International Dream Cup 2016 Match 2nd　vs　U-16 Mali National Team
2016-6-24 (Fri.) - 18:00   Playing Time: 90min. (45min.×2)
Tottori / Tottori Bird Stadium

U-16 Japan National Team　1-2 (1-0, 0-2)　U-16 Mali National Team

Scores
38'　HIRAKAWA Rei (U-16 Japan National Team)
52'　Goal against (U-16 Mali National Team)
56'　Goal against (U-16 Mali National Team)

Line-ups
GK: TANI Kosei
DF: KUWAHARA Kaito, KEMMOTSU Takumu, SUGAWARA Yukinari, KATSURA Rikuto
MF: HIRAKAWA Rei, FUKUOKA Shimpei, KIDA Hinata, KUBO Takefusa
FW: MIYASHIRO Taisei, NAKAMURA Keito

Substitutes
GK: AOKI Kokoro
DF: KIKUCHI Kenta, NISHIO Ryuya
MF: KOZUKI Soichiro, NARUSE Shuｍpei, MATSUMOTO Nagi
FW: TANAHASHI Akito

HT　KUWAHARA Kaito　→　KIKUCHI Kenta
61'　NAKAMURA Keito　→　TANAHASHI Akito
74'　KATSURA Rikuto　→　NARUSE Shuｍpei

Match Report

“00 Japan” took on the U-16 Mali National Team in the second match of the U-16 International Dream Cup 2016 on Friday 24, and Japan’s young national team lost with the score of 2-1. 

In the recent history of international under-age tournaments, Mali is regular as one of the finalists including their runners-up finish in last year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup and the third place in the FIFA U-20 World Cup. At this International Dream Cup, they already beat Mexico 3-0. The match against Japan on this day started in an atmosphere just like a final match enjoys with more than 2,200 people attending. 

Intense 1-on-1 battles were in full display from the start. Japan wanted to move the ball to create their rhythm, but Mali’s sound ball awareness and long legs repeatedly took away Japan’s passes. Mali also struggled to cope with strong winds, all of which made the early stage of the match evenly quiet. In the 14th minute, after connecting quick passes, Japan had midfielder FUKUOKA Shimpei fire a blast, which was denied by the opposing goalkeeper. 

Despite the strong wind prevented both teams from creating scoring opportunities for a while, another chance came for Japan in the 38th minute. Midfielder KUBO Takefusa worked hard on the right flank for a cross feed, which was volleyed home by midfielder HIRAKAWA Rei to finally open the scoring. Another critical moment in the 44th minute when forward NAKAMURA Keito got his way through for a shot on the left flank was saved by an outstanding save by the goalkeeper before the first half finished with Japan’s one-goal lead.

In the second half, standing on the leeward side put Japan through difficult stretches. Mali showed strong on-ball pressure and defending ability and kept attacking into Japan’s end. In the 52nd minute, three Japanese defenders were beaten after a bad pass in front of their own goal, Japan allowed Mali to score with an off-timing equaliser. Then in the 56th minute, Japan could not stop Mali’s break-through in the middle and gave away a lead to Mali.

Japan kept attempting to strike back, but Mali’s overwhelming physicality and organised defence never let Japan execute their game plan. The match eventually finished with the score of 2-1 and Japan fell to the strong Mali side. With a diminishing but not extinct possibility for the tournament title, Japan will face Mexico in the last match.  

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

Players' Comments

GK #18  TANI Kosei (Gamba Osaka Youth)
In the first half, the opponents dominated the match, we gradually got our pace back and scored the opening goal. In the second half, we were overwhelmed by their intensity and we couldn’t do any of what we wanted to do. What made the matters worse, we allowed a goal out of my bad pass. That exposed my lack of perfection. I realised strongly that one small mistake can really cost us a goal when you play against world-class teams like Mali. I think they were much better than us in many areas including physicality. We need to improve our 1-on-1 strength much more, and we also need to communicate with each other, motivate and inspire each other, and get our level up. We reflect on this match, but not get depressed too much about it. We reset our mindset and go all out to win the Mexico match. 

MF #10  FUKUOKA Shimpei (Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18)
If we had scored when we were supposed to score in the first half, we could have played this match more with our own pace. Honestly, we couldn’t do anything in the second half. We made too many mistakes and we had a long stretch of tough times. We want to raise the level of quality in passing and controlling by the time we play next match. I strongly felt that we can’t match up well against opponents at the world level unless we improve in 1-on-1 and individual skills. So from tomorrow, even after I go back to my own club, I will keep training with this loss kept in mind. This experience is something only we can go through, so we want to stay positive and keep playing. We still have one more match left to play. We make sure to refresh our minds and we want to finish this tournament with a good result with good details. 

MF #4  HIRAKAWA Rei (F.C. Tokyo U-18)
It was very good for us to get to play against one of the top teams in the world such as Mali. It was also good for me to score a goal. But as the match went on, we started getting outplayed and we weren’t able to raise our playing level. Playing against a good team reminded me of the fact that we still have things to do. Even after I go back to my club, I want to remember this level and keep training hard. In the upcoming match against Mexico, we want to overwhelm our opponents with our play and the end result.

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

U-16 Japan National Team  vs  U-16 Mali National Team

Schedule

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

Free Shuttle Bus Information to Visitors

On Sunday 26 June, parking near the field is not available.
We sincerely ask visitors to take public transportation.

Free shuttle bus service only on Sunday 26 June

Free shuttle bus service is operated only on Sunday 26 June in the following two routes.
Service hours: 10:30 – 17:30
= From Tottori Station South Gate to Tottori Bird Stadium
= From Kurata Sports Field Parking Lot to Tottori Bird Stadium

* Busses run in approximately every 15 minutes.
* Busses may arrive late due to traffic condition.

Kurata Sports Field Parking Lot (Free of charge)

* Please understand in advance that the lot is no longer available after it gets full.

We hope to have many fans in the stands.