The 5th All Japan Youth (U-15) Women’s Futsal Tournament kicked off at the Sky Hall Toyota in Toyota city, Aichi on Sunday, Jan 11. All 9 teams separated into 3 groups of 3 teams had league matches (in the first round) and then top 3 teams as well as a team which marked the best result among those at the second place of each group were qualified to the final round.

Teams advancing to the final by securing top place with 3rd conservative win are Club Fields Linda (Hokkaido) of group A and FC Effronte (Chugoku / Okayama) of group B. Linda well showed its persistence in an opening game against Jumonji Junior High School (Kanto / Tokyo). Though the team allowed the opponent to score a first goal, it also had points, taking a lead with a goal by Kitamura Rina in 14th minute of 2nd half when the score was tie at 3-3, then adding 2 more goals to finally win at 6-3. Linda kept its momentum and won easily over Nakatsu FC Pomato (Kyusyu / Oita) at 6-1 in the second game.

The first champion of the tournament, Effronte, quit the close game against Tokushima Lateesha (Shikoku / Tokushima) by winning, followed by next victory over Iga FC Kunoichi Satellite (Tokai / Mie) at 6-1 with great offenses.

In group C, two teams winning one victory, FC Vitoria (Kansai / Osaka) and Own Goal (Hokushinetsu / Toyama), had a direct match-up in the second game. Though Own Goal firstly gained two goals, the defending champion Vitoria shifted gears soon after that. It quickly equalized the score, grabbing a lead in the mid of the first half, then adding 3 more points in the second half to beat the opponent at 6-3.

Battles were heated among teams at the second places aiming for the ticket to the final. Teams which challenged Own Goal with one victory were Jumonji Junior High School and Tokushima. Two teams, which had games at the same time slot, bravely advanced toward the opponent's goal to mark a large score for winning the match as well as being ahead on goal differential. While Jumonji Junior High School failed to make a goal due to its impatience in the first half of the game with Nakatsu FC, Tokushima, in contrast, successfully scored 4 goals from Iga FC.

After entering the second half, however, the team showing vivid offence was Jumonji Junior High School. It scored 2 points only by 2nd minute in the second, keeping dominate the game against Nakatsu FC. The team won a large victory with 9 goals including 5 by KOBAYASHI Izuho in the end and finished its game just a few minutes before Tokushima, then keeping eyes on the result of their match in the pitch of the other side. Tokushima continued to attack against the opponent to expand its lead to 8-0, however, resulting in being behind on goal difference. Players of Jumonji Junior High School showed its flare of excitement to reach the final round at the conclusion of Tokushima's game.

The best U-15 women's futsal team is decided through the semi-finals and the final on Monday, Jan 12. Linda would win the first title since pre-tournament in 2010, Effrontery would be back to the champion again, Vitoria would achieve a consecutive victory or Jumonji would win over the tournament for the first time? Let's keep watching on every performance by players who go toward a goal and rejoice at victories.

Comments

NUNOKAWA Kumi, Head Coach (Club Fields Linda)
Though the opening game against Jumonji Junior High School was the one we would be likely to lose, we could keep our possibility to the next game by gaining winning points thanks to all efforts. We are united to revenge a last defeat by mainly our captain, as we were very frustrated that we ended up the last tournament at the second place and 4 members who played there still plays in the team. Adding such determination, we have tried to accumulate a victory one by one. Given the final round, I expect my players to exactly judge situations of both sides on the pitch and move toward the opponent's goal with intention not to lose a ball carelessly.

MARUMOTO Akira, Head Coach (FC Effronte)
Though I believed we were not inferior to other teams in our ability and performance even in the last year, we couldn't survived in the first round as we failed to make our play that we could. Utilizing such past experiences, we could speak to each other to keep our usual play while aiming for a victory. In this season, our team participated in All Japan Youth Women's Football Tournament for the first time in 5 years, we kept focusing on futsal after conclusion of it. I hope current members of the team to enjoy this stage from now on, as this is the last tournament for the 3rd grade.

HOZUMI Hajime, Head Coach (FC Vitoria)
Players are fully determined to win the title again this year, because we are the defending champion. Because of the lack of practices in the gym, we struggled to get used to games and bring our good rhythm there. I will change the formation of players in the final round. We will never surrender in the final end, even if we have to have matches with different types of team from those we met in Kansai regional tournament. I believe giving our best efforts, not good or bad, will yield results.

OTAKI Osamu, Head Coach (Jumonji Junior High School)
In the 3rd game that we needed a victory with a large score, we could successfully show our real ability and performance in the second half, even though we were too nervous to play smoothly especially in the first half. As our team has many players who are good at dribbling, such players tried to move forward by dribbling a ball and other players around them could assist them. We brought about all 50 members of the club here and they supported us with loud cheers from seats, so it was also good for them that the team advanced to the final round. We will keep fighting to aim for the top, although I believe tough games will continue.

JFA-TV

GroupA

GroupB

GroupC

All Japan Youth (U-15) Women's Futsal Tournament

Sun. 11 January 2015 - Mon. 12 January 2015
Toyoda City, Aichi／Skyhall Toyoda

More Information