In the city of Kagoshima with great weather, the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the 40th Japan U-12 Football Championship were held on Wednesday 28 December.

As the quarter-finals were held at Kamoike Auxiliary Field, Diablossa TAKADA FC U-12 (Nara) took on Kashima Antlers Junior (Ibaraki). Takada scored the opening goal when NODA Tessho going around the opposing goalkeeper slotted one into the net, and SUZUKI Hiroto extended the lead by striking his mid-range shot to the left hand corner of Kashima’s goal. However, Kashima quickly fought back and OKANO Rao cut the deficit to one by putting the deflection of KOTANAGI Souta’s shot into the back of the net. In the 27th minute, this time Kotanagi scored off a free-kick to tie the scoring. With their lead erased, Takada also showed a short counter-attack with intense ball pressure in the mid-field. Then Suzuki tallied one more to put his team ahead again in the 31st minute and Takada kept the lead until winning the contest 3-2.

In the other matches of the round, Yokohama F・Marinos Primary (Kanagawa) piled up five goals to an easy win. Cem Ano Kobe (Hyogo), coming back to the national tournament for the first time in 12 years, and Fuchu Shinmachi (FC), making the first ever appearance, both edged the opponents 1-0 to move on to the semi-finals.

The semi-finals were held at Kamoike Athletic Stadium where it gave the players and audience a good view of famous Sakurajima. The matchup of Diablossa TAKADA FC U-12 and Yokohama F・Marinos Primary saw Takada score first in the 29th minute, picking up a loose ball after a corner-kick. Takada maintained the lead almost for the rest of the match until Yokohama FM acquired a penalty kick opportunity minutes before the end. Composed MATSUMURA Kousuke did not miss it to take it to the additional time.

Early in the added time, Noda Tessho of Takada dribbled up all the way to regain the advantage. But Yokohama FM did not stop running with outstanding stamina and still kept attacking into the Takada’s end. The efforts paid off for the Kanagawa side in the second half. After SHIMADA Haruto equalised once again off a cross ball, FUNAKI Daisuke scored the match-winning goal immediately after that to take his team to the final with the 3-2 win.

In the other fixture of the semi-final between Cem Ano Kobe Junior and Fuchu Shinmachi FC, SUETANI Seigo of Kobe gave his team the early initiative with his goal. In the 19th minute WADA Kenshiro met a free-kick to extend the lead to two goals, which Kobe took into the second half. Although Fuchu Shinmachi made their come-back efforts including ADACHI Kazuki’s going up on the flank and YOSHITOSHI Joe’s providing the ball to his teammates, good scoring opportunities were hard to come by. Meanwhile Kobe had TOMINAGA Nina close the deal by his goal and they eventually won the match 3-0. 

As the result of the semi-finals, Yokohama F・Marinos Primary and Cem Ano Kobe Junior will go head to head in the final at Kamoike Athletic Stadium on Thursday 29.

Players' Comments

FUNAKI Daisuke (Yokohama F・Marinos Primary / Kanagawa)
(In the semi-final) I was thinking to play without worrying about mistakes to help my team win. I was very happy that I could score and our team won. We lost at the quarter-final last year, so we wanted to do better than that this year. In the final, I want to work hard for the team in defence. Then I go up, get involved in scoring and help my team win.

SUZUKI Hiroto (Diablossa TAKADA FC U-12 / Nara)
The quarter-final was a match against a better-ranked team, so we wanted to outrun the opponents. My shot that went in was what I wanted, making curl and dropping not to let the goalkeeper see it. (In the semi-final) we wanted to defend without giving away fouls, but we gave away chances through our foul, so it’s disappointing. We went into the additional time just as if it was the fresh start of a new match.

MUNEMURA Naoya (Cem Ano Kobe Junior / Hyogo)
With the team concept of “football where the people, the ball and the heart of audience move”, we put importance on individual skills and ball movement. (In the semi-final) we could score at a good timing in the first half, and we could add more in the second half. Both were good. I usually play at midfield. Today I played goalkeeper, but I looked at it and played as if I was playing futsal. (Since I am a midfielder,) I wanted to take advantage of my ball-controlling skill as well.

HIGAKURE Rex Kaito (Fuchu Shinmachi FC)
The opponents of the semi-final had players with good skills, so we were focused to stop them before they got going. It was good that our team came together as one and reached the best four. We don’t have any more official match to play in the elementary school category, so I want to improve myself in the areas such as coaching and saving before I move on to the junior high school category. I want the fifth graders of our team who played in this tournament to come back again and win the national title.

40th Japan U-12 Football Championship

Tournament Period：
Sunday 25 December - Thursday 29 December

Tournament Venue：
1st round/Round 16   Kagoshima Fureai Sports Land (Kagoshima)
Quarter-Final   Kagoshima Kamoike Auxiliary Field (Kagoshima)
Semi-Final/Final   Kagoshima Kamoike Auxiliary Field (Kagoshima)

Tournament Information