The Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Football League will have its WEST Week 11 on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August.

Toyama Daiichi High School (Toyama) will take on Vissel Kobe U-18 (Hyogo) who have won last three matches in a row. Toyama Daiichi’s captain Nishimura Takuma got back to his usual self by scoring two in the last match after being held scoreless since the week 6. He is again expected to lead their offence in this week. Meanwhile players who have been out of line-up due to injuries including Fujimoto Yugo have come back for Kobe. It will be interesting to see whether their trademark passing football will help them extend the winning streak.

Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka) will welcome Kyoto Tachibana High School (Kyoto) at home. Although Higashi Fukuoka won the Inter-High School Championship, they couldn’t maintain the momentum and suffered a lopsided 1-5 loss to Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Osaka) in the last match. They are certainly looking to get back on track this week. Kyoto Tachibana have been struggling to keep running the whole 90 minutes of a match. During the mid-season break, they focused on running in practice, and it has gradually shown in matches including the last one against Higashiyama High School (Kyoto) where they could tie the score late. They will keep trying to outrun the opponents again in this match and to build up confidence.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Youth (Hiroshima) will play against Cerezo Osaka and attempt to come back to the standings race. Hiroshima, currently on a three-match losing streak, will have Naganuma Yoichi and Kato Mutsuki back with the team. They have been away last two matches for playing with the generational national team. How much they can compete against Cerezo’s devastating offence, scoring 14 in the last five matches, will be the key for Hiroshima.

Higashiyama grabbed a draw in the last week and moved up to the eighth in the standings, and they will face Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka) this week. The problem for both clubs have been the same; defending their goal. Higashiyama have scored in every match since the week 6, but they have allowed much more to the opponents, while Gamba Osaka’s Ichimaru Mizuki also disapprove their own defence, saying “We score goals but allow goals as well.” Both clubs will look to maintain their defence stable to take advantage of their offense for a win.

[Pick-up Match of WEST Week 11]
Nagoya Grampus U18 vs Kyoto Sanga FC U-18

Two teams in good shape will go head to head. Nagoya Grampus U18 (Aichi) had every player on the offensive end score a goal to rout Toyama Daiichi 6-3 in the last week. They are playing well under their team concept “Value everyone’s idea and attack”. On the other hand, Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 (Kyoto) are on their four-match winning streak. Nagashima Yushi distribute passes as Onishi Yuki and Okugawa Masaya lead quick attacks and threaten the opponent’s goal. Their offense has been working so well that they have scored fifteen goals in the last five matches. We can certainly expect an offensive showdown in Nagoya this week.

Nagoya Grampus U18 vs Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18
Date: Sunday 31 August 　　　Kick-off at 16:30
Venue: Toyota Sports Centre
Access: 10-minute walk from Meitetsu Toyota Line “Miyoshigaoka Station”

The tournament-original neck strap will be given away to first 300 fans at the gate of this match. So please come out for the match!