England trip　Training Match 2nd　vs．Liverpool FC U-18
2015-11-13 (Fri.) - 11:00   Playing Time: 90min. (45min.×2) 
Liverpool FC Academy (Liverpool, England)

Liverpool FC U-18   3-2 (0-2, 3-0)   U-18 Japan National Team

Scores
16'   MIYOSHI Koji (U-18 Japan National Team)
33'   MIYOSHI Koji (U-18 Japan National Team)
49'   Goal against (Liverpool FC U-18)
57'   Goal against (Liverpool FC U-18)
58'   Goal against (Liverpool FC U-18)

1st
GK: KATO Yuki
DF: YANAGI Takahiro, OKANO Jun, MORISHITA Reiya, URATA Itsuki
MF: MIYOSHI Koji, SASAKI Takumi, TOMIYASU Takehiro, KUBOTA Kazune
FW: KATO Mutsuki, SUGIMORI Koki

2nd
GK: KOJIMA Ryosuke
DF: HASEGAWA Takumi, MATSUZAKA Dan, MORISHITA Reiya, FUNAKI Kakeru
MF: DOAN Ritsu, WATANABE Kouta, ITO Hiroki, NAGANUMA Yoichi
FW: KISHIMOTO Takeru, ITO Ryotaro

68'   MORISHITA Reiya → OKANO Jun

Match Report

The second opponents of U-18 Japan National Team in England were Liverpool FC U-18.

Replacing six players from the starting line-up for the Birmingham City match, Japan created offensive openings early in the first half by winning the ball through collective defence better than in the first match. In the 16th minute, Japan earned a 30-meter free kick. MIYOSHI Koji fired a left-footed shot into the right side of the net for the opening goal.

In the 33rd minute, Miyoshi took advantage of the wind blowing and aimed at right corner kick directly toward goal. It was again stabbed into the right side of the net for another goal. Japan ended the first half 2-0.

Before stating the second half, Japan reshuffled the squad except for MORISHITA Reiya and tried to go up for another goal, initiating their attacks on the sides. Yet Japan gave away the ball through passing mistakes and by losing on loose balls. As the opponents gradually started to attack, the ball came into the box through a set play in the 49th minute. From a goalmouth scramble, a Liverpool player picked up a clearance and put it into the net to close the gap to one goal.

Japan again allowed the opposition to pick up a loose ball at the centre of the Japanese end in the 57th minute. After an opponent player broke through Japan's right flank, his cross ball was delivered to another player, who rushed in and headed it into the net for an equaliser.

One minute later, Japan gave up the ball from a sloppy passing error on the left flank, which eventually allowed Liverpool player to take a shot. And the strong wind helped the shot go over Japan goalkeeper KOJIMA Ryosuke's head to go directly into the back of the net. Japan conceded three goals in 10 minutes.

In attempt to get on level terms, Japan went on attacks led by DOAN Ritsu and NAGANUMA Yoichi, who were subbed in at the midfield from the second half. They created several goal-scoring opportunities in the opposing end, yet the match came to an end without any more goal.

Despite having more openings and showing better plays compared to the first match, the Japanese efforts did not pay off in the end and fell 2-3 to Liverpool FC U-18.

Japan will face U-18 England National Team on 15th.

Players' Comments

SUGIMORI Koki (Nagoya Grampus U18)
I am thankful to be able to join this trip. In the match today, we had to spend a long stretch for defence and couldn’t attack very long. Because both of two goals we scored in the first half were from a set-piece, so we need to be able to score goals in the course of our regular offence by improving our accuracy of counter attacks and penetrations.

For the last match against England National Team, we need to restart our preparation from tomorrow. We want to do our best as a team to finish this trip with a win.

MIYOSHI Koji (Kawasaki Frontale)
When I speak of myself individually, scoring two goals in the first 45 minutes was good, but the fact that I missed the opportunity to score in the course of our attacks needs improvement, and so does helping out our defence. As a team, we want to keep working from tomorrow on the most important things such as converting good scoring opportunities and not allowing goals. 

YANAGI Takahiro (F.C. Tokyo U-18)
In today’s match against Liverpool, we couldn’t close out the match where we were leading and we lost in the end. It left us so much to work on. I personally could learn many things, so I want to get ready for playing well in next match against England.

KATO Mutsuki (Sanfrecce Hiroshima Youth)
I am glad to be able to play in a different environment against different opponents from what we have in Japan. I kept trying to remember to aim for both good details and good results. But I couldn’t finish plays and score goals. That made me realise that I have to aim even more strongly for getting good results as a forward. I will try to do that as I play in the match against England National Team on 15th. 

MORISHITA Reiya (Cerezo Osaka U-18)
First of all, we couldn’t win against Birmingham City yesterday, so winning the match was our first priority when we started the match. But even after we gained the lead in the first half, we couldn’t start off the second half well. We allowed them to score one after another to turn the match around. In the match against U-18 England National Team on 15th, we will be careful when starting off the match. We start our preparation from now to get the win.

Schedule

Note: All training, training matches and friendly take place with doors closed.