NIIGATA (Interstat) — Albirex Niigata beat Vegalta Sendai 2-1 at Denka Big Swan Stadium on Sunday. Vegalta Sendai opened the scoring in the 34th minute when Yota Sugiyama scored, with Hiroto Iwabuchi assisting. Sugiyama was booked in the 36th minute. The visitors held the lead briefly before halftime. Albirex Niigata equalized in the 41st when Kazuyoshi Shimabuku scored off Yamato Wakatsuki’s assist. Masahiro Sekiguchi put Albirex ahead in the 55th, assisted by Moraes Matheus. Sekiguchi played 90 minutes and scored once; Shimabuku played 76 minutes and scored once; Sugiyama played 73 minutes, scored once and was booked; Iwabuchi played 73 minutes and had one assist; Matheus played 87 minutes and had one assist; Wakatsuki played 76 minutes and had one assist. The match included seven yellow cards, four for Vegalta Sendai and three for Albirex Niigata. Albirex Niigata is 2-1-1 in the competition and 2-2-1 across all competitions; Vegalta Sendai is 2-1-1 in both.