This will be the first match against Sendai since 2003 in J1, and we want to seize the opportunity to rise.

　In Sec. 10 of the league, we face Vegalta Sendai at home. Although we pressed Hiroshima in the previous match, we managed to score only one goal from a set play and suffered a defeat. This marks five league matches without a win, making this match crucial to secure 3 points and find a turning point. Coach Shirofuku said about the matches so far, "There is always a reason for defeat, and we fully acknowledge the causes." In practice, he thoroughly checked the points of "whether we can make movements that exploit gaps in front of the goal or defend without showing gaps in our own half." This reflects the determination to improve the accuracy and quality of our own style of football.Vegalta Sendai currently sits 8th with 11 points. This is their first J1 league encounter since 2003, but in last year's Emperor's Cup, they handed us a bitter defeat with their dynamic style of play. Coach Shirofuku commented, "Sendai confidently promoted to J1, maintaining their style of play, reinforcing their squad at key points, and producing results. The players' awareness and confidence have increased, and the team shows stability."Above all, 7 of their total 11 goals so far have come from set plays, so caution is needed against MF Yang's precise kicks and the tall FW Nakahara. Since Sendai's strength lies in their speedy counterattacks, we want to avoid careless fouls that give them chances. Offensively, we have been able to create chances starting from the flanks in the matches so far. Without losing aggressiveness, we aim to overload the front and pry open the defense to secure victory.Tokyo starts with Tokunaga at right back. Kajiyama and Hanyu form the double pivot, with Suzuki as left MF. Sendai faces this match without DF Elizeu, who had played full matches in the league so far due to injury. Also, MF Nagai makes his first start this season as a defensive midfielder. The weather was clear on Children's Day at Ajinomoto. The match kicked off at 14:04 with Tokyo starting.

Missed a big chance to take the lead, but maintained control and continued to attack throughout.

　They took control from the start and created chances using the flanks. At 2 minutes, they won the ball in their own half and Kajiyama advanced into the opponent's territory. Passing through Ricardinho and Suzuki, Ishikawa crossed from a side change by Hanyu, but Suzuki, who was positioned in the center, could not connect. At 6 minutes, they had a big chance to take the lead. Ishikawa received a vertical pass from Tokunaga and sent a fast direct cross. Ricardinho, with his back to the opponent in the center, let it through, and Hirayama was free at the far post to shoot. However, the shot went off target, missing the decisive opportunity. Still, they applied intense pressure on Sendai to win the ball back and launched attacks through side changes by Hanyu and build-up play by Kajiyama. At 11 minutes, Morishige intercepted in their own half and made a powerful forward run before passing left. Ricardinho, who received the ball, cut inside and took a shot, but the goalkeeper saved it. At 17 minutes, Hirayama controlled a cross from Tokunaga with his foot and passed to Ishikawa, who was positioned centrally, but the shot was blocked by an opposing DF just before shooting. At 19 minutes, from a loose ball after a right cross by Sendai, left side back Park took a shot. This was Sendai’s first shot of the match, but Gonda saved it and forced a corner. The right corner kick taken by Sendai MF Yang was also cleared safely. As Sendai’s defenders started to pull back, Ricardinho boldly aimed a long-range shot at 22 minutes, followed by Morishige at 29 minutes. However, the final execution lacked precision... At 40 minutes, Kajiyama passed to Hirayama, who received the ball with his back to goal in the right area, turned and shot, but the shot lacked power and went straight to the goalkeeper. At 45 minutes, Hirayama passed to Kajiyama, who advanced deep into the right area. He sent a final pass to the center but was stopped, and the first half ended 0-0.

They launched a fierce attack starting from the side, but ended in a scoreless draw, extending their winless streak to six matches...

　At the 50th minute, just after the second half started, Kajiyama was surrounded by opponents near his own area, and the ball was taken away by Sendai MF Sekiguchi's chase to FW Nakajima. From there, Tokyo's DF reacted to the loose ball, but Sendai FW Nakahara took a decisive shot, which was saved by the post, avoiding a crisis. However, this was the only real chance Sendai created. Tokyo continued to connect passes and attack in the second half. At the 54th minute, from a left throw-in, Morishige passed to Ricardinho inside the area, who then passed to Kajiyama moving forward. Kajiyama brought the ball into the area but could not complete the shot.At the 59th minute, from a post play of Tokunaga to Hirayama, the ball was connected from Kajiyama to Suzuki, who aimed for a shot from the left area but was caught by the goalkeeper. At 61 minutes, Matsushita was brought in for Ricardinho as left MF, and Suzuki moved to FW. However, immediately at the 66th minute, Ishikawa sprinted down the right side, crossed to Matsushita at the far post, who made a short cut back inside aiming to send a final pass to Hirayama, but the goalkeeper caught it first... Then at 68 minutes, Nakamura replaced Kajiyama as right side back, and Tokunaga moved to defensive midfield. At 73 minutes, Akamine came in for Suzuki. Nagatomo was pushed forward to try to score a goal.At 75 minutes, Nakamura advanced up the right side, Hirayama in the center of the area dropped the ball, and Ishikawa ran in using his speed. They created a decisive chance, but Ishikawa's shot was saved by the goalkeeper... At 85 minutes, Nagatomo broke through between two opposing defenders, carried the ball to the left area, and made a backward final pass. Ishikawa connected and took a decisive shot with his left foot, but it went far wide. Including stoppage time, Tokyo launched fierce attacks mainly with crosses but could not break down Sendai's compact defense. Sendai's counterattacks and the set pieces they were cautious about were safely contained, but despite taking more than three times as many shots as Sendai with 15 shots, the home game ended scoreless, marking the sixth league match without a win.Player CommentsTokunaga: "(Playing as right side back) I was able to play without discomfort. However, I had the desire to assist or score goals myself, but I couldn't do that, so I only feel disappointed. Defensively, we were able to suppress the opponent's counterattacks. If we don't score, the team tends to become tense and lose composure. We want to break through this situation, but we have no choice but to keep shooting until we score. We just have to keep trying until we can finish."Ishikawa: "The chance in the first 6 minutes and my own chance—missing those was everything. We managed to carry the ball up high and speed up while keeping possession. In the first half, I planned to create chances from the side, but since the opponent dropped back and marked me closely, I deliberately moved inside to get into a shooting position. From there, I think we gradually started playing better in combination... For the next match against Yamagata, I only think about scoring and winning."Coach JOFUKU's Press Conference Summary"Despite the poor results, I am grateful to many fans who came. I take the post-match booing as directed at myself. The players are doing what they can now, and we have to raise the team together with our strength. With Sendai having 4 shots and us 15, if we can't score, there is no excuse. (You substituted Hirayama early in the previous match and also missed early chances today—what about that?) The players are fighting desperately. In the previous match, I substituted a player who was fighting hard for the first time at 28 minutes in the first half. I always have respect for players fighting hard, and the substitution last time was intentional, not just a reaction."Sendai Coach TEGURAMORI's Press Conference Summary"Both teams came into this match without wins. From a psychological perspective, we are challengers in J1 this year, but for FC Tokyo, this was a must-win game. While anticipating their strong motivation, we aimed to keep the score 0-0 for as long as possible and win by scoring one goal. Even with that plan, we did not focus solely on defense and managed possession and created chances. Although we only earned one point from a draw last match, it is not a setback. The team condition is improving and close to earning 3 points. With two remaining matches before the World Cup break at home, we will do our best to get 6 points. Regarding today's single point, there were some regrets, but the players gave their all until the end and fought well. I am satisfied with the game content."