All Japan University Select Team took on All Korea University Select Team in the DENSO CUP SOCCER The 13th annual Japan vs Korea university regular football match at Todoroki athletics stadium on 20 March.

With their two front players in MUTSUMOTO Kohei and GERMAIN Ryo, both of who have heights and can run into spaces, All Japan created chances around sidebacks TAKAO Ryu and KOIKE Yuta, but weren't able to score one. And eventually Japan allowed Korea to get the ball and have shots more often as they gave up the momentum the guests.

Japan's Koike earned a free kick in the 26th minute, and centre back IMAZU Yuta attempted to put the kick into the net, but the Korea goalkeeper caught it. And from that point on, All Korea started their rally. Korea left sideback KUK Taejeong brought the ball to the front field on a counter, and then he cut into the goal area. He fired a shot with his left leg and the shot went in to give his side a lead.

Japan, who got behind, sent NAKANO Seiya and NODAKE Atsuya onto the pitch in the second half. They created chances around Nakano, who's good at finding spaces behind defenders. In the 53rd minute, Germain received a pass from SHIGEHIRO Takuya and fired a shot, but it slightly went off the goal.

In the 70th, Koike attempted to put a Takao cross into the net, but it went right into the chest of the Korea goalkeeper and was caught by him. Japan had attacking opportunities yet struggled to score, but with less than 10 minutes left, coach MIYAZAKI Junichi made some moves. In the 82nd, he sent MATSUKI Shunnosuke, whom came up with some positive outcomes during the team’s Malaysia trip and the coach had said would create some kind of chances had he had 10 minutes, on the left side. 

To live up to the expectations, All Japan increased their momentum as Matsuki repeatedly penetrated. And in the 87th, Imazu learned backward to get a long throw from the left side, and Nakano dived into it heading. He netted it to tie the game.

All Japan tried to score another in the 89th, when Matsuki dribbled up in the left side and cut into the goal area. Matsuki sent a backward pass and Shigehiro reacted to it. Shigehiro netted a middle shot to give Japan a lead. “I eye-contacted with Shigehiro, who was in the box, and I chose a better player who could score a goal with higher percentage,” Matsuki said later. Japan dramatically made a game-tying and go-ahead goals in less than five minutes, and went onto win 2-1, extending their win total to six. Afterwards,  Shigehiro Takuya was given the MVP and Kuk Taejeong, CHOI Joongi, Matsuki Shunnosuke and Nakano Seiya was given the outstanding players award.

Coach and Players' Comments

MIYAZAKI Junichi, Coach (All Japan University Select Team) 
We were overwhelmed by the Koreans in the first half. We feel that they were an extremely good team that was filled with players who have physicality, mentality and techniques. We came through capitalizing on our strengths and scored in the final five minutes, but in the rest of the game, the game belonged to All Korea.

SHIGEHIRO Takuya, Captain (All Japan University Select Team)
Just looking at the result, we could avenge our loss of last year, but we were overwhelmed by them so much in the first half, where we weren't able to play our ball and each of us wasn't able to show his game and allowed the goals. Yet we never gave up the game and we had the common intention of scoring goals as a team. That's why we could bounce back in the end.

NAKANO Seiya (All Japan University Select Team)
Our coaches told us to capitalize on my mobility and it was great that I did that. On the scoring scene, when Imazu came in, he told me that he'd lean backward to let the ball go, so it paid off I believed him waiting for it.

MATSUKI Shunnosuke (All Japan University Select Team)
During the Malaysia trip, we kept playing games like I came in in the last five minutes left and scored in the 90th minute. It gave me confidence that I did my job in the very end and by being sent onto the pitch that time, I felt that I needed to live up to the team's expectations. I'm glad that I got my job done.

Flash match reports of the championship will be tweeted on the official Japan University Football Association account Twitter(@_jufa).

The latest information will be also posted on Facebook and Instagram (@_jufa).

Official website (Japanese version only)