Pick-up Match

Oita Trinita U-18   2-2 (2-0, 0-2)   Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth

Matchday 12 of the Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League WEST was held on 10th and 11th of September. Oita Trinita U-18 (Oita) played against Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth (Hiroshima). Oita scored 2 goals in the first half but then conceded consecutive goals and allowed Hiroshima to equalise in the second half. However, the match stayed in the balance until the end, and they shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw.

Hiroshima started to attack from the beginning. Defender KAWAI Ayumu moved down the right side and crossed the ball many times. Oita, on the other hand, defended tenaciously, throwing their body in the line of the opponents' passes and not allowing them to take shots.

Oita wanted to move the ball quickly to the front after stealing the ball, but they made several passing mistakes and could not get their rhythm early in the match. The hot weather might have affected the team.

However, Oita gradually started to control the tempo of the match. Despite their offence having to commence on their own end, they attacked quicker as their lateral passes began to work. They had more scoring chances from set plays as they were attacking more, and Oita’s midfielder NOGAMI Takuya threatened the Hiroshima’s goal from corners and free kicks.

In the 41st minute, they dashed inside the penalty box, earning a spot kick. The team’s captain and defender, NAKAHATA Yuta, capitalised this opportunity and his shot successfully hit the left corner of the net. Oita continued to move the ball around quickly. And, in the 43rd minute, defender MURAI Yoshiki scored an additional goal. The first half ended 2-0.

Hiroshima, who were 2 goals behind, brought on midfielder MIHARA Hiroyuki from the second half. Their offensive approaches remained similar using the same wing as in the first half, but they started to have more options driving the ball from one side to another and utilising long passes aiming at spaces behind Oita’s defence.

In the 49th minute, midfielder MITSUTA Makoto stole the ball upfront, broke through Oita’s defence with a feint, and scored their first goal. Two minutes later, Mihara slotted the equalising goal responding to the team’s expectation as a substitute.

Hiroshima continued to keep possession of the ball and created few scoring chances, including Mihara’s header responding to a cross ball. However, the hot weather which even required ‘water breaks’ in each half affected both teams. They got tired and moved less. Both teams failed to score a tie-breaker and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Hiroshima snatched a point from a tough match and kept their top position. Oita scored 2 goals from the opponents who had beaten them in the previous encounter 0-3. Their offence worked much better. For them, it was the match that gave them more confidence to move off the bottom. 

Coaches' and Players' Comments

NAKAMURA Tamotsu, Coach (Oita Trinita U-18)
We scored goals and got the penalty kick, because we played with composure. We were able to control ourselves and decide when to stay patient or rob the ball. In addition, we were to able move the ball inside the penalty area and earned the spot kick in attempt to make the final pass.

The goals we conceded were due to our mistakes, and I think the players know what went wrong, rather than I, myself, pointing out to them. When we allowed the goal, we were nervous and hastily attempted to tackle the opponents. This is one of the issues of this game. However, even after conceding the second goal, we had better possession of the ball and created scoring opportunities. I think we have demonstrated that we are getting close to how we want to play.

NAKAHATA Yuta (Oita Trinita U-18)
In the first half, we could steal the ball desirably since we defended from the front line. We could score because we managed to steal the ball effectively in defence and counterattack well. We entered the second half cautiously, even though we were winning 2-0. However, our opponents, attempting to come back from being behind, came out aggressively and eventually we were pressured by them. The fact that we drew against the top team today will bring us some confidence. We want to win the upcoming matches. 

SAWADA Kentaro, Coach (Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth)
Since we knew that it would be a difficult match if we conceded the second goal, we wanted to reorganise ourselves as soon as possible. However, we ended up giving up the second one. After that, we just shifted our focus to offence, and it was good that we could equalise early in the second half.

After scoring an equaliser, we somehow lost our momentum. It may have resulted from us tying the game too early in the second half. I understood well that offence will definitely function, if forward players can coordinate well. It was however important for us that we scored 2 goals with composure.

IYOHA Osamu Henry (Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth)
To extend the gap between the other teams, we had to win today. In the first half, we couldn’t score at all but we switched our mind during the break. Our coach told us: “it is even a good experience for us to allow the opponents to take control of the match. It is fine if you can take it back from now on.” Responding to his words, it was good that we could score 2 goals in the earlier part of the second half. We really wanted to win and get 3 points. To make this one point meaningful, what we need to win the remaining matches. We will do our best in the upcoming matches. At the end of the season, we want to say: “the experience of the draw against Oita helped us to win the title of WEST.”

Other Matches

Vissel Kobe U-18   2-1 (0-1, 2-0)   Cerezo Osaka U-18
Nagoya Grampus U18   2-2 (0-1, 2-1)   Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18
Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School   2-3 (2-3, 0-0)   Gamba Osaka Youth
Higashi Fukuoka High School   3-2 (0-0, 3-2)   Ozu High School

Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Osaka), who is in second place, played against Vissel Kobe U-18 (Hyougo). Cerezo scored the opening goal early in the match by MATSUOKA Daichi, but they allowed Kobe to turn the match around in the additional time of the second half and could not get any points.

Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School (Hyogo) faced Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka) at home and scored 2 goals first, but then they conceded 3 goals and ended up losing the match. Gamba Osaka’s MESHINO Ryotaro scored one of their goals.

A Kyusyu contest between Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka) and Ozu High School (Kumamoto) was a very close match. It was decided by a single-goal difference. In the additional time of the second half two goals were scored, and Higashi Fukuoka won 3-2. 

Nagoya Grampus U18 (Aichi), who seek to move up the league table, played against Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 (Kyoto) and drew 2-2. Both teams received 1 point. 

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