Olunga and Kashiwa Reysol fire blanks at Cerezo Osaka
Kashiwa Reysol striker Michael Olunga (left) with teammates after losing 2-1 to Sagan Tosu during their J1 League match on November 21, 2020.
What you need to know:
- The 26-year-old Kenyan had been used as a late substitute in the 1-1 draw against Oita Trinita on December 9 at Sankyo Frontier Stadium in Kashiwa.
- He played full 90 minutes against Cerezo in a match Kashiwa started with a decent record of two identical 3-0 wins at Yanmar Stadium Nagai.
Kenyan international striker Michael Olunga returned to the starting line-up as Kashiwa Reysol held hosts Cerezo Osaka to a goalless draw in a Japan’s top-tier (J1 League) match at Yanmar Stadium Nagai on Saturday.
The 26-year-old Kenyan had been used as a late substitute in the 1-1 draw against Oita Trinita on December 9 at Sankyo Frontier Stadium in Kashiwa.
Michael Olunga's stats from the match. SofaScore.Com |
On his return, Olunga had a few decent chances to improve on his tally of 26 goals, but could not beat South Korean goalkeeper Kim Jin-Hyeon. Olunga has now gone three matches without a goal, his longest goal drought in the league this season.
He played full 90 minutes against Cerezo in a match Kashiwa started with a decent record of two identical 3-0 wins at Yanmar Stadium Nagai.
Goals from Yuta Nakayama, Ataru Esaka and Cristiano were enough to hand Kashiwa victory over Cerezo in November 2018 in the league. Olunga was an unused substitute in that fixture.
Olunga was completely left out of the squad when Esaka grabbed a brace and Hiroto Goya netted once as Kashiwa tossed Cerezo out of the Levain Cup at quarter-final stage three months ago.
J1 League’s leading scorer Olunga netted the consolation goal when Kashiwa lost 3-1 in the league at Sankyo Frontier in August.
Playmaker Ataru Esaka also returned to the starting line-up on Saturday. He was rested on 82 minutes for forward Hiroto Goya.
Coach Nelsinho will miss the services of star midfielder Richardson in their last two matches against Sanfrecce Hiroshima (December 16) and champions Kawasaki Frontale (December 19) after the Brazilian picked his fourth yellow card of the season against Cerezo.
Kashiwa remain seventh on 49 points after the draw at Cerezo, just a point ahead of Sanfrecce who lost 1-0 against FC Tokyo.
Champions Kawasaki Frontale lead the 18-team league with 77 points followed by Gamba Osaka (62), Nagoya Grampus (60), Cerezo (59), Kashima Antlers (55) and FC Tokyo (54) in that order.
Olunga is on top of the scoring chart on 26 goals followed by Kashima Antlers’ Brazilian forward Everaldo (17).
Kashiwa will end the season against FC Tokyo in the Levain Cup final on January 4, 2021.
