Cerezo Osaka players including Shinji Kagawa, third from right, react after drawing with Urawa Reds in a J-League first-division match at Yodoko Sakura Stadium in Osaka on March 28, 2025. (Kyodo)
OSAKA (Kyodo) — Cerezo Osaka and Urawa Reds drew 1-1 in the J-League first division on Friday to ensure both teams remained with just one win apiece from their opening seven games to the season.
After winning away to local rivals Gamba Osaka in the season’s curtain raiser on Feb. 14, Cerezo have endured a difficult start to the campaign and sit 18th on six points, a point below Urawa who have not lived up to their strong preseason billing either.
Hosts Cerezo led inside two minutes at Yodoko Sakura Stadium when left-back Kyohei Noborizato’s arrowing pass was controlled on the chest by winger Thiago Andrade, and his square ball was tapped home by his Brazilian compatriot Rafael Ratao.
Cerezo right-back Hayato Okuda sent a looping effort from distance just over after Urawa keeper Shusaku Nishikawa came off his line, while Ratao dragged a shot wide from outside the box for the dominant home side in the first half.
Urawa grew into the game after the break and forward Thiago Santana had a headed goal ruled out in the 74th minute for a push. Three substitutes combined for their 83rd-minute leveler as Genki Haraguchi held off his marker to get a touch to Yusuke Matsuo’s square ball from the right, allowing Ryoma Watanabe to steer home.
“The game should have been finished long before they had the chance to get back into it,” new Cerezo manager Arthur Papas said. “We didn’t take our chances and there’s always a chance against a quality team that they can maybe get a goal.”
AloJapan.com