The 27th Valentin Granatkin Memorial International Football Tournament
7th Place Playoff　vs U-18 Bulgaria National Team
Sun. 11 January 2015　  Kickoff 12:15　  Playing time 90minutes(45minutes halves)
Peterburgsky SCC (Saint Petersburg/Russia)

U-18 Japan National Team   3-0(1st 2-0, 2nd 1-0)   U-18 Bulgaria National Team

Scores
14min    MIYOSHI Koji (Japan)
18min    OGAWA Koki (Japan)
71min    KISHIMOTO Takeru (Japan)

Starters
GK：   KOJIMA Ryosuke
DF：   SAKAI Daisuke, ITAKURA Kou, NAKAYAMA Yuta, URATA Itsuki
MF：   MIYOSHI Koji, KUBOTA Kazune, SASAKI Takumi, NAGANUMA Yoichi
FW：  KISHIMOTO Takeru, OGAWA Koki

Substitutes
GK：  ABE Koto
DF：  FUJITANI So, NODA Hiroki, SYOUJI Honoya
MF：  MORISHIMA Tsukasa
FW：  SUGIMORI Koki, KOBAYASHI Hayate

57min　 NAGANUMA Yoichi → SUGIMORI Koki
63 min   MIYOSHI Koji → KOBAYASHI Hayate
73 min　KOBAYASHI Hayate → MORISHIMA Tsukasa
78 min　ITAKURA Kou → SYOUJI Honoya
78 min　URATA Itsuki → NODA Hiroki
82 min　KOJIMA Ryosuke → ABE Koto

Match Report

The last match of Russia tour was against Bulgaria for 7th place playoff. In the beginning of the game Bulgaria made offensive with speed from the left side but Japan hung on and gradually started to create chances.

Come 14th minute. Passing the ball in the left side and send cross from the left, Miyoshi got that ball and launched dribble for fine left-foot shoot and found the left corner of the net. On the 17th minute again, Japan broke down the left side and Ogawa received the pass in the penalty area and hit the shoot with his right-foot. The shoot added second goal for Japan and leading 2-0 in the early time of the game.

Bulgaria tried to fight back for levelling the game but Japan defence led by Itakura and Nakayama stopped the other side’s offence and quickly feed the ball to the front for an additional goal.

In the second half, Japan kept offensive and Ogawa broke down the right side again and shoot as he turn around with defence player on his back but the other side’s goalkeeper made a fine save. In spite of that on 71the minute, Urata who run down the left side and send pinpoint cross which was initially deflected but Kishimoto headed home in the end third goals for Japan.

Japan never stop attacking and substitute Kobayashi from right side and another substitute Sugimori from left broke down the defnece dribbling and shoot but could not get an additional goal. The game ended as it is. Japan totally beat Bulgaria 3-0 and ended the tournament in 7th place.

Miyoshi (Kawasaki Frontale U-18) was selected Best MF at the award ceremony after the game.

Head Coach and Players Comments

UCHIYAMA Atsushi, Head Coach
The team condition was better than the game against Finland. I think the squad followed my advice of playing while moving which I kept saying and led to three goals in the game. The timing of scores was good, too and that was why we were allowed to play an upper hand in the game. In spite of creating many chances we were not successful in scoring additional goals and need to brush up the quality of shoot in the training in the future. I was concerned about the loss to Azerbaijan of the first match might affect the squad in the following games but they switched their mood well and successfully increased the time when they can play the way they wanted as we play more games. Participating in this tournament for two straight years and it gave us precious experience. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all those who supported us.

SAKAI Daisuke (Oita Trinita U-18)
We could not become a champion but I assume we managed to get closer to our football goal in two week tour as we had played game by game. But I realize it is necessary to raise quality as a player and as a team otherwise it won’t get nowhere when playing against top-tier teams. I want to deal with the issues as I overcome my personal agenda and raise my play quality. Thank you very much for all the support.

OGAWA Koki (Toko Gakuen High School)
It was the good game as I had a good result for scoring and as a team as well. Not satisfying with the today’s game, I think it is important to keep on training when I go back to the team. Still we are going to fly back to Japan, I am going to act as national team member until I return to Japan.

NAKAYAMA Yuta (Kashiwa Reysol U-18)
We scored the goals and won the today’s game but the issues remained regarding variations of the attack. I found a lot of things need to improve as it will lead to loss if we play against teams of higher quality. The biggest outcome of the tournament was I played in every game and faced different countries. Having ended in 7th place but it was good to realize what was applicable and what needs to be improved. Thank you very much for all those who gave us their support.

MIYOSHI Koji (Kawasaki Frontale U-18)
I was happy to end the Russia tour with the victory. But as there are many small things need to be addressed, I am going to train up again. I was lucky to participate in the first activity of U-18 Japan national team this time because it gave me an idea of the team method, atmosphere and the football aiming for. Numbers of activity till Asian qualifier is limited, I want to develop myself and hopefully to make a contribution to the team.

Schedule

*The schedule may be subject to change according to the team condition, the weather, etc. without notice.

The 27th Valentin Granatkin Memorial International Football Tournament Group Rosters

   Group A: Russia, Lithuania, Moldova
   Group B: Belarus, Estonia, Latvia
   Group C: Bulgaria, Slovenia, Kazakhstan
   Group D: Slovakia, Saint Petersburg, Greece
   Group E: Moscow, Korea Republic, Finland
   Group F: Japan, U-17 Russia National Team, Azerbaijan