The Prine Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League will have the WEST’s matchday 7 on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Youth (Hiroshima) have been away from victories since the matchday 3. Head coach SAWADA Kentaro disappointingly says “We can’t win unless we stop letting our opponents play their style of football.” In the upcoming match, they will face Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka) whose superb offence has scored 17 goals so far which put them at second place in the standings. It is interesting to see, but never easy for the Hiroshima side to match up against Gamba Offence.

Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka) have not recorded a single loss in the last five matches and now rank at third. Their head coach MORISHIGE Junya, however, urges they never let their guard down, saying “our plays aren’t sharp enough yet.”

They will take on Oita Trinita U-18 (Oita) in the next so-called Kyushu Derby, the high school club will try to be up to the task to taking advantage of the quickness of Maikuma Seiya and others and break down Oita’s stellar defence. 

How to rebuild the defence should be the key in the battle between two winless teams, Nagoya Grampus U18 (Aichi) and Riseisha High School (Osaka). Conceding too many goals was their reason of struggle early in the season for both clubs. But Nagoya started showing signs of improvement during the mid-season break when they held three opponents to the total of one goal allowed in the Japan Club Youth Soccer Championship (U-18) Tokai Qualifiers. 

On the other hand, Riseisha has had YASUDA Hiroto, their defensive core player who were away from the team due to injury, come back, which is certainly a good news.

Fourth-placed Vissel Kobe U-18 (Hyogo) go head to head against Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Osaka). Despite the early-season setback, Kobe are enjoying their recent three-match winning streak since the fourth matchday against Oita. The Hyogo side definitely want to repeat their attacking surge in the last matchday, when they scored eight goals against Nagoya. 

Cerezo Osaka also has explosive offence for their own as their total of 20 goals scored is the league best so far in the season. A lot of goal highlights are surely expected for onlookers in that match. 

【Pick-up Match of WEST Matchday 7】
Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 vs Kyoto Tachibana High School

The same prefecture rival, Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 and Kyoto Tachibana High School will play against each other for the first time in this season.

As Kyoto Sanga’s TAKUNO Kairi puts it, they “tend to stop running even when we have a good first half.” Although occasionally scoring the first goal of the match did not lead to a win for four straight matches from the season opening, they are gradually coming back to form. After grabbing the first win of the season against Nagoya, they followed it with another victory against Riseisha. They are going up in the standings as well. Whether they can maintain their pace throughout the match will be the key for extending their streak. 

Meanwhile, Kyoto Tachibana’s captain OGAWA Reita used to play for Kyoto Sanga. He says of his enthusiasm in playing against his former team “This is the match I have been looking forward to the most in the Premier League. I want to show that I am doing just fine even after separating from them. Last year we lost matches, so this year I want to win no matter what.” The teams lacks their ace player IWASAKI Yuto for the second match in a row.

Last match, he was not allowed to play due to suspension he received, and this time it’s his U-18 national team duty in the China trip. Ogawa is expected to lead the team to minimize goals allowed and capitalise the limited chances to score goals. 

Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 vs Kyoto Tachibana High School
Date：Sunday 28 June, Kick-off at 5:00 p.m.
Venue：Kyoto Sanga F.C. Higashi Joyo Ground
Access：10 minutes by taxi from Kintetsu Kyoto Line “Okubo” station /
Take Joyo Sansan Bus either from JR Nara Line “Joyo” station or Kintetsu Kyoto Line “Terada” station and get off at “Sanga Town Joyo” stop or “Higashi Miyanodani” stop
Access to the stadium (Japanese version only)

Premier League WEST Matchday 7 Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June

6/27
11:00　Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Youth vs Gamba Osaka Youth (Yoshida Soccer Park)
13:00　Higashi Fukuoka High School vs Oita Trinita U-18 (Level 5 Stadium)
6/28
11:00　Nagoya Grampus U18 vs Riseisha High School (Toyota Sports Centre)
16:00　Vissel Kobe U-18 vs Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Ibukino Mori Sports Field)
17:00　Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 vs Kyoto Tachibana High School (Kyoto Sanga F.C. Higashi Joyo Ground)

A list of registration player changes is here (Japanese version only)