La Manga International Women's U-23 Tournament vs U-20 Germany Women’s National Team
2016-3-6 (Sun.) - 18:00   Playing Time: 45min.×2
La Manga PitchA (Spain/La Manga)

U-23 Japan Women’s National Team　1-0 (1-0, 0-0)　U-20 Germany Women’s National Team

Score
3'　TANAKA Yoko (U-23 Japan Women’s National Team)

Line-ups
GK: HAYASHIZAKI Mei
DF: KATSURAMA Fumina, MURAMATSU Tomoko, TAKAGI Hikari, MIYAKE Shiori
MF: SASAKI Mayu, NAOMOTO Hikaru, NAKASATO Yu, CHIBA Sonoko, TANAKA Yoko
FW: MASUYA Rika

Substitutes
GK: INOUE Nene
DF: OSHIMA Mizuki, YOSHIMI Natsuki, HATANAKA Miyuka, MIURA Momo
MF: MIHASHI Mana, TAKAHASHI Miyuki, ODA KANNA, OYA Ayumi
FW: INOUE Ayaka, TANAKA Mebae

65'   TANAKA Yoko → OYA Ayumi
80'   MIYAKE Shiori → MIHASHI Mana

*Germany is participated in this tornament as a U-20 Women's National Team participating in the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup

Match Report

U-23 Japan Women’s National Team met the U-20 Germany Women’s National Team for the last game of the La Manga International Women's U-23 Tournament on 6 March.

The match moved at the beginning of the first half, after just three minutes. The midfielder NAKASATO Yu intercepted the ball to pass it to the forward MASUYA Rika. The midfielder TANAKA Yoko, who ran up to receive the ball, struck the opener. Japan used short passes against an opponent, who tended to move towards the ball swiftly.

In the 24th minute, the midfielder CHIBA Sonoko reacted to a pass from the defender MIYAKE Shiori with her heel, and sent it to the midfielder NAOMOTO Hikaru. Although she dribbled up towards the goal to make a shot, the opponent’s goalkeeper saved it. 

Despite German attacks from early in the second half, Japan gradually picked up pace. After 56 minutes, although Masuya received the ball from Nakasato when she was just in an onside position and took a shot, the opponent’s goalkeeper saved it superbly. In the 85th minute, a German shot hit the cross bar and the opponent had another go from a loose ball, the goalkeeper HAYASHIZAKI Mei defended it. The goalkeeper led the team to defend well with their bodies. Japan beat Germany 1-0 to finish the championship with three consecutive victories. 

Players' Comments

TAKAKURA Asako, Coach
One of the strongest teams, Germany, are taller, stronger and quicker than Japan in each age category. However, we decided to play like we did and control the match with our strengths, including systematic tactics, combinations, techniques, and speed. All the players played really hard, coordinating with each other, and took the initiative in the game most of the time. Having said that, we were occasionally overwhelmed by German strength and speed, and let them counter-attack. So we still need to improve how we play when we are at a physical disadvantage. In terms of performance, as we could get close to the goal numerous times from Japanese style passing, I’d like the players to increase the quality of last passes and shots.

NAOMOTO Hikaru (Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies)
All of us have played as a united team in this championship. As a result, we have won three consecutive games, and kept a clean sheet. In terms of tactics, as we focused on defence, including pressing from up front and controlling the defensive line, we didn’t let the opponent have many opportunities whereas we could strike goals. Having said that, it’s the U-23 championship. I learned that we needed to contrive ways to play against an opponent that is bigger, stronger and faster, such using better timing. Also we should improve our stamina, technique, including passing, dribbling and shooting, and tactics.

MURAMATSU Tomoko (NIPPON TV BELEZA)
I focused on pressing the opponent up front to intercept the ball systematically during this tour. It was good that we stayed vocal about when or where to press the opponent and all of us contributed to stealing the ball. However, we still did not play strongly enough near the ball and occasionally couldn’t intercept despite a numerical advantage. So we need to improve that. As defenders, I’m glad we achieved our goal – keeping a clean sheet. I’d like to continue what we’ve been doing back in Japan, so that we can raise the level of the team when we get together again.

Schedule

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