Training Match vs Shimizu S-Pulse
2016-4-13 (Wed.) - 11:00   Playing Time: 90min. (45min.×2)
IAI Stadium Nihondaira (Shizuoka)

U-23 Japan National Team short-listed squad   1-1 (0-1, 1-0)  Shimizu S-Pulse

Scores
11'   Goal against (Shimizu S-Pulse)
70'   NOTSUDA Gakuto (U-23 Japan National Team short-listed squad)

Line-ups
GK: KUSHIBIKI Masatoshi
DF: MITSUMARU Hiromu, ITO Yukitoshi, UEDA Naomichi, MIURA Genta
MF: YAJIMA Shinya, KOZUKA Kazuki, MAEDA Naoki, MISAO Kento, KANAMORI Takeshi
FW: ONAIWU Ado

Substitutes
GK: SUGIMOTO Daichi, NIEKAWA Ayumi
DF: KAMEKAWA Masashi, NARA Tatsuki, IWANAMI Takuya, OGAWA Ryoya
MF: HASHIMOTO Kento, HARAKAWA Riki, NOTSUDA Gakuto, NAKAJIMA Shoya, KAMADA Daichi
FW: TOGASHI Cayman

31'   KUSHIBIKI Masatoshi → NIEKAWA Ayumi
HT   MITSUMARU Hiromu → OGAWA Ryoya
HT   ITO Yukitoshi → KAMEKAWA Masashi
HT   UEDA Naomichi → NARA Tatsuki
HT   MIURA Genta → IWANAMI Takuya
HT   YAJIMA Shinya → HARAKAWA Riki
HT   KOZUKA Kazuki → NAKAJIMA Shoya
HT   MAEDA Naoki → NOTSUDA Gakuto
HT   MISAO Kento → HASHIMOTO Kento
HT   KANAMORI Takeshi → KAMADA Daichi
HT   ONAIWU Ado → TOGASHI Cayman
61'   NIEKAWA Ayumi → SUGIMOTO Daichi

Match Report

U-23 Japan National Team short-listed squad, who are currently in the development process toward August's Rio de Janeiro Olympics, played a practice game against Shimizu S-Pulse on 13 April.

Japan, who came on with a 4-2-3-1 formation, tried to hunt the ball with their collective defence from the front from early. But the experienced S-Pulse gradually adjusted to it and scored the game's first goal as a Shimizu player let a corner kick at the near side of the goal and another player who was playing inside, put it in. Japan then attempted to rally. In the 20th minute, forward ONAIWU Ado headed a cross from defender ITO Yukitoshi yet it went left of the goalmouth.

In the 22nd, Japan midfielder KANAMORI Takeshi made a soft touch and fired a shot with his left leg in the box, but it went right of the goalmouth. In the 31st, both benches made moves. Shimizu substituted seven players, while Japan switched their goalkeeper from KUSHIBIKI Masatoshi to NIEKAWA Ayumi. The teams played back-and-forth battles and entered halftime with S-Pulse up 1-0.

Japan, who changed all the field players at halftime, took some pace in the second half. Midfielder HARAKAWA Riki had more chances to have the ball, while their second-row players in midfielders NAKAJIMA Shoya, KAMADA Daichi and NOTSUDA Gakuto tried to find space behind the Shimizu defenders and come down to receive the ball, trying to move the ball with their collective plays.

In the 62nd and 63rd minutes, Nakajima consecutively had shots but weren't able to score. Right after MISAO Kento reentered onto the pitch for injured Harakawa, Kamada quickly restarted on a free kick that they earned on a foul. Notsuda, who was running vertically, received a pass and fired a shot with his left leg. It went in the corner of the goal to tie to game at 1 all.

Furthermore, in the 74th minute, forward TOGASHI Cayman robbed the ball and provided it to the midfield, and Nakajima headed it into the middle. Midfielder HASHIMOTO Kento kicked a bicycle shot in the middle, but it barely missed the goalmouth. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.

The U-23 Japan National Team had captured the title at the AFC U-23 Championship in January in Qatar and are adding their depth in their roster. They will face Ghana in an international friendly match in Saga Prefecture on 11 May. Their survival race to make the final 18-man roster will be intensified for August's Olympics.

Coachs' Comment

TEGURAMORI Makoto, Coach
We had two different groups, which would have identical balance, for today's game, and put the group in which midfielder KOZUKA Kazuki plays in the first half because he would have a J. League game on the 15th. We gave up a first goal to the opponents, but we found a niche in them and tied the game. You won't be able to win unless you find those niches against the world. This is a generation that they want to win by performing their own game, but they have played a game that their opponents don't want them to do or that they find niches of the opponents.

Through this trip, the newly-called-up players showed their will to remain on the squad for the Olympics and it inspired those who had been on this team and gave them some energy. The process to expand our players depth has come 90 percent so far. We've finally been able to install the mindset of the global standard for the players of this generation. But in terms of the degree of the perfection for our team, it's has even reached 60 percent.

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

Schedule

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