The JFA 26th U-15 Japan Women's Football Championship final took place on Monday 27 December, where Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Menina (Kanto/Tokyo) won their third overall title, which was their first in seven years.

Final

JFA Academy Fukushima 2-3 (1-2, 1-1) Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Menina

The match saw early action, as SHINGU Sakura scored the opening goal to put Menina in the lead. Gaining momentum from this goal, ARAI Moka initiated the offence from the right side. With the team effectively utilising the width of the field, the ball was returned to Arai, who ran in front of the goal to score Menina’s second goal.

Trailing by two goals, JFA Academy Fukushima (Tokai3/Shizuoka) made efforts to rally back. In the 28th minute, NAGINO Momoka carried the ball up the right side and struck a shot from distance that found the left hand corner of the goal.

Academy Fukushima continued to apply aggressive pressure from their frontline in the second half to create chances. However, it was Menina who scored the next goal, as UMEMOTO Megumi scored from the left side of the box to extend the lead to two goals once again. Both sides showcased great intensity throughout the match, and despite the goal scored by Academy Fukushima in additional time, Menina held on for the win.

Coaches and Players' Comments

SUDO Keita, Coach (JFA Academy Fukushima)
I have always told the players that there is no difference between a training match and an official match, but I also told them before the tournament that it is important to play more matches in a pressurised environment with many people watching. Second place is a great result, but it doesn't guarantee us anything. I hope the players can make the most of this experience and improve themselves in the future.

NAGINO Momoka (JFA Academy Fukushima)
Despite conceding the opening goal early, we actively communicated with each other to showcase our usual performance. Our opponent built their offence by possessing the ball from their defence line, so we focused on apply more pressure from our frontline. It felt like each one of us were able to play with strong intensity, and although we lost the match, we gave everything we’ve got. We fought without giving up until the end, so I am satisfied.

SHINGU Sakura (Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Menina)
The team was working towards the same goal of winning the title, so I was confident that we could win. I wasn't able to score in the semi-finals, so I really wanted to contribute to the team's victory in the final. I'm always keen to score the first goal to set the tone for the team, so I'm happy to have scored from a play I was anticipating for. This tournament has given us a great learning experience, so we hope to make the most of this experience to strive to become a better player.

UMEMOTO Megumi (Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Menina)
I wasn’t able to showcase my usual performance in the first half. In the scene where we conceded the goal, I could have prevented the goal if I had taken one more step, so that is an aspect I must reflect on. However, with the match being so close, I wanted to give the team more comfort, so I am very satisfied with the fact that I was able to score at the end. We have been talking as a team about playing our best and giving 100% in this tournament. It was great that we were able to make up for each other when somebody played badly and win the title.

JFA 26th U-15 Japan Women's Football Championship

Tournament date: Sat. 11 – Mon. 27 December 2021

[Final]
Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka (Tokyo)
TV Broadcast: J SPORTS (J SPORTS 4) Mon. 27 December 21:00- (Recorded broadcast)
Online Streaming: J SPORTS (J SPORTS On-Demand) Mon. 27 December 10:30- (Live stream)

Tournament Information