Pick-up Match

Nagoya Grampus U18 2-3（2-1, 0-2）Higashi Fukuoka High School

On Saturday 16 July and Sunday 17, the Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League held its 9th matchday, and Nagoya Grampus U18 (Aichi) faced Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka).

After both sides started off rather quietly, Nagoya went on the first attacking surge. In the 14th minute, they intercepted the opponents’ ball in their own end and TANAKA Shoma finished their offence with his shot. Nagoya’s effective defence ignited quick transitions to offence and attacks on both flanks.

In the 19th minute, SUGIURA Fumiya robbed the ball for Nagoya on the left side of their end, and fed a vertical long pass to the front. SUGITA Masahiro deflected it to the left of the penalty box, which KIN Ryoya put home for the opener. Even after they allowed an equaliser through the left-side attack by Higashi Fukuoka in the 30th minute, Nagoya’s goalkeeper TABUCHI Yu tightened up their defence not allowing a tie-breaker. In the 41st minute, Sugiura scored again for Nagoya by meeting a cross ball from the right side before the first half ended giving them a one-goal lead. 

Nagoya kept the initiative in the second half as they connected short quick passes on the left flank until the ball reached the right end of the box. However, unchecked Tanaka’s right-footed attempt only hit the goal post and they failed to widen the lead. 

Then gradually Higashi Fukuoka started to gain their momentum. In the 86th minute, ODA Itsuki, who had rarely joined their offence before, went up on the left flank, as he later recalled, “I thought the only option left for us to score was me going up.” His pass into the middle was deflected by SATO Ryoga and went into Nagoya’s goal as their own goal.

While Higashi Fukuoka started becoming even more aggressive with their equaliser, Nagoya headed the other way as Sugita Masahiro later summarized, “we gave away the second goal and we were demoralised.” The difference of momentum showed in the end. In the first minute of added time, Higashi Fukuoka’s Sato put pressure on the ball and took the ball away from Nagoya’s defender. He quickly fed it to wide-open FUJII Kazuki, who fiercely struck the go-ahead goal to seal the win. The dramatic shot brought Higashi Fukuoka the sixth win of the season.

Coach and Players' Comments

YAMAZAKI Makoto, Coach (Nagoya Grampus U18)
In football, a small difference could make a big difference. In a match like this, it is a test how much you can believe in yourself when the match is on the line and how well you know when the match is one the line. I want my players to learn by going through these bitter experiences that one's state of mind can affect the outcome. Some important lessons are hidden in this match, and if you simply say “it was too bad” after the match, you would never be able to comprehend them. I think when you reflect back and find out the meaning behind it, then you will be able to overcome adversity and believe in yourself.

TABUCHI Yu (Nagoya Grampus U18)
Today we were missing two centre-backs for their national team duty. They usually play in our matches, so the rest of us tried to make sure we would do our job. During the halftime we also kept saying to each other things like “we won’t look down even after allowing a goal.” When they tied it in the second half, we still had more chances. So what we need to take away from this match is the fact that we failed to score when needed. We hadn’t won at home, so we really wanted to win today. Losing after blowing the lead is very disappointing, but I think this turned out to be a good opportunity for us to reflect on ourselves. 

MORISHIGE Junya, Coach (Higashi Fukuoka High School)
We won the match but the Grampus players were one level better than us in all areas including not only stopping and kicking the ball but also reacting to different plays in the game. They were also superior in speed. In dribbling, they kept better possession of the ball. We need to bring up the level of both offence and defence. We seem to face the same issues in the beginning of the match, but we were able to show just a little bit of our spirit in the end.

ODA Itsuki (Higashi Fukuoka High School)
It was our last match before the Inter-High School Tournament, so we felt strongly that we could not afford to lose this one. I personally wanted to hold the opponents scoreless and aim higher. But I couldn’t run as much as I wanted, and I am feeling strongly that I wasn’t good enough. The part of the reason is the lack of my preparation, but honestly speaking, I thought their #11 (TANAKA Shoma) played superbly. In the first part of the season, we haven’t had many matches where we played very including today. However, I think we still have a chance to win the championship and we will continue to do our best in the second half.

Other Matches

Ozu High School 2-3 (1-1, 1-2）Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18
Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School 0-1 (0-1, 0-0）Oita Trinita U-18
Cerezo Osaka U-18 1-1 (0-1, 1-0）Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth
Vissel Kobe U-18 2-1 (0-0, 2-1）Gamba Osaka Youth

Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 (Kyoto) took on Ozu High School (Kumamoto) at Ozu’s home and ASADA Shogo led the Kyoto side to the first win of the season with his two goals. 

Oita Trinita U-18 (Oita) who were also winless before this matchday defended the lone goal by ONOHARA Ko in the 5th minute until the match ended to give them the first victory of the season over Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School (Hyogo).

League-leading Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Osaka) went head to head against temporarily-second-placed Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth (Hiroshima) and they shared a point after drawing with each other.

Vissel Kobe U-18 (Hyogo) tallied two goals in the second half to defeat Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka).

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