Pick-up Match
F.C. Tokyo U-18 vs Ichiritsu Funabashi High School

The Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League EAST will have the 14th matchday on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September. At the artificial turf pitch of Tokyo Gas Musashinoen Tamokuteki Ground, 2nd-placed F.C.Tokyo (Tokyo) will go head to head against 3rd-placed Ichiritsu Funabashi High School (Chiba). 

F.C.Tokyo have been in good form recently with the record of four wins and one loss in the last five matches. Their offence has especially been outstanding during that stretch including the 7-0 rout of Kashiwa Reysol U-18 (Chiba) last matchday. One of their players, HANYA Yosuke, says of the match against Ichiritsu Funabashi “the most important thing is not to lose in battles for the ball. In the last match against them, it was a draw with both our goal and their goal coming out of a set-piece. We want to stay focused for the match.”

Their coach SATO Kazuki has different perspective on this contest between two of the better teams in the league, prioritising the details more than the possibility of title contention. “I do not care about win-loss results. The most important thing is whether my players perform with a lot of energy. We want to play a match that can let people in attendance say ‘it was a good match’ after watching it.”

On the other hand, the match of this weekend is a must-win for Ichiritsu Funabashi who lost the previous match 1-0 to Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori). Their coach ASAOKA Ryuzo says “these two matches against two of the best teams in the league greatly affects our run to the title.” They really want to get at least one point out of the next contest.  

In the previous match, two first graders, OKAI Toshinori and SATO Keisuke, made their first Premier League appearance. Coach Asaoka sees the positive side of it, “that was our investment for the future and that also made the competition within the team more intense.” Having injured KOU Takahiro, who was listed as substitute for the last match, back on the team will make the team even better. Their total team effort is certainly needed to pay back for the disappointing match against Aomori Yamada. 

Coach's and Players' Comments

SATO Kazuki, Coach (F.C. Tokyo U-18)
The more I look at Ichiritsu Funabashi, the more I am reminded of the fact that they don’t have any weakness for us to attack. This weekend’s match is expected to be very difficult as well. We want to attack there once they start showing some gap, but I don’t’ think that situation won’t come so often. My players and I have so much respect to Ichiritsu Funabashi. This is an important match between two upper teams in the league. However, rather than looking simply at the result or the standings, I consider this game important because it has the potential of growth for my players. Everyone is looking forward to the match of this weekend.  

HANYA Yosuke (F.C. Tokyo U-18)
When we practice, we always pay attention to transition between offence and defence. Particularly, even when we lose the ball once, we can get it back immediately and take it to the next offence. I think that’s the strength of this team. Another unique aspect of this team is that we have so many players on the squad who are capable of breaking through the given situation by himself. I personally want to score goals in the match against Ichiritsu Funabashi, and I want to do that by taking advantage of my strength of attacking the space between defenders. The season is now getting closer to the end and the battle for the championship is more intense than ever. We want to get three points at all cost and take it to the remainder of the season.

ASAOKA Ryuzo, Coach (Ichiritsu Funabashi High School)
I think my players and I are well aware that FC Tokyo are a very good team. As much as we had a disappointing one on last matchday against Aomori Yamada, this weekend we want to make up for the points we failed to get. It will be a difficult match, but in these matches you are expected to walk a fine line to get a win. And to get ahead of your opponents, you must be perfectly prepared. We want to take things one at a time, just as we have always done.  

F.C. Tokyo U-18 vs Ichiritsu Funabashi High School
Date: Sat. 24 September (kick-off 15:30)
Venue: Tokyo Gas Musashinoen Tamokuteki Ground
Directions: Take Seibu Bus from “Hanakoganei station” of Seibu Shinjuku Line train, get off at “Kinjyo High School” and walk for one minute
　　　　　　Walk for 20 minutes from “Kodaira station” of Seibu Shinjuku Line train

Premier League EAST Matchday 14

9/24
15:00　Kashiwa Reysol U-18 vs Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa (Hitachi Kashiwa Sogo Ground)
9/25
11:00　Aomori Yamada High School vs Albirex Niigata U-18 (Aomori Yamada High School)
11:00　Kashima Antlers Youth vs Yokohama F・Marinos Youth (Kashima Soccer Stadium)
13:00　Omiya Ardija Youth vs Shimizu S-pulse Youth (NTT East Japan Shiki Sogo Ground)

Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa High School (Chiba) are trailing by 8 points to Kashima Antlers Youth (Ibaraki) who are on the borderline to stay in the league for next season. They will take on Kashiwa Reysol U-18 (Chiba) on this matchday in the battle of two teams based on the same city.

League leaders Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori) will look to win the third in a row against Albirex Niigata U-18 (Niigata).

Yokohama F・Marinos Youth (Kanagawa) had their winning streak end on the last matchday, but this time they will face Kashima to start winning again.

Omiya Ardija Youth (Saitama) and Shimizu S-pulse Youth (Shizuoka) are tied with 21 points, 6 points behind the top. The winners of the head-to-head match this weekend can have a chance to stay in the title race.

JFA-TV (Japanese Version Only)

Highlights from Matchday 13

More Information