On June 22nd at 4 PM, Yamagata Montedio will host their Tohoku derby rivals, Vegalta Sendai, in the 21st round of the J2 League.
Yamagata Montedio suffered a 1-2 away loss to Kagoshima United in the 20th round of the J2 League on June 15th. Midfielder Yuta Konishi scored his first goal of the season in the 26th minute of the first half with a long shot. However, Yamagata’s defense made several errors on set pieces in the second half, ultimately leading to a game-winning goal from substitute center-back Sho Iriguchi. This was the third consecutive match without a win for the team. After the Kagoshima match, Yamagata Montedio head coach Susumu Watanabe said that his team has had problems with their defense, but the biggest issue is their inability to convert chances into goals. This is something that needs to be improved.
Currently, Yamagata Montedio is in 14th place in the J2 League table with 6 wins, 4 draws, and 10 losses. They are only three points above the relegation zone. For a team that set a goal of promotion at the beginning of the season, this ranking is clearly unacceptable. Additionally, they have only recorded 3 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses in their 9 home matches this season. They have not shown the dominance of a team from the Tohoku region, and their home fans are unhappy with the team’s performance and have been calling for a change in their fortunes. In the Emperor’s Cup, Yamagata Montedio beat J3 side SC Sagamihara 3-2 at home to advance to the next round. The team will face a multi-pronged challenge in the upcoming matches.
In terms of the squad, Yamagata Montedio will be without substitute goalkeeper Kou Hasegawa, starting center-back Yuta Kumamoto, and starting forward Yusuke Goto due to injuries. The newly signed forward, Disarro, will not be available until mid-July due to registration issues.
Sendai Vegalta, who were on the road, drew 2-2 with their rivals Nagasaki, in the previous round. Despite falling behind early and struggling to keep pace, they fought back and even took the lead thanks to a goal from midfielder Keisuke Matsushita. However, the defense failed to hold off Nagasaki’s aerial attack in the final moments, allowing striker Delgado to head home the equalizer. Sendai managed to secure a point away from home. After the intense match against Nagasaki, Sendai Vegalta head coach Yoshiro Moriyama expressed his satisfaction with the players’ efforts to fight until the very end. However, he believes that there is still room for improvement in the second goal conceded.
Sendai Vegalta are currently in 6th place in the J2 League standings with 9 wins, 7 draws, and 4 losses. They are only one point ahead of Chiba, and their goal differential is significantly worse, leaving them with limited control over their position. However, they have recorded a remarkable 5 wins, 4 draws, and 1 loss in their 10 away matches this season, placing them third in the league for away goals scored, only behind Nagasaki and Yokohama FC. They are also a strong contender for promotion. In the cup competitions, Sendai Vegalta has been eliminated early and will be able to focus on their league campaign.
In terms of the squad, Sendai Vegalta midfielder Sousei Kudo has recovered from his injury and is back in the squad. Only foreign center-back Matheus Moraes will miss the match due to injury. Additionally, Sendai Vegalta’s starting striker Yuuta Sato scored his second league goal of the season in the previous round. The forward, who has moved from the wing to the center forward position, is looking forward to scoring in the derby match.
In the previous 20 matches between these two teams, Sendai Vegalta has won 11, drawn 4, and lost 5, giving them a psychological advantage. Although Yamagata Montedio will be playing at home, they are facing significant personnel issues. Can Sendai Vegalta capitalize on their rivals’ struggles and win the match, securing a double victory in the derby?
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