Cerezo Osaka eased to a 3-0 win at 10-man Avispa Fukuoka in the J-League first division on Saturday, ending their three-game losing run and claiming their first victory in seven matches.
Cerezo, who began the season unbeaten in eight matches, moved up to 23 points, six points behind leaders Vissel Kobe and second-placed Machida Zelvia. Fukuoka lost their second straight and stay on 19 points, having previously gone eight games unbeaten.
Leo Ceara gave Cerezo a ninth-minute lead at Best Denki Stadium after Fukuoka failed to clear a free-kick. Vitor Bueno's low shot from inside the box fell to the Brazilian, who sorted his feet out to steer past keeper Masaaki Murakami for his J1-leading 12th goal.
"We knew they are pretty strong at home so I'm happy to get three points," Leo Ceara said. "We haven't been winning, and going in front was positive and important at the same time. We managed to close the gap to the top."
Shunta Tanaka doubled the lead 20 minutes later by heading home Lucas Fernandes' corner, while the disjointed home side ended the first half without registering a single shot on target.
Fukuoka were dealt a further blow just past the hour when Iranian striker Shahab Zahedi, their top scorer this term with six goals, received his second yellow rather harshly for an aerial challenge in the box.
Avispa substitute Itsuki Oda blasted over right after coming on with three minutes to go, and Wellington's header was saved on the line by Cerezo keeper Kim Jin Hyeon in stoppage time before Hirotaka Tameda nodded home a rebound to put the game to bed.
