The 19th International Youth Soccer in Niigata
2015-7-18 (Sat.) - 14:10  Playing time: 90min. (45min x2)
SpoIsland Seiro(Niigata/Seiro)

U-17 Japan National Team   4-0 (1-0, 3-0)   U-17 Mexico National Team

Scores
27'   IWASAKI Yuto (Japan)
50'   SASAKI Takumi［PK］(Japan)
56'   YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa (Japan)
78'   HASHIOKA Daiki (Japan)

Line-ups
GK: YAMAGUCHI Rui
DF: MORIOKA Riku, TOMIYASU Takehiro, MORISHITA Reiya, SUGIOKA Daiki
MF: YASUI Takuya, SASAKI Takumi, WATANABE Kouta, KUROKAWA Atsushi
FW: YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa, IWASAKI Yuto

Substitutes
GK: WAKINO Atsushi
DF: TANAKA Riku, HASHIOKA Daiki
MF: TANAKA Kosuke, ITO Hiroki
FW: SUGA Daiki, ITO Ryotaro

59'   YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa → ITO Ryotaro
59'   YASUI Takuya → TANAKA Kosuke
68'   MORIOKA Riku → TANAKA Riku
68'   SUGIOKA Daiki → HASHIOKA Daiki
68'   IWASAKI Yuto → SUGA Daiki
76'   SASAKI Takumi → ITO Hiroki

Match Report

Japan’s first opponents were Mexico who are qualified to play in the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2015 to be held in Chile in October. 

Both squads started playing aggressively early in the first half to create scoring opportunities. In the 27th minute, MORIOKA  Riku took the ball on the right flank and sent it to the space behind defenders on the other side. After receiving it, IWASAKI Yuto penetrated into the box and calmly left-footed it into the goal for the opener. The first half finished with Japan’s one goal lead. 

In the 50th minute, right after the start of the second half, KUROKAWA Atsushi broke through the right flank with his dribble and fed a cross into the box. YOSHIHIRA Tsubasa reacted to the feed but got taken down by a defender as he tried to shoot it, which ended up with a penalty kick for Japan. SASAKI Takumi converted the opportunity to up the scoring 2-0.

Then in the 56th minute, YAMAGUCHI Rui’s goal-kick reached YASUI Takuya, who sent a through ball to the space in front of the opponents’ goal. Yoshihara rushed in to net it with his right foot to the left corner of the goal and extended their lead to three goals.

Although Mexico created their own opportunities to score from set-pieces, Japan kept denying them with their physical defence. With the red-card ejection of a Mexican player in the 64th minute due to a rough play, Japan’s dominance became even more obvious. 

In the 78th minute, Kurokawa again took the ball up with his dribbling to initiate an attack and sent it to ITO Ryotaro in front of the goal. His right-footed shot was deflected by the opposing goalkeeper, but HASHIOKA Daiki, subbed in during the match, reacted to the deflection and put it to the net with his left foot. Japan crushed Mexico with a big 4-0 win. 

Players' Comments

SUGIOKA Daiki (Ichiritsu Funabashi High School)
It was the first match in the tournament and the opponents were Mexico who play in the U-17 World Cup. So we expected the match would be a close one and we discussed before the match that we would play aggressively enough to surprise them.

Right after the kick-off we kept our line high and get their balls. We were able to attack quickly and vertically, and as the result, we scored four goals. So I think it was good.

But in the set-pieces for us to defend we allowed them to touch the ball first, and also we missed finishes in critical situations. There were other small mistakes, too. So we will keep doing our best to improve our accuracy in every play in the matches tomorrow and the day after, and hopefully we can win the championship by doing that.

IWASAKI Yuto (Kyoto Tachibana High School)
Today’s match against Mexico was the important first match, but we were able to come out with the great 4-0 win. It was very good that we were able to play as a team including both guys who were starting and guys on the bench. 

But at the same time, there were some plays that gave us obvious homework both as a team and individually. We still have two more matches, so we will make sure to correct them. We will keep working hard together to win it all. We want to thank all the people who came to support us in the rain. 

MORISHITA Reiya (Cerezo Osaka U-18)
In today’s match against Mexico, we tried to play aggressively, and actually we were able to do that from the start to finish and we could win it 4-0. I personally could hold them scoreless, but there were some plays where I was late for predicting the second ball and moving horizontally. For the next two matches, I want to keep those things in mind. 

HASHIOKA Daiki (Urawa Reds Youth)
I came off the bench in the middle of the second half, and I played the left full back position which I don’t play very often. So it was a good experience for me. In terms of joining attacks, I did go up over and over again and I could score a goal, too. 

But after joining an attack, I was late one time for coming back for defence. That caused a trouble for my teammates. So I thought quicker transition would be necessary. Also I felt I need to get better at controlling the ball with my left foot. 

As a player, I need to play multiple positions, so I want to keep trying. In this tournament, there are many players who are a year older than I. They all play very well and it gives me inspiration and good experience. For the rest of two matches, no matter what position I get to play, I will keep playing without getting scared. 

Schedule

Note: The schedule is subject to change.