The Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League EAST will hold its matchday 17 on Sunday 29 November. 

Currently third-placed Ichiritsu Funabashi High School will face Kashiwa Reysol U-18 who have their base in the same prefecture of Chiba. In the last match, forward NAGATOU Ayumu, who had been away from the team due to injury, got on the pitch during the match and scored the first goal since the 10th matchday. His comeback certainly uplifted the spirit of the team who still possess a chance to win the title. On the other hand, Kashiwa look to stay farther away from relegation with another win. 

Omiya Ardija Youth (Saitama) still maintain a slight hope for the title as well with trailing the standings leaders by 6 points. On the next matchday they welcome Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa High School (Chiba) at home.

Now that Omiya have decided on 25 November to send goalkeeper KATO Yuki, midfielder KUROKAWA Atsushi, forwards KAWATA Kento and FUJINUMA Takumu to their top team, they want to win last two matches of this season to make it a good farewell for those four players. For Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa, now is "the crucial time in this season" as their coach HONDA Yuichiro puts it. They are ready to stand up against Omiya. 

The relegation to the lower division league is at stake for the battle between JFA Academy Fukushima (Shizuoka) and Consadole Sapporo U-18 (Hokkaido). They both are sinking now in the range of relegation and need to gain three points in the next matchday to potentially surpass Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa at eighth and Kashiwa at seventh.

Academy Fukushima have been suffering a three-match losing skid, but on the matchday 8 they beat Sapporo with their captain TANIGUCHI Shoto’s go-ahead goal. He is again expected to lead his squad. Meanwhile Sapporo have been well aware of their assignment, as forward SUGA Daiki says "we make too many bad passes." They are trying to rebuild their attacking before the upcoming contest. 

Sixth-placed Shimizu S-Pulse Youth (Shizuoka) and fifth-placed F.C. Tokyo U-18 (Tokyo) both do not have much to do with either the championship race or relegation survival. Shimizu are looking for a win at their last home match by correcting their offence, which produced only one goal in the last five matches.

F.C. Tokyo are confident with their steady defence. They have allowed multiple goals to their opponents only once in this season. To make their last two matches meaningful enough as development opportunities for next season, every player’s motivation is tested.

［Pick-up Match - EAST Matchday 17］
Kashima Antlers Youth  vs  Aomori Yamada High School

Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori) are now leading the league with 36 points. They will go head to head against Kashima Antlers Youth (Ibaraki) being at second with 34 points. Aomori Yamada have not lost in the last 11 matches since the matchday 6 and they proved they were still in good form after the mid-season break by defeating Shimizu 3-0. They scored more often from set-pieces in this season, but every goal scored in the last match was within the flow of the match, which provided more variety to their capable offence. 

On the other hand, Kashima, who will play at home, are also in the middle of their three-match winning streak. Successfully edging two opponents, Shimizu on the matchday 15 and Kashiwa on the last, is also a positive sign of their composed execution. Last time they tool on Aomori Yamada, they allowed only three shot attempts to the current league leaders. Their game plan must be playing a low-scoring match to grind out a win.

Date: Sunday 29 November, Kick-off at 13:00
Venue: Kashima Antlers Club House
Access: Take an express bus to "Kashima Shrine" and get off at "Club House Mae"
At "Kashima Shrine", take a bus to "Takamatsu Green Park" station, get off at "Takamatsu Green Park" and walk for 15 minutes.

Premier League EAST Matchday 17

11/29 (Sun.)
10:00   JFA Academy Fukushima vs Consadole Sapporo U-18 (Tokinosumika Sports Centre Tokino Sumika Ground)
11:00   Shimizu S-Pulse Youth vs F.C. Tokyo U-18 (Shimizu National Training Centre/J-STEP)
13:00   Omiya Ardija Youth vs Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa High School (Akihanomori Sogo Park Natural Grass Soccer Field)
13:00   Kashima Antlers Youth vs Aomori Yamada High School (Kashima Antlers Club House)
14:00   Kashiwa Reysol U-18 vs Ichiritsu Funabashi High School (Hitachi Kashiwa Sogo Ground)

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