2015 U-17 Women's NTC Invitational vs. Canada U-17 Women’s National Team
Wed. 11 February 2015    Kickoff 15:00    Playing time: 90min(45min half)
Glenn "Mooch" Myernick Field(Carson/USA)

Japan U-16 Women’s National Team    8-0(1st 3-0, 2nd 5-0)   Canada U-17 Women’s National Team

Scorers
10min    HIRATA Tomo(Japan)
17min    KANNO Oto(Japan)
34min    KOJIMA Seira(Japan)
48 min   ICHINOSE Chisato(Japan)
54 min   TAKAHIRA Miyu(Japan)
69 min   ICHINOSE Chisato(Japan)
73 min   KOJIMA Seira(Japan)
83 min   KOJIMA Seira(Japan)

Starters
GK: 1 YONEZAWA Moeka
DF: 4 NAITO Karin, 18 TAKAHASHI Hana, 6 TAKAHIRA Miyu, 11 KICHIMA Karen
MF: 17 KOJIMA Seira, 20 KANNO Oto, 2 KANEKATSU Rio, 14 TAKIKAWA Yume
FW: 21 ICHINOSE Chisato, 15 HIRATA Tomo

Substitutes
DF: 3 CHIBA Remina, 5 MATSUNAGA Miina, 8 USHIJIMA Riko
MF: 13 KARAHASHI Mayu, 7 KATO Nozomi, 9 TAMURA Suzuka, 19 FUNAKI Nodoka
FW: 16 HAYASHI Kaoru

Non-registered member
GK: 12 KOBAYASHI Miho

HT    TAKIKAWA Yume → CHIBA Remina
HT    NAITO Karin → TAMURA Suzuka
HT    KICHIMA Karen → KARAHASHI Mayu
60min    HIRATA Tomo → KATO Nozomi
60min    KANNO Oto → USHIJIMA Riko
70min    ICHINOSE Chisato → MATSUNAGA Miina

Match Report

The Japan U-16 Women's national team played their very first match and the first international match at the 2015 U-17 Women's NTC Invitational since the team was set up and Kusunose, the head coach, was appointed.  It was a clear sky and reasonably hot. The team played against Canada, who will host the FIFA Women's World Cup in June and July, and are also improving their youth teams.

Before the game Kusunose, the head coach, told the players in the changing room: ‘let’s start the Nadeshiko way. Stay positive!’ The opening ceremony was properly held just like other official championships, including the FIFA anthem, the national anthems, the handshakes between the players and the referees, the team photo-shoots and the toss of a coin by the captains. All these ceremonial events were also a first time experience for the Japanese team.　

Japan started to keep possession with passing between Kanekatsu (Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies) at the centre and Kanno. After 17 minutes, Kanno dribbled up to the space in front of the goal just outside the penalty area, and struck a long strong shot, knocking it into the top left-hand corner. Japan scored for the second time. Despite the fact that Japan kept creating their goal-scoring opportunities from passing between Kanekatsu and Kanno, or from the counter attack of Kojima at the right side, the players could not add any more goals.

In the 34th minute, Kojima, who joined the attack, switching from the centre to the left side, received a pass and stuck a shot into the far corner of the net with her left foot. The game went into the second half with a three-goal lead for Japan.

In this championship, six substitutions were allowed. Kusunose, the head coach, took Chiba (Leberdade Iwaki), Tamura (FC Victoria/JFA Academy Sakai), Karahashi(Albirex Niigata Ladies U-15) off the bench after the halftime.

After just three minutes of the second half, the forward Ichinose gave Japan a good rhythm by scoring a goal. Then in the 54th minute, Japan had a corner kick from the right. The defender Takahira (JFA Academy Fukushima) reacted to a ball from Karahashi, who kicked it to the far side, and slotted it into the goal, scoring their fifth goal. Ichinose, who contributed to the defence from the front, stole the ball from the opponent’s defender, faced the goalkeeper one-on-one and calmly struck home. In the 73rd and 83rd minute, Kojima struck consecutive goals, scoring her hat trick. The U-16 Japan Women's National Team won their very first match and the first international match 8-0.

Japan will play against Mexico on 13 February, who lost against the host country USA 3-1.

Head Coach Comments

KUSUNOSE Naoki, Head Coach
As it was the first match for the team, I expected the players would be very nervous. However, they stayed calm thanks to their experiences, including the one at the training centre. I told the players to ‘play aggressively from the beginning’ and to ‘go and steal the opponent’s ball from the front’. As a result, the players at the front tended to go too far into the opponent’s area from the beginning and there tended to be too much space between the lines. Canada seemed to be trained well and at first Japan was pressed. Then Kanekatsu as a defensive midfielder started to control the ball and both Ichinose and Hirata at the front played very well to score goals. After that the players stayed calm and ended up scoring eight goals in total. Although I could see good individual performances, I found some mistakes as a team as well as individuals.

There are many players, who weren’t chosen but aim at becoming a member of the national team. To strengthen the upper category, the U-19 national team and Nadeshiko Japan, it’s vital to develop 30 to 40 players to the same high level in the U-16 generation. I think the standard of Japan’s youth generation is very high, but having the experience playing against bigger and faster opponents is essential, which they can’t have domestically. I don’t want them to be satisfied with winning this match only. In order to get through to the AFC U-16 Women's Championship in November, I’d like them to learn and think what kind of game they’ll need and how to get through the difficult times.

Live Streaming

Games of 2015 U-17 Women's NTC Invitational will be broadcasted live on the following websites. 
www.ussoccer.com/
www.youtube.com/ussoccerdotcom　

13 February
3 p.m. 　Mexico  vs.  Japan
6 p.m. 　Canada  vs.  USA
15 February
1 p.m. 　Mexico  vs.  Canada
4 p.m. 　USA  vs.  Japan
*Local Time

Schedule

*The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.

Further Schedule