Kashiwa Reysol gave Cerezo Osaka's much-vaunted strike force a lesson in clinical finishing with a 2-1 win over the preseason J. League title favorites on Sunday.
Cerezo made global headlines when they signed star Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan in January for a reported $5.9 million a year, and the 2010 World Cup Golden Ball-winner started up front at Hitachi Stadium alongside Japan international Yoichiro Kakitani with a wealth of midfield talent behind them.
But goals either side of halftime from Junya Tanaka and Leandro were all a well-organized Kashiwa needed to capture the three points despite Yusuke Maruhashi's late consolation effort, with Forlan and Kakitani looking like virtual strangers in a disjointed Cerezo attack.