NIIGATA (Interstat) — Masahiro Sekiguchi scored in the 55th minute as Albirex Niigata rallied from an early deficit to beat Vegalta Sendai 2-1 in a competition match at Denka Big Swan Stadium on Sunday. Vegalta Sendai had taken the lead through Yota Sugiyama in the 34th minute, but the home side answered before halftime and completed the comeback after the break. The victory gave Albirex Niigata the upper hand in a tightly contested match and left Vegalta Sendai with a narrow road loss. The home side’s comeback was built on a quick response before halftime and a composed second-half display.

The opening exchanges were scrappy, with two cautions inside the first five minutes setting the tone. Vegalta Sendai nevertheless settled and found the opener when Sugiyama converted. Albirex Niigata’s response came four minutes before halftime, and the home side carried that momentum into the second half.

Sugiyama put Vegalta Sendai ahead when he finished after a move involving Hiroto Iwabuchi, whose assist was one of the visiting side’s key contributions. Albirex Niigata responded in the 41st minute when Kazuyoshi Shimabuku scored to level the match. The equalizer changed the complexion of the contest and set up Sekiguchi’s decisive strike early in the second half.

Sekiguchi finished with one goal while playing the full match. Shimabuku played 76 minutes and scored once, while Yamato Wakatsuki also played 76 minutes and recorded an assist. Moraes Matheus logged 87 minutes and supplied an assist before being substituted. For Vegalta Sendai, Sugiyama scored once and was cautioned in the 36th minute before being replaced in the 73rd. Iwabuchi played 73 minutes and recorded an assist.

The match was physical and produced seven yellow cards. Albirex Niigata’s T. Arai was booked in the third minute, and Vegalta Sendai’s Mateus Moraes was cautioned in the fifth. Sugiyama’s yellow card followed in the 36th minute, with K. Miyazaki booked in the 49th and H. Kamada in the 66th for Vegalta Sendai. Albirex Niigata’s T. Kato was cautioned in the 72nd minute, and K. Kuwayama was booked in the 85th. The bookings added to the tension as Albirex Niigata protected its second-half lead. No player was sent off.

Vegalta Sendai used substitutions involving Okuyama M. and Miyazaki K. in the 60th minute, and Sugiyama Y. and Iwabuchi H. in the 73rd. Albirex Niigata had substitution entries for Arai T. in the 68th, Shimabuku K., Wakatsuki Y. and Osawa T. in the 76th, and Moraes M. in the 87th. Vegalta Sendai also had a substitution for Nakajima M. in the 85th.

Albirex Niigata is now 2-1-1 in this competition, and Vegalta Sendai is also 2-1-1. Across all competitions, Albirex Niigata is 2-2-1, while Vegalta Sendai is 2-1-1. Albirex Niigata entered after a 2-1 home win over Sagan Tosu, a 5-1 loss at Oita Trinita, a 1-1 draw at Shonan Bellmare and a 1-0 loss at Yamaga. Vegalta Sendai came in after a 3-1 home win over Imabari, a scoreless home draw with Tokushima and a 1-0 win at Montedio Yamagata. Vegalta Sendai pushed for an equalizer after falling behind, but Albirex Niigata held firm and closed out the win at home. Vegalta Sendai’s early lead did not last, and the visitors could not recover after falling behind. The match featured several stoppages for cautions and substitutions.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Vegalta Sendai 2, Albirex Niigata 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Vegalta Sendai with a 64.4 percent probability to win, and Vegalta Sendai was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 0.5. The total score of 3 went under the over/under line of 2.5.