The JFA 25th U-15 Japan Women's Football Championship quarterfinals took place at Wave Stadium Kariya in Aichi on Sunday 20 December.

Pick-up Match1

JFA Academy Fukushima 4-0 (2-0, 2-0) Cerezo Osaka Sakai Academy

The first fixture of the day featured a matchup between JFA Academy Fukushima (Tokai1/Shizuoka) and Cerezo Osaka Sakai Academy (Kansai1/Osaka). The match saw Academy Fukushima take the initiative, as TANIKAWA Momoko later reflected, “We entered the match with the intention to win every battle for the ball.” By applying aggressive pressure from their frontline, the academy side dominated Cerezo Osaka, as they took a two goal lead with goals scored by KIMURA Miki and HARA Hibari in the 37th and 38th minute, respectively.

JFA Academy Fukushima continued to showcase their dominance in the second half, as Tanikawa scored the team’s third and fourth goal in the 57th and 73rd minute to seal the match. Led by their captain, NAKATANI Rina, the Cerezo side made efforts to rally back, but JFA Academy Fukushima displayed a solid performance to keep the clean sheet intact, winning the match with a final score of 4-0.

Pick-up Match2

NGU Loveledge Nagoya Statice 3-4 (0-3, 3-1) Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Serias

The second fixture between Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Serias (Kanto3/Tokyo) and NGU Loveledge Nagoya Statice (Tokai2/Aichi) saw plenty of action, as the two teams combined for seven goals in the match. The opening goal came in the 11th minute when Nippon TV’s TAKAOKA Mio forced a turnover deep in the Nagoya territory and dribbled past the GK to score a goal. Takaoka went on to score the team’s second goal in the 19th minute, this time converting a delivery from a FK. With SHIMOYOSHI Yui setting up the goal of HONDA Ruki just before halftime, Nippon TV Serias took a three goal lead into the second half.

The Tokyo side carried their momentum into the second half, as Takaoka scored her third goal of the game in the 46th minute. With a four goal lead, it seemed like Nippon TV Serias had booked their ticket to the semi-finals, but NGU Loveledge started to rally from this point on. MORI Nonoko converted a direct FK in the 51st minute, giving hope for the Nagoya side, as YOSHIDA Renon later mentioned, “We saw our fans cheering us from the stands, and it really gave us the energy to rally.” With momentum on their side, Mori and FUJIWARA Rion scored a goal apiece to bring NGU Loveledge back within a goal, but time ran out before they could equalise, as Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Serias clinched the semi-finals.

Players' Comments

TANIKAWA Momoko (JFA Academy Fukushima)
We were facing a very strong team, so we focused on showcasing what we had worked on as a team leading to this point. The fact that we managed to score the second goal soon after the opener turned out to have a major impact on this match. It also helped that we were able to maintain a compact formation and win many of the second balls. This tournament is the last competition for us senior players, so we hope to finish this tournament on a high note. This year, we hope to better our third place finish from last year.

NAKATANI Rina (Cerezo Osaka Sakai Academy)
We are able to play football because of the support of many people, and we thankful for them. Today, we struggled against our opponent’s pressure, and we were not aggressive enough to win the ball. The second goal came from my mistake. We might have had the chance to win this match if we did not concede that goal, so that was a regretful mistake. KUSUNOKI Sayami was set to make her return from injury at the semi-finals, so we really wanted to win this match. We can only go up from here, so we hope to make the most of this experience and strive to become a better player at our next stage.

YOSHIDA Renon (NGU Loveledge Nagoya Statice)
We really wanted to win this match, even after conceding four goals. We could not just give up, because our family and friends have supported us. That final rally was made possible by our fans and teammates who were cheering for us. This tournament has taught us the value of each goal and the importance of mental preparation ahead of each match. Serias was the better team in every aspect. We hope to make the most of this experience and strive to become a better team.

TAKAOKA Mio (Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Serias)
As a forward, I wanted to score at least a goal per match, but I failed to do so in our first match. Our midfielders delivered quality passes, and I am glad that I was able to convert them. Last year, we were eliminated at the first round and it was very disappointing. This year’s final will be held at Nishigaoka, where our top team plays their matches, so we are extra motivated to reach the final. We will continue to work hard to win our next match.

JFA 25th U-15 Japan Women's Football Championship

Tournament duration: Sat. 12 - Mon. 28 December 2020

Tournament Information