Add the first starting members of the season and aim for victory by changing the starting lineup!

The second match of the Nabisco qualifying league, which was played three days after the league's previous match, was against Vegalta Sendai. Tokyo made changes to the starting lineup, except for Morishige, from the league match against Shimizu. Murohara in defense and Yukino in midfield made their first starts of the season. Hirayama was used up front, with Ishikawa and Watanabe on the wings. Morishige and Takahashi formed the center-back pairing in a 4-3-3 formation.

Sendai, on the other hand, lost 0-4 to Shimizu in the first match of the Nabisco Cup. In the league, they currently have 2 draws and 3 losses, so it can be said that they are struggling. However, they have welcomed Graham ARNOLD as the new coach this season, but there have been no major changes in the squad. Sendai has also made changes to the squad from the league matches, with Wilson and Muto as the forwards. Ota and Maglinty are on the wings in midfield. The full-backs are Takeda and Norio SUZUKI, and they play in a 4-4-2 formation. Akamine starts on the bench as a forward.

It will be a match where we want to grab victory by showing mental toughness and perseverance, without losing to Sendai, who will come to our home with a strong determination.

The match started with Sendai's kickoff at Yurtec Stadium Sendai, where it was calm and sunny during the day but gradually getting colder.

Stay focused on defending against Sendai's powerful attacks and go into the second half with a scoreless draw

Three minutes into the start, from the Sendai left front line throw-in, the Tokyo DF momentarily stopped their feet, allowing the left MF Magrinchi to send a left cross, which was headed by the central FW Wilson, but it went wide of the goal.

On the other hand, Tokyo, Takahashi feeds the front line. Naoya picks up the second and connects it to Hanyu -> Watanabe with a vertical pass. Although this could not be settled, Mukuhara advances to a high position from the loose ball and crosses.
However, without crossing over to the central area, Hirayama maintained a compact formation, and both teams launched quick attacks while maintaining a compact formation, engaging in a back-and-forth exchange.

17 minutes have passed since the lack of decisive factor, and in the midfield, Hayashi sends a pass towards Ishikawa who is trying to break through on the left front line, but it is intercepted and countered.
FW Wilson sprinted down the left side and jumped into the path of FW Muto in front of the goal, but the Tokyo DF cut it off just in time and defended it.

At 30 minutes, Tokyo expanded to the right space with Ishikawa. Matsuda overlapped with speed and sent a fast and low cross to the center. Hirayama near the goal tried to connect it directly with his foot, but couldn't find the target. After that, Tokyo struggled to find a rhythm in their attack. Sendai gradually took control of the ball and started to create opportunities from the sides. However, Saltada was prepared and calmly prevented any danger from the balls trying to exploit the space behind Tokyo's defense.

In the 39th minute, Morishige intercepted and advanced on his own, but his pass to the front line was cut off, and Sendai counterattacked.
The Tokyo DF was connected to the back, but Sendai FW Wilson was offside, avoiding a pinch.
Furthermore, in the 43rd minute, they were unable to contain the strength of FW Wilson. They were hit with a powerful shot from in front of Tokyo DF, but it curved to the left and they escaped the danger.

Tokyo is struggling to find a rhythm in their attack and is being dominated by home team Sendai. In the final stages, Sendai swiftly passed the ball to FW Wilson and launched powerful attacks, but Tokyo defended without losing focus and held on until halftime with a scoreless draw.

Edu's goal from a penalty kick equalizes the score, but fails to score additional points and ends in a 1-1 draw.

From the start of the second half, Yamamoto replaced Ishikawa on the pitch. Yamamoto entered as an inside half, with Watanabe and Hirayama as the front two. Higashi is in the top position. In the 47th minute, a free kick from Higashi on the right side. Yamamoto's kick was perfectly headed, but... it was blocked by the opponent's goalkeeper's one-handed save, resulting in a corner kick.

Substitute Kawano for Yukino at the top in the 55th minute. Higashi as the anchor. Sendai also substitutes MF Tomita.
56 minutes, Kawano dribbles from the center to the right. Yonemoto followed from the center and aimed from the area in front, but the shot curved to the left.

In the 61st minute, Watanabe on the left area crossed to Hirayama on the right area. Hirayama skillfully turned around while carrying the opposing defender on his back and moved forward, making a last pass to the front of the goal. Kono rushed in with his head, but was denied by the Sendai defender with a corner kick...
Continuing, Higashi sprints to the right sideline. He controls the ball near the sideline and passes it to Matsuda, who is free in the central area. However, Takahashi's shot is blocked, and Sendai launches a counterattack.
Unable to delay this in the midfield. Sendai FW Wilson ran into the left area and took a decisive shot, but Shioda escaped danger with a save.

However, in the 62nd minute, a left corner kick was given. Sendai MF Magurinchi's kick was headed by Kamata, the DF in the far position.
The ball rebounded off Shibata's hand and went into the goal, allowing the opponent to take the lead. In the second half, the team has been attacking after player substitution and formation change, but unfortunately conceded a goal from Sendai's counterattack and set piece.

In the 74th minute, Edu replaced Watanabe and the game's momentum shifted to Tokyo. Three minutes later, in the 77th minute, Edu was fouled in the penalty area and awarded a penalty kick. Edu himself confidently converted it with his left foot, making it 1-1.

80 minutes have passed. Grasping the rhythm of the attack, pushing Sendai and equalizing with Edu's penalty kick.
The game continues in Sendai's field, but they lack accuracy and fail to finish. On the other hand, there were scenes where they were hit by Sendai's powerful counterattacks.

In the 82nd minute, after losing the ball in the midfield, Sendai launched a counterattack. Highashi closed in on Sendai FW Wilson who had broken through on the right side, and the decisive shot narrowly missed to the left, resulting in a corner kick.

In the 87th minute, Mokuhara crossed from the left side after a pass exchange. The ball reached Edu in the right area. Edu tried to control it at his feet and pass it to the inside to Hirayama, but... he was defended by Sendai DF and the ball slightly deviated.

When additional time entered, Sendai MF Tomita shot a loose ball punched by Shibata from Sendai's set play. The ball that hit Tokyo DF was connected again, and Sendai FW Wilson in the left area with a careful header in front of the goal.
Susumu WATANABE was tackled by DF Watanabe in response to this, but the header missed the goal... Time's up.

In the second half, the team made substitutions and changed their formation. Sendai had a chance on the counterattack, but it was saved by Shioda. However, they conceded a goal shortly after from a set piece. On the other hand, they found a rhythm in their attack and equalized with Edu's penalty kick. The game then became an exchange of attacks, but neither team was able to score another goal, and the match ended in a draw.

[Player Comments]
"Edu"
"The first half was a difficult match, especially being away. However, we had players making their first start, and there are still many areas where we are lacking, including combinations. Nevertheless, we were able to prove that all the players who participated have strength by ending up with a draw."
(Even after equalizing, Edu pulled out the ball and attacked. Although they couldn't score an additional point?)
Of course, there were also short playing times, but as a team, there are still areas where we haven't perfected things like knowing where we want to receive the ball or where we want to pass it... We want to improve while being patient with each other."

"Mukuhara"
"I expected Sendai to come forward without a victory, but we couldn't connect the ball and felt cramped attacking on one side. As a result, we kept getting countered. In the second half, the opponent dropped a bit, so I think we were able to play our own game a little."
Personally, I was conscious of defense today. I was thinking about not leaving any gaps and focusing on restraining Sendai MF player Masato OTA and the opponents. As a team, we haven't had a game without conceding a goal, and personally, I also wanted to finish with zero goals conceded... However, it was a difficult game, and I think it wasn't bad that we caught up and drew."

[Summary of Massimo FICCADENTI's press conference]
"Regarding the first half, I felt that the quality in the midfield was a bit lacking. I think the players who were substituted in the second half showed a high level of quality. Although we conceded a goal when we were playing well, the players were able to equalize through their counterattacks."
Whether things are going well or not, it is important for the current team to accurately understand the situation and respond accordingly. From that perspective, I think the players have been doing a good job."

[Sendai - Graham ARNOLD Coach's Press Conference Summary]
"We led 1-0 and continued the game, but I think we could have made it 2-0, 3-0. I think our defense was very good and the overall performance was also very good. It takes time to make changes, so I want to patiently continue to improve. I am satisfied with today's overall performance."