The 38th Japan U-12 Football Championship had a its final match between Kashiwa Reysol U-12 (Chiba) and Cerezo Osaka U-12 (Osaka) at the Shizuoka Ashitaka Park Multi-purpose Field (Numazu, Shizuoka), then Cerezo Osaka won its first championship at this tournament.

Kashiwa Reysol attacked aggressively from the beginning and went very close to the opponent's goal with a shot by Soki TAMURA in fifth minute from an opening. On the other hand, Hinata SAKAI of Cerezo Osaka received a cross from a right side, shooting just wide right direcltly.

While both GK made good saves, the game's situation was turned around in the 28th minute. FW Syun NAKAJIMA of Kashiwa Reysol ran into an open space, making a shot into the corner of the net and scoring the first goal. However, 1 minute after the first goal, FW Yuji YOSHIDA of Cerezo Osaka received a pass on a good way behind Kashiwa defence, making a goal to even the score.

The match saw the two teams went back and forth at each other, lasting into extra time and a penalty shootout. GK Go KANBAYASHI made a good save in the intense penalty shootout, then Cerezo Osaka finally won their championship.

The champion team got a prize as well as fighting-spirit award and individual award were also announced in the closing session held after the match. All players from every team lining up on the field finished the tournament with confidence.

Comments

Otani Takefumi, the head coach (Cerezo Osaka U-12 (Osaka))
I made a promise with my players that we would need to be a Japanese Champion at first in order to realize our ultimate goal to become a World Champion. In spite of tough game going into first extra time for us, all players pursued my instruction to keep running more than the opponent. Everyone played very hard and that's why they made various wonderful plays. I believe players grow up through this tournament. I would like to give a support to my team to get it closer to the top one, training and instructing players what they have to do in the junior generation with great efforts.

KAWAKAMI Koutatsu (Cerezo Osaka U-12 (Osaka)
The opponent attacked aggressively at the beginning of the game, we defended firmly as we believed we were definitely going to have a chance. Kashiwa Reysol was really tough and well-performed team. They continued to pass a ball toward our goal, so our team responded with full effort, communicating orally with each other. Our head coach instructed us to unite for becoming a champion. I am really happy to win the championship and I want to keep my concentration as a champion team in and out of the pitch, as we have done to get over every issues as a whole team so far.

WATANABE Takeshi, the head coach (Kashiwa Reysol U-12 (Chiba))
I have thought that Cerezo Osaka has been a well-performed team, judging from the last game between us in spring as well as analysing other their games. I looked forward to having a match against the team which has enjoyed the same concept as we have had. We have always been aiming to win the game we face, but more important thing comes after the game. We have gained wonderful experiences through this tournament but it is meaningless for us if we get be exhausted at this point. I hope our players to grow up in order to make good use of lessons that they learnt from this tournament to the next.

MAEDA Daichi (Kashiwa Reysol U-12 (Chiba))
I believed we could make a goal sometime in the game, as we attacked aggressively from the first half. Today, our team used experiences in the semi-final and united to play the game as a whole. I thought today's match would be an equal fight, but we lost our concentration after scoring a first point. After the game, our head coach said "This game is not last one. Keep challenging and efforts". I learnt the importance of not giving up through this tournament.

JFA-TV

The 38th Japan U-12 Football Championship

Duration: Mon. 4 August to Sat. 9 August 2014
Venue:
<1st round ～ Final Tournament (Quarter-finals)>
Gotemba Tokinosumika Susono Ground (Susono, Shizuoka)
<Final Tournament (Semi-finals / Final)>
Shizuoka Ashitaka Park Multi-purpose Field (Numazu, Shizuoka)