Pick-up Match
Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth vs Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18

The Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League WEST is scheduled to resume on Sunday 28 August as Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth (Hiroshima) and Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 (Kyoto) will face off each other.

Kyoto and Hiroshima played Matchday 3, which was postponed due to the Kumamoto Earthquake, on Saturday 20 and Monday 22 August respectively. After keeping a clean sheet in the last match, both sides go out for the weekend contest with continuing momentum.

Hiroshima have been in form in the last five matches (including Matchday 3) with four wins and one draw, moving joint-top of the West division with Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Osaka). However, they are not overconfident. Coach SAWADA Kentaro tries to brace themselves for the tough Kyoto match, saying "their attacking force with high individual skills finding small gaps to exploit is a threat. I told my players that they are dangerous." 

Meanwhile, Kyoto had hard time winning until July. But they won their ninth match 3-2 over Ozu High School (Kumamoto), followed by a 3-0 victory on the postponed third Matchday contest against Oita Trinita U-18 (Oita). With two consecutive wins, the Kyoto side have got back in the swing. "Each one of the players has thought about what needed to be done and worked hard in daily training so that their efforts have gradually paid off," according to coach MORIOKA Ryuzo.

What the Kyoto boss emphasises for the Hiroshima match is to battle tenaciously. As they expect the opponents would possess the ball to certain extent, "the key is to communicate with each other and share ideas in the team on when to attack and when to defend. I want them not to be baffled," says coach Morioka.

The match between the two in-form teams will kick off at 10:00.

Coaches' and Players' Comments

SAWADA Kentaro, Coach (Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth)
We are on the verge of heading into a series of six official league matches from this matchday until the 16th against Gamba Osaka Youth and ‘there is no more time to waste.’ To pick up momentum, it's important to get well prepared for every match, including conditioning. Our players have made a good preparation since the first half of the season, and their playing accuracy has equipped calmness in every situation. I want them to take pleasure playing football at the highest level in the U-18 generation. And I want them to make sure what they can do now as well.

IYOHA Osamu Henry (Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth)
We spend a lot of time together at school, training and dormitory. Regardless of who gets playing time, all we think about is what we can do for our team. Not limited to the match this weekend, it's necessary to keep hard-running and win battles for the ball. And it's important to play with tenacity on both offence and defence throughout 90 minutes. I am a defender, so I want to commit to team's win with tenacious defence in front of our goal. The second half of the season is starting from this matchday. Tough battles are ahead of us. But for now, we need to focus on the upcoming match. I will try to go all out with what I have, while appreciating and enjoying competing against the top teams in our ages.

MORIOKA Ryuzo, Coach (Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18)
It's an away match against league's powerhouse Hiroshima. Our mission is to get at least one point. There are some things to think about on match days like weather and players' condition, but more importantly we need to play good defence and not allow the opponents to break through easily. We always need to care about quality of each pass when we get the ball. Even if we get in a situation where we are on the back foot, we will definitely get a chance. We will be tenacious and capitalise on goal-scoring opportunities to snatch points.

ASADA Shogo (Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18)
It's going to be a major factor how we can break through the Hiroshima side who've got a unique formation. As a team, we will try to keep defending high and running throughout 90 minutes. Individually, I will try to show accuracy of long balls with my left foot and prowess on one-on-ones and header battles. In the Premier League, it's fun to beat so-called powerhouses. We take our poor results of the first season seriously, aim to improve our current standings, and hopefully make it into the top flights.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth vs Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18
Date：Sunday 28 August (kick-off 10:00)
Venus：Yoshida Soccer Park
Access: Approx. 20 minutes taxi ride from Mukaihara Station (Geibi Line)
             Approx. 10 minutes by car from Chugoku Expressway 'Takada' IC
             Approx. 60 minutes by car from downtown Hiroshima City 

Premier League WEST Matchday 10

8/27(Sat.)
09:00　Oita Trinita U-18 vs Cerezo Osaka U-18（Oita Stadium）
17:00　Higashi Fukuoka High School vs Vissel Kobe U-18（Higashi Fukuoka High School）
17:00　Ozu High School vs Gamba Osaka Youth（Ozu Athletic Park Stadium）

8/28(Sun.)
17:00　Nagoya Grampus U18 vs Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School（Toyota Sports Center）

Leaders Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Osaka) face eight-placed Oita Trinita U-18 (Oita). Third-placed Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka) meet fourth-placed Vissel Kobe U-18 (Hyogo) at home. While Higashi Fukuoka won the last matchup of these two teams 3-1, Kobe have been in good form as they are unbeaten since Matchday 3. How the contest will end up is a must-see.

Ozu High School (Kumamoto) look for three points for the first time since Matchday 6 against Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka). After the winless skid after their opening match, Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School face Nagoya Grampus U18 (Aichi), the only opponents whom the Kobe side beat in this season. Nagoya also have not grabbed a win in the last four matches, and both sides are striving to grab a victory in the next match.

More Information