Japan demolishes Venezuela in U-17 Women's World Cup semis
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2014 Semifinals

31 March, '2014 17:00 KickOff　
Edgardo Baltodano Stadium（Liberia, Costa Rica）

U-17 Costa Rica Women's National Team　1-4（1stHalf0-2、2ndHalf1-2）　U-17 Japan Women's National Team

Goals
13min　　Nagano Fuka（U-17Japan Women's National Team）
33min　　Ichise Nana（U-17Japan Women's National Team）
52min　　Kobayashi RikakoU-17 Women's National Team)
63min　　Sugita Hina（U-17Japan Women's National Team）
90＋2min　Deyna CASTELLANOS（U-17Costa Rica women's National Team）

Starting lineup
GK：Matsumoto Mamiko
DF：Kitagawa Hikaru、 Ichise Nana、Okuma Rana、Endo Yu
MF：Sugita Hina、Nagano Fuka、Miyagawa Asato、Hasegawa Yui、Matsubara Shiho
FW：Kobayashi Rikako

Substitutes
GK：Asano Natsumi、Morita Yukari
DF：Hashinuma Maho、Minami Moeka
MF：Nishida Meika、Minami Moeka、Hiratsuka Maki
FW：Kamogawa Miho、Kono Fuka、Saihara Mizuki

61分　Kitagawa Hikaru　→　Saihara Mizuki
73分　Kobayashi Rikako　→　Hiratsuka Maki

Match Report (Semi-final)

The semi-final game was held at the same venue, Edgardo Baltodano Stadium in Liberia, as the quarter-final. It is always windy here. Although it was on a weekday, 3,528 people were in attendance. Back stands were almost full.

Japan’s opponent, Venezuela, were from the group A, the same as the host country Costa Rica, and never played in Liberia before. Venezuela have scored 11 goals in 4 matches, as they rely heavily on quick counterattacks and two strikers who have scored 9 goals together. In the quarter-final, although they allowed a lead at midway, they outran and beat Canada by 3-2 and made it to the final four. To match up well against Venezuela, Manager Takakura said to players in the meeting before the game “First of all, we never forget about defence. That will lead to our offense. Show them how much we have improved and get the win. We never give up and keep playing until the last minute!”

Japan kicked off the game with the help of the tail wind. They got the first corner kick in the 1st minute, but it didn’t turned out to be a big chance. Also they could not get the first goal in following opportunities in the 3rd minute from the second corner kick and in the 5th minute by the pass from the captain Sugita Hina (Fujieda Junshin High School).

In the 13th minute a ball kicked from the left side into the middle to Kobayashi Rikako (Tokiwagi Gakuen High School) around the penalty area, who deflected it to rushing Nagano Fuka (Urawa Reds Ladies Youth). Nagano struck it with her right leg and put a dazzling shoot in the left corner of Venezuela’s goal for Japan’s early lead.

Japan repeatedly had opportunities by heads by Sugita and Hasegawa Yui (NTV Beleza), but both failed to widen the lead.

In the 23rd minute, Japan earned a free kick near right corner. Hasegawa surged at the near side to the low ball by Sugita, but it ended up to the far side. There Ichise Nana (Tokiwagi Gakuen High School) calmly caught it unchecked and put it in with the right leg for the much-anticipated 2nd goal for Japan. Just before the end of the first half, Japan quickly changed sides and Matsubara received the ball by the right side of the Venezuela’s penalty area, fired for the third goal only to have it hit the crossbar. The first half then finished with Japan’s 2-0 lead.

In the second half, Hasegawa effectively attacked Venezuela’s right side, beat defenders, received a pass from Sugita and quickly centred the ball just with one touch. Kobayashi, rushing into the middle, caught it and softly shot it by her right inside, which gave Japan the 3rd goal of the match.

5 minutes later, Japan’s defenders failed to connect a forward pass, and a Venezuela player stole it and attempted a long shoot. It almost went in but Japan’s goalkeeper Matsumoto Mamiko (Urawa Reds Ladies Youth) made a great save by punching it out.

In the 63rd minute, Sugita was tripped and awarded with a penalty kick after receiving a pass from Hasegawa in the penalty area. Sugita smoothly made it for Japan’s 4-0 lead. It was also her 5th goal in the tournament, which put her onto the second in the goal ranking.

During the additional time, as the end of the game was being expected, Japan lost the first goal in the tournament to Venezuela after the cross ball from the deep right corner led to an unguarded shot right in front of Japan’s goal. The game was finished right after. Japan now have scored 21 goals including 3 penalty kicks and lost 1 goal, as 11 players scored at least 1 goal in the 5 games.

At every game, Japanese people living there together with local Costa Ricans in the stands cheer for Japan and send “Japon! Japon!” calls to players, which give the team great strength.

The final match will be against Spain which have beaten their European rival Italy by 2-0 with two penalty kicks. Japan already played against them in the first game of the group stage. For the next 3 days Japan will work on the conditioning recovery and correcting mistakes to show the best game possible at the National Stadium.

The MVP of the semi-final match was Hasegawa Yui.

Coach's & Players' comments

Head coach:Takakura Asako

The best thing that happened to us today was that we won the game. Our players played with concentration until the very end. While we made a lot of mistakes offensively and that made our game a little difficult in the first half, we were able to score a timely goal. Defensively, we patiently played against their tough forwards. Looking back, we relatively scored more goals in the group stage. And in the final stage, obviously this is a single-elimination stage, but we were mentally prepared well and focused on what we were supposed to do in our quarterfinal match against Mexico. For today also, I told our players that each individual should play patiently and that would help the team in the end. I think that was the key for the win. We'll enter the final match with confidence in ourselves.

Hasegawa Yui（Nippon TV Beleza）

We were eliminated in the semifinals in the Under-17 Women's World Cup in 2012, so I'm frankly pleased that we are able to play in the final match. We scored first and added another before halftime, and it was a key point for our victory. Personally, I don't think I played well in the first half because I'd lose the ball easily even when I had it. But I made adjustments on that in the second half. I was able to keep the ball between their defenders and find other teammates that were wide open. Also, when we got the ball back in our territory, we could quickly proceed the ball using the wings and made some good chances. So we tried to take advantage of our speed and boldly attack. Our defenders did a solid job and didn't let the opponents do what they wanted to do, either. Being in a World Cup final match is certainly giving us different feelings from any other games, and in fact we don't know how we'll actually feel.

Nagano Fuka （Urawa Reds Ladies Youth）

When we had the ball or get the ball and played as we'd usually played, we would lose the possession because these Venezuelan players had longer legs than our previous opponents. So in the second half, we tried to move the ball faster trying to make direct passes. (On her goal) Right after Kobayashi received a pass and I thought there would be a chance. She gave me a pass and I just shot it. During our warm-ups, coach Obe told me to be conscious about putting my weight balance even more forward, and I just did so. I knew that their goalkeeper was positioning a little right towards the goal mouth and there was a space in the left, so I aimed at it. I'm definitely pleased that we were able to win a game with the ticket for the final match at stake. But at the same time, we're ashamed that we made so many errors. We'd lose the ball so easily in the middle of the field or didn't have the right pass strengths and speed. So it was a game that we ended up leaving with a lot of issues. Hopefully in the next game, if I get to have a chance to play, I'd like to play good defense first, and then work on second balls and press-backs, and eventually take some shots.

Kobayashi Rikako（Tokiwa Gakuen High School）

We gave up a goal in the end, but we're pleased to have advanced to the final game. Venezuela were one of the most physical teams we've ever played against and wouldn't easily lose the ball. (On her goal) Hasegawa gave me a quick cross to between their goalkeeper and a defender without any traps, and I just sent it into the net. I tried to make a good contact with the ball, aiming in the right corner of the goal mouth with my right foot. I played in the middle and then in a side, but I wasn't really able to keep the ball in my legs and would often lose it when we were struggling setting up our rhythm. In the game against Mexico, I think I could showcase my game, such as getting myself free space behind the defensive line or dribbling past opposing players on my own. But I feel like I could have done even better. As for our team, I think that we were pressing well both individually and collectively, when the Venezuelan team tried to attack us by kicking long feeds from their back line.

Okuma Rana（JFA Academy Fukushima）

I was thinking that we'd not win the championship if we'd lost it, so I was nervous from during our warm-ups. Definitely, I'm happy that we left the game as the winners, but it would've been better had we come out with zero goals defensively. Venezuela's No. 11 was so fast, but I got to used to her by the second half and could take on her speed and dribbles fairly better. In the opening half, we were too slow pushing our defensive line back when they kicked the ball behind our line, and we also let them run behind our line so many times. The Venezuelans were so big physically and had speed. So earlier in the game, I occasionally missed to make contacts with the ball with my head and I couldn't do change and cover plays well either. But I gradually got to get adjusted in the latter half. Personally, my body was exhausted the most in this World Cup and I felt like I gave my all out. I have yet to feel like I'm in the final match yet, but still I'm so thrilled.

Matsumoto Mamiko（Urawa Reds Ladies Youth）

With the result of this game, we've become closer to our dream, which is to win a World Cup championship. It will be nothing but our confidence that we have a legitimate chance to win the title, and we'd certainly like to enjoy the stage of the final match. I don't think we were considered a strong competitor for the championship coming in this tournament. But we were confident about our team works and we'd like to keep our faith in it for the final game, too. We knew the Venezuelans were powerful, so we were very much cautious about their long shots and I never removed the idea out of our head. We took a lead first and never let them catch up with us, which is good. But it's also frustrating for us because we wanted to end this game without giving up any goals to the opponents. We are going to certainly have to reflect on it and hopefully we'll silence our opponents and win the championship.