16 Sep 2004(Thu)

Just how long can Cerezo Osaka hold on to their best striker, Yoshito Okubo?

The 22-year-old Athens Olympian scored another two fine goals on Saturday, but his team went down 4-3 at Kashima after leading 3-1 in the second half.

You really feel that Okubo must leave the comfort zone of the J.League sooner rather than later if he is to fulfill his exciting potential, and a move to Europe when the transfer window opens at the end of the year seems inevitable.

His first goal against Antlers was a peach. It reminded me of Paul Scholes's brilliant right-foot strike for England in a World Cup group match against Tunisia at Marseille in 1998.

Okubo found space for himself on the edge of the Antlers box, and when the impressive newcomer Furuhashi played the ball to him, Okubo stroked it beyond Sogahata and into the far corner.

I'm sure I'm not mistaken, but I think I even saw a few Antlers fans behind the goal applauding; which would be a surprise, as they are not known for their generosity toward the opposition.

His second, in the second half, was scored in very different circumstances, but was still a top-quality finish.

This time it was the wily veteran Morishima who set up the chance with an exquisite pass.

Okubo timed his run perfectly, and ran straight across the two Antlers defenders, almost inviting them to make a challenge. Had they done so, I'm sure the slightest contact would have resulted in Okubo crashing to the turf, and a red card for the defender.

Both defenders, I suspect, sensed this, and Okubo was given a clear run on goal. He beat Sogahata again with another calm finish, and the loyal Cerezo fans behind the goal must have been thinking that their long journey was going to be worth the money.

But Antlers scored some excellent goals, too, notably Nozawa's equaliser on the run into the bottom corner, beating the keeper at his near post, followed by Fukai's winner when he cut in from the right and sent a left-foot shot into the far corner.

It was a happy finish for the Antlers fans, but a cruel one for Cerezo Osaka in general and for Okubo in particular.

But those goals will not have gone unnoticed on a wider scale.

ends