The Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League will enter the Matchday 17 in the West on 28 and 29 November.

Nagoya Grampus U18 (Aichi), who escaped from the bottom of the standings with a win over Riseisha High School (Osaka) last leg, will take on a fourth-place Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Osaka). As TANAKA Shoma said, "all of us are determined to stay in the Premier League. So would like to win two more and make it happen," Nagoya is looking at nothing but posting consecutive wins. It is, meanwhile a game that Cerezo cannot afford to lose to stay in a title hunt.

A seventh-place Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Youth (Hiroshima) will square off against a third-place Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka). Hiroshima were undefeated for three straight games from their 13th-leg match against Nagoya, but took a lopsided 0-4 loss to Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka) in the previous leg. 

Yet coach SAWADA Kentaro puts his head up, saying, "We weren't able to get the ball after we allowed goals, but now we can." Higashi Fukuoka had their three-game winning streak halted by Oita in the previous leg, so they would like to avoid a consecutive defeat.

A sixth-place Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 (Kyoto) will battle against Oita Trinita U-18 (Oita). While Kyoto have the league's second-best figure 38 goals, Oita will encounter with their solid defence, with which they have held their opponents a league-best 17 goals. The two team's offence-defence battles will be intriguing, but as Kyoto coach MORIOKA Ryuzo said as how each team would be able to control the game, their situational plays will be another focal point for the contest.

Riseisha, who will host Kyoto Tachibana High School (Kyoto), will need to bounce back from their previous game, in which they allowed their opponents to score two late-game goals and wound up losing. If they can take advantage of the lesson and keep playing with focus throughout the game, it will be a big plus for them going forward.

[Pick-up Match - WEST Matchday 17]
Vissel Kobe U-18  vs  Gamba Osaka Youth 

The point gaps between Gamba and Oita are four. Either team is to win, they will get closer to the championship, but Gamba have fared four losses and one draw against Kobe since they were promoted to the Premier League in 2013. Gamba would like to get some rhythm from their defence, which gave up no goals in their last four games, before they attempt to score some goals. 

Meanwhile, Kobe have been unbeaten in their last three. Vissel's HIGASHI Junya says, "We begin clicking after we give up some goals to the opponents first," so if they can overcome those mental issues, they will have a better chance to take the game. Will Gamba have a glorious moment or Vissel show their will to win? The only Premier League contest that's held on the 28th will be a can't-miss match.

Date: Saturday 28 November, Kick-off at 14:00
Venue: Ibuki no Mori stadium
Access: Take a bus from the subway Nishi-jinnan station and 10-minute walk from the "High Tech No. 4" stop. 

Direction to venue (Japanese version only)

Premier League WEST Matchday 17

11/28 (Sat.)
14:00   Vissel Kobe U-18 vs Gamba Osaka Youth (Ibuki no Mori stadium)
11/29 (Sun.)
11:00   Nagoya Grampus U18 vs Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Nagoya City Minato Soccer Stadium)
11:00   Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C. Youth vs Higashi Fukuoka High School (Yoshida Soccer Park)
11:00   Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 vs Oita Trinita U-18 (Kyoto Sanga F.C. Higashi Joyo Ground)
13:00   Riseisha High School vs Kyoto Tachibana High School (Riseisha Ibaraki Ground)

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