U-16 Japan National Team　vs　U-19 Becamex Binh Duong FC
2016-6-6 (Mon.) - 16:00   Playing Time: 90min. (45min.×2)
Go Dau Stadium (Ho Chi Minh/Vietnam)

U-16 Japan National Team　1-1 (0-1, 1-0)　U-19 Becamex Binh Duong FC

Scores
20'　Goal against (U-19 Becamex Binh Duong FC)
86'　SEHATA Gijo (U-16 Japan National Team)

Line-ups
GK: KOKUBO Leobrian
DF: SUGAWARA Yukinari, KUWAHARA Kaito, KANO Kanato, KOZUKI Soichiro
MF: FUKUOKA Shimpei, NAKAMURA Keito, MATSUMOTO Nagi, SUZUKI Toichi
FW: KURIHARA Ibrahim Junior, MIYASHIRO Taisei

Substitutes
GK: AOKI Kokoro, TANI Kosei
DF: HIGASHI Shunki, KIKUCHI Kenta, KATSURA Rikuto, NISHIO Ryuya
MF: KUBO Takefusa, HIRAKAWA Rei, KIDA Hinata, SEHATA Gijo

12'　MIYASHIRO Taisei → KUBO Takefusa
HT　KOZUKI Soichiro → KATSURA Rikuto
54'　KURIHARA Ibrahim Junior → HIRAKAWA Rei
54'　SUZUKI Toichi → KIDA Hinata
60'　MATSUMOTO Nagi → SEHATA Gijo
67'　FUKUOKA Shimpei → HIGASHI Shunki
76'　NAKAMURA Keito → NISHIO Ryuya
82'　KUWAHARA Kaito → KIKUCHI Kenta

Match Report

“00JAPAN”, who are currently on trip in India and Vietnam, drew with U-19 Becamex Binh Duong FC 1-1 on Monday 6 June. Binh Duong is one of the strongest teams in Vietnam and their top team participated in the AFC Champions League 2016.

As “00JAPAN”are to meet the U-16 Vietnam National Team in the first game of the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016, it was a vital match. Just like the coming championship, the match kicked off at 16:00.

Although the opponent strongly pushed forward with long-distance balls, Japan reacted calmly. Japan gradually found their momentum. Then after 18 minutes, the forward KURIHARA Ibrahim Junior, who received a through ball from the forward KUBO Takefusa, faced the goalkeeper 1-on-1, only for his shot to be saved superbly.

In the 20th minute, Japan gave an opportunity away. The defender failed to receive a long-distance ball, and let the opponent’s forward run in and calmly strike a goal. Japan conceded a goal in just the same way that they had worried about during training.

However, the loss woke up Japan and they started to attack back. After 28 minutes, Kubo dribbled up the left side with good individual skills, getting through the goalkeeper to make a shot. Unfortunately, the opponent’s defender cleared it with his body on the goal line. Although Japan continued to take shot after shot, they could not find the back of the net. The game went into the second half at 1-0.

The coach MORIYAMA Yoshiro gave the players some strong advice during halftime. Japan started their attack aggressively from the beginning of the second half. The defender KATSURA Rikuto and the midfielder KIDA Hinata, both of whom came off the bench, sent numerous crosses from the right side, but Japan could not score.

In the 54th minute, although the opponent created a definite goal-scoring opportunity from a counter-attack, the goalkeeper KOKUBO Leobrian managed to kick the ball away with his left foot to save the goal. Japan continued to attack, while the opponent was showing some fatigue. The forward NAKAMURA Keito, the midfielder HIGASHI Shunki, and the defender SUGAWARA Yukinari separately faced the goalkeeper 1-on-1, all of their shots were saved superbly.

Japan never gave up. After 86 minutes, the opponent’s defenders and goalkeeper failed to receive a cross, but the midfielder SEHATA Gijo reacted to a loose ball to calmly strike a goal, finally levelling the game. Despite Japan’s fierce attack, the match ended 1-1. Japan showed their determination to close the one-goal gap. However, it also showed a lack of their scoring ability. The team will meet the U-18 Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC in their last game on this trip in India and Vietnam.

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

Players' Comments

DF #7  SUGAWARA Yukinari (Nagoya Grampus U18)
I believe we could have won today’s game, but ended up drawing it. We should have scored from our opportunities. Because it was my fault that we conceded the goal, as a centre back, I’d like to perform ‘challenging and covering’ better, not letting the opponent get any opportunity. It will be an all-out match tomorrow, because some of our teammates picked up injuries and others are not in great condition. I’d like to play as though we are playing in the quarterfinal of the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016.

MF #15  KATSURA Rikuto (Sanfrecce Hiroshima Youth)
I came off the bench in the second half. As I realised from the bench that the team weren’t playing aggressively enough, I was determined to have an impact on the game. We ended up with a draw. We never gave up and attacked tenaciously. Drawing the third game of the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016 would not be too bad. So I feel positive about it. I’d like to contribute to attack more tomorrow. I want to finish this trip with a victory.

MF #10  FUKUOKA Shimpei (Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18)
I truly understand that one moment of weakness leads to conceding a goal, which the coach MORIYAMA Yoshiro has been telling us. It was a tough match, in which we couldn’t find the back of the net when we should have. Personally, I believe I could stay competitive against older players without hesitation. We need to practice more as a team on how to get through an opponent that focuses on defence. I also learned that the quality of last passes is vital. I’d like to improve on what we failed to do today in the last remaining match.

Schedule

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