The J2 League has already entered the second round

The J2 League, which started this year, consists of 36 matches played over 8 months in a quadruple round-robin format among 10 teams. Tokyo has already faced all teams after the previous match against Omiya, and from this day's match against Sendai, they enter the second cycle. Currently, after 9 matches, Tokyo holds a strong 3rd place with 5 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws. With a 3-point (1 game) gap from the top spot, a win in this match could reclaim first place, while a loss might drop their ranking, so securing a win here is crucial. On the other hand, Sendai is struggling in 9th place with 3 wins, 5 losses, and 1 draw, and aims to secure a victory in this opening match of the second cycle to gain momentum. Since Sendai lost 1-2 at home in their previous encounter with Tokyo, this match is seen as a revenge opportunity, and they are expected to approach it with fierce determination. As the cheering battle behind the goals from both teams reached its peak, the kickoff whistle blew.

Okamoto's opening goal takes advantage of a momentary lapse!

In the first half, Sendai took the initiative early. Sendai attacked aggressively with precise passing and large plays aimed behind Tokyo's defensive line. In midfield, Sendai's "playmaker" Echigo skillfully maintained possession to set the rhythm and delivered excellent passes to the front line. Up front, Abe, who possesses top-class technique even in J2, created chances with sharp dribbling and a variety of passes with changing tempo, undeterred by tight marking. On the other hand, Tokyo tried to connect the ball starting from Almir, but Sendai's intense pressing caused Tokyo to lose possession easily and fail to establish rhythm. Despite being pushed back during difficult periods, Tokyo maintained concentration and did not concede goals thanks to stable defense centered around Sandro. The match shifted in the 37th minute of the first half. Tokyo's midfielder Kobayashi sent the ball from the right side to an unoccupied area near the center circle, where everyone momentarily stopped. Defender Komine picked up the ball and sent a through pass forward. Okamoto reacted, broke free, and scored with his right foot. Although under pressure, Tokyo gained momentum with a goal exploiting the opponent's brief lapse, while Sendai lost their momentum.

Okamoto's second goal that decided the match!

As the second half began, the match intensified with fast transitions between offense and defense in a back-and-forth battle. Tokyo brought on MF Koike in the 8th minute of the second half. Koike, who played a key role in linking defense and offense and greatly contributed to the team's victory in the previous match against Omiya, actively engaged with the ball again this day, delivering excellent passes in midfield and creating rhythm for Tokyo. On the other hand, Sendai's work rate dropped sharply, weakening their press and allowing Tokyo to freely circulate the ball. Tokyo created multiple chances with Almir as the focal point, while Yukihiko and Kaburagi made speedy plays. At the 24th minute of the second half, Almir broke through the center with a one-two pass with Yukihiko and immediately delivered a perfect through ball to Okamoto up front. Okamoto scored his second goal of the day with his right foot, sealing the match. Afterwards, Kaburagi repeatedly showed daring dribbling breakthroughs up front and delivered decisive crosses, leading to a one-sided match in favor of Tokyo. Defensively, goalkeeper Horiike calmly stopped a critical chance near the end of the match, maintaining focus and stability throughout. The match ended as it was, with Tokyo securing their fourth consecutive win and finally reclaiming first place.