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 stated, "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 and want to increase 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. MF Yang will be absent due to national team duties for North Korea, 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 the fast and high-quality movements of MF Sekiguchi and FW Fernandinho, but we also want to apply pressure firmly on the midfield and defensive line, which are the sources of the ball. 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 down 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 from this match. Hanyu will play as left MF, and Kim Yong-gun and Muku Hara, who have cleared their accumulated warnings, will be included in the lineup as left and right full-backs. Hanyu aims, "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 favorably," indicating that the first goal will be a key factor. To achieve this, we want to patiently circulate the ball in the midfield while increasing the number of chances to shoot. Regarding the Nabisco Cup, Ishikawa said, "Last year, players who got opportunities amid changes in the lineup grew stronger and contributed, and we felt that the team became significantly larger with a deeper player pool. This year, along with new members, we want to focus on victory and grow 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. They allowed the opening goal early in the match due to a lapse in defensive marking. 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 and cutting in for a left-footed shot, which was caught by the goalkeeper. Sendai's full-backs were positioned high, allowing Hirayama to run into the space behind them, leading to multiple attacks from the sides. In the 28th minute, Tokunaga switched the play from the left. Mukuara brought the ball in, and Hirayama made a one-touch before unleashing a powerful shot that went just wide to the right. Then in the 34th minute, Hirayama created a play on the right side, and Ishikawa broke through deep into the right area with a dribble. 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

　After bringing in Ricardinho in the second half to launch a counterattack, in the 52nd and 54th minutes, Mukuara and Hanyu created chances from crosses. However, they were unable to take shots against Sendai's tough defense and were instead pushed back by Sendai's speedy counterattacks. Still, thanks to Gonda's good saves, they defended well and did not allow additional goals. In the 63rd minute, Hirayama received a right cross from Mukuara in the area and quickly turned to take 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 in for Hanyu to play as an attacking midfielder. Tokunaga also advanced 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 and aimed a precise shot at the goal, but this was also blocked by the goalkeeper. They created rhythm with a pass 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 advanced from the center, took a well-aimed shot but it went over the bar. Against a Tokyo side that was pushing forward, Sendai, who had the lead, solidified their defense and aimed for counterattacks. In the final 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 group stage. 【Player Comments】《Ishikawa》 "Individually, we were trying hard, but we couldn't fight as a team. It's not that our motivation was low or that we lacked fighting spirit. However, I think we didn't mesh well as a whole. (Having returned from absence in the previous match) I had good training, and I was motivated after watching the Niigata match from the stands. I wanted to avoid overthinking and getting stuck, but I couldn't express that feeling well in my play... If we let them score early, the opponent will solidify the center, and if we take too long in our attacks, we lose space. I felt that not just individually, but as a team, we needed to have targeted attacks. Once we allow the opponent to take the lead, it tends 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 consolidated our efforts in one direction. Of course, we weren't 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 group stage. I want to turn what I felt today into personal strength." 《Morishige》 "The goals conceded were due to overlapping mistakes. It was because Kenta couldn't 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 the same for 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's how we conceded. However, I think we were able to make some corrections after that time. Of course, we should have noticed and handled it properly before that. (There were many instances of discussion during the match?) We communicated about marking and made adjustments as a four-man DF line. I think that part wasn't bad. What we needed was a bit more creativity to create good finishing shapes in our attacks. I want to take shots not out of desperation, but in a good shape." 【Coach Jofuku's Press Conference Summary】 "I have the impression that we lost as we were meant to lose today. I truly apologize to those who came to support us away on a weekday night. I don't think we were able to show a united team aiming for a single goal. If there are plays directed in different directions, we cannot win. I was made painfully aware of that today, and we could only show such a team. I personally reflect strongly on this. (What do you mean by plays directed 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, we were able to taste the joy of victory for the first time in seven matches, and the players are relieved. This tournament is one aimed at reaching higher heights, 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 fighting hard in this tournament to enhance our team strength. We wanted to try what we have been working on against last year's champions, FC Tokyo. That included short counterattacks from our own defense and finishing with increased speed in 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 planned. 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."