By Pearse McLaughlin
It’s a share of the Spoils here at Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium as Kawasaki Frontale drew 0-0 with Cerezo Osaka. A draw was the right result upon reflection as it was a match with very few chances and ultimately cancelled each other out.
Kawasaki Frontale boss, Toru Oniki has altered his formation from the 4-3-3 formation that lost 1-0 last time out to Albirex Niigata and has gone with 4-1-2-3 formation as they look to get back to winning ways. Kawasaki Frontale have also made five changes to their starting line-up as Kazuya Yamamura, Asahi Sasaki, Yasuto Wakizaka, Ryota Oshima, Taisei Miyashiro are all replaced by Takuma Ominami, Kyohei Noborizato, Joao Schmidt, Chanathip Songkrasin, Shin Yamada.
Cerezo Osaka boss, Akio Kogiku has also changed his formation to the 4-1-2-3 formation and went away from the 4-2-3-1 formation that won last time out 2-1 against Sagan Tosu. There are no alterations in terms of personnel as Akio Kogiku looks to keep consistency in the side that won last time out.
On the 38th minute and a golden opportunity is squandered by Seiya Maikuma who tried the flick the ball into the back of the net with the outside of his right boot where he was probably best served swinging his weaker left foot at it. It was terrific ball in by Ryosuke Yamanaka and a great run in the first place by Seiya Maikuma, but his effort lacked any conviction and was a tame effort in the end. Big chance.
It was a first half of no noticeable chances for either side and both managers will be looking for a vast improvement in the second half if either side is going to go on and claim all three points.
First major opportunity in the second half for Cerezo Osaka came on the 73rd minute as Seiya Maikuma couldn’t slot the ball past Jung Sung-Ryong at his near post. The ball is played back to Kim Jin-Hyeon who kicks the ball long and in behind the Kawasaki Frontale backline which Shuto Tanabe misjudges the bounce of the ball and allows Seiya Maikuma in one-on-one, but Jung Sung-Ryong comes rushing out his goal early and smothered the shot. The ball broke kindly for substitute Satoki Uejo who has just come on but his effort from the edge of the box is high and wide.
With just four minutes left of the 90, a throw in deep in Cerezo’s territory as Akihiro Ienaga plays a one two with Taisei Miyashiro before whipping in a dangerous cross into the box which Hiroaki Okuno will be breathing a huge sigh of relief as he flicks the ball on at the near post to substitute and Kawasaki Frontale legend Yu Kobayashi who found himself free on the six-yard-box but planted his header straight at the goalkeeper. Big chance wasted. A lot better from the home side.
A mere two minutes later, it’s a half chance for Sakura as Koji Toriumi found himself free in the box but his half-volleyed attempt at goal was well defended. The ball breaks on the right-hand side of the box following a knock down from Matej Jonjic who rose highest against his marker before knocking it down for Koji Toriumi who fluffed his lines as his half-volley was sliced towards goal but chested clear by Kento Tachibanada.
Kawasaki Frontale will feel they should have taken the lead right on the stroke of the 90th minute, as Akihiro Ienaga is hauled over in a dangerous position by Capixaba who has been on the field for only five minutes but receives a booking for a cynical foul on Akihiro Ienega. An inch perfect cross from the resulting free kick by Miki Yamane was met brilliantly on the penalty spot by Taisei Miyashiro who evaded his marker brilliantly but somehow glanced his header wide of the left-hand post. Massive opportunity squandered. It remains 0-0.
With 2 minutes of the 4 additional minutes played there is VAR drama here for the Azzuro Nero as they have a goal chalked off for what appears to be offside. Kyohei Noborizato plays the ball down the channel and in behind Osaka’s back line for Yu Kobayashi who cuts inside and saw his deflected shot fall to Yusuke Segawa who hooks the ball back into the mixer via the crossbar and Akihiro Ienaga reacts quickest and drilled across to Taisei Miyashiro who slid the ball into the net. After a quick review by the officials the play resumes. Certainly, a debatable decision as they looked totally fine to me. Should have been the breakthrough for Kawasaki Frontale.
Struggles continue for Kawasaki Frontale as Cerezo Osaka who won last week will be delighted with a point but is a game they feel they might have won. Toru Oniki’s side didn’t really create anything until right at the end where they may have had a goal wrongly ruled out. That debate is for others and that will rage on. Still no home wins this season for Kawasaki Frontale and still only one win this campaign from the opening five matchdays. Cerezo Osaka played the better football and will no doubt be the happier of the two sides with the end result. Kawasaki are going to have to click and click soon if they are going to have a title push this season.
Next up for Kawasaki Frontale is a home League Cup tie against Shonan Bellmare straight after the international break on Sunday the 26th of March. Kawasaki Frontale will be hoping to grab a goal and end the unwanted record of going 2 matches without scoring to really kick on after their poor start to the season. Next up for Cerezo Osaka is another away tie but this time it is in the League Cup when domestic football resumes in 2 weeks’ time against Gamba Osaka on Sunday the 26th of March. This will be a thrilling encounter between two local rivals in what is going to be a special matchup.
Kawasaki Frontale: Jung Sung-Ryong, Miki Yamane, Takuma Ominami, Shuto Tanabe, Kyohei Noborizato, Joao Schmidt, Chanathip Songkrasin (Yu Kobayashi 76’), Kento Tachibanada, Akihiro Ienaga, Shin Yamada (Taisei Miyashiro 76’), Marcinho (Yusuke Segawa 86’). Subs not used: Naoto Kamifukumoto, Yuto Matsunagane, Daiya Tono, Kazuki Kozuka.
Cerezo Osaka: Kim Jin-Hyeon, Riku Matsuda (Ryosuke Shindo 90+1’), Matej Jonjic, Koji Toriumi, Ryosuke Yamanaka, Hiroaki Okuno, Tokuma Suzuki, Seiya Maikuma, Shinji Kagawa (Satoki Uejo 70’), Hirotaka Tameda (Capixaba 83’), Kato Mutsuki (Leo 70’). Subs not used: Jordy Croux, Keisuke Shimizu, Hinata Kida.
Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
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