Urawa Usurp Osaka's Early Lead - Cerezo Osaka 1-1 Urawa Red Diamonds

Cerezo Osaka's Kyohei Noborizato reaches 300 J-League appearances as Urawa Red Diamonds spoil the celebrations at the Yodoko Sakura Stadium. An early goal from Ratao is cancelled out by Ryoma Watanabe's late finish - a poetic rythm to the game.

Cerezo lined up in a 4-3-3; several changes to the defence with Ryosuke Shindo replacing Kakeru Funaki, Kyohei Noborizato in place of Niko Takahashi, and Hayato Okuda instead of Ryuya Nishio. Thiago replaced Hinata Kida in midfield.

Urawa Red Diamonds entered in a 4-2-3-1 with no changes to their starting XI against Kyoto Sanga.

Cerezo Osaka began the game with an all out assault seeing Urawa on Red alert immediately.

And the J-League re-opened with a bang! Thiago found his countryman Ratao in the box for a smooth finish, having put Cerezo 1-0 up, Nishikawa's frustration with the Urawa defence was quite clearly visible.

It looked more Cerezo's formation was adept to changing with Kitano continually given a free role to shift and shape everything - which is smart.

Ratao was unlucky not to pick up another after good work from Kitano to exploit space, executing a crucial long ball to the Brazilian's feet, his shot going just wide.

Player Insight - Sota Kitano (Cerezo Osaka) - 100% pass accuracy - 6/6 passes - 1/1 long balls - 0.18xA - 2 chances created - as of 21st minute

Urawa attempted to mount any sort of counter but they were mostly frantic attempts to enter the box with textbook crosses.

Early-goal-creator Thiago was forced off with a nasty knock as Masaya Shibayama replaces him for the rest of the game.

A wicked end-to-end game meant 0.79 xG for a fiery Cerezo Osaka so early into the game - 26th minute.

30th minute saw another brilliant move beginning from a Nakajima long ball, allowing the ball to be crossed in, but just wide of Kitano who wasn't able to tap it in.

Matheus Savio was the shining light in the dark for Urawa at this time, constantly attempting drives forward albeit futile. Takehiro Sekine had similar ideas but was unable to create anything.

Although, Urawa looked to finally hit their groove just before half time - link ups between Savio, Kaneko and Sekine helped them hit back at Cerezo.

Nishikawa kept it at 1-0 in added time before the HT break with a cracking save.

Half time - Cerezo Osaka 1 (46% possession, 0.82xG) Urawa Red Diamonds 0 (54% possession, 0.49xG)

Urawa exchanged Taishi Matsumoto for more attack-minded Yusuke Matsuo in a tactical adjustment.

Kitano was unlucky yet again not to begin the second half with a goal after swift movement and positioning rewarded him with a chance.

Ratao came very close to making it 2-0, but was caught offside in one of what looked like, could have been the biggest chance of the game.

Although their intensity seemed on a higher gear, Urawa looked more ineffective than ever going forward - with most attacks going through Sekine on the right wing, but the Osaka team adapted to the situation very effectively.

Just when Osaka's ever-so-elusive second goal looked like it went in, Kitano's shot went just past the post, providing what looked like a very well done optical illusion.

Despite the game being end-to-end, there was not much finishing quality from either side - Kitano seemingly being unable to score.

In a bid to rejuvenate the attack, Urawa took off Savio for Ryoma Watanabe in the 70th minute.

Player Insight - Samuel Gustafson (Urawa Red Diamonds) - 92% passin accuracy - 46/50 passes - 100% ground duels won (4/4) - as of 72nd minute

Thiago Santana's goal was ruled out for a foul on Shindo in the attempt - only adding to Urawa's frustration.

Yusuke Matsuo's pace created a chance for Urawa in the 79th, but it was left undone in a tacky goalmouth scramble.

Kagawa and Bueno entered the field for Nakajima and Kitano - tactical changes to attempt to extend the lead in the dying minutes.

This almost created an instant impact - Cerezo played their way into the Urawa box with a sublime passing network - unable to find the finisher.

Kaneko was changed for Shoya Nakajima - Urawa setting their sights on equalising.

And what an effective change it was; Ryoma Watanabe finished a rebound into the empty Cerezo net - the game was all up in the air at this point - 1-1.

Cerezo had Koki Fukui to thank after an amazing save keeps the score at 1-1 in the dying 90th minutes. Urawa looked dangerous in desperacy, but were repelled by the defenders' hard work.

A frantic last few moments saw both sides take chances on the ball, Cerezo eventually being able to break into the Urawa box a few times, but the defenders stood tall on red alert of what the Brazilian attack is capable of.