Tuesday 5 May was the last day of the JFA Premier Cup 2015. Consadole Sapporo U-15 (Hokkaido) met Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15 (Kansai/Kyoto) to decide the strongest team in Japan.

Sapporo initiated an attack just after the kick-off. As Hattori Kohei commented later: ‘we tended to build-up our attack, but today we used crosses from the left side’, Sapporo created many attacking opportunities from Fukuda Shinnosuke’s plays. On the other hand, even though Kyoto was under pressure, in the 12th minute, Tsuno Ayase faced the goalkeeper one-on-one, staying ambitious for goals. The match stayed locked in a holding pattern. Then after 16 minutes, it finally moved on. Egawa Genki of Kyoto received a free kick from Fukuoka Shinpei, striking the opener. Egawa noted: ‘we couldn’t pick up our pace in the first half, but I knew I could impact the game if I scored then.’ Kyoto, who felt more relaxed, started to take numerous shots just before the first half ended to show their positive momentum, just like Egawa said.

In the second half, Kyoto continued to create goal-scoring opportunities against Sapporo, who became anxious to level the game. Kyoto’s defenders played harmoniously with the front line and stole the ball from Sapporo’s defenders, who tried to pass the ball towards the goal area. In the 35th minute, Sugita Jin intercepted a clearance and threaded the ball towards the front line; Hattori knocked it into the left-hand corner of the goal. Then after 41 minutes, Hattori once more got through to the front of the goal to take another shot, stretching their lead.

No one could stop Kyoto. After both Fukuoka Shinpei and Kuriyama Takaki added more insurance, they held on to their lead, using their time well. In the 59th minute, Hattori got his hat trick. Kyoto swept to victory 6-0. Kishimoto Kosuke, the head coach commented: ‘the players stayed surprisingly energetic’ after five games in three days. Kyoto won the championship for the third time after two consecutive victories in 2011 and 2012.

Kyoto earned a place at ‘the Premier Cup World Finals 2015’. They will represent Japan in the tournament in England in August. Each award was announced at the ceremony after the championship. Inoo Takumi from Kyoto was chosen as the Most Valuable Player, and five other players were selected for the best eleven. Sapporo, who unfortunately ended up in 2nd place, were awarded the fair-play prize.

Consadole Sapporo U-15(Hokkaido)　0-6　Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15(Kansai/Kyoto) 

Please click here for the match detail (Japanese version only)

Head Coach and Players' Comments

SATO Jin, head coach（Consadole Sapporo U-15）
I don’t think there was as much a gap between us as the score seems to indicate. In the second half, I told the players to be ‘more aggressive’, but it might have caused us to lose a balance between the attack and the defence. I’d like to point out that the players stayed ambitious for goals in a tough situation. When we play in Hokkaido, we are seldom under pressure or have a back and forth struggle. It was a good experience for the players to play against many teams in the nationwide championship.

FUKUDA Shinnosuke（Consadole Sapporo U-15）
As we still played well after conceding a goal, I though we’d fight back in the second half. However, we focused on the attack too match and there was some gap between the attackers and the defenders. That’s where Kyoto attacked. Although, we didn’t feel we were quite ready as a team before the championship, I found that we’ve improved our mental strength a lot, turning matches around, for example. I learned victories brought us some confidence in the championship.

KISHIMOTO Kosuke,head coach（Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15）
Because we were pressed in the first half, the players became more aware of their own playing style. Although we ended up with a big victory, I have to say Sapporo was a very tough and excellent team. Our players played very hard despite the tough match schedule. I believe stamina is supported by mental strength. So every player had a strong mentality and brought out the best in each other. I think the mental strength led us to victory this year.

INOO Takumi（Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15）
Every teammate believed in our defensive line and attacked, which, I think, led us to a good result. Not only the defensive line, but also all of us could share our mind for the defence as a team in this championship. As my teammates defended very well, all I had to was just save goals in the end. I think that was the main reason why we conceded only a few goals this time. I’d like to win the championship in ‘the Premier Cup World Finals 2015’ to become the best goalkeeper in the world.

JFA-TV

The result

The champion　Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15(Kansai/Kyoto)
The 2nd place　Consadole Sapporo U-15(Hokkaido)
The 3nd place　Nagaoka Junior Youth FC (Hokushinetsu/Niigata)、Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Junior Youth (Chugoku/Hiroshima)
The fair-play prize　Consadole Sapporo U-15(Hokkaido)

Best eleven

GK
INOO Takumi（Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15）
DF
FUKUDA Shinnosuke（Consadole Sapporo U-15）
EGAWA Genki（Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15）
YAMASAKI Taichi（Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Junior Youth）
TAKESHIMA Kyosuke（Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15） 
MF
HONMA Shion（Albirex Niigata U-15）
SUGAWARA Yukinari（Nagaoka Junior Youth FC）
YACHIDA Teppei（Nagaoka Junior Youth FC）
HATTORI Kohei（Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15）
FW
FUKUOKA Shinpei（Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15）
KATSURA Rikuto（Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Junior Youth）

MVP

GK INOO Takumi（Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15）

The JFA Premier Cup 2015

Date: Sunday 3 May to Tuesday 5 May 2015
Location: J-GREEN SAKAI (in Sakai, Osaka)

Details of the result can be found here.