The J2 League has already entered the second round

The J2 League, which started this year, consists of a total of 36 matches played in a round-robin format among 10 teams over 8 months. Tokyo has already faced all teams in the previous match against Omiya, and will now enter the second round starting with the match against Sendai on this day. Currently, Tokyo is in a good position at 3rd place with 5 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws after 9 matches. With only 3 points (1 game difference) separating them from the top position, a win in this match could allow them to reclaim the top spot, while a loss could drop their ranking, so they definitely want to secure a win here. On the other hand, Sendai is struggling at 9th place with 3 wins, 5 losses, and 1 draw, and they hope to secure a victory in this first match of the second round to gain momentum. Since Sendai lost 1-2 at home in the previous encounter against Tokyo, they are expected to come into this revenge match with significant determination and fierce fighting spirit. As the cheering battle from both teams' supporters reached its peak, the kickoff whistle blew.

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

In the first half, Sendai was the first to seize the pace. Sendai aggressively attacked with intricate passing and large plays aimed at exploiting the gaps in Tokyo's defensive line. In midfield, Sendai's 'playmaker' Echigo created rhythm with skillful ball control, distributing good 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 attempted to connect the ball starting from Almir, but Sendai's pressing was intense, leading to frequent loss of possession and an inability to establish rhythm. Although they endured a tough period of being pushed back, they maintained concentration and did not allow any goals with a stable defense centered around Sandro. The game changed 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, causing everyone to momentarily stop, allowing defender Komine to pick up the ball and send a through pass to the front line. Okamoto, reacting to this, broke free and scored with his right foot. Despite being pushed back, Tokyo gained momentum with a goal that exploited a brief lapse from the opponent, while Sendai lost their momentum.

Okamoto's second goal that decided the match!

As the second half began, the match intensified, showcasing a back-and-forth battle with quick transitions between offense and defense. Tokyo brought in midfielder Koike in the 8th minute of the second half. Koike, who played a crucial role in connecting defense and offense in the previous match against Omiya and significantly contributed to the team's victory, actively engaged with the ball on this day, displaying excellent distribution in midfield and creating rhythm for Tokyo. Conversely, Sendai's energy levels dropped sharply, and their pressing weakened, allowing Tokyo to circulate the ball freely. Tokyo created numerous chances with Almir as the starting point, while Yukihiko and Kaburaki showcased their speed in play. In the 24th minute of the second half, Almir broke through the center with a one-two pass with Yukihiko and immediately delivered a superb through ball to Okamoto at the front line. Okamoto scored his second goal of the day with his right foot, sealing the match. After that, Kaburaki repeatedly demonstrated bold dribbling breakthroughs at the front line and delivered decisive crosses, leading to a one-sided display from Tokyo. Defensively, goalkeeper Horiike calmly stopped a crucial moment just before the end of the match, showing consistent focus and stability throughout. The match ended with Tokyo winning, marking their fourth consecutive victory and finally reclaiming the top position.