Former Japan national team FW Yoshito Okubo (38), who returned to Cerezo Osaka for the first time in 15 years, scored two goals in a row in the first two races with a sore left ankle. After deciding the right half foot in the 5 minute of the first half, he pushed the melee in front of the goal with his left foot in the 22 minute. In C-Osaka, who returned with the intention of retiring, he threw the offensive team as if he had revived in his prime, and this season he had two runs and three shots. Although it lost to Kawasaki Frontale of the old nest 2-3, it proved to be a complete rebirth.

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Okubo’s forward’s DNA has been revived. In minute 5 of the first half, when I received the pass in front of the right side of the penalty area, I swung my right foot. A medium shot went through the net over GK’s head. At 12:22 on the tie, DF center Riku Matsuda was pushed off with his left foot.

“I tried to do it without leaving any physical strength from the first half. The second point was a good cross and I gave myself a momentary gap.”

At the turning point of 450 J1 games, he increased his highest scoring record from J1 to 188.

His left ankle was injured in the opening match against Kashiwa Reysol on February 27. Although his participation was subtle, it was the headline and left an unexpected result. Levir Culpi said: “I scored the most points and I tested it in acting. I decided to start because it was said that there was no problem.”

There is no doubt that he will not burn in the match against Furusato Kawasaki F, who was the top scorer for three consecutive years in 2015. No score at J2 Tokyo Verdy last season. With the two letters “retirement” on his back, he returned to C-Osaka this season and scored three goals in two games since the opening. “It’s a great ball meeting. I’m confident and I can still go.” There are 12 points left to reach an unprecedented 200 goals in J1. Once the great record is reached, the fourth top scorer will no longer be a dream story.[Tatsunori Minamiya]