Training Match U-16 Japan National Team short-listed squad vs Fujieda Higashi High School

2016-2-13 (Sat.) - 9:30   Playing Time: 90min. (45min.×2) 
Fujieda Higashi High School Ground (Shizuoka/Fujieda)

U-16 Japan National Team short-listed squad   0-0 (0-0, 0-0)   Fujieda Higashi High School

1st
GK: TAKADA Yuma
DF: KIKUCHI Kenta, SEKO Ayumu, FUJII Haruya, KUMADA Shuto
MF: NARUSE Shunpei, SEHATA Gijo, KIDA Hinata, HIGASHI Shunki
FW: TANAHASHI Akito, KUBO Takefusa

2nd
GK: AOKI Kokoro
DF: SUGAWARA Yukinari, KOBAYASHI Yuki, KUWAHARA Kaito, KANO Kanato
MF: SUZUKI Toichi, FUKUOKA Shimpei, YACHIDA Teppei, AWANO Kento
FW: KOZUKI Soichiro, MIKUNI Kenedei ebusu

Substitutes
GK: OUCHI Issei, TANI Kosei
FW: KAWAMOTO Riyo

69'   YACHIDA Teppei → KAWAMOTO Riyo

Training Match U-16 Japan National Team short-listed squad vs Shizuoka Gakuen High School

2016-2-13 (Sat.) - 15:00   Playing Time: 90min. (45min.×2)
Fujieda Higashi High School Ground (Shizuoka/Fujieda)

U-16 Japan National Team short-listed squad   1-3 (0-1, 1-2)   Shizuoka Gakuen High School

Scores
5'   Goal against (Shizuoka Gakuen High School)
68'   Goal against (Shizuoka Gakuen High School)
69'   KOZUKI Soichiro (U-16 Japan National Team)
73'   Goal against (Shizuoka Gakuen High School)

1st
GK: OUCHI Issei
DF: KIKUCHI Kenta, SEKO Ayumu, FUJII Haruya, KUMADA Shuto
MF: KUBO Takefusa, SEHATA Gijo, KIDA Hinata, HIGASHI Shunki
FW: TANAHASHI Akito, KAWAMOTO Riyo

2nd
GK: TANI Kosei
DF: SUGAWARA Yukinari, KOBAYASHI Yuki, KUWAHARA Kaito, KANO Kanato
MF: SUZUKI Toichi, FUKUOKA Shimpei, YACHIDA Teppei, AWANO Kento
FW: KOZUKI Soichiro, MIKUNI Kenedei ebusu

Substitutes
MF: NARUSE Shunpei
FW: KAWAMOTO Riyo

70'   AWANO Kento → KUBO Takefusa
78'   YACHIDA Teppei → AWANO Kento

Match Report

"00JAPAN", the U-16 Japan National Team short-listed squad had training matches against Fujieda Higashi High School and Shizuoka Gakuen High School at the football ground of against Fujieda Higashi High School for the first time in this year. In the both matches the team changed the players after the 1st half and challenged the top teams in Shizuoka.

They had the first match against Fujieda Higashi High School in the morning. In the beginning Japan seemed unsettled and they couldn’t move the ball to the front line. In the 8th minute, Japan’s forward KUBO Takefusa found some space to take a distance-shot but it went over the bar. Even though they could compete well in 1-on-1 situations, the ball was easily stolen in the middle due to a lack of combination regardless of chances. Fujieda Higashi High School gradually got the rhythm of the match.

However, Japan’s defenders such as SEKO Ayumu and FUJII Haruya kept their concentration and didn’t allow any goals. Gradually the team started to move the ball around in the front line and in the 32nd minute, Kubo struck a shot after breaking through the opponent’s defence with an excellent dribble, but it didn’t find the net.

All players were changed for 2nd half. In the 48th minute, midfielder FUKUOKA Shimpei passed the ball to forward KOZUKI Soichiro and he struck a strong shot but it only hit the post. After the shot, Japan was forced to be patient against the opponent who was stronger in fitness.

In the 50th minute, Japan’s goalkeeper AOKI Kokoro punched the opponent’s shot and they got a corner kick. Their corner kick perfectly made a headed-shot but Aoki saved the goal with an amazing block. The match carried on intensively and in the 82nd minute Japan’s defence was broken through and they got a strong shot, but Aoki could reach the ball with his hand just above the goal line. The first match ended draw.

In the afternoon, Japan had another match against Shizuoka Gakuen High School. In the beginning of the match, they couldn’t follow the opponent’s aggressive play and in the 5th minute they conceded the opener; Japan allowed them a pass to a blind spot behind defenders and they could successfully score after the 1-on-1 situation with the goalkeeper. After the goal, there weren’t any chances for both teams. Japan didn’t allow them any additional chances but they also could not get any chances due to the quality of the deep passes and crosses. The 1st half ended without any good combination from Japan.

In the 2nd half Japan started to be aggressive in both offence and defence. In the 52nd minute, midfielder AWANO Kento made a deep pass to Kozuki and he tried a shot but it was blocked by the opponent goalkeeper. In the 58th minute, Kozuki got another superb deep pass from Fukuoka but his shot was blocked again by the goalkeeper. After that, midfielder SUZUKI Toichi and Awano had other scoring chances but both of them couldn’t find the net to equalise.

While Japan couldn’t get any goals, Shizuoka Gakuen High School successfully got their second goal; in the 68th minute, they controlled the ball well from the cross that came from the right side and broke through Japan’s defence. Right after this goal, Japan moved the ball to the front line and Kozuki sneaked into the space behind the defence and broke through the goalkeeper, the shot successfully found the net. Japan wanted to carry on pushing, but they conceded the third goal; the ball was just screwed into Japan’s net in the 73rd minute. They kept attacking but could not get any other goals and the match ended; Japan lost the match 1-3.

On the next day, Japan will have other matches against Shimizu S-Pulse Youth and Toko Gakuen High School.

"00 JAPAN" is the nickname of the U-16 Japan National Team that consists of members who were born after 2000.

Players' Comments

MF  YACHIDA Teppei (Nagaoka Junior Youth FC)
It was good that one of my advantages making deep passes worked well to assist the shot in the match today. I want to have more variety of play with enough movement to compete against quick pressure. Today we couldn’t break through defence at the final moments regardless of our consistency in defence. In the meeting tonight, we will share our issues well to get ready for the other matches tomorrow.

MF  KIDA Hinata (Cerezo Osaka U-15)
It was difficult to steal the ball because we couldn’t make good defence combination. I strongly felt that communicating with each other both on and off the pitch is important. Considering that we will have consecutive matches in the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016, we want to see how much our play will work well while we are tired tomorrow. We also want to concentrate well not being afraid even though the opponents are strong.

MF  KOZUKI Soichiro (Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-15)
Today we had difficulties in controlling the ball well so we need to improve the quality of our play. However, the goal I could make after getting the deep pass from my teammate makes me confident.

This team has a very positive mood and here I can confirm what my issues are. Our purpose is to break through the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016, so we will encourage ourselves to have stronger motivation to sort out our issues and we will definitely win the training matches tomorrow.

FW  KAWAMOTO Riyo (Shimizu S-Pulse Junior Youth)
In this camp I have a lot to learn day by day and I have tried to pick up as many things as possible. For example, I have learned the importance of fitness training to compete with the players with stronger fitness and of repeated training to improve my skill. Today I aggressively jumped into the space behind defence but yet I couldn’t score. Tomorrow, I want to contribute to the team’s victory getting goals.

Schedule

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