The 20th All Japan Women’s Youth (U-15) Championship, which decides the best secondary school team in Japan, will be held at J-GREEN Sakai in Sakai, Osaka from Saturday 25 July to Friday 31 July. We would like to review the previous tournament in this article prior to the coming championship.

In the 19th All Japan Women’s Youth (U-15) Championship, 32 teams from across the country participated and played in the knockout stage. 

After many exciting games from the beginning, Urawa Reds Ladies Jr. Youth (Kanto 1), Nippon TV Serias (Kanto 2), Tochigi Soccer Club Ladies (Kanto 5) and Albirex Niigata Ladies U-15 (Hokushinetsu 1) booked places in the semi-finals. 

Nippon TV met Tochigi in the first match of the semi-finals. Although both were semi-finalists for the first time, they played very confidently and energetically. After three minutes of injury time in the first 30-minute half, UEKI Riko struck the opener for Nippon TV. 

Nippon TV continued to press the opponent in the second half, and both TAKAHASHI Hina and URUMA Hanako added some more insurance. They also defended well, letting Tochigi take just one shot. Nippon TV won the game 4-0 and became the finalist.

In the second match of the semi-finals, Urawa played against Niigata. After one minute, DOHI Honoka struck a goal for Niigata. Urawa attacked back after NAGAI Yoshiaki, the coach, encouraged the players during half time. 

They kept pushing forward and stayed in Niigata’s goal area in the second half. In the 50th minute, IPPOUSHI Hiroka levelled the game, and after just four minutes MIURA Haruka, who reacted to a pass from TAKAYAMA Nohara, turned the game around. Urawa won the match 2-1. 

In the final, Nippon TV, who had been good at both attack and defence, scoring 25 goals and keeping a clean sheet in the past four games, played against Urawa, who beat them in the qualifying round in Kanto. 

At the beginning of the game, Urawa pressed Nippon TV with their strong attack and defence. After five minute, Ippoushi tapped in a loose ball off her teammate’s shot, striking the opener. Nippon TV stayed calm, even though Urawa continued to attack for more goals.

Nippon TV passed the ball around calmly, pressing the opponent by sending the ball to the space behind the defenders whenever possible. Then in the 12th minute, Ueki, who reacted to a cross from SUGIYAMA Hanano, struck the equaliser.

Nippon TV continued to take the initiative and after 52 minutes, the midfielders got though the opponent and Ueki, who received TAKAHASHI Hina’s last pass, struck a deciding goal to turn the game around. 

Although Urawa counter attacked fiercely to get the equaliser, Nippon TV defended solidly, using their bodies. The score remained unchanged until the final whistle and Nippon TV won the match 2-1, winning the championship for the first time. 

The 20th All Japan Youth (U-15) Women's Championship

Sat. 25 july - Fri. 31 July 2015
J-GREEN Sakai (Osaka)
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