SAITAMA (Interstat) — Mynavi Sendai W scored twice in the first half and held on to beat Saitama W 2-1 on Wednesday in a WE League match. Shoko Miaki scored for Saitama W, while Seira Esaki and Ota Moe scored for Mynavi Sendai W. Miyu Yakata and Kotone Nakano each recorded an assist for the visitors.

Mynavi Sendai W opened the scoring in the 30th minute when Esaki finished a move set up by Yakata. The visitors doubled their lead in the 39th minute, with Moe converting after Nakano’s assist. Saitama W struggled to break through for much of the match, but Miaki pulled one back in the 84th minute to give the home side late hope. Mynavi Sendai W kept its shape through the closing stages and protected the one-goal margin.

Saitama W pressed for an equalizer after Miaki’s goal, but Mynavi Sendai W limited the home side’s best chances and closed out the result. Mynavi Sendai W’s competition record now stands at 1 win and 1 loss, while its overall record is 1 win and 4 losses. Saitama W’s competition record is 2 wins and 1 loss, and its overall record is 5 wins and 1 loss.

The result gave Mynavi Sendai W a measure of response after an earlier meeting between the teams went Saitama W’s way. Saitama W had won that prior head-to-head match 2-1. On Wednesday, however, Mynavi Sendai W built its lead before the interval and did enough defensively after Miaki’s late strike. The visitors’ goals came from Esaki and Moe, while Yakata and Nakano were credited with the assists.

Before Wednesday, Mynavi Sendai W had lost its previous four matches across all competitions, including two against Inac Kobe Leonesa W and one each against Urawa W and Saitama W. Those results included a 4-3 home loss to Inac Kobe Leonesa W, a 2-1 loss at Urawa W, a 1-0 home loss to Inac Kobe Leonesa W and a 2-1 home loss to Saitama W. The victory gave Mynavi Sendai W its first competition win of the season.

Saitama W had entered the match with strong form across competitions. It had played to a scoreless draw with Mynavi Vegalta Sendai Ladies W, won at Omiya Ardija W 2-0, beat Albirex Niigata W 1-0, beat JEF United W 2-1, won at Mynavi Sendai W 2-1 and beat International Athletic Club Kobe Leonessa W 2-1. Saitama W could not overturn the two-goal deficit against Mynavi Sendai W. The home side’s late goal ensured a tense finish, but Mynavi Sendai W held on for the road win.

The match marked the second meeting of the season between the clubs. Mynavi Sendai W had lost the first 2-1, a result that fit a difficult stretch. Mynavi Sendai W’s competition record now includes one win and one loss, while Saitama W has two wins and one loss in the competition. Across all competitions, Mynavi Sendai W is 1-4 and Saitama W is 5-1. The visitors’ first-half goals proved decisive, and Saitama W’s late response was not enough to force a draw.

Saitama W is scheduled to visit Beleza W in WE League play next. Mynavi Sendai W will look to build on its first competition win after a difficult start across all competitions.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Saitama W 2, Mynavi Sendai W 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Saitama W with a 76.8 percent probability to win. Saitama W was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 3 went under the over/under line of 2.5.