Achieve revenge in the league match and aim for 3 points away

　In Sec. 4 of the Nabisco Cup qualifying league, we will face Vegalta Sendai away. In the previous match against Niigata, despite being forced to make changes to the lineup, fresh players showed their skills and achieved a dramatic victory. Coach Jofuku mentioned, "Of course, there are still issues to address, but with a common understanding as a team, individual ideas are emerging, and they are starting to mesh within the flow of the game." As a result, we are maintaining our position at the top of Group A. Although this match is also away, we aim for consecutive victories to enhance our chances of advancing in the qualifying league. On the other hand, Sendai has played 2 matches so far and is in 5th place in the group with 2 points. Midfielder Yang will be absent due to national team duties, but since there was no game in Sec. 3, they should have been preparing with today in mind. In particular, we need to take care of their quick and high-quality attacks led by midfielder Sekiguchi and forward Fernandinho, while also applying solid pressure on the midfield and defensive line that serve as the source of their plays. Moreover, in our league match, we couldn't break through Sendai's solid defense, ending in a scoreless draw. To avenge that, we want to break through their compact defense and score a goal. Tokyo will have a back-to-back match just three days after the last game, but Tokunaga and Ishikawa will return for this match. Hanyu will play as left midfielder, and Kim Yong-gun and Mukuhara, who have cleared their accumulated warnings, will be included as left and right full-backs. Hanyu stated, "If we can score first, our style of play will come to life. We should be able to control the ball and advance the game in our favor," indicating that the first goal will be key. To achieve this, we want to patiently circulate the ball in midfield while increasing the number of chances to shoot. Regarding the Nabisco Cup, Ishikawa said, "Last year, as the lineup changed, players who seized their opportunities grew stronger and contributed, and we felt that the team became significantly stronger with a deeper player pool. This year, along with new members, we want to focus on winning while growing both as a team and as individuals with each match," expressing the desire to connect each player's proactive attitude to victory despite the absence of national team players. The match started at exactly 19:00 with Sendai's kickoff at the Yurtec Stadium Sendai, where light rain was falling.

Allowed an early goal and went into halftime trailing

　In the 5th minute, a long ball from Sendai's DF Elizeu was dropped to MF Sekiguchi, and he couldn't be stopped by MF Fernandinho's through pass, resulting in a goal. Early in the match, they allowed the first goal by being caught off guard by a defensive mark. After that, Tokyo struggled with sharp counters from Sendai due to passing mistakes and the excellent positioning of MF Fernandinho, but gradually began to control the ball and establish their pace. In the 20th minute, Hirayama attempted a header from a left corner kick but missed the target. In the 27th minute, a quick goal kick from Hanyu to Ishikawa saw him sprinting up the right side, cutting inside for a left-footed shot that was caught by the goalkeeper. Since Sendai's full-backs were positioned high, Hirayama made runs into the space behind them, launching attacks from the sides multiple times. In the 28th minute, Tokunaga switched the play from the left. Mukuahara brought the ball in, and Hirayama took a one-touch before unleashing a powerful shot that went just outside the right post. Then in the 34th minute, Hirayama created a play on the right side, and Ishikawa dribbled deep into the right area. Although he couldn't shoot, Hirayama followed up with a decisive shot from a connection with Hanyu, but it went over the bar. In the 35th minute, a quick left throw-in from Hanyu found Hirayama in the area, who acted as a post, passing to the unmarked Shigematsu running in from behind, but he couldn't get a shot off. Towards the end of the first half, Tokyo pressed Sendai, with Ishikawa and Shigematsu both aiming for the goal in quick succession, but neither could find the net, and they went into halftime still trailing.

Unable to break through the opponent's goal until the end... a frustrating loss

　In the second half, Ricardinho was brought on to launch a counterattack. In the 52nd and 54th minutes, Mukuahara and Hanyu created chances from crosses. However, they were unable to get shots off against Sendai's tough defense and were instead pushed back by Sendai's speedy counterattacks. Still, thanks to Gonda's great saves, they managed to hold on and prevent any additional goals. In the 63rd minute, Hirayama received Mukuahara's right cross in the box, quickly turned, and took a decisive shot. However, this was saved by the opposing goalkeeper, and Ricardinho's follow-up was cleared. In the 64th minute, Ohtake was brought on for Hanyu to play as an attacking midfielder. Tokunaga also moved up in a 4-1-4-1 formation aiming for a goal. In the 67th minute, Ohtake brought the ball in from the right to the center, turned to face the goal, and took a well-aimed shot, but this too was blocked by the goalkeeper. They created rhythm through a passing exchange between Kajiyama and Ohtake in the center, launching a wave of attacks. In the 73rd minute, Kajiyama broke through with a one-two with Ricardinho and took a shot, but it went over the bar. Then in the 77th minute, after a pass from Ishikawa to Ricardinho, Kajiyama, who had moved up from the center, took a well-aimed shot from distance, but it went over the bar as well. Against a Tokyo side that was pushing forward, Sendai, who had the lead, solidified their defense and aimed for counterattacks. In the closing stages, there was a fierce exchange of counterattacks, but even when Tokyo brought the ball close to the area, they could not break through Sendai's well-organized defense. Although they did not allow Sendai to score additional goals, they lost without scoring, suffering their first defeat in the Nabisco Cup qualifying league. 【Player Comments】《Ishikawa》 "While individuals were trying hard, we couldn't fight as a team. It's not that our motivation was low or that we lacked fighting spirit. But overall, I think we just couldn't mesh well. (Having returned from absence in the previous match) I had been able to train well, and I was motivated after watching the Niigata match from the stands. I wanted to avoid overthinking and getting caught up in my own head, but I couldn't express that feeling well in my play... If we let them score early, they will solidify the center, and if we take too long in our attacks, we lose space. I felt that not just as an individual, but as a team, we needed to have targeted attacks. Once we allowed them to take the lead, it tended to become their pace. I think we needed to calm down and fight according to our plan again. We communicated on the pitch, but I felt we should have unified our direction. Of course, we weren't completely disjointed. Everyone needs to fight in the same direction, and I think Sendai was more thorough as a team. I feel that difference showed in the result. However, there are still two matches left in the qualifiers. I want to turn what I felt today into personal strength." 《Morishige》 "The goals we conceded were due to a series of mistakes. It was a combination of Kenta not being able to move forward and my positioning. When mistakes pile up, it leads to situations like that. The first 15 minutes were chaotic, and the DF line was disjointed. It was not just between me and Hidetoshi as center-backs, but the distance and balance of the DF line were poor. During the opponent's side attacks, both Hidetoshi and I were on the same side... That led to the goals conceded, but I think we were able to make some corrections after that time. Of course, we should have noticed and dealt with it properly before that. (There were many instances of discussions during the match?) We communicated about marking and made adjustments as a four-man DF line. I think that part was not bad. After that, I felt we needed a bit more creativity to create good finishing opportunities in our attacks. I want to take shots in good form, not desperate ones." 【Coach Jofuku's Press Conference Summary】 "Today, I have the impression that we lost as we were meant to lose. I truly apologize to those who came to support us on a weekday night away. I don't think we were able to show a united team aiming for a single goal. If there are plays going in different directions, we cannot win. I was made painfully aware of that today, and we could only show that kind of team. I personally reflect on this strongly. (What do you mean by plays going in different directions?) I don't want to specify. However, at least today, I don't think the team was united. I am the one who created such a team." 【Sendai Coach Teguramori's Press Conference Summary】 "First of all, the players are relieved to taste victory after seven matches. This tournament is one aimed at reaching higher levels, and (the goal is) of course to advance to the knockout stage. We also talked about trying to address the issues we found in the 12 league matches and to fight hard in this tournament to enhance our team strength. Facing last year's champions FC Tokyo, we wanted to try what we have been working on. That included short counterattacks from our own defense and finishing with increased speed during counterattacks. We have been trying that since the match against Urawa. We were able to score the first goal in that manner, so it was as we aimed. However, we still have shortcomings in not being able to score a second goal, and I discussed this with the players. I think the remaining three matches will continue to be tough and challenging games like today, but I want to build confidence by achieving results through the fighting style we showed today. First of all, I am glad we won."