Goal-o-phobia is the disease. Cerezo Osaka is the likely cure.

While being held off the scoresheet in their last two matches, two-time defending league champion Yokohama F Marinos haven't looked anything like a club poised to make a run at a historic threepeat.

Although they created several scoring chances while outplaying their opponents, the F Marinos frittered away every opportunity and lost 1-0 in each game.

Wednesday's loss to Shandong Luneng in the Asian Champions League was Yokohama's fourth straight defeat. The losing streak began in the final game of the A3 Championship in mid-February.

The goal-starved F Marinos face the porous Cerezo Osaka defense at Nagai Stadium on Saturday in Round 2 of J.League action.

``Just one goal would make a big difference,'' said forward Hideo Oshima, who moved to the F Marinos from J2's Montedio Yamagata.

``Little by little, I'm fitting in better with my new teammates,'' he added

Cerezo allowed a league-worst 64 goals last season and gave up three in their opening game with Vissel Kobe. The F Marinos will be looking to regain their scoring touch and team confidence when they go up against the woeful Osaka defenders.

At Todoroki Stadium on Saturday, Urawa Reds defender Keisuke Tsuboi is expected to start in place of Alpay Ozalan against newly promoted Kawasaki Frontale.

Ozalan was suspended after being sent off in the opening game against the Kashima Antlers.

Tsuboi, a Japan international, will be playing for the first time in over eight months. He was injured in a match against Slovakia last summer.

Urawa midfielder Keita Suzuki is still sidelined with a right knee injury and Tomoyuki Sakai will fill the hole, as he did in Round 1.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima will host F.C. Tokyo at Big Arch while Omiya Ardija faces Vissel Kobe at Saitama Stadium.

The Kashima Antlers meet Gamba Osaka at Kashima Stadium and Tokyo Verdy 1969 face Shimizu S-Pulse at Ajinomoto Stadium.

The Chiba-based clubs, JEF United Chiba and Kashiwa Reysol, meet at Ichihara Stadium.

On Sunday, Albirex Niigata hosts Oita Trinita at Niigata Stadium while Jubilo Iwata face the Nagoya Grampus Eight at Yamaha Stadium.(IHT/Asahi: March 12,2005)