Niigata Beat Leaders Sendai to Close Gap to One Point; Shonan Return to Winning Ways [Summary: MEIJI YASUDA J2 Matchweek 13]

Eight Matchweek 13 fixtures in the MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE were played on 25 October, with Niigata closing the gap on leaders Sendai to just one point.
 
Second-placed Niigata came from behind to beat leaders Sendai 2-1 at home. Yota Sugiyama put the visitors ahead in the 34th minute, but Kazuyoshi Shimabuku equalised seven minutes later before Masahiro Sekiguchi struck the winner in the 55th. The result left both sides in the same positions, with Niigata now just one point behind Sendai.
 
Akita edged Imabari 1-0 at home thanks to an 88th-minute winner from Shota Suzuki. Miyazaki beat Yamagata 2-0 away from home through goals from Koji Okumura and Ken Tshizanga Matsumoto.
 
Sapporo claimed their third consecutive win with a 1-0 away victory over Toyama, thanks to Vini Peixoto's 67th-minute winner. Tosu also enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 home win over Hachinohe, with Reiya Morishita and Manato Yoshida on target.
 
Oita took the lead against Kofu through Kotaro Arima in the 13th minute but conceded an equaliser in the 60th as the match ended 1-1. Iwaki and Iwata also played out a 1-1 draw. Naoki Kumata put the hosts ahead in the sixth minute before Iago Teles equalised for Iwata in the 63rd.
 
Shonan came from behind to beat Tochigi City 2-1 at home and claim their first win in five matches. After falling behind in the 33rd minute, Taiyo Nishino equalised in the 54th before Sere Matsumura struck the winner in the 76th to complete the comeback.

MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE Standings

■Match Data
Akita vs Imabari
Yamagata vs Miyazaki
Niigata vs Sendai
Toyama vs Sapporo
Tosu vs Hachinohe
Oita vs Kofu
Iwaki vs Iwata
Shonan vs Tochigi City FC

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