JC - Football - Japan - J League Cup

Eight finals of J-League Cup, second leg game of the fixture between Shonan Bellmare and Cerezo Osaka to be played at Lemon Gas Stadium. The first leg ended with a 1-0 victory for Cerezo Osaka.

Shonan Bellmare good performance in J-League Cup has been shadowed by their poor efficacy in J1 League, unable to leave relegation positions since the start of the season. Two consecutive victories, against relegation direct rival Vissel Kobe, and third placed, Kawasaki Frontale, had then with an opportunity to leave relegation positions, however Cerezo Osaka defeated 0-2 at home to keep them there.

A Emperor's Cup game against Vertfee Yaita deliver a victory for Shonan Bellmare before J-League Cup eight finals. But once again unable to score against Cerezo Osaka, the silver lining being a sole goal allowed, which keep them alive for the second leg.

Cerezo Osaka arrives in great shape. Five consecutive victories, three of them in J1 League, one game against Shonan Bellmare, Emperor's Cup victory against Kansai University and the eightfinals first leg game against Shonan Bellmare. Three cleansheets and scoring in every game put them in a favourable position.

Quite a turn around after having struggle in the previous ten games, two victories, four ties and three defeats. Cerezo Osaka managed to proceed in J-League Cup and is just four points behind J1 League top three. With the third best attack and one of the best five defenses Cerezo Osaka looks strong. With a dynamic attack in which four players have scored three goals, and six others have score one or two goals.

An intense game is expected at Lemon Gas Stadium, this is it for Shonan Bellmare in this competition, the only result for them is a victory. The difficulty for them lies in their rival, Cerezo Osaka has five consecutive games unbeaten when Shonan Bellmare host them, three wins and two ties, with four clean sheets for Cerezo Osaka, neither result serves Shonan Bellmare.

Shonan Bellmare needs not only to break a defense that has been stellar but also hold back a strong attack. Therefore, everything seems set for Cerezo Osaka to proceed, just need to keep their focus and take advantage of the counterattack as the time advances.

11/06/2022 06:44, read 522 times