Intensity of Cerezo's transitional play was overwhelming. Tokyo battered the door with 22 total shots, but the visitors’ ruthless efficiency in front of goal completely altered the complexion of this knockout stage bout.
Too Little, Too Late for Tokyo
Facing a massive 5-2 aggregate deficit, the capital club finally found some joy in the 62nd minute. Substitute L. Nozawa made an immediate impact, teeing up R. Sato for a well-deserved consolation goal. Sato was instrumental, pulling the strings with six key passes, but the towering Upset Factor held firm. Cerezo absorbed a barrage of pressure, safely navigating the final half-hour to secure a 5-3 aggregate triumph. The visitors progress to the next round, leaving FC Tokyo to rue a night of missed opportunities and VAR heartbreak at the National Olympic Stadium.
Key Questions
What made Ryunosuke Sato the Man of the Match?
Despite the aggregate defeat, he was a creative force, scoring a second-half goal and driving the attack with an exceptional six key passes.
How did substitute Ryunosuke Sato change the game?
Though he actually started the match, Sato injected late hope by scoring in the 62nd minute and constantly threading balls through Cerezo's stubborn defence.
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.
Winner Takes All in Second Leg Showdown
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 68/100. With the tie balanced on a knife-edge after a thrilling 2-2 first leg, this crucial clash will define the title aspirations for both clubs.
The Setup
FC Tokyo and Cerezo Osaka arrive at Ajinomoto Stadium knowing their entire season hinges on this crucial second leg. Following a breathless 2-2 draw in the first encounter, a flawless Balance rating highlights just how evenly matched these two heavyweights are. FC Tokyo have been imperious in their recent domestic campaign, but Cerezo Osaka's dangerous away Form—boasting five victories from nine matches on the road—ensures this tie remains incredibly unpredictable. The Stakes are absolutely colossal for this showdown. Advancing from this tie isn't just about knockout survival; it's a monumental step in the title race, with the victors gaining massive psychological momentum to push for the championship.
Key Battle
FC Tokyo's defensive unit faces an immense test against Cerezo Osaka's free-scoring forward line. With the visitors bringing exceptional Stars into the final third, the hosts must organise their backline flawlessly. Their ability to absorb pressure and prevent Cerezo from snatching a vital away victory will completely dictate which side breaks the aggregate deadlock.
Our Prediction
Expect a tense, tactical opening half as both sides fear making a fatal mistake. However, Cerezo Osaka's superior attacking momentum will eventually overwhelm the hosts late in the game, securing a narrow 2-1 victory on the night to progress 4-3 on aggregate.