Pick-Up Match

Oita Trinita Youth U-18   6-1 (1st 1-0, 2nd 5-1)   Nagoya Grampus U18

The second section of the Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League WEST was held on Sunday 19 April. Oita Trinita Youth U-18 (Oita), who were promoted this season, met Nagoya Grampus U18 (Aichi) at home.

Both teams could not win their opening games. Although neither of them allowed the other to attack at the beginning of the game, Oita gradually started to press Nagoya with their running power and competitiveness near the ball. Oita picked up their pace through the defence and started to show their attacking ability. Once Oita intercepted the ball, they pressed the opponent by moving the ball from one side of the pitch to the other, as ‘the midfielders and the defenders of Nagoya tend to stay in a compact zone’, which the head coach YAMAZAKI Tetsuya mentioned previously. After 36 minutes, the game moved on. YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa received a cross from MIYACHI Yujiro, who got through the left wing, and headed home, striking the opener. The first half ended 1-0 to Oita.

In the second half, Oita took the initiative even more. In the 51st minute, YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa in front of the goal slotted home a loose ball from a right corner kick, building a two-goal lead. After 59 minutes, EGASHIRA Kazuki won a right corner kick, and Asahara Naoya scored from a header. No one could stop Oita, and Egashira once more added insurance in the 67th minute. However, Naogya made some moves. In the 71st minute, KITANO Seiya, who received a pass in the centre, dribbled up and struck a goal.

Although Nagoya was keen on cutting the lead as much as possible, Oita started their attack again in the last ten minutes. IWATA Tomoki, who later commented: ‘as the score changed a lot in the second half, I wanted to strike a goal as well’, stayed ambitious for goals and struck two goals. Oita won the game 6-1. It was their first victory in the Premier League.

Head Coach and Players’ Comments

YAMAZAKI Tetsuya, Head Coach (Oita Trinita Youth U-18)
Although I told the players not to play passively, they had to stay passive sometimes in the first half. Especially in terms of the defence, the players might have been nervous playing in the Premier League and kept some distance from the opponent, which made it impossible to steal the ball. Having said that, in the second half, they fixed the problem and started to challenge more. We stayed solid and strong with key players, including Iwata Tomoki, who put in a consistently high performance.

YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa (Oita Trinita Youth U-18)
We did not start the game badly at all. However, after 10 minutes, we started to defend passively. It was my fault, as I’m the leader of the defenders. As we had some advice from the head coach Yamazaki, not to mention our own fear of losing the game, we discussed it and fixed the problem. As a result, we ended the first half in a better way, which led us to a better second half. As it was our first home match, the victory meant a lot to us.

TAKATA Tetsuya, Head Coach (Nagoya Grampus U18)
Just like our opening match, we couldn’t steal the ball even when we tried, and we tended to pass it to the sides or backward when we have the ball, without much pressure in attack. Throughout the game, when the forwards have the ball, the other players played well, supporting the front. Having said that, the players tended to choose the easy option. Although we didn’t lose one-on-one or two-on-two, we ended up conceding a goal from our mistakes. What's essential is how we move forward, leaning from our loss today.

KITANO Seiya (Nagoya Grampus U18)
At the beginning of the match, we had two good shots. So if we had scored them, the result might have been different. Many junior fellows came to support us today, as the game was in Oita, where I spent my junior high school years. I’m pleased that they could see me score a goal, but I’m gutted that we lost. This team tends to rely on individual skills and lack of movement and interactions. We are on losing streak but I want to switch my stance and eager to win the next match against Higashi Fukuoka High School, a week later.

Other results

Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Youth　3-0 (1st 2-0, 2nd 1-0)　Kyoto Tachibana High School
Higashi Fukuoka High School　1-0(1st 1-0, 2nd 0-0)　Gamba Osaka Youth
Cerezo Osaka U-18　3-1 (1st 2-1, 2nd 1-0)　Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18
Vissel Kobe U-18　0-0 (1st 0-0, 2nd 0-0)　Riseisha High School

Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth (Hiroshima) scored three goals and won the match against Kyoto Tachibana High School (Kyoto), in which Mitsuta Makoto, a first-year student, truck two consecutive goals in two games. Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka), who conceded six goals in their opening match against Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Osaka), succeeded in strengthening their defence in the second round. In the 20th minute, MAIKUMA Seiya struck the opener, and they managed to keep a clean sheet against Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka) until the final whistle. Although C Osaka U-18 (Osaka) first conceded a goal against Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 (Kyoto), they turned the game around in the first half with two goals from SHOJI Honoya and TATEISHI Kazuma. In the second half, KISHIMOTO Takeru struck a superb goal, winning two consecutive games. Vissel Kobe U-18 (Hyogo), who aim at their first victory in this season, met Riseisha High School (Osaka). They played out a scoreless draw.