Pick-up Match

Vissel Kobe U-18 2-0 (0-0, 2-0) Avispa Fukuoka U-18

On Saturday 5 May and Sunday 6 May, the fifth Sec. of Prince Takamado Trophy JFA U-18 Football Premier League WEST took place, as league leaders Vissel Kobe U-18 (Hyogo) welcomed Avispa Fukuoka U-18 (Fukuoka) to their home field, Ibuki-no-mori Football Field.

It was the Kobe side who took the initiative early in the match as midfielders FUNAKOSHI Hiromu (#8) and YAMAUCHI Kakeru (#7) led their possession game to push the ball deep into Fukuoka’s territory. However, Avispa showcased a solid defence to evade major threats. As Vissel’s forward HARA Mikoto (#10) later described, “the more we possessed the ball, the more impatient we got,” despite taking control of the match, they struggled to create goal scoring opportunities.

Fukuoka on the other hand made their intentions clear, as Coach FUJISAKI Yoshitaka mentioned, “last season we conceded 52 goals in 18 matches. So, our goal is to cut that number in half.” With their improved defence line, they denied Kobe’s attacks, gaining confidence as they displayed a stellar performance in defence. Defender KUWABARA Kaito (#6) said that, “we wanted to keep the score at 0-0 and we were glad we managed to stick with our game plan.”

With a similar approach to their defence, Fukuoka made their intentions clear in offence as well. Coach Fujisaki demanded his players to “anticipate to exploit the space behind the opposing defence line and push them back to their own end.” In the 26th minute, forward SHOJI Kazuki (#11) delivered a brilliant through ball to midfielder MATSUDA Tomoki (#12) who ran into space before laying the ball back to Shoji. It was perhaps the best opportunity in the first half for Fukuoka, but Shoji’s shot was denied by Kobe’s goalkeeper TAKUMI Kagenori (#1). The game entered halftime scoreless.

During half time, Kobe’s Coach NODA Satoru told his players, “despite keeping the possession of the ball, we are receiving the ball too much to our feet. We need to create more movements into the space behind the opposing defenders.” With the advice from their coach, Kobe started to display their colour in the second half, as Hara later mentioned, “we lacked plays that were directed towards the goal in the first half, but we were able to make the adjustments in the second half.”

Despite facing the tenacious defence displayed by the Fukuoka side, Kobe gradually increased their attempts towards the goal, leading to their decisive moment in the 73rd minute. After multiple players combined in the right flank, Yamauchi, who “made the decision instinctively,” delivered an excellent through ball. Hara was the recipient of this ball, who then struck a shot with his right foot. As the #10 later reflected with a smile, “we haven’t been able to score in while, so I’m glad I was able to score there.”

After scoring its opening goal, Kobe took full control of the match, as substitute forward SHIGENO Yoshiki (#14) scored a scorching shot in the 84th minute to extend their lead to 2-0. Fukuoka tried to rally back, but the two centre backs KOBAYASHI Yuuki (#4) and ISHIDA Kaede (#5) kept the clean sheet intact for Kobe. Coach Fujisaki later praised the opponents, “the two players at the centre were just too solid.”

With this win, Kobe remains at top of the league, while Fukuoka enters the league break in eighth place, with a win, a draw and three loses.

Coaches' and Players' Comments

NODA Satoru, Coach (Vissel Kobe U-18)
We struggled against the momentum shown by the Fukuoka side, but Hara made a great run to score the goal, not to mention the pass was as great as his run. During half time, I told my players to play more aggressively to force turnovers. We are able to enter the break period as league leaders, but we cannot be satisfied with this result. We must continue to strive towards our ideal style of football.

MF #7 YAMAUCHI Kakeru (Vissel Kobe U-18)
We managed to pressure our opponents back to their half, but we lacked quality in the final third. When we scored the goal, the ball came to me in a perfect timing, so I made the decision instinctively to deliver the pass to Hara. I am glad he scored for us. I still have many aspects to improve and I am not satisfied with my performance. Ever since I was a first grader, I have been keeping in mind how to improve my approach in fifty-fifty balls and how I play defence.

FUJISAKI Yoshitaka, Coach (Avispa Fukuoka U-18)
Until the 70th minute mark, we were able to play according to our game plan but felt the need to keep possession of the ball longer. Our opponents came out pressuring hard against us, and we must be able to free ourselves up off the ball. We also must be able to shake off the marksmen with our first touch. We managed to get by in the Prince League, but it doesn’t work that way in the Premier League. In order for us to keep ourselves in this level of competition, we must fight our way out of relegation.

DF #6 KUWABARA Kaito (Avispa Fukuoka U-18)
When we conceded the goal, we paid too much attention to the player who delivered the last pass. In this premier league, we continuously face opponents that are better than us, and it is really tough. I have trained with the top team before, but the way they make decisions, the speed and quality were unreal. The way they fake a pass before making a different move, and their tactical options were also at a different level. I would like to keep improving myself through the experience I gain in this Premier League.

Results of other matches

Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 1-0 (0-0, 1-0) Hannan University Senior High School
Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Youth 0-1 (0-1, 0-0) Higashi Fukuoka High School
Nagoya Grampus U-18 1-2 (0-2, 1-0) Cerezo Osaka U-18
Yonago Kita High School 2-4 (0-3, 2-1) Gamba Osaka Youth

Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 (Kyoto) welcomed Hannan University Senior High School (Osaka) at home, where their defender TAKESHIMA Kyosuke (#2) scored a goal in the second half to give them their third consecutive victory to remain in second place. With the help of the 25th minute goal from their forward OMORI Shingo (#9), Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka) won over Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C Youth (Hiroshima). The match between Nagoya Grampus U-18 (Aichi) and Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Osaka) ended with a score of 2-1, after C Osaka scored two goals in the first half. Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka) scored four goals against Yonago Kita High School (Tottori) as their forward HARADA Retsushi (#14) recorded a brace while IWAMOTO Sho (#10) scored their fourth goal in the 64th minute to give themselves a 4-2 victory.

Tournament Period：Sat. 7 April 2018 ～ Sun. 9 December 2018

Tournament Information