The Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League EAST has its matchday 4 on Saturday 2 May.

Omiya Ardija Youth (Saitama) face Kashima Antlers Youth (Ibaraki). Omiya clutched their first win of the Premier League in a close match against Consadole Sapporo U-18 (Hokkaido) last Sunday. Head coach ITO Akira says “We’ve got to overcome the lack of finishing ability,” but at least that victory has took some of their pressure off themselves going onto the next match. Meanwhile, league-leading Kashiwa, keeping three straight clean sheets, are “one of the best J.League academy teams under pressure,” according to FC Tokyo head coach SATO Kazuki. Kashima have been matured both in offence and defence as forward KAKITA Yuki is in form, scoring three goals in three matches.

The contest between Kashiwa Reysol U-18 (Chiba) and FC Tokyo U-18 (Tokyo) is also a must-see. Although Kashiwa’s offensive side has been lacklustre, scoring only one goal in three matches, the number of their shooting opportunities has increased. They had 12 shots in the last fixture compared to their opening day when they had only two. On the other hand, the opposition FC Tokyo have been in good shape in the offensive side, recording 10 goals in the last two matches. SATO Ryo and OKUMA Kenta both grabbed goals in two straight matches, and the performance of these two offensive men is likely to influence the outcome of the following match.

Shimizu S-Pulse Youth (Shizuoka) welcome Sapporo at home. Despite their three points earned in the opener, Shimizu have not scored any goal since then. In the last fixture against Ichiritsu Funabashi High School (Chiba), they were not able to turn goal-scoring opportunities into a goal and eventually fell to the opponents’ set-piece goal. The Sapporo side also have struggled as they lost all their three matches. Even so, they are still in process of building up the team. Head coach YOMODA Shuhei does not push himself too much and is satisfied with some good signs hinting their come-back, saying “We haven’t put up a good result but are getting better.”

Two winless teams JFA Academy Fukushima (Shizuoka) and Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa High School (Chiba) square off against each other. Academy Fukushima are looking to ignite themselves to move up in the table by rebuilding their defence conceding 11 goals in three matches. Ryutsu Keizai Kashiwa are still “in process of testing who can best perform in what position” according to head coach HONDA Yuichiro, as they used all five substitutions available in all the three matches they played. The Chiba side try to claim a favourable result without second graders who are on their trip to Italy.

[Pick-up Match of EAST Matchday 4]
Ichiritsu Funabashi High School vs Aomori Yamada High School

Two of the high school teams who remain unbeaten go head-to-head. With more than half of the regular players from the last year still remaining on the team, Ichiritsu Funabashi High School (Chiba) have solid defence that have allowed only one goal so far. In the last match, the Chiba side had some stretches when they suffered the opposing Shimizu’s attack, but they held it off and grabbed a go-ahead goal through a set piece to add up points. Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori)’s squad replaced most of their key players of last year’s, but newly-added players Kamiya Yuta and Takahashi Issei have shown superb performances. The players are fired up for the next match, saying “We definitely don’t want to lose to high school teams.”

Ichiritsu Funabashi High School vs Aomori Yamada High School

Date & Time: Sat. 2 May, Kick-off 11:00
Venue: Funabashi Hoden Park (Graspo) Stadium Access (Japanese version only)

Direction:
*Take Keisei Bus from JR Line “Nishi-funabashi Station,” or JR Musashinon Line “Funabashi Hoden Station”, get off at “Otsuka Glass” And walk for one minute.
*Take Flower-go Community Bus from Tobu Noda Line “Magomezawa Station”, get off at “Este City” and walk for three minute.

Premier League EAST MD 4 (5/2)

10:00    JFA Academy Fukushima vs. Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa (Tokinosumika Sports Center, Tokinosumika Ground)
11:00    Ichiritsu Funabashi High School vs. Aomori Yamada High School (Funabashi City Hoden Park/Grasspo)
11:00    Kashiwa Reysol U-18 vs. F.C. Tokyo U-18(Hitachi Kashiwa Sogo Ground)
12:30    Shimizu S-pulse Youth vs. Consadole Sapporo U-18 (S-Pulse Miho Ground)
15:30    Omiya Ardija Youth vs. Kashima Antlers Youth (NTT East Japan Shiki Sogo Ground)