On the 22nd, J2 soccer team Montedio Yamagata played the Michinoku Derby against Sendai at home. Although they managed to catch up with the score thanks to a penalty kick by Kita, they were unable to win.

The Michinoku Derby was held at home and was attended by more than 16,000 people, the highest attendance of the season.
Many supporters who know the frustration of both teams are hoping for revenge for their complete defeat away from home last time.

In the 11th minute of the first half, Yamagata’s Isaka cut in from the side but it was straight at the goalkeeper. In the 23rd minute, Abe headed a corner kick but it was straight at the goalkeeper again.

After missing a chance, Yoshida was called for a handball in the 30th minute, giving away a penalty.
His opponent was Masaaki Goto, who has already saved two penalty kicks this season, and this one gave Sendai the lead again in the derby.

However, in the 40th minute of the first half, Minami’s volley hit the opponent’s hand, and Yamagata was awarded a penalty kick.
The kicker was Kita, who transferred from Sendai this season and said he was going to “get revenge for what they did to him last time” against his former club.
Despite being under so much pressure that he described it as “the most nervous moment of my life,” he calmly kicked the ball into the right corner of the goal, tying the score.

Aiming to turn the game around, Yamagata had a chance in the 23rd minute of the second half when Takahashi broke through on a through pass from Kunibu, but the ball hit the post and Takahashi missed the chance.
On the other hand, in the 33rd minute, they conceded a decisive opportunity from the side, but were saved by the opponent’s missed shot.
The Michinoku Derby ended in a draw with neither team winning. Yamagata was unable to avenge their previous loss and dropped to 15th place.

(Director Watanabe Susumu)
“I think we were dominating the game. We’ve been playing games like that, but our current situation is that we just can’t win.”

(MF#10, Ryoma Kita)
“It was the most exciting game, and I wanted to win. I felt responsible for not scoring until now, so I want to make up for it.”

The next match will be on June 30th, away against 10th-placed Akita.