Friendly Match vs U-20 Colombia National Team
Fri. 17 May 2019, 16:00 (Local time) Match Duration 90mins (45mins×2)
Sielanka Sports Center, Warka, Poland

U-20 Japan National Team 1-2 (1-0, 0-2) U-20 Colombia National Team

Scores
7' SAITO Mitsuki (U-20 Japan National Team)
46' goal against (U-20 Colombia National Team)
90+3' goal against (U-20 Colombia National Team)

Starting Line-up
GK: WAKAHARA Tomoya
DF: SUGAWARA Yukinari, SEKO Ayumu, KOBAYASHI Yuki, HIGASHI Shunki
MF: FUJIMOTO Kanya, ITO Hiroki, SAITO Mitsuki, SAITO Koki
FW: MIYASHIRO Taisei, TAGAWA Kyosuke

Reserves
GK: MOGI Shu, SUZUKI Zion
DF: SUZUKI Toichi, MIKUNI Kenedeiebusu, KIDA Hinata
MF: GOKE Yuta, YAMADA Kota, KUMASAWA Kazuki, MATSUMOTO Nagi
FW: NAKAMURA Keito, NISHIKAWA Jun, HARA Taichi

Substitution *Free substitution
25' ITO Hiroki → GOKE Yuta
HT KOBAYASHI Yuki → KIDA Hinata
HT SEKO Ayumu → MIKUNI Kenedeiebusu
HT HIGASHI Shunki → SUZUKI Toichi
HT SAITO Koki → MATSUMOTO Nagi
HT SAITO Mitsuki → ITO Hiroki
HT FUJIMOTO Kanya → YAMADA Kota
HT TAGAWA Kyosuke → HARA Taichi
HT MIYASHIRO Taisei → NAKAMURA Keito
61' WAKAHARA Tomoya → MOGI Shu
61' SUGAWARA Yukinari → KUMASAWA Kazuki
71' GOKE Yuta → SAITO Koki
76' ITO Hiroki → KOBAYASHI Yuki

Match Report

The FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland is just around the corner, and the U-20 Japan National Team played a friendly match against the U-20 Colombia National Team on Friday 17 May, where they lost the match 1-2.

With Japan scheduled to face the U-20 Ecuador National Team in their first group stage match, this friendly match against Colombia served as a simulation match to get themselves prepared for the tournament. In the early minutes of the match, Japan showcased great intensity to fight for the ball and got into a good rhythm. The opening goal came in the seventh minute when SAITO Koki collected the loose ball following a corner kick and delivered the ball towards the right side. It was SAITO Mitsuki who received the ball before launching a powerful shot into the right-hand corner of the goal to give Japan the early lead. After conceding the goal, Colombia seemingly turned on their switch to apply more pressure upfront to threaten the Japanese goal. With their speed and individual skills, Colombia penetrated the flanks to create opportunities, but Japan managed to stay patient and played with composure to carry the 1-0 lead into halftime.

After making eight changes to their line-up, Japan was caught off guards to start the second half. Just 30 seconds into the half, Colombia initiated a counterattack from the halfway line, where they broke through the Japanese defence line with a single through ball and scored the equaliser. Japan came close to retaking the lead within seconds of this goal, when a long ball delivered upfront was flicked by HARA Taichi to allow NAKAMURA Keito to take a shot, but his attempt faield to capture the target. The match went into a deadlock with both sides showing great persistence to keep the score intact. An opportunity was created in the 68th minute, when Nakamura delivered the ball towards the right flank. The ball was then connected through Saito Koki and KIDA Hinata, before KUMASAWA Kazuki delivered a perfect cross toward the centre, but the header struck by Hara fell short from finding the net. In response, Colombia came up with their own opportunity in the 78th minute, when their striker broke through the Japanese defence line and dribbled through the goalkeeper, but the Japanese defenders managed to get back in time to deny the opportunity. The match was still tied up after 90 minutes of play, but it was Colombia who got the last laugh, as they capitalised on a counterattack to score the game winning goal in additional time, defeating Japan with a final score of 1-2.

The friendly match gave Japan a wonderful opportunity to simulate and prepare for their tournament opener against Ecuador. The team will now travel to the match site in Bydgoszcz on Sunday 19, before facing their first group stage match against Ecuador on Thursday 23.

Players' Comments

GK #1 WAKAHARA Tomoya (Kyoto Sanga F.C.)
Ever since arriving to Poland, the meals we’ve been served were all delicious, the training field is located right by our hotel, and the pitch condition is wonderful. The environment is suited to play football and we have been able to spend a very productive time. At the AFC U-19 Championship Indonesia 2018, I have learned so much after my mistake cost our team a match, and I have worked hard since to improve myself, which led me onto this team. I will learn from my past experiences and give my best efforts in each play on the pitch. For now, we will focus on fighting one match at a time to advance through the group stage.

DF #5 SUGAWARA Yukinari (Nagoya Grampus)
I am here with a sense of revenge from the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017. I have been working hard towards this tournament and I am fully committed to leave a mark at this FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland. We have been able to conduct a productive training camp under a wonderful environment. We ended up losing the match, but it gave us the opportunity to realise the importance to play not to lose. If we can read and feel the game flow, we can increase the odds of winning our matches. We want to surprise everyone and show the world what we are capable of doing. I believe that the individual performances are evaluated depending on how much you contribute for your team, so I will focus on giving my best efforts to help Japan win matches.

MF #8 FUJIMOTO Kanya (Tokyo Verdy)
We have been able to conduct our training sessions under a great environment here in Poland, and today, we were given the opportunity to play against the U-20 Colombia National Team to simulate our first group stage match against the U-20 Ecuador National Team. The match was played in a very high level and great intensity, which allowed us to find out what we need to fix and the direction the team must strive for. The results are what matters the most at the World Cup, so how we’re going to approach the three group stage matches are going to be a crucial factor. I will prepare myself in the best way possible, so that I can help the team win through the group stage.

FW #13 MIYASHIRO Taisei (Kawasaki Frontale)
After playing in the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 as a member of the U-17 Japan National Team, I have been striving to play in the FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland, so I am very happy to be selected into this team. We played today’s match to simulate our first group stage match against the U-20 Ecuador National Team, and the match allowed us to experience the world level, as well as to feel in first-hand the strengths and speed of the South American teams. From this match, we were able to find out what we lack, so we hope to make the necessary adjustments within the remaining time ahead of the tournament. Personally, I will stay eager to score goals, while as a team, we will strive to earn better results than our last appearance at the World Cup.

Training Partner: KUMASAWA Kazuki (Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa High School)
Although I am here as a training partner, I am very honoured to be a part of this U-20 Japan National Team’s tour for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland. I am given a priceless experience and I am very happy to be here. In our match against the U-20 Colombia National Team, the level of play showcased by our opponents were extremely high, and every play was executed with great quality. I was able to learn so much from the way they changed their pace and how they placed the ball where we couldn’t reach. In terms of one-on-one duels, they clearly had the upper hand. During this tour, I will stay committed to support the team, but I will also seek for opportunities to gain experiences to help improve myself. I hope to get better as a player and become a force to be reckoned with in my team.

Schedule

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

FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019

Tournament Dates: Thu. 23 May - Sat. 15 June 2019

Group Stage:
Fri. 24 May 2019 03:30 (Japan time)
vs U-20 Ecuador National Team

Sun. 26 May 2019 22:30 (Japan time)
vs U-20 Mexico National Team

Thu. 30 May 2019 01:00 (Japan time)
vs U-20 Italy National Team

Tournament Information