The week 8 of the Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League EAST will be held on Sunday, 13 July.
Consadole Sapporo U-18 (Hokkaido) have Mitsubishi Yowa SC Youth (Tokyo) at home. Sapporo won 4-2 in the last match for the second victory of the season against Ryutsu Keizai Kashiwa High School (Chiba) and climbed up two ranks out of the bottom. Sapporo certainly target another win in the next match in front of home supporters. On the other hand, Mitsubishi Yowa lost 2-4 to Shimizu S-pulse Youth (Shizuoka) and exposed their weakness in defence. As having given up 12 of the 14 season-total goals allowed in the second halves, Mitsubishi look to give extra attention to how they play late in the match.

Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori) on a two-game losing streak meet Kashiwa Reysol U-18 (Chiba). Aomori Yamada have sat at the bottom in the standings, losing 2-3 to JFA Academy Fukushima (Shizuoka) in the 6th week and 1-2 to Tokyo Verdy Youth (Tokyo) in the last match. Head Coach Kuroda Tsuyoshi expressed alarm, saying “We have been able to set up our good offense, but have a lot of issues on our defensive end.” The key at the next match is how much they are able to stay in the game when they are struggling. Kashiwa conversely have continued steady contests standing at the second place. Although Kashiwa have conceded goals in the five consecutive matches, they have been able to limit it just one goal in each match. The total conceded goals are kept to the league-best 55. Reducing risks by maintaining the ball up front, Kashiwa try to grab a win.

RKU Kashiwa, which suffered a loss to Sapporo in the last match, aim to rally back against Academy Fukushima. They have given up multiple goals in six out of seven matches. With the ups and downs, they won over top teams such as Shimizu or Kashiwa but failed to mount up points against teams standing lower in the table. Head Coach Honda Yuichiro says “This year’s team are having trouble getting on (a good rhythm).” The opponents, Academy Fukushima, have not lost in the last two matches after the mid-season break. “Our motivation has been boosted up” said Captain Kinjo Justin Toshiki, whose team will face RKU Kashiwa with their good momentum going.

Kashima Antlers Youth (Ibaraki), which sit currently at the seventh spot, meet fourth-placed Tokyo Verdy. As they have many second grade high school students on the squad, they have earned just one win so far. Their league-most four draws show they are experiencing difficulties snatching a win. During the break, their practice centred on “understanding the pace of the game and the situation where we should gear up” according to Head Coach Kumagaya Koji. At their home, Kashima take aim at winning points over Tokyo Verdy, which have not won a single match away from home.

[Pick-up Match of the EAST’s Week 8]
Shimizu S-pulse Youth vs Ichiritsu Funabashi High School

Shimizu succeeded in starting well off the season by winning the first five matches. They have kept up their offensive pace, scoring the average of over three goals per match. While defeated in the 6th week, they showed no negative after-effects of the loss in the next one, posting an easy win with season-best four goals. They again attempt to show their attacking football in the next match let by Ohno Ryoma, tied for the best in the league in scoring and Fukui Yuhi, the 5th in the same category.

Meanwhile, Ichiritsu Funabashi have been outstanding in executing solid game plans. As Head Coach Asaoka Ryuzo points out, “We let our players and the team grow in the midst of league matches,” they have earned points by arranging their squad and strategies match to match. Their foundation is the defence led by Captain Fujii Taku. Keeping a clean sheet against RKU Kashiwa in the 5th week and limiting Kashiwa to one goal in last match, Ichiritsu Funabashi grabbed victories over offensive-minded opponents. The match between teams with two different styles should be entertaining.

■Shimizu S-pulse Youth vs Ichiritsu Funabashi High School
Shimizu S-pulse Youth vs Ichiritsu Funabashi High School
Date: Sunday 13 July, Kick-off at 14:00
Venue: Shimizu National Training Centre (J-STEP)
Access: Take Just Line Bus at the West Exit of JR Tokaido Honsen Shimizu Station and get off at “J-STEP”