Pickup match

Vissel Kobe U-18 0-0 Kyoto Tachibana High School (1st 0-0, 2nd 0-0)

The league entred the final week of the season with four teams holding a chance to win the championship. Vissel Kobe Under-18 (Hyogo), who could clinch it with a win, took on Kyoto Tachibana High School (Kyoto), who couldn’t afford to lose to stay in the league, and both sides played up a close contest.

Kobe moved the ball well early on, possessing it for a longer time. But as NAKAI Eito recalled that the team had few passes behind their opponents’ defensive line and passes that had different tempos, Kobe had hard time finding a way to get through Kyoto Tachibana’s blocks that were kept compact.
On 32nd minute, YONEZAWA Rei gave himself a separation with a one-two pass and fired a shot, but it was saved by Kyoto Tachibana’s goalkeeper YATAGAI Soki.
Kyoto Tachibana, meanwhile, had to keep themselves busy for defence, yet looked to a chance to score from quick counters. Kyoto Tachibana’s OHNO Kenya had a long shot on 44th, but it didn’t make into the goal. They entred halftime with a 0-0 score.

Right into the second half, Kyoto Tachibana lost SHIMIZU Ryota for an injury, but the players preserved their focus. On 53rd and 54th, they had dangerous situations consecutively, but their defensive corps played patiently and avoided to give up a goal.
Late in the game, to counter Kobe, who came on with a power play placing cornerback KAKO Seiya up front, Kyoto Tachibana played physical defence around HAUSER Ken. Kobe’s NAJIMA Akito headed a shot on 71st minute, but Yatagai put away the ball that was on the goal line to avoid a score.

Kyoto Tachibana managed to endure Vissel’s attacks and end it a scoreless draw to earn precious one point. They overtook Toyama Daiichi High School (Toyama), who fell to Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka), for the eighth place spot to stay in the Premier League.

Comments

NODA Satoru（Vissel Kobe U-18）
We had too many passed to the feet of the players and didn’t have many of those aimed at behind the defensive line of the opponents in the first half. I think that we would have made it a different game had we created more situations that we would outnumbre them, but in this game, you always have to deal with where you finish in the standings and wins and losses. It’s disappointing that we came up short for the championship, but our players will have longer football careers from this point on. I believe that this frustrating experience will boost them and I would like to have high expectations on how they’ll do from here.

NAKAI Eito（Vissel Kobe U-18）
Having been given the circumstance that we’d won the championship, we had a little pressure and strains. Partially because of that, we were slow on our passing and weren’t able to carry out our game in the first half, but as we revamped with our composure, we created more chances in the second half. I believe that we would have played a better game had we played as intended from early. We came up short in the game we were asked to win, but we take it as something we needed to improve on.

YONEZAWA Kazunari（Kyoto Tachibana High School）
I thought that we could end the first half with a 0-0 score no matter how better we played, and it was actually the scenario we wanted. In the second half, we anticipated that they would have more men up front, so while we were aiming to have counters, we had the idea of playing defensively and not allowing a goal until the very end. I’ve always told our senior players that it was their roles to give other guys behind them the stage of the Premier League. They really lived up to my expectations.

SENTO Hiroki（Kyoto Tachibana High School）
We knew that it was going to be a tough game for us because they were going to move the ball and aim at the spot between our defensive midfielders. Especially No. 7 (NAKASAKA Yuya) was great and he gave up a lot of tough times, but with a help from SHICHI (Daiki), we managed it fairly well. The league was the only thing we could leave for the guys after us. We couldn't have put the Premier League spot that our senior players left for us away, so I’m relieved right now.

Other Results

Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Youth  0-2（1st 0-1、2nd 0-1） Nagoya Grampus U18
Cerezo Osaka U-18　3-0（1st 1-0、2nd 2-0）　Higashiyama High School
Gamba Osaka Youth　2-0（1st 1-0、2nd 1-0）　 Toyama Daiichi High School
Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18　2-1（1st 2-0、2nd 0-1）　Higashi Fukuoka High School

Nagoya Grampus U-18 (Aichi) squared off against the sixth-place Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth (Hiroshima). Grampus got the rhythm as SASANUMA Komei struck first, and SAKURAI Subaru scored a insurance goal and Nagoya ended up winning 2-0. Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Osaka), who sought the championships past Vissel, post a 3-0 victory over Higashiyama High School (Kyoto). They did pass Kobe, who finished with a draw, and claimed the title. Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka), who also remained in the championship contention, capped a 2-0 win over Toyama Daiichi High School (Toyama). They finished runnerups in the season. In a match between Kyoto Sanga FC U-18 (Kyoto) and Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka), Sanga edged Higashi Fukuoka 2-1. With the outcomes of the five contests in the final week, Cerezo clinched the championship, while Toyama Daiichi and Higashiyama were demoted to the Prince League.

The first best goal award for Prince Takamado Trophy Premier League chosen by fans

Twenty clubs in the league chose their own best goal and the best goal award will be decided by the number of video played. Please access to the candidates of best goal.

Please access to the candidates of best goal