Cerezo Osaka failed to seize the initiative in their fight against relegation after being held to a 0-0 draw by Yokohama F. Marinos on Sunday.
Cerezo, who began the season widely touted as title favorites after signing star Uruguyan striker Diego Forlan over the winter, went into the match at Nissan Stadium second-from-bottom in the table and two points adrift of safety having endured a disastrous campaign.
But Cerezo were unable to take decisive action against Marinos — with Forlan not even among the substitutes for the third straight game — and remain in the drop zone by a point with only four games of the season remaining.
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