Training Match vs Cerezo Osaka U-18

2016-11-3(Thu.) 10:00　Playing Time 70min.（35min.✕2）
J-GREEN Sakai（Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture)

U-16 Japan National Team short-listed squad　1-3（1-2, 0-1）Cerezo Osaka U-18

Scores
2'　goal against（Cerezo Osaka U-18）
22'　MORI Kaito（U-16 Japan National Team short-listed squad）
30'　goal against（Cerezo Osaka U-18）
41'　goal against（Cerezo Osaka U-18）

Starting Line-ups
GK：TAKAYAMA Shioki
DF：YAMASHITA Ryoji, MATSUI Renji, TAKAYOSHI Shoma, OKOSHI Hiroto
MF：TSUBAKI Naoki, OKUNO Kohei, SUZU Naoki, GUNJI Atsuya
FW：MORI Kaito, ISHI Kaisei

Substitutions
GK：MATSUDA Ryo, HAYASHI Shotaro
DF：IKETAKA Nobuki, OKAI Toshinori. OKAWA Tomoki, SEKIGAWA Ikuma
MF：IGAWA Sora, FUKUSHIMA Hayato, HOMMA Shion, MATSUMOTO Hiroya, SAKAKIBARA Keigo
FW：IMAMURA Ryoichi, TSUNO Ayase

Training Match vs Gamba Osaka Youth

2016-11-3(Thu.) 11:30　Playing Time 70min.（35min.✕2）
J-GREEN Sakai（Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture

U-16 Japan National Team short-listed squad　2-2（1-1, 1-1）Gamba Osaka Youth

Scores
27'　goal against（Gamba Osaka Youth）
34'　HOMMA Shion（U-16 Japan National Team short-listed squad）
42'　goal against（Gamba Osaka Youth）
61'　IMAMURA Ryoichi（U-16 Japan National Team short-listed squad）

Starting Line-ups
GK：MATSUDA Ryo
DF：OKAI Toshinori, OKAWA Tomoki, SEKIGAWA Ikuma, IKETAKA Nobuki
MF：HOMMA Shion, FUKUSHIMA Hayato, IGAWA Sora, SAKAKIBARA Keigo
FW：IMAMURA Ryoichi, TSUNO Ayase

Substitutions
GK：HAYASHI Shotaro, TAKAYAMA Shioki
DF：MATSUI Renji, YAMASHITA Ryoji, TAKAYOSHI Shoma, OKOSHI Hiroto
MF：OKUNO Kohei, SUZU Naoki, GUNJI Atsuya, TSUBAKI Naoki, MATSUMOTO Hiroya
FW：ISHI Kaisei, MORI Kaito

11'　FUKUSHIMA Hayato → MATSUMOTO Hiroya
20'　OKAWA Tomoki → FUKUSHIMA Hayato
27'　OKAI Toshinori → OKAWA Tomoki
HT　SEKIGAWA Ikuma → OKAI Toshinori
HT　MATSUDA Ryo → TAKAYAMA Shioki
45'　IKETAKA Nobuki → SEKIGAWA Ikuma
53'　SAKAKIBARA Keigo→ IKETAKA Nobuki
53'　TAKAYAMA Shioki → HAYASHI Shotaro
64'　IMAMURA Ryoichi → SAKAKIBARA Keigo

Match Report

On Thursday 3 November, the U-16 Japan National Team short-listed squad, ’00 Japan’, squared off against Cerezo Osaka U-18 and Gamba Osaka Youth on their last day of the Osaka camp to showcase their achievements during this three-day training sessions.

The first match saw the meeting against Cerezo Osaka U-18, who came out aggressively especially up front and played with strong determination to win. At the beginning of the match, Japan were literally pressured and, in the 2nd minute, they conceded an opening goal on a volley from a cross easily driven in from the left wing.

Japan tried to attack from both flanks while stringing passes, but their quality of their final delivery before attempting the shots at goal lacked the accuracy to threaten the club team. Furthermore, they allowed the opponents to steal the ball numerous times. Then, in the 13th minute, Japan were confronted by a difficult situation again, as the youth team exploited the space behind the defenders and created a one-on-one scoring opportunity with the national team goalkeeper, MATSUDA Ryo (Higashi Fukuoka High School), who barely salvaged the Japanese goal.

The fierce attack from the Osaka club continued and, in the 21st minute, they created another one-on-one threatening situation, where this time they beat the goalkeeper, but the national squad defender, TAKAYOSHI Shoma (Kawasaki Frontale U-18), cleared it right in front of the goal line. They failed to capitalise on their two golden chances and add to their 1-0 lead.

By not conceding an additional goal, it was the Japanese side who had their scoring chance. In the 22nd minute, defender OKOSHI Hiroto (Sanfrecce Hiroshima Youth) and midfielder GUNJI Atsuya (Ichiritsu Funabashi High School) broke through on the right side by exchanging passes. Then, forward MORI Kaito (Kashiwa Reysol U-18) connected with a cross ball and fired an equaliser.

However, Japan could not find the rhythm of their play and, in the 30th minute, gave up the second goal by a header from a corner-kick. They were looking to level the match, but instead they allowed the opponents to score their third from a skilful play leading up to a brilliant shot by the opposing forward.

Now, being two goals behind, the national squad tried to create their scoring chances. Midfielder TSUBAKI Naoki (Yokohama F・Marinos Youth) initiated several attacks from the left wing with pace and crossed the ball a few times, but other players could not catch up to them. The first game ended 1-3.

The second game was against Gamba Osaka Youth. Unlike the first match, Japan attacked aggressively from the front line. Early in the match, HOMMA Shion (Albirex Niigata U-18) and TSUNO Ayase (Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18) took shots in the 6th and 9th minutes, respectively. However, both attempts failed to find the net.

The Japanese side coordinated their efforts well in defence, and they cornered the opposing player in possession of the ball and stole it in the middle of the field. They created scoring chances off these balls, and in the 19th and 26th minutes, forward IMAMURA Ryoichi (F.C. Tokyo U-18) fired shots at goal, but failed to score on either of them.

Then, it was Gamba who capitalise on their scoring chance. After 27 minutes, they broke through the left side and send a cross to the middle, where the opponent reacted well to score the opening goal of the match.

Being one-goal behind, Japan intensified their attack. In the 34th minute, midfielder SAKAKIBARA Keigo (Yokohama F・Marinos Youth) delivered a well-paced through pass to Homma, who calmly scored an equaliser. They entered the break all squared at 1-1.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Japan conceded a go-ahead goal by allowing Gamba Osaka Youth to surge up the left side again. However, defender OKAI Toshinori (Ichiritsu Funabashi High School) broke through the left flank and send in a cross, where Imamura reacted well and scored the equaliser, levelling the match for the second time 2-2. Thereafter, the national squad created scoring chances, but failed to find the target. The see-saw contest ended in a 2-2 draw.

This time many new players were called-up, and every player was given the chance to display their strengths throughout the Osaka camp. The next activity for “00 Japan” will be the trip to Chile in December, where the team will play training matches against the potent teams in South America to prepare for the FIFA U-17 World Cup which will be held the following year.

*Note: “00 Japan” is the nickname of the team led by players born in 2000.

Players' Comments

DF MATSUI Renji (Yaita Chuo High School)
I think we did better yesterday in building up and coordinating plays. In the training match today, against the opponents who pressured aggressively from the front line we did not speak up and played passively.

We should have been much quicker in taking the right positioning. Furthermore, we had to observe our opponents more carefully, just as we did in the practice sessions. In training, I was instructed to improve the quality of trapping and passing the ball, so I will work hard including basic trainings to play calmly even in any high-level matches.

DF OKOSHI Hiroto (Sanfrecce Hiroshima Youth)
It was our first match yesterday. I could not play well as I wished due to game-time jitters. After the match we watched the video footage to review our play. Exchanging and sharing ideas in the meeting, I think we exploited the space in the front line better today. We coordinated well in defence and intercepted the ball, and I am very happy that we could score from this flow of play. I learned again about the importance of communication. Furthermore, we need to have  a clear idea about what to tell to your teammates on the pitch. For the future, I want to work on improving my passing quality and speed.

MF IGAWA Sora (Consadole Sapporo U-18)
I think I displayed my strength very well in the training match yesterday, since I analysed the game in the first half from the bench and I was brought on from the second half. However, today we could not take control of the match facing strong pressure from the opponents. They were also very competitive on the battles for the ball. It could be due to tiredness, but it is still my issue that I could not keep the high level of passing until the end of the match. Furthermore, I didn’t do enough to receive the ball more often. I will work hard to become a defensive midfielder who can contribute to scoring with stronger mentality by the next national team call-up.

MF TSUBAKI Naoki (Yokohama F・Marinos Youth)
Yesterday we could not stop the negative flow of the match. Personally, when I was off the ball, my reaction time to the ball movements was slow. I wasn’t able to make quick transition between offence and defence also. There were plenty of issues that needed to be sorted out. 

Today, I tried to speak up and receive the ball. Then, I could display my strength—playing with pace. In this training camp, I learned about where I have to move to receive the ball more often and which direction I need to face to receive it. I want to break through defence by dribbling even more, so I need to work on it. In my club team, I will work on not only improving my issues but also brushing-up my strengths to stay in the U-16 Japan National Team.

Schedule

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