International Friendly Match vs U-23 Syria National Team
2016-1-6 (Wed.) - 16:30   Playing Time: 90min. (45min.×2) 
Al Ahli Stadium (Doha/Qatar)

U-23 Japan National Team   2-1 (1-0, 1-1)   U-23 Syria National Team

Scores
36'   MINAMINO Takumi (U-23 Japan National Team)
60'   Goal against (U-23 Syria National Team)
70'   MINAMINO Takumi (U-23 Japan National Team)

Line-ups
1   KUSHIBIKI Masatoshi
2   MATSUBARA Ken
4   IWANAMI Takuya
5   UEDA Naomichi
6   YAMANAKA Ryosuke
7   HARAKAWA Riki
8   OHSHIMA Ryota
9   SUZUKI Musashi
10   NAKAJIMA Shoya
11   KUBO Yuya
18   MINAMINO Takumi

Substitutes
12   MUROYA Sei
13   NARA Tatsuki
14   TOYOKAWA Yuta
15   KAMEKAWA Masashi
16   ASANO Takuma
17   MISAO Kento
19   IDEGUCHI Yosuke
20   ONAIWU Ado
21   YAJIMA Shinya
22   SUGIMOTO Daichi
23   NIEKAWA Ayumi

HT   UEDA Naomichi → NARA Tatsuki
HT   HARAKAWA Riki → MISAO Kento
73'   MINAMINO Takumi → TOYOKAWA Yuta
73'   SUZUKI Musashi → ONAIWU Ado
85'   MATSUBARA Ken → MUROYA Sei

Match Report

With one week to go before the AFC U-23 Championship, which is also the final Asian qualifying round for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the U-23 Japan National Team faced a final test – an international friendly against the U-23 Syria National Team. The game, which was completely closed not only to supporters, but also to the media, kicked off at 16:30 local time, just like the final qualifying games would do. 

After 36 minutes, MINAMINO Takumi struck the opener, and the game went into the second half at 1-0. Although Japan continued to show aggressive plays with NARA Tatsuki and MISAO Kento, who came off the bench in the second half, conceded a goal from a set piece in the 60th minute. After 70 minutes, however, Minamino fired another goal to once more build a lead. Japan won the game 2-1.

Japan succeeded in earning an important victory against a country from the Middle East, who will participate in the final qualifiers. The team will meet the U-23 Vietnam National Team, who are led by coach MIURA Toshiya, on 7 January for the last friendly just before the final qualifying round.

Coach and Players' Comments

TEGURAMORI Makoto, Coach
Both of the teams played to take the initiative in the match, showing off their characteristic plays – Middle Eastern and Japanese. We have experienced what might happen in the final qualifiers. We achieved the better balance of keeping possession and playing directly. The players especially showed direct-plays more often, as we practiced at the Ishigaki Island camp. We learned again that we tend to concede goals from attacking set pieces. There are no lower-ranked teams for Japan. I’d like to think Japan will participate in this championship to become even stronger. Through this first activity for the 23 players, who will play in the final qualifying round, I believe the players began to feel more the responsibility that “we have to do it.” That feeling of responsibility brought us goals. 

MUHANNAD ALFAKEER, Coach (U-23 Syria National Team)
Japan was strong and quick. They send the ball to the space behind the defensive line, which exhausted us. I believe that Japan will advance to the knockout stage in the final qualifiers. They can play systematically with technique. Despite the result, it was a productive game for us. I think Japan learned something as well. SUZUKI Musashi, the number 9, confused our defensive line a lot. 

#2  MATSUBARA Ken (Albirex Niigata)
As we know that we’re lacking in scoring ability, I’m pleased that we struck goals to win the match. They were excellent goals through direct-plays, which we have been practicing. On the other hand, we conceded a goal from a set piece because of our general carelessness. Although there is still room to improve our defence, including who should put pressure on the opponent, I believe we can improve it before the final qualifiers. As all the players in the team shared the same understanding in today’s game, I think we’re getting stronger everyday. 

#13  NARA Tatsuki (Kawasaki Frontale)
I have to take a look at myself as a defender about conceding goals. Each individual ought to stay competitive in 1-on-1 and take responsibility, not only when playing set pieces. As I came off the bench in the second half, I was determined to move and run more than the others, taking the initiative in the game. Winning against an opponent, who has longer reaches than any other domestic teams in Japan, means a lot to us before playing in the final qualifiers. As we have good attackers up front, I’d like to focus on keeping a clean sheet. 

#7  HARAKAWA Riki (Kawasaki Frontale)
I learned that we needed to share some options about how to play, while the opponent was in possession during the 90 minutes. After playing against Syria just before the championship, now I can see what kind of matches is awaiting us in the final qualifiers. We need to improve the quality of the decision-making around which play to choose during the non-active periods in the match. As we encouraged each other today: “let’s keep winning games”, I’d like to continue to get good results. Since DPR Korea are physically very strong, getting loose balls may decide the match.

#18  MINAMINO Takumi (Salzburg/Austria)
I thought we moved fairly well after some tough training. The match was good experience and preparation prior to the final qualifying round. Personally, as I haven’t played in this team long enough, I tried some things out in today’s match. Attacks worked better than I expected, and I made a good impression. We need to improve some details, though. We’re preparing ourselves well, and winning today’s game against another participant in the final qualifiers gave us some confidence. Our spirit as a team is getting stronger every single day.

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

Schedule