Yoshito Okubo (R) of Cerezo Osaka celebrates after scoring in his side's 3-0 win away to Consadole Sapporo in a J-League first-division match at Atsubetsu Stadium in Sapporo on Sept. 8, 2021. (Kyodo)

       SAPPORO (Kyodo) -- Cerezo Osaka continued to thrive under new manager Akio Kogiku on Wednesday, scoring three goals, including one from J-League first-division scoring leader Yoshito Okubo in a 3-0 win over Consadole Sapporo.

       After surviving numerous scoring chances from Consadole at Sapporo's Atsubetsu Stadium, Naoyuki Fujita opened the visitors' account in first-half injury time.

       Riki Matsuda made it 2-0 less than six minutes after the break, and Okubo put the game to rest in the 88th minute after a pass from second-half substitute Takashi Inui.

       Okubo's 191st career first-division goal was his first since March 13. The 39-year-old started five goals in his first five games but had not scored since.

       In four games since Kogiku took over from Levir Culpi, they are 3-1 and are now 11th in the league on 36 points, ahead of 12th-placed Consadole on goal difference.

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