U-15 Japan National Team　vs　U-15 Mexico National Team
2016-4-26 (Tue.) - 17:00　Playing Time: 70min. (35min.×2)
Hermagor (Austria)

U-15 Japan National Team　2-1 (1-1, 1-0)　U-15 Mexico National Team

Scores
7'　NISHIKAWA Jun (U-15 Japan National Team)
12'　Goal against (U-15 Mexico National Team)
45'　SEHATA Gijo (U-15 Japan National Team)

Line-ups
GK: TAKAYAMA Shioki
DF: KUMADA Shuto, IWAI Ryuji, INOUE Miki, NISHIO Ryuya
MF: YAMAMOTO Rihito, SEHATA Gijo, MATSUMOTO Nagi, MESHINO Soma
FW: BROWNE Noah Kenshin, NISHIKAWA Jun

Substitutes
GK: SUZUKI Zion
DF: ENDO Kaito, KANO Kanato, ISHIDA Ryotaro
MF: YAMASAKI Taichi, YAMADA Fuki, ODA Yutaro
FW: KURIHARA Ibrahim Junior, YAMAZAKI Ryosuke

43'　BROWNE Noah Kenshin → YAMAZAKI Ryosuke
61'　YAMAMOTO Rihito → KURIHARA Ibrahim Junior
69'　MESHINO Soma → YAMASAKI Taichi

Match Report

On 26 April, U-15 Japan National Team had their second match of the Delle Nazioni Tournament against U-15 Mexico National Team and they got their second win by beating 2-1.

Just like the previous match, Japan was aggressive from the beginning and they pushed on towards Mexico’s goal many times. In the 7th minute, Japan’s forward NISHIKAWA Jun received the ball on the left and skipped past a Mexican defender, then successfully smashed it in to score. After the Japan’s opening goal, in the 12th minute, Mexico pressed Japan from the front line and crossed the ball, Japan cleared it but it was picked up by a Mexican forward player. He carried on attacking the Japan’s goalkeeper and scored the equaliser.

Japan gradually settled and moved the ball up to the front with better combination amongst their forwards. In the 19th minute, Nishikawa, and in the 20th minute, defender IWAI Ryuji tried to score, but both of them slightly went outside of the post.

In the 29th minute, Japan moved the ball up to the front again. Forward player BROWNE Noah Kenshin passed it to Nishikawa, but he was blocked by a Mexican defender who was checking his movement in the goal. Japan couldn’t get the second goal and the 1st half ended 1-1.

From the beginning of the 2nd half, Japan passed the ball quickly and moved the ball widely utilising their wings more to attack the Mexican goal. Midfielder MESHINO Soma’s shot in the 36th minute nearly went into the goal, but it was cleared by a Mexican defender. Japan continued attack, and they finally got the second goal.

In the 45th minute, midfielder SEHATA Gijo got the ball from Meshino and moved up with dribble and scored calmly. After the goal, Japanese goalkeeper and defenders had to be patient to defend their goal. In the 65th minute, Nishikawa tried to score another goal receiving the ball from midfielder MATSUMOTO Nagi, but it was blocked firmly by the Mexican goalkeeper. Japan remained consistent in defence and the match ended; they beat Mexico 2-1.

As a result of these two matches, Japan ensured its position as top of their group and goes through to the semi-final. For their next match, Japan will play against U-15 Austria National Team.

Players' Comments

DF #2  NISHIO Ryuya (Cerezo Osaka U-15)
At the beginning we were in too hurry and conceded a goal. It was good that we gradually settled and scored after the goal. The result that we could go through from the group league as the top team, staying consistent in defence until the end, made us confident. Since the first match, we paid attention to keeping our defence line higher, kicking back the opponents’ long passes, and staying consistent even against aggressive players with pressing defence. However, we still gave them many opportunities so for the next time I will be extra careful not to give away any chances. We want to win the match tomorrow and keep winning.

MF #8  SEHATA Gijo (JFA Academy Fukushima U18)
It was good that we could prepare well before the match and beat them. In attack, we could often make chances from deep passes. However, we should have seen what was going on more widely and made better decisions; we missed the ball quite a lot of times in the match.

Towards the end of the match we were tired and our quality of play became poor. I want to be able to make quicker decisions looking at the whole pitch when I don’t hold the ball. In defence, I have to pay more attention to picking up second ball. Being inconsistent at intensive moments is another issue so I want to improve this, too. This team has such a positive feeling and we have good communication even off the pitch. For the next match tomorrow, we want to keep up this positivity from the warm-up session and do our best in each match.

FW #11  NISHIKAWA Jun (Yokohama F・Marinos Junior Youth)
Today we had a good atmosphere from our warm-up session and there was a good sense of unity as a team. I hope we can keep this in the next match against U-15 Austria National team. Personally I think I could stay strong and competitive at intensive moments. What I need to improve is switching offence and defence and not to give away any chances.

It was good that I could score and jumped into good spaces behind defenders making slow and rapid changes, yet I couldn’t score when I had chances so I want to be even more serious to improve my scoring accuracy. I want to be a player who can always make good results.

Schedule

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