Pick-up Match

Kashiwa Reysol U-18 1-1 (1st 0-0, 2nd 1-1) Kashima Antlers Youth

The Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League EAST had matchday 7 on 27-28 June, and top team Kashima Antlers Youth (Ibaraki) faced Kashiwa Reysol U-18 (Chiba) who was last year’s champion. Kashima’s KAKITA Yuki who is now in 3rd place on the top scorer ranking and MIYAMOTO Kenta couldn’t play because of suspension after being sent off and for cautions respectively. MACHIDA Kouki and OKI Yuya weren’t in the team due to joining in Japan squad team, too. 

On the other hand, Kashiwa didn’t have side back player KOGA Taiyo and KUMAKAWA Takeru due to injuries. In this difficult situation for both teams, the strength of each team’s squad was put to the test in this match.

At the beginning of the match, Kashima attacked Kashiwa aggressively, but after 20 minutes Kashiwa started to take the control of the game with their careful pass work which didn’t allow the opponents to steal the ball. 

What was effective was the crossing from right wing; on the 42th minute, SAKAMOTO Ryoto crossed the ball to SHIRAKAWA Keishiro who was sliding on to the ball, but just missed making contact with the ball. 

As Kashima’s captain CHIBA Kenta reflected after the match “In the 2nd half we tried to bring Kashiwa into our area, but we couldn’t move forward easily,” Kashiwa kept the control of the game in the 2nd half. 

However, on the 60th minute, Kashima got the chance after a set-play and MATSUMURA Koyo successfully pushed the ball into the net, which came from a left corner-kick. 

Kashiwa on the other hand, started its attack from right wing and on the 64th minute, YAMAZAKI Kaishu’s left foot made a final touch to equalise the game from Sakamoto’s cross. Kashiwa tried to get another goal on the 75th minute by UKITA Keisei’s shot but it hit the post. 

Meanwhile Kashima made the scoring chance on the 80 minute by Matsuura’s shot from a free kick, but it also didn’t strike the back of the net. Both teams couldn’t get additional goals and the match finished 1-1. They will move on to their next matches; for Kashima with a sense of pride that they could earn 1 point even in a difficult away match, and for Kashiwa with confidence that they could keep the control of the game against the top team. 

Head Coach and Players' Comments

SHIMOTAIRA Takahiro, Head Coach (Kashiwa Reysol U-18)
In the world of competition, we can never be appreciated if we can’t make a good result. Making good crosses to the centre was the key for scoring but we weren’t allowed to make it so easily. 

Even though it was good that we could take the control of the match from the middle of the 1st half and we could equalise, considering the fact that Kashima didn’t have several key players today, I think we had to beat them. I expect our players to keep working hard since they have become passionate to run more than before. 

YAMAZAKI Kaishu (Kashiwa Reysol U-18)
Since we could take the control of the match, I really wanted to win the match today. Firstly I was waiting for the miss-shots and miss-passes, but I was told to cut in front of the goal from our staff members. When I made a shot, I moved before the opponents started catching me expecting the cross, so I could strike the ball freely. Since I play as an attacking midfielder, I want to score more especially when I have deeper defense and I also want to create more scoring chances. 

KUMAGAI Koji, Head Coach (Kashima Antlers Youth)
Since we didn’t have some key players today, some new players were selected for this match and they did positive jobs to maintain our strength. It was also good that Matsuura scored today, his position changed from central mid fielder to centre back today. I wanted to make more varieties in offense, but considering that we have worked hard to earn 1 point even in ay difficult away match, I think I have to appreciate the fact that they could score after the set play. 

MATSUURA Koyo (Kashima Antlers Youth)
Last year, we had exactly the same situation having the away match against Kashiwa, and we couldn’t beat them losing 1 goal just before the match ending 1-2. So I really wanted to win the match. It was good that we could score from the set play which we had worked on in training. I could see the goal very clearly.

However, I am regretting that I couldn’t score regardless of the chance I got. We could have won if I could score at that moment. That was because of my lack of internal strength. This is what I have to improve. 

Other results

JFA Academy Fukushima   2-1 (1st 1-1, 2nd 1-0)   Ichiritsu Funabashi High School
Omiya Aldija Youth   1-1 (1st 0-1, 2nd 1-0)   F.C. Tokyo U-18
Consadole Sapporo U-18   4-0 (1st 2-0, 2nd 2-0)   Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa
Shimizu S-Pulse Youth   1-3 (1st 1-2, 2nd 0-1)   Aomori Yamada High School

The 2nd-placed Ichiritsu Funabashi High School (Chiba) lost their away match with 1-2 for the first time against JFA Academy Fukushima U-18 (Shizuoka), who got their first victory in this season. F.C. Tokyo U-18 who is in 3rd place so far played against Omiya Aldija Youth (Saitama) who is in 4th, both teams tried hard to get the higher ranking and the game ended 1-1. 

Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori) beat Shimizu S-Pulse Youth (Shizuoka) 3-1 and moved its ranking from 5th to 3rd. Consadole Sapporo U-18 (Hokkaido) got 4 goals including 2 goals made by FW SUGA Daiki and beat Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa (Chiba). They have caught up with Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa in terms of points, but since Consadole Sapporo beat them in their match, they moved up the league ranking, coming out of the relegation zone which is from 9th.