The 22nd International Youth Soccer in Niigata 1st match vs U-17 Mexico National Team
Saturday 14 July 2018 Kick-off 16:30 Match duration 90mins (45mins×2)
Shibata Ijimino Park Athletics Stadium (Shibata, Niigata)

U-17 Japan National Team 2-1 (2-0, 0-1) U-17 Mexico National Team

Scores
5' ODA Yutaro (U-17 Japan National Team)
36' SOMENO Itsuki (U-17 Japan National Team)
69' goal against (U-17 Mexico National Team)

Starting Line-ups
GK: ITAHASHI Yosei
DF: INOUE Miki, NARUSE Shumpei, MARUYAMA Kaito
MF: SHIBATA Sosuke, ODA Yutaro, IWAMOTO Sho, INOUE Ren, TSUKUI Takumi, BABA Seiya
FW: SOMENO Itsuki

Reserves
GK: SUZUKI Zion
DF: INOUE Koki, SHIMOKAWA Taiyo, SUMI Seiga
MF: MATSUHASHI Yuan
FW: KURIBARA Ibrahim Junior, WAKATSUKI Yamato

Substitutions
36' NARUSE Shumpei → SHIMOKAWA Taiyo
65' TSUKUI Takumi → WAKATSUKI Yamato
72' SOMENO Itsuki → KURIBARA Ibrahim Junior
72' INOUE Ren → MATSUHASHI Yuan
90+2' ODA Yutaro → SUMI Seiga

Match Report

The 22nd International Youth Soccer in Niigata has finally started, and the U-17 Japan National Team got off to a great start with their 2-1 victory over the world powerhouse, U-17 Mexico National Team. In the past three FIFA U-17 World Cups, the Mexico team has reached at least to the semi-finals and has won the tournament multiple times in the past. Their nation's top team has also showcased their consistency, appearing in the round of 16 in the FIFA World Cup for the seventh tournament in a row.

With the entire nation struck by heat waves, the temperature in Niigata also rose up to 32 degrees Celsius, but that did not stop the 600 spectators from attending the match to cheer on the players, as the match kicked off under tough conditions but yet great atmosphere. In the beginning of the match, the Japanese side looked a little shaky, as many of the players were making their national team debut. The team were rattled by the opponent’s intensity for the first few minutes, but the defence responded promptly to evade the threats. The team quickly recovered from their nervousness and created an opportunity in the fifth minute. Midfielder INOUE Ren recovered the ball before penetrating the left flank and delivered a cross towards the centre. Midfielder ODA Yutaro was there to convert the cross with his header to give Japan the opening goal. Mexico rallied back after this goal, as they showcased their signature tenaciousness in fifty-fifty balls and applied pressure aggressively to take control of the match. Japan tried to cope with their opponents, but could not hold onto the ball, as their patients were being tested. In the 14th and 20th minute, the Mexican side created chances from freekicks to threaten the Japanese goal, but goalkeeper ITAHASHI Yosei displayed superb saves to keep the clean sheet intact. Japan were seen playing more and more passively as the match progressed and allowed Mexico to create a critical opportunity in the 31st minute, when they turned over the ball from a passing error. Mexico initiated a counter attack which led to a cross to the centre that was headed towards the Japanese goal, but the shot struck the crossbar. Mexico fired another shot off of the deflection, but once again the shot went just wide of the target. Japan failed to find their rhythm, however, they managed to capitalise on their few chances. In the 36th minute, defender MARUYAMA Kaito launched the ball towards the attacking third, where their forward SOMENO Ituski made a great challenge against the opposing goalkeeper and won the ball with his header to give Japan a 2-0 lead at halftime.

Desperate to score back a goal, Mexico came out attacking aggressively in the second half, and Japan faced them straight up, as the match saw great battles throughout the half. Japan attempted to score the third goal to shut the doors on Mexico, but the players started to show fatigue and failed to create a goal scoring opportunity. Even so, the defence showed great persistence to deny the opponents’ chances, but the team was caught off guards in the 69th minute, when a long ball was delivered into the penalty area. The Japanese defenders responded a tag late as the Mexican forward scorched into the box and earned a foul. Mexico converted this spot kick to cut their deficit in half. The match saw more long balls played into the Japanese territory, but the home side displayed great efforts to deny the attacks. Conversely, the Japanese side created their own chances from the two substitutes, as midfielder MATSUHASHI Yuan continuously penetrated the left flank and delivered the ball to KURIBARA Ibrahim Junior, but the striker's shot came short from finding the back of the net. Japan went onto utilise the remaining minutes wisely and won the match with a final score of 2-1, earning a victory in their first match of the tournament.

Japan will now face the U-17 Croatia National Team, who has lost their first match 0-4 against the U-17 Niigata Prefecture Select Team.

Players' Comments

GK #12 ITAHASHI Yosei (Sagan Tosu U-18)
I was ready to commit myself for the team, so I am very happy to be selected in the U-17 Japan National Team. I will like to give everything I’ve got for the team. Through our trainings, I felt the importance to throw out your body to defend the goal until the very end. I also felt the need to improve the quality of my ball feeds. I was a little nervous in today’s match, but I managed to display my usual performance. I wanted to challenge myself up to my full potential, either through coaching my teammates, or getting more involved in the game, and I feel like I did just that. However, this match made me realise that a simple mistake or a passive play can give the opponents great momentum, and we have to be very careful in that aspect. My teammate, NISHIMURA Kodai had to leave the national team due to injury, so I would like to fight in behalf of him as well. We would like to reflect and organise what happened today and implement it in tomorrow’s match. It was clear what we did well and what we did poorly, so we will make the necessary adjustment in our next match.

DF #13 MARUYAMA Kaito (Higashi Fukuoka High School)
I am very proud to be selected into the national team for the first time. I would like to learn from this experience and continue to be called up to the team in the future. Through our training sessions, I have felt the quickness of the pressure, the strength when challenging the ball, and the quality of techniques. I am asked to do more than what I am usually asked for, so I am feeling that I am improving each day. The team has especially emphasised on the speed of which we apply pressure and the eagerness towards winning the match. In our match today, we managed to score a goal in the first half to gain an advantage throughout the match. At an individual level, I made too many mistakes and played too passively, so I need to play more aggressively. The fact I that I was able to assist a goal was a positive thing. Even though we were dominated in the second half and conceded a goal from a penalty kick, our attacking players scored enough goals for us to win the match. I’d like to thank my teammates for that. Through this tour, I would like to obtain the techniques, mentality, and physical strengths to fight against the world’s best teams. I hope I can contribute so that the team can win the title in this tournament.

MF #8 ODA Yutaro (Vissel Kobe U-18)
Despite being dominated by our opponents from the beginning of the match, it was great that we managed to score the first and second goal. Even during tough stretches, we focused on the fifty-fifty battles that we worked in our training sessions. At a personal level, I managed to position myself in places where the opponents did not want me to be in, while the combinations with my peers also went well, but I failed to convert the opportunity to give our side the third goal, which would have sealed the match. I need to be more critical in those situations. I hope to be more aggressive to get involved in our team’s goals and win the rest of the matches to take the title.

FW #11 SOMENO Itsuki (Shoshi High School)
It was my first time being called up to the U-17 Japan National Team, so I am very honoured to be here. Since it was my first experience, I told myself to challenge with aggression. I anticipated to exploit the space behind the defenders in our training sessions, and that has given me a great work out. The coaches have given me many stern advices, but I believe they are all for the sake for my improvements. In today’s match against the U-17 Mexico team, knowing that they are a very strong team, we emphasised on scoring a goal. Regardless of the process, I am glad I was able to score a goal. However, I couldn’t quite penetrate the space behind the defenders, which was the main focal point for me, so I need to improve on that aspect. During this tournament I would like to keep the intention to score more goals than anybody else. Through this tour I have learnt that we must change our approach towards the match depending on who we are playing against. In order for us to win the title, we must win our next match against the U-17 Croatia team, so we will like to do our best to win the match.

Schedule

*The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.
*MURAKAMI Yosuke (Omiya Ardija Youth), TOMA Hayate (Gamba Osaka Youth), FUJIWARA Yudai (Aomori Yamada High School), NISHINO Taiyo (Kyoto Tachibana high school) will join the training sessions as training partners.

The 22nd International Youth Soccer in Niigata

Tournament Dates: Sat. 14 - Mon. 16 July 2018
Tournament Information