The J2 League, which has already entered the second round

The J2 League, which started this year, consists of a total of 36 matches played in a round-robin format among 10 teams over 8 months. Tokyo has already faced all teams in the previous match against Omiya, and will enter the second round starting with the match against Sendai on this day. The current ranking is favorable, holding 3rd place with 5 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws after 9 matches. With a 3-point gap (1 game difference) from the top, winning this match could allow for a chance to reclaim the top position, while losing could result in a drop in ranking, so securing a win here is crucial. On the other hand, Sendai is struggling in 9th place with 3 wins, 5 losses, and 1 draw, and they hope to secure a win in this first match of the second round to gain momentum. Since Sendai lost 1-2 at home in the previous encounter against Tokyo, their determination for revenge in this match is expected to be significant, and they are anticipated to come at Tokyo with fierce fighting spirit. As the cheering battle from both teams' supporters reached its peak, the kickoff whistle blew.

Okamoto's opening goal takes advantage of a momentary gap!

In the first half, it was Sendai that seized the pace first. Sendai aggressively attacked with intricate passing and large plays aimed at exploiting the gaps in Tokyo's defensive line. In midfield, Sendai's "playmaker" Echigo created rhythm with skillful ball control, distributing good passes to the front line. Up front, Abe, who possesses top-class technique even in J2, created chances with sharp dribbling and a variety of passes with changing tempo, undeterred by tight marking. On the other hand, Tokyo tried to connect the ball starting from Almir, but Sendai's pressing was intense, leading to frequent loss of possession and an inability to establish rhythm. Although they endured a difficult period of being pushed back, they maintained concentration and did not allow any goals with a stable defense centered around Sandro. The game changed in the 37th minute of the first half. Tokyo's midfielder Kobayashi sent the ball to an unoccupied area near the center circle from the right side, causing everyone to momentarily stop. Defender Komine picked up the ball and sent a through pass to the front line. Responding to this, Okamoto broke free and scored with his right foot. Despite being pushed back, Tokyo gained momentum with a goal that exploited a momentary lapse from the opponent, while Sendai lost their momentum in contrast.

Okamoto's second goal that decided the match!

As the second half began, the match intensified, showcasing a back-and-forth battle with quick transitions between offense and defense. Tokyo brought in midfielder Koike in the 8th minute of the second half. Koike, who had played a crucial role in connecting defense and offense in the previous match against Omiya and significantly contributed to the team's victory, actively engaged with the ball on this day, displaying excellent distribution in midfield and creating rhythm for Tokyo. Conversely, Sendai's energy levels dropped sharply, and their pressing weakened, allowing Tokyo to circulate the ball freely. Tokyo, with Almir as the starting point, created numerous chances through the speedy plays of Yukihiko and Kaburaki. In the 24th minute of the second half, Almir broke through with a one-two pass with Yukihiko in the center and immediately delivered a superb through ball to Okamoto at the front line. Okamoto scored his second goal of the day with his right foot, sealing the match. After that, Kaburaki showcased bold dribbling breakthroughs at the front line and delivered decisive crosses, leading to a one-sided development in favor of Tokyo. Defensively, goalkeeper Horiike calmly stopped a critical moment just before the end of the match, demonstrating consistent focus and stability throughout. The match ended with this score, and Tokyo secured their fourth consecutive victory, finally reclaiming the top position.