J. League

Shinji Kagawa came off the bench to help Cerezo Osaka claim a 2-2 draw with promoted Albirex Niigata on Feb. 18 in the former Japan star's return to the ...

League Cup holders Sanfrecce Hiroshima, who were third in the J1 last year, were held to a scoreless draw at home against Consadole Sapporo. Back in the top flight for the first time since 2017, Niigata took the game to Cerezo and led through a superb 22nd-minute counter, as Ito laid the ball off for Kaito Taniguchi to rifle through the legs of a defender and inside the far post. Shinji Kagawa came off the bench to help Cerezo Osaka claim a 2-2 draw with promoted Albirex Niigata on Saturday in the former Japan star's return to the J-League for the first time since the summer of 2010.