15-year curse shattered in 102nd minute drama (Cerezo Osaka vs Kashima analysis) | OneFootball

Last-Gasp Shindo Strike Ends Cerezo's 15-Year Home Hoodoo Against Kashima

Cerezo Osaka finally ended their 15-year winless streak at home against Kashima with a dramatic 1-0 victory that featured disallowed goals, a saved penalty, and a 102nd-minute winner at Yodoko Sakura Stadium.

Historical Hurdle Cleared

For a decade and a half, Cerezo had endured nothing but disappointment when hosting Kashima, suffering 12 consecutive home defeats since their last victory in 2010. Manager Arthur Papas had used this painful history as motivation in his pre-match team talk.

"The manager told us we needed to change history," said match-winner Ryosuke Shindo, whose stoppage-time goal he later described as "life-changing dopamine."

Drama Until the Final Whistle

The 19,410 fans in attendance witnessed a match filled with frustration before its cathartic conclusion. Cerezo dominated possession (65%) and created numerous chances, but saw an astonishing five goals disallowed for offside throughout the contest.

When Rafael Ratão missed a penalty in the 12th minute of stoppage time, it seemed the curse would continue. However, moments later, Shindo found himself in the right place to score the decisive goal and send the Osaka faithful into raptures.

Tactical Chess Match

Cerezo's 4-2-3-1 formation allowed them to control proceedings through midfield trio Lucas Fernandes, Sota Kitano and Thiago Andrade. Fernandes was particularly influential, completing 40 passes with three key passes and winning 13 of 19 duels.

Kashima, set up in a 4-4-2, relied on defensive solidity and counter-attacks but managed just one shot on target all match. Their goalkeeper Tomoki Hayakawa was outstanding with six saves, including Ratão's penalty, earning an 8.5 rating despite ending on the losing side.

Symbolic Substitution

In a poetic touch, Papas brought on veteran Shinji Kagawa in the 89th minute – the same player who had scored against Kashima in Cerezo's last home victory against them 15 years ago.

"I knew about the history and Kagawa's role in that 2010 win," Papas revealed post-match. "His experience and leadership were crucial in those final moments."

League Implications

The victory lifts Cerezo from 15th to 12th in the J1 League table, offering hope after an inconsistent start (now three wins, three draws, four losses). For Kashima, this marks a third consecutive league defeat and extends their winless run to four matches across all competitions.

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