On the 4th May (Sunday), the third game of the first round and semifinal matches were played. Sanfrece Hiroshima F.C. Junior Youth (Chugoku region/Hiroshima), Kashiwa Reysol Under-15 (Kanto3/Chiba), Omiya Ardija Junior Youth (Kanto2/Saitama), all of whom were their respective group leaders, and Albirex Niigata Under-15 (Hokushinetsu/Niigata), who had the best record among the second-place teams, were the clubs that made it to the semifinal round. The seedings were determined by a draw that was held after the first round.

The first game of the semifinals between Hiroshima and Niigata wound up being a tough close battle until the final whistle. Hiroshima grabbed the momenum early around Senba Taishi and earned some good chances. But they would not net a goal because of great saves by Niigata goalkeepr Shinbo Hiromu. Niigata, meanwhile, got some rhytm from defense and created some opportunities, but they would not be able to score either. Both played through a 20-minute etra-minute period, and entered a penalty shootout. As coach Sawada Kentaro anticipated that Niigata goalkeeper was playing so great and had a bad feeling, Hiroshima's second kicker's shot was saved. But then Hiroshima goalkeepre Ota Shoki saved Niigata's third kicker, and Niigata missed another shot on their foruth player, as Hiroshima won the shootout 4-3.

For the second semfinal game, a pair of Kanto clubs faced against each other. On 12th minute, Kashiwa advanced the ball to the left side setting Ochiai Riku in the middle, and then Ochiai netted a goal off a loose ball that Kashiwa players previously could not score off a Kawahara Yuto cross. ``I just picked that up and made it by luck, but that was how we wanted to have our plays in our practices. We had our offense in the way we wanted,'' Ochisai said. Boosted by the first score, Kashiwa extended their lead as Nakamura Shunta, who says his goal is to score in every single game and has now scored a goal in the fourth consecutive game, netted on 33rd minute. Omiya bounced back as they finally scored one back in the 56th minute, but overall Kashiwa had a more stable game and advanced to the final.
The final between Hiroshima and Kashiwa will be played on the 5th May on the final scheduled day of the tournament. The winners will be granted the ticket to compete in the Manchester United Premier Cup World Finals.

Comments From Head Coach & Players

Sawada Kentaro, Head Coach（Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Junior Youth）
I think that we had more shots (than Niigata) in the semifinals, but we could not score them because Niigata had a stronger desire to win. It was a game that could have gone either way, so I think that the players were so exausted now. I think that we were able to play a valuable game that you could have only a few times in their lifetime, not just their three years in junior high schools. Our opponents in the final are very capable, so we just go up agains them as if we have nothing to lose, playing all out.

Watanabe Taiki （Albirex Niigata U-15）
In our semifinal game against Hiroshima, we allowed the opponents to possess the ball longer, but we were able to lay a good deffense being united as one, and that was good. I think that because we played good defense in the first half, it paif off in our game in the latter half. Although we ended up losing, we got to learn that if we get united as one, we could overcome any situation in any games this time. All the members, not just the players on the pitch but others on the bench, were cheering when the players on the pitch showed good plays, and I think that we spent our time in this tournament in a good mood.

Sakai Naoki, Head Coach（Kashiwa Reysol U-15）
I think that we had the momentum between our first goal and second goal as we played more collectively on offense to proceed the ball forward as Kashiwa's way. Omiya plays in the same area as we do, and they play a similar style of football, so we have strong rivalry minds agaist each other. I told the team before the game that we would win the ballgame sticking with our style of football. For the final game, we would like to go all out to see how much we can compete against Hiroshima with Kashiwa's style.

Takamura Mikio（Omiya Ardija Junior Youth）
Our semifinal opponents were Kashiwa, who had the techniques, and we expected that they would possess the ball. Kashiwa indeed were united both offensively and defensively, and it made a stark contract with us, because we did not get united, and it came out as the result. Right now, I feel more miserable than dissapointed, frankly speaking. We would like to avenge Kashiwa in the Under-15 club youth championshiops in the upcoming summer. We are going to refresh our minds and aim at the peak next time.

Special Supporting Company