Pick-up Match
Cerezo Osaka U-18 vs Gamba Osaka Youth

The 4th round of the Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League will be played on 30 April and 1 May. The round’s biggest attractions is one between Cerezo Osaka U-18 and Gamba Osaka Youth, which is dubbed the “Osaka Derby.”

Cerezo have won all the three games they’ve played since the season opener for the first place. Their trait is to play an aggressive game based on their stamina. Their first-year players, such as SUZUKI Toichi, KIDA Hinata and SEKO Ayumu who all experienced a championship when they were U-15 players, have shown good performances. “Our fresh players have energized our team,” MURATA Kazuhiro, Cerezo coach, says. They look to post another win over their rivals.

The current runner-up Gamba play a collective football both offensively and defensively under their new coach MIYAMOTO Tsuneyasu. In their second-round game against Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School (Hyogo), they showed their high scoring offensive game as they racked up four goals in the second half alone. Their squad have changed a lot from that of last year, in which they crowned as the WEST champions, but they proved they have inherited their own offensive football. As they play away, it will be intriguing what kind of game they will exhibit.

Coach and Players' Comments

MURATA Kazuhiro, Coach (Cerezo Osaka U-18)
Working hard will be an absolute factor for us to win the ballgame against Gamba. We would like to battle both offensively and defensively so we will put up a great game. We have some players who have played against Gamba when they were younger like on the junior youth team and felt gaps with them. They will have a chance to see if the gaps have gotten narrower in this game. We have had more intense competitions between our players this year and players who come in late try to do something. When competing your teammates becomes natural, our potential will get upgraded. We consider that’s very positive to compete in a long season in this league.

MIYAMOTO Tsuneyasu, Coach (Gamba Osaka Youth)
Because it’s a home game for Cerezo, they will probably come against us putting pressure from early. Against the spirited opponents, we will need the mentality to counter. We will need to win battles when both sides have a 50-percent chance to get it, and prepare to move to the next plays. Having played three games, we have had time that we were able to play how we wanted to, while we have had time that we lacked concentration. We need to read when we have the momentum and when we don’t have the momentum, so we will be able to play according to the situations. Including both the quality and quantity, we will need to develop any element of our game.

MESHINO Ryotaro (Gamba Osaka Youth)
It will one of the keys for us to dodge Cerezo’s high pressing with our passing. In this Osaka derby, we will have to win in every single battle like when we are trying to get the ball with them. Individually, I would like to contribute to the victory for our team as I come through in dribbling, passing and winning battles with the opponents for the ball. We would like to compete with the entire team and win games throughout this year. I am going to go about my training, with the image that we play at the championship game and stand on the podium with the title.

Cerezo Osaka U-18 vs Gamba Osaka Youth
Date: Sat. 30 April　kick-off 15:00
Venue: Cerezo Osaka Maishima Ground
Access: Near from City Bus stop “Maishima Chuo”, which runs from “Nishikujo” Station (Osaka Loop Line)

Premier League WEST Match Day 4

4/30
11:00　Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School vs Higashi Fukuoka High School (Mikibo Park Hyogo)

5/1
11:00　Nagoya Grampus U18 vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C. Youth (Toyota Sports Center)
15:00　Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 vs Vissel Kobe U-18 (Kyoto Sanga F.C. Higashijoyo Ground)
*The games listed below have been postponed due to the earthquakes in Kumamoto Prefecture. 
Oita Trinita U-18 vs Ozu High School (Oita Sports Park)

Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka), who beat Gamba in the previous round and have won two games in two contests they’ve played, will take on Kobe Koryo High (Hyogo) away, looking to extend their winning streak to three. 

Because of the Kumamoto earthquakes, Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth (Hiroshima) will play their second game of the season, the first since their season-opening game, against Nagoya Grampus U18 (Aichi). The Sanfrecce players will be tested their concentration. 

Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 (Kyoto) took a devastating loss to Nagoya in the previous round, but will try to bounce back by earning three points with a win over Vissel Kobe U-18 (Hyogo).

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

Match Day 3 Digest

More information