Pick-up Match

FC Tokyo U-18 3-0 (2-0, 1-0) Toyama Daiichi High School

The 12th Sec. of the Prince Takamado Trophy JFA U-18 Football Premier League EAST took place on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 September as FC Tokyo U-18 (Tokyo) and Toyama Daiichi High School (Toyama) faced each other.

The match started off with both sides applying aggressive pressure to deny each other from finding their rhythms. As the two teams exchanged jabs, it was FC Tokyo who opened the scoring with a counter attack in the 19th minute. Their attack was initiated with a long ball delivered by midfielder SUZUKI Tomoya (#9) to AOKI Yusuke (#25) upfront, who passed the ball to TERAYAMA Tsubasa (#17). Terayama then fired a shot from the left side, which was once blocked by Toyama Daiichi’s goalkeeper KONDO Akihiro (#21), but Aoki was there to convert the loose ball to give the Tokyo side the opening goal.

With momentum on their side, FC Tokyo took control of the match to create numbers of opportunities to threaten the opposing goal, but Toyama Daiichi responded by switching their formation to a 5-3-2, a more defensive system to hold off the attacks generated by the Tokyo side. However, FC Tokyo added to their tally in the 39th minute, when Aoki connected with a cross delivered by Suzuki, as he struck a header into the goal. The match would enter halftime with a score of 2-0.

In efforts to rally back, Toyama Daiichi entered the second half with another system change, as they employed a 4-3-3 formation. Despite losing their captain NAKATA Jo (#5) due to injury, the match saw more opportunities created by the Toyama side. In the 55th minute, forward SASAKI Taiga (#20) broke through the space behind the defence line of FC Tokyo, but his run was blocked by a sliding effort made by the opposing defender.

Toyama Daiichi continued to create opportunities from their set-plays, but as Coach OTSUKA Ichiro later reflected, “We lacked accuracy at the final third,” the team came short from finding the net. Coach Otsuka brought in “Players who has been in great form playing with the second team,” to gain momentum in their attacks, but still failed to convert their chances, as HAYASHI Takuma’s (#19) attempt in the 80th minute also sailed off the target.

Conversely, FC Tokyo capitalised on their final opportunity in the closing minutes of the match, when BANGUNAGANDE Kashifu (#22) penetrated the left flank before sending the last pass to the late substitute, MIYATA Izumi (#13) who made a diving effort to convert the chance to give his side a three-goal lead. As a result, FC Tokyo marked their second victory of the season, while marking their first clean sheet since the second Sec. In the match between the two teams fighting to avoid relegation, it was the Tokyo side who took a step away from the relegation zone.

Coaches' and Players' Comments

SATO Kazuki, Coach (FC Tokyo U-18)
We managed win the match because we scored goals within the flow of our plays while keeping a clean sheet. There were still moments where we played too passively and there were more opportunities we could have capitalised on, so those are some aspects we still need to improve on, but I am happy with the way we showed our versatility in offence. The players also displayed what we have been working on in training sessions, leaving me the impression that they are developing as a player. When our main focus is just to avoid the relegation zone, we tend to get a bit stiff, but hopefully this win can give us the opportunity to strive for higher rankings through our remaining matches.

FW #25 AOKI Yusuke (FC Tokyo U-18)
I’ve always wanted to help the team win with my goals, so I am happy that I managed to do just that. My strengths are in my versatility in offence, and my ability to get myself involved in goal scoring opportunities. I am always anticipating for the loose ball. It’s a little unfortunate that I must leave the team now, due to my duties with the U-16 Japan National Team, but the older players have told me that they will take good care of the team, so I am confident in my teammates. I will now reset my mindset to focus to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

OTSUKA Ichiro, Coach (Toyama Daiichi High School)
After we conceded the opening goal, I made my players focus on defence, but that second goal we have conceded was a very regretful one. Although we managed to create many opportunities in the second half, especially from set-plays, including the eight corner kicks we had, we just couldn’t convert them. I really made us realise that if we lack accuracy, we can’t score goals. We have also been conceding goals from attacks created on our right side, so we must make adjustments as a team. We will continue to work hard to make improvements both as a team and as individuals to heighten the overall level of the entire team.

MF #7 YAMADA Keita (Toyama Daiichi High School)
We all knew how important this match was. Maybe because of that, we were a bit too nervous to start the match, which led to us conceding the opening goal. As a defensive midfielder, I’m always keen on thinking what I can provide for the team when we are struggling, but I failed to change the momentum of the match today, leaving many tasks to work on at an individual level. However, we have not given up yet. Every team at the Premier League are very strong, and it is not easy to win at this league, but that is why we must keep a strong intention and mentally to fight through.

Results of other matches

Urawa Red Diamonds Youth 0-4 (0-1, 0-3) Ichiritsu Funabashi High School
Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa High School 0-4 (0-1, 0-3) Aomori Yamada High School
Shimizu S-pulse Youth 1-1 (1-0, 0-1) Kashiwa Reysol U-18
Jubilo Iwata U-18 1-3 (1-1, 0-2) Kashima Antlers Youth

Ichiritsu Funabashi High School (Chiba) earned a sweeping victory over Urawa Red Diamonds Youth (Saitama) by scoring four goals. Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori) prevailed in the battel between the two high-ranked teams, as they blew past Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa High School (Chiba) with four goals. Shimizu S-pulse Youth (Shizuoka) and Kashiwa Reysol U-18 (Chiba) shared a point each as they both scored a goal apiece. The league leaders, Kashima Antlers Youth (Ibaraki) kept their top spot after earning a come from behind victory over Jubilo Iwata U-18 (Shizuoka).

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

Tournament Information