If Lucas scores, we won't lose! Securing victory with Hirayama's additional goal

In the second half, which was a gamble, we created a decisive opportunity at the start. In the 46th minute, Ota sent a FK from the right side to the front line, and Morishige connected with his feet, and Lucas in front of the goal shot. However, it was in front of the GK. In the 52nd minute, Yonemoto → Vucicevic broke through to the left area and passed to Lucas in the center. This was also a decisive moment, but it was blocked by the Sendai DF's sliding and escaped to a CK. However, in the immediate 53rd minute, Kaga shot from the right area after connecting with the CK. Although it was blocked, Kaga → Hasegawa behind him took the second and crossed from the right front line. Lucas in the center of the area volleyed and scored!!

"The players who should decide are deciding," and the heat is also rising on and off the pitch. In the midst of the intense atmosphere, Tokyo grasped the rhythm and launched attacks from the sides and sharp counters. In the 60th minute, Watanabe made a run from Ota's overlap and took a shot after receiving a pass into the area. In the 67th minute, after Yonemoto intercepted the ball, a counterattack was launched and Ishikawa, who came on as a substitute, created a decisive chance by getting in front of the opponent's defender, but was blocked by the Sendai defender just before the shot.

On the other hand, Sendai made a substitution in the 70th minute, replacing left back Hachisuka with forward Nakahara, thickening their front line to launch a counterattack. Although there were moments when they were pushed back by the opponent's momentum, they concentrated and responded effectively. From there, they started to launch effective counters against Sendai, whose defense began to slow down. In the 89th minute, Lucas was replaced by Hirayama. In the additional time, they pressed the opponent's territory, and Tokunaga → Yonemoto successfully stole the ball and carried it forward, crossing from the right area. Hirayama in the center of the area pushed it in with a header, scoring the second goal. They left Sendai behind.

As a result, the league match ended with 54 points, placing us in 8th position. It is worth noting that Lucas has continued his record of "no losses in matches where he scored" since the 25th round of the 2009 season, which has now been updated for 5 seasons. We will finish the league season with a victory and head towards the final tournament of the season, the Emperor's Cup.


[Player Comments]
"Lucas"
"I think today's game was perfect. I always prioritize the team winning, and I was able to score within that. I have always wanted to win and have played with passion. I hoped that through that kind of play, a message could be conveyed and I think it was communicated to everyone. I am truly grateful to the fans and supporters. Not just today, but also in the past, whether we were doing well, struggling, or facing difficulties, they have always supported us. I want to fight until the very end of the Emperor's Cup together with everyone, combining our energy."

"Shioda"
"In the first half, we struggled against Sendai's style of play. However, we were told that if we persevered, it would be our time. In the second half, we were able to play at our pace and we had the confidence that we could win in front of so many supporters. I am grateful for the coincidence that I joined the team in the same year as Lucon and that we were able to stand on the pitch together in the final league match. That's why I wanted to win and send him off, no matter what the content was. I had various thoughts and it could have been a pressure, but what you can do in such a situation is the quality of a professional. I believed in myself and, above all, I believed in my teammates. The biggest reward is that we were able to end with a victory."


[Coach Popovich's Press Conference Summary]
"The performance was different between the first half and the second half, showing two different faces. In the first half, Sendai played better. The only good thing for us was that we didn't concede any goals. Our emotions were spinning out of control and we lacked concentration more than usual. However, in the second half, we not only moved the ball but also had more plays towards the goal, creating many dangerous opportunities for the opponent. Winning the final home game is still a big achievement. We have to wait for three months until the start of the next season. During that time, we can savor the taste of today's victory."

And it was the last league match for Lucas, who decided to retire. It was great that he scored a goal in that match and we were able to win. I hope Lucas takes some time to rest and spend time with his family. He has been under a lot of pressure from his family, so I want him to spend time with them from now on. For us, Lucas is the best example. Both Lucas and Nemanja are 34 years old, but they have shown us their professional attitude of giving their all in training and the quality of being able to play at this level even at 34. I hope young players can learn from and take advantage of these qualities in the future."


[Sendai - Coach Makoto TEGURAMORI's Press Conference Summary]
"As a correction from the previous match, we aimed to play an aggressive and high-intensity game. At the same time, we wanted to increase our caution and timing in passing, as well as our positioning, in order to exploit the space behind Tokyo's fullbacks. In the first half, we were able to demonstrate this aggression and effective attacking through FW Yanagisawa, MF Sasaki, and MF Ota attacking the flanks. However, after conceding the first goal in the second half, we became a bit flustered and our attacking precision decreased. Looking at Tokyo's performance in the first half, it was a painful goal to concede while we were dominating. We still believed we could bounce back and score one goal, but in the end, we couldn't convert our chances and instead took risks, resulting in a second goal for the opponent. It was a fitting end to Lucas' retirement match."

I want to redeem this frustration in the Emperor's Cup and for my career from next season, I think I have to nurture the strictness towards victory and move forward. I am impressed that so many Sendai supporters came to Ajinomoto again this year. This season was a season where we were relegated to the lower ranks, but I told the players, "We have nothing to lose today. The only thing we must not lose is our pride. The supporters have that pride and are fighting together with us." I was able to confirm the bond of Sendai from the supporters who gathered at the final match and the players who tried to deliver victory. I think this is a great achievement and when I see this scene, I also feel reluctant to leave Sendai. However, if we can continue this style, I believe we can become a symbol of Tohoku.