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The story
On September 8 local time, Lille of France hosted Real Betis of Spain in Matchday 1 of the UEFA Champions League league phase, and Kaoru Ueda — making his first start since joining — headed home the opening goal in the 12th minute. Coming off a match-winning goal as a substitute against Strasbourg three days earlier, this made it goals in back-to-back appearances since his transfer. However, Lille conceded a comeback in the second half and lost after having a player sent off. On 5ch, many pointed out that scoring against Betis — a team currently sitting near the top of La Liga and recent conquerors of Real Madrid — overturns the “minnow-basher” label (a player who only scores against weaker sides) that some had pinned on him, while other topics ranged from complaints that he doesn’t score enough for the Japan national team to opinions on whether people like or dislike his post-goal celebration pose.
Ueda opens the scoring in the 12th minute
In Matchday 1 of the Champions League league phase held on September 8 local time, Lille of France — who signed Japan international forward Kaoru Ueda — hosted Spain’s Real Betis at home.
Ueda, who made a sensational start to his new chapter by coming off the bench to score the winner against Strasbourg on the 3rd (Ligue 1 Matchday 3), earned his first start since joining the club.
Source: soccerdigestweb.com / Original article here
What people said
Kubo starts: 0W-1D-2L, 1 point from 3 games
Kubo on bench: 2W-0D-0L, 6 points from 2 games
Kubo overall: 4 games, 0 goals, 0 assists
He's been the top scorer under the setup since 2022 though
He scores for Japan too, y'know? lol
Japan hasn't lost a single game where Ueda's scored
People call him a "minnow-basher" (only scores against weak teams), but Lille's proving that wrong
He's scored against strong sides like Brazil too
Not that it mattered, a comeback loss makes it pointless anyway
Guys stuck in the old ways like Kubo and Mitoma are falling behind
When I hear "Ueda" all I picture is Hiroshi Abe's face (the actor)
Why is he rated so low though
I always think it's nonsense to judge him by comparing precedents of players transferring out of the Eredivisie
Meanwhile Nakamura Keito and Taniguchi always get called good-looking
He looks cool, kind of resembles Senritsu (the Hunter x Hunter character)
The opponents, Betis, are 4th in La Liga and just beat Madrid
Put another way, he's not some monster who can do it all by himself
Is there any center forward who can do it completely alone?
Don't you need passers who spot your runs in behind, or people putting crosses in?
Since when does my Kylian have a little brother?
A brother joined at the body (twin joke)
Really, for a player who's supposed to become a core national team player, moving from one peripheral league to another peripheral-but-strong league is just bad news. Worst case scenario, such a short career wasted.
In that sense I'm genuinely worried about Kodai — if he doesn't get out of the Netherlands within two years max, he'll end up just a fringe squad player for the national team
It's a 5-year deal, so 2 years is out of the question
He'll be there at least 4 years
Background and key points of discussion
Since the 2024-25 season, the Champions League format has changed: instead of the traditional group stage, all 36 clubs now compete in a single “league phase” table. Ueda joined Ligue 1 side Lille from Feyenoord of the Netherlands, and got off to a strong start with goals in back-to-back official matches. What divided opinion in the thread was the validity of the “minnow-basher” label (a player who only scores against weaker opposition) that some had attached to him — since the opponent, Betis, are a genuinely strong side currently near the top of La Liga and recent winners over Real Madrid, many voices pushed back on that label. At the same time, doubts about his scoring instincts with the Japan national team remained persistent, and the gap between how a player is rated at club level versus international level is a recurring theme with other Japan-born players based overseas. Note that in the match itself, Lille conceded a second-half comeback and lost after having a player sent off.
※This article is compiled as an excerpt/summary of the 5ch (Sports Express+) thread “[Soccer] Kaoru Ueda can’t be stopped! Header goal in back-to-back matches since his transfer in his CL debut! Lille, who had a player sent off, lose in a comeback to Betis“.
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