J1 League Regular Season - 4
V-varen Nagasaki 1 - 0 FT Cerezo Osaka
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Dion Cools 25'
Dion Cools 26'
38' Matheus Jesus (M. Hasegawa)
HT
↓ R. Sakata ↑Y. Yokoyama 57'
↓ M. Shibayama ↑M. Nakajima 57'
64' ↓ M. Hasegawa ↑Y. Iwasaki
64' ↓ R. Yamada ↑Diego Pituca
↓ S. Kagawa ↑N. Ishiwatari 71'
75' ↓ Thiago ↑K. Kushibiki
75' ↓ N. Campbell ↑R. Yamasaki
↓ D. Cools ↑H. Okuda 81'
↓ Thiago Andrade ↑K. Yengi 81'
89' Diego Pituca
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
V-varen Nagasaki
Goalkeepers
M. Goto 
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
0
Assists
17%
Pass Acc
Defenders
Midfielders
R. Yamada 
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
H. Yamaguchi 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Campbell
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Matheus Jesus 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
9
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
M. Hasegawa
ARCHITECT
5
Key Passes
5
Key Passes
1
Assists
35%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Thiago
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
75
Total Mins
75
Entry
BENCH
G. Hatano 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
K. Kushibiki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Tadokoro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Sawada
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Diego Pituca
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Kasayanagi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Matsumoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Iwasaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Yamasaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Cerezo Osaka
Goalkeepers
K. Nakamura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
D. Cools
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
R. Inoue
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Hatanaka 
MAGNET
84
Activity
84
Activity
67
Passes
17
Duels
A. Ohata
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
S. Kagawa
MAGNET
75
Activity
75
Activity
70
Passes
5
Duels
S. Tanaka
MAGNET
71
Activity
71
Activity
67
Passes
4
Duels
R. Sakata
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
21%
Pass Acc
M. Shibayama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
57
Total Mins
57
Entry
Thiago Andrade
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
Forwards
S. Sakuragawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
K. Fukui
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
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
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Kida
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Yokoyama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
33
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Ishiwatari
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Homma
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Nakajima
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
8%
Pass Acc
K. Yengi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/28/2026 | V-varen Nagasaki | 1 - 0 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | Peace Stadium |
| 08/19/2018 | V-varen Nagasaki | 0 - 2 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | Nagasaki Prefectural Stadium |
| 05/05/2018 | Cerezo Osaka | 3 - 1 | V-varen Nagasaki | J1 League | Osaka Nagai Stadium |
| 09/11/2016 | Cerezo Osaka | 2 - 0 | V-varen Nagasaki | J2 League | KINCHO Stadium (Ōsaka (Osaka)) |
| 06/08/2016 | V-varen Nagasaki | 1 - 2 | Cerezo Osaka | J2 League | Nagasaki Prefectural Sports Park Athletics Stadium (Isahaya) |
| 11/14/2015 | V-varen Nagasaki | 2 - 0 | Cerezo Osaka | J2 League | Nagasaki Prefectural Sports Park Athletics Stadium |
| 05/17/2015 | Cerezo Osaka | 1 - 2 | V-varen Nagasaki | J2 League | KINCHO Stadium |
02/28/2026
08/19/2018
05/05/2018
09/11/2016
06/08/2016
11/14/2015
05/17/2015
V-varen Nagasaki Win
Cerezo Osaka Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
10-Man Cerezo Osaka Fall to Gritty Nagasaki
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 37/100. An early red card completely derailed the visitors' game plan, allowing the hosts to defy the odds and secure a massive victory.
The Opening Act
The match at Peace Stadium began with a relentless tempo that pushed our Intensity metric off the charts right from the opening whistle. Cerezo Osaka stepped onto the pitch with clear tactical intent, controlling possession with 58% of the ball and looking to dictate the flow of the game through patient build-up play. The home supporters, however, made their presence felt, creating a cauldron of noise that spurred their team on. The visitors' carefully constructed game plan completely imploded in the 25th minute following a moment of high drama. A crucial VAR intervention halted proceedings, ultimately resulting in a card upgrade that sent Dion Cools for an early shower. This abrupt dismissal flipped the tactical script entirely, forcing the away side into a frantic defensive scramble while giving the hosts a sudden, unexpected avenue to impose their will.
The Pivot
Handed a priceless man advantage, V-varen Nagasaki seized their moment with ruthless intent, drastically raising the Upset Factor of this league clash. They unleashed a relentless attacking barrage, ultimately racking up an incredible 22 shots as they laid siege to the opposition penalty area. The vital breakthrough finally arrived in the 38th minute, sending the home crowd into sheer delirium. M. Hasegawa showed brilliant vision to unlock the depleted defence, teeing up Matheus Jesus in a dangerous position. The Brazilian playmaker made absolutely no mistake, drilling home the opener with clinical precision. Despite being a man down and facing wave after wave of pressure, Cerezo refused to buckle entirely. They relied heavily on the sheer brilliance of Kosuke Nakamura, who produced five stunning saves to keep his team within striking distance.
Resolution
The second half developed into an end-to-end spectacle, testing the sheer Balance of the contest as desperation began to set in for the visitors. Cerezo Osaka pushed valiantly for an equaliser, attempting 14 shots of their own in a bold display of defiance, but they found an impenetrable brick wall in Masaaki Goto. The Nagasaki shot-stopper brilliantly matched his counterpart's heroics, delivering four crucial saves to preserve a hard-earned clean sheet. A combined 36 shots and 12 corners highlighted the relentless attacking intent from both dugouts, turning the pitch into a genuine battlefield. Ultimately, the hosts held their nerve through the final anxious minutes to secure a vital 1-0 triumph. This shock result proves that tactical discipline and capitalising on critical errors can bridge any perceived gap in quality, reshaping the momentum of their respective seasons.
Key Questions
How did Cerezo Osaka pull off this shock result?
Cerezo Osaka actually suffered the shock defeat. V-varen Nagasaki pulled off the massive upset by capitalising on an early red card and holding firm.
What made Matheus Jesus the Man of the Match?
He scored the decisive match-winning goal in the 38th minute, converting a vital chance to secure an improbable victory for his side.
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 J1 Assertions on the Line at Peace Stadium
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 45/100. This clash is a severe litmus test for both sides' top-half ambitions as Cerezo Osaka arrive with formidable away momentum.
The Setup
This February 28 clash at Peace Stadium sees V-varen Nagasaki desperately trying to string together a consistent run of results. Cerezo Osaka hit the road with a formidable away record, boasting an intimidating Form rating that spells trouble for the hosts. With only two points separating them in the table, the modest Stakes of early-season jockeying mask a fixture where pride and momentum are firmly on the line. The low Balance rating reflects the heavy expectation of an away victory, leaving Nagasaki with a mountain to climb.
Key Battle
It's a genuine clash of Stars as V-varen's Norman Campbell faces off against Osaka's tactical lynchpin, Motohiko Nakajima. Campbell has been electric in the attacking third, but he must find a way past Jin Hyeon Kim, a keeper currently in inspired form between the sticks for the visitors. Nakajima's ability to dictate play from midfield will be crucial in neutralizing the hosts before they even reach the final third.
Our Prediction
Cerezo Osaka will dictate the tempo from the first whistle, starving Nagasaki of the ball and striking with clinical efficiency. Expect the visitors to exploit the defensive cracks of the home side, securing a comfortable 2-0 victory while dismantling Nagasaki's transitions with high-pressing precision.