To eliminate the bad aftertaste and lay the foundation for advancing to the top

　In the midst of a chaotic battle for the top, the second stage is also one-third complete, and in the 6th section, we will face Vegalta Sendai away. In the previous section, Tokyo ended in a draw after being caught up with an equalizer by Ichihara in the final moments. For Tokyo, today's match holds great significance in approaching the mid-stage battle in a good shape. After this, the 7th section will be held after a two-day break, and in addition, Mochida and Ishikawa played the full match in the U-22 representative match held in Korea on the 17th (Wednesday) this week. It will be a tough schedule for both individuals and the team, but they want to overcome the unpleasant draw from the previous section and achieve advancement to the top.

　However, Sendai is currently in 15th place. They are also at the bottom of the annual rankings and are in the midst of a battle to avoid relegation. After the last match, it was decided that Verdenik would be replaced as coach and Hajime Ishii would take over as the new coach. Although the team is in a shaky state, this is the time when they should come out fighting and strive for victory. We cannot underestimate them, and it is expected that the match will be difficult. Sendai Stadium, enveloped in Vegalta colors, started the game with a kickoff from Tokyo, amidst a chilly temperature of 17.6 degrees, although the rain was sparse.

Masashi MIYAZAWA's corner kick, Kelly scores first!

　The match was intense from the start, with both teams creating chances from set plays. In the 3rd minute, Tokyo connected a free kick and Toda jumped in to receive the ball dropped by Jean in the front line. In the 5th minute, Sendai MF Silvino and in the 7th minute, Tokyo Ishikawa threatened the goal as the kicker.

　Tokyo had the first scoring opportunity. In the 9th minute, Ishikawa received a long pass from Miyazawa and crossed the ball, and Toda, who was free in front of the goal, attempted a jumping volley shot. However, it went over the bar, missing the chance to take the lead. In the 14th minute, Ishikawa received a pass from Kelly and sent another cross, but it didn't connect with Abe on the far side.

　Tokyo tries to break through from the side change with Ishikawa and Kaji on the right, but scenes of losing the ball in the center stand out. Sendai's counterattacks are sharp after winning the ball, and in the 16th minute, Ishii dribbles through the midfield, connects with left MF Iwamoto, and Sato tries to jump in for a ground cross. Immediately after, Sato escapes behind the DF with Silvinho's lofted pass, creating a decisive opportunity, but Kaji clears it with a sliding tackle and it becomes a corner kick. Tokyo, who tends to be overwhelmed by Sendai's passionate play, leaves gaps in the midfield and allows attacks initiated by Silvinho. Although they were frequently attacked in front of the goal by Kim and Sato as the two top players, the backline defended solidly. In the 28th minute, Kim tries to break through to the goal front while competing with Mobata after receiving a long pass, but Mobata holds him back well. In the 30th minute, Sato gets into a shooting position from Nemoto's cross, but Mobata cuts it off again.

　On the contrary, in the 31st minute, Ishikawa caught up with Kelly's long pass, and Kaji crossed directly, but Abe, who trapped the ball, was surrounded by the defenders. In the 32nd minute, Kanazawa, who went up the left side, was fouled and won a free kick. However, Miyazawa's kick was cleared by the defenders. But when Miyazawa took the resulting corner kick, Kelly headed the ball near the goal. The ball flowed backwards and was sucked into the left side of the goal! The opening goal was born from the first corner kick of the day!! Tokyo, who seized the momentum, also aimed for a goal from a right free kick by Miyazawa in the 34th minute. In the 41st minute, Abe, who received Kelly's pass on the right side, dribbled past the defender and took a shot, winning a corner kick. Toda struck the ball with a header from the subsequent corner kick on the right side, but the ball floated up and Jean couldn't finish it. In the end, they couldn't score an additional goal and ended the first half with a one-point lead.

Exploiting the gap, equalizing the score, and then allowing a comeback goal...

　Sendaigave up the first goal and seemed to be sinking, but in the second half they changed their attitude and fought back. In the 49th minute, Kin took a shot from an early cross by Nemoto, but Doi made the catch. In the 51st minute, Tokyo's Abe scored a header from a free kick. Abe cut inside the defender on the left side in the 53rd minute and took a powerful shot, but the goalkeeper made the catch. Immediately after, Sendai sent the ball to the front line and Kin turned around and took a ground shot in the right penalty area, but it narrowly missed to the right. In the 55th minute, Mochizuki headed the ball from a left corner kick. In the 56th minute, Kin broke free in the area from Silvinho's through pass, but he fell down while competing with Tokyo's defenders and was penalized for simulation.

　Tokyo substituted Amaral for Abe in the 57th minute. In the 60th minute, Kelly passed to Amaral with one touch and he struck the ball to the right, and Ishikawa sent a fast ground cross in front of the goal. Toda created a big chance from his favorite pattern of running into the box, but was stopped by Sendai DF Komine's defense. It was right after missing this additional scoring opportunity. Sendai, who had been keeping possession in the midfield, saw an opening and Nemoto moved up the center, driving a shot-like ball from outside the penalty area to the front of the goal. Doi initially deflected it, but Kan, who was pressing in front of the goal, persisted and pushed it in for a goal. They were caught up to a tie score.

　The stands erupted with excitement at this equalizing goal, and Sendai, fueled by the support, launched a series of attacks. In the 68th minute, from a right-side free kick earned by Kin being fouled, and in the 72nd minute, from a left corner kick, Iwamoto came close to scoring with precise kicks towards the Tokyo goal. Then, in the 74th minute, Sendai sent a through pass from their own half to the front line, and Iwamoto, who picked up the ball dropped in the midfield, quickly dribbled past Tokyo's weak press and sprinted towards the goal, executing a looping shot. The ball floated over Doi's head and gently landed in the goal. Unfortunately, we allowed a stunning reverse with this shot, despite being the enemy.

A valuable draw with Yusuke KONDO's first goal in J-League

　Tokyo, which quickly fell behind, managed to win a corner kick from Ishikawa's right cross in the 75th minute. Ishikawa's corner kick was connected, and Miyazawa crossed the ball in front of the goal. Amaral unleashed a powerful header, but the ball hit the crossbar. Immediately after, Amaral attempted another header from a left corner kick, but the ball missed widely. Tokyo, determined to win, substituted Kondo Yu for Miura in the 76th minute. At just 18 years old, Kondo has been dominating the Satellite League with 7 goals in 8 matches, and he also scored a hat-trick in a practice match against Waseda University three days ago. Expectations were high for the introduction of this secret weapon, who currently has the strongest goal-scoring ability. The oldest player on the team, Amaral, and the youngest player, Kondo Yu, formed a striking duo, while Miyazawa played as a defensive midfielder, as they prepared to counterattack.

　On the contrary, Sendai substituted defensive MF Moriyasu for Nozuki in the 81st minute. However, it was Tokyo who launched an offensive. In the 79th minute, Yusuke Kondo boldly volleyed a shot after Amaral's left cross. In the 80th minute, Miyazawa picked up the clear ball from Ishikawa's right corner kick and unleashed a powerful mid-range shot from the left 45 degrees, which was narrowly off target. In the 86th minute, Kondo competed for an early cross from Kaji with a header, but it went over the line. Immediately after, Kondo dropped a cross from Kanazawa with a header, and Toda tried to follow up, but the opposing goalkeeper caught it just a step ahead. Kondo, who was actively involved in the attack on the front line and created chances, saw the fruits of his labor in the form of his first J-League goal.

　In the 87th minute, as the opponent stopped the ball from Doi's goal kick with a foul, Tokyo earns a free kick from about 30m on the right side. Kondo Yusuke heads the ball, skimming it as it drops from Miyazawa's kick, and scores a goal! Tokyo equalizes at the last minute!

　In stoppage time, Sendai launched a quick counterattack, with Sato breaking through. Tokyo's defense stopped it with a foul, giving a free kick in quick succession in front of the goal. Towards the end, Silvinho's free kick from near the penalty arc hit the wall and deflected, hitting the goal post, and Tokyo escaped unscathed. The last chance was a header from Kim's corner kick, but it missed the goal and the time was up. They brought the intense attack and defense to a draw and earned a valuable 1 point away.

【Player Comment】《Yusuke KONDO》"(Regarding the goal situation) I ran in to meet the free kick and headed it."

I thought I missed it, but I managed to scrape in. I was engrossed but not nervous. Lately, I've been scoring points in satellite and practice matches, so if I played in a game, I was thinking of scoring. I want to get more used to the fast pressure of the top games." - Toda "Taking advantage of the reflection of the previous round where we were beaten, we went on the offensive and I think we were able to catch up. It's good that we didn't lose, but there are moments where we bring out the opponent's strengths, so I want to make adjustments without losing focus and face the next challenge." - Toda

[Summary of Manager Hara's Press Conference] "We have been in a situation where we haven't been able to win for several matches, but today, even though we were trailing, we managed to catch up well in the atmosphere of an away game. I thought that if we lost here, the team's condition would become unpleasant, but Yusuke KONDO scored a good goal and we were able to bring about a draw that was different from last week's match against Ichihara. Sendai has changed managers, but I thought that the remaining players and staff would come at us with a strong determination. As expected, Sendai was emotionally invested and we lost all the ball battles before tactics, and from there, we were pushed forward, especially the start was tough. However, Kelly scored the opening goal from Miyazawa's corner kick, which allowed us to pick up loose balls and set the rhythm for us. In the second half, Sendai came at us with high motivation again, so we brought in Amaral at a crucial moment and aimed for the second goal from his ball retention, but unfortunately, we conceded in an unlucky manner. Amaral's header hitting the crossbar, and the subsequent free shot, if he had scored there, he would have found his form and the team would have gained more momentum. Since the next match is coming up soon, we want to prepare well and take 3 points from Júbilo."

[Press Conference Summary of Sendai Coach Ishii] "We were caught up at the very end, and the points slipped away, which is a very disappointing result. (Regarding taking command) There was not much time, but in the previous match against Kashima, Coach Shimizu instilled a defensive consciousness in the players, and it turned out well. In this match, we continued that and approached it with a game plan that emphasizes defensive balance. I think the players faithfully fulfilled their individual roles. In addition, the challenge was how much fight they could put up, but they overcame the shock in a short period of time and showed a united attitude towards winning. I am grateful for that. There are also some players who are not in good condition, but they were able to boost their motivation in these few days and I think they can hand over to the new coach in a good state. Under Coach Verdenik, I believe the players will show a good performance."