The Prince Takamado Trophy 26th All-Japan Youth (U-15) Football Championship held four quarter-finals on Tuesday 23 December and the four teams to play in the semi-finals were decided. Vissel Kobe U-15 (Kansai 2), Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15 (Kansai 3), Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Junior Youth (Chugoku 1) and FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa (Kanto 2) will battle against each other on Thursday 25 for the final match appearance.

Pickup Match 1

Vissel Kobe U-15（Kansai2）  1-0（1st 0-0、2nd 1-0）  Urawa Reds Junior Youth（Kanto4）

The first match at K’s Denki Stadium Mito was between the defending champion Urawa and Kobe who have been playing for their first Prince Takamado Trophy. It started rather slowly as both teams kept looking out the opponents’ game plan. But Urawa’s Shirota Hayato attacked the right flank into the middle for the first shot of the match, and that turned on Urawa’s offensive end.

Although Kobe also kept looking for their chance to go up in a counter-attack, Urawa’s aggressive defence did not allow them to take their pace. The first half finished without any goal scored as Urawa kept attacking and Kobe survived through it.

In the second half, both teams subbed in offensive players for a goal, the course of the match remained unchanged. Late in the second half, as Kobe took their defensive pressure to an even higher level, the match went into the two-minute additional time. Then in the last play of the match, Kobe finally showed what they had been trying. Watanabe Kazuya went up in the right flank and penetrated into the middle along the goal line to feed the final pass to the other side. Imaoka Yota received it and let it into the goal to give a dramatic go-ahead goal to his team. Seconds after that, the match heard the whistle, and Kobe clinched the first final-four spot since 2011.

Match Detail

JFA-TV Highlight

Pickup Match 2

Cerezo Osaka U-15（Kansai1） 0-1（1st 0-0、2nd 0-0、Extra 1st 0-0、Extra 2nd 0-1）　Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Junior Youth（Chugoku1）

Hiroshima and C Osaka played against each other in the second quarter-final match at K’s Denki Stadium Mito. C Osaka gradually took the early initiative by getting Hiroshima’s ball with their effective pressure defence and superb decision making. Then their quick transition kept moving the ball up to near Hiroshima’s goal for scoring opportunities. In the 26th minute, Arimizu Aki went by Hiroshima’s goalkeeper for his shot, but it didn’t go into the goal. Although C Osaka kept dominating the match, the first-half action came to an end without opening the scoring.

C Osaka again kept their pace for most of the second half, but the match went into the extra time. While it was the third consecutive extra time match for Hiroshima, their head coach Sawada Kentaro fired up his players by saying “We haven’t been able to play our football, but things like this happen in football. We will keep trying to play how we want to play.” As the fatigue level went up for both teams, Hiroshima kept showing their will to the victory. In the 98th minute, they restarted the free-kick opportunity quickly and the ball went to Kawai Ayumu, who struck his well-aimed shot to the left corner of the goal. Hiroshima’s sensational goal in the last minute of the match brought the crowed on their feet with excitement. C Osaka did not give in and kept trying for their own, but it was too little and too late. Hiroshima, withstanding C Osaka’s 22 shots while shooting only five for themselves, squeezed out a win with their tenacity.

Match Detail

JFA-TV Highlight

Comments

IMAOKA Yota（Vissel Kobe U-15）
It was a very tough match, but at that last moment, I kept dashing to the goal because I believed Watanabe would break through the right flank. When I received that pass, I thought I would put it in no matter what for all the teammates who didn’t get to play and for all our family members who were supporting us. The extra period would have been tough, so I put everything I had left out there to win the match in the 80 minutes. We have been working hard for the past year to be the number one in the country, so we will keep that up and keep fighting.

OHASHI Hiroshi Head Coach（Urawa Reds Junior Youth）
Playing based on the basic principles of playing football and showing that in matches is our way of playing. Even though we lost, our players put what we have worked on out on the pitch and played very well. The result can go either way, so sometimes you can’t help it. The players showed their disappointment, but I personally accept this outcome as it is. Our players understand what they have to do at their age, and they have done what they have to do. I am sure they will keep playing hard at their next stage.

KAWAI Ayumu（Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Junior Youth）
I had the one-on-one against the defender after we restarted quickly with the free kick and I got the pass. So I went aggressively and took it for a shot. I just pushed it through to the goal. That goal could be made thanks to all the determination and spirits of my teammates. We allowed the opponents to take the pace, but our defenders led our defence and we kept defending with putting our bodies around. I thought once we took the windward side and kicked the ball behind defenders, we could come out there and get it. That’s what I was thinking when I was running. We have been practicing very competitively as if they have been real matches. So we are now showing that in matches, and I think that’s why we are winning.

OHATA Kai, Head Coach (Cerezo Osaka U-15)
We dominated the game in both offence and defence showing Cerezo Osaka style but we did not have enough skills to get over the other side’s defence. I believe it was the best game of the year for the squad playing hard as they can aggressively taking the ball when we were on defensive, running past the ball holder, etc. The fact they kept running till the end of the game overcoming anxiety of not easily scoring the goal would be an asset for them in the future and I hope they can take advantage of this experience and become much confident in themselves.

Other Results

Kyoto Sanga F.C.U-15(Kansai3)   1-1 （1st 1-1、2nd 0-0、Extra 1st 0-0、Extra 2nd 半0-0） (PK:5-4)   Yokohama F･Marinos Junior Youth

Match Detail

JFA-TV Highlight

Yokohama F･Marinos Junior Youth Oppama (Kanto 6)   0-3（1st 0-0、2nd 0-3)   FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa
(Kanto2) 

Match Detail

JFA-TV Highlight

Prince Takamado Trophy All Japan Youth (U-15) Football Tournament

Saturday, December 20, 2014 - Saturday December 27, 2014
More Information