AFC U16 Championship  Group B  3rd match of Group League 
Wed. 10 September 2014  Kick Off : 16:00  90minutes (45minutes halves)
Muangthong Stadium (Bangkok, Thailand）

U-16 Japan National Team　2 - 4(1st 1-2、2nd 1-2)　U-16 Australia National Team

Scores
15min Goal Against（U-16 Australia National Team）
25min  Goal Against（U-16 Australia National Team）
27min SASAKI Takumi（U-16 Japan National Team）
59min  Goal Against（U-16 Australia National Team）
69min YASUI Takuya（U-16 Japan National Team）
81min  Goal Against（U-16 Australia National Team）

Starters
GK： INOUE Seiya
DF：TANAKA Kosuke、MORIOKA Riku、ASADA Shogo、DOAN Ritsu
MF： TANAKA Ao、YOSHIDA Shun、YASUI Takuya
FW：ABE Masashi、SASAKI Takumi、HANYA Yosuke

Substitutes
GK：CHIDA Keito、TSURUTA Kaito
DF：SHIMOGUCHI Wakaba、TOMIYASU Takehiro、ISHIKAWA Hiroto
MF：NAGASAWA Ryosuke、SUGA Daiki、WATANABE Kouta、FUJIMOTO Kanya
FW：ONOZAWA Toshiki、SUGIURA Fumiya

HT HANYA Yosuke → FUJIMOTO Kanya
60分 YOSHIDA Shun → NAGASAWA Ryosuke
72分 ASADA Shogo → SUGA Daiki

Match Report

The last game of the group stage was the group B decider against Australia. Japan started well despite the differences in stature and speed. After 15 minutes, Australia earned a free kick just to the left of the goal and struck an opener directly from a free kick. Then in the 25th minute, Japan pressed the opponent’s centre back, who cleared the ball far down the pitch in haste to the area between Japan’s defenders and the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper failed to catch the ball, misjudging the distance, allowing the opposition player, who had come in close, to slot the ball home. Japan started to come back and in the 27th minute, Sasaki, who was in the centre, started an attack, passing the ball to Abe. Abe passed it to Doan, who directly kicked it into the goal area, and Sasaki ran up to strike a fine left-foot finish. Although Japan finally became calmer and started to pass the ball more rhythmically, the game went into the second half at 1-2.

In the second half, Japan was eager to attack even more to level the match early. However, Australia scored again from a free kick, building their lead. After 69 minutes, Yasui, who kept possession with some fine passing skills, dribbled up to the goal area and passed the ball directly to Nagasawa, who was in front of the goal. Then Sasaki at the centre turned with the ball to pass to Yasui, who ran up and struck a goal with his right foot, closing the gap to one goal. They kept attacking, but again conceded a goal from the opponent’s counter-attack. Japan lost the game 4-2. The quarterfinal in the knockout stage will be against Korea, which will qualify Japan for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Comments

YOSHITAKE Hirofumi, Head Coach
In today’s game the players allowed to have the ball, rather than go and get it. It was a really tough game, in which they couldn’t pass the ball in a good rhythm. They sometimes couldn’t make the right decision - dribble or pass. I’d like to fix this issue before the next match. As all 23 players have experienced starting a game, I think they can face the next match calmly. I’d like to improve the quality of their play.

YOSHIDA Shun, Shimizu S-Pulse Junior Youth
There were many simple mistakes. I feel bad that there was a counter-attack off my mistake. We tend to lose the ball and our rhythm as well, if we don’t observe the opponents carefully and choose the right movements. I must react flexibly to whatever happens. I’ll get myself properly ready in three days for the coming match.
　
SASAKI Takumi, Vegalta Sendai Youth
As I couldn’t score in our first match, I just wanted to strike a goal more than anything in this game. I kept myself ready for any chance to run into the goal area at top speed. I tried to start as many attacks as possible, going behind the opponent’s defenders and also to make forward passes to feet a bit calmer, which were very effective. I got confident as well. However, there were some combination problems to be fixed. I’d like to adjust those in three days. I’d like to stay determined to win the next game for Japan and for our teammates.

NISHIMOTO Takanobu, Kashima Antlers Youth
Today was my last day as a member of this team. All of us, not only the players but also the staff, have been aiming at ‘going to play in the world’ and ‘becoming Asian champions’ since the Thai tour at July and the training camp. I believe that 98JAPAN can make it come true, if they can bring what we learned into the game. I’m gutted that I have to go home due to injury. However, I’ll support them, believing in them. I’d like to practice everyday to improve more before I see them again.

Schedule