Back with a bang: Olunga scores as Kashiwa beat Gamba Osaka

After missing in action for two consecutive matches, Michael Olunga returned to the fray as Kashiwa Reysol thrashed Gamba Osaka 3-0 in a J1 League match with the Kenyan international scoring his 15th goal of the season.

Olunga, 26, was left out against Shimizu S-Pulse in the league on September 5 and against Cerezo Osaka in the 2020 J.League YBC Levain Cup on September 2.

Kashiwa's Brazilian coach Nelsinho opted for Hiroto Goya in Olunga’s place.

In the latest fixture held at Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium, Nelsinho opted to start both Olunga and Goya in his preferred 4-1-3-2 system with Ataru Esaka dropping to the midfield role.

Olunga did not waste time in finding the back of the net after returning to the squad. He put Kashiwa 1-0 up in the second minute after getting a long pass from defender Taiyo Koga on the left wing and touched the ball once before unleashing a vicious shot with his left foot past Masaaki Higashiguchi.

Esaka doubled Kashiwa's lead with a header in the 40th minute from a Masatoshi Mihara cross. The midfielder then got his brace in the 62nd minute after heading in a cross from Goya.

Olunga has now scored 15 goals from 14 matches he has featured in the 18-team league with Kashiwa in position four with 26 points from 15 matches. Kashiwa’s next fixture is away to Sagan Tosu on September 13.

Olunga’s closest challengers in the Golden Boot race are three Brazilians, Everaldo, Marcos Junior and Leonardo, who have each scored nine times for Kashima Antlers, Yokohama Marinos and Urawa Red Diamonds respectively.

In other matches, leaders Kawasaki Frontale earned a hard-fought 3-2 win over Vissel Kobe, FC Tokyo hit Yokohama 2-1, Hiroshima thumped Shimizu 4-1, as Kashima floored Vegalta Sendai 2-1.

Oita Trinita and Shonan drew 2-2. Back