The 22nd International Youth Soccer in Niigata 3rd match vs U-17 Niigata Selection Team
Monday 16 July 2018 Kick-off 15:50 Match duration 90mins (45mins×2)
Denka Big Swan Stadium (Niigata, Niigata)

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

Scores
36' IWAMOTO Sho (U-17 Japan National Team)
80' SHIMOKAWA Taiyo (U-17 Japan National Team)
87' own goal (U-17 Niigata Selection Team)

Starting Line-ups
GK: SUZUKI Zion
DF: INOUE Miki, SHIMOKAWA Taiyo, MARUYAMA Kaito
MF: SHIBATA Sosuke, ODA Yutaro, IWAMOTO Sho, INOUE Ren, TSUKUI Takumi, BABA Seiya
FW: KURIBARA Ibrahim Junior

Reserves
GK: ITAHASHI Yosei
DF: INOUE Koki, SUMI Seiga
MF: MATSUHASHI Yuan
FW: SOMENO Itsuki, WAKATSUKI Yamato

Substitutions
57' TSUKUI Takumi → WAKATSUKI Yamato
57' INOUE Ren → MATSUHASHI Yuan
72' SUZUKI Zion → ITAHASHI Yosei
72' ODA Yutaro → SOMENO Itsuki
84' KURIBARA Ibrahim Junior → INOUE Koki
84' INOUE Miki → SUMI Seiga

Match Report

The U-17 Japan National Team won a close game against the U-17 Niigata Selection Team 2-1 on the last day of the 22nd International Youth Soccer in Niigata, winning the title in two consecutive years.

The U-17 Niigata Selection Team won a sweeping victory against the U-17 Croatia National Team in the first match, followed by a loss to the U-17 Mexico National Team in the second match. Record shows that they are a very strong team, as they have recorded five wins and two loses against the U-17 Japan National Team in the previous seven tournaments. The U-17 Japan National Team has beaten both Croatia and Mexico under the blistering heat before entering the final match to become back-to-back champions. The match kicked off under an excellent atmosphere as close to 3000 spectators showed up at the stadium to cheer on the players. At the beginning of the match, both teams played cautiously, as the match could have gone either way. In the sixth minute, midfielder INOUE Ren made an effort at a cross delivered from forward TSUKUI Takumi, but the timing was slightly off. The Niigata side on the other hand, fired a powerful shot from the right side, only for it to be saved by the goalkeeper SUZUKI Zion. As time progressed, the match saw the Niigata Selection team gradually taking the initiative of the match, as they fought tenaciously for every ball. Maybe perhaps the players were too fatigued from the consecutive matches, the national team struggled to keep the right distances between each other, failing to connect their passes. Their patience was being tested as the Niigata side created a goal-scoring opportunity in the 31st minute. However, after some tough defensive stint, the national team finally started to initiate attacks towards the end of the first half. In the 36th minute, forward KURIBARA Ibrahim Junior, who received a throw-in at left, dribbled up to the centre before passing the ball to midfielder IWAMOTO Sho. The midfielder skilfully slotted the ball into the net, giving the U-17 Japan National Team the opening goal. With the momentum on their side, the team intercepted the ball up front, creating a one-on-one situation for Tsukui, but the opposing goalkeeper made a superb save to deny this opportunity. Midfielder ODA Yutaro reacted to the loose ball and took a shot, but his effort came short from scoring Japan’s second goal. The Niigata side rallied back fiercely from set plays but could not score the equaliser. Japan sustained a one-goal lead into halftime.

The match went into a deadlock in the second half. However, the national team gradually found their rhythm as they squeezed out their final stamina after playing consecutive games. In the 64th minute, Kuribara reacted to a cross delivered by Iwamoto to strike a shot, but his effort went just off the target. The team utilised the substitutes effectively as midfielder MATSUHASHI Yuan was brought in to penetrate the left flank with his skilful dribbles, while forward WAKATSUKI Yamato aggressively ran up the right flank, showing off his speed and stamina. Despite the changes, the team struggled to add any more goals as they were seemingly running out of energy. However, their long-awaited second goal came in the 80th minute. The play was initiated by defender SHIMOKAWA Taiyo, who strongly ran up the field from a counter-attack. After receiving a returning pass from Kuribara, he faced the goalkeeper one-on-one. The defender superbly lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper’s head to score the deciding goal. The Niigata side did not give up, as their cross induced an own goal from the national team side in the 86th minute to cut their deficit in half. The match was filled with action until the very end as forward SOMENO Itsuki reacted to a free kick and aimed at the goal with a header, but the ball struck the cross bar in the 90th minute. Wakatsuki also had an opportunity to face the goalkeeper one-on-one during additional time, but the goalkeeper denied the opportunity this time. Just before the final whistle, Niigata also came close to scoring the equaliser, but the national team goalkeeper ITAHASHI Yosei made a save to maintain Japan’s one-goal lead. The U-17 Japan National Team won the match with a final score of 2-1. Despite some difficult stretches, the team displayed a mature performance to win three consecutive matches to claim their back-to-back title, which was their fourth overall title in this tournament.

Half of the players in this team were selected for the first time. However, they concentrated well from the training sessions and played hard. They improved themselves through the matches, just like the SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) did at the FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The U-17 Japan National Team are now scheduled for a tour to Czech Republic at the end of August. The team will participate in the International Youth Tournament of Vaclav Jezek, a tournament they have been attending annually.

Coach and Players' Comments

AKIBA Tadahiro, Coach (U-17 Japan National Team)
I am honoured to participate in the historical and prestigious tournament, the 22nd International Youth Soccer in Niigata. With this tour being held domestically, we were given the opportunity for the first time to call up players from the younger category to train with us as training partners. The tour proved to be very productive and satisfying. Every player played with great ambition and passion, including the 12 players who were making their national team debut and the training partners. As a result, we managed to win three consecutive matches and take down the title two years straight. The players showcased what I demanded from them during the opening meeting, where I asked for their commitment. I hope that these players will take back what they felt during this tour, whether it’s the strengths or quality, whatever they have learnt, I hope they implement it into their daily routine to become a better player. As a coach of the U-19 Japan National Team, I would like to see these kids go up the latter and play in the older age categories in the future. I would like to thank the club teams and schools for giving these players the opportunity to play for the national team, and my sincere gratitude goes to everyone involved to make this tournament, the 22nd International Youth Soccer in Niigata take place. Thank you very much.

MF #6 SHIBATA Sosuke (Shonan Bellmare U-18)
This was my first time being selected into the U-17 Japan National Team, and I was happy and nervous at the same time. I was able to spend such a productive week during this tour. All my teammates had something I do not have, so it was very inspiring. In our match today, we knew we had to at least tie the match to win the title, and I think we managed to control the match well. I am very glad that we ended up winning the title. During this tour I have leant the importance of the very basis of football, which is to fight for the ball, and I feel like we all managed to showcase that aspect through the three matches we played. I still have long ways to go, as this tour made me realise that I must improve on my approach in the build-ups. Once I return to my club, I will train with high intentions and work harder than anybody else so that I will be called up to the national team again.

MF #17 BABA Seiya (Tokyo Verdy Youth)
This time I was called up as an additional player, but I have played in this tournament last year, as well as the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017, so I entered each training sessions with the intention to lead the team. I have gone through some disappointing times in the past, so I would like to prove that I belong here in this age category and improve myself one step at a time. In our match against the U-17 Niigata Select Team, I think we all fought with the pride of representing the country. I personally made many mistakes in one-on-one situations which led to conceding critical opportunities to our opponents, so I must improve myself once I return to my club team. I managed to send quality feeds and effective vertical passes, so I would like to continue to heighten the quality in those aspects. I will work hard every day so that I will be called up in the team’s next tour.

FW #9 KURIBARA Ibrahim Junior (Mitsubishi Yowa SC Junior Youth)
It was my first call up to the national team since last year’s tournament, the 21st International Youth Soccer in Niigata. I am very happy to be here. In our training sessions, we worked on many organisational tactics such as the Gegenpress and the approach to integrate offence and defence. Each session was very constructive and high level, but personally, many tasks became evident and felt the need to improve my overall quality. Today we faced a Japanese team, and as the national team of Japan, we could not afford to lose this match. With that being said, we did have some tough stretches where we struggled to control the game, but we performed well overall. In times where the team’s patience is being tested, I strongly felt that I must possess the ball more and create time for the team to reorganise. If I can do that, the team can play much more freely. Once I return to my club, the 42nd JAPAN Club Youth (U-18) Football Championship will start shortly, so I will implement what I have learnt in this tour and strive to produce results in the championship. I will work hard so that I will get another call up to the national team.

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