Mito's compact defence makes the quality of the next delivery more important than possession alone. Hiroshima have recently connected wide service with several different arrivals in the box. Sendai against Omiya brings a separate contest between direct forward passes and a high defensive line.
Hiroshima can use Suga or Higashi to supply Matsumoto, Suzuki and Asano in different phases of an attack. Mito's cup debut under Mori still exposed the far post and the ball after the first clearance. That overlap is the reason for the selection, rather than the league positions or a large recent score.
Semba has served his league suspension and had a shorter cup appearance, giving Mito another forward connection. Hiroshima's long-term Yamasaki absence is already part of the existing defence, and this view does not depend on Haller returning. I expect sustained wide pressure to matter increasingly after the interval. That's why I'm siding with Sanfrecce Hiroshima to build a clear winning margin.
Sendai can play into Miyazaki, gather the layoff through Takeda and Okuyama, and release Nakajima or Iwabuchi behind Omiya. Omiya's own report describes long and diagonal passes defeating their pressure, while their coach remains committed to the high line. This gives Sendai a specific route around the first challenge.
Gen Kato's suspension removes a midfielder who helped Omiya's passing and second-ball play in their last match. Nakayama is an experienced alternative, while Sendai's case uses players who actually started their latest game and does not require Umeki or Matsui to return. As the midfield contest stretches and substitutions arrive, I expect Sendai's target and supporting runners to keep finding access. I'm siding with Vegalta Sendai, with a level finish returning that part of the slip.
