Last match before the break, seeking to secure 3 points at home in Sec. 5

The matchday of Sec. 5 of the 2nd Stage held on a weekday. We will face Vegalta Sendai at home. In the previous match, tactical substitutions worked effectively. Nathan BURNS marked his first goal in Japan, and it can be said that the new players are gradually fitting in and showing a new way of playing. However, the team has not won in the last two matches, and there is a growing sense of crisis. The players expressed, "We want to clarify once again what stage we will fight from here and what we aim for," and they all agreed, "We cannot afford to lose consecutive matches, especially at home." After this match, the J1 League will enter a break of about two weeks, but this is a crucial match to gain momentum for the future by securing a victory.

However, Takahashi is suspended due to accumulated warnings. With Kajiyama's absence, two midfielders will be missing. Therefore, Nozawa will be in the starting lineup for the first time since the Nabisco match against Shonan on June 3, partnering with Yonemoto as a double pivot. Additionally, Ota returns, and Maruyama will be used as a center-back. Mita will also start for the first time since the match against Shimizu on June 27, and Mita and Hayabusa will serve as the two wings in a 4-4-2 formation.

Sendai, on the other hand, finished the 1st stage in 7th place with 23 points. However, in the 2nd stage, due to the injury of forward Wilson, they have only managed 1 draw and 3 losses so far. While they are in a difficult situation, Sendai is known for their style that utilizes the characteristics of their attacking players, stemming from their intense defense. Particularly in the match during the 1st stage, Tokyo maintained a 3-point lead but conceded 2 goals in the final moments, proving that Sendai can be a formidable opponent if they gain momentum. Therefore, it is essential to prevent Sendai from seizing any opportunities to rise. They will likely maintain quick transitions and high work rates while attacking. In response, Tokyo aims to connect their defense to offense without becoming mentally passive, striving for victory with their characteristic style.

Before the start, a moment of silence was held for the victims of the recent Chofu small aircraft accident. As the night grew warmer and more humid, the match kicked off at 19:03 in Tokyo.

Morishige scores his 6th goal of the season, Maeda nets 2 goals, leading by 3 points

The match started with both teams competing for the ball. In the 8th minute, Sandaza was fouled on the right flank, just outside the penalty area, earning a free kick. In the 9th minute, Ota delivered a sharp free kick into the goal area, and Morishige, who made a run to the near post, redirected it with a header into the goal! Taking advantage of the set-piece opportunity, Morishige marked his 6th goal of the season, scoring early in the match.

After that, Tokyo gradually took control of the ball. They created scenes of attacking while connecting passes. In the 19th minute, Nozawa advanced through the center and made a vertical pass to Maeda. From Maeda's hold-up play, Yonemoto spread the ball to the right. From a coordinated movement, Tokunaga sent in a cross, but it just barely missed reaching Maeda in front of the goal. However, in the 23rd minute, Sendai cleared a pass to the front line. As the Sendai midfielder tried to advance from the center, Nozawa applied pressure, stole the ball, and passed it to Maeda just before the penalty area. Maeda slipped between two opposing defenders, created a one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper, and calmly slotted it in with his left foot for the goal!! Taking advantage of Nozawa's ball recovery and Maeda's persistence, they secured an additional point.

After that, there were moments when they were pressured mainly by Sendai's set plays, but with Maruyama leading a tough defense, they held on. In the 34th minute, Sandaza from the midfield sent the ball forward with a header. There was a contest with the opponent, but Maeda cut off the opponent's header and broke free to the front line. He dribbled into the left area, and Sandaza was also running to the right, but he adjusted his timing to cut back past the Sendai defender. The soft shot he took from there was like it was sucked into the net for a goal! Up to this point, Tokyo had scored 3 goals from 3 shots, widening their lead as if to seal the match and ended the first half.

Conceded 1 goal, but launched a counterattack to secure the match

However, the score developed similarly to the away match of the 1st stage. Therefore, attention was focused on the game management in the second half. Sendai made two substitutions in the second half, bringing in MF Okuno for FW Ramon Lopez. They approached the counterattack with momentum. In the 47th minute, Sendai MF Yang's cross flowed from the center to the far side, and left MF Kanekubo shot freely. Shortly after, FW Kanezono broke through, but Maruyama quickly contested and prevented him from finishing.

In the 54th minute, Tokyo substituted Sandaza for Ishikawa. In the 59th minute, Tokunaga intercepted the ball on the right side of his own half, and after a one-two with Yonemoto and then Ishikawa, he dribbled back to the center. He advanced over a long distance of 80 meters, evaded the Sendai defender in front of the goal, and took a decisive shot, but was thwarted by the opposing goalkeeper's save...

In the 66th minute, Mita was substituted for Ishikawa, and they launched a counterattack, but there were not enough players for the attack against Sendai's defense. They decided to play it safe and reset the play. However, there were moments when Sendai maintained possession of the ball, and they couldn't break that rhythm. In the 68th minute, after a series of passes on Sendai's left side, the midfielder Yang connected with the defensive midfielder Tomita, and MF Kanekubo advanced through the center. In response, Tokyo's pressure weakened, and a shot aimed at the goal from just outside the area was scored... resulting in a conceded goal.

In the 77th minute, Hashimoto was brought on to replace Mita. They reorganized their defense and launched sharp counterattacks. In the 82nd minute, they were pushed back in front of their own goal, but Yonemoto seized the loose ball and surged forward. Maeda on the right side passed to Hashimoto, who then sent it to Ishikawa at the front line. They created a good opportunity, but Ishikawa's shot went wide to the right. In the 87th minute, starting from Hanyu in midfield, Yonemoto and Maeda executed a direct pass, and Hanyu again moved to the left front line. Hashimoto jumped in from the far side for a cross into the goal area, but he couldn't take a shot as he was sandwiched by the opposing defenders.

Although they could not score the fourth goal, they withstood Sendai's counterattack, conceding only one goal until the time was up. Morishige's opening goal and Maeda's two goals contributed directly to the victory, and the entire team fought hard to secure the three points.

[Player Comments]
Maeda
"I am happy that I was able to score 2 goals today. My first goal was thanks to a good pass from Nozawa. I was able to place the ball in a good spot with my first touch, and it came to me nicely from the Sendai DF. I was able to calmly assess the goalkeeper's position and score. For my second goal, I tried to pass because Sandaza was running to the right. When I did that, the Sendai DF was drawn in, so I was able to evade them well. After scoring last time, I had a series of matches where I couldn't score, so I want to work hard to continue producing results and contribute to victories in the future."

Nozawa
"Rather than making special plays, I wanted to demonstrate my usual abilities and contribute to the victory. In the final stages, I became fatigued and couldn't get involved with the ball, but I am happy that we were able to end with a win. (Regarding the play that led to the second goal) I was able to take the ball from the opponent and I think I was able to show the 'intensity' that was my challenge. After that, I saw Maeda's movement, but to avoid being noticed by the Sendai defenders, I passed in a no-look manner without looking at the opponent. However, today was not a position I earned through my own efforts, but rather a chance that came about due to my teammates' injuries and suspensions. That's why I want to continue to grow so that I can contribute to the victory in the game."

【Summary of Coach Massimo FICCADENTI's Press Conference】
It was a wonderful first half. In the second half, there were moments where we ended up just keeping the ball, but overall I am satisfied. Given the many issues we faced today, such as injuries and suspensions, we were able to achieve this result. The team has improved in various aspects, including tactics and combinations in the front line. As we enter the break, I want everyone to prepare for the next match while waiting for the injured players to recover.
(About Player Maeda)
I prefer not to single out one name, but it is clear to everyone that he is a player worthy of praise. Last season, he faced issues such as injuries, and there were difficult times this season when he couldn't even make it to the bench after coming to Tokyo. However, he has a proven track record and a true professional mindset, and he has delivered wonderful results like today. An excellent player who serves as a role model.
(Nozawa responded to the call with an assist?)
He met expectations, and he will have another chance. There must have been tough times, but he is maturing. Maruyama also showed a wonderful performance today. Even if you can't participate in the match, it's through solid training that you can achieve results when the opportunity arises. Not just them, everyone showed great play deserving of victory. The players today were focused solely on winning as they stepped onto the pitch.

[Summary of the Press Conference by Susumu WATANABE, Coach of Sendai]
"I am grateful that many fans and supporters gathered despite the match being held on a weekday night. Given our current situation of being far from winning since entering the 2nd stage, I expected the match against Tokyo to be tough. We made some changes to the lineup and entered the match with a simple plan to exploit the space behind and pick up the loose balls. The goal conceded from the restart was due to us being slow to react at the ball. I was thinking of changing members and positions to create scoring opportunities, but DF Watanabe got injured, forcing us to make substitutions. In the second half, I believe we were able to show our style of receiving the ball in space, moving it around at our feet, and breaking through with combinations. However, considering the goal difference, it was natural for the game to develop in a way where we were pushed back. Not being able to push in one or two more goals in front of the net reflects our lack of strength."