AFC U16 Championship  Group B  2nd match of Group League 
Mon. 8 September 2014    Kickoff:19:00 90 minutes（45 minutes halves）
Rajamangala National Stadium (Bangkok, Thailand）

U-16 Japan National Team　3 - 0(1st 0-0,   2nd 3-0)　U-16 China National Team

Scores
48min　SUGA Daiki (U-16 Japan National Team)
54min　ONOZAWA Toshiki (U-16 Japan National Team)
56min　NAGASAWA Ryosuke (U-16 Japan National Team)

Starters
GK:   CHIDA Keito
DF:   ISHIKAWA Hiroto,  MORIOKA Riku,  TOMIYASU Takehiro,  ABE Masashi
MF:   SUGA Daiki,  WATANABE Kouta,  NAGASAWA Ryosuke
FW:  ONOZAWA Toshiki,  SUGIURA Fumiya,  WATANABE Yo

Substitutes
GK:  INOUE Seiya,  TSURUTA Kaito
DF:  TANAKA Kosuke,  ASADA Shogo,  SHIMOGUCHI Wakaba,  DOAN Ritsu
MF:  YOSHIDA Shun,  FUJIMOTO Kanya,  TANAKA Ao
FW:  SASAKI Takumi,  HANYA Yosuke,  YASUI Takuya

65min　 TOMIYASU Takehiro → SHIMOGUCHI Wakaba
77min　 SUGIURA Fumiya → TANAKA Ao
79min　 ISHIKAWA Hiroto → TANAKA Kosuke

Match Report

U-16 Japan National Team could advance to the knockout stage with a win in this match, since Australia had beaten Honk Kong. Due to the rain, which continued until just before kickoff, the pitch was in a very poor condition, and the players were not allowed to warm up on the pitch before the game. Although there was a mad scramble for the ball from the beginning, neither team could find any goal-scoring opportunity. After 30 minutes, Japan finally started to press ahead, taking some shots on goal in succession. However, the opponent’s goalkeeper saved them nicely and the game went into the second half at 0-0.

In the second half, the game soon accelerated. In 48th minute, Abe at left back, who ran up the left side, received the ball from the right wing and crossed to the centre. Onozawa jumped into it, but the opponent’s defender knocked him down, which gave Japan a penalty kick. Suga scored a superb opener from the penalty spot. After 54 minutes, Sugiura received the ball in the centre and threaded the ball through to Watanabe Yo, who ran in from the left wing. Watanabe then passed to the centre, where Onozawa reacted well and scored an additional goal. In the 56th minute, Nagasawa reached a through pass from Ishikawa and calmly slotted the ball into the net, after a deflection off the goalpost, building a three-goal lead. Although the players continued to attack, they couldn’t score more. Japan won the match 3-0. This meant Japan are tied at the top of group B with Australia. The next game will be the group B decider against Australia.

Comments

YOSHITAKE Hirofumi, Head Coach
I’m very pleased that we gained three points and got through to the knockout stage. I’m not satisfied at all with the contents of the match, though. The 22 players have experienced starting in the two games and they won two matches without conceding a goal, both of which were achievements. There were things to be reviewed - occasionally they couldn’t pass the ball speedily enough or didn’t play as a team that had a three-goal lead. I think the long distance between the players, which reduced the number of the passes, was one of the reasons they couldn’t play well. It doesn’t matter whether we can get through the group stage in the first place or second. What matters more is how confidently we can play in the fourth game, which will qualify us for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

CHIDA Keito (Yokohama F・Marinos Youth)
It was really difficult to decide whether I should clear or pass the ball because of the poor condition of the pitch. It meant a lot to me that I could keep concentrating for 90 minutes and didn’t concede a goal. The game against Australia is very important, which decide the winner of the group stage. Although we know we got through to the knockout stage, I’d like to keep my wits about me and get myself ready in order to play well, building a good atmosphere before the semifinals.

MORIOKA Riku (Jubilo Iwata U-18)
As I was at the right centre-back today, I was trying to kick the ball through the shallow defensive line. Although I created many opportunities in the second half, there were many careless mistakes towards the end, which I’d like to fix. I think it’s vital to handle the ball carefully and not to be intercepted. In terms of the defence, it was good that we didn’t concede a goal, but there were some points we weren’t concentrating enough during 90 minutes. We need to improve it in the next game as a team. I’m very pleased, to be honest, that we won and got through to the knockout stage. However, I shan’t be too relaxed, otherwise I won’t be able to play as well. I’d like to be vocal even in practice sessions and improve our team, so that we can get a good result.

Schedule