Training Match U-16 Japan National Team short-listed squad vs Shimizu S-Pulse Youth

2016-2-14 (Sun.) - 12:00   Playing Time: 70min. (35min.×2)
Susono Ground/Shizuoka

U-16 Japan National Team short-listed squad　1-1 (0-0, 1-1)　Shimizu S-Pulse Youth

Scores
49'　Goal against (PSO) (Shimizu S-Pulse Youth)
70+4'　KOBAYASHI Yuki (U-16 Japan National Team)

1st
GK: TANI Kosei
DF: SUGAWARA Yukinari, KOBAYASHI Yuki, SEKO Ayumu, KUWAHARA Kaito
MF: FUKUOKA Shimpei, SEHATA Gijo, KIDA Hinata, KOZUKI Soichiro
FW: KUBO Takefusa, TANAHASHI Akito

2nd
GK: OUCHI Issei
DF: SUGAWARA Yukinari, KOBAYASHI Yuki, KUMADA Shuto, KUWAHARA Kaito
MF: FUKUOKA Shimpei, SEKO Ayumu, KIDA Hinata, SUZUKI Toichi
FW: KUBO Takefusa, KOZUKI Soichiro

Substitutes
GK: AOKI Kokoro, OUCHI Issei, TAKADA Yuma
DF: KIKUCHI Kenta, FUJII Haruya, KANO Kanato, KUMADA Shuto
MF: SUZUKI Toichi, NARUSE Shunpei, YACHIDA Teppei, AWANO Kento, HIGASHI Shunki
FW: MIKUNI Kenedei ebusu, KAWAMOTO Riyo

HT　SEHATA Gijo → KUMADA Shuto
HT　TANAHASHI Akito → SUZUKI Toichi
HT　TANI Kosei → OUCHI Issei

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

2016-2-14 (Sun.) - 14:30   Playing Time: (1st 35min./2nd 40min.)
Susono Ground/Shizuoka

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

Scores
31'　TANAHASHI Akito (U-16 Japan National Team)
34'　KIKUCHI Kenta (U-16 Japan National Team)
39'　Goal against (Toko Gakuen High School)
40'　Goal against (Toko Gakuen High School)
70'　SUZUKI Toichi (PSO) (U-16 Japan National Team)

1st
GK: AOKI Kokoro
DF: KIKUCHI Kenta, FUJII Haruya, KANO Kanato, AWANO Kento
MF: SEHATA Gijo, HIGASHI Shunki, YACHIDA Teppei, TANAHASHI Akito
FW: MIKUNI Kenedei ebusu, KAWAMOTO Riyo

2nd
GK: TAKADA Yuma
DF: KIKUCHI Kenta, FUJII Haruya, KANO Kanato, KUMADA Shuto
MF: NARUSE Shunpei, SUZUKI Toichi, AWANO Kento

Substitutes
GK: TANI Kosei, OUCHI Issei, TAKADA Yuma
DF: KUMADA Shuto, KOBAYASHI Yuki, SEKO Ayumu, KUWAHARA Kaito
MF: FUKUOKA Shimpei, SUZUKI Toichi, KIDA Hinata, SUGAWARA Yukinari, NARUSE Shunpei
FW: KUBO Takefusa, KOZUKI Soichiro

25'　KAWAMOTO Riyo → NARUSE Shunpei
HT　MIKUNI Kenedei ebusu → SUZUKI Toichi
HT　SEHATA Gijo → KUMADA Shuto
HT　TANAHASHI Akito → KAWAMOTO Riyo
50'　HIGASHI Shunki →MIKUNI Kenedei ebusu
60'　YACHIDA Teppei → HIGASHI Shunki

Match Report

“00JAPAN”, the U-16 Japan National Team short-listed squad, played practice matches against Shimizu S-Pulse Youth and Toko Gakuen at the Susono Ground on the fourth day of their training camp.

In the morning, the team met Shimizu S-Pulse Youth. Due to torrential rain and lightning, the kick-off time was delayed for an hour and a half. With strong winds and rain, the pitch was in a poor condition. The coach MORIYAMA Yoshiro encouraged the players strongly prior to the game: “It’s an excellent opportunity to simulate how we will play in the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016.

There may be pitches in a worse condition in an away game atmosphere in the actual championship. To get through the tough, upcoming qualifier, we need the kind of players, who can perform well in this sort of environment.” The players faced strong teams in the matches.

In the first half, the players could not use long-distance passes because of the strong wind, and could not create goal-scoring opportunities despite having the ball up front. The defenders, however, controlled the defensive line calmly, using their bodies, to respond to the opponent’s various attacks.

In the second half, Japan took advantage of the wind direction, and gradually moved towards the goal with the midfielder KIDA Hinata’s long-distance shots. In the 49th minute, from an opponent’s counter-attack, the defender KUWAHARA Kaito knocked the opponent down in the penalty area, giving away a penalty kick. They calmly struck the opener, and Japan conceded a goal.

Although Japan attacked aggressively, looking for goals, the quality of the last pass was not good enough because of their impatience. They could not find the back of the net to level the game. As the match was drawing to an end, after two minutes of injury time, the defender KUWAHARA Kaito dribbled up through the left wing, and fired a shot. The ball went towards the goal despite hitting the bar, but the opponent’s goalkeeper managed to punch it away. The defender KOBAYASHI Yuki reacted to the corner kick well, levelling the match just before the final whistle. The game ended 1-1.

The team met Toko Gakuen in the afternoon. Just like the game in the morning, there was a strong wind around the ground. Japan started to send the ball from the midfield up front in the first half, and after 19 minutes, the midfielder TANAHASHI Akito took a shot after receiving the ball on the left side and getting through the defender. However, the shot went wide.

The opponent used counter-attacks and long-distance passes to create goal-scoring opportunities. In the 24th minute, they fired a shot, only for it to hit the goalpost. Then after 31 minute, the forward MIKUNI Kenedei ebusu held on to possession in front of the goal and passed it to Tanahashi in the left. Tanahashi scored a superb goal, striking the opener.

In the 34th minute, the defender KIKUCHI Kenta boldly ran up in the left wing to send a cross, which was punched by the opponent goalkeeper’s into the goal. Japan had scored their second goal. Although Japan finished the first half well, they let the opponent take the initiative at the beginning of the second half. After 39 minutes, Toko Gakuen sent a through ball to the space behind the defenders, striking a goal. Then in the 40th minute, the opponent headed the ball home from height from a corner kick to level the game.

Though it had been a seesaw game, Japan stayed ambitious for a victory. Mikuni took a shot in the 65th minute, as did the forward KAWAMOTO Riyo in the 67th minutes, but none of them could find the back of the net. Without giving up, the midfielder SUZUKI Toichi attacked to earn a penalty kick, and scored in the 70th minute. Japan won the game 3-2, finishing four consecutive practice matches with a victory.

The next activity of “00JAPAN” will be a tour in Uzbekistan in the end of February.

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

Players' Comments

GK  AOKI Kokoro (JFA Academy Fukushima U15)
We did let the opponent create consecutive goal-scoring opportunities from set pieces and crosses in today’s match. However, I’d like to point out that we kept a clean sheet. Having said that, I need to improve the quality of kicks, and I’d like to prevent the opponent from taking shots by predicting their movement and better coaching. I’ll focus on the problem areas, which I found today, in tomorrow’s practice session. Once I’m back in my club team, I’ll build up from basic skills, such as catching and reacting to crosses, to raise the level of my skills, so that I’ll be chosen for the next tour.

DF  KOBAYASHI Yuki (Vissel Kobe U-15)
As we were advised by the coach Moriyama Yoshiro prior to the game, I learned how to play normally as much as possible in this kind of unusually bad condition with rain and wind. Personally, I need to improve in 1-on-1 and in building up attacks. Having said that, it was good to score in injury time to level the match. I believe we can play as a united team. I’d like to stay motivated with my teammates in tomorrow’s practice in a good atmosphere.

MF  HIGASHI Shunki (F.C. Zebra)
Although I tried to showcase my ability in this special environment, I couldn’t play as I wanted at all. As for the defence, I think I pressed strongly and quickly. My task in this training camp was to be strong in 1-on-1 situations, but I found that I needed to improve this even more. I’d like to convert my problems to my strengths, by practicing hard back in my club team. I believe we earned today’s victory, because all of us played as a united team. There is an excellent atmosphere around this team, and I hope it will continue towards the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016.

FW  TANAHASHI Akito (Yokohama F・Marinos Junior Youth)
In attacks, I think I could show off my strengths – running into the space behind the defenders and aggressively initiating attacks in front of goal. In terms of defence, I contributed to the team’s victory by pressing from up front or working hard on interceptions. As I found that I could still improve how I receive the ball or where I trap the ball against a physically stronger opponent during this training camp, I’d like to focus on them from tomorrow.

Schedule

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