The eight matches in the first round of the JOC Junior Olympic Cup The 19th All Japan Youth Women's Football Tournament were held at J-GREEN Sakai on Sunday 3 January.

Pick-up Match 1

Albirex Niigata Ladies U-18 (Hokushinetsu /Niigata)   9-0 (4-0, 5-0)   Toyota Ladies FC (Tokai 2/Aichi)

Albirex Niigata Ladies U-18 met Toyota Ladies FC. At the beginning of the game, after Niigata created a goal-scoring opportunity from a corner kick, DOHI Honoka, the Niigata number 10, dribbled up to strike the opener in the fourth minute. After 22 minutes, Dohi ran to the space behind the opponent, freely taking a shot to slot another home.

NAKAMURA Shiori dribbled up and scored one more in the 28th minute, and Dohi struck her third goal in the 34th minute. She later noted: “I was thinking about getting the hat trick.” The game went into the second half at 4-0.

The newcomers Toyota Ladies, who were four goals behind, tried to attack back simply with defensive blocks in the second half. They initiated attacks from set pieces, but could not find the back of the net. In the 49th minute, CHINO Nanami of Niigata scored from a set piece. Chino struck another goal once more two minutes later, building a six-goal lead.

Niigata stayed ambitious for goals through substituting players and changing their positions. IKEDA Reina fired a shot in the 73rd minutes. Although Toyota Ladies were eager to attack back and TAJIRI Yuzu created a goal-scoring opportunity from a loose ball, Niigata’s defenders pressed her hard to prevent it. Niigata added two more goals in the end, and won a sweeping victory 9-0, advancing to the second round.

Match details (Japanese version only)

Pick-up Match 2

NGU Nagoya FC Ladies Youth (Tokai 1/Aichi)   0-4 (0-2, 0-2)   AS Elfen Saitama Mari (Kanto 4/Saitama) 

NGU Nagoya FC Ladies Youth played against AS Elfen Saitama Mari. Although Nagoya FC took the first shot, the Saitama Mari goalkeeper saved it well. After four minutes, SUDA Kurumi, the captain of Saitama Mari, reacted to a corner kick from SATO Moe and headed home, striking the opener. Then three minutes after that, NAGASHIMA Sara, who had scored in the first match of the previous championship, ran towards the space behind the defenders to take a shot, building a two-goal led. Though Nagoya FC gradually found their momentum and tried to attack back, they couldn’t score. The match went into the second half at 2-0.

As the coach EGO Kenichi encouraged the players: “stay confident to take shots aggressively“, Nagoya FC dribbled up to the opponent’s area in the second half to take a shot from a free kick. The team also put their bodies on the line to defend against Saitama Mari’s swift attacks. 

As the next goal might have impacted the game, both teams played hard with real energy. In the 75th minute, when the players started to show their tiredness, Saitama Mari extended the lead through the opponent’s own goal. Just before the final whistle, Nagashima created an opportunity by getting through the opponent, so that TAKENOYA Konomi could strike a goal. SAITAMA Mari won the match 4-0 to book a place in the second round.

Match details (Japanese version only)

Other Matches

Urawa Reds Ladies Youth   7-0 (5-0, 2-0)   Vicsale Okinawa FC Navita
Club Fields Linda   1-0 (1-0, 0-0)   Freyja FC
Cerezo Osaka Sakai Girls   10-1 (5-0, 5-1)   Oita Trinita Ladies
JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies U-18   5-0 (2-0, 3-0)   Aosaki S.C. Hanako Clover's
SHRINE LFC   1-10 (1-4, 0-6)   Sfida Setagaya FC Youth
MOMOKO F.C   0-12 (0-5, 0-7)   Nippon TV Menina 

Coach and Players' Comments

DOHI Honoka (Albirex Niigata Ladies U-18)
I wasn’t too nervous, as we stayed vocal, playing forward from the first half. We could strike a goal in the same way we practiced. I stayed ambitious for another goal, even after scoring the hat trick. In the second round, I’d really like to win against Urawa Reds Ladies Youth, to whom we lost in the previous championship. Although Reds hold many players, who play for generation-categorised national teams, I’d like to display my skill to stay competitive. I’d like to score to contribute my team’s victory. 

NAGASHIMA Sara (AS Elfen Saitama Mari)
As the opening match is vital, I stayed focused in the game. It was good that we gradually started to keep possession, passing the ball around, and struck consecutive goals. When I scored, I swung through with full strength, as I was in the space behind the defenders and trapped the ball very well. In the second half, we were pressed by the opponent. We still need to improve our stamina. We’ll meet JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies U-18 in the second round, to whom we lost in the third-place play-off in the previous championship. So I’d like to beat them this time, and build up positive momentum.

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

JOC Junior Olympic Cup The 19th All Japan Youth Women's Football Tournament

Sun. 3 January 2016 - Thu. 7 January 2016
J-GREEN Sakai/Sakai City, Osaka
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