Unbeaten Sendai Go Top; In-Form Toyama Join the Leading Pack [Monthly Report (September): MEIJI YASUDA J2]

Matchweeks 5 to 8 of the MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE were played in September.

Sendai climbed to the top of the table after going unbeaten throughout the month. They opened September with a 3-1 win at Shonan and drew 1-1 with Sapporo before beating Tochigi City and Iwaki to finish with three wins and a draw. Their defensive solidity remains a major strength, while Motohiko Nakajima and returning midfielder Hidetoshi Takeda have also been in good form going forward. Having won the J2/J3 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE earlier this year, Sendai have carried that momentum into the new season.

Omiya, who ended August top of the table, found wins harder to come by as they drew three straight matches from Matchweek 5. They responded emphatically in Matchweek 8, however, beating Kofu 5-1 to preserve their unbeaten start and finish September second.

Niigata, Shonan and Yokohama FC remain firmly in the early promotion picture. Niigata briefly moved top, while Shonan continued to pick up points steadily. Yokohama FC impressed in attack, most notably with a 5-0 victory over Niigata in Matchweek 5. The season is still young, but the battle near the top is already beginning to take shape.

Toyama have emerged as another side to watch. Wins over Iwata and Yamagata were followed by a spirited 3-3 draw with Yokohama FC in Matchweek 8, when they fought back to equalise late on. Their possession-based football has been matched by an impressive defensive record, with Toyama also recording a joint league-high number of clean sheets. That balance at both ends of the pitch has pushed them firmly into the leading pack.

Yamagata, who were second at the end of August, suffered three straight defeats from Matchweek 5 and slipped to eighth. Fujieda also endured a difficult month, going winless in September and dropping from third to ninth, while Iwata lost three of their four matches.

Miyazaki, by contrast, enjoyed a remarkable turnaround. Still without a win after Matchweek 5, the promoted side claimed their first-ever J2 victory against Fujieda in Matchweek 6 and went on to make it three wins in a row, climbing from 19th to 10th. Despite the departure of Yusei Toshida to Gamba Osaka, they continued to play attacking football, scoring three goals in each of those three victories. Keigo Hashimoto, back from injury, has been central to their resurgence.

Iwaki also showed signs of recovery following a change of manager. Kazuaki Tasaka took charge from Matchweek 6 and led the side to back-to-back wins before their defeat to Sendai. Imabari made a change of their own ahead of Matchweek 8, appointing Yoshikiyo Kuboyama as manager. His first league match ended in defeat to Shonan, but the club will hope the change can spark a turnaround.

Imabari remain bottom of the table, while several clubs with recent J1 experience are also struggling, including Oita, Tosu, Kofu and Sapporo. Sapporo have not won since the opening match and ended September with two draws and two defeats. Despite having the second-highest possession rate in the league and scoring in every match, they have been unable to turn those numbers into results and sit 19th. Turning those performances into points will be the priority as they head into October.

MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE Results (September)