Training Match 1st  vs  Kashima Antlers Youth

2016-9-9 (Fri.) - 17:00 Playing Time: 90min. (45mins.x2)
Twinfield (Mito City, Ibaraki)

U-16 Japan National Team　1-0 (1-0, 0-0)　Kashima Antlers Youth

Scores
26'　FUKUOKA Shimpei (U-16 Japan National Team)

Line-ups
GK: TANI Kosei
DF: SUGAWARA Yukinari, SEKO Ayumu, KEMMOTSU Takumu, KIDA Hinata
MF: KOZUKI Soichiro, HIRAKAWA Rei, FUKUOKA Shimpei, KUBO Takefusa
FW: NAKAMURA Keito, MIYASHIRO Taisei

Substitutions
GK: AOKI Kokoro, OUCHI Issei
DF: SAKUTA Ryutaro, KIKUCHI Kenta, KOBAYASHI Yuki, SEKIGAWA Ikuma, KATSURA Rikuto
MF: SEHATA Gijo, TANIMOTO Shunsuke, SUZUKI Toichi
FW: YAMADA Hiroto, TANAHASHI Akito

HT　TANI Kosei → AOKI Kokoro

Training Match 2nd  vs  Mito Hollyhock Youth

2016-9-9 (Fri.) - 19:00 Playing Time: 90min. (45mins.x2)
Twinfield (Mito City, Ibaraki)

U-16 Japan National Team　3-3 (3-2, 0-1)　 Mito Hollyhock Youth

Scores
10'　YAMADA Hiroto (U-16 Japan National Team)
27'　Goal against (Mito Hollyhock Youth)
29'　YAMADA Hiroto (U-16 Japan National Team)
31'　Goal against (Mito Hollyhock Youth)
37'　SUZUKI Toichi (U-16 Japan National Team)
74'　Goal against (Mito Hollyhock Youth)

Line-ups
GK: OUCHI Issei
DF: SAKUTA Ryutaro, KIKUCHI Kenta, SEHATA Gijo, YOSHIDA Yusuke*
MF: TANIMOTO Shunsuke, SUZUKI Toichi, KATSURA Rikuto, SATO Kyo*
FW: YAMADA Hiroto, NAGAI Kosuke*

Substitutions
GK: AOKI Kokoro, TANI Kosei
DF: KEMMOTSU Takumu, SEKO Ayumu, SUGAWARA Yukinari, KOBAYASHI Yuki, SEKIGAWA Ikuma, IMAI Ryosei*
MF: HIRAKAWA Rei, FUKUOKA Shimpei, KIDA Hinata, KOZUKI Soichiro, SUGAWARA Satoshi*
FW: MIYASHIRO Taisei, TANAHASHI Akito, NAKAMURA Keito, KUBO Takefusa

76'　YOSHIDA Yusuke* → IMAI Ryosei*
78'　TANIMOTO Shunsuke → SUGAWARA Satoshi

*Training Partner (Due to insufficient number of players)
YOSHIDA Yusuke (Mito Keimei High School)
SATO Kyo (Mito Keimei High School)
NAGAI Kosuke (Mito Keimei High School)
SUGAWARA Satoshi (Mito Hollyhock Youth)
IMAI Ryosei (Mito Hollyhock Youth)

Match Report

The U-16 Japan National Team, ’00 Japan’, has been in a preparation camp in Mito, Ibaraki prefecture for the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship in India. The team had two training matches against Kashima Antlers Youth and Mito Hollyhock Youth and they were the final practice matches before heading to the championship. The pitch condition of these matches was prepared just like the pitch will be in Goa, India with the assistance of Ibaraki Football Association and Mito Soccer/Rugby Ground.

The teams played firstly against Kashima Antlers Youth. In the 1st half, Japan couldn’t make their rhythm in front of the opponent’s organised defence. Gradually they started to get the rhythm from side attacks and in the 8th minute defender SUGAWARA Yukinari moved the ball quickly down the right side and crossed the ball, and forward NAKAMURA Keito took a shot but this was blocked by the opponent goalkeeper. Kashima also started attacking Japan but defender SEKO Ayumu and KEMMOTSU Takumu used their bodies to block them, not allowing any chances.

In the 26th minute, Seko passed the ball quickly to Nakamura, then midfielder FUKUOKA Shimpei picked up the loose ball from a cross and he took a drastic shot which was the opening goal. In the 3rd minute of the additional time, Nakamura made a brilliant pass to midfielder KOZUKI Soichiro and he faced only with the goalkeeper. His shot went just wide of the goal post.

Japan’s offence players made series of chances in the 2nd half. In both 64th and 65th minutes, forward MIYASHIRO Taisei took shots but both of them couldn’t find the net. In the 76th minute Fukuoka took another shot jumping into the space behind a Kashima’s defender and received a deep pass, but his shot just went wide. Defenders kept high level of concentration to keep a clean sheet. Japan won the first match 1-0.

For the 2nd match, Japan played against Mito Hollyhock Youth. In the 10th minute of the 1st half, midfielder SUZUKI Toichi crossed forward YAMADA Hiroto and he successfully scored the opening goal. However, in the 27th minute Mito Hollyhock Youth broke through Japan’s left side defence and pushed a loose ball successfully into Japan’s goal.

In the 29th minute, Yamada scored the 2nd goal from Suzuki’s cross again. Even though Japan got 2 goals, they couldn’t easily take control; in the 31st minute Japan conceded an equalising goal, allowing their opponent’s to break through the right side and making a cross which lead to the headed goal. Japan continued to counter attack. Suzuki received the ball on the right wing and dribbled into the centre to take a very smashing long shot. This shot successfully hit the net and Japan scored their 3rd goal.

Both teams seemed tired in the 2nd half. While many players fell down, both teams continued to compete intensively. In the 74th minute Japan conceded another equalising goal, allowing them to break through the right wing. The match continued to be a see-saw game and none of them could get the deciding goal, and the match ended 3-3.

“00 JAPAN” will have training sessions on 10th and will depart for Goa, India for the AFC U-16 Championship on 11th September.

Players' Comments

DF #7  SUGAWARA Yukinari (Nagoya Grampus U18)
It was good that we could win the match against Kashima Antlers Youth, since it was the last important match before the AFC U-16 Championship. Before this match we watched the video of the U-16 Vietnam National Team who will play against us for the first match of the group stage and they have many of similarities to Kashima, so it was a good simulation for us.

Our mood during the match was very good, so we want to keep this, encouraging each other well to get ready for the first match in 1 week. Our first goal is to go through the group stage, and winning the title is also our further goal. We will do our best in the training sessions to show 100% of what we can do in each upcoming match.

FW #9  KUBO Takefusa (F.C. Tokyo U-18)
The teams we played against were fit and used long passes a lot. Playing with them were good simulations for the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016. We could keep good rhythm in the beginning but after the middle of the 1st half, we nearly allowed them to take control. In the 2nd half, we corrected some of the negative issues found in the 1st half and we could move the ball around better. Personally I couldn’t finish with goals regardless of good chances and that was regrettable, but it was still good that our team could win the match today.

FW #11  MIYASHIRO Taisei (Kawasaki Frontale U-18)
These were the last practice matches before departing for the AFC U-16 Championship India, and I think we could keep being patient, chasing the victory until the end. We had a long challenging time but it was still a good experience for us. I hope we can keep our sense of unity, which is our advantage, in the championship. When we visited India for the simulation camp, the environment there was very challenging, but other countries are in the same condition so hopefully we will help each other if necessary while competing. If we show off our passion into our play, I am sure that we can get good results, so I will work hard to make good results.

Schedule

*Local Time
*The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.
*If India, the hosting country of 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, advances to the semifinals, the playoff matches will be held on 29 September and 2 October deciding the fifth place among the four losing teams in the quarterfinals.