Pick-up Match

Yokohama F・Marinos Youth   3-1 (2-0, 1-1)   Albirex Niigata U-18

Yokohama F. Marinos Youth (Kanagawa) hosted Albirex Niigata U-18 (Niigata) at Nissan Field Kozukue on Matchday 12 of the Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League EAST, which had all of the five league matches on Sunday 11 September. While the Yokohama side had kept their momentum with a three-match winning streak after Matchday 9, Niigata were winless in the previous four matches. The contest between contrasting teams held in rain turned out to be a fierce, close battle until the closing minutes.

Yokohama FM built attacking patterns from sides, with midfielders IWAKI Daisuke and TSUKADA Yusuke initiating their offence. Niigata also tried to look for a chance with runs behind defence, led by strikers YAMASHITA Ren and HORI Koki and left-side dribbler HONMA Shion.

The deadlock was broken in the 21st minute. Defender ITAKURA Takeru possessed the ball on the right flank, and his long through ball reached Iwaki, who was on the left flank. Iwaki cut in and fired a right-footed blast, which found the left side of the net and helped Yokohama successfully open the scoring. Yokohama picked up momentum, and then Iwaki tapped home a cross from midfielder SATA Hideya, who broke through the right flank in the 32nd minute.

In the second half, Niigata attempted an attacking activation by moving the ball quickly to rally back from a two-goal deficit. After receiving midfielder YOSHIHARA Shusuke's cross in the box, Yamashita dribbled forward and induced a foul in the 61st minute. Hori converted the spot kick to cut the gap to one goal. Then, Niigata coach IRIE Toru made additional changes on his offence. In the 63rd minute, he brought on midfielder Nakano Yuya for defensive midfielder NOBORISAKA Nobuhiro and got forward Yamashita to drop down at the defensive midfield. Yamashita installed attacking depth by building up their game along with central defender YOSHIDA Koki and delivering the ball upfield.

But Yokohama FM defencemen, led by goalkeeper HARADA Gaku, tenaciously coped with Niigata's attacks. In added time, substitute midfielder NISHIDA Yuta headed a right cross to secure a win. The match finished with Yokohama FM's 3-1 victory.

With the victory, the Yokohama side extended their winning streak to four. Yokohama players seem to have mastered their tactics to make sure to win within 90 minutes as side attackers are showing dynamic performances and defenders are also solid at key points. Meanwhile, Niigata also created some stretches playing the style of football they are aiming at, as coach Irie said, "we were able to create our rhythm in the second half. All that remains for us is to get confident." The Niigata side look to take the initiative in the next match, defending tenaciously and somehow opening the scoring.

Coaches' and Players' Comments

MATSUHASHI Rikizo, Coach (Yokohama F・Marinos Youth)
The players attacking on sides are growing well. IWAKI Daisuke (who scored two goals) has learned to make efforts in defence as well. He faces straight up the assignments that were given to him in the game. Not just Iwaki, all players including first and second graders grew during summer, and that helped the entire team improve. Their attitude for training and matches has changed and their hunger to grow up is apparent. That is making the team more competitive.

IWAKI Daisuke (Yokohama F・Marinos Youth)
(In the opening goal) I was looking at space. The opponents were playing on the opposite side of the pitch, and I was sure my side would be open. After getting the ball, all I needed to do was just get the attack going and finish it off. I first tried to cut into the box and shoot it at the far post but changed it to the near post instinctively. I'm glad it found the net. I hadn't been able to contribute to the team before, so I'm really happy to score two goals today. Not only me, the whole team have got some mental room to play.

IRIE Toru, Coach (Albirex Niigata U-18)
Our play in the first half is what to improve. You've got to make a good judgment and play simple so that you can move the ball and create chances like today's second half. Allowing the opening goal hurts us, so we've got to score first and pull the opponents away. Just like the second half, if we connect the ball after playing solid defence, a chance will definitely come. My players are working well, while many freshmen are getting to play. I will look for an ideal combination with trials and errors and make the team who can be competitive against opponents.

HONMA Shion (Albirex Niigata U-18)
We've had only one match so far where we opened the score, and we won that match. So we need to score the opening goal. To do that, I've got to go more aggressive around the box. When dribbling today, I speeded up too much and the ball got away from me. And, it was taken (by an opponent). I will practise more and want to be a player who can beat two or three players.

Other Matches

Aomori Yamada High School   2-1 (1-1, 1-0)   Kashiwa Reysol U-18
Kashima Antlers Youth   0-1 (0-0, 0-1)   Ichiritsu Funabashi High School
Omiya Ardija Youth   1-1 (0-1, 1-0)   F.C. Tokyo U-18
Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa   2-2 (0-0, 2-2)   Shimizu S-pulse Youth

Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori) edged Kashiwa Reysol U-18 (Chiba) with HASHIMOTO Kyosuke's winning goal, moving to the top of the table on goal-difference.

Ichiritsu Funabashi High School (Chiba), levelling with Aomori Yamada on points, grinded and grabbed a narrow win over Kashima Antlers Youth (Ibaraki) thanks to ARITA Shuri's 87th-minute winner.

In the meanwhile, leaders F.C. Tokyo U-18 (Tokyo) drew with Omiya Ardija Youth (Saitama), dropping down to third place.

Bottom-placed Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa (Chiba) shared the spoils with Shimizu S-pulse Youth (Shizuoka) after a seesaw match.

More information